Old Bulletins

February 13-14 1999

All Things Considered

IN THE BEGINNING... Lent starts this week with Ash Wednesday. The Liturgy will be celebrated at 7 pm. While we are not obligated to participate in Liturgy, I can think of no better way to begin this holy season of repentance and renewal. LENT An old English word, Lent means spring - implying renewal and growth. While fasting, prayer and works of charity imply sacrifice, the purpose of all them is to help us grow toward the new life of Easter.

As I mentioned last week, our parish Lenten effort includes the booklets for the home: Ashes to Exaltation. There are the small faith groups for both adults and teens Follow Me which will meet weekly throughout Lent. We will also have the family retreat Jesus Solves the Puzzle next Saturday. (Please call to register on Monday if you haven't done so already.)

Our parish Lenten effort will also include a variety of prayer. On Monday & Tuesday, Thursday & Friday we have the Lenten weekday Liturgies at 9 am in our Holy Cross Chapel. These daily Liturgies, with their prayers, Scripture readings and homilies, continue the Sunday theme and prepare us for the theme of the coming Sunday. (For those who cannot attend, you will find the daily readings listed in the bulletin so that you can read them at home.)

On Monday evenings at 7 pm we will have Evening Prayer (also known as Vespers). This service uses hymns, psalms and other Scripture in a traditional form of prayer that dates back to the earliest days of the Church. There will also be a reflection which will be based on the themes of Follow Me. It will last about 30 minutes.

On Wednesday evening at 7 pm, we will have an Evening Liturgy in the church. This provides an opportunity for Liturgy for those who cannot attend on weekday mornings. The Wednesday Liturgy is another ancient custom of the Church. It gave a "mid-week" opportunity for the faithful to be fed on Word and Sacrament.

On Friday evenings at 7 pm we will have the Way of the Cross. This prayer service tells the story of Jesus' journey to His death. Since the time of Francis of Assisi, the faithful have prayed the Way of the Cross as a way to deepen their understanding of Christ's sacrifice and their own commitment to discipleship. Included in the prayer, will be a reflection on one of the stations.

Obviously, there will be a lot going on this Lent. The hope is that by offering several different options for folks, most people will find something that will help them "grow through Lent". I hope your Lent will be renewing. WHERE DID THEY GO? Last week I noticed that almost 75 of our hymnals have "disappeared" since they were replaced in November. If one of them has found its way to your house - please remember to bring it back to "our home". (If you really want one for your home, we have some extras - without covers. Just let me know.)
Fr. Dave Howell

PRAYER LIST

PLEASE PRAY that the sick will respond to God's healing will, especially: Barb Buwa, Ron, Eileen, Marilyn, Carolyn, Debbie, Nancy, Steve, Jeanette, Bob, Pete, Vivian, Jane, Timothy, Zora, Mary Kay, Wayne, Ed, Merle, Tom, Keith, Ruth, Mary, Victor, David, Kenneth, Robert, Cheryl, Laurie and John.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK Mass of the Anointing

On Wednesday, January 27, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick during the 7pm Liturgy. All who have serious or chronic illness are especially invited.

ON THE JOURNEY

It's hard to believe but this week I'm attempting to be quiet, calm and reflective, I'm on retreat. While it's only four days, four days of me trying to be still is quite an accomplishment! Often I've thought about Jesus going into the dessert for forty days of solitude and prayer. Even He had to quiet himself in order to find real peace. As lent approaches, perhaps it's a good time to set aside some quiet moments each day to evaluate our lives and God's place in them. I hope this lent is especially meaningful for us all. Yours on the journey, Marilyn

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

We congratulate the children who were received in the Rite of Enrollment for First Eucharist. Next weekend we will ask that you accept a prayer partner to pray for during their preparation time. The Family Retreat will take place next Saturday from 1:00-7:00 p.m. Make lent meaningful in your life by praying as a family. February 18, Thursday, at 7:00 P.M. we will offer the History of the Sacrament of Penance. All parents with children in the Penance program are asked to participate. Sister Maryetta

YOUTH NEWS

YOUTH GROUP Follow Me for teens begins Feb. 15. and will meet at my home every Monday during lent at 7:30 p.m. Kathy Rigley and I will be leading the reflections. I urge your participation in this and the afternoon retreat next Saturday. Plan on coming to an informational meeting for teens and parents on the National Youth Conference Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 pm. The conference will be Nov. 18-21 in St. Louis. If you have questions, call me evenings at 227-7937. Margaret Callaghan

MARRIAGE DIFFICULTY

Marriage Difficulty Retrouvaille is helping couples put the pieces back together. Retrouvaille weekends are held at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt on February 12-14, 1999 and May 21-23, 1999. For further information call (517)669-8321, Ext. 36.

National Collection

National Collection for Black and Indian Missions will be taken up next weekend. Please be supportive and as generous as possible.

High chair

Do you have a high chair you can donate? The parish is in need of five or six of them for social events.

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

Stewardship Report Last weekend approximately 1333 people participated in the Liturgies. These folks contributed $12,549.37 to the parish. Last year on this Sunday the contributions totaled $9,767.39.

EAT CANDY - READ FOR LENT!

EAT CANDY - READ FOR LENT! The books and videos in St Mary Magdalen Library are ready for circulation. Enhance your opportunities for spiritual growth, prayer, meditation, or scripture. Located in the Adult Ed. Room near the offices, the library is available except during meeting use.

