My wife and I have the custom of crossing ourselves and praying for the departed whenever we drive by a cemetery. I recall some years ago, however, while driving behind Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery on Southern Blvd, crossing myself and reciting the usual prayer, “Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them.” It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized what was actually on the other side of the high stone wall adjacent to the cemetery – an auto parts store!

Lent is only forty days long; a short reminder that we all need prayers from time to time, and for various reasons. We don’t say, “My Father, who art in heaven,” or “Give me this day my daily bread,” or “Forgive me my trespasses.” Our prayers are intertwined with the intercessions of millions of others throughout the world, every minute, every hour, every day. That doesn’t minimize the importance of our prayers, but is a reminder that our prayers are for the common good, and that “We’re all in this together.” The more time we spend saying our prayers, formally in liturgical settings, or in the private moments of our days, we turn our own lives into signs of God’s grace in this sinful and broken world we live in.

Prayer is not a spare wheel we take out only when needed – it’s the steering wheel that directs us in the right path – hopefully through the “cemeteries” of life and into the heavenly home that awaits those who stay on the right path toward everlasting life.

(BTW, the last time I drove by the auto parts store I noticed that it was still up and running – prayers must have flowed over to them!)

NOTICES:

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass – there are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: A landscaping workday is planned for Saturday, March 6 at 9 a.m. until finished. We will be planting and mulching the area by the dumpster as well as finishing the area in the right side of the church. Please bring a shovel and/or rake if you have one. Thanks. Linda.

Sunday School is still in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesday: Eucharistic Adoration 6:00pm
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm
Fridays during Lent: Stations of the Cross 6:30pm. Dates: 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Cynthia, Diana, Donna, Efim, Francis, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For the departed: Robert Gagnon. For birthday celebrations: Kati Erickson, Sue Ashe, Jim Philistin, Jackie Whiting. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

A newly appointed young priest was contracted by a local funeral home in Iowa to hold a graveside service at a small country cemetery. There would be no church service since the deceased had no family or friends left in the area. The priest left early for the cemetery, but got lost along the way. After several wrong turns, he finally arrived about half an hour late. The hearse was nowhere in sight, only some workman relaxing under a nearby tree eating lunch. The priest went to the grave and found the vault lid already sealed in place; he took out his prayer book and read the service anyway. As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workman say, “Maybe we should
tell him it’s a septic tank.”

Lent reminds us that God turns our trash into something useful. That’s the whole point of the Incarnation. God didn’t throw His hands up in the air and give up on humanity. Lent has arrived, six more weeks of enhanced spiritual “warfare” using the weapons of prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and one more – forgiving: all the essential elements of the Easter mystery. It’s not what they take from you that counts. It’s what you do with what you have left.

NOTICES:

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass – there are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

Sunday School is still in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Cynthia, Diana, Donna, Efim, Francis, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For the departed: Jake Williams, Sylvia Kairo, Elizabeth O’Donnell. For birthday celebrations: Jedidiah Kalphat, Dennis Wright, Howard Barrett, Anne Guillaume. For anniversary celebrations: Dennis and Yvonne Wright. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent originated as the period of preparation for those to be baptized at Easter. Jesus and John the Baptist each spent time fasting in the desert before entering into ministry. Christians observe this time of prayer and fasting to prepare for our observance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. We chastise the body to strengthen the soul. It is at the same time both cleansing and liberating. The story of how sin was introduced into the world is the subject of Adam’s “breaking the fast” by eating the forbidden fruit. Jesus , The Second Adam, at the beginning of his ministry, maintained the fast in the wilderness and thus took the initial steps for our return to Paradise.

As for the ashes, it is a reminder to Christians and non-believers alike, that no one is perfect, nor lives forever in this life. Despite the imperfections of our world, God hasn’t abdicated, and we’re not in charge. Lent reminds us that we are “in” the world, but not “of” this world. We are citizens of another Kingdom – not that we ignore or take this one for granted. If God loved humanity enough to create it and become one with it, then we should love humanity no less. The problem is that everyone is more concerned with changing humanity than changing themselves!

Lent is a time of stripping down to essentials, as each Christian focuses on his or her relationship with God. Lent is not an exercise in spiritual competition. Fasting and self-denial are medicinal when they lead us to restoration of spiritual health. The focus of Lent is to study more deeply, to pray more sincerely, and to show greater kindness. If the theme of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is “Let the Good Times Roll,” then the message of Ash Wednesday is “Let the Good News Roll” because in the grand scheme of things, with all life’s challenges and problems, God promises a safe landing, not a smooth passage.

