December Birthdays at St. E's ~ provided by Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday, Everybody!







12/06/11 ~ Christyna Ford

12/11/11 ~ Burton Robinson, Sr.

12/12/11 ~ Archie Thompson, Sr. and Kiyoko Timmons

12/13/11 ~ Jannie Allen

12/14/11 ~ R'chell Jones and Katherine Lamb

12/18/11 ~ Mieya Timmons

12/19/11 ~ James Thompson

12/22/11 ~ Sr. Elena Henderson and Frances Pope

12/26/11 ~ Lula Lamb

12/29/11 ~ Laila Sharee Miller

12/30/11 ~ Rita Hatchett



~ Image by Webweaver

Watch! Be Alert! And wait on the Lord ~ 1st Sunday of Advent 2011 (B)

First Sunday of Advent

Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7
Ps 80:2-3, 15-16. 18-19
1 Cor 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

This Sunday marks the First Sunday of Advent at St. Elizabeth's Parish. Our Advent theme this year is: "Watch! Be Alert! And wait on the Lord!" Again this Advent season, we have placed a Jesse Tree in the sanctuary. The leaves covering the tree contain the names of children and young people we wish to pray for. Some of the children have critical needs; some names have been placed on the tree because of the writer's gratefulness for the lives of those children - the joys and sorrows of our children that we want our Heavenly Father to take notice of as we pray for them.

As we prepare for the birth of the Savior, Mark's Gospel moves us into a future where Jesus talks to his disciples about his "Second Coming" - an event that could come at any moment! Just as we prepare for his birth during this Advent time, we should also be watchful and alert and to be prepared for that time when Jesus will come in glory...

In the first reading, Isaiah acknowledges the Lord as the redeemer and begs for his return so that we will be delivered from all the wrongs we do and the guilt we carry. He places all his trust in the Lord that despite our sinfulness, that the Lord will shape us as a potter does as he creates a beautiful vessel.

"...Lord, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands." Is 63:7

Paul writes to the Corinthians in the same vein. That as we wait for the coming of the Lord, we must give thanks to the Lord for our gift of faith; that God is faithful and that our faith will sustain us until Jesus returns.

In trust, the psalmist prays along with us, that the Lord "take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted..." Ps 80:15-16


~ Image by Susan Manzello

Homecoming 2011 ~ Feast of Christ the King

Our Homecoming Celebration this year coincided with the Feast of Christ the King! We always celebrate St. Elizabeth of Hungary, our patron, on the Sunday closest to her feast day. Our guest celebrant and homilist this year was Fr. Jim Arsenault, parochial vicar at St. Michael Parish in Glen Allen. He and Fr. Francois concelebrated this Mass.

We always welcome Fr. Jim when he visits and I believe he also enjoys his times with us. In his homily, Fr. Jim reminded us of our parish history which dates back to the 1920's when the parish was first established. He spoke of the changes we have endured through the years and that we have always, through God's grace and the strength of our parish community, come through and moved on. Fr. Jim emphasized that even though we are a small community, we are well known in the diocese and we need to recognize that our size does not keep us from having an impact there.

At announcement time, Tommy Williams, President of the Men's Group, presented Fr. Francois with a sizable check for the needs of the parish. The money was raised through the various fund-raising activities that the men of the parish sponsor.

After Mass, all were invited to the church hall for a scrumptious feast! We thank all the men and women who worked so hard to prepare this meal and decorate the hall.

It was wonderful!


~ Image of Christ the King from Prayer Flowers

Using your God-given talents wisely ~ by Ronnie Archer

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
1 Thes 5:1-6
Mt 25:14-30

The first reading from Proverbs, tells us that the man who entrusts his heart to - and marries a woman who fits the scriptural description of an "ideal" wife, has an "unfailing prize." If a husband sincerely loves his wife, with those qualities, as Christ loved the Church, then they would be spiritual "gifts" to each other, and enjoy a marriage ordained by GOD!

St. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, tells them that they are children of the light, not of the darkness; therefore the day of the Lord should not overtake them. They know they should be prepared for Jesus' return.

Last week, we heard of the virgins who forgot to bring enough oil for their lamps, for when the "bridegroom" would come. Today's Gospel from Matthew continues the message of being prepared. We heard the story about how a man, before going on his journey, called in his three servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

Those to whom he gave two and five talents, multiplied them which pleased the man, but the third servant was afraid to take the "risk" to work with his talent. Instead, he did nothing but hide it; and when the man learned that he did nothing with his talent to increase it, he took it from him, called him lazy and gave his talent to the one who had ten.