CELEBRATING LITURGY

February 14
Sir 15:15-20/1 Cor 2:6-10/Mt 5:17-37

February 15
Gn 4:1-15/Mk 8:11-13
9:00 a.m. Christopher Viecelli

February 16
Gn 6:5-8;7:1-5,10/Mk 8:14-21
9:00 a.m. George & Ruth Bennett

February 17 - Ash Wednesday
Jl 2:12-18/2 Cor 5:20 - 6:2/Mt 6:1-6,16-18
7:00 p.m. Our Families

February 18
Dt 30:15-20/Lk 9:22-25

9:00 a.m. Martha Slack

February 19
Is 58:1-9a/Mt 9:14-15
9:00 a.m. Children receiving First Eucharist

February 20
Is 58:9b-14/Lk 5:27-32

February 21 First Sunday of Lent
Gn 2:7-9;3:1-7/Rom 5:12-19/Mt 4:1-11
4:30 (Vigil) St. Mary Magdalen Parishioners
9:00 a.m.Harold Jones
11:00 a.m. John & Mary Zupko

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE

February 20 & 21

4:30 p.m. Saturday

Minister of the Word:
Paul Schifko, Joan Monforton

Ministers of the Eucharist:
Steve Hancock, Sue Tucker, Mary & Bob Weyand, Ann Loveland, Janice Cherry

Ministry of Server:
Beccie Govan, Pat Hancock, Kristy Hancock

Ministry of Hospitality:
Magon Family, Wagener Family

9:00 a.m. Sunday

Minister of the Word:
Ruth Sadasivan, Steve Stegmaier

Ministers of the Eucharist:
Rhonda & Robert Barclay, Amber Barclay, David Deater, Alison Gentner, Rick & Sandi Phillips, Kimber Kunkel, Katie Francis, Margaret Callaghan Ministry of Server: Bobby Barclay, Dana Sasinowski, Chas Phillips

Ministry of Server:

Ministry of Hospitality:
Ed Pound, Frank & Roxanne Sadowski, Matt Sadowski, Kathy Stegmaier, Russ & Judy Gentner, Kathy Gannon, Janet Gentner

Nursery:
Jeanette Martin

11:00 a.m. Sunday

Minister of the Word:
Marilyn & Tom Farrington

Ministers of the Eucharist:
Jim Connor, Joe Carron, Cathy Goettsche, Mike Christie, Mary Ann Hargrave, Bob Thomas, Karen Barker, Barb Gow, Gary & Kathy McKay

Ministry of Server:
Jeff Kubus, Nicholas Barker, Luke Carron

Ministry of Hospitality:
Carron Family, Katie Connor, Marty Daniels, Mary Ansbro, Barb & Kara Colley

Nursery:
Evelyn Dionise

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, February 15
7:00 p.m. Planning mtg. for Middle School
Youth Group (Conf. Room)
7:00 p.m. BeFrienders (Soc. Hall)
7:30 p.m. K of C business mtg. (Rectory LL)
7:30 p.m. Property Mtg. (Adult Formation)

Tuesday, February 16
3:00 p.m. Server Training (Church)
7:30 p.m. Inquiry/Journey

Wednesday, February 17
7:00 p.m. Liturgy in Church

Thursday, February 18
10:00a.m. Women of the Old Testament
6:30 p.m. Scripture Rosary
7:00 p.m. History of Penance (Soc. Hall)
7:30 p.m. Music Ministry
7:30 p.m. Parenting Class (Adult Formation)

Friday, February 19
7:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross (Church)

Saturday, February 20
1-7:00 p.m. Family Lenten Retreat

Sunday, February 21
11:00 a.m. Rite of Sending - Adults
7:30 p.m. Church History

THREE MINUTES MORE

THE CONSECRATION or words of institution are essential to every Eucharistic Prayer. In the long liturgical tradition of both the eastern and western Church, there are more than eighty liturgical versions of the words of consecration. While faithful to the Gospel accounts, none strove for Scriptural exactitude, for even the Gospels themselves vary slightly. Instead, we believe it is fidelity to the meaning of Jesus' words (not the exact words) and the work of the Holy Spirit that transform the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

For centuries, the high elevation of the Sacred Species and the ringing of bells were closely associated with the consecration. This happened for three reasons. First, both the presider and assembly began to face the altar in the same direction (usually east) and the congregation could no longer see the Body and Blood unless they were held high. Secondly, the Medieval Church struggled against those who denied both the divinity of Christ and the sacred character of the Holy Eucharist. The reaction was to emphasize the sacred by moving sanctuaries where the altar stood farther away from the assembly and frequently enclosed them with a special screen. (In the west it was called the rood screen and in the east an iconostasis.) Furthermore, the Eucharistic Prayer was no longer proclaimed aloud but spoken in hushed, sacred tones. So bells became necessary to alert the assembly to what was happening. Lastly, the people did not receive communion frequently, so the elevation of the Eucharist and the ringing of bells called the assembly to adoration and a "spiritual communion" with the Lord rather than a physical communion.

Since the reformation of the Liturgy in 1969, the bells and high elevation are no longer necessary. The assembly can now clearly see and hear all of this sacred prayer. Moreover, the high elevation is now reserved for the end of the prayer when the Son offers Himself to the Father. Our prayer is that we be accepted by the Father along with the Son.