SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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Etc.
Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world.
Every time we celebrate Mass, we say, “Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on
us.” This prayer comes from today’s gospel passage,
when John the Baptist points out Jesus to his followers and calls him “the Lamb of God.” Where did this
image come from, and what does it tell us about Jesus
and his impact on our lives?
John was probably thinking of the Passover, the great
saving event of the Jewish people, when God rescued
them from Egypt and slavery. On the night of their deliverance, the Israelites smeared the blood of a lamb
on their doorposts and were spared by the angel of
death, who killed the first-born of the Egyptians. The
lamb had saved them from destruction. John saw in
Jesus the one who had come to save his people and
take away their sins. And we know, even better than
John did, how true his vision was. For Jesus went to
the cross and shed his blood so that our sins might be
forgiven. His victory over sin and death is celebrated
in the Book of Revelation: “I looked…and heard the
voices of many angels…and they cried out in a loud
voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and
glory and blessing.’ Then I heard every creature…cry
out: To the one who sits on the throne and to the
Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, for every and ever”’ (Rev 5:11-13).
On the first Passover in Egypt, the Israelites made a
sacred meal of the lamb they had slain, and then set
out on their journey to the Promised Land. In a few
minutes, in our own sacred meal, right after we pray to
Jesus the Lamb of God, we will eat his body and drink
his blood in Holy Communion. For the Lamb not only
saves us from sin and death, he feeds us with himself
and gives us the strength to carry on. The Bread and
the Wine are food for the journey – a journey from the
slavery of sin to the freedom of the sons and daughters of God.
Life is a journey. Where am I headed? How does Jesus help me?
Father King
ASH WEDNESDAY—MARCH 5TH
PARISH FISH FRY—FRIDAY, MARCH 28TH
JANUARY 19, 2014
DAILY MASS IN MCLAUGHLIN
The official end of the Christmas Season (called Christmastide) is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Daily
Mass will begin in the McLaughlin Center on Tuesday,
January 14 and continue until further notice. This will allow us to hopefully reduce costs on heating and electricity
in the church. Saturday/Sunday Masses will continue in
the church, however.
MASSES FOR THE WEEK...
Monday, January 20th—NO MASS
Tuesday, January 21st
9:00 a.m.
Catherine Fallon (Fallon family)
Wednesday, January 22nd
9:00 a.m.
Eva Larson (Marty & Kristine Klubeck &
family)
Thursday, January 23rd
9:00 a.m.
All Souls
Friday, January 24th
9:00 a.m.
Patricia Lamberth (Father King)
Saturday evening, January 25th
5:00 p.m.
In Thanksging for the kindness of the
parishioners for cards, calls and visits.
(Catherine Payne)
Sunday, January 26th—Third Sunday In Ordinary Time
8:00 a.m.
May Hossfeld (Dave Hossfeld)
10:00 a.m.
Special Intention of Chelsea Hunt (Mary
Hunt)
JANUARY 5TH—$3,351.00 (122 envelopes)
WEEKLY OPERATIONAL BUDGETED NEEDED: $3,700.00
DEFICIT FOR THE WEEK: $349.00
HOLY DAY/SOLEMNITY OF MARY—JANUARY 1ST- $639.00
JANUARY 12TH—$3,677.00 (141 envelopes)
WEEKLY OPERATIONAL BUDGETED NEEDED: $3,700.00
DEFICIT FOR THE WEEK: $23.00
Are one of the lucky ones going to warmer climate for a few
months? Please remember your church contribution while you
are away—Thanks!
HAVE YOU HAD A MASS OFFERED LATELY?
It is a spiritual work of mercy to pray for
the living and the dead. When was the last
time you h ad a Mass offered for the repose of the souls of your deceased relatives and friends? The offering is $10.00
per Mass and can be scheduled by calling
the office (683-8650), stopping by the office or drop us a note by way of collection.
ST. MARK CHURCH
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HEADS UP!
PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE WALKING
IN AND OUT OF CHURCH THIS TIME
OF YEAR. WITH COLD AND ICY
WEATHER, FLOORS AND SIDEWALKS
TEND TO BE SLICK.
