Parishioners with November Birthdays ~ Ethel Cooley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!

11/01 ~ Frederick Archer - Laverne Braxton - Courtney Jones

11/02 ~ Althea Williams

11/03 ~ Mary Tucker

11/04 ~ Karen Carter

11/07 ~ Nicole Scott

11/08 ~ Thomas Williams

11/11 ~ Kaestner McDonnough

11/21 ~ Ronald Timmons - Stacy Wright

11/29 ~ Kevin Teachey

"Don't be discouraged if your kids reject your advice. Years later they will offer it to their own kids."

- Author Unknown -

Coming Before God In Humility ~ by Ronnie Archer

All three readings today emphasize "Humility". God is a just God who knows no favorites though not unduly partial, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed, the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds, the Lord will not delay. (Sirach 35: 12, 13 & 19).

In the second reading St. Paul writes to Timothy, "the time of his departure is near, he has competed well, has finished the race, and kept the faith."

Everyone should have the desire to be like St. Paul. This is what we are asked to live...faith...put to the test every day of our lives. Can we say that we can do this? To be able to do this, we need to establish a prayer relationship between us and God. The best form of prayer is humility. We should come before God with complete humility. The one who exposes himself before God is saintly; one who tries to hide himself, is not.

In today's Gospel of Luke, we hear the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee, who exalted himself while praying; while the tax collector humbled himself and stood at a distance, beating his breast, acknowledging that he was a sinner, asking God to be merciful to him. Once again, we are reminded of the sin of omission... the Pharisee, not being humble.

We come to church, not to receive favor from God, but to be reconciled with Him. All are welcome, but how many of us go to church and leave with a changed heart?

We should humble ourselves, asking God for mercy, never losing heart, having faith to believe that our prayer has already been answered. Pray... "Lord Jesus Christ, Have Pity On Me."

Everyone in the Bible who MET Jesus, rejoiced!

~ Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

~ Image by Hermano Leon Clipart

The Meaning of Prayer ~ by Mary Walker

Prayer and the Word connect us in the practice of our faith. We saw in the first reading, Exodus 17, how Moses, as the leader, stood back and directed the Israelites to wage battle against Amalek. Moses was to "stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand." He was raising his hands in prayer to God.

So often we do not understand what prayer is. Frequently, we bargain with God or we ask God to please go along with the "Big Request." But prayer helps us understand the plan of God in our life. Prayer helps us to establish a relationship with God.

In the Gospel, Luke 18, we learn that when the faithful pray, we feel fulfilled. We are connecting with the Spirit of God and His Will in our lives. We need to surrender all.

Remember, one who doesn't know the meaning of prayer or the Scripture, is like an empty body. Prayer can change things in God's own time; and according to His Will.

~ Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Loss of Community...Due to Perfection ~ by Ronnie Archer

In the Gospel of the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we heard the story of the ten lepers who went to meet Jesus, asking HIM to "Have pity on us!" Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest. They showed great faith and obeyed. As they were going, they were cleansed. BUT, only one, when he realized that he was healed, returned to give thanks and glorify GOD. Jesus stated that ten were healed; and wondered where the other nine were. How often do we take for granted the blessings that GOD has given us, and "return" to give thanks?

In this incident, as soon as the other lepers realized they were healed, they recognized THEIR power, did NOT return to give God the glory; but separated, breaking their community.

The ten of them came to Jesus for mercy, TOGETHER. Jesus expected them to be healed and continue their community. When they did not come back to glorify TOGETHER, Jesus was saddened.

Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of God on earth and to bring us together, based on love and unity. "We must consider how to rouse each other to love and good deeds. We should not absent ourselves from the assembly, but encourage one another; and this all the more because you see that the DAY draws near." (Hebrews 10: 24-25)

Remembering our Priests at their Convocation in Williamsburg

I came across this beautiful prayer for our priests today. It was written in 1995 by Cardinal O'Connor. Take a minute to pray these words; for surely our priests have need of our prayers...

Lord Jesus, we your people pray to You for our priests. You have given them to us for OUR needs. We pray for them in THEIR needs.

We know that You have made them priests in the likeness of your own priesthood. You have consecrated them, set them aside, annointed them, filled them with the Holy Spirit, appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive, and to feed us with Your Body and Blood.

Yet we know, too, that they are one with us and share our human weaknesses. We know too that they are tempted to sin and discouragement as are we, needing to be ministered to, as do we, to be consoled and forgiven, as do we. Indeed, we thank You for choosing them from among us, so that they understand us as we understand them, suffer with us and rejoice with us, worry with us and trust with us, share our beings, our lives, our faith.

We ask that You give them this day the gift You gave Your chosen ones on the way to Emmaus: Your presence in their hearts, Your holiness in their souls, Your joy in their spirits. And let them see You face to face in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread.We pray to You, O Lord, through Mary the mother of all priests, for Your priests and for ours. Amen.

By John Cardinal O’Connor
March, 1995

New Parish Retreat Pictures Are Online!

Sr. Elena Marie Henderson's stunning retreat pictures are now on the St. Elizabeth Church website. Simply click this link:

http://stelizabethcc.org/

Click on "Parish Life" on the left panel. Then click on "Parish Retreat" on the Parish Life page. I have placed 40 photos there for your enjoyment. Please help if you can supply a few last names for the several participants I did not know.

