Our Lady Chapel. ~ A Prayer of Baptismal Promise ~

Transcription

1 CLOSING PRAYER: ~ A Prayer of Baptismal Promise ~ Vol. XXI, No. 6 Our Lady Chapel 20 Father, I believe that I do not just happen to exist I have been planned in your love, And gifted with your spirit. I come today to listen for the word you speak, to commune in prayer, to offer myself in Christ. For the gift of life And faith I thank you. I ask your help to live my baptismal promise to be more like Jesus releasing people from evil and doing good works. Let me glorify your name, O God, In every face that I encounter, In every person that I am called to serve. Lord, grasp me by the hand, renew your Spirit within me. make me your good servant, for I am baptized in your name. Amen. CAMPUS MINISTRY OFFICE: The Campus Ministry Office is located in Our Lady Chapel. phone: [440] jbcsc@ix.netcom.com Our Lady Chapel is a Roman Catholic community founded in the love of the Father, centered in Christ, and rooted in the Holy Cross tenets of building family and embracing diversity. We are united in our journey of faith through prayer and sacrament, and we seek growth through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in liturgy and outreach, while responding to the needs of humanity.

2 THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF JESUS: This weekend, we celebrate the. With it, we draw a close to the Christmas Season. Jesus baptism publicly inaugurates the reign of God. This is a kingdom to which all people are called. Thus, the intimacy of the Christmas story unfolds into the endless baptismal mission of all Christians. The story of Christmas is now the story of each person s daily life. Think about this: on the last day of Christmas, my true Love Jesus gave to me a deeper life in the Spirit. On the last day of Christmas, my true Love the Holy Spirit cried out in my heart: Abba [ Father ]. On the last day of Christmas, my true Love God the Father revealed Jesus to me in a new way and gave me an even deeper life in the Spirit. On the last day of Christmas, I was caught in the crossfire of the Trinity s love the Father spoke; Jesus saved; the Spirit descended. Are you ready to grasp fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ s love, and to experience this love which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may attain to the fullness of God Himself? [Ephesians 3:18-19]. Are you ready to be loved as the Father loves Jesus? On this last day of Christmas, will you let the love of God be poured out in your heart through the Holy Spirit? God is Love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him [1 John 4:16]. Christmas is all about God s love. Make this the moment, the day, the year, and the life of love. Thank you, God, for the gift of the Christmas season. I will never be the same because of it. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I live in Your love [John 15:10]. Thank You for the Christmas. edited from: One Bread, One Body COUPLE S RETREAT: Join us on Saturday, February 20 th and share in this evening of prayer and reflection at Our Lady Chapel s annual Couple's Retreat. Most married couples with a family do not take enough time for themselves their lives are focused on their children. Do yourself a favor, and take time for this evening together. The retreat is open to all married couples of the Chapel and Gilmour Communities. The retreat will begin with Mass in Our Lady Chapel at 5 PM followed by dinner and discussion led by Fr. John in the Lennon Board Room, concluding no later than 9 PM. Come even if you cannot make it in time for Mass; we would be glad to have you join us. Cost for the evening is $40 a couple. If cost for the evening is a concern, please let Father John know. So mark the date on your calendars and give yourself a treat in the Lord. Please RSVP to Patty at the Chapel Office at (440) or at szaniszlop@gilmour.org. FAITH EDUCATION JANUARY 10: Faith Education for this year continues. Our Sessions go from 8:45 9:45 AM, with the hope that our children would then participate in our 10:00 AM Family Mass. Register your family for classes by contacting Patty in the Chapel Office [[ ]. If you have any questions, please call Patty in the chapel office. Thank you for taking care of this important responsibility. Dates for January and February: January and February ACTIVE NOT PASSIVE: The gift of faith, which comes to us from God, is a sublime grace. But we are not intended to keep it to ourselves in effect, to bury it in the ground. The apostolic fishermen were ordained to be fishers of souls and not custodians of an aquarium. Father George Rutler 2 PRAYER REQUESTS: Jesus calls us to pray for one another. Please keep all these people in your prayers PRAYERS FOR THE SICK: For Vic Sopko who is recovering from heart surgery. For Marge Sheldon, friend of Judy Morgan, who is recovering from surgery. For Patty Marschalk, cousin of LS teacher, Theresa Stark, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Ed Carrigan, uncle of LS teacher, Theresa Stark, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Stephen Ungrady, father of Emily [ 19], who is recovering from a stroke For Julius Sekas who is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident. For Jurgi Stuopys who is recovering from surgery. For Toni Balciuna who is recovering from surgery. For Brother James Kane, C.S.C., who is recovering from open heart surgery. For Christina Parrilla, sister of Brother Carlos Parrilla, C.S.C., who is recovering from kidney transplant surgery For Brother Francis Affeletey, C.S.C., who is recovering from surgery following an accident. For Carol Yost who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Vickie Norris, kitchen employee, who is recovering from emergency heart surgery. For Kate Wilson, Niece of Brother Ken Kane, C.S.C., who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Justin Tarr who is critically ill with brain cancer. For Bun Riley, who is preparing for surgery. For Jim Spicer who is undergoing treatment for brain and lung cancer. For John O Brian who has been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer. For Bill Slattery [ 77] who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For John Burkey, uncle of Rachel Burkey, member of music ministry, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Annie Trivassos who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Nicholas Zanella., who is undergoing medical treatment For Jan Botek, wife of Fred, mother of Fred [ 85], grandmother of Matthew [ 14], Jonathan [ 17] and Daniel [ 21] Botek, who is undergoing treatment for dementia. For Teddy Prusock, nephew of Lower School associate, Nina Prusock, who is undergoing neurological testing. For Jimmy Vickers, father of Lower School teacher, Caroline Holtz, who is seriously ill. For Kay Yunker, aunt of Mary Schmidt, great-aunt of Maggie [ 12] Schmidt who is under the care of hospice. ALTAR SERVERS and LECTORS: We continue to be in need of servers and lectors. Any student who is in the 3 rd [and up] grade is invited to become an altar server; any student who is in the 5 th [and up] grade is invited to become a lector. These are both wonderful ministries a great way to serve God and the faith community. If you would like to take advantage of these opportunities, please give your name to Father John. You do not have to attend Gilmour to be an altar server, lector, or to be involved in any other ministry at Our Lady Chapel. Please call the chapel office [ ]. A GRATEFUL HEART: A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. James E. Faust 19