ADULT EDUCATION CLASS: Sunday
after 10:00 a.m. Mass: This is a review
and suggestion from Eileen Toney
(parishioner and participant in St.
Mark’s Adult Ed class). Her encouragement is for you to join those who
have been given suggestions on how to evangelize.
“As we progress in our spiritual journey, where does God
sit in your life? Have you chosen to carry him in your heart
or is God “there” only for a want rather than a need?
John R. Wood, author of Ordinary Lives Extraordinary Mission 5 Steps to Winning the War Within, shares his spiritual Catholic journey by reminding each of us to live an authentic life by liberating our lifestyle from hedonism, individualism and minimalism.
As 2014 starts, why not make a commitment to begin
practices that define you as a saint in the making. First get
out the GPS (attend Father King’s adult study group);
chart the route (participate in the group discussion); follow
the signs (read the Bible and Father’s next book); and
make preparation for road closures and detours (prayer).
God does not have parents and he does not have grandchildren! He does have disciples and saints who daily
make the choice to carry out His word! As Wood states, “It
is time we wake the sleeping giant!” Ask yourself, where is
God in your journey? Are you awake to become a saint?
Your life does have a purpose!
Please join your fellow parishioners who are exploring various ways of deepening their faith and expressing their
commitment to the Gospel of Jesus. We hope to see you
after the 10:00 a.m. Mass on January 26th in McLaughlin
Center. If you have any questions, please feel free to call
the office (683-8650).
PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK:
(Mollison Law Offices, P.C.)
Thank our advertisers with your patronage. They help
make our weekly bulletin possible.
NILES, MICHIGAN
NEWS RELEASE…
FROM MICHIGAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE: Statement
in Response to U.S. Court of Appeals; Granting MCC an
Injunction Regarding HHS Mandate.
(Lansing) - Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) is welcoming an injunction issued at the end of 2013 by the Sixth
Circuit Court of Appeals that prevents MCC and its affiliates from having to choose between paying crippling fines
or facilitating the provision of abortion-inducing drugs, sterilizations, and contraceptives to their employees. The order
prohibits the government from enforcing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ objectionable mandate against the MCC, its co-appellant and those Catholic
entities that receive their health benefit from MCC pending
further order from the court. While the December 31st decision is a preliminary ruling, and the merits of the case are
soon to be considered, MCC is hopeful that the final disposition of this case will support religious freedom and rights
of conscience. Keep this cause in your prayers.
GOSPEL REFLECTION…
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world.” This was an unusual
greeting, to say the least. John the Baptist’s
underlying message, however, would have been crystal
clear to the audience who heard it. The Jews were used to
the idea of sacrificing a lamb in a ritual of atonement. Now,
John was declaring that this man walking towards him,
Jesus, was in fact the new lamb, the sacrificial offering that
would atone for the sins not just of one person, but of all
people. No one is excluded from the gift of salvation. Do
we accept that God can forgive even the sins of our enemies, of those who have hurt and mistreated us? Can we
forgive them too, as God has done through his Son?
When we struggle to forgive someone, we can pray for the
grace to love that person as Jesus has loved us.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS #708 NEWS…
FRIENDSHIP NIGHT—4TH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
(January 28th) at 6:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall. All
are welcome. Please bring a dish to pass and table service.
GENERAL MEETING—2ND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
(February 11th) at the K of C Hall, 7:00 p.m.—Knights only,
please.
SCRIPTURAL ROSARY—3rd Saturday, (February 16th) of the
month here at St. Mark’s at 4:15 p.m. before the 5:00 p.m. Mass.
Everyone is invited.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION…
Do you believe that the word “God” should stay in American culture? NBC this morning had a poll on this question.
They had the highest number of responses that they have
ever had for one of their polls, and the percentage was the
same as this:
86% to keep the words, IN GOD WE TRUST and
GOD in the Pledge of Allegiance.!
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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JANUARY 19, 2014
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS ALL THE SICK
AND HOMEBOUND OF THE PARISH. If you are admitted
to the hospital, please ask the hospital to let us know so a
visit can be arranged for you.
TITHING
Tithing is a sign of your gratitude for what God has done for
you. The practice guides the way that many believers contribute to their own places of worship. The word “tithe”
means “tenth”, and it comes from an Old Testament practice of returning to God one-tenth of what a person receives. For example, Leviticus 27:30 and 32 say that a
tenth of all crops and farm animals belongs to the Lord.
