In the year 2002, I was in my fourth year as pastor of St. Boniface Church in Ft. Smith. After the bishops of the United States decreed that the unity of posture during Holy Communion was standing, I was pleasantly surprised at the large number who willingly observed this standing posture throughout Communion. The reality of a song being sung by the congregation while Communion is being given out and received is a communal "thank you" to Jesus as is captured in the second verse of the song "Gift of Finest Wheat" which says "With joyful lips we sing to you, our praise and gratitude, that you should count us worthy Lord to share this heavenly food." We are not only in the closest communion with Jesus that we can be on earth when we receive His Body and Blood, but we are, at the same time, in communion with each other not only in our posture, but also in our singing songs which speak about this heavenly food and the nourishment Jesus gives each one of us during this special time. It is after we have all received Holy Communion and the singing ends that we all (including the priest and deacon) kneel or if that is not practical for health reasons, sit and have a period of quiet time when we speak to Jesus in praise, thanks and/or petition from our hearts or just glory in his presence within us. When we all stand and the priest says the "Prayer After Communion" we all say "Amen" which brings an end to the Communion Rite with the blessing and dismissal bringing an end to the Mass. I still strongly urge those who have gotten into the bad habit of leaving the Mass soon after receiving Holy Communion to overcome that practice and stay at least until the blessing and dismissal, if not also the closing hymn. While it is a blessing to all that we stay in union with prayers, postures and gestures throughout all of Mass (and save individual actions of piety when we come for personal prayer time), so we should start the Mass together and conclude the Mass together until we are sent off to "announce the Gospel of the Lord."
After giving everyone time to soak in what I have shared with you in my pastor's column this and last week, I would like us to begin standing again throughout Communion beginning on Pentecost weekend (May 18-19) and assure you that anyone who chooses to do differently (whether it be kneeling for a minute or two after returning to their pew and then standing OR kneeling throughout the time after returning to their pews) should not and hopefully will not be criticized for doing so.
To those who say they don't see any other parish doing it this way, I say, in many, if not most things, it takes more courage and conviction to be a leader and not a follower when we know and appreciate the reasons the Church has for us to do such things as a sign of the unity in Jesus that we strive to have at all times!
After giving everyone time to soak in what I have shared with you in my pastor's column this and last week, I would like us to begin standing again throughout Communion beginning on Pentecost weekend (May 18-19) and assure you that anyone who chooses to do differently (whether it be kneeling for a minute or two after returning to their pew and then standing OR kneeling throughout the time after returning to their pews) should not and hopefully will not be criticized for doing so.
To those who say they don't see any other parish doing it this way, I say, in many, if not most things, it takes more courage and conviction to be a leader and not a follower when we know and appreciate the reasons the Church has for us to do such things as a sign of the unity in Jesus that we strive to have at all times!
During my time as your pastor (almost 14 years), not surprisingly I have witnessed a turnover in some areas of ministry here and new additions that have been a help to the ones who remain in that ministry and a blessing to those that they serve. In one particular ministry, that of our choir ministry, I am really thankful for those who have been in our two choirs a long time and who stay with it not only because of their beautiful voices but also the reality that our choirs have had attrition and not too many additions in the time I have been here.
Our V.I.P. for this month, Barb Potter is one of those that is a long-time member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir which means a consistent once a week practice session in addition to faithfully singing at the 10:00 a.m. Mass. and special liturgies such as Holy Week and Thanksgiving Mass to name a few. Soon after she and her husband Horace moved to Hot Springs Village in 2007, she joined the Ladies of the Sacred Heart where she has been actively involved in their fundraising efforts and in leadership positions as co-captain of the St. Anthony Guild for three years, vice-president of LOSH and then as president the next year. In 2015 she became a member of the welcoming committee and remains a part of this important ministry of welcoming and providing information to new members of our parish. She served two terms (4 years) on the pastoral council as a member of the social justice and charitable outreach commission. She coordinated the baby shower for the last two years which involved sorting through and delivering baby items to three pregnancy help centers in the area. She served as the chair of the pastoral council and put in extra time outside of the meetings, especially in recruiting volunteers to run for parish council positions as well as coordinating the elections and compiling bios of the candidates. She has put in extra effort as well in compiling information about our VIPs for each month and in getting information on this to the Village Voice. Finally, Barbara is an active person not only in church activities, but also in the community as she has volunteered at Potter's Clay and Jackson House and is a monthly tutor at Mountain Pine School along with other members of the St. Anthony Guild.
Personally, I want to say thank you to Barb for all the work she did in her role as the Pastoral Council president, and all of us should be grateful for the time and gifts she has given over the years to so many, including those blessed by her voice and that of her fellow choir members. Let us all sing to the Lord!