3 PRAYER REQUESTS: Jesus calls us to pray for one another. Please keep all these people in your prayers. PRAYERS FOR THE SICK: 18 For Barbara Leonardi, who is under the care of hospice. For John DiCillo, husband of long-time Gilmour teacher, Bonnie, father of John [ 83], David [ 84], Dawn [ 86] and Daniel [ 88] DiCillo, who is critically ill with lymphoma. For Jenny Blender, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Vic Napiorkowski, husband of Carrie Warburton [ 83] who is recovering from multiple surgeries. For Dorothy Kazel, mother of Daniel [ 86] and Gilmour counselor, Jamie, who is recovering from surgery. For David Carr, Jr. [ 79], son of Gilmour trustees David and Carole Carr, who is undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in a skiing accident. For Mark LaCasse, brother of Upper School Associate, Linda Wheeler, uncle of Molly [ 06] Wheeler, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Molly McKenna who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Charles Babbush, father of Jeffrey [ 83] who is ill. For Ali Priest, who is undergoing treatment for a rare muscular disease. For Peggy Hurley, relative of James [ 10] and Connor [ 13] Hurley, who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. For Sue Nyberg, godmother of Katie Leavitt, who is seriously ill with cancer. For Ryan Berger [ 15], brother of Cameron [ 17] who is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident. For Drew Franco, son of Brian [ 90], nephew of Jeff [ 88] and Kristin [ 94] Kirkpatrick, who is struggling with a seizure disorder. For Michael Palumbo, father of Michael [ 14], Marisa [ 15], and former Gilmour student, Christian, who is undergoing medical treatment For Todd Deranek, relative of Hayden [ 28] and Hadley [ 29] Bashein, who was seriously injured in an accident. For Maureen Kenner, aunt of Katherine [ 09] and David Hasler [ 13], who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Colleen Lowman, grandmother of Religion instructor, Rachel Burke, who is seriously ill. For Dennis Kavran, father of Dennis [ 86] and Jennifer [ 95], grandfather of Adam [ 14] and Madeleine [ 16] Miller, who is undergoing further treatment for cancer. For Donna Farkas who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Lexi Pappadakes, who is undergoing treatment for complications from surgery.. For Rosemarie Lemieux who is ill. For Robert Heltzel [ 65], father of Jennifer [ 91] and Kathleen [ 93] Heltzel, who is undergoing medical treatment For Matt Barry [ 13], brother of Tim [ 12], who continues treatment for cancer. For Maria Ricci, friend of Linda McGraw, who is ill. For Jeff Warner, brother of Denise Calabrese, who is undergoing treatment resulting from a stroke and seizure. For Janice Feenstra, sister of Lisa Habe, aunt of Jack [ 19] and Will [ 20] Habe who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Phylis McGinley, grandmother of Middle school Head of School, Elizabeth Edmondson, great-grandmother of Mollie [ 21] and Abigail [ 23] Edmondson, who is seriously ill. For Mary Kampman, mother of Mark [ 81], Matthew [ 85], Dean [ 86], and Douglas [ 88] who is undergoing treatment for cancer. For Karen Wanders, mother of upper school Head of School, Jonathan Wanders, who continues in treatment and rehabilitation For Betty Herten, aunt of Hope [ 13] and James [ 15] Herten, who is undergoing treatment for leukemia. BRINGING UP THE OFFERTORY GIFTS: Would you and your family or group like to bring up the gifts at the offertory at Mass? In the past, our Council people have invited people to bring up the gifts, and we have found that many if not most of you like to be asked. But in using this method, we may be leaving people out, especially if it is done as a last minute item. So, we are posting a sign-up sheet on the Easel in the narthex of the chapel. If you or your family or group would like to bring up the gifts on a certain Saturday or Sunday or if you are open to doing this at any time please call the chapel office [ ]. We look forward to opening this beautiful experience to all in our community. SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK: Sunday, January 10: Monday, January 11: 1 st Week in Ordinary Time Tuesday, January 12: Wednesday, January 13: Thursday, January 14: Friday, January 15: 10:00 AM Saturday, January 16: 2 nd Week in Ordinary Time 5:00 PM Sunday, January 170: Feast of the Epiphany UPCOMING CHAPE ACTIVITIES: 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel] 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel] 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel] 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel] 5:30 PM [Eucharistic Chapel] 10:00 AM January Life Teen Game Night January Faith Education Session #13 Chapel Christmas decorations removed EDGE Meeting January Freshman Class Mass January Holy Cross Brother s Gathering January Our Lady Chapel Council Meeting January st Reconciliation [Group 1] January Sophomore Class Mass 1 st Reconciliation [Group 2] 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM 11:30 AM 11:30 am 1:00 PM 9:45 AM 3:00 PM 6:15 PM 6:15 PM 9:45 AM 6:15 PM 3

4 REFLECTION ON THE THEME FOR THE WEEK: We enter the Christian community through baptism the event through which we begin to grow in th3 Lord. We enter this new year of gathering together as that community by our being offered the Feast of the baptism of Jesus. While within the influence of the Christmas graces, we are being introduced to Him as alive and beginning His new years. We enter into this celebration by recalling our own and our deep desires to be a part of His growing up. Each of us who will be at the Eucharistic gathering has been on the same journey from baptism through growing up and out. Much is asked of us, and we in turn ask much of God Who calls us. May we acquire the simplicity of heart which is cleansed and inspired through water and the Holy Spirit. As we are living that New Life, we open ourselves to the New Light through our years. The white garment of our own baptisms may be less white as our hair grows whiter. But each time we enter the Eucharistic community s celebration, we renew our baptisms by signing ourselves with holy water recalling the words by which we were initiated into that holy assembly. Water cleanses and the Holy Spirit enlivens. We come to celebrate Christ s saving action in the Eucharist re-membering us to the community no matter how stained our pasts may be. We are re-blessed to be re-sent no matter how white our hairs may be. Throughout the course of history, Israel has been referred to as the Servant of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah introduces us to a special person of history who will assist God in caring for the people and the nation of Israel itself. This person will have God as his support [Isaiah 42:1-7]. This person will have qualities of justice, calmness of spirit, and action. This person has a specific mission which involves his going beyond the boundaries of Israel, bringing a light. This light will bring justice to the earth as well as recovery of sight and freedom for those in darkness and prison. This Servant will be gentle not like other prophets who work themselves up into a feverish frenzy resulting in shouting and convulsions. He will be gentle of speech and action. He will be upheld by the Lord and loved explicitly so as to bring justice between God and God s creation. There is a strong sense of the messiah here. This is a person of hope. The Spirit of God will be upon and within him and his identity will be known by the people of Israel through his actions. Luke s Gospel gives us one more Annunciation scene [Luke 3:15-16, 21-22]. As with Gabriel s announcing to Mary [see Luke 1] that she would give birth to a son who will be born of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is announced as the beloved son by the same Spirit. John has baptized the crowd, and Jesus fulfills his ritual tradition. Then, while praying, there is