This past Monday, the Catholic Church celebrated the Solemnity of the great pioneers and leaders of the early Church, Saints Peter and Paul. These two made major contributions in helping the Church to grow amid difficult circumstances and without the structure and discipline that would come later. From what we read in the scriptures about them (and from St. Paul about himself) they were far from perfect in what they did before and after meeting Jesus Christ, but their zeal for the Gospel and readiness to die for their faith in Jesus (which happened to both of them in Rome), leads us to honor them and ask for their intercession when it comes to many needs in our Church and in our lives. I can't imagine anyone of strong faith and a compassionate heart suggesting that because these two spiritual giants committed their share of sins including serious ones that anyone take down statues that have been created and placed in their honor and memory inside and outside of churches and in other holy places.
It more than saddens me (and angers others) that the current unrest in our country has led some to be so bold as to pull down or deface statues and monuments of Americans of the past (especially our founding Fathers) who were admittedly anything but perfect, but who nevertheless cooperated with God's grace to make our country the land of the free and the home of the brave. In the patriotic rosary, which we pray almost once a month (and which I invite more of you to pray with us), we sometimes quote famous Americans like George Washington, John Adams and even General Robert E. Lee, as they speak of their faith in God and encourage the people of this country to recognize the sovereignty of God over everyone and everything in this country and over all the earth. While there are some who would not only knock down statues of Robert E. Lee because he fought on the side of the Confederacy that sought to maintain the inhuman practice of slavery, but also refrain from quoting anything he had to say. I do not hesitate to quote part of what he said to some of his troops in 1863, that certainly needs to be echoed and followed in the difficult and trying tims we are in. "Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice." I hope you can all join me in saying AMEN to that!
It more than saddens me (and angers others) that the current unrest in our country has led some to be so bold as to pull down or deface statues and monuments of Americans of the past (especially our founding Fathers) who were admittedly anything but perfect, but who nevertheless cooperated with God's grace to make our country the land of the free and the home of the brave. In the patriotic rosary, which we pray almost once a month (and which I invite more of you to pray with us), we sometimes quote famous Americans like George Washington, John Adams and even General Robert E. Lee, as they speak of their faith in God and encourage the people of this country to recognize the sovereignty of God over everyone and everything in this country and over all the earth. While there are some who would not only knock down statues of Robert E. Lee because he fought on the side of the Confederacy that sought to maintain the inhuman practice of slavery, but also refrain from quoting anything he had to say. I do not hesitate to quote part of what he said to some of his troops in 1863, that certainly needs to be echoed and followed in the difficult and trying tims we are in. "Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice." I hope you can all join me in saying AMEN to that!
After the flooding rains, God sent a rainbow as a sign to Noah and those on the ark. Of course, we all recall that story in the Old Testament when the colorful bow in the sky was given as a perpetual promise that there would never again be a worldwide flood to purge the earth of its many sinful people. Given all the sinfulness in the world today, we should take comfort in this promise from God (though there are other ways God could bring an end to this world). That is a topic for another pastor's column.
I brought up the story of Noah and the flood because that story came to my mind last Saturday as we concluded the 6:30 p.m. outdoor Mass. After we set up a portable canopy to create cover for the table, ambo and radio equipment, the skies opened and we had flooding type rains for a good twenty minutes. Cars continued to come as we did or best to keep items and people dry under the canopy and continually pushed water out that was pooling on the top of the canvas canopy.
As we neared the start of Mass (about 6:27), the rain subsided rather quickly and for all but the very first part of Mass there was no rain falling. During the last part of the distribution of Communion to people in their cars, the sun started to peak through the clouds, and as Mass ended, someone pointed toward the eastern sky where a beautiful and large rainbow had apperared amidst a light drizzle that lasted for a short time. I and others who were there truly believed that this was a sign from God for us that all our efforts to set up and offer Mass, and the people in the 65 cars that braved the elements were rewarded with a beautiful (and much cooler) Mass and a wonderful sense of God's presence in Word and Sacrament but also in one of his beautiful creations, the rainbow.
If you still are reluctant to join us for Mass in the church, (and I am pleased to say our numbers are increasing in our indoor Masses), please consider coming to our parking lot Mass. With technology allowing those who come to hear the Mass clearly on their radio, and if needed keeping your car air conditioner going (as long as your gas tank is not extremely close to empty) you can participate fully in the Mass and receive Holy Communion in your car, with arms held out of the window.
