Pastoral Message. St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Inside this issue:

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1 WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church Our Staff 410 Addison Road, So., Capitol Heights, MD January 3, 2016 Fr. Damian Shadwell, Pastor Rev. Mr. Keith Somerville, Deacon & Office of Sacramental Participation Rev. Mr. Samuel Minor, Deacon Emeritus Mrs. Regina Harvey, Director, Early Learning Center Mr. Joseph Joy, Music Director Ms. Holly Hayes, Music Ministry Mrs. Ethel T. Johnson, Youth Ministry Mrs. Carmen Wilson, Office Manager Mrs. Beverly Byam- Hercules, Office Assistant Ms. Evelyn M. Dickerson, Office Assistant Vacant Co-chair Parish Council Inside this issue: Pastoral Message Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord Today we hear the familiar story of three wise men, (or perhaps astrologers), following a star. Like a modern day GPS device, the star directed their footsteps. Unlike a modern day GPS device, the three men simply could not put in a final destination address. They entered the name of a person as the item needed to get directions. They were looking for the newborn king of the Jews. The star leads them to Jesus who is still in Bethlehem. Last week we noted that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Beatitudes, describe for us the paths that lead to the kingdom of heaven CCC Our guide is not a star but Jesus himself. The Gospel of John records Jesus as saying, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (Jn. 14:6) So, Jesus is the way. He is not a paid guide leading us through a tour of the Amazon Jungle. He is not an expert on how to climb to the top of a famous mountain. Jesus is the way. The kingdom of heaven is truth and life. Jesus is truth and life. Therefore, Jesus is the kingdom of heaven. Our steps are being directed toward the sacraments. Why? Our steps are being directed toward the sacraments because the sacraments unite us to Jesus, unite us to the way, unite us to truth and life. Using our comparisons, we can conclude that the Beatitudes, describe for us the paths that lead to the kingdom of heaven, that lead to the sacraments. A Father Pinckaers, Order of Preachers, has written a book entitled, The Sources of Christian Ethics. He quotes St. Thomas Aquinas as saying, the Lord s Sermon on the Mount contains all teaching on the Christian life, (see Part One, Chapter 7, IV). The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes. Father Pinckaers again quotes St. Thomas: Having stated the end is happiness, the Beatitudes were seen as Christ s answer to the question of happiness and our final end. So, the Beatitudes do a lot more than simply direct our steps. The Catechism of the Catholic Church correctly teaches, The Beatitudes depict the countenance of Jesus Christ CCC Father Pinckaers continues his study by noting that through the Beatitudes we can see how Christ considered all the naturally inspired answers to the question of human happiness. Then by Christ teaching us the Beatitudes, we discover the need for detachment from these goods, (natural inclinations to happiness). Thus the Beatitudes are, the primary source for our ultimate end, happiness. How can we as Catholics ignore so important a goal as happiness and how can we ignore the wisdom of God in Jesus? For Jesus is the teacher that is the way to that goal of happiness! We must study these Beatitudes in detail. Pastoral Message 1 Finance 2 Prayers 2 Announcements 2-6 Daily Readings 6 Contact Information 6 Invitation to Initiation Are you fully initiated into the church? This means have you received all the Sacraments of Initiation BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION, AND FIRST EUCHARIST? If not contact the rectory on

