november 24, 2002
Doing Thanks
Online
Thanks
A
recent visitor to our parish website tried out our “Psalm Maker”
feature and printed out her own Psalm of Thanksgiving which she said
she’d use as a Thanksgiving prayer at the family table on Thursday.
You can try the same thing by clicking
here
Donations
Still Needed
A
number of local businesses and organizations have contributed over $10,000
toward our parking lot project. We still need further donations to afford
this project. If your company or organization can help us at this time,
please give a call.
Away
at College?
We'd
love to stay in touch.
To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulleting with
you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click
Here!
Scripture
Quote of the week
Week
''Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”
--Matthew: 25
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us
know by filling in our
online form
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
Nov17: Faith
Has Its Awards
Nov 10: Parking
Lot Update
Nov3: Daughters
of Mary
Oct27: Father
Richard
Oct 20: Changing
Seasons
Oct 13:Technology
Update
Oct 6: Youth Ministers
Sept 29: Who's
Here?
Sept 22: God
the Unfair
Sept 15: The
Joy of Judy
Sept 8: Facing the
Terrible Day
Sep 1: Sharing the
Faith
Aug 25:Empty Shelves
Aug 18: Comemmorating
Sept. 11th
Aug 11: Taking Time
To See
August 4: Moving
Music
July 28:Meet
the Missionaries
July 21:
Press One Now
July 14: Having
Our Say
July 6: One
Nation Under God
June 30: Anointing
the Sick
June 23: Giving Thanks
to God
June 16: Father's
Day
June 9: Fall Mass
Schedule
June 2: Summer Plans
May 26: Spreading
the Faith
May 19: Passing Grace
May 12: Changing
Times
May 5: Reason for Hope
April 28: Changing
Ministry
April 21: The Poor Are Hurt
Again
April 14: Celebrating
50 Days
April 7: Where have
they put him?
March 31: Alleluia!
Alleluia!
March 24: Hardly
Hosanna
March 17: Roll The
Stone Back
March 10: Here's
Mud In Your Eye
March 3: Our Local
Drought
Feb 24: Welcoming
Bishop Murphy
Feb 17: We Will Rise
Again
Feb 10: Very
Good Now
Feb 3: The Multi
Cultural Church
Jan 27: Appealing
Words
Jan 20:Our
Wonderful School
Jan 13: Changing
Times
Jan 6: Farewell Father
Augustine
Yet this feast shows that by being Catholic Christians we have an allegiance to someone beyond our national borders. While we are proudly American people, we are first God’s people.
And so our whole nation pauses this Thursday to recognize that what we have comes not merely from the work of our hands, but from God. Today gospel reminds us that what God has given us is not meant merely for our own use, but is meant to be shared with all God’s people.
I believe that W.T. Purkiser (a Methodist preacher) got it right when he said, “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” Is it possible then, to consider that “thanks-giving” is really about “thanks-doing”? All of us have prompted children to respond to a gift or a favor by saying “What do you say?.....” And then the child is to respond “Thank you!” At times, it seems that they’re willing to go along with this simply to ensure that more gifts and favors are forthcoming. But we recognize a truly thankful child when we see that she/he does more than say “thank you” -- it’s when that child is willing to give in return, that we see true thanks in action.
Let God continue to see true thanks in action in our own lives by our continued sharing of our gifts, our time, our talents, our resources with those who we see who are hungry, homeless, strangers or ill. The community of St. Brigid’s has been wonderfully generous in bringing in food during this Thanksgiving time -- we are sharing food with over 500 families as we distribute abundant baskets this week. I want to thank all who have worked so hard to coordinate this effort and to all who have generously given thanks-through-action.
May God bless you and your family abundantly in the days ahead.