a new form of baptism specifying him as the beloved servant. In a sense, it is more of a confirmation or even more, an ordination. This is not the moment when Jesus takes upon himself a Divine Nature, but an announcement of his coming of age in our salvation history. By the overshadowing of the Spirit Jesus became incarnate. By the over-hovering of the same Spirit he becomes incorporated that is embracing himself as servant-messiah of God and for all God s people. The same Spirit incarnates and Incorporates that family in Luke s account of Pentecost in The Acts of the Apostles [see Acts 2]. With our being baptized, we enter this same journey of coming of age this same process of entering more into the salvific embrace of God s mission of returning creation to its proper state of praise and order. The incarnation of Jesus is the work of the Spirit; as the Spirit overshadowed and conceived a fleshly presence in the person of Jesus, so the Spirit sanctifies the family of faith. We are likewise inspirited to take flesh anew and our mission of extending God s family in Christ. Throughout this Christmas season, we have been celebrating the Word becoming flesh. In doing so, 4 PRAYER REQUESTS: Jesus calls us to pray for one another. Please keep all these people in your prayers FOR THE DECEASED: For John Reidy. For Jospeh Kovatch, grandfather of Grace [ 23] and Robert [ 26] MacKinlay. For Patrick Wetzel. For Mok Lau, grandfather of Sam Lau [ 17] For Michael McConville. For Charles Grady [ 55] For Brother Gilles Cote, C.S.C. For Sister Dolores Kessinger, C.S.C. For Alfred Doberdruk For Fritz Selder For Elizabeth Benek For Franscesco Ricci. For Father Robert Kruse, C.S.C. For Sister Jane Ann Rochford, C.S.C. PRAYERS FOR OTHERS: For an end to violence in our society. For the families who are grieving the loss of loved ones. For an end to human trafficking.. For the unemployed. For those who struggle with family relationships. For a greater respect for human life, from the moment of conception until natural death. For all caregivers. For a special intention. For all service men and women serving our country, and for their families. EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: We are currently discerning a new group of Eucharistic Ministers who would undergo training within the next month. If you feel that the Lord is calling you to this ministry, we would be delighted to include you in that ministry here at Our Lady Chapel. Both adults and teens [must be going into Senior year of High School] are welcome to participate in this very special ministry. We are need of ministers for both our Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses. Contact Father John or the chapel office [ ] if you feel called to this ministry. We are always in need of Eucharistic Ministers. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Father John will be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with you on every Saturday between 3:30 4:00 PM. Confessions are also available by appointment. The Reconciliation Room is located in the small chapel directly across from Father John s Office 17

5 COMING TO KNOW WHO WE ARE: Our annual March 25 th feast of the Annunciation always creates problems for teachers and students of Scripture. The Feast of the Annunciation revolves around Gabriel s well-known encounter with Mary [see Luke 1]. But as any critical reader of Scripture knows, this annunciation is only one of four gospel annunciations concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Totally independent of Mary s annunciation, Joseph has an angelic experience at the beginning of Matthew s gospel [see Matthew 1]. And both Mark and Luke also provide an annunciation to Jesus as part of his baptismal experience [see Mark 1 and Luke 3]. [Please note: we will leave the transfiguration narratives for another time]. Biblical annunciations are literary devices created by our sacred authors to point out the meaning of the events that they are narrating. They re included for the sake of the Biblical readers not the Biblical participants. Though they re important for helping us understand our biblical writers beliefs and theologies, the vast majority of Scripture scholars don t take these passages literally. Without annunciations we can presume that biblical personalities lived lives quite similar to our own often asking why God placed them in specific situations, and in relationships with particular people. It usually takes a lifetime to make sense out of a lifetime. Rarely are there shortcuts. It would seem that the historical Jesus originally conceived of himself simply as a disciple of John the Baptizer. Practically every source employed by our Christian sacred authors associate him with this prophetic individual. Notice what Peter tells Cornelius in our Acts passage You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached [Acts 10:34-38]? Yet once John was arrested and eventually martyred, Jesus had to change his plans. He not only takes over John's ministry he becomes even greater than his mentor. That s why Luke s John tells Jesus: I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me [Luke 3:15-16, 21-22]. We presume no one around Jesus and John would have realized Jesus superiority to John until after John s arrest and martyrdom long after Jesus and John s original relationship was formed, and eventually solidified by Jesus death and resurrection. Luke obviously inserted late first century CE theology into a passage which narrates events which took place 40 or 50 years before. In a parallel way, the call narratives of the classic Jewish prophets are always the last sections of the prophetic books to take form. Isaiah is a classic example. Only toward the end of his ministry does this he begin to understand the uniqueness of his call [Isaiah 642:1-7]. Though Isaiah is certain that he s a prophet, it takes him a lifetime to understand how unlike other prophets he is. He doesn t tear into people like most of his prophetic predecessors. On the contrary, not only does he build up where others tear down; he eventually begins to understand that even non-jews the coastlands and the nations will benefit from his ministry. Is it possible that it also took time for the historical Jesus to discover his own uniqueness? After all, remember that the author of the letter to the Hebrews was convinced that Jesus was a human being like all of us except in sin. We take for granted what that means if it takes me time to gradually come to know who I am, so with Jesus. Strange things happen when we begin to understand annunciations as the literary devices our sacred authors intended them to be. We might actually be able to identify with certain individuals we d never dared identify before including Jesus of Nazareth. taken from the writings of Father Roger Karban, which appear on the internet THE INJUSTICE OF POVERTY: We pray to the Almighty to relieve poverty. But poverty comes not from God s laws it is blasphemy of the worst kind to say that. Poverty comes from our injustice to one another. Leo Tolstoy 16 we have come to realize that Mary s flesh was more than it seemed her body was more than others knew. In time her cousin, the shepherds, and the Magi and us came to reverence that which was different from what it had seemed to be. Now we come to realize that the Word Made Flesh is transformed too from what it seemed to be we come to see the Beloved Son. Our flesh has been immersed in the baptismal experience of Jesus. His body and person were united by God to unite us within ourselves and incorporate us with and for each other. But here s the challenge like Jesus, we are baptized, confirmed, and ordained to go public. Jesus had to leave his praying alone, leave the riverbank, leave the association with John