Saturday, September 24, 2016

The Confirmation Retreat is Underway

Confirmation Candidates and their sponsors are gathered at the church this morning. The activities are designed to get the two of them to interact discussing their faith.


It also has them consider what to pray
 for and allows them to pray together.


The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered. 


They also paint together. Each painting is full of symbolism both as a teaching tool and a reminder of the event.

Pray for our candidates and their sponsors, 
this morning in their retreat and 
as their prepare for Confirmation.


Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Raffle Winners

Fr. Pat drew all of the Raffle Winners on Sunday as the Festival finished. The 2016 raffle winners are:

Grand Prize $5,000 - Dave and Elaine Patterson

2nd Prize $500 - Laura Webb

3rd Prize $250 (2 winners) -
Barbara Sales
Paul and Christine Sevener

4th Prize $100 (10 winners) -
William Anders
Barb Stessman
Cathy Peterson
Doug Doty
Kathi Emanuel
Sherry Anders
Woody Armentrout
Fr. Mike Eckley
Dan & Liann Smith
Judy Thome

Congratulations all!


Tuesday, September 13, 2016

God's Gift to Me

Early, early one morning on a beautiful late-summer day, God presented me with a small token of His love.

I was driving home from work, in the dark, on a mostly empty Interstate, my mind preoccupied with thoughts I really didn't need to be concerned about. At one point in the drive, I actually thought that I should spend less time thinking about such things and more time praying. But I went back to those thoughts, my tired mind a little obsessed with them.

Then the Interstate took a turn to the right. And directly in front of me was a giant yellow moon on the horizon, so big and bold it almost startled me. And I laughed.

Thank You, God, I said, for I knew it was His gift for me. Somewhere I learned to embrace everything I encounter as a personal gift from God, as though it were for me alone.

Every fragrant flower, every gorgeous sunset, every warm, gentle breeze God sends to me personally, as if I were the only person on the earth. He does this for all of us. Just as He died for each of us, and for all of us.

He loves us that much.

So the gift of the giant yellow moon, hovering just over the horizon, was His surprise for me. It drew me out of my preoccupation and back to Him -- where my mind and heart belonged.


Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.