Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Take Jesus with you this Summer


We have our first instalment of pictures from 2 families who took their "flat Jesus" with them to play BINGO at Linden Grove. This was a great idea! Where could you take Jesus with you this summer? Did you loose your "Flat Jesus"? All you have to do is make another one and find a fun place to take him this summer. We look forward to sharing your pictures! Remember, never leave home without him!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Triduum

Today, Holy Thursday, begins what the Catholic church calls the Triduum, the three holiest days of the Church year. This evening, we gather to remember how Jesus left us a way that He could always be with us even though He would return to His father after the resurrection. The Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Passover or sometimes called the Feast of Unleavened Bread every year because their escaping the life of slavery & going into a life of freedom as the People of God was so important to them. They went from death to life. In the midst of that celebration for Jesus & His friends (who were Jews) Jesus changed the bread into His body & a cup of wine into His blood. They were still under the appearances of bread and wine, but in their substance (or essence) they were really His body & blood. This is what Catholics believe as the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. We can go from the slavery (death) of sin into the life of Christ every time we receive the Eucharist. Jesus asked the apostles to “Do this in memory of me” Every Eucharistic celebration is more than just a remembrance of what Jesus did that night.

I hope you can attend either the Good Friday service at 1PM or come to a prayer service in the evening at 7 PM when candles are extinguished one by one until it is as dark as the tomb in which Jesus was placed after he died. These are sad & somber services, as if someone had died. Indeed, Someone has – for us, so we can be freed from the fear of death. It is not the end though.

The Easter Vigil begins at 8PM again in the dark, since we are still reflecting on Jesus’ death and burial. We start with the new fire outside. This tradition was begun by St. Patrick to counter the influence of spring bonfires among the Celtic Druids (pagans) & was eventually incorporated into the Easter Vigil ceremonies. The lighting of a new Easter fire also had a practical purpose. The lamps in church used to be extinguished Holy Thursday night. Consequently, a new fire had to be lit for the celebrant and readers to see by. The Easter candle represents Christ the light of the world coming into the darkness of sin & overcoming it. Do come for this special night. Even though it is long, almost 2-2 ½ hrs, there is something going on all the time. It is very interactive. Bring your bells for the Gloria.

“Let us rejoice and be glad for truly this is the day the Lord has made”
HAPPY EASTER! From S. Carol Ann Jaeger, SSSF

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Linden Grove Bingo

We have heard from a number of families that they have really enjoyed the service opportunity available through GIFT of facilitating Bingo at Linden Grove. The residents really enjoy families taking time out of their day to visit and play bingo with them. We are looking for 2 families yet to take the Saturday, May 21st date and go for a few hours in the afternoon. Let us know if your family would like to do this or sign up at the April GIFT session.

A second way of service for Linden Grove is if you would bring small prize items for the Bingo games. We always have a shiny purple box on the table where you find your packets and it has a list of items such as lotions, puzzle books, slipper socks, boxes of kleenex, etc. that could be used as prizes for the residents when they win. Small items donated can bring much joy to the residents, so please consider bringing a few items for Linden Grove when you come to our April GIFT session.

Mini-Workcamp

The annual CCOS (Cooperating Churches of Sussex) Mini-Workcamp will be held on Saturday, April 16th. This is a day long service project where adults and youth (Gr. 7 and up) do Spring clean up for senior citizens in the area. The help the area residents are looking for are things such as raking, window washing, cleaning gutters and various odds and ends. The youth are divided into groups of about 5-7 with an adult leader to transport and supervise them. With so many hands and much energy each crew is able to do about 5 different sites in the time they are given.

We provide meals throughout the day beginning with breakfast at 7:30 while they are getting acquainted with their crew and learn about their assignments. We close at the end of the day with a dinner held at Redeemer UCC which is just down the road from us on the other side of Lisbon. Many of the senior citizens come to join us for dinner at 4:00 and after dinner while having dessert there is a small closing program with a powerpoint showing pictures taken throughout the day and a few witness talks.