and begin his walk towards Jerusalem. We, in our turn, must leave the privacy of our pews our comfort zone, our well-planned, yet surprizeless ways. Each of us is much more than we seem. We are so close to ourselves though, that what seems is deceptive. As Jesus heard his new name, he moved from seems to is. The same has to happen in each of us this is the grace of baptism. Our being Baptized and Confirmed dedicates us into the Listeningness of Jesus. As he listened to the mysterious God and to the bewildering voices of humanity within and around Him, so through baptism and confirmation, we are plunged into the waters of Discernment. At baptism, our ears are blessed to begin this process of learning what God sounds like and what our egos, our flesh, our worldliness sound like. Jesus learned to listen to it all with receptivity and discretion. We will spend these next weeks of the Liturgical Year listening so that we might hear, and hearing, we might live what we come to believe. edited from the writings of Father Larry Gillick, S.J., which appear on the internet 2016 CALENDARS: Calendars for the year 2016 are available for your taking. Besides having space for you to write your family appointments, the calendar also contains information about Mass and Reconciliation times here at Our Lady Chapel. We wish to thank the Schulte-Mahon- Murphy Funeral Homes for their generous donation of these 2016 Calendars to us. Please feel free to take as many calendars as you would like. Thank you. CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: During this Christmas season, we would like to thank all those who have helped us by making memorial offerings. May our floral decorations and this season remind all of us of those special relationships which we hold close to our heart. Please keep the following people in your prayers: In memory of Jean Sulowski, Rasoletti Family, Eleanor & Curtiss DeMarco, Blazek and Rezabek Families, Loy and Polack Families, Trzaska, Wieslaw and Sokolowski Families. If you would like to make a memorial offering, please place it in an envelope marked Memorial Offering, Christmas Decorations and give to Father John or place it in the offering basket. God bless all of you. A CALL TO RECONCILIATION: Reconciliation is much more than a one-time event by which a conflict is resolved and peace established. A ministry of reconciliation goes far beyond problem solving, mediation, and peace agreements. There is not a moment in our lives without the need for reconciliation. When we dare to look at the myriad hostile feelings and thoughts in our hearts and minds, we will immediately recognize the many little and big wars in which we take part. Our enemy can be a parent, a child, a friendly neighbor, or people with different lifestyles, or people who do not think as we think, speak as we speak, or act as we act. They all can become them. Right there is where reconciliation is needed. Reconciliation touches the most hidden parts of our souls. God gave reconciliation to us as a ministry that never ends. Henri Nouwen 5

6 THE BAPTISM OF JESUS A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION: God the Father attests to the divinity of the Son at the moment of his baptism in the waters of the Jordan [Luke 3:15-16, 21-22], and by this means, Jesus manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him [John 2:11]. Jesus is our Messiah. His eternal messianic consecration was revealed during the time of his earthly life at the moment of his baptism by John, when God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power that he might be revealed to Israel as its Messiah [Acts 10:38; John 1:31]. His works and words will manifest him as the Holy One of God [Mark 1:24; John 6:69; Acts 3:14]. When he attained to the perfect age when the time came for him to teach, to work miracles, and to draw people to himself then it was fitting for his Godhead to be attested from on high by the Father s testimony, so that his teaching might be the more credible The Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me [John 5:37]. Our Lord s baptism a sign only of his divinity better enables us to understand our own reception of this great sacrament of initiation into Christian life and salvation. Baptism is a grace which we accept and in which we grow through a life of perseverance in prayer and worship in body, mind and spirit. After Baptism we need to pray continually in order to enter heaven; for though sins are remitted through Baptism, there still remains the inclination to sin which assails us from within and also the flesh and the devil which assail us from without. The Father has spoken forth the eternal Word in Christ the Lord, and breathed forth the word of truth at the baptism of the Lord You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased [Luke 3:22]. In our daily lives we are to grow in prayer, sacrifice, and consecration all by means of the Word of truth, poured forth for us continually in the proclamation of the Gospel and the sacramental life. We encounter the Lord Jesus most perfectly and most fully each week in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, for He truly speaks to us when the Scriptures are proclaimed in the assembly, and at the Communion of the Mass we truly receive Him Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Most Blessed Sacrament. By this God-given means, the grace of our baptism will grow ever stronger, becoming a fountain within us, welling up to eternal life. taken from the writings of Father Kevin Cusick which appear on the internet. AMAZON.COM: Please remember that when you want to buy something from Amazon.com, you need to first go to and click on the Amazon logo at the bottom of the home page! Because of this simple step and at no cost to the purchaser Our Lady Chapel receives a percentage of all purchases that are made from Amazon.com. Ever since we have begun this program, we have consistently been receiving significant checks from Amazon that are being credited to help pay for chapel expenses. This affinity program remains in effect throughout the year, so we ask everyone to continue to remember to start your purchases at Amazon on the Our Lady Chapel home page! Thank you. CHAPEL 20 th ANNIVERSARY NOTE CARDS: Note Cards of the Vatican Treasure Our Lady Of Gilmour are also available for purchase. The card has a beautiful photo of Our Lady of Gilmour taken by John Reid on the front. The inside is blank for your message, and the back of the card has a description of the Vatican Treasure and it was brought to the Chapel, along with appropriate credits. The Cards sell in packets of 5 for $10. The Cards are located in the chapel office and are available by contacting Patty Szaniszlo at (440) or at szaniszlop@gilmour.org. 6 teach us what it means to be a spiritual and a sensitive human being. Trying to be good should still not be an attempt to somehow earn love or heaven, but rather an acknowledgement, a humble one, that one still needs a lot of help in knowing how to live in the face of love. Why be good if God loves us anyway? For the same reason that an artist doesn t deface a masterpiece and a lover doesn t violate his or her beloved. Ethics follow naturally when truth, beauty, and love are properly appropriated. taken from the writings of Father Ronald Rolheiser, O.M.I., which appear on the internet YOU ARE MADE IN GOD S IMAGE: God chose to create human beings differently from the other animals. God made us both male and female in his image, and he gave us authority over all other living creatures. This gives us great value and raises an important question: In what ways are we made in God s image? We reflect God s glory. Some believe that our reason, creativity, speech, or self-determination is the image of God. More likely, our entire self is what reflects the image of God. We will never be totally like God because he is our supreme creator. But we do have the ability to reflect his character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness. Knowing that we are made in God s image and that we share many of his characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical attractiveness, or public acclaim; instead, it is based on being made in God s image. Because we bear God s image, we can feel confident in who we are. Criticizing ourselves is discounting what God has made and the abilities he has given us. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps you love God, know him personally, and contribute meaningfully to the lives of those around you. Stop and thank God for creating you in his image. You are his unique creation and he loves you. Thank him for your special gifts, talents, abilities, physical characteristics, emotional makeup, and personality. And ask him to help you respect others even those you don t get along with because they are his image-bearers as well. LESSON LEARNED: A young man had just graduated from Harvard and was so excited just thinking about his future. He gets into a taxi and the driver says: How are you on this lovely day? I m the Class of 2015, just graduated from Harvard, and I just can t wait to go out there and see what the world has in store for me. The driver looks back to shake the young man s hand and says: Congratulations. I m Mitch. Harvard Class of CHILDREN S BULLETINS: Each week, we are making available a Children s Worship Bulletin. There are two editions: [3-6] and [7-12]. They are available on the table as you leave. The Bulletin focuses on the readings for the week. These are wonderful tools for your children to learn more about the scripture readings for the week. We hope you will take them for your families or your grandchildren. Thanks. THE BEAUTY OF MIRACLES: The miracle of God comes not only from above; it also comes through us; it is also dwelling in us. It has been given to every person, and it lies in every soul as something divine, and it waits. Calling, it waits for the hour when the soul shall open itself, having found its God and its home. When this is so, the soul will not keep its wealth to itself, but will let it flow out into the world. Eberhard Arnold 15

7 GOD S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: Recently I had lunch with a former student of mine a very idealistic young man who teaches religion in a Catholic High School. He shared with me about his struggles in trying to teach young people about God. One of the major problems, as he sees it, is that his students idea of God invariably contains too much of the notion that God is a petty tyrant, that God can easily be offended, that God is threatened by our joys and successes, and especially that somehow we have to earn God s love by being good. He, for his part, tries to correct these notions by presenting a picture of God as a God whose essential countenance is that of blessing and not of frowning a God who is an extravagant, unconditional lover, the father of prodigal son, who cannot be put off by human infidelity. Among other things, he likes presenting Julian of Norwich s picture of God as sitting in heaven, smiling, completely relaxed, his face looking like a marvelous symphony. However, when he tries to present this idea of God, the response of his students is inevitably something to this effect: Then why be good? If God loves us no matter what we do, then why keep the commandments? If we are not to be punished or rewarded for our efforts, then why make sacrifices? Why indeed? Why be good and try to keep the commandments if God loves us anyway? Simply put, we don t try to be good so that God loves and rewards us. God loves us no matter what we do, and heaven is never a reward for a good life. Are these glib statements? No. God s love, as Jesus assures us, is always both unmerited and unconditional nothing we do can ever make God love us, just as nothing we do can ever stop God from loving us. God loves just as God does everything else perfectly. God loves everything and everybody perfectly. In fact, part of Christian belief a dogma, in fact is that God s love is what keeps everything in existence. If God stopped loving anything, it would cease to be. This raises an interesting question: If God loves everything and everyone perfectly, does God then also love Satan? Indeed, does God love Satan as much as he loves Jesus mother, Mary? The answer can only be yes God loves Satan as much as God loves Mary. The difference is not in how God loves them, but in how they, each in turn, love God. God loves each of them in the same way perfectly. But obviously Mary s response is very different from Satan s. In that difference we see what creates hell a certain attitude in the face of love. However notice that in neither case is the love either merited or deflected. God just loves us, pure and simple. God cannot be offended. God s love cannot be driven away. God does not reward or punish us on the basis of whether we have been good or bad. God simply loves us. Then why be good? Why keep the commandments? What difference does our response make? Our response makes a big difference but not in terms of giving God offense, driving God away, or making God punish or reward us. It makes a difference in how we stand and feel in the face of love. We cannot offend against God, but we can offend against others and ourselves. We can, like Satan, live in bitterness and unhappiness right within love itself and we can deeply hurt others. The spiritual and moral precepts of the faith all of them, including the ten commandments are therefore meant to do a couple of things: 1. for anyone who is mature in the faith, living out what faith and morality asks of us is in fact a natural response of gratitude for being loved and a natural expression of sensitivity to others. The desire to be good and to keep the commandments, as Martin Luther once said, follows from genuine faith and love the way smoke follows fire. The intent is never to earn love or reward, but to respond properly to them. This is true in the case of mature love and faith. 2. However, for those of us who are still struggling to be mature, the spiritual and moral precepts of the faith are meant as a discipline precisely as a discipleship that helps 14 A LESSON IN HUMILITY: Luke s Gospel [Luke 3:15-16, 21-22] shows John responding to those who are wondering if he might be the Christ, the hoped for Messiah, by sharply distinguishing himself from Jesus the one who is mightier and baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. The situation is complicated because John has already gained a large following impressed with his austere lifestyle in the desert and his blunt moral teaching. Furthermore, Jesus has just submitted himself to John s baptism of repentance for sin seeming to indicate that John is the master and that Jesus is John s disciple. We might imagine John being tempted to retain control of the reform movement within Judaism that he started and was gaining momentum under his leadership. But the disciplined ascetic will have none of it. He knows who he is; he recognizes his limitations; he accepts his vocational role; he vacates center stage. With genuine humility, John says he is not even worthy to perform the menial task of undoing the sandals of Jesus. We know individuals who have made Baptist-like adjustments in their lives. Sue was very close to her daughter as she grew up, while her husband concentrated on supporting the family. When her daughter was faced with new challenges, such as buying a car, renting an apartment and finding a job, she naturally turned for help to her father who was pleased to