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The Small Church with The Big Heart |
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October, 2020
Monthly Newsletter |
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The Monsignor's Musings
As we find ourselves in the midst of an election year, tension is at a frantic level. When we turn on the television or look at social media, we are bombarded with political messages. Unfortunately, too many of the messages are negative or designed to stoke fear. The last thing we need in this country, and in the world, is more division.
When I was in high school I had a sticker on my car that read: “No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace.” Those words could not be more true. In the chaos of the world around us, we can find a level of peace when we allow our faith to guide us forward. Jesus taught us that when we learn to let go and forgive, to love without measure, and to be healers and teachers, we find true and lasting peace.
It is amazing how easy it is to see the faults, the mistakes of others and to put the blame on others. Yet it is far more difficult to see those same faults in ourselves or in the groups with which we align. In the world in which we live, people are polarized and divided. It’s easier to blame the other side than to work out solutions that lift and unite people. All too often, the loudest voices, those with the most power, prevail and those at the bottom, those with a small voice are ignored or pushed down. There is a real danger when we only listen to those with whom we agree and ignore those who hold other views, because we fail to be challenged, we fail to grow, and we fail to learn from one another.
Today is the day for action, not tomorrow. Despite all the suffering Jesus endured, he knew peace, he knew joy and happiness, he knew how to love and to be loved. That is to what we are called. We are called to get our hands dirty building God’s kingdom. The only way we can change the world, the only way we can find peace, is when we learn to love and respect one another, as Jesus did. My friends, No Jesus, No peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace!
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“Collectively Thriving
Versus Surviving”
By Father Charles Blanchard
Recent days and weeks have been strange and disheartening, besieged by fear, pain and turmoil.
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Environmental challenges – devastating fires, a hyperactive hurricane season in the Atlantic, melting ice, to name a few – give evidence to increasing vulnerability and risks resulting from climate change.
On World Day of Migrants and Refugees (September 27, 2020), “The Small Church with a Big Heart” and all God’s people face the grave situation of more people migrating than at any point in human history, often tragically as a result of war, climate change, economic insecurity, and oppression.
Numerous aspects of our lives seem to be in upheaval. The resulting emotional and psychological stress is very real.
Compassion anticipates change of heart; suspending personal judgment and meeting a person where s/he is in life, can be difficult to muster. Having in us the same attitude that Christ possessed is necessary as people of faith.
My sisters and brothers, compassion anticipates change of heart; suspending personal judgment and meeting a person where s/he is in life, “so as to thrive and not just survive”!
Avoid “inward turning” which leads to a rigidity and judgementalism akin to the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Moreover, “inward turning” displaces compassion where a person chooses to survive versus thrive!
In this Season of Compassion, humanity needs our wholehearted metanoia, that we might finally see a kinship with all God’s creation. For our collective joy to be complete, you and I must remember God’s mercies and embrace God’s encouragement to work for a more just and compassionate world. Reluctant, despondent, tired, and overwhelmed as we may be, like the first son, may we find it in us to go to the vineyard and serve as God calls.
May our collective compassion anticipate change of heart; suspending personal judgment and meeting a person where s/he is in life, “so as to thrive and not just survive”!
Gracias de Dios para todos
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Michelle Ganoff 10/3
Barbara Draplin 10/7
Fr. Harry Posner 10/22
Kyle Woods 10/25
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Prayer List
Cindy Knox
Bob Curtis
David Curtis
Anthony Armor
Lamont Monat
Jim Bachelor
Pat Moylan
Hannah Moylan
Fr. Charles Blanchard
Pete and Vera Cadotte
Jim Stokes
Patrick Keller
Jerry Aaron
Lois Spencer
Florie Mojica
Michael Foran
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Thank you for your ongoing support and generosity. Your Sacrifical Giving allows
The Small Church With the Big Heart to continue to meet our monthly obligations.
01/01/2020 through 09/30/2020
Report
Envelope & Cash: $46,540
E-Donations: $3,265
Year to Date Total: $49,805
Budgeted: $33,250
Over / (Under) Budget: $16,555
The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD’S face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD'S face turn toward you and give you peace.
- Numbers 6:24-26
Our sincere regards,
The CGS Finance Committee
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October.
The month that brings bright colors of the landscape for us to marvel at & enjoy, and also much of the vegetation dying. It’s a reminder of the bleakness coming with winter. Looking at a weather map of the United States, we see much destruction in the west & north from fire. In the east & south, the destruction we see comes from water. If only we could send the water to help put out the fire! Let’s throw in COVID 19, the coming election, all the anger, hate, & violence, in our country & in the world. Phew! What a lot we have on our minds.
All the more reasons to give it to God. Jesus. Spirit. Mary. Favorite saint(s). Favorite prayers, songs, psalms. Do not despair. Do not give up. It is time to remember that it’s not up to us. Jesus said He will always be with us. Talk to Him. Recall: God already knows what’s in our hearts; He wants to hear it from us. Pray. Be kind, to others as well as yourself.
I’ve spent a lot of the last year, reminding myself of everything in the last above paragraph. Setbacks with my knee, pain, therapy, worry (doesn’t help anything), limitations, pain, asking for help, 4 surgeries, & on & on. Recently, someone told me what a good example I am, with my attitude. I was quite surprised! Then, I thought about it. Yes, the kneecap tendon snapped & I fell to the floor. Bad. But it happened during therapy, in the surgeon’s building. Best place for it to happen, if it had to: I was not driving, in Kroger, at church, home alone, etc. Therefore, good. This happened for a reason. To teach me something? For someone else to learn something? More patience? Reliance on others? Letting go of something? Not for me to know. Just thank God, & move along.
Hang in there, people. It didn’t come to stay; it came to pass.
It will all work out in the end. It hasn’t worked out? It’s not yet the end!
