Monday, December 14, 2009
The following is the Highlights of our December 14th, 2009
gathering, led by Trudy Mihaleik. We met
at 7:30 p.m. in the Columbus Room of the McFadden
Conference Center
at St.
John Vianney Church. There were 25 Cursillistas present from our
small group reunions.
Opening Song: The
King of Glory RS #628 (Pete Albresch on the guitar)
Opening Prayer: Thoughts based on Psalm 63 – A Psalm of David when he was in the
wilderness o Judah
We are an
Advent people. We live
not satisfied but plagued with thirst for the coming of the Lord. Our tragedy
is that we often do not recognize the source of our restlessness but seek to
satisfy it with all sorts of things that anaesthetize our longings but do not
fulfill them. One of the gifts of Advent is to stir in us the recognition that
what we truly yearn for is not some passing palliative but the One who has
come and will come again, day by day and at the end of time, to those who seek
him.
Introductions All
attendees introduced themselves by mane, church, and weekend mumber/table.
Small groups
We next broke into small groups to discuss our activities
since our last gathering.
At approximately 8:20 we re-gathered with the song, “Jesus
is Changing Me” (Pete Abresch/guitar)
Witness: The following is a condensed version of Sandy’s witness. Sandy Sullivan talked about several events
since this summer that showed how God was working in her life. She talked about leaving Maryland
on a dreary day when they flew to Florida to
bring George’s Mom and Dad back and the contrast of how beautiful it was once
they flew above the clouds. The sun was
out and they had a beautiful sunset. The
contrast inspired her spiritually. God
is good. She also talked bout being inspired
by friends who are active in an evangelical church and how that inspired her to
start the nursery. Then she talked about
how we need to be careful how we pray.
If we pray too specifically we may not get the big picture results we
desire. She gave the example of praying
for her daughter to get a job,, then that she did not have to start till after
the honeymoon, etc, but she forgot good health.
Several got sick. When she got
sick, she prayed that she would not get worse till after the wedding……but she
forgot to ask that she get well quickly and she stayed sick for a month…all
prayers were answered individually, but it may have been better to pray
generally. Sandy
also talked about her Dad’s illness and how prayer has helped and continues to
help her through that stressful time.
Next she talked about deciding to “cut back” on the material side of
Christmas. She decided that the season
should be about Christ and not just presents.
Jesus only received 3 gifts, do we need more? She felt she was on the right track when she
read “Growing in Faith” in the bulletin.
We should give the gift of yourself, break down barriers, give gifts
from the heart, decorate with religious meaning not snowmen and reindeer, Shine
the light, keep life evergreen in the tree with decorations that mean
something, put the nativities on the counter instead of other objects. Since she has done this, she felt that she
has been able to get shopping, presents wrapped and dinner prepared with less
stress. She had time to be with and help
others. “Something was telling me to get
thing done early. She found out why when
George had to take his parents back to Florida,
return and then go back to Florida to help
settle them in. He was gone for
Christmas and Sandy was not happy about
that. Sometimes it is hard to give so
much of your self to others, but she is trying.
Jesus is changing me. Sandy
Old News - Dec
6th Advent Day of Reflection
Archdiocese Pastoral
Center
New News
·
Dec 16th CSOL
School of Leaders St Joseph St. Joseph Drive,
Largo, MD. Recitation of Divine Chaplet of Mercy at 6:30
·
Jan 20th CSOL
School of Leaders St Joseph Parish Largo, MD
·
Feb 11th thru 14th
200th Women's Weekend Josephite Center,
Washington, DC
·
Mar 11th thru 14th
201st Men's Weekend, Josephite Center,
Washington, DC
·
Mar17th School
of Leaders St Joseph Parish Largo,
MD,
·
Apr1st School
of Leaders St Joseph Parish Largo,
MD.
·
May19th School
of Leaders St Joseph Parish Largo,
MD
·
Jun16th School of Leaders St
Joseph Parish Largo, MD
Bubblin’ with the Spirit
Cookbook: available for $15 from Sandy
and George Sullivan.
8:35 p.m. Final
prayer: Nativity Narrative,
A reading from the
holy Gospel according to Luke 2:1-14
In those days a decree
went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of
Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his
own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with
Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the
time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to
her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid
him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were shepherds
in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch
over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck
with great fear. The angel said to them,
"Do not be
afraid; for behold, I proclaim
to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been
born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and
lying in a manger." And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly
host with the angel, praising God and saying:
"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor
rests."
Closing: RS #522 Silent
Night (Pete/Guitar)
As we continue our preparations for Christmas both
spiritually and materially let us take time to thank God for all our blessings
and remember those less fortunate. Thanks for this Catholic community of
Calvert that helps us focus on the things that are important in this life; let
us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer
Petitions, followed by Our Father. Kiss of Peace. Snacks and Fellowship.