The Epiphany of the Lord
The glory of the Lord shines upon us as the Holy Spirit gathers us together to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The Lord Jesus visits this holy place today becomeing manifest in our presence through word and sacrament. For this immense gift, we raise heart and voice to God in a song of endless praise.
Today's Liturgy of the Word begins with the prophet Isaiah's announcement that our light has come -- the glory of the Lord shines upon us. Just as the magi followed the light of the star to Bethlehem, so, too, do we follow the light that is the Lord. Our search brings us here -- to the table of the Lord -- where we are bathed in the light of God's eternal word.
DONATION STATEMENTS
In the near future, we will be sending out statements on your financial donations in 2005. Often we are called to evaluate our giving from the heart back to God. Know you giving time, talent and treasure is what makes a parish an exceptional welcoming community of faith.
As our mission statement says: "We are a catholic community called by God to share in the mission of Jesus." We thank those who are helping to live up to our mission statement. Many things can be accomplished as we minister together.
A Special Thank You
We would like to thank all who worked together to make our services at Christmas and New Year's a memorable tribute. To the choirs, children and adult, who through their many hours of practice gave fitting music to honor the new born King and New Year. To the Arts and Environment Committee, who shared their gifts of the Arts to beautify the church. To the liturgical ministers: Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, and Servers who all worked well together to create a unity throughout the services. And finally to all who attended to worship in faith and welcome the "strangers" and visitors. May God's blessings be with you all.
Our deep and sincere thanks to each and every one for your Christmas greetings, prayers, food and other gifts which you shared with us during the Advent and Christmas Season. You have been most generous. May you experience Christ's special peace throughout the New Year!
Father Al, Sister Mary Jo and Doneva
ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT
On behalf of the Art and Environment Committee, we would like to thank all of those who contributed to the flower fund and to those who provided funds for the poinsettias. Your support is deeply appreciated.
Ellen, Ellie, Retta, Connie and Pat
Lest You Think We Forgot
Ever since Discovery Days, we have been busy incorporating those of you who signed up into the various groups and ministries in our parish. We will soon be getting in touch with those who signed up to be Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, for the purpose of training and commissioning.
RCIA
Classes are held on Sunday nights at 6:00 pm in Building C. For more information or explanation of the process of RCIA, call Kurt/Sandy at 210-5006 or Sister Mary Jo Thummel at 238-3429.
TOPICS
January 8th, 2006 **** Baptism
January 15th, 2006 **** Confirmation
January 22nd, 2006 **** Eucharist
January 29th, 2006 **** "A Walk Through The Mass"
Celebrating The Feast Of Epiphany At Home
This great feast has been celebrated around the Christian world for hundreds of years. Epiphany means manifestation or revelation and marks the visit of the three Wise Men to Bethlehem. Epiphany has been celebrated with festivals, rituals and special blessings.
HOME BLESSING: One person takes holy water and an evergreen branch and walks from room to room blessing each space in the home and each person. Be sure to include doorways, porches, fireplace rooms and other "sacred spaces" in your home. This prayer may be said:
Bless this space, O Lord, and those who pass this way. Deliver us from every evil and show us your face.
Begin and end at the front door of your home. Mark the doorway with the current year plus the initials of the Three Kings, (Their names were Baltasar, Gaspar and Melcior), for example "20 B+G+M06." or use the initials of special visitors who brought Christ into your home in the last year. When you finished, you can pray:
Bless our home, Lord, with peace and the joy of your presence. Heal all of our family who are in need of your touch. Teach us how to offer hospitality to every guest, seeing your face in every stranger and welcome all who enter here as you welcome us into your Kingdom in this life and the next. Praise Be To God. Amen.
Epiphany Cake: Bake a family favorite cake as a special dessert for this day. Hide a penny (or a piece of candy) somewhere in the cake. When the cake is served, the person who gets the penny or candy in their piece is crowned "King or Queen" for the evening. That person may choose the night's entertainment, receive a small prize or be the one who blesses the house with holy water.