become more a part of her life. As the fatherdaughter relationship grew, Sue found herself vaguely resentful somehow diminished, and relegated to a secondary position. Over time, with prayer, she came to accept the new situation and was even pleased that two people she loved so much had developed such a close relationship. Sam loved his job as a financial consultant. He had a great relationship with his boss, a golfing buddy, who appreciated Sam s expertise and often sought his advice. When his boss left the firm, Sam found himself with a new female boss who ran a tight ship, maintained an impersonal leadership style and was not particularly interested in his opinions. He grew increasingly unhappy with his situation to the point where it was causing him daily anxiety and hurting his health. Since he had no realistic alternative job opportunities and no real chance of improving his personal relationship with his boss, he began to work at accepting his limited role at work. Over time, Sam achieved enough acceptance so that he no longer dreaded going to work and regained some of his satisfaction in doing his job well. What lessons from John the Baptist would be most helpful for your spiritual growth? taken from the writings of Father Jim Bacik which appear on the internet CLEAN OUT THOSE CLOSETS AND SERVE OTHERS: Winter is here another time to once again clean out the closets. Clothing that no longer fits, or has been replaced by new items, can become great items for others. Always remember the words of Jesus: The poor you shall always have with you [Matthew 26:11]. Please continue to bring your gently used men s, women s and children s clothing to the Lennon Board Room, or place it in the cedar chest which is located in the Chapel narthex [just press the key button to open the chest]. We partner with Fatima Center to help provide clothing for general use. Also, business work clothing for this season is especially needed. The Fatima Center helps men and women prepare for job interviews. If you have some of these items, this would be a good time to send them along. Clothing for all seasons is accepted, but please try to keep in mind that storage facilities are limited at Fatima so it would help if you could focus on winter items at this time. You may pick up a tax form when you drop off the clothing here at Our Lady Chapel there are forms in the cedar chest. Clothing may be brought on the weekend, or during the week. contact Patty in the chapel office [ ]. Thank you. If you have any questions, please LEARNING A LESSON: Frustrated? It may be because you're trying to make something happen that only God can make happen. 7

8 BAPTISM IS LIVING A MISSION: The not only recalls his Baptism by John in the River Jordan, it also inaugurates the public Ministry of Jesus [Luke 3:15-16, 21-22]. Luke s account of the baptism of Jesus has an extremely personal flavor. There is actually nothing to say that John even carried out the baptism. Yet, there is the clear understanding that Jesus was baptized separately and after everyone else. There is also a suggestion that the baptism occurred in a private moment when Christ was alone. All this is to highlight the fact that Jesus wasn t a sinner who came for a baptism of repentance like everybody else. We know, of course, that Jesus was without sin and therefore had no need of repentance. His baptism is therefore quite different in nature it is a moment of approval and blessing and an inauguration of a new phase in his life. The occasion of his baptism is similar to the Transfiguration of Jesus which marked the movement from his ministry in Galilee to his journey up to Jerusalem to face his passion [see Luke 9]. At both these moments we hear the voice of the Father giving his approval in similar words This is my Beloved Son. We shouldn t think that since Jesus was divine he had no need for encouragement He was both human and divine, and in his humanity he needed just as much encouragement as any one of us. And he must have been greatly encouraged when he received this warm reassurance of the Father s love and a firm expression of approval. Notice that Luke separates the baptism of Jesus from that of the people Jesus was baptized after them. Theirs was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But Jesus has no sins to repent; instead he took on the sins of all humankind, and ultimately paid for them all thus making God s forgiveness available to all who sought it. He came among us as a man precisely for this purpose to free us from our sins. Thus, Luke separates the baptism of the people and the baptism of Jesus to emphasize the difference between them. Luke also places the descent of the Holy Spirit and the voice of the Father after a period of prayer by Jesus. It is made clear that these things are something specifically for him. His baptism is a baptism of quite a different order. It is the inauguration of his public ministry and the beginning of his proclamation of the Good News. Baptism is the first and most fundamental of all the sacraments. It marks our freedom from sin, it brings us into membership of the Church and it inaugurates us into the new life of the Spirit. It is our most precious inheritance. A story is told about a Pope who was being congratulated shortly after his installation. Someone said to him: I suppose that was the most important day of your whole life? Oh no, said the Pope, the most important day of my life was the day of my Baptism. The same is true for all of us the day of our baptism is the most important day of our whole lives; for it was on this day that we entered upon a new life a new life in Christ. Most of us do not remember our day of baptism because it occurred in infancy. Most of us don t even know the date of our baptism. But those who received baptism later on in our life, understand and know the profound choice that we have made. They know that they now live for Christ and not for themselves. This is not to put down the practice of infant baptism; infant baptism allows the grace of God s life to grow and become strong unhindered in our early years. But the fact is that for most Christians, we often fail to take into account what a dramatic sacrament that baptism is. When we were younger, we all learned that baptism washes away Original Sin and makes us a member of the Church. This is true. But most importantly, Baptism makes us an adopted child of God living a new life in Christ. It is through baptism that we are destined for heaven. 8 than our concepts of wonderful. He is carrying us on His Body from His Baptism to His Cross. During that time He teaches us He teaches us the Way of Love, the Way of the Kingdom, the Way of the Father. His voice is the one we need to hear. taken from the writings of Father Joseph Pellegrino which appear on the internet NATURE AS THE FIRST BIBLE: Each and every creature is a unique word of God, with its own message, its own metaphor, and its own energetic style its own way of showing forth goodness, beauty, and participation in the Great Mystery. Each creature has its own glow and its own unique glory. To be a contemplative is to be able to see each epiphany, to enjoy it, protect it, and draw upon it for the common good. Sister Ilia Delio, OSF, a speaker at some CAC [Center for Action and Contemplation] conferences, writes in true Franciscan style: The world is created as a means of God s self-revelation so that, like a mirror or footprint, it might lead us to love and praise the Creator. We are created to read the book of creation so that we may know the Author of Life. This book of creation is an expression of who God is and is meant to lead humans to what it signifies, namely, the eternal Trinity of dynamic, self-diffusive love. Meister Eckhart, OP, says it even more succinctly: Anyone who truly knows creatures may be excused from listening to sermons, for every creature is full of God, and is a book. And note that this statement is made by a member of the Order of Preachers! Truth is that on some Sundays, I am drawn to awe, prayer, and service by the Nature Channel much more than by listening to homilies at the morning church service! God s word is very present in all of creation. taken from the writings of Father Richard Rohr, OFM, which appear on the internet ATTENDANCE: If you attend Mass regularly here at Our Lady Chapel, it would be helpful if you filled out a form [name, address, phone number, children, etc.] indicating this fact, if you have not already done so. Such information not only helps us to know who is attending Our Lady Chapel; it also is of great assistance to us in record keeping [for our friend, the IRS] of any contributions which you may make. ENVELOPES: When you need a new supply of envelopes, please feel free to take a supply of them from the table in the vestibule, or call Father John at the Campus Ministry Office [ ]. When you use your envelope, please make sure that your number is on it. If you need to know your number, please call the Campus Ministry Office. Thanks. WEEKLY OFFERING: Baskets will be passed during the Preparation Rite and will be brought to the altar as part of the Offerings to help offset chapel daily operating expenses. When you choose to use the envelopes, your donations to Our Lady Chapel will be acknowledged so that you have a record for the IRS. Total Offerings: Thursday [12/31/15] ---[5:30 PM] $ Total Offerings: Saturday [1/2/16] $ Total Offerings: Sunday [1/3/16] $ COUNTING THE HOURS: And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln 13

9 OUR HUMANITY MADE HOLY: This weekend, the Christmas Season comes to a close with the second Epiphany of the Lord His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. The Baptism of the Lord is an epiphany because it is a demonstration to the world that this Jesus is the Son of the God. Some spiritual writers say that whereas the water John used made others holy, Jesus made the water holy. In a similar way some spiritual writers add that through the holiness of his humanity, our humanity was also made holy. The second epiphany occurred while John the Baptist was baptizing people with his baptism of repentance. John s baptism flowed from his preaching. He told people that longed for a new world that the new world was at hand. He challenged them to begin to change this world by changing their own lives. He called them to make a symbolic sign of this change by being baptized [see Luke 3]. This would be very similar to an evangelist calling people to change their lives and stand up for the Lord. Jesus hears John s preaching and is very much aware of the world s longing for change. He allows John to baptize Him even against John s objections because he also longs for a change in the world. He is one with all seeking the Kingdom of God [Luke 3:15-16, 21-22]. It is at this point that the Epiphany occurs. The Lord is shown to the world to be the Son of God. The voice from heaven echoes the first reading from Isaiah: This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The Holy Spirit descends upon the Lord in the form of a dove. The world witnesses the beginning of Jesus public life. This is my Beloved Son the importance of this epiphany lies in the words of the Father. Jesus and Jesus alone is our teacher. In a world full of gurus, dynamic preachers, and people of every opinion imaginable each with thousands and thousands of followers, we need to look to only one place, to only one person for guidance. We only need to look to Jesus Christ. Our way to God the Father is through the person of Jesus Christ. We take these steps by responding to his call for us to take up our crosses and follow him. Any theory or practice that diminishes the need for Jesus in our lives or relegates his presence to a secondary role cannot be our way to the Father. A wonderful spiritual writer and mystic of our time, Annie Dillard, describes the Baptism of Christ in her book, Holy the Firm. In her description she is walking on an island in the Puget Sound, Washington, when she sees two men by the water. Picture yourself standing on the shore with Annie: Christ is being baptized. The one who is Christ is there, and the one who is John. The two men are bare to the waist. The one walks him into the water and holds him under. His hand is on his neck. Christ is coiled and white under the water, standing on stones. He lifts from the water. Water beads on his shoulders. I see the water in balls heavy as planets, a billion beads of water as weighty as worlds, and He lifts them up on his back as he rises. He stands wet in the water. Each one bead is transparent, and each has a world or the same world, light and alive and apparent inside the drop it is all there ever could be, moving at once, past and future, and all the people. I can look into any sphere and see people stream past me, and cool my eyes with colors, and the sight of the world in spectacle perishing ever and ever renewed. I do; I deepen into a drop and see all that time contains, all the faces and deeps of the worlds, and all earth's contents, every landscape and room, everything living or made or fashioned, all past and future stars, and especially faces, faces like the cells of everything, faces pouring past me, talking, and going and gone. And I am gone. Humanity is being given dignity the dignity of the One whose humanity received the Holy Spirit at His Baptism. Jesus is being baptized for all of God's creation, for us. He carries on His Body each of us in the mystic oneness of time and place. We are there each of us in one of the billions of beads of water on His Body. His love for us is beyond our understanding. His love for us is infinitely greater 12 Christ began his saving mission in the waters of the River Jordan. It was an auspicious day for all humankind. But probably most of those who were present did not notice much difference from any other day. But it was from that baptism with the approval of the Father and in the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus embarked on his public ministry. From that time forward, Jesus preached the good news to the poor, he brought sight to the blind, he healed the sick, he multiplied the loaves, and he taught us how to live the way God wants us to live. The ministry of Jesus lasted just three years it led to his passion and death. But it was from that Cross on Calvary and out of the tomb in the hillside that Jesus brought about our salvation. But Christ s public ministry is not over it is continued by us, his followers, his apostles in the world today. For we, too, have been baptized, and it was an auspicious day for us even though most of us were unable to realize it at the time. And we too have a public ministry as Christ s ambassadors here on earth. Yes, through baptism the way to eternal life has been opened up. But more than this, through it we were adopted as God s sons and daughters and have a ministry in the world to spread the Good News throughout the earth. Unfortunately, we don t always live up to the high standards one would expect of a baptized Christian. But, thankfully, we have access to the sacrament of reconciliation through which our baptismal purity is restored. Our vocation is a high one, its responsibilities are many, but the rewards that come with it are even greater. We have been initiated into new life with Christ, let us live that new life with passion and dedication and be truly worthy of our calling. taken from the writings of Father Alex McAllister, S.D.S., which appear on the internet READINGS FOR THE WEEK: 2 nd Week in Ordinary Time: Monday: 1 Samuel 1:1-8, Mark 1:14-20 Tuesday: 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Mark 1:21-28 Wednesday: 1 Samuel 3:1-20, Mark 1:29-39 Thursday: 1 Samuel 4:1-11, Mark 1:40-45 Friday: 1 Samuel 8:4-22, Mark 2:1-12 Saturday: 1 Samuel 9:1-10:1, Mark 2:13-17 DRESSES FOR HONDURAS: Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 2:1-11 One of the nurses in our Gilmour Clinic is involved in a dressmaking project for the children of Honduras. They have devised a method of making sundresses out of common pillowcases, and then adorning them with other items for decoration. And that is where you come in. If you have any old buttons, ribbon, ric-rac, lace or other sewing trim, please bring them in. The group would like to collect these items to help decorate the dresses they are working on. This is an on-going project; the dresses will be sent to Honduras every time there is a mission trip. The next trip is scheduled for March of There is a basket in the narthex of the Chapel to collect any donations you may have. Thank you for your help! DOING GOOD: Seek to do good and you will find that happiness will run after you. James Clarke 9

