February Birthdays ~ Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday Everyone!






02/02 - Lauren Cotman and Genelle Frizzelle

02/03 ~ Elizabeth Ruffin and Jennifer Soistman

02/04 ~ Jennie T. Green

02/06 ~ Cathy Woodson

02/07 ~ Eva Mae Chiles

02/09 ~ Thomas Smith

02/10 ~ Amy Williford

02/11 ~ Sr. Cora Marie Billings

02/15 ~ Kenneth Williams

02/17 ~ Alexandra Williams

02/23 ~ Katrinia Murray

02/24 ~ Naseem McDowell

02/26 ~ Kamryn Beverly, Morgan Jaquez and Timothy Kaine

02/28 ~ James Strother

God's Word Is Fulfilled In Our Hearing ~ by Ronnie Archer

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time






In today's First Reading from Nehemiah, as well as in the Gospel of Luke, we hear the WORD being proclaimed to the men, women and the children who were old enough to understand, as they stood in unity. In the First Reading, the people were weeping as they heard Ezra reading from the book of the law of GOD. He told them "do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!"

The people had a hard time with the fact that today, the Scripture is fulfilled.

As the people in Ezra's days were, we are people who are living in hope all of the time, but we are uncomfortable with that hope in the Scriptures being fulfilled... today! We're more comfortable with "tomorrow," when we hear something related to the fulfillment of God's Word today!

We are many parts of the one Body of Christ; and we can be happy today and live in unity when we realize who we are and that the Word is with us.

Even though we are individual parts of that one Body of Christ, it is also important to understand our uniqueness. Society sometimes calls us to be like others, but we must realize that even though we comprise one Body, each of us has different gifts. God created each "part" with its own purpose and we should be accepting of, and have respect for, the importance of the gifts of each other.

Unity and love go together, and bring joy to Christ, so when we know our own gifts, we can contribute to others. We must pray to overcome the fear we might feel when we place ourselves out of our "comfort zone," for fear is the root of all evil.

"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:21)

The Marriage Feast of Cana ~ by Phyllis Booth

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time









The Isaiah Reading shows God's forgiveness and love of Jerusalem. Jerusalem will become a great nation again. The people will become God's delight and other nations will see her glory. God loves us as much or more than He loved Jerusalem. We receive His forgiveness each time we express sorrow for our sins in the Sacrament of Penance. God continues to bless us, guide us on our journey and answers our sincere prayers because He wants us to enter the Kingdom He has prepared FOR US.

In reconciling with God, we have the opportunity to continue using the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are given to enhance our uniqueness. This was explained in the Second Reading from 1 Corinthians. Every individual has a gift from God to use for the growth of the church, the family and the global world. The Holy Spirit provides the necessary wisdom to enable US to become the special person God created.

The Church's Readings cycle places today's Gospel of John after the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. This reading is extraordinary because Jesus uses what the Jews and others had been seeking and asking for during that time, a sign, to explain who He was. John's Gospel also gives us a picture of Jesus and his mother's relationship. The scene is a wedding.

The wine runs out and Mary tells her Son of the problem. Jesus' reply is "How does your concern affect me? My hour has not come." Mary tells the servers to do what He tells them. When the servers carry out Jesus' command, the first miracle of His ministry is performed... at a party. This act helps the Disciples to believe in Jesus. Jesus' action shows He cares for the people. He uses a very simple and impersonal thing to show the power of God.

Simple miracles take place each day in our lives: an apology, answering a call for help, visiting the sick, preparing a meal or saying I'm sorry... Such simple acts are miracles. God invites us to do small signs to let others know we believe in Him and that He cares for us. We can use our voices this week to help the Haitian Collection grow into a great miracle at next Sunday's collection.

January Birthdays ~ by Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday Everyone!






01/01 ~ Tracey Lamb

01/04 ~ Nat Kaine

01/05 ~ Alberto Moore

01/06 ~ Sharon Morton & Patrice Schwermer

01/10 ~ Almetia Strother

01/11 ~ Laverne Braxton

01/13 ~ Rosalie Robinson

01/15 ~ Grace Ponton

01/16 ~ Mary Alice Hill & Alicia Terreforte

01/20 ~ Charice Jones


~ Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending! Anonymous

The Baptism of the Lord ~ by Cathy Woodson

~ The Baptism of the Lord ~

Today's homily reminds us to remember and reflect on our Baptism, the foundation on which we build our relationship with God. We should always remember that our Baptism is the foundation that transforms us to be children of God.

Jesus' Baptism opened the heavens. Our Baptism opens our hearts and minds, bringing us closer to Christ. Through his Baptism, Jesus says that he is able and available to the people and to his Heavenly Father. After his Baptism, he began his public life.

