Dear Friends,

Love, joy, peace are often attached to the infant in the manger in Bethlehem. But truth be told the best way to describe him: subversive. His birth undercuts all worldly power and assumptions.

Dear Friends,

Do you give to get? Do you give with the calculation you get something in return? Or do you give without expectation? Most of the world for most of history operated along the lines of tit-for-tat. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

Dear Friends,

It’s amusing and I admit sometimes annoying to stand behind someone who is unfamiliar with the menu and trying to order at the In-n-Out Burger. They are desperately scanning the menu board for choices. And that’s just it, there are few choices on their menu: burger or cheeseburger and fries.

Dear Friends,

The dust from the overturning of Roe v Wade has yet to settle. As we saw in this past election, where abortion was on the ballot in some states, or in other cases, states have passed different laws, some outright bans, some with restriction and many are in litigation over abortion restrictions.

Now that abortion is a state level issue, our Prolife strategies are changing from state to state.

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving comes upon us quickly and hopefully we are filled with reasons to be thankful. In 2023 our Parish will be 45 years old and our Church, 35yrs young! Amazingly there are still a few of the “founders” who gave their time, talent and treasure so that we could have a place to give thanks in.

Dear Friends,

Since we’ve come to November, the month we traditionally remember our beloved deceased I think it time we spent some time and effort on “end of life issues’, specifically assisted suicide.

Dear Friends,

Welcome to People Raiser II: All Aboard the Steward Ship! The Ship is about to set sail, have you reserved your stateroom yet?

Dear Friends,

During November we call to mind both the Saints and the holy Souls. It is also a time to focus ourselves on how well we are prepared for our own deaths. And while end of life issues and health care decisions need to be carefully considered before our demise, I want to focus on what happens after death, in other words the funeral and burial practices that are appropriate for Christians.

Dear Friends,

In 2010, I started the FullCircle Youth at Risk Ministry. Since that time, we have been able to assist hundreds of families and their children who are affected by substance misuse, eating or cutting and other self-destructive behaviors. Our goal is to help heal the family by bringing them FullCircle: back to wholeness and holiness.

Dear Friends,
We are coming up on an Election, time to vote. As usual the campaigners and their sycophants are giving you reasons to vote.

Dear Friends,

It’s happening! I admit, I had serious doubts that it would. In case you’re wondering, I am speaking about the return of our part-time, some-times, halftime parishioners, aka snowbirds! I confess I had never seen such a mass exodus from a Parish before.

Dear Friends, Once again, October is Respect Life Month. Since the overturning of Roe and returning the issue to the states, new strategies are need but our same witness to the dignity of all human life remains unchanged. Still, things have taken a pernicious turn. I am amazed at how viciously some will fight to abort an unborn child.

Dear Friends,

One of the reasons the bishop sent me to this area was to, among other things, begin the formation of a new Parish in fast developing Vistancia/N. Peoria/Lake Pleasant area. So how is that coming along and what I have learned?