Mass for the 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Livestreamed at 9am on Sunday, July 5 ^th
Followed by drive through Communion at 10am
(drive South on Lovell Ave from 7 ^th St. to the front of the Rectory)
This Mass will also be simulcast to the carport.
 
Praise and Worship on Sunday at 5pm
Via livestream
 
School for Disciples on Wednesday
Join us under the carport at 5:30pm for Prayer and Cocktails
We share our experience of Week #9 of the Ignatian Adventure
 
At the end of his life, Sir Winston Churchill said, ‘When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened!’
 
Churchill was speaking about the burden of worries that never materialized.  He had more than enough real worries to be concerned about without wasting energy on imaginary ones.  So, as Prime Minister of England during World Warr II, he was able to help his country focus on what was truly important in life.  But he was known to use “the drink” to ease the stress of the burdens he carried.  Which of course reminds me of the advice my dear old Dad would give me every year at this time in the days before liquor stores were open on the 4th – “Don’t forget to get your 5th for the 4th on the 3rd.”  Talk about keeping a focus on what is important in life!
 
I admit that I am not a “teetotaler,” but I know there is definitely a “more better” way to face the burdens of life.  Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you… and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28–30).  One of the ways that we find rest in Jesus is through prayer.  I think we face some real worries in the midst of a pandemic.  I also worry as we head into what no doubt will be a very nasty and divisive political season, that we as Americans have lost a sense of the common good.  In prayer, we share our burdens with Jesus and pray that as we celebrate our Independence as a Country, that we will hold on to the freedoms that are truly important, the freedoms that lead us to the Kingdom of God.
 
For the freedom to love… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to believe… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to hope… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to worship… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to serve in charity… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to care for the suffering… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to comfort the sick… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to feed the hungry… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to shelter the homeless… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to proclaim the Gospel… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to walk in chastity… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to live in peace… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to work in good conscience… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to stand in solidarity… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to seek justice… Give us your grace.
 
O God, who gave one origin to all peoples
and willed to gather from them one family for yourself,
fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love
and kindle in them a desire
for the just advancement of their neighbor,
that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all,
each human person may be brought to perfection,
every division may be removed,
and equity and justice may be established in human society.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever, Amen!
 
I want to give a shout out to Don McLendon who was born on July 3, 1930.  Happy 90 ^th Don!!