NOTICES:

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass – there are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

Sunday School is still in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am
Wednesday: Ash Wednesday at 6:30pm
Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Diana , Donna, Ed, Efim, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: Britney LaBorde, Clare Morales, Ralph Robinson, Dawn LaBorde. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

With over two hundred million anticipated TV viewers of the Super Bowl this Sunday, I’ll share a favorite commentary of mine by an anonymous author.

12 Reasons why a local pastor stopped attending sports events

Every time I went, they asked me for money
The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.
The seats were very hard.
The coach never came to visit me.
The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.
I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!
Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.
The band played some songs I had never heard before.
The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.
My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.
Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyway.
I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.
OK, you get the picture. Those reading this have their “priorities” in order; but sadly, many people in our country and in our world do not; which makes it more important than ever to maintain the faith and also share the faith as well during these challenging times. As I like to say, “Without God we cannot, and without us HE will not.”

NOTICES:

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass – there are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

Sunday School is still in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Diana, Donna, Ed, Efim, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: Maeve Blodgett, Kevan Bennett, Yvonne Wright, James McKeown, Rohan Wolliston. For anniversary celebrations: Desmond and Ann Chambers. For expectant mothers: Andi, Bronwyn.

A new convert decided to test the effectiveness of prayer. Kneeling at the church’s altar he prayed for God to give shoes to a little girl he had seen barefoot that morning. Some time later he drove by her home to see if she had her new shoes. This routine went on for a number of days, and still no shoes. Finally, again at the altar the man said, “God, I’m giving you one more day. If you don’t give that little girl some new shoes by tomorrow, I’m going down to the store and buy them for her myself!”

Christ has ways of taking our gifts and turning them into miracles. Whether we drop a net in strange waters or turn over a few pieces of bread and some fish to feed a multitude, or bring a friend to Mass – each simple act is an act of faith, and it can be the basis for a miracle. People are looking for something in life. It’s not a spiritual desert out there, it’s a spiritual jungle with a variety of options. And if people seeking the presence of God in their lives don’t find it, or are not invited to try the Christian Faith, they will look elsewhere – even in the wrong places. Jesus didn’t compel people into righteousness; he loved them into righteousness. You might simply say, “Last Sunday in the sermon our priest said, “. . . .” or “In my daily devotional guide this morning, I read that. . . “Who knows where the conversation might lead you and your friend? The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what to say. So, don’t leave it to chance. For those able to attend mass in person, you might say to your family or friends, “I’ll pick you up at 9:30 and I’ll take you out to lunch after the service.” If they refuse, wait until another day.

God is calling us to join Him in the greatest job in the world: to bring more into His Kingdom. He’s taking us into deeper waters, where more faith is required, where we can’t simply rely on past experiences. The captain has not abandoned us. God is telling us to let down the nets for a bigger catch. Don’t be afraid when God is taking you from one “place” to another like Jonah and the disciples. He has a purpose so we don’t need to be afraid. As I like to say, “You catch them; He’ll clean them!”

NOTICES:

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass – there are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot each Thursday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

February Blood Drive: Our next drive is on Sunday, February 14th, Valentine’s Day! Please show your love by signing up to donate blood. Invite family (kids and grandkids 16 and older can donate) and friends to donate. You can register to donate using this link. https://donor.oneblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/1045951

Lay Weeders: We are organizing a new group called the “Lay Weeders” for church grounds. We will divide parts of the landscape into 10-12 small plots, and individuals, families or groups can adopt the area to do the upkeep of the plot. We are in the process working on Saturdays to get the areas in good condition. If you would like to participate or have questions on what it entails, please call Linda McKeown 561- 254-3902 or email at llmckeown51@comcast.net Thanks.

Sunday School is still in operation with the necessary protocols in place.

Forward Day by Day brochures are now available in the narthex.

Flowers and Candles: Donation – $40 for flowers and $20 for candles. Please fill out a form, and leave it in the plate.

Tuesdays: Holy Eucharist 8:30am

Wednesday: Eucharistic Adoration 6:00pm

Wednesdays: Holy Eucharist and Rosary 6:30pm

PLEASE PRAY – For the sick: Barbara, Beth, Billy, Bishope Frade, Diana, Donna, Ed, Efim, Francis, Jan, Jeanne, Jim, Joaquin, Leo, Tayvin. For birthday celebrations: David Blazek, William Blodgett V, Tom Parker, Pat Lorde, Jamie (Murray) Luther, Laurel Westerholt, Jenifer Elmore. For expectant mothers: Andi, Ashley, Bronwyn.

Altar Flowers: donated by Jacquie Murray in celebration of Jamie (Murray) Luther’s birthday and the birth of Romilla Emory Albor to Mayoli.