From Deacon Ron Reno:
Good morning! The weather is a far cry from last Wednesday; at least we were blessed with a Fall for once and not go directly from summer to winter. We had the Deacon’s liturgy with the lighting of the first purple candle for Advent 1. We are blessed that David (Skip) has started acolyte training and is doing very well. It is a blessing to this mission church to have someone go through the confirmation process, lay reading, acolyte training and all for the glory of God. We are blessed to have Julie, David’s wife who did the greenery for the altar. She did a beautiful job. We are blessed to have Deb who gave David some direction on lighting the Advent candles. We are blessed to have Osiris, Jeffery, John, Lynda, Julia, Nick, Deacon Ted, Sue and the Roberts family in our midst. We have much to be thankful for.
Advent means “Coming,” He promises to come again and He won’t be hidden away. He won’t be in swaddling clothes but He will be wearing a Judge’s robe. Advent is a good time to remember that He is coming again. During the first weeks of Advent; try putting off Christmas music a little while and maybe play Handel’s Messiah. Take time to read your Advent readings and remember He will fulfill what He promised. Remember the first commandment “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind.” In the homiletics class with Bishop Ashman, he discussed the importance of charity in our lives. Charity being patient, being kind, giving, and thinking of no evil but rejoicing in the Truth that God loves us. Have charity in your heart this Advent and Christmas season. May God continue blessing this mission church.
Two homilies for you to reflect on.
Advent. Advent means the season where we reflect and prepare for the coming of the Messiah and the celebration of Christmas with the birth of Jesus Christ. It will last four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It is a time time to pray for yourselves, pray for patience, pray healing changes in your lives, pray for peace in the world and pray against turmoil wherever it is, whether it is in our lives or elsewhere. After this brutal election year we need to pray for Christ in our nation, for direction and especially for healing. The world needs Jesus Christ more than ever.
We had a lovely Christ the King service last Saturday with lovely music committed to that service. We also celebrated the birthday of Father Ponec. Deb Ponec brought in lovely flowers and food for our gathering after mass, in memory of our beloved Priest. Deacon Ted, Deacon Ron and others were around this man and are still in awe of his work on this earth. Father was a very unassuming, kind Priest whose love of God showed in every thing he did. He is greatly missed.