And not just any tenth – the first tenth, the first fruits. These
go back to God.
After all, God made everything. God owns everything. The
things we “own” are not really ours. They are God’s. God
has placed them in our hands, making us stewards of
them. We take care of them while we are alive, and we put
them to the use that we believe God has in mind.
Some houses of worship recommend a full 10 percent for
their support. Others suggest 5 percent so that you can
share another 5 percent with other charities.
Many people struggle to meet these goals. They have trouble paying their own bills. Others can contribute more than
10 percent, and perhaps they owe it to the community to
give back a little more.
Planning your gift is usually a good idea. Those who set a
personal goal have a sharper aim. If your parish asks you
to make a pledge, this is a good way to set that goal. It will
also help the parish to make its plans and to be better
stewards of the gifts you make.
Giving a small gift is better than giving no gift. Those who
tithe generally report a sense of spiritual satisfaction. They
give out of love, and they feel that they are being good
stewards of the gifts that God has entrusted to them.
HOLY FAMILY RADIO—91.5 FM
(holyfamilyradio.net)
DON’T FORGET to check out the Church Library for new books. Please
use the sign-up sheet with name and dates. Don’t forget when you return
the book/books to put that date down also. Thanks!
ENCOUNTERING JESUS IN WORD, SACRAMENTS, AND
WORKS OF CHARITY (Peter J. Vaghi)
A GENTLE THUNDER—Max Lucado (Hearing God Through the
Storm)
THE GREAT THEMES OF SCRIPTURE—Richard Rohr & Joseph martos (New Testament)
LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN—Colum McCann
PRAY FOR ME—Robert Moynihan (The Life and Spiritual Vision
of Pope Francis, First Pope from the Americas)
SOUTHWEST DEANERY MASS
ST. ANTHONY PARISH
509 W. 4th Street—Buchanan
Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m.
Father Richard Altine will preside
and
Father Joseph McCormick will preach.
January 22nd is a national day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance
for violations to the dignity of the human person committed
through acts of abortion.
Come to the Southwest Deanery Mass for Giving Thanks to
God for the Gift of Human Life at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday, January 22nd at St. Anthony Parish, 509 W. 4th
Street, Buchanan, MI.
You are invited to gather to prayerfully remember the 41st
anniversary of Roe v. Wade and celebrate the dignity and
gift of human life.
DIOCESAN MARCH FOR LIFE—JANUARY 25, 2014
10:00 a.m. MASS AT ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH celebrated by Bishop Paul J. Bradley (open to the public) 11:15
a.m.: March to Planned Parenthood (open to the public);
12:30 p.m.: Prayer at Planned Parenthood: 1 p.m. (open to
the public); Participants will be bused back to St. Thomas
More. 1-4 p.m.: Lunch & Program for Middle and High
School youth (chaperones are required). Cost of youth program: $7 per person. Please pre-register by January 20,
2014.
YOU ARE INVITED:
ANNUAL DIOCESAN RETREAT—the Everlasting Day: on
the reality and joys of heaven. Father Francis Marotti, Retreat Facilitator on March 1-2, 2014 at the Transformations
Spirituality Center, 3427 Gull Road, Kalamazoo. Cost:
$100 Double Occupancy, $125 Single Occupancy, $80
Sleep at Home. Cost includes: Lodging, all meals and
snacks from Saturday lunch through Sunday breakfast
and all retreat materials. PLEASE REGISTER BY
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2014 by contacting Jane
Bodway, [email protected] or 269-9030147.
UPDATE FOR THE BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL…
Remember it is never too late to make a pledge/
contribution to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. We are
still short of our goal and would appreciate anything
that you would be able to do. We still have a number
of families who have not made their commitment.
Please prayerfully consider your contribution and help
St. Mark’s meet its quota. Thank You.
ST. MARK CHURCH
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EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS
Saturday, January 25th
5:00 p.m.
Brother Dennis, Cathy Sayer
Sunday, January 26th
8:00 a.m.
Brother Dennis, Charles & Ann Baldinger
10:00 a.m.