2 ST. MARGA RET OF SCOTLAN D CATHOLIC CHURCH PAGE 2 Remember to Pray for our Brothers and Sisters Who are Ill, Hospitalized or Recovering Iola Anderson Barbara Bailey Viola Bender Nina Boddie Cheryl Brown Yvonne Brown Margarite Childress Willie Jacobs David Lee Ethel Lineberger Katie Matthews Elaine McCree Clementine Payne Escalene Proctor Shirleen Richardson Anna Robinson Charles Robinson Margaret Savoy Lucy Bruzzeze Vincent Bruzzeze Peyton Carr Becky Cole Dcn. Samuel Minor John A. Swann Vivian Swann Deborah Tilghman Pray for one another Please help us keep our records updated by contacting the rectory concerning parishioners who are hospitalized, ill at home or would like to have Sacrament of the Sick or the Eucharist brought to their home. Please call the rectory to add parishioners or loved ones to the prayer list. Bible Study.Bible Study will resume after Easter. Be on the look-out for the new start dates. RCIA RCIA classes continue on Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm in the St Damian de Veuster Room104. Sunday School CCD Classes Weekly Collection - December 27, 2015 Weekly Offering $4, Bldg. Renovation & Main. $ Christmas Offering $2, Religious Retirement $ All Saints $ 1.00 All Souls $ 1.00 Solemnity of Mary $ TOTAL $7, Thank you for your Generosity! Please use your envelopes and document accurately the amount placed in the envelopes. Using your envelopes makes for easier processing of contributions. Thank you for your cooperation. Classes continue and there will be ongoing registration. Classes are every Sunday beginning at 9:30 a.m. There will be no classes on January 3, ST. MARGARET S FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE The Fund Raising Committee is looking for parishioners who have ideas for fund raising. Please contact the rectory if you would like to join the committee or provide your ideas and/or proposals. Next meeting: Tuesday, January 6, :00 p.m. Counters Schedule January10, 2016 Team 4 Note: For more information, please contact Jackie Harris.

3 ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND CATHOLIC CHURCH PAGE 3 Room Key Room 101 Matthias Room Room 102 Anna T. Robinson Community Room Room 103 St. Josephine Bahkita Room 104 St. Damian deveuster, ss.cc. Room 106 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Room 107 Mother Mary Lange Room 108 Dr. Maya Angelou Room 109 Classroom 109 LNGE Lounge CHC Church RC Rectory Chapel REC Rectory OR Omega Room EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND LECTORS SCHEDULE EUCHARISTIC Jan 9-10 LECTORS 4 p.m. Barbara Jackson Al Pearson Ophelia Lee 8 a.m. Tina Brogsdale Breanna Hayes Evelyn Poole Anyah Robinson 11 a.m. Sylvia Alexander Kim Miles Pam Pearson Altar Server Schedule Jan 10 8:00 a.m. Tyler Phillips Legend Vanfield Mobile Health Clinic Program Weekly Schedule Jan 3, 2016 Jan 3 - Youth Ministry Faith in action 9:30 a.m. - OR Jan 9 - Toastmasters YLP Graduation Banquet 1:00 p.m. - OR Jan 10 - Youth Choir rehearsal 9:30 a.m. - CHC Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Free health care for adult populations (18+) including diabetes, hypertension, and chronic disease management, and other services as needed. Services The program will be available every Fourth Monday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The next date is January 25, Please take care of your health! St. Margaret of Scotland Early Learning Center Open Registration (Ages 2 5) Before & After Care - Call ELC needs volunteers. Please contact Mrs. Harvey. The Parish Pastoral Council Our parish is in need of a Parish Council President and we are seeking nominations for this office. You can nominate yourself or someone that you feel can fulfill this role. Nomination forms are available in the Church Lobby or on the website. Thank you for your support. Parish Pictorial Directory Committee Call for Additional Help! The members of the Parish Pictorial Directory Committee are looking for more parishioners to assist with this project. Please contact the Committee Chairperson Sonya Dockery or call the Rectory with your contact information if you can assist. Points to Ponder! Order Brings Meaning. Confirmation enables us to be present at the Eucharist as selfless witnesses of the sacrifice of Christ. See Hebrews 12:2 More Next Week!

