Questions for reflection on the Scriptures for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
1)
Questions on the Reading from the Book of Genesis:
What is the situation? How would you describe Abraham’s interaction with God?
What is the point of the story? How does this relate to the Gospel story?
2) Questions on the Reading from Colossians: What is St. Paul’s theology of baptism here? Is there any connection between this passage and the other two?
3) Questions on the Gospel: What is the situation? How does Jesus teach his disciples to pray? How does this differ from Matthew’s version? (Mt. 6:9-13) What aspect of prayer does Jesus emphasize here? What aspect of prayer does Jesus emphasize in Matthew’s version? (Mt. 6:14-15)
DAYTIME BIBLE STUDY: The noon Bible Study will meet this Tuesday, 12–1 PM in the Rectory. We will base our study on the Scripture readings for next Sunday. Please bring your Bible and join us.
EVENING BIBLE STUDY: The evening Bible Study will meet this Tuesday, 7-8 PM, in the Rectory. We will be reading Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, Chapters 1-4. Please read the material ahead of time and come prepared to discuss what you have read.
CONGRATULATIONIS TO THE DE LA SALLE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS OF 2010!
Adrian Bowman, Jordan Franks, Douglas Hill, Gregory Robinson
and
Joshua Williams will attend DeSmet Jesuit
High School; Evan
Adams and Luke Hamilton will attend St. Mary’s High School; Jonathan Pate and Emanual Primer will attend Clyde C. Miller Career Academy; Marques Caldwell will attend St. John Vianney High School;
Brian Edwards will attend
Christian Brothers College High School; Kaylen Ford will attend Incarnate
Word Academy; Marquita Harris will attend Cardinal
Ritter College Prep High School; Adrienne
Lomax-Rhymes will attend St. Elizabeth Academy; Courtney Moore will attend Chaminade College Preparatory School; and Rachel Shinuald
will attend Confluence Preparatory Academy. A JOB WELL DONE BY ONE AND ALL!!
THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA IN EVERYDAY LIFE will be offered through the St. Charles Lwanga Center, 4746 Carter Avenue, September - May. The Bridges Foundation, Inc. will conduct an information session at the Lwanga Center on Wednesday, Aug. 11 @ 7p.m. Questions? Call Cheryl Rauschenbach @ 636-225-8433 or Cheryl_rauschenbach@yahoo.com.
KEEPING THE COVENANT, Chapter 8: Structuring for Ownership. “The theme of the book is joint ownership of the parish shared by pastor, staff, leaders and people. They are co-workers with God and one another…. Establishing a structure of joint ownership is the key to this covenant becoming reality.” The book suggests we structure “Commissions” in 5 areas: worship, community life, formation, outreach and administration. (St. Matthew does not have a “community life” commission, and divides “administration” into two areas: finance & budget, and stewardship & development.) The role of each commission is to link, assess, vision and funnel information and people in their particular area. The author further suggests that each commission include a staff resource person, co-chairs, meet on a common leadership night (or day), and develop a “Covenant Booklet” to help establish consistent procedures and policies. There is also strong push for training of new people as they join a commission.
Questions: 1. In your parish, who does the oversight and planning for each of the key areas of parish life? 2. What changes would have to take place so that all those in leadership positions are working well together and are connected with all of the ministries and organizations of the parish?
PARISH PASTORAL
COUNCIL MEETING TODAY:
Minutes
·
The Council discussion Keeping the Covenant, Chapter 13.The chapter focuses on planning
within commissions. The topic sentences given for each commission are pointed,
and the entire chapter will be a good reference as we come to this point in our
development. The content also connects with Chapter 8, which introduces the
Commission structure to the Council. Together, these two chapters will provide
valuable guidance to us in the future.
·
Parishioners are being invited to join the Council to
fill the terms of those who have left.
·
Administration and Finance reports that we are
struggling financially right now, but should be OK soon due to the Auction
income.
·
Social Concerns is looking for a new Pro-Life person.
There is also interest in working against capital punishment. The other
portions of this ministry are doing well.
·
Spiritual Life and Worship is now working to
implement Chapters 8 & 13 of Keeping
the Covenant. The Commission is seeking folks who are interested in working
for the spiritual vitality of the parish. At their August meeting, they will
begin to set a vision and goals to accomplish this purpose. At some point, the
Commission will select a representative to the Pastoral Council. If this
experiment works, the Commission will suggest that the Council follow the same
path in reinvigorating the other commissions.
·
Stewardship and Development reported that Auction
preparation is coming along well, though we can always use increased
involvement.
·
The Staff is working to implement Chapter 11 of Keeping the Covenant by working with the
Pastoral Council to conduct a survey among parishioners. The plan is to invite parish
members to share their opinions on what is good about the parish, what they see
as areas of concern, and what new they would like to see happen. The survey
will be conducted thru 1-on-1 interviews, with possibly 30-40 parishioners of
varied ages and involvement levels being interviewed. The Staff and Council
members will work the basics out together, and then members of that group will
conduct the interviews in the fall. Results will be collated and used for
planning as we begin a new year in January. It is important that we have a
clear follow-up to the interviews. The staff will formulate questions within
the next two weeks, and get back to the Council in August.
·
Next meeting: August 1, 2010.
ANYONE WISHING TO SERVE ON THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL AT THIS TIME is invited to contact a member of the Council for more information.
AUCTION RAFFLE: We are now selling raffle tickets for a 40” Samsung flat screen LCD TV (1st prize) and a Wii with a $50 gift certificate to Best Buy (2nd prize). The drawing will take place at the Auction on July 24; you need not be present to win. Tickets are $35 each or 2 for $50, and are available in the back of church beginning today.
DAILY READINGS, July 19-24:
Monday: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 50; Matthew 12:38-42
Tuesday: Micah 7:14-20; Psalm 55; Matthew 12:46-50
Wednesday: Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10; Psalm 71; Matthew 13:1-9
Thursday: St. Mary Magdalene; Jeremiah 2:1-13; Psalm 36; John 20:1-2, 11-18
Friday: Jeremiah 3:14-17; Jeremiah 31; Matthew 13:18-23
Saturday: Jeremiah 7:1-11; Psalm 84; Matthew 13:24-30