I am sure all of us, if asked, could come up with names of people (and even ourselves) who have a hard time saying no when asked to do something. A more positive way to look at this is that there are people who seem to always say yes when something is asked of them. Dwayne Garret, who along with his wife Debbie (or Deb as she is called), admits that he is one of those persons (and I would say Deb is as well). He says that after he and Deb were welcomed by Bill and Diane Patterson to the parish, through our welcoming committee ministry, that they, when asked, not only became part of that ministry as "Welcomers", in a short time they agreed to head up that ministry, which they did with wonderful results (including starting a newcomer's dinner which was held once or twice a year. Through the invitation of others (Bob Honzik, Tom Donnelly, and Bill Nosek), Dwayne became an usher at the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, a perpetual adorer and a 4th degree Knight. He felt blessed by helping in a variety of service projects of the Knights including Meals on Wheels, fundraising efforts to help people in need, soliciting sponsors for the St. John's Golf Tournament and the Campaign for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. He has joined others at the March for Life in Little Rock, helped at Special Olympics in Searcy, and has become a visitor of our homebound Knights of Columbus who appreciate someone visiting them in their homes. He has been inspired to get more and more involved with Jackson House and currently serves on the board of directors there.
Deb has gotten involved in both behind the scenes ministries such as Helping Hands (as a sunshine card sender to parish shut-ins) and leadership positions (as she is currently the President of LOSH. She is not only a faithful Eucharistic Adorer, but she is a division leader in our Eucharistic Adoration Ministry (in the 6 hour period in the mornings every day). She coordinates a Holy Hour among some members of her guild and is a Member of the National Eucharistic Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a blessing for her (and others) that she is a frequent participant in daily Mass.
From all that I've shared with you about Dwayne and Debbie, I hope you see as I do, a couple who puts the Lord first, in their spiritual lives and practices and from this flows their willingness to say "yes" to serving the Lord and others with a smile on their faces. One other thing that I have noticed and appreciate about them is their flexibility when it comes to working with me and others. They are always "up to the task" in a variety of ways! God bless you, Dwayne and Debbie. Though you've only been parishioners here for around 6 years, it seems like much longer and I pray with all that you do (and I'm sure will be doing going forward) that you continue to be a blessing and be blessed for years to come!
Deb has gotten involved in both behind the scenes ministries such as Helping Hands (as a sunshine card sender to parish shut-ins) and leadership positions (as she is currently the President of LOSH. She is not only a faithful Eucharistic Adorer, but she is a division leader in our Eucharistic Adoration Ministry (in the 6 hour period in the mornings every day). She coordinates a Holy Hour among some members of her guild and is a Member of the National Eucharistic Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a blessing for her (and others) that she is a frequent participant in daily Mass.
From all that I've shared with you about Dwayne and Debbie, I hope you see as I do, a couple who puts the Lord first, in their spiritual lives and practices and from this flows their willingness to say "yes" to serving the Lord and others with a smile on their faces. One other thing that I have noticed and appreciate about them is their flexibility when it comes to working with me and others. They are always "up to the task" in a variety of ways! God bless you, Dwayne and Debbie. Though you've only been parishioners here for around 6 years, it seems like much longer and I pray with all that you do (and I'm sure will be doing going forward) that you continue to be a blessing and be blessed for years to come!
In the old African spiritual hymn, "Rise Up Shepherd and Follow", the primary characters, the shepherds who were visited by the angel after Jesus's birth, are making their way to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us" (Lk 1:15) referring to the birth of Jesus Christ. The first verse of that hymn wrongly speaks of them following the star to Bethlehem (wrongly because it was the magi, not the shepherds who, according to the evangelist Matthew, were led to the place where Jesus lived). I was informed in a video I watched years ago that the African slaves in the United States sang this hymn as they fled by night to escape their slavery toward the end of the Civil War. Tragically many of them lived through many Christmases as slaves who longed for their freedom. Sadly, in our time, there are many victims of human trafficking who feel the same as they are kept like slaves and are made to do things that degrade them and potentially harm them in many ways. This is especially egregious when it happens to young people. In our state, that is ranked number two in terms of registered sex offenders, and number one when it comes to child abuse, the possibility of young people being victims of human trafficking is high.
In general, it is estimated that around 20% of all children in the United States will be approached by a trafficker before the age of 18. Those of you who have grandchildren and great-grandchildren should take notice of this and hopefully be open to hearing more about this issue and what can be done to protect our young people and even rescue those who are currently victims of such behavior toward them. Human trafficking and crimes connected with the making and distributing of both adult and child pornography is estimated to be a $150 billion dollar criminal industry.
Efforts to combat all of this include a human trafficking and pornography task forces, including one established by Bishop Taylor in our diocese. Gary Wolfer of our parish accepted a position on that task force and will be a welcome resource for our parish as we hear more about what we and the public in general can do to fight against this "forced slavery" of our times. Every one of us is invited to educate ourselves by participating in a symposium on the dangers of human trafficking that will take place at Christ the King Church in Little Rock on Saturday, January 25. An announcement about this symposium and how to go about signing up and attending this free workshop (that includes breakfast and lunch) can be found in our bulletin this week. Experts on this subject from around the country will be making presentations. At the very least, please pray for victims and potential victims of human trafficking, and be open to learning more about this growing and serious problem in our country and in the world. It is well worth our time and attention now and in the future!