4 ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND CATHOLIC CHURCH Page 4 Marriage Preparation Building And Maintenance Wish List of Parishioners are requested to submit a copy of your wedding photo (5 x7 or smaller), for display to celebrate World Marriage Day. This picture should be a disposable picture as it will not be returned. The display will begin January 7 thru February 14, World marriage day will be celebrated February 14, 2016 at the 8:00 a.m. Mass. If you would like to participate, please fill out the pre-printed form with your name, spouse s name, years married and phone number. There is a white decorated box located in the Church lobby for collection of the forms and photos. A representative from the Marriage Preparation Ministry will contact you with further details Save the Date! 4th Archdiocesan Women s Conference On Saturday, February 27, 2016, the Fourth Archdiocesan Women s Conference, Divine Mercy in Prayer and Action, will be held at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, MD from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be an English and Spanish track. The keynote speaker in English is Msgr. Charles Pope, Pastor of Holy Comforter/ St. Cyprian Church in DC and the keynote speaker in Spanish is Fr. Juan Puigbo, Associate Pastor of All Saints Church in Manassas VA. The day will also include Mass, Confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, a fabulous lunch, and many workshops from which to choose. The day will end with the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Adoration. For further information, contact Maria Suarez Hamm in the Office of Family Life, or at mhamm@adw.org or Save the Date! The St Margaret s Fund Raising Committee presents a trip to Biloxi and New Orleans. September 17-25, The cost is $745. Deposit of $100 due December 1, Monthly payments of $95 due Jan 11, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 11, June 10. Final payment of $75 due Jul 11. Consult Vera Martin or Charles Ross for more information. Parish Projects Posting of signs on the Church/School Campus Repair of parking lots and painting of parking spaces Upgrade of Ladies Restrooms. Upgrading of the Air Conditioning System. Repair of all downspouts. Please contact the Rectory if you can assist with any of these projects. Save the Date! On Sunday April 10, 2016, the Fundraising and Parish Support Committees presents: HAT-TI- TUDE: with an Afternoon Attitude Tea Luncheon, at 2:00 p.m. in the Omega Room. Enjoy a little lunch, relax with sweet music, sit back and view a fabulous fashion show of HATS.. and more. Details will follow. This is a parish-wide event; we look forward to your participation. For more information contact Alice DeNeal, Shirley Holston, Janice Stewart or a Fundraising Committee member. Don t forget to add this to your calendar -- NOW! Knights of Columbus Bingo The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a BINGO extravaganza on 13 January 2016 in its hall located at 3611 Stewart Rd, Forestville, MD Prices are slashed this one night only don t miss out! $10 buys 18 cards for our regular game package! Over $3000 in prizes each and every Wednesday night!! Come and have a GREAT time and a chance to leave a WINNER. Ring in the New Year with the Knights, playing BINGO! Doors open at 5 pm, sales begin at 6 pm and BINGO starts at 7 pm. WE WANT TO SEE YOU!

5 ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND CATHOLIC CHURCH PAGE 5 Sunday Missal Readings History of New Year s Resolutions A New Year s resolution is a tradition, most common in the Western Hemisphere but also found in the Eastern Hemisphere, in which a person makes a promise to do an act of self-improvement or something slightly nice, such as opening doors for people beginning from New Year s Day. Religious Origins - Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whim the month of January is named. In the Medieval era, the knight took the peacock vow at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to Chivalry. At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions. There are other religious parallels to this tradition. During Judaism's New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one s wrongdoings over the year and both seek forgiveness, People may act similarly during the Christian liturgical season of Lent, thought he motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility, in fact the practice of New Year s resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices. The concept of creed, is to reflect upon self improvement annually. At the end of the Great Depression about a quarter of American adults formed New Year s resolutions, At the start of the 21st century, about 40% did, January 10, 2016 Collect, Readings, Prayer over the Offerings and Prayer after Communion: Pg Nicene Creed: Pg Preface: I of the Nativity of the Lord Pg. 83 Eucharist Prayer No. 2: Pg Solemn Blessing :Pg. 103 Prayer before and after Communion: Pg Toastmasters Youth Leadership Graduation Banquet The participants of the Toastmasters Fall Youth Leadership Program will have their Graduation Banquet Ceremony on Saturday January 9, 2016 from 1:00p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Omega Room. Please plan to attend. Thank You from Environmental Committee On behalf of the Spiritual Life and Worship Committee, thank you for taking time from your every day lives and hectic holiday schedules to help with our Christmas decorations. I applaud your can-do attitude and for stepping up to help with little advance notice. Our worship space is simply beautiful. Thank you all for a job well done. Pat Slye, Environmental Committee Chair. The most common reason for participants failing their New Year s Resolution was setting themselves unrealistic goals (35%), while 33% didn t keep track of their progress and a further 23% forgot about it. About one in ten respondents claimed they made too many resolutions. A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving 3,000 people showed that 88% of these who set New Year resolutions fail despite the fact that 53% of the study s participants were confident of success at the beginning. Men achieved their goals 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as a pound a week, instead of saying lose weight ), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends. Source: Wikipedia The Christmas Crèche at St. Margaret of Scotland Church. Pat Slye - above with the awesome church décor around the altar.