Peace & Love,
Cindy Knox
Council President
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Last month I wrote that the Education Committee would soon meet to discuss possible educational faith opportunities for our church community this fall, winter and next summer. And I’m happy to report that we are planning several opportunities for learning and faith-sharing either on-line, on-sight, or a hybrid of both during this coronavirus time.
Some of the ideas we are going to offer are a Bible Study centered around “The Chosen”, a faith sharing opportunity, learning about The Mass, and experiencing various prayer forms. Plus, you’ll be seeing different educational links pop up in our bulletin that will be fun to explore. We are calling ALL these opportunities G.I.F.T. — “Growing In Faith Together”.
Each of these things GIFTS take a little time and planning. So as they are ready to be unleashed, we’ll let you know.
This past weekend my husband, Tim and I were excited & happy to go camping for the first time in over 15 years. Nature is a wonderful teacher! And a walk in the woods is so good for the soul!
If you can, look out your window or take a walk outside and explore the wildlife. The squirrels are busy burying their acorns, the trees are turning color and showing off a display that marvels the work of any famous painter, and caterpillars are getting ready to change into butterflies or moths.
We are also changing, whether we welcome it or not. Change means growth. And if we “go with it” and allow it to happen without kicking or screaming too much, we will find peace beyond all understanding and we will find God.
Alice Doppel
Education Chairperson |
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Finding Our Way Back Home
Getting Un-Stuck in our Prayer Life
There are times in our lives when we simply need to start something with a fresh outlook. Periodically, we need to begin again – a routine, a resolution or a relationship might need a new view. Our relationship with God is one of those things that we all need to refresh from time to time.
We often make our prayer lives quite complicated, but in many ways, our relationship with God is very much like a relationship with the people we love in our lives. Whether it is a spouse, a friend or a favorite sibling, there are times when we seem out of touch, not sure what the other is thinking or feeling. How do we adjust this? We get in touch with our loved one, making plans for a nice dinner together, a cup of coffee or a phone call.
How are you? What is going on in your life? Let me tell you what I am wrestling with. Let me share what makes my life joyful, sad, confused or angry.
The very instincts we rely on to get back in touch with our loved ones are the same ones that can reconnect us with our loving God. It starts with a little time. Our lives are hectic, rushed and busy, and too often we work hard to keep them that way. In our busy-ness, we can sometimes pretend that we are not feeling lost or empty. The first step to finding our way home to God begins with a little time.
Our prayer lives can seem complicated, but they don’t need to be. Too often, we arm our prayer lives with books, theories and beautiful prayers we have known since childhood. These are all good things, but sometimes these good things may become routine and can move us into thoughts in our heads rather than feelings in our hearts. Prayer is a conversation from my heart to God’s and our God is waiting with delight to talk with us and to hear us share our lives.
We might begin with just five minutes a day, choosing our own best time of day. If I am a morning person, I make a commitment to rise five minutes earlier each morning to talk with God. If I am better at night, I resolve to take the last five minutes of my day for prayer.
Where do I start? A good way to re-energize our life with God is to simply start with a quiet place, an empty lap and open hands. It also helps if we remember the wonderful news that our God absolutely delights in us and is thrilled that we are taking the time to get back in touch.
We can use our own words to begin to speak to God in our hearts. “I haven’t been in touch for a while but I want to. Help me start again.” We can let God know what is deepest in our hearts.
I am so excited about this upcoming pregnancy. I am in such grief about my father’s death. I am angry because my sister’s cancer returned, and I think I am angry at you.” We can tell God exactly what has been locked in the silence of our hearts.
Why do have trouble doing that sometimes? Because we don’t always trust God’s love for us. We can’t seem to feel that we deserve to be loved in the unending way God loves us. We don’t always trust or believe the depth of that love, especially a love that deep for me, personally. We look at God’s love and compare it to our own limited love and can’t seem to believe that God could love us. We know we are sinners and deep down, we don’t believe we are worthy of God’s love. The Good News of Jesus is that it doesn’t matter whether we deserve it or not. We have that love already. We speak to God as we would to a friend.
After we have spent a few minutes sharing our lives with God, we take a little time to sit in silence and listen. We can get antsy about sitting in silence, but it is in that profound quiet that God speaks to us. Wordlessly and lovingly, God begins to heal our grief or sadness and to rejoice with us in our happiness. Most of all, God wants us to feel deeply his love for each one of us individually.
If we have trouble hearing God speak, we can try to read from Isaiah 43 and simply say in our hearts what God has been telling us: “I have called you by name, _____.” We use our own name as we whisper aloud God’s words of love.
Do not fear, ____. I have called you by name. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned. If your life takes you through raging waters, you will not be swept away. I am with you. I have called you by name, _____.
Simply saying those words from Isaiah 43 slowly and with feeling, is a wonderful beginning.
I thank God for the few minutes we spent together and sit gratefully, committed to meeting up with God again tomorrow.
Renewing our prayer lives is not a project to be crossed off the To Do list. It is a meeting with a friend who cares for me, as if over a cup of coffee.
Our God loves us and calls to us, inviting us to draw closer.
Obtained from: https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/OrdinaryTime/Finding-Way-Home.html |
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Do you know someone who may enjoy reading this Newsletter? Why not forward it on to them with a little note explaining why you enjoy being a part of Christ the Good Shepherd. It might be just what they are looking for or waiting for. You might be God’s voice when they need it most.
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Did someone forward this email to you? We hope you enjoyed reading all that is going on at the
Little Church With A Big Heart. Truly, all are welcome at Christ the Good Shepherd Old Catholic Church, without partiality. To learn more about our community, visit our web site or contact any of our clergy to discuss your needs and concerns.
(248) 439-0470
www.cgs-occ.org
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