Taken from Faint and Fest, Archdiocese of Omaha
Today's Liturgy of the Word begins with the prophet Isaiah's announcement that our light has come -- the glory of the Lord shines upon us. Just as the magi followed the light of the star to Bethlehem, so, too, do we follow the light that is the Lord. Our search brings us here -- to the table of the Lord -- where we are bathed in the light of God's eternal word.
DONATION STATEMENTS
In the near future, we will be sending out statements on your financial donations in 2005. Often we are called to evaluate our giving from the heart back to God. Know you giving time, talent and treasure is what makes a parish an exceptional welcoming community of faith.
As our mission statement says: "We are a catholic community called by God to share in the mission of Jesus." We thank those who are helping to live up to our mission statement. Many things can be accomplished as we minister together.
A Special Thank You
We would like to thank all who worked together to make our services at Christmas and New Year's a memorable tribute. To the choirs, children and adult, who through their many hours of practice gave fitting music to honor the new born King and New Year. To the Arts and Environment Committee, who shared their gifts of the Arts to beautify the church. To the liturgical ministers: Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, and Servers who all worked well together to create a unity throughout the services. And finally to all who attended to worship in faith and welcome the "strangers" and visitors. May God's blessings be with you all.
Our deep and sincere thanks to each and every one for your Christmas greetings, prayers, food and other gifts which you shared with us during the Advent and Christmas Season. You have been most generous. May you experience Christ's special peace throughout the New Year!
Father Al, Sister Mary Jo and Doneva
ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT
On behalf of the Art and Environment Committee, we would like to thank all of those who contributed to the flower fund and to those who provided funds for the poinsettias. Your support is deeply appreciated.
Ellen, Ellie, Retta, Connie and Pat
Lest You Think We Forgot
Ever since Discovery Days, we have been busy incorporating those of you who signed up into the various groups and ministries in our parish. We will soon be getting in touch with those who signed up to be Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, for the purpose of training and commissioning.
RCIA
Classes are held on Sunday nights at 6:00 pm in Building C. For more information or explanation of the process of RCIA, call Kurt/Sandy at 210-5006 or Sister Mary Jo Thummel at 238-3429.
January 8th, 2006 **** Baptism
January 15th, 2006 **** Confirmation
January 22nd, 2006 **** Eucharist
January 29th, 2006 **** "A Walk Through The Mass"
Celebrating The Feast Of Epiphany At Home
This great feast has been celebrated around the Christian world for hundreds of years. Epiphany means manifestation or revelation and marks the visit of the three Wise Men to Bethlehem. Epiphany has been celebrated with festivals, rituals and special blessings.
HOME BLESSING: One person takes holy water and an evergreen branch and walks from room to room blessing each space in the home and each person. Be sure to include doorways, porches, fireplace rooms and other "sacred spaces" in your home. This prayer may be said:
Bless this space, O Lord, and those who pass this way. Deliver us from every evil and show us your face.
Begin and end at the front door of your home. Mark the doorway with the current year plus the initials of the Three Kings, (Their names were Baltasar, Gaspar and Melcior), for example "20 B+G+M06." or use the initials of special visitors who brought Christ into your home in the last year. When you finished, you can pray:
Bless our home, Lord, with peace and the joy of your presence. Heal all of our family who are in need of your touch. Teach us how to offer hospitality to every guest, seeing your face in every stranger and welcome all who enter here as you welcome us into your Kingdom in this life and the next. Praise Be To God. Amen.
Epiphany Cake: Bake a family favorite cake as a special dessert for this day. Hide a penny (or a piece of candy) somewhere in the cake. When the cake is served, the person who gets the penny or candy in their piece is crowned "King or Queen" for the evening. That person may choose the night's entertainment, receive a small prize or be the one who blesses the house with holy water.
Taken from Faint and Fest, Archdiocese of Omaha
posted by George | 2:49 PM
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