As Christians, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to work for the Lord, so we can be fruitful. God expects us to use our talents that HE gives us for the good of our community.

We all have talents, some different from others; no one of us is the same as another. Some of us take life for granted but GOD has the final word - our message is be ready, we don't know the day nor the hour when Jesus will return.

We should ask ourselves, "How have I used my talent?" We will be rewarded and gain entry into the Kingdom of God, if we use the talents that God gave us for the good of others.


~ Image from the Jesus Mafa website

Youth Sunday at St. E's ~ This Little Light of Mine

Youth Sunday at St. Elizabeth's was held on November 6, 2011. Eleven of our young people participated as introduction and scripture readers, ushers, altar servers, gift bearers and children's choir members. These young people are the future of our parish and we were happy to see how ably they performed each of their tasks.

You can be certain that there were many proud parents, grandparents and other family members in the congregation.

We are grateful to Amy Williford, who took on the responsibility of bringing the children together - Mary Walker, who contacted the parents to encourage them to allow their children to participate - Frances Pope, who instructed the readers and gift bearers - Kim Ford, who directed the children's choir - and Shelton Jones, who instructed the ushers in their duties.

The plan is to dedicate the first Sunday of each month as Youth Sunday. We hope to include other children of the parish in the upcoming months.

Having a Youth Sunday was a suggestion that came out of discussions at our Parish Retreat this year as a way to involve our children and young people in the life of the Church.

Kim is directing the children in singing "This Little Light of Mine"!


~ Photos taken by Amy Williford

Five of them were wise ~ Reflection on the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Wis 6:12-16
Ps 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 (2b)
1 Thes 4:13-18
Matt 25:1-13

Haven't you found that often the distractions of life keep you from focusing on the coming of Jesus into your life? This is certainly what five of the ten virgins discovered as they awaited the arrival of the bridegroom.

They were responsible for meeting him at the gate and escorting him to the wedding feast. As they prepared to leave, the five wise virgins took along extra oil, just in case... These young women wanted to be prepared. They did not want the bridegroom to arrive to find the way dark as they escorted him to the wedding feast. The extra oil would be their Plan B.

The foolish virgins never thought for a minute that the bridegroom might arrive late. They simply gathered what lamps they could find and ran off to meet the bridegroom.

We know what happened. The bridegroom was late... the young women fell asleep and awoke when they heard the sounds of his arrival. The foolish virgins' lamps had gone out and they had to go to the merchants to buy more oil. By the time they returned, the doors to the wedding feast had been closed and locked!

Jesus reminds us, "... stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matt 25:13) The foolish virgins had become distracted by the excitement of seeing the bridegroom and the honor of escorting him to the wedding feast. They didn't prepare themselves for the possibility of a late arrival.

On the other hand, the wise virgins had prepared themselves and thus were rewarded by the bridegroom who invited them to the wedding feast. Jesus wishes us to remember that we need to be prepared for when he comes again. We are to live lives of holiness pleasing to God; and to care for our brothers and sisters especially those who are in most need of our help.

Ordinary Time is drawing to a close and soon we will begin a new Church Year. The readings in these final weeks have continued to be reminders of the end of time... when Jesus comes again... and how we are to look forward to that time... whether we will rejoice at his final coming or whether we will find ourselves locked out of the wedding feast.

The psalmist has found the words that express what is in our hearts, as he sings:

"O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts...

...Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name..." (Ps 63:2, 5)


~ Image: Five of them were wise by Walter Rane

November Birthdays at St. E's ~ Ethel Cooley

Happy Birthday Everybody!

11/01/11 ~ Frederick Archer and LaVerne Braxton

11/02/11 ~ Althea Williams

11/03/11 ~ Mary Tucker

11/04/11 ~ Karen Carter Brown

11/08/11 ~ Thomas Williams

11/11/11 ~ Keeya Majors

11/12/11 ~ Norma Antomattei

11/21/11 ~ Ronald Timmons, Jr. and Stacy Wright

11/25/11 ~ Christina Davis

11/28/11 ~ Noel Nero

11/29/11 ~ Kevin Teachey


~ Image from Webweaver