July 2009 Birthdays at St. E's ~ Ethel Cooley

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!






07/01/09 ~ Diane Neylan and Conrad Scott

07/04/09 ~ Nicholas Hall

07/06/09 ~ Kenneth Soistman

07/08/09 ~ Treshawn McCall

07/10/09 ~ Mackenzie Jaquez

07/13/09 ~ Woody Kaine

07/15/09 ~ Mary Ann Allen

07/19/09 ~ Shirley Hinton

07/20/09 ~ Mary Baker and Roland Smith

07/26/09 ~ Leila Moore and Lucy Thompson

07/27/09 ~ Keon Green

07/31/09 ~ Tyshell Jones


~ Serve others with eagerness. It will make your heart dance!
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Miracles Are on the Way ~ by Mary Ann Allen

Have you noticed that when people ask Jesus for help, good things begin to happen?

So often, in times of trouble, we experience doubts that those issues can ever be resolved. We lose confidence as others add to our confusion by their negative remarks and attitudes. But Jesus shows us through the story of the raising of the daughter of the synagogue official, that in times of trouble, healing can come.

Jesus didn't pay any mind to the people who met Him and His followers on their way to the official's home. These people claimed that the little girl had already died, so why bother continuing the journey. These people were negative forces at work, trying to discourage any hope that Jesus could help. Jesus simply told the official: "Do not be afraid; just have faith."

When the company reached the official's home, they were met by people weeping and wailing because they believed the child was dead. Again, we see the negativity of people who do not believe anything could change what they thought was the unalterable fact of death.. "The child is not dead but asleep," Jesus told them. Jesus removed these negative people from the scene by putting them out of the house.

Then with Peter, James, John and the parents of the little girl, He entered the room where the child lay. We know what happened next. Jesus took the child's hand and said, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!"

We see in this story of the ministry of Jesus, that nothing is beyond the power of God. We have to remain confident that God can change a hopeless situation into a healing of either body or spirit. As our homilist reminded us, transformations can take place in our lives if we can make the necessary changes. When all seems lost, call on God and have faith that He will listen.

Today's first reading from the book of Wisdom encourages us with these words: "God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being..."

God's love overshadows everyone and everything. Even in the midst of sorrow and despair, miracles are on the way.


~ Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Oil on canvas (1878) by Gabriel Max

Conviction ~ by Vivian Sullivan

St. Paul said, if only we had the conviction that God is with us. When we are troubled we accuse each other. Just as the disciples thought that Jesus did not care that the sea was rough and their lives were in peril. Whether we live or die, we are in Christ.

The apostles had two options: jump out of the boat, or ask Jesus for help. We also have two choices: run away or face the obstacles and accept Christ. It is important to trust in God. We must approach God when we are troubled.


~ Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~

Graphics from Hermano Leon Clipart

Do This in Memory of Me ~ by Ronnie Archer

All three readings for this Holy Feast Day are reminding us of God's covenant with his people and of the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us by the shedding of His own precious blood.

First, we hear how Moses related all the words and ordinances of our Lord to the people, and how they answered in unison... "we will do everything that the Lord has said." Afterwards, Moses took the blood of the sacrificial bulls as a peace offering to the Lord; half of it, he put on the altar that was erected to the Lord, and the other half, sprinkled it on the people, saying, "this is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you, in accordance with all the words of His."

In reading two, we hear that the crucified and risen Christ passed through the perfect tabernacle, not made by man's hands. He entered once and for all, into the sanctuary, not with the blood of any sacrificial animal, but with His own precious blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption for us.

Today's Gospel tells us about Jesus' instructions that were given to the disciples as to where to go; and what they would find, to prepare the Passover meal. In following and obeying Jesus, they found things exactly as He had told them. During the meal, He took the bread, broke and blessed it, gave it to them, saying, "take and eat, this is my body." And with the cup, He gave thanks, shared with them saying, "this is my blood of the covenant which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

Today, we are reminded and invited to meditate again on the gift of life, body, and blood of Jesus Christ. Blood is so important to us; it is our lifeline. We cannot separate body and blood and still have life. Jesus gave His life so that we may have life. If we believe and accept this great sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, then we can understand how much love God the Father has for us. His Son died, so we could live.