6 Contact Information Address: 408 Addison Road South, Seat Pleasant, MD Rectory Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Rectory: Rectory Fax: Formation: Child Care: Omega Room: stmargpar@verizon.net Website: Weekday Mass: Saturday Vigil Mass: Sunday Mass: Novena: OUR SACRAMENTAL LIFE 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Every Monday after the 8:00 a.m. Mass Holy Day of Obligation Mass: 8:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation: 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday Baptism: Call the Rectory to make arrangements for preparation classes. MASS INTENTIONS All Parishioners Dance Ministry Rehearsal Friday s from 6:30-7:45 p.m. Room 106 and Sunday s after the 11:00 a.m. mass until June. Marriages: Youth Christian Formation: Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA): Necessary preparation requires that arrangements are made at least 6 months before the date of the wedding. Call the Rectory for more information. Sessions are from September to May. Contact the Rectory for more information. Please contact the Rectory if you have not received all 3 sacraments of initiation, Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist. Youth Ministry January 3, Faith in Action Session 9:30 a.m. in the Omega Room January 10, there will be Youth Choir rehearsal at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 2, Sight and Sound Theatre, Strasburg, Pennsylvania to see the play Samson. Fifth payment of $25 due in January. Final payments due by February 1, Deposits are non-refundable. Sacrament of the Sick: DAILY READINGS Week of Jan 3, 2016 Sun: Is. 60:1-6; Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6; Ps. 72:2-7,8-10; Mt. 2:1-12 Mon: 1Jn. 3:22-4:6; Ps. 2:7-8, 10-12; Mt. 4:12-17, Deut. 10:8-9; Mt. 11:25-30 Please contact the Rectory concerning Parishioners who are sick or shut-in. Tue: 1Jn. 4:7-10; Os 72: 1-4, 7-8; Mk. 6:34-44 or Is. 6:1-8; Ps 89:2; Mt. 28:16-20 Wed: 1n. 4:11-18; Ps. 72:1-2, 10, 12-13; Mk. 6: Kng. 19:4-9, 11-15; Ps. 128; Lk. 9:57-62 Thu: 1Jn. 4:19-5:4; Ps. 72: 1-2, 14-15, 17; Lk. 4: Cor. 5:14-20; Ps. 103:1; Lk.12:35-40 Alcoholic s Anonymous (AA) Meetings St. Margaret s serves as a site for AA Meetings. The meetings are held every Monday and Tuesday starting at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the Matthias Room 101. There is also a meeting at Holy Spirit Church in Forestville on Friday at 7:30 p.m. to 10:00. p.m. Fri: 1Jn. 5:5-13; Ps. 147:12-15, 19-20; Lk.5:12-16 Sat: 1Jn. 5:14-21; Ps. 149:1-6, 9; Jn. 3:22-30