Important Note: Since there are 40 photographs to load, it may take a little time to show them, even if you have a high speed internet connection. You can check the "Thumbnails" to see all 40 at one time in a small size. If you see a red "x" in place of the thumbnail, just "Refresh" your page OR "right-click" on the missing picture and then, click "Show Picture" on the menu window that will come up... Let me know if you have any problems.

Parishioners with October Birthdays ~ Ethel Cooley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVERYONE!

10/01 ~ Heather Rapp

10/02 ~ Barbara Vaughan

10/03/1914 ~ Gertrude Allen

10/03 ~ Jackie McDonnough

10/05 ~ DeShawn Murray

10/11 ~ Rahiel Desta

10/15 ~ Roscoe Moon

10/21 ~ Cassandra Bland

10/22 ~ Stephonia Owolabi and Mary Walker

10/31 ~ Vivian Sullivan

~ You can't help a person uphill without getting closer to the top yourself ~
Author Unknown

Increase Our Faith ~ by Ronnie Archer

The Word regularly inspires us to see what faith is, and to have faith. Faith is action to do things that seem impossible. It is beyond our imagination and beyond nature. The Apostles wanted faith... they moved about with Jesus, but still they needed an increase in their faith. They could not receive faith because they were "at odds" with each other.

Everyone wants faith, and that faith can come by hearing the Word and practicing humility. In today's Gospel of Luke 17, the Apostles asked the Lord to "increase our faith"... The Lord replied with the parable of the mulberry tree. That if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to the tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.

Old habits that have been deep rooted in us, and are spread around like the roots of a mulberry tree, are very hard to change; but with faith the size of a mustard seed, it CAN be done. The mountain, in another parable, represents the obstacles on our paths; they can be overcome only by faith and love.

Our conversion starts when we begin looking... not at GOD and not at others, but at ourselves... take faith by being humble.

St. E's Honors Couples Married 25 Years or More!

On Sunday, September 30, 2007, St. Elizabeth Church honored the couples of our parish who had been married 25 years or more. What an impressive sight it was, to see most of the 22 couples gathered in front of the altar bearing witness to the permanence of their marriages. Several of these couples were celebrating their Golden Anniversaries this year and some, even longer. It was a beautiful testimony to the rest of us; and the first time many of us had realized just how many of our people were in such long lasting marriages. It was an absolutely wonderful occasion.

Each couple was presented with a plaque commemorating this event, and Fr. Andrew led special blessings and prayers for these faithful men and women and their families. St. Cora Marie Billings, RSM and four Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament from St. Frances-St. Emma (Sr. Amadie Maxwell, Sr. Jeanette Kinlicheeny, Sr. Maureen T. Carroll and Sr. Elena Marie Henderson), were called forward to be presented with a group of several couples each, for whom they would now pray each day; and each day, each sister would receive prayers of their appointed couples.

Pictures were taken of each group after Mass and you will see those below. Some of the couples were unable to be present on Sunday, but their names will also be listed with their group.
















Sr. Amadie Maxwell, SBS

Frank and Peggy Beverly
Walker and Cassandra Bland
Frank and Joyce Coy

Not Pictured:

Jay and Patrice Schwermer
Henry and Doris Taylor

Sr. Cora Marie Billings, RSM

Frederick and Veronica Archer
Burton and Rosalie Robinson
Kenneth and Althea Williams

Not Pictured:

Archie and Martha Thompson















Sr. Elena Marie Henderson, SBS

Ernest and Grace Ponton
James and Lucy Thompson
Samuel and Mary Walker
Larry and Barbara Williford

Not Pictured:

James Thompson















Sr. Jeanette Kinlicheeny, SBS

Jacob and Jennie Green
Edward and Thelma Neal
Kaestner and Jacqueline McDonnough
Clifton and Paulette Wright

Not Pictured:

Edward Neal














Sr. Maureen T. Carroll, SBS

Berhane and Hanna Desta
Willie and Jacqueline Hall
James and Maeola Strother
Stanley and Barbara White

Not Pictured:

Willie Hall
Arthur and Cathy Woodson

- Photos by Rita Hatchett -

Blood Pressure Checks To Resume

On the second Sunday of October (14th), Rosemary and Vivian will resume monthly blood pressure checks for our parishioners.

The second Sunday of each month is also the birthday celebration Sunday, so Rosemary and Vivian will probably set up in the small storage room in the parish hall, where you can stop by to have your blood pressure taken before or after enjoying some birthday cake.

Don't miss this valuable service by our nurses.

New Scripture Study Group Forming ~ by Cathy Woodson

Friends,

I would like to invite you to a scripture study session at my home on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 beginning at p:00 p.m. and closing no later than 7:30 p.m.

We can design this session to be whatever we want it to be ~ readings of the day, Sunday readings, lives of Saints, preparation for Wednesday liturgy or other topics, maybe articles from the Catholic Virginian. Our purpose is to grow in our faith, learn with one another, and share our journeys as we examine our relationship with God.

There is one home group meeting near church. This group is offered to people who live near this area (northern/western Henrico, Glen Allen, Hanover and further), or anyone who would like to come.

Please let me know if you are interested and invite others.

Cathy

261-7344