News from The Heart. Parish Pastor: Fr. Phil Shangraw. Newsletter Editor: Liz Barnes, Parish Secretary

Transcription

1 News from The Heart A Prayer to the Most Sacred Heart Most gentle and loving heart of Jesus, fill us with the peace, joy and love that only you can offer. Make us fully aware and alive to the comfort you offer as we bind our hearts to Yours. Sweet Jesus, we love You. Amen. Parish Pastor: Fr. Phil Shangraw Newsletter Editor: Liz Barnes, Parish Secretary Volume XVI Issue I January 2019

2 Happenings in our Parish Save the Date: Sacred Heart s Valentine Dinner & Dance Saturday, February 16, :30 p.m. hors d oeuvres 6:00 p.m. Dinner Watch for more of the details soon! Muskegon County Right to Life Memorial & Prayer Walk Saturday, January 19, :00 p.m. St. Mary Church January 22 marks the 46 th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion on demand in the United States. 1:00 p.m. Meet at Hackley Park to pray and then walk to St. Mary s. *Compassionate educational prolife signs are welcome*. Refreshments to warm you will be at St. Mary s before the Memorial. Prolife merchandise will be available for you to browse, and a chance to renew your annual membership for 2019 (cash or checks only). 2:00 p.m. Memorial in the Church with Fr. Matt Barnum. Born into Eternal Life: Vivian Huffman, age 70, on December 22, 2018 Eternal rest grant unto her oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in heavenly peace. 2

3 If your birthday is incorrect, or was missed, please call the office. January Birthday Blessings 1 st Darlene Whelpley 2 nd Carla Campbell Max Price 3 rd Barb Fraser Kristin McKenzie 4 th Shirley Biksacky Carter Booth Onalee Gerencer 5 th Sandra Lynn Melodie Spencer 6 th Mary Judd 7 th Noah Crossno Kathy Maus 8 th Tim May 10 th Terri Smith Bob Yagerlener 11 th Hadley Powell 12 th Emilia Tallent 14 th Matt Bosma Tennyson Schreiber 15 th Tom Buday 16 th Donna Martin Tom Sieffert 19 th Ruth Maka 20 th Diane Nic 21 st Miranda Navarro Steve Maus 22 nd Theresa Ruud 24 th Deb Chmelar 25 th Zoie Price 27 th Art Buday 28 th Ray Hanslits Miles Russick Xavier Russick Angelica Castanon 30 th Rita Schurino 31 st Theresa Spars 3

4 More Happenings in our Parish Sing a Song of Christmas Performed by Sacred Heart s Children s Choir Sunday, December 16,

5 5

6 From the Desk of the Facility Maintenance Manager Dear Parishioners, Well, so much for a white Christmas. I hope that does not mean that we will have to endure winter until June. This time of the year seems to go by so quickly with all of the events and maintenance going on. I have been kind of busy with a couple of projects. Recently one of our volunteers helped me do our semi-annual self inspection. I am sure many of you did not realize that we do this, but when you have a complex this size it does help. It also helps when our insurance company comes through and does their inspection. You will all be glad to know that we did pretty well in the many areas that we covered. We found a few places that could use some improvement but for the most part, I was pretty happy with what we found. On a side note, I think the gentlemen that helped me was even pickier than the inspector we had last time. In my last article I mentioned an issue with a hallway heater in the school. Fortunately one of the companies we do work with was able to locate a motor that I could slightly modify to fit in the small space I had to work with; so we are all set and it is finally running smooth and quiet. Over the last few years we have talked about the need for upgrading the school building with internet service. There have been many conversations about the idea of this project and the cost. Fortunately, at one time, the building had most of the wiring done and we would be able to use some of the equipment that was left. I am still gathering some quotes on what this would cost. It is my opinion that this would help make our building more user friendly for our Religious Education classes, the Bible study and the many other events that go on. I will have the quotes in soon and as I said, this is only a proposal and is still in the information gathering phase. I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas. The church was decorated by many volunteers and it came out beautiful as always. So thank you to all who took time out of their busy schedule. I was given the opportunity to put the lights on the tree again this year with the help of a couple of volunteers. The tree this year was wonderful and because they are always so tall you have to be on the largest step ladder. That is why I get the opportunity to do this job. Getting everything together puts you in the spirit of the season. So do not miss your chance to help out next year. May you all have a Happy New Year. In closing I will end as always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this wonderful Parish. May God bless and keep all of you safe. Your Brother in Christ, Garret A. Kelenske Facility Maintenance Manager 6

