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FATHER MARK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS 1) As announced, our in-person worship is paused again – this time through the holidays. Although I am confident this was the right decision, it certainly wasn’t easy, and I totally understand if you are frustrated by it. All I can say is that we are committed to keeping you, beloved members of this parish, safe by not offering opportunities for virus spread during what is obviously the worst outbreak we have had in our area. I’ll take whatever heat comes from that choice. 2) However, we are working on some fun stuff for the season that we can do remotely. Here’s one: We are asking everyone to send in their favorite stories and memories of Christmas’ past. If you have a favorite gift you ever received or gave, an all-time trip you took, the best family celebration, or even a cherished and beloved recipe. We have in mind to put together a booklet of Christmas Carols to send out and invite people to join us for an online Carol Sing, and thought it would be fun to include these memories, prayers, and recipes to share. You can send your entry to Gina at stfrancis@allophone.com 3) Again, due to COVID in Nebraska, Bishop Barker has cancelled his planned Nov 22 visitation and will reschedule soon. This means Confirmations andReceptions will also be postponed. I do apologize to our great kids who have been so faithful in attending and participating in our Catechism Classes. I’ll be in touch with the families soon about our next session. If you were hoping to be Received on the 22nd, again . my apologies. But he will be out here as soon as possible, and we will get to celebrate this great sacrament. 4) Don’t forget to link in to Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:15 A.M. for an online Coffee Break. It is the same link every week – and the best way it to copy and set it for a recurring meeting and have it there at your fingertips. It’s been fun the two times we’ve done it so far. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82691384316?pwd=Z2FtUFZNZVRqQzZXY3QxL28rZCtNZz09 Meeting ID: 826 9138 4316 Passcode: 039923 GINA’S ANNOUNCEMENTS Happy Birthday!! Christian Bach November 13 Nina Betz November 15 Margaret Chase November 15 Linda Mitchell November 18 Kathy Shambaugh November 15 Ralph Moreno November 18 Prayer Requests: The prayer request sheet is still just outside the office in the church and is updated weekly. Anyone may still email your prayer requests to me at stfrancis@allophone.com. If you do not have email, just call the church and leave a message. Since, I am back in the office, the requests must be received on by Wednesday at the latest, for them to be included in the Sunday Bulletin for that week. If the request is received after Wednesday, they will be added to the next Sunday Bulletin. We will follow the same process and keep the names on for two weeks. Once the prayer request is received, it is added to the prayer list and then I email the names to have them added to the Prayer Chain and to the Daughters of the King. ***Daily Devotion for Thursday October 29, 2020*** Using our Time Wisely The 5 Steps – Pause * Listen * Think * Pray * Go Pause Tick. Tick. Tick. That’s the clock. Measuring time in seconds, minutes, hours, days… Time that we schedule and manage and spend. The Ancient Greek word for this time is chronos. Take a minute to feel the chronos passing by. But there is another kind of time. It’s the right moment for the right action. It’s God’s time – and our time with God. It’s when Eternity meets our experience. The Greek word for this sense of time kairos. Breathe in and out, sensing God’s presence, and enter into kairos – knowing that God has words you need to hear today Listen “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who was leaving on a trip. He called his servants and handed his possessions over to them. To one he gave five valuable coins, and to another he gave two, and to another he gave one. He gave to each servant according to that servant’s ability. Then he left on his journey. “After the man left, the servant who had five valuable coins took them and went to work doing business with them. He gained five more. In the same way, the one who had two valuable coins gained two more. But the servant who had received the one valuable coin dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.” Matthew 25:14-18 Think What does this parable have to do with time management? Do we go with the adage, “Time is money?” Or maybe the reverse? We do talk about spending both. So, what are we to make of this today? Some scholars estimate that the coins were each worth approximately $1,000,000 in today's money. Serious money. That tells us two things: the landowner was very rich, and he trusted his servants. God is generously entrusting us with this day, and to make it worth living, God has given us our interests, passions, energy, and time. How will we manage all that today? Even if we don’t think so, our talents and energy are treasures; we can use them to make the world better. Can we help a struggling classmate with a subject we understand and love? Teach someone to read? Partner with a friend to collect food or visit our grandparents safely? Choose one thing you can do for another person today. Don’t “bury” your gifts; use them for God. Kay Zimmerman Pray God, sometimes I don’t think I have anything to offer. I don’t even have a lot of power to change anything in the world. Help me remember that I do have gifts you have given me, because I am powerfully and wonderfully made by you. Help me to use them for you today. Amen. Go Thank God for today. Open yourself to God’s surprises. Do what is most important. Accept that you can’t do everything. You are blessed and loved. ***For those of you that would like to access these devotionals daily, you can go on this website: www.d365.org Gina’s Office Hours Tuesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from Home) Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Work from Home) Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (In Office) Just some humor for everyone to hopefully laugh and smile today!!    Comments are closed.
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