Obedience Until Death Is What God Wants ~ by Ronnie Archer

Today's readings begin with Ezekiel, with the grumbling and complaining of the People of Israel... that the "Lord's way is not fair!" Then the prophet asks, "is it my ways that are unfair, or rather your ways that are unfair?" The people had sinned and they tried to place the blame elsewhere. When we sin, we are accountable for our own sins; but if we turn away from evil and decide to do what is right, we shall live.

The second reading from Paul to the Philippians tells us that we should have the same attitude as that of Christ. We should not act out of selfishness, or behave in such a way that brings us glory. We should not be only looking out for our interest. We should humble ourselves and regard others as more important than ourselves. People cannot see Christ Himself, but we are a manifestation of Christ. We can be a light to everyone, good and bad. By our behavior, others should look at us and see a revelation of Christ.

Matthew's Gospel for today gives us the parable of the father and his two sons. The father asked both sons to go out and work in the vineyard. The first son said flatly, that he would not go, but eventually changed his mind and went. The second son told the father "yes sir", but he did not go.

Even though the first son later changed his mind, which was good, neither of the sons did exactly as the father desired.

God wants us to be obedient immediately. We have to put our words, beliefs, etc. into action. That is what God takes delight in, obedience until death.



~ Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

October Birthdays at St. E's ~ Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday, Everyone!





10/01 ~ Heather Rapp

10/02 ~ Barbara Vaughan

10/03 ~ Gertrude Allen and Jackie McDonnough

10/05 ~ Deshawn Murray

10/11 ~ Irene Whitlock

10/15 ~ Roscoe Moon

10/21 ~ Cassandra Bland

10/22 ~ Mary Walker

10/31 ~ Vivian Sullivan



~ A person can't stumble when he's on his knees ~
Unknown

God Is Merciful And Slow To Anger ~ Ronnie Archer

Today's first reading from Isaiah invites us to God's grace, and tells us to turn from our wicked ways and to seek the Lord while He may be found; to call Him while He is near.

God's ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts. God's ways are so much higher than the human mind can comprehend.

In the second reading of Paul to the Philippians, we hear how St. Paul loved Christ so much that he considered death as "gain"; but he realized that his life on earth was necessary in order to fulfill his mission here for Christ.

In Matthew's gospel we again hear the parable of the kingdom of heaven being compared to the landowner and the laborers. The laborers who were the first to be hired felt they were treated unfairly. They became disgruntled and grumbled because those who were hired in the final hour received the very same wages as those who had labored all day. They did not understand the generosity of the landowner and they were resentful.

Sometimes we can be jealous of how others are blessed, but we don't always know just what the needs of others are. God knows our needs and gives us what we need... not what we feel we deserve.

God invites us to relate to others. We come from different backgrounds, which might prevent us from relating to each other, but sometimes if we make a first step towards trying to understand each other, then we will be better able to relate to others.

God does not like our grumbling and complaining. It doesn't matter who comes first or who comes last, God's gifts of mercy, forgiveness, and generosity are available to us all.

Seek God while He is near. Take the Word of God and He will bless us.


~ Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Haiti Committee Update ~ Jay Schwermer's Trip Pictures

Church, I want you to know that St. Elizabeth's has a very fine Haiti Committee. Our members are dedicated, enthusiastic and ready to work to raise funds both to help the New Jeruselem Orphanage and school; AND eventually, to send two of our young people and a chaperon to Haiti in the coming years.

At our last meeting on Sunday, September 14, 2008, we set up a special fundraising committee made up of Mary Walker, Lucy Thompson, Jackie Hall and Melvon McMillan to explore ways to raise funds; not only by sponsoring functions within our parish, but also to seek grant money from other interested groups. Several suggestions have already been given to that committee and they will report at the next meeting of the Haiti Committee on Sunday, October 5, 2008.

In addition to fundraising, the Finance Council has approved a regular Second Collection for Haiti that has been set up for the first Sunday of every month. These monies are earmarked for the Haiti Committee to use both in assisting the orphanage and to send our young people to Haiti to experience firsthand what it means to live in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. So far two Haiti collections have given us a total of over $400! We know you will continue to be generous in these collections.

We have all felt quite disturbed over the news of the terrible flooding in Haiti, caused by the recent destructive storms. Pastor Kenold, who is the director of the New Jeruselem Orphanage, was able to get all the children to safety as the waters rose and has even been able to assist neighbors whose homes were flooded. However, we do not yet know the state of the orphanage itself or how much damage it sustained. Our hearts go out to our new friends and we pray they will be back to normal soon.

The photos you see in this article are those taken by Jay Schwermer who recently returned from Haiti after visiting the orphanage and presenting the children with the soccer ball inscribed with our names.

If you are interested in joining the Haiti Committee, please contact Mieko Timmons (our recorder), Michelle Jordan or Mary Ann Allen.

