Questions for reflection on the Scriptures for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

1)      Questions on the Reading from Ezekiel: What is the source of the marvelous stream? What effect does the stream have? What is the meaning of the image?

2)      Questions on the Reading from 1 Corinthians: How does this reading connect with the passage from Ezekiel? What does this say about who we are?

3)      Questions on the Reading from John: What is the situation? Why is Jesus so upset? How does this connect with the other two readings and with the feast we are celebrating?

 

DAYTIME BIBLE STUDY: The noon Bible Study will meet this Tuesday. We will be reading the Prophet Amos, chapters 1-9. Bring your bible and join us.

 

EVENING BIBLE STUDY: The evening Bible Study will meet this Tuesday at 7 PM in the Rectory.  We will be finish Proverbs, chapters 29-31, and begin Ecclesiastes, chapters 1-7 Bring your bible and join us.

 

TODAY WE REMEMBER our sisters and brothers who have gone before us into eternal life during the past 12 months: Vera Noble, Arlean Vincent, Joe Warren, Virginia Sams, John Briggs, Mary Jane Briggs, Grace Campbell, William Hamilton, Joe Leake, Gale Kirk, Henry Brown, Louise Nash Scruggs and Jim Mueller. We also offer our condolences to their family members, many of whom have joined us for Mass.

 

PARISH GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON NOVEMBER 9: We will hold our Parish General Assembly next Sunday, November 9 in the Family Center. The basic theme will be to discuss implementation of our Parish Vision Statement. The agenda for the meeting is:

Welcome

Opening Prayer

Open Forum

Opening Remarks

Commission Reports on Vision Implementation

Input and Questions from Parishioners

Pastor’s Comments

Door Prizes

Closing Prayer

 

NEXT SUNDAY WE WILL BAPTIZE HOLLY ANN BRINKLEY at the 9:30 Mass.

 

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL CANDIDATES: We have 6 parishioners who have agreed to be candidates for the three available places on the Council: Beatrice Blackshear, Shay Chillers, Pat Hughes, Kim James, Lillian Summers and Dolores Williams. We all thank them for their willingness to serve our parish community in this way. Please keep them in your prayers for the next two weeks. We will have the drawing of the three names during Mass on Sunday, November 16.

 

STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY: In two weeks, on the weekend of November 15-16, we will have an opportunity to sign up for 2009 to be involved in the various ministries and activities that will fulfill our Vision of who we are and where we want to go as a parish. We urge all parishioners to re-read the Vision Statement, and decide which area of parish life will be the focus of your stewardship during 2009. There will be sign-up sheets and volunteers to help you sign up. The goal is to have every person who signs up to be contacted by the end of December, so we can hit the ground running in January.

 

CATHOLIC CHATTER: (This article will appear in the bulletin each week. If you have questions you would like answered here, put them in the blue “Suggestion Box” in the church lobby.)

o  Why do we begin Mass the way we do? Our first action as a community comes at the invitation of the commentator, as we greet one another. We are responding to Jesus’ words, “Wherever two or more of you gather in my name, there am I in your midst.” We deliberately come together to experience His presence. Then we join in song as the ministers enter the church, to raise our minds and hearts to God together and to begin to build a spirit of shared worship. “Whoever sings prays twice!” Then we acknowledge that we have truly gathered “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” to claim Jesus’ promise. The celebrant echoes this thought as he greets the people with words like, “May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus be with you,” to which we all respond, “And also with you.” We have come together and are ready to pray!

 

DAILY READINGS, November 3-8

Monday: Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 131; Luke 14:12-14

Tuesday: Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 22; Luke 14:15-24

Wednesday: All Saints of the Society of Jesus: Deuteronomy 30:11-14; Psalm 15; John 12:23-26

Thursday: Philippians 3:3-8a; Psalm 105; Luke 15:1-10

Friday: Philippians 3:17-4:1; Psalm 122; Luke 16:1-8

Saturday: Revelation 4:10-19; Psalm 112; Luke 16:9-15