Our V.I.P. for this month, Barb Potter is one of those that is a long-time member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir which means a consistent once a week practice session in addition to faithfully singing at the 10:00 a.m. Mass. and special liturgies such as Holy Week and Thanksgiving Mass to name a few. Soon after she and her husband Horace moved to Hot Springs Village in 2007, she joined the Ladies of the Sacred Heart where she has been actively involved in their fundraising efforts and in leadership positions as co-captain of the St. Anthony Guild for three years, vice-president of LOSH and then as president the next year. In 2015 she became a member of the welcoming committee and remains a part of this important ministry of welcoming and providing information to new members of our parish. She served two terms (4 years) on the pastoral council as a member of the social justice and charitable outreach commission. She coordinated the baby shower for the last two years which involved sorting through and delivering baby items to three pregnancy help centers in the area. She served as the chair of the pastoral council and put in extra time outside of the meetings, especially in recruiting volunteers to run for parish council positions as well as coordinating the elections and compiling bios of the candidates. She has put in extra effort as well in compiling information about our VIPs for each month and in getting information on this to the Village Voice. Finally, Barbara is an active person not only in church activities, but also in the community as she has volunteered at Potter's Clay and Jackson House and is a monthly tutor at Mountain Pine School along with other members of the St. Anthony Guild.
Personally, I want to say thank you to Barb for all the work she did in her role as the Pastoral Council president, and all of us should be grateful for the time and gifts she has given over the years to so many, including those blessed by her voice and that of her fellow choir members. Let us all sing to the Lord!
Among the many blessings we have in our parish, one that is at least somewhat unique compared to other parishes is our Sacred Heart Health and Wellness Ministry. We have a committee that meets and discusses what we are currently offering and what we might offer in the future that enhances our parishioners (and visitors) wellbeing in mind, body and soul!
In the area of the body, we have our twice a week exercise classes with our very capable and upbeat parishioner Linda Broome who leads a faster paced aerobic class from 10:00-11:00 on Tuesdays and Thurs-days and a more deliberate stretch and balance session on those same days from 11:30-12:30. We also offer Mat Yoga from 11:30-12:30 on those days in the upper hall led by Kate Wooten.
Speakers continue to be brought in by our committee to address other health care areas that are certainly beneficial to those who choose to come. (Please look in this week's bulletin for one of those opportunities).
Another area that deserves attention and participation is those who are caring for a loved one who has dementia and other mental and/or physical limitations due to sickness and age. Besides an ongoing caregiver support group that meets here in one of our classrooms monthly on the second Tuesday at 10:30 am, we are offering two family caregiver workshops in cooperation with the Oaklawn Center on Aging and McCauley Senior Center, on April 22 & 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with lunch provided.
Please look for more details on the second page of our bulletin this week. This can be helpful for some now and for others in the future as the realities of deteriorating mental and physical abilities lead to challenges for the persons affected and those who live with them.
Our Helping Hands ministry is such a blessing to those who are in need of various forms of assistance (see the bulletin for more information) that are needed at this point in their lives including rides to Dr.'s appointments and other places they need to go.
While our parish, like all parishes is charged by the Lord to help its people grow in holiness and in knowledge of our faith so as to bless us as well as those we encounter in our day to day lives, we should all strive to be the best we can be in mind, body and spirit and so be good stewards of all the gifts our Lord have given us. I applaud all those who are on our "Health and Wellness Committee" and invite everyone to take advantage of what this parish offers in this and in many other ways as we strive to fulfill the mission the Lord gives us here on earth!
In the area of the body, we have our twice a week exercise classes with our very capable and upbeat parishioner Linda Broome who leads a faster paced aerobic class from 10:00-11:00 on Tuesdays and Thurs-days and a more deliberate stretch and balance session on those same days from 11:30-12:30. We also offer Mat Yoga from 11:30-12:30 on those days in the upper hall led by Kate Wooten.
Speakers continue to be brought in by our committee to address other health care areas that are certainly beneficial to those who choose to come. (Please look in this week's bulletin for one of those opportunities).
Another area that deserves attention and participation is those who are caring for a loved one who has dementia and other mental and/or physical limitations due to sickness and age. Besides an ongoing caregiver support group that meets here in one of our classrooms monthly on the second Tuesday at 10:30 am, we are offering two family caregiver workshops in cooperation with the Oaklawn Center on Aging and McCauley Senior Center, on April 22 & 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with lunch provided.
Please look for more details on the second page of our bulletin this week. This can be helpful for some now and for others in the future as the realities of deteriorating mental and physical abilities lead to challenges for the persons affected and those who live with them.
Our Helping Hands ministry is such a blessing to those who are in need of various forms of assistance (see the bulletin for more information) that are needed at this point in their lives including rides to Dr.'s appointments and other places they need to go.
While our parish, like all parishes is charged by the Lord to help its people grow in holiness and in knowledge of our faith so as to bless us as well as those we encounter in our day to day lives, we should all strive to be the best we can be in mind, body and spirit and so be good stewards of all the gifts our Lord have given us. I applaud all those who are on our "Health and Wellness Committee" and invite everyone to take advantage of what this parish offers in this and in many other ways as we strive to fulfill the mission the Lord gives us here on earth!