Please consider joining us! ALL Registration forms can be found at the St. James website at www.stjames-parish.net under Christian Formation, and are due to Greg Zyla no later than April 1st. There is a Youth Form, an Adult Form and if you know a senior in the vicinity that needs our help feel free to get a form to them or have them call 253-2902, so that we can provide them the assistance they need.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Lent Soup Supper

                                          Fasting with Friends
Ash Wednesday Soup Supper
March 9th, 2011 
5:00 – 5:50 p.m. – Serve soup
6:00 – Liturgy
6:45 – 7:30 p.m. – Serve Soup
All are welcome to attend this event.
Through fasting, prayer, &  giving of Alms (sacrifices and money),
we will honor the beginning of Lent

Come to Church to Pray with the community.
There will be an Ash Wednesday mass at 6:00 p.m.

After prayer, come to the Community Center to Fast with a Simple meal.
We will serve a simple meal of soup, bread, and beverages for all to share.

Come to give alms.
All Donations will go to operation Rice bowl.
Come to enjoy the friendship of your parish Family.
 
The menu will include;
Homemade Soup, bread, and a beverage.
Any questions call Sue Devine-Simon at 262-253-2904



A SPIRITUAL REVIVAL

Don’t forget to come to the concert/revival this Sunday, March 6 at 5:30PM(early enough for families). It is here at St. James in church. Bring your Bible & a snack. Fr. John is a very good speaker and the music should be awesome. Watch the bulletins and the website for more Lenten opportunities for faith enrichment.

LENTEN BOOK STUDY

For those of you who are available during the daytime, we will have our usual 6 week Lenten series for personal spiritual growth on Wednesday mornings from 9 – 10:15 AM. The series begins on Ash Wednesday, March 16 and goes through Wednesday, April 13th. The resource will be Joyce Rupp’s book Open the door, a Journey to the true self. It will include about 2 pages for each day in the week with reflection questions, a brief meditation, a prayer & a scripture passage. Once a week we will share & pray together.

Cost: $15, payable to St. James
Register by calling S. Carol Ann at 262-253-2915 or email scajaeger@archmil.org
Deadline: Monday, March 7 so books can be ordered

A LENTEN REFLECTION TOOL

Here is a link to the Lenten BLOG http://iamsentmetoyou.blogspot.com/ which will be a family orientated Lenten reflection tool and be available beginning on Monday, March 7th. Please check it out and see how this might work with your family.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

MONTHLY MISSION FOR MARCH

Attention Middle School Students at St. James!

Our monthly mission to the SOS food pantry was rescheduled for Saturday, February 26th. All middle school students of St. James are invited and encouraged to join us for an opportunity to stock the shelves at the SOS food pantry. Parents can drop off their kids at the pantry at 1:00 and pick them up from the pantry at 2:30. Please bring food donations with you. The kids will learn about the SOS and the community it serves.

Check the “Fav Five” listing in the bulletin for ideas of foods needed at the pantry. Also, please RSVP by Wed Feb 23rd to either.

Pam Dennis fotopubnavy@yahoo.com
Sandy Ciha sciha@wi.rr.com

Thursday, February 10, 2011

CONCERT AND LENTEN REVIVAL!


Theme: Keeping It Real: Love & The Works Of Mercy
St Mathews 25:31-46 & St James 2:14-17

This event will take place on March 6,2011
at the St James Catholic Church In Menomonee Falls
W220N6588 Town line Rd.
TIME:5:30 PM

Our Speaker for the evening will be:
Fr. John Celichowski, OFM Cap
Provincial Minister, Province of St Joseph of the Capuchin Order
Music: St Martin De Porres Gospel Choir

All are welcome, come and receive the blessings of the Lord!!
(Please bring your bibles. Social to follow in the Gathering Space)