Brother Dennis, Joyce Bailey, Bruno
Eidietis, Bill & Marilyn Gaideski, Janice
Harpole, Kyle Kincaid
LECTORS
Saturday, January 25th
5:00 p.m.
Annette Stull
Sunday, January 26th
8:00 a.m.
Dan Hamill
10:00 a.m.
Sheila Van Den Driessche
USHERS
Saturday, January 25th
5:00 p.m.
Ray Connors, Don & Jean Nichols, Ray
Payne, Ron Stull
Sunday, January 26th
8:00 a.m.
Dave Hossfeld, Greg Ingleright, Lew Mudd,
Jerry Probst, Jerry Tibone
10:00 a.m.
Joe Boyd, Bill Gaideski, Steve Hosinski,
Serapio Santana
KIDS’ KORNER
John the Baptist was very important in
Jesus’ life. Today, we have some visitors who will help us hear how John did
God’s work.
It. was a dark and discouraging time in Israel. People were
not happy with the government. But, there were many people of faith who were close to God and who knew that this
was a time for prayer. They had hope that God was going
to send the Messiah soon. And, sure enough, they began
to hear about a man whose name was John. He was living
outside of town in a sort of wilderness. He did not eat
much. He dressed funny. But he had a message. The Messiah was coming soon. The people came to him. They listened and many of them followed him. Some even thought
that he was the Messiah.
While John was in prison awaiting execution by King Herod, who did not like
John’s message, John told his visitors
about the Messiah who was Jesus, his
cousin. He walked directly toward me
out of the crowd one day, John said. I
knew he was God’s Messiah. I really
did not think that I should baptize him. I
thought he should baptize me. “No this
is what my Father wants,” Jesus said.
And so John baptized him.
MASS SERVERS
Sunday, January 26th
10:00 a.m.
Monica Harpole, Breeann Sayer
CB James Lenhardt
GREETERS
Saturday, January 25th
5:00 p.m.
Cathy Sayer, Marilyn Seitz
Sunday, January 26th
10:00 a.m.
Patty Rose, Lorraine Dembinski
ROSARY BEFORE MASS
Saturday, January 25th—Intention: The Intention of Pope
Frances
4:30 p.m.
Marilyn Seitz
Sunday, January 26th—Intention: For the Police & Firemen
7:30 a.m.
Ed & Alice Drada
9:40 a.m.
Patty Rose
CHURCH CLEANING
Wednesday, January 22nd—Jerry Tibone, Jean McCarty
Wednesday, January 29th—Kristine Klubeck, Judy Destics,
Janice Harpole
YOU ARE INVITED to help some of the
ladies of the parish who meet each week in
the parish hall and cook lunch for some of
our families who may appreciate a meal
that they don’t have to prepare themselves.
It’s fun! You may contact Marilyn Gaideski
(684-5494) or Beth Hesseltine (684-1086) for more information.
Money is a good servant but a bad master –
if we listen to the voice of the world’s wisdom,
money will dominate us,
but if we submit to “the wisdom from above” Jas. 3:17,
money will serve us as we use it to serve God and others .
NILES, MICHIGAN
Pretty sure, but I did wonder. One day a few weeks ago,
one of my disciples came to me here in prison. He was
very upset, He said, “John, this Jesus – he is going many
more disciples than we have!” I just wasns’t sure so I sent
two men to ask him. “Are you really the one for whom we
have waiting?”
And what did Jesus tell them? He said, “The blind are receiving their sight; the lame are walking again; the lepers
are cured; and the Gospel is being preached to the poor.” I
knew those were the prophet Isaiah’s words about the
Messiah. I know then for sure that Jesus was the Messiah.
A key question for you this week: What did you learn about
John the Baptist?
PLEASE NOTE:
CCD CLASSES WILL CONTINUE THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 19TH AND CONTINUE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY
26TH. On Sunday, February 2nd we will have our Family
Mass at 10:00 a.m. The students will take part in this Mass
which will be held on the first Sunday of each month.
RCIA will continue this Wednesday, January 22nd at 7:00
p.m.
ADULT CLASSES will meet on Sunday, January 26th (after
the 10 at 11:30 a.m. in McLaughlin Center.