Monday Evening, December 7th, 2020:
You Are Baptized With The Holy Spirit
One week of our Advent season is already gone. We celebrated the second Sunday of Advent yesterday. These days, it feels like the times and seasons creep up into our lives so quickly that they are unnoticed. For instance, the other day, I lived my entire Saturday thinking it was Monday, which is my day off. However, I realized that my feeling of fear due to losing track of time was minimal. The severe and terrifying feelings people are experiencing during these days of quarantine are due to the loss of loved ones to death, or their relationship with family or friends, or the loss of employment, healthcare, and many more.
These losses affect us emotionally and psychologically. For many of us the experience is so intense we begin to doubt that there is any worth and purpose for life, even for our Christian life. How do we survive? How do we get out of these experiences? Or, how are we to live through these experiences of losses?
The answer: Turn to the Holy Spirit!
At this point, in this second week of Advent, God’s word comes to the rescue. We need to find the Holy Spirit within ourselves because, the gospel tells us that Christ, Emmanuel has baptized us with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). Therefore, there is no doubt we have the Holy Spirit in us. The challenge is to do all in our power to connect with that Spirit. If we are experiencing losses that threaten to stop us from hoping, believing, and loving, then it is time to activate the Holy Spirit.
John Shea writes in his book, An Experience Named Spirit: “The first moment of the experience named Spirit is the swift inrush of divine love. The second moment is the stumble of human response. What will we do with the Love that loves us more than we love ourselves?” Yes, LOVE here is not so much our love but God’s Love. You see, when we find the Holy Spirit, we also find that God loves us no matter the losses we have experienced in our lives. The Holy Spirit comforts us just as Sunday's first reading said (Isaiah 40:1).
Friends, whatever your loss is during these troubling times, remember the Holy Spirit is still within you, and it is your surest way to live through, with, or out of any trouble.
To find the Holy Spirit is to feel God loves you. If you have God, you will feel that you have everything!
Fr. Kwame
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Saturday, December 12th from 2:30 to 3:30 pm.
SATURDAY In-Person 4:00 pm VIGIL Mass - Sign up Here
Saturday, December 12th in the Keeley Center courtyard.
SUNDAY Morning 9:30 am Mass - On-site viewing discontinued during winter.
First, watch Sunday's Mass video at home. Afterward, come to the Church for Communion between 10:45 am and 11:30 am.
Saturday, December 12th in the Keeley Center courtyard.
SUNDAY Morning 9:30 am Mass - On-site viewing discontinued during winter.
First, watch Sunday's Mass video at home. Afterward, come to the Church for Communion between 10:45 am and 11:30 am.
CONCERN AMERICA VIRTUAL FAIR TRADE CRAFT SALE!
For two consecutive weeks between Sunday, November 29th & Sunday, December 13th, St. Charles Borromeo Church will be hosting a Concern America Virtual Fair Trade Craft Sale at marketplace.concernamerica.org.
The sale features unique and quality handcrafts that provide us with the opportunity to “buy gifts with a purpose.” We have long welcomed Concern America in person to sell their beautiful and life-transforming handcrafts. This year, for the first time, we will host their sale virtually.
Take advantage of Free Shipping when you spend $75 or more by using coupon code # SCBC2020 at checkout.
Also please add the name of your church (St. Charles Borromeo) to the note section of checkout.
This year there are many new handcrafted textiles, ceramics, and wood products from Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Mozambique. These beautifully made, fair trade items were selected to be reminders that when a Concern America product is purchased, we are providing a source of income to materially poor families while supporting community development, protecting the environment, and ensuring fair working conditions and fair prices earned for their work.
Concern America is an international development organization based in Santa Ana, CA that builds capacity in health care, clean water, education, and economic opportunities.
You may learn more about their work, donate directly to them, and view the selection of their crafts on their web site: www.concernamerica.org
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All Giving Tree Gift Wrapped Gifts
Are Due This Weekend - December 12th & 13th
This is the last weekend to bring your wrapped gifts with a gift receipt and the tag visible and attached to one of our two final Giving Tree drive-thru drop-off dates: Saturday, December 12 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm or Sunday, December 13 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm – the last day to drop-off wrapped gifts.
Please contact Mary Fair, Giving Tree Coordinator, at 925-454-9919 or Mary Hengl in the office at 447-4549 x101 if you have lost a tag or were unable to return your gift by December 13.
Otherwise, Mary Fair will be shopping for missing gifts this week and her band of elves will be wrapping them, so all our recipients will be able to find a package or two under the tree at Christmas.
Thank you for your support and generosity! Your gift will bring much Christmas joy to many individuals and families.
Dec
8
Fr. Kwame's Q&A on Catholic Faith
TUESDAY Evening at 7:00 pm on Zoom
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might be going.
Fr. Kwame's Q&A on Catholic Faith
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020, at 7:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 867 1388 2899
Passcode: z6u5f0
Telephones Dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 867 1388 2899
Passcode: 270357
Dec
8
Tuesday Evening: "Come and See"
7:00 PM on Zoom
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going.
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might be going.