We are called to be one with the people, understanding that our Baptism qualifies us to be children of God - this is what makes us different. Our Baptism brings us to public life. We know who we are; who we belong to. We must remember that we are part of a mission, fulfilling God's plan for us.


~ wikimedia image - Dave Zelenka ~

Christmas Flowers Donations ~ Information Provided by Ethel Cooley

IN MEMORY / IN HONOR OF:


Thomas and Annie Gray

Requested by: Veronica G. Archer


The Billings, Lee and Scott Families

Requested by: Sr. Cora Billings


Ethelene Cooley Horne, Lillie Cooley,
Janie Tisdale Cooley and Cliff Cooley

Requested by: Ethel Cooley


Loretta B. Thomas, M. Dollie Lewis,
and Bessie A. Green

Requested by: Jennie T. Green


Annie Fitzgerald, Stanley Lamb,
and Lt. Almar Fitzgerald

Requested by: Katherine Lamb


Dorothy Neylan and Chester Ritchie

Requested by: Diane and Vince Neylan


Hazel Randall, Christine Talley and
Regina Williams

Requested by: Barbara Randall


William "Bill" Sullivan

Requested by: Vivian Sullivan


Martha Thompson and Christina Wilson

Requested by: Archie Thompson

Our Guiding Star

Epiphany 2010




Our Guiding Star







A brilliant star sprang into view
Guided by God's hand...
It hovered over Bethlehem,
That chosen bit of land.

It guided Wise Men traveling
In distant caravan,
To find the promised One of ages...
Jesus, God, made Man.

Through the years, it guides us still...
All those who seek the Lord,
For each one's heart must make the trip
To find His love out-poured.


~ by Margaret Peterson ~

Clean Our Hearts And Follow The Star ~ by Ronnie Archer

Feast of the Epiphany

Today we celebrate the manifestation of GOD for ALL people...not just a chosen few.

Greater days were in store for and coming to Jerusalem. "Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you... Nations shall walk by your light... all people will gather and come to you, proclaiming the praises of the Lord." (Isaiah 60)

In the Ephesians Reading, St. Paul celebrates the fact that Jesus Christ came to save the entire world.

Matthew's Gospel tells how overjoyed the Magi were to see and follow the star, leading them to the Infant Jesus, Savior of the World!

Every time the Good News is announced, there are three ways it should be accepted: in mind, life and heart. The Magi were overjoyed. Herod was troubled, as well as others; he felt threatened by this Baby Boy. Feeling "troubled," he began plotting evil and violence against the Christ Child. The Magi were warned in a dream not to return by the same route; so they changed their "direction" and departed for home by a different route.

Herod did not want to accept Jesus in mind or life; certainly not in his heart. When we don't accept, we become indifferent. What blocks us and keeps us from accepting is our blindness to this manifestation. One who has seen AND accepted the manifestation has an open heart and an open mind.

The Epiphany should be a life-changing experience for us; it should be a time for our conversion. We should understand the seriousness of the manifestation. God is constantly speaking to us, showing us His greatness, in many ways... every day. It is up to us to look for that STAR, accept it in our hearts and minds, and be a star to someone else, leading them to Christ.

Let's ask God to help us first to clean our hearts. It is His "residence," ...He should reside there... in a clean heart. Also, ask God to open our hearts, so we too may be overjoyed in seeing the STAR, and to accept the STAR in mind, life and heart. This will guide and enable us to be like the Magi; to "change our direction and take a different route."

Being Who We Are

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Just as an old year ends and we celebrate the start of a new year; so also we should celebrate every day as a new day. A new beginning...

In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, we learn that God wishes blessings to be given to the Israelites and instructs Moses in how He wishes the Israelites to be blessed. He wants us to have the same blessing.

We can begin our new year in a beautiful way by beginning it with God. We are doing this very thing by attending Mass as we are tonight, placing God in the center of our lives. We can start this New Year with God's blessing.

Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians that "when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son" to us... a seed of faith was given to us. In order to nourish that seed, we must come to know God; for only through a relationship with God, can we be fruitful.

Through Jesus' birth, we have become adopted sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. God desires us to be authentic human beings. Jesus showed us how... We glorify God by accepting who we are.

We see in Luke's Gospel, that the shepherds followed the angels' instructions and came quickly to the stable just as they were... from the hills where they were tending their sheep. When they saw the Child, they told all they had heard and seen. Then they spread the joy of Jesus' Birth everywhere they went.

This is how we too should live. Our way of glorifying God should be to bring joy to others by our words and our actions; to bring blessings and to be a blessing to others.

On this Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, we ask Mary to accompany us on our journey to God and to intercede for us before the Throne of Mercy.

May the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us. May the Lord look upon us kindly and give us peace. Amen!