In general, it is estimated that around 20% of all children in the United States will be approached by a trafficker before the age of 18. Those of you who have grandchildren and great-grandchildren should take notice of this and hopefully be open to hearing more about this issue and what can be done to protect our young people and even rescue those who are currently victims of such behavior toward them. Human trafficking and crimes connected with the making and distributing of both adult and child pornography is estimated to be a $150 billion dollar criminal industry.
Efforts to combat all of this include a human trafficking and pornography task forces, including one established by Bishop Taylor in our diocese. Gary Wolfer of our parish accepted a position on that task force and will be a welcome resource for our parish as we hear more about what we and the public in general can do to fight against this "forced slavery" of our times. Every one of us is invited to educate ourselves by participating in a symposium on the dangers of human trafficking that will take place at Christ the King Church in Little Rock on Saturday, January 25. An announcement about this symposium and how to go about signing up and attending this free workshop (that includes breakfast and lunch) can be found in our bulletin this week. Experts on this subject from around the country will be making presentations. At the very least, please pray for victims and potential victims of human trafficking, and be open to learning more about this growing and serious problem in our country and in the world. It is well worth our time and attention now and in the future!
One of the Elser family traditions that I fondly remember is constructing an Advent Wreath, decorating it with pinecones and other greenery, and all of us gathering around it every night of the Advent season, lighting the candles, singing "O Come O Come Emmanuel", saying the collect prayer from each Sunday of Advent, and then taking turns blowing out the candle or candles.
I assumed that this song was a song to be sung at home and at church throughout the Advent season. While this can be the case, the Church promotes it being sung in the most proximate days leading up to the Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord (December 25) especially during evening prayer from December 17-23. The hymn has its origins over 1200 years ago in monastic life.
Each of the verses refers to a Messianic title for Christ, using biblical imagery drawn from the Old Testament to recall the whole of salvation history and anticipate the birth of Christ. They express the longing we feel for the coming of the Messiah--at Christmas, anew in our hearts, AND at the end of time when he comes in glory. The messianic titles in Latin and English, and the days in which these titles are proclaimed in song are: December 17--O Sapientia (O Wisdom), December 18--O Adonai (O Lord), December 19--O Radix Jesse (O root of Jesse), December 20--O Clavis David (O Key of David), December 21--O Oriens (O Light from the East), December 22--O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) , and December 23--O Emmanuel (O God with Us).
The verses of the song "O Come O Come Emmanuel" are variations on these antiphons. The verse that begins "O Come Thou Dayspring" is a reference to Oriens (O Light from the East) and the verse which begins "O Come, Desire of Nations" refers to O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations).
There is even a hidden message in the first letters of each antiphon--beginning with "E" for Emmanuel and working backwards, the first letter of each antiphon can be assembled to spell the phrase "ero cras" which is Latin for "tomorrow I come" a reference to the fact that the next day is Christmas Eve. Of all the hymns that we are blessed to have and sing in the Advent and Christmas seasons, you now know which has the longest history behind it and appreciate the fact that I choose for us to wait until the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) to start singing this song at Mass, as the refrain calls us to REJOICE. From that Sunday through the rest of Advent our focus is on preparing for the celebration of the Incarnation, when the Son of God was born into our world!
(I want to thank Deacon Gary for inspiring me to write this pastor's column and providing much of the information I used in composing it)
I assumed that this song was a song to be sung at home and at church throughout the Advent season. While this can be the case, the Church promotes it being sung in the most proximate days leading up to the Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord (December 25) especially during evening prayer from December 17-23. The hymn has its origins over 1200 years ago in monastic life.
Each of the verses refers to a Messianic title for Christ, using biblical imagery drawn from the Old Testament to recall the whole of salvation history and anticipate the birth of Christ. They express the longing we feel for the coming of the Messiah--at Christmas, anew in our hearts, AND at the end of time when he comes in glory. The messianic titles in Latin and English, and the days in which these titles are proclaimed in song are: December 17--O Sapientia (O Wisdom), December 18--O Adonai (O Lord), December 19--O Radix Jesse (O root of Jesse), December 20--O Clavis David (O Key of David), December 21--O Oriens (O Light from the East), December 22--O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations) , and December 23--O Emmanuel (O God with Us).
The verses of the song "O Come O Come Emmanuel" are variations on these antiphons. The verse that begins "O Come Thou Dayspring" is a reference to Oriens (O Light from the East) and the verse which begins "O Come, Desire of Nations" refers to O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations).
There is even a hidden message in the first letters of each antiphon--beginning with "E" for Emmanuel and working backwards, the first letter of each antiphon can be assembled to spell the phrase "ero cras" which is Latin for "tomorrow I come" a reference to the fact that the next day is Christmas Eve. Of all the hymns that we are blessed to have and sing in the Advent and Christmas seasons, you now know which has the longest history behind it and appreciate the fact that I choose for us to wait until the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) to start singing this song at Mass, as the refrain calls us to REJOICE. From that Sunday through the rest of Advent our focus is on preparing for the celebration of the Incarnation, when the Son of God was born into our world!
(I want to thank Deacon Gary for inspiring me to write this pastor's column and providing much of the information I used in composing it)