Adult Faith Formation Zoom Meeting
"COME AND SEE"
We welcome all who are interested in walking with Jesus
Tuesday Evenings at 7:00 PM
Each meeting lasts about 40 minutes and includes a brief discussion on a topic basic to the Catholic faith. You don't have to go to one meeting to be able to go to another. The meeting format will accommodate discussion, so please bring your questions.
"Come and See" sessions are provided for everyone who is interested, including the following:
"Come and See" sessions are provided for everyone who is interested, including the following:
- Catholics who feel their spiritual formation has stopped and are not sure how to get it growing again
- Non-Catholics who are curious about our faith
- The first step for those who wish to explore becoming Catholic
- Those Catholics who wish to complete the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
If you have a friend or family member who wants to learn more about the Catholic faith we invite you all to “come and see”.
For more information, contact Daniel Goodman at gotfordtires@gmail.com.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Dec
10
Adult Bible Study Program
Thursday Evening at 7:00 pm on Zoom
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Fr. Kwame's Adult Bible Study Program
Thursday, Dec 10, 2020, at 7:00 PM
Topic:
The Gospels, Pt. 6
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 843 1120 6202
Passcode: 9A8TRM
Telephones Dial:
+1 669 900 6833
Meeting ID: 843 1120 6202
Passcode: 440878
Dec
14
Monday Evening - WALKING WITH PURPOSE on Zoom
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Walking with Purpose
Bible Study Program
Opening Your Heart
by Lisa Brenninkmeyer
Monday Evenings, 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Questions? Contact:
Angela Layton
602-799-6648
wwpstcharleslivermore@gmail.com
Dec
19
Grief Support Meeting on Zoom
Saturday at 10:00 AM on Zoom
Are you going?
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going.
not going.
might be going.
Monthly Grief Support Meeting
This is an opportunity for anyone who has lost a loved one, to share their experience with others in a safe place. Expressing your feelings help to process what you are going through. Please join us.
For more information and to receive your Zoom invitation, be sure to contact Claire La Scola at clairelascola@gmail.com or (925) 447-9800. Claire is a retired nurse and psychotherapist.
Dec
20
Sunday at 5:00 pm - Carols at Christmas!
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Mark Your Calendar!
A link to the specific video will be provided in a future flocknote.
In Case You Missed Sunday's Mass...
Jesus Boost Podcast
Be inspired and empowered each week! Jesus Boost invites you to connect with and tap into the infinite strength and unconditional love of God, available to everyone. There is so much beauty, joy, and power in knowing you are never alone and that Jesus is by your side on this journey. Jesus Boost is your reminder with honest, insightful commentary about modern-day situations, supported by scripture and words of wisdom from renowned leaders. Come away with a fresh perspective, a smile, and a wonderful, unique spiritual lift to help you greet life with renewed hope and strength.
FORMED
Join us this Advent for a journey on The Road to Bethlehem, an opt-in digital discipleship program designed to guide you through this important season of preparation.
The Road to Bethlehem includes:
- Daily Advent reflections by Dr. Tim Gray;
- Weekly videos, audio talks, and book excerpts on FORMED related to the weekly theme;
- Email reminders every morning;
- Brother Francis Advent reflections for kids; and
- A weekly action item to help you put the Advent message into practice.
Advent began on November 29th. Sign up today for free!
Not yet on FORMED?
- Visit http://signup.formed.org/.
- Enter our parish’s zip code or name.
- Enter your name and email.
St. Charles' Health Ministry News
Practicing Gratitude
In our mental series these last few weeks, a common concept that has come up is gratitude. It is a wonderful opportunity to delve further into the practice of gratitude now that Thanksgiving has passed. After all, Thanksgiving should not be something we celebrate once a year, but all days of the year!
In our everyday lives, we know gratitude as a way to say “thank you” to someone who has helped us in some way or has given us a gift. But gratitude is more than just expressing thanks. It is a deeper appreciation for someone, something, an experience, or a situation that produces longer lasting positivity. There are many definitions of gratitude, but one simple definition that comes from psychology research is “a social emotion that signals our recognition of the things others have done for us” (Fox et al., 2015). The practice of gratitude then is a tool for increasing our well-being, and if we do that, we begin to spread that well-being to others thus creating a healthy community!
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward. Below is a list of a few ways to give your gift of gratitude to others for the holiday season.
- Write and mail a gratitude letter or note to a good friend, co-worker, or teacher
- Acknowledge thanks or appreciation to someone on your favorite social media post
- Actively listen to someone who wishes to express their concerns to you. Remain attentive, and allow them to direct the conversation
- Create a gratitude scrapbook or photo album with pictures with your friends and family sharing happy times
- Make a jar full of gratitude notes or quotes and give it as a gift! Encourage the person to read one a day so that they feel appreciated each day.
- Generate a playlist of songs that make you feel joyful, and share with a friend on Spotify or on your favorite music streaming app.
- Compliment someone’s talent, skill, or strength that you admire
- When paying the bill at a restaurant, write a small note of thanks on the receipt for the server to read
- If a loved one or friend has passed away this year, celebrate one quality you admire in them and spread that quality to others.
- Lastly, give the free gift of your smile! Mother Teresa said, “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for a smile is the beginning of love”.
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Community
1315 Lomitas Ave.
Livermore, CA 94550