Haiti Committee members are the following: Mary Ann Allen ~ Jannie Allen ~ Mildred Green ~ Jackie Hall ~ Michelle Jordan ~ Micole Jordan ~ Jackie McDonnough ~ Melvon McMillan ~ Rosemary Overton ~ Patrice & Jay Schwermer ~ Katie & Scott Stell ~ Lucy Thompson ~ Kiyoko Timmons ~ Kariin Timmons ~ Mieko Timmons ~ Mary & Sam Walker ~ Larry & Barbara Williford.

We Have the Gift; Not the Symbol ~ by Mary Ann Allen

Today we celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The cross is a reminder for us of God's incredible love. God gave us his most precious gift, his Son, Jesus Christ.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us that Jesus emptied himself and took our human likeness and appearance and then, humbled himself becoming obedient to his Father, even to death on a cross. Can we even comprehend such a Love...

And not only that, Jesus left us with an access to God through the Eucharist. That Body and Blood of Christ that we eat and drink is not a symbol such as the symbol in the Book of Numbers, where God told the Israelites to form a seraph serpent that those persons bitten by snakes could look upon and be healed. No, Christ's presence in the Eucharist is not symbolic; it is real and it is our "God-with-us."

When we look at the cross today, we know that we too carry our own crosses. They are a part of our lives. Sometimes they are light enough for us to carry by ourselves. Sometimes we need the help of others. And sometimes, we are so burdened by our crosses that we must simply unite ourselves to Jesus' own suffering on his cross in order to go on. But we also know that someday our crosses will be glorified, just as Jesus' cross was.

Jesus died that terrible death on the cross because of his love for the other. He was willing to undergo suffering for the other. We too show that love by living our lives the way Jesus did. He was always giving and forgiving the other; and so must we.

We take comfort today in these words from John's Gospel:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that he who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."


~ Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross ~

September Birthdays at St. E's ~ Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday, Everyone!





09/01 ~ Kariin Timmons

09/02 ~ Gloria Johnson

09/04 ~ Astrid Jones & Thelma Neal

09/05 ~ Stanley Glover

09/06 ~ George Strother

09/08 ~ Shelton Jones

09/09 ~ Meghan Riemer Barbato & Terence Smith

09/10 ~ Erica Miller

09/16 ~ Martha Thompson

09/18 ~ Veronica Archer, Jonathan Frizzelle, Isaiah Goodwyn & Fr. Andrew Sagayam

09/23 ~ Maria Barrow

09/24 ~ Marla Strother

09/30 ~ Valerie Smith



~ Everybody lives for something better to come. ~
~ Anonymous ~

Voter Registration Deadline ~ October 6, 2008

Please note that the deadline to register to vote or to change your voting address is Monday, October 6, 2008. You can find out where and how to register by going to this website:

Virginia State Board of Elections: Registering to Vote

To VOTE is one of our most important rights as citizens of the United States; and it is a duty also.

Haiti Hurricane Update and the New Jeruselem Orphanage ~ by Patrice Schwermer

Over the last few days Haiti has been hit hard by Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna. There have been 136 deaths (many more now) and reports of massive flooding throughout the country. And if this is not enough, currently they are being affected by Hurricane Ike. I have received some information on the status of some areas of Haiti following Gustav and Hanna that I would like to share with you.

First, I know that we at St. Elizabeth are concerned and wondering about how New Jeruselem Orphanage is faring. I have sent an email to Pastor Kenold but have not heard back yet...

(Patrice has now received an email response from Pastor Kenold dated Sunday 9/7/08, that reads in part:

"...I can tell you that by the grace of God we are not die; but the water came through my neighbors first and I took all my children away and the water came and move a part in my land away to the sea...

...But around me, all my neighbors are devastated. I am trying to shelter some, but they loose everything they had ..."

Pastor Kenold Chrispin


...Our Diocese has a twinning relationship with the Diocese of Hinche in Haiti. The Diocese of Hinche encompasses the interior part of Haiti and has many parishes. The area of Mirebelais where new Jeruselem is located falls within the boundaries of the Diocese of Hinche. I spoke to Fr. Jacques, the director of CARITAS, Catholic Church's social service agency in Hinche. He told me that in the City of Hinche many of the families had to leave their homes and are at schools or in parish halls. I have attached pictures of the flooded river in Hinche that were taken by a resident of Hinche.

CARITAS is trying to provide resources especially food for these people. I told Fr. Jacques that we are praying for them and will try to help in ways that we are able. If there is any one who would like to donate funds to CARITAS to distribute to the most affected areas of the Diocese of Hinche, you may send checks to me made out to: Catholic Diocese of Richmond, 7800 Carousel Lane, Richmond, VA 23294 and I will send them to Fr. Jacques. There are many agencies providing relief all over Haiti including Catholic Relief Services, http://crs.org/haiti/haitifloods2008/

Thank you for your prayers.
Patrice

~ Photos taken by a resident of Hinche ~

We Are Called To Be Watchmen For Each Other ~ by Ronnie Archer

All three readings today remind us of the command from God to love our neighbor and also the responsibility that we have for each other.