We try to make it easy in and easy out with your cars and a unique experience of Mass that you can talk about with your family and friends. I know that I will be talking about that parking lot Mass on June 20, 2020, and God's sign to us, for many years to come!!
I brought up the story of Noah and the flood because that story came to my mind last Saturday as we concluded the 6:30 p.m. outdoor Mass. After we set up a portable canopy to create cover for the table, ambo and radio equipment, the skies opened and we had flooding type rains for a good twenty minutes. Cars continued to come as we did or best to keep items and people dry under the canopy and continually pushed water out that was pooling on the top of the canvas canopy.
As we neared the start of Mass (about 6:27), the rain subsided rather quickly and for all but the very first part of Mass there was no rain falling. During the last part of the distribution of Communion to people in their cars, the sun started to peak through the clouds, and as Mass ended, someone pointed toward the eastern sky where a beautiful and large rainbow had apperared amidst a light drizzle that lasted for a short time. I and others who were there truly believed that this was a sign from God for us that all our efforts to set up and offer Mass, and the people in the 65 cars that braved the elements were rewarded with a beautiful (and much cooler) Mass and a wonderful sense of God's presence in Word and Sacrament but also in one of his beautiful creations, the rainbow.
If you still are reluctant to join us for Mass in the church, (and I am pleased to say our numbers are increasing in our indoor Masses), please consider coming to our parking lot Mass. With technology allowing those who come to hear the Mass clearly on their radio, and if needed keeping your car air conditioner going (as long as your gas tank is not extremely close to empty) you can participate fully in the Mass and receive Holy Communion in your car, with arms held out of the window.
We try to make it easy in and easy out with your cars and a unique experience of Mass that you can talk about with your family and friends. I know that I will be talking about that parking lot Mass on June 20, 2020, and God's sign to us, for many years to come!!
For several years, under the leadership of our former deacon, John Froning, and, before him, Ann Hooper, we have been fortunate to have a strong Grief Support Ministry.
Prior to Deacon John's move to Tennessee, we had been in discussions on the possibilities of an expansion of this ministry and asked one of our parishioners, Dr. Ken Gordon, to assume the leadership role in expanding the ministry and change the name and mission to "Bereavement Support Ministry." Ken has in fact already led one of our grief support groups before Deacon John left and has experience in this ministry from his previous parish.
Bereavement support has a basic definition of "a period or process of helping an individual in his or her tasks of working through the loss of something dear, such as the death of a loved one."
This expanded ministry will include trained members of the SH Bereavement Support Ministry, to include:
1. The contact of a surviving spouse, after the death of a loved one, and asking for permission for a home visit;
2. The introduction, at said home visits, of the concept of on-going emotional support through handouts, possible continued home visits and/or phone contacts;
3. The introduction of and the possibility of joining a series of Bereavement Support Group sessions;
4. Phone or personal contacts with former members of SHC's Grief Support Groups seeking information on how they are doing;
5. Notifications of other churches in the Hot Springs Village area announcing organized Bereavement Support Groups and prospective dates;
I ask you to consider sharing in this worthwhile and rewarding ministry. Ken will have an orientation session to explain what you need to know to say yes to supporting parishioners, especially in the early stages of the grief process.
Please call Ken at 719-310-1686 to find out more. This ministry needs you!
Prior to Deacon John's move to Tennessee, we had been in discussions on the possibilities of an expansion of this ministry and asked one of our parishioners, Dr. Ken Gordon, to assume the leadership role in expanding the ministry and change the name and mission to "Bereavement Support Ministry." Ken has in fact already led one of our grief support groups before Deacon John left and has experience in this ministry from his previous parish.
Bereavement support has a basic definition of "a period or process of helping an individual in his or her tasks of working through the loss of something dear, such as the death of a loved one."
This expanded ministry will include trained members of the SH Bereavement Support Ministry, to include:
1. The contact of a surviving spouse, after the death of a loved one, and asking for permission for a home visit;
2. The introduction, at said home visits, of the concept of on-going emotional support through handouts, possible continued home visits and/or phone contacts;
3. The introduction of and the possibility of joining a series of Bereavement Support Group sessions;
4. Phone or personal contacts with former members of SHC's Grief Support Groups seeking information on how they are doing;
5. Notifications of other churches in the Hot Springs Village area announcing organized Bereavement Support Groups and prospective dates;
I ask you to consider sharing in this worthwhile and rewarding ministry. Ken will have an orientation session to explain what you need to know to say yes to supporting parishioners, especially in the early stages of the grief process.
Please call Ken at 719-310-1686 to find out more. This ministry needs you!