10 A GREAT DAY TO DIE: Have you ever noticed how strange baptism is? Where else in the world can you find people smiling and consenting while someone pours water all over a baby s head? The other form of baptism is even more shocking the new Christian is completely dunked under water three times. Even the prayers themselves are pretty intense, as the priest tells the newly baptized person that they are being baptized into Christ s death [Romans 6:4]. If baptism is supposed to be all about celebrating new life, why is there so much imagery of death and drowning? When I was younger, I thought that baptism was kind of like hand washing for the soul. But it s so much more than that. During the Easter season, baptism and the renewal of baptismal vows are a constant theme that we hear repeated. The scriptures and the prayers of the baptismal rite remind us of the times that God used water throughout history to set His people free. Recall the story of Noah and his family being saved [see Genesis 6 and 7], or the Israelite people s exodus from Egypt through the Red Sea [see Exodus 10], the image of water is a little bit more dramatic than hand washing. The flood in the time of Noah was devastating as it wiped out everything in its path. Immediately after God's chosen people marched safely across the Red Sea, the Egyptians chasing them were drowned and killed by the water. So maybe baptism isn t really just about cleaning a baby s forehead or soul. God doesn t want to just wipe off the dirt on the surface of our lives. Just as we inherit different genetic things from our parents and our families, we are all born with original sin on our souls. Just as He drowned the Egyptians that had enslaved His chosen people, God wants to drown the sin that seeks to enslave us. In His death and resurrection, Jesus offers us eternal life. But if we want to live with Him, we have to be willing to die. I'm not just talking about the end of our lives we need to die every day. Baptism isn t just an excuse for parents to dress their babies in white outfits it s a visible reminder that the only way to eternal life is through death. If I want to live, there are things in me that need to die my selfishness, my lust, my greed, my grudges, and my sin have got to go. Each day we are faced with this choice will I live for myself, or will I lay my life down? Is my life focused on success or sacrifice? When we walk into a church, we are confronted with the radical call to die. When we see the baptismal font, we are reminded that it s only through death that we can rise with Christ. And when we dip our fingers into the Holy Water, we trace the sign of the cross to say: God, drown whatever needs to be drowned in my heart. I want to live with you, so I m willing to die like you. Many of us claim to live for God, but are we willing to die for Him every day in big and small ways? Today's a great day to die. taken from the writings of Brian Kissinger, an associate of the Bible Geek PATIENCE: Patience is a hard discipline. It is not just waiting until something happens over which we have no control the arrival of the bus, the end of the rain, the return of a friend, the resolution of a conflict. Patience is not a waiting passivity until someone else does something. Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later, and somewhere else. Let's be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand. Henri Nowen 10 LIFE TEEN: Join us on Saturday evening, January 9 th our famous game night. Festivities begin at 6:30 PM. Food will be provided, but bring snacks and/or a desert. Come and try us out. Life Teen generally meets right after Sunday Mass from 11:30 AM 1:00 PM in the Lennon Board Room. Life Teen is open to all high school aged young people. Just call the office and let us know that you are going to be coming. We ask you to do this because there will be food involved. We have a great deal of fun together and we grow in our faith at the same time. Respond to your texts and/or s, or call the chapel office [ ] to be notified. We will be taking a break until after the New Year. If you can t join us on January 9 th, our next meeting will be on Sunday, January 24 th. Please join us for a wonderful experience. Also please continue to remember all our teens and young people in your prayers. MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP THE EDGE: Join us on Sunday, January 10 th when we will be sharing meaningful Christmas experiences. We will also be taking down the Christmas decorations in the Chapel. Lunch will be provided. Come and try us out. Come and find out what the EDGE is all about. If you have not joined us before, that s OK. Just call the office and let us know that you are going to be coming. We ask you to do this because there will be food involved. Our EDGE Youth Group has a Faith-Service-Social component, and we look forward to your participation. All are welcome. If you can t join us on January 10 th, our next meeting will be on Saturday, January 30 th when we will have the EDGE version of game night it s a blast. Please join us for a wonderful experience. SERVING THE LORD IN THE POOR: For the past year, our teens have been volunteering at Our Savior Lutheran Church Food Pantry [located right across the street from the chapel]. The Pantry is open on the third Saturday of every month from 11:00 AM 1:30 or 2:00 PM. Our Savior Lutheran s Food Pantry was formed to serve those in emergency situations and/or with on-going need in the cities of Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Highland Heights and Gates Mills. The Food Pantry respects social and cultural diversity and upholds the worth and dignity of those it serves. All those in the area with need will be served equally, as supplies allow. The food pantry is a member of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. During the course of the past year, the food pantry at Our Savior Lutheran Church served an verage of 141 households each time. Our teens have loved this ministry and have been very faithful to it. We would now like to open this ministry up to our entire Chapel Community. If you would like to help on any given third Saturday, please call Patty at the chapel office [ ] to let us know that you are going to volunteer, or Elina Gurney at gurney.oh@gmail.com. THE SPIRITUAL WORK OF GRATITUDE: To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy; but to be grateful for all of our lives the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for. Let s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now, and to trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God. Father Richard Rohr, O.F.M. 11