7 January 2019 Can you hear the quiet? Oh, maybe not yet. There is still that college championship game to be played on Monday, January 7. And there will probably be no end to discussion about who is playing and who should be playing. And then I suppose there will be all the hoopla about Super Bowl and playoffs, and Christmas returns, and...well, will there ever be quiet? Maybe that needs to be part of a new year s resolution to take some time for quiet, particularly with the Lord. Any big expectations for the new year? How would you feel if I told you that there ought to be? At the top of our expectations should be the determination to grow closer to the Lord, to be determined to change our lives into a program of seeking more knowledge and understanding of our Faith. That isn t always on the front burner, and sometimes it is not even on the stove. Our lives are really a lot like a good Irish stew, but to be tasty and good, one needs to include all the ingredients or we will soon notice that something is missing. The staples of a good Irish stew includes all of the following: oil, lamb (or some kind of meat, corn beef?), flour, potatoes, onion, leaks, carrots, beef stock, cabbage, salt and pepper. Leave any item out, and when one sits down to enjoy a bowl, your taste buds will tell you something is missing, especially if it is one of main stays like the meat or the potatoes or the cabbage. Faith is one of the mainstays of our lives. We should never leave it out of our lives. With that in mind, consider this prayer for the new year: God, thank you for a new year. May everyone in our family be willing to begin anew with a clean slate. We know that you are always ready to forgive us. Help us to be willing to forgive ourselves and to forgive one another. As we begin a new year, remind us of our truest values and our deepest desires. Help us to live in the goodness that comes from doing what you want us to do. Help us to put aside anxiety about the future and the past, so that we might live in peace with you now, one day at a time. Amen. Or: A new year is unfolding like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. Lord, let this year be filled with the things that are truly good with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others. As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible with Your help and guidance. Amen. Happy New Year! ~ Deacon Dave 7

8 Centennial News Like us on Facebook!! Sacred Heart Church-Muskegon Heights, MI. Invite your friends! The Centennial Committee meets the last Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the school Gathering Room. We need your help. Everyone is welcome! The next meeting is January 28 th. Believe in our Future, Build on our Past To support Sacred Heart s Centennial Celebration, we are looking for 100 people to contribute $100 to raise $10, If you would like to be one of a hundred and join the Century Club by being a financial supporter of this celebration, please prayerfully consider making a donation and return a form (available at church entrances or website) to Sacred Heart s office. Please make checks payable to Sacred Heart. As of January 9 th, 84 people have responded Thank you! Only 16 more to go! Bon Appétit! The Centennial Committee will be doing a cookbook and are looking for your favorite recipes. If you have any favorite forgotten recipes, please submit to either Kay Johnson at katiemae4766@gmail.com or Marie Gould at bcgmto@aol.com. When submitting, please include the name of whom the recipe belongs to and your name. For each entry submitted, your name will be put in our drawing for a nice gift. If you have any pictures from Sacred Heart s past or any memorabilia, please bring to the office. We hope to make a display of items for our Memorabilia Room. All items can be returned. From the Prayer Ministry Devotion to Christ By: David A. Gosma Sincere and pure devotion to Christ, seeking His face, coming into His presence and loving Him is our calling. Us loving Christ and being in His presence is greater than Healing Services where there are many healings and miracles. Yes, we need healings and miracles and they are available to us through faith, but our love and devotion to Christ comes first. Seek first the King of Judah, the king of kings, Jesus Christ. Come into His presence with singing and giving thanks and all things will be given to us, and that includes healings and miracles through our faith. Christ rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The Prayer Ministry is available after Masses. Come up and let us seek and ask together for all our needs in the presence of Christ, our shepherd, who loves us. God bless. 8