We hear in the reading from Ezekiel today that we are appointed "watchmen for each other." In the second reading from Romans, we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves.

In Matthew's gospel, we are told of the procedure that we should follow in a dispute between us and another person. "If one sins against us, we are told to go to them privately, and point the sin out to them"... and if he/she ignores, then we are to try again; this time, taking one or two others along as witnesses. Then only if that attempt is not successful, they should be exposed to the church. IF that person does not even listen to the church, then he is to be treated as an outsider, separating him from the community.

Our church family IS our extended family that we received through Baptism. We often times, have the mindset of living individually. God means for us to establish relationships and fellowship with each other. So we are "our brother's keeper..." in that we should check on each other when, and if we notice an absence by one of us from our congregation.

Jesus said in Matthew's gospel that "whatever you bind on earth, will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." We cannot hold unto grievances; we have to pray and then do what we can to resolve them and turn them over to God to resolve, by forgiving and showing love and mercy towards each other.

We need to ask ourselves... have we forgiven, as Jesus forgives? Do we show the love of Jesus to each other? Jesus says that "if two of you agree on earth about anything for which you are to pray, it shall be granted to you by our heavenly Father, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am in the midst of them."

We are called to live as one family and one community. Jesus means for us to be "our brother's keeper."

~ Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

* Photo showing the devastation in Haiti, 9/08

The Men's Group Bus Trip ~ by Mary T. Walker

Since 1995, the Men's Group of St. E's have sponsored an annual trip to Philadelphia on the Labor Day weekend. The trip has a two-fold objective. One is to have FUN! The other is to raise funds for our church. The trip begins when you get on the bus on Saturday morning and ends when you get off the bus on Monday evening. Many dear friendships have developed over the years.

This year, 36 of us traveled to Philadelphia with the Men's Group. Eight of us were members of St. Elizabeth. Where were the rest of you? You missed such a treat!

The trip has many highlights: a trip to the "suburbs of Philadelphia"... dinner at a premier jazz club, shopping, sightseeing, fun, more fun... and did I say SHOPPING! I would encourage more of our parishioners to join in this fun experience. After all, the more people going, the more funds to come to the church.

Kudos to James Thompson and Clifton Wright for a job well done in the coordination and planning of this year's trip. This was Sam and my 13th trip on board and we look forward to another fun-filled time next year.


The Roving Reporter and Her Shadow,
Mary T. Walker and Sam, too!

The Van de Vyver Gathering ~ by Mary T. Walker

On August 24, 2008, there was a gathering of folks who had previously attended Van de Vyver Catholic School. The school was started in 1910 and closed in 1969. Some of the people in attendance had graduated from the high school; many had attended the school through the 8th grade, and others had attended the business school. To our amazement, one person had attended the school in 1917! It was a day of remembering the old times and of greeting many old friends.

St. Elizabeth's own Phyllis Booth was the Speaker of the Day. She had been a former 3rd Grade teacher at the school. She gave an outstanding speech reminding us of our rich heritage and challenging us about our continued responsibilities today.

The purpose of the gathering was to explore if there was any interest in planning a week-end reunion for the year 2010 to celebrate the 100th year of Van de Vyver School. Approximately 150 people were in attendance. It was a day well spent.

The gathering had started with the 11:00 a.m. Mass at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and a reception was held immediately after. Our thanks go out to Ethelyn Parker who chaired this initial effort and her committee for a job well done.

There are many of us from St. Elizabeth who are former Van de Vyver students. I think it's the consensus of those gathered that we will begin to work towards an even greater celebration in 2010.


The Roving Reporter,
Mary T. Walker

Are We an Obstacle for Christ? ~ by Betty Alexis

In the first reading we saw that Jeremiah felt quite dejected and was persecuted by the masses because he spoke God's word to them. We learned that Jeremiah's suffering was so great that he seriously considered whether he should stop spreading those words to others. But God's word was so heavy on his heart, he just could not bring himself to do that. Many times we too, go through hardships and suffer like Jeremiah when we decide to follow Christ and spread His Word. We also consider giving up - and many of us do. However, we need to be more like Jeremiah. We need to have God's word as a "burning fire" in our hearts!

The second reading encouraged us to always offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. We are to prepare ourselves to accept our own sufferings; and to remember that no suffering we endure could ever compare to the suffering Jesus did for us.

Today's Gospel was an affirmation of the first and second readings - we must suffer for Christ, if we are to truly serve Him! In the Gospel, we saw Jesus rebuking Satan, because Satan tried to use Peter to mislead Him.

One rich lesson was that we must follow Jesus, not go before Him. In life, we should not be an obstacle for Christ, but rather always to focus on heavenly things. We were left with some food for thought with the question: "Are you really prepared to follow Christ?" Another way to say this: "Are you really prepared to die for Christ?"

Let's prepare ourselves to accept our sufferings for Christ's sake. Like Jeremiah, we must always strive for that "burning fire" in our hearts from which we get our strength.


~ Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time ~


* Image found at
http://bible1.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/matthew-16/