Our purpose for living is to love and serve God, by loving and serving others; and if necessary, giving our lives for another.

The disciples followed Jesus' instruction precisely for the Passover and everything turned out just as He had told them. If we follow Jesus, obey His instruction, we know that everything will turn out alright also.

We also need to remind ourselves of things that we should already know about the Eucharist. We all know that it is the Body and Blood of Christ, when we receive Holy Communion. Be aware that we still are required to fast at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion. We should maintain the proper respect and reverence for the Body and Blood of Christ by not receiving if we are not in a state of grace; if we are aware of a mortal sin that we have committed. We should also not be chewing gum while we are at Mass.

Jesus is the Holiest of Holies, uniting Himself with us and we, uniting ourselves with Him, we become one. Many people are searching for truth and when we show love, we receive spirit, and the Spirit of Christ helps us grow spiritually.

We should pray that the Spirit of Christ remains with us, so that others will see Christ reflected in us all to do good works in His name.

Today, we give thanks for the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ - in His life, death and resurrection, we also can have life.


~ Corpus Christi Sunday - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ ~

~ Image found at Time and Date ~

The Glue of Love ~ by Mary Ann Allen

Today we celebrate one of the greatest mysteries of our faith, the Most Holy Trinity. Over the years, people have pondered its meaning and have tried to explain how God can be divided into three Persons and yet, still be One God. Father, Son and Spirit, separate Persons and yet, One.

There are several analogies that have been developed to help us try to understand this mystery. One of these analogies is to envision God the Father as the sun; God the Son as the light that emanates from the sun; and God the Holy Spirit, the warmth or heat of the sun. All three together and inseparable in the same way as Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One God.

But you can see, as well as I can, that this analogy does not really satisfy us as an explanation. A mystery cannot be explained; only experienced. Our minds can only bring us so far in our search for an explanation and then, we must acknowledge the mystery and simply, experience it.

In our first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, we see that God comes in search of human beings. He chooses us and reveals himself to us and tells us what He wishes of us. Even before we find our own selves searching for Him, God has already found us and claimed us as His own, made in His image and likeness.

And again, in the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Romans, we learn that through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, we have not only been chosen by God, but we have been adopted by the Father as His children. We have become heirs along with His Son, Jesus Christ.

We are able to go forward when our hope and love of God is clear and visible. Just as in the Gospel reading from Matthew, the disciples were instructed to go and make disciples of all nations, we are also called to be disciples, to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... and to teach all that Jesus has commanded. He has promised to be with us always, by sending the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us along the way.

We clearly see the Trinity at work in our readings today. We recognize that the Blessed Trinity is bound together by the glue of love. The unity that is shown by the Trinity is the same unity we must experience in our parish family. We need to be united; not divided. Every person must be embraced and drawn into this family.

The glue of love that binds us together is that precious gift given to us by Christ, the Eucharist. The Eucharist enables us to live united in and through Christ. That glue of love that unites us as a family dispels the loneliness that comes from separating ourselves from each other and from God.

~ Trinity Sunday ~

Graphics by Hermano Leon Clipart

June Birthdays at St. E's ~ by Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday, Everyone!





06/03 ~ Joyce Coy

06/05 ~ Ernest Ponton

06/06 ~ Gabriel McDonnough and Vince Neylan

06/08 ~ Angela Gilbert

06/10 ~ Larry Williford

06/11 ~ Mary Threadgill

06/13 ~ Traven Carter

06/16 ~ Barbara Williford

06/17 ~ Lord Davis, Jr.

06/18 ~ Angela Cotman

06/21 ~ Thomas Brown and Sierra Green

06/22 ~ Deborah Moon

06/23 ~ Steven McDonnough

06/24 ~ Scott Stell

06/25 ~ Nicholas Stuart

06/29 ~ Chanda Kim Ford