$50, Some Prayers and Some Smiles

$50, Some Prayers and Some Smiles
Last week I was touched by hearing the story of how some business proprietors touched the hearts of two of our parishioners. Two members of our Liturgical Environment team went out last week to purchase plants, flowers, gourds, etc. to decorate the church for Thanksgiving. The nursery owners gave them a $100-200 amount of stuff and only asked for fifty dollars and some prayers.

When these two ladies got back to the Church they couldn’t wait to share their story of goodness and generosity. As I was chatting with them I found myself uplifted. The Holy Spirit was at work. I got to thinking how a simple act of generosity brought two ladies some joy and happiness, uplifted my spirits and will eventually brighten up the spirits of out parishioners when they see the flowers, plants, etc. on the altar.

As we enter into the holy season of Advent let us try to perform random acts of kindness. One small act of kindness or generosity can blossom and grow to several acts and bring joy to a great many. As today’s second reading states:

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all – 1 Thes 3:12

Just imagine! A world abounding in love! So let us begin Advent in love and kindness… When someone beats you out at the store for the must have toy… pray… maybe they have a sick child at home and it will be their last Christmas. When someone cuts you off in traffic… pray… maybe there is an emergency at home. When stressed out over too much to do preparing for the holidays… thank God for the love of family and friends, after all it is love that really matters. God Bless, Holly Clark

What are You Thankful For?

What are You Thankful For?
Last weekend I walked into a Michael’s Craft Store and was immediately bombarded by Christmas carols, Christmas crafts, cards, decorations and there was someone painting snowmen on the outside windows. I was there to buy a birthday gift and was really not ready to begin to think about Christmas. As I wandered the store I got to wondering whatever happened to Thanksgiving?

I have always thought of Thanksgiving as a time to count and reflect upon my blessings and what I am thankful for. I always thought Thanksgiving was a god secular holiday to prepare us for moving into Advent: a time of preparing for our Savior’s arrival.

So I ask you to try to not to be overwhelmed by materialism and focus on what you are grateful for this Thanksgiving. As we gather with family and friends let us do some holy remembering and see where God is at work in our lives.

Be thankful for loved ones… many are lonely.
Be thankful for the roof over your heads… many are homeless.
Be thankful for good health… many are suffering.
Be thankful for food on the table… many are starving.
Be thankful for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in your life…
Many will never know devine love…

Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Holly Cark

Got Talent?

November 15, 2009
Got Talent?

In our Church today, we find in our laity a huge reservoir of talent and expertise just waiting to be called on in the service of the Kingdom.

Theresa EE-Choi, Member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (Malaysia)

Do you have talents to offer? In this new millennium we are facing a culture of pastoral planning as the number priests and religious decline drastically. We each need to do a serious inventory of our gifts and talents and discover where we can put them to the best use in service to our Lord and our parish. You may say “I have no talent. I have nothing to offer…” Nonsense! Everyone has a talent for something! Even a baby can give away a smile.

A few years ago I was unemployed and feeling a bit worthless when I was at Mass one Sunday morning and saw a Stewardship form for volunteering time and talent. I thought as I was not working that I had plenty of time to offer and did an inventory of my talents. I filled out the form offering my graphic design skills. My first project was designing a bulletin board for CCD classes. Later projects included flyers, PowerPoint presentations and building the parish website. Through this stewardship of time and talent I found myself reawakened spiritually. I fell in love with ministry! Stewardship lit the flame of my heart and I decided to dedicate my life to ministry. (You never know what God has in mind for you!)

Today as we conclude our stewardship talks I would ask each of you to reflect upon your talents. Please use today’s bulletin insert as an aid to discern your talents and gifts. Perhaps ask your friends and families where they think you are talented. I guarantee you there is spot here for you! Be brave! Walk into, or call, the church offices at Sacred Heart or St. Rose and say “YES! I am here to donate my time and talent!” If the church is to survive and thrive in the third millennium she will need ALL of us working together in communion with Christ.

Let us go forward in hope! A new millennium is opening before the Church like a vast ocean upon which we shall venture, relying on the help of Christ.
Novo Millennio Ineunte, Pope John Paul II, 2000

God Bless, Holly Clark

A Widow's Contribution

November 8, 2009
A Widow’s Contribution

In today’s gospel Jesus is awed by a widow’s contribution of a few coins towards helping others. In our culture today when a husband dies the wife inherits his goods. However, in old Israel, it is the children who inherit everything leaving the widow penniless and at the mercy of her children and society. Penniless widows were abundant in old Israel. In the Old Testament widows were considered the epitome of the lonely and helpless.

Widows in old Israel were readily recognizable by the wearing of special clothing called “widow’s reeds.” This made them easily recognizable and easy to victimize as their clothing signaled they had no man to protect them. In the New Testament, Paul (1 Timothy 5:3-16) and James (James 1:27) describe the special responsibility Christians have toward the caring of widows.

You can more fully understand now the context of today’s Gospel. Jesus easily recognized the woman as a widow because of her clothing and knew widows were almost always penniless. This is what made her giving so much more special. She not only was giving what few pennies she had but was also giving her heart.

Today let us reflect upon all that we have, count our blessings and remember those who have nothing. Let us not be judgmental. When a parishioner only puts in a few coins into our collection basket let us pray for that person for that may all they can give. Let us also pray for all widows and widowers who find themselves in poverty and loneliness. Let us share our earthly goods and our heart with one another.
God Bless Holly Clark

P.S. A careful reading of the above-mentioned New Testament passages will show that widows, especially older ones, wers called to a special vocation by Christianity. Christian widows came together as the first group of women to live the consecrated life, living in poverty, dedicating their lives to Jesus and service to the poor. Hence, in a way, they were our first nuns.

Source: A Guide to the Church, Lawrence B. Porter