This is a page set aside for any personal thoughts and opinions which anyone might like to share and which gets past

 the editorial filter.  


From Saint Theresa of Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centred.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

 


A church message. No. 1

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy ric, comfortable or dirt poor. 

We extend a special welcome to wailing babies and excited toddlers.

We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. 

You’re welcome here if you're “just browsing”, just woken up or just got out of prison. 

We don't care if you're more Catholic than the Pope, or haven't been to church since Christmas ten years ago.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. 

We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, environmentalists, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk food eaters. 

We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. 

We welcome you if you're having problems, are down in the dumps or don't like “organised religion”.

We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don't work, can't spell, or are here because relatives are visiting and wanted to come to Church.

We welcome those who are linked, pierced, both or neither. 

We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as kids or got lost in the city centre and wound up here by mistake. 

We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters.....

and you! 


(Adapted from a church notice at Coventry Cathedral)



                       A church message!No 2

                     To the parents of young children, may we suggest

Relax. God put the energy into children. Do not think you have to curb it in God's house. All are welcome.

Sit towards the front where the young ones can see what is happening. They get bored seeing the backs of other people's heads.

Quietly explain to them the parts of the Mass, the actions of the priest, the altar servers, choir etc.

Sing the hymns, pray and voice the responses. Children learn liturgical behaviour by copying you.

If you have to leave Mass with your child, please do so. But come back. Christ said, "Suffer the little ones to come unto me."

Remember the way we welcome children in Church directly affects the way they respond to the Church, to God and to one another.

Let them know that they are at home in this house of worship.

All parishioners should remember that the presence of the children in our Church is a sign that our parish is growing. Please welcome all children and encourage their parents with a welcoming smile. 

And to the children. We don't mind if you colour in pictures, draw your own or doodle when you're a little bored. Jesus appreciates your art work.

 

A poem to make to make one think.

THE JUDAS TREE

In Hell there grew a Judas Tree

where Judas hanged and died,

because he could not bear to see

his master crucified.

Our Lord descended into Hell

and found his Judas there
,
for ever hanging on the tree

grown from his own despair.

So Jesus cut his Judas down

and took him in his arms:

“It was for this I came,” he said,

“and not to do you harm.

My Father gave me twelve good men

and all of them I kept;

though one betrayed and one denied,

some fled and others slept.

In three days time I must return

to make the others glad -

but first I had to come to Hell

and share the death you had.

My tree will grow in place of yours

its roots lie here as well.

There is no final victory

without this soul from Hell.”

So when we all condemned him

as of every traitor worst,

remember that of all his men

Our Lord forgave him first.


Thoughts from Fr. John our National Chaplain

Did you ever think of Judas being the first one forgiven by Jesus? 

Did you ever ponder what “He descended into Hell” might mean?

 “Sheol” for the people of Israel was the darkness of death. We translate “Sheol” as Hell. So in the Creed we are

expressing our belief that Jesus went into the darkness of death and brought the light of the wonder of eternal life to 

all who had died. It is a powerful image. But it is not a punishment.

Hell as the place of punishment is the translation of the word “Gehenna” - a valley full of refuse outside the city of 

Jerusalem, a place of rottenness. 

We must be careful not to confuse these two understandings of “Hell”. But you won’t, will you?





Reversed Thinking Poem

June 18, 2011 by Kristi Graydon


I will live my life according to these beliefs.

God does not exist

it’s just foolish to think

that there is an all knowing God with a cosmic plan

that an all powerful God brings purpose to the pain and suffering in the world

is a comforting thought, however,

it is only wishful thinking

people can do as they please without eternal consequences

the idea that

I am deserving of Hell

because of sin

is a lie meant to make me a slave to those in power

“The more you have, the happier you will be.”

our existence has no grand meaning or purpose

in a world with no God

there is freedom to be who I want to be

but with God

life is an endless cycle of guilt and shame

without God

everything is fine.

It is ridiculous to think

I am lost and in need of saving

And that’s how I felt before Christ opened my eyes, changed my heart, and reversed my thinking.

(If you read the above in reverse… it says the following)

I am lost and in need of saving. It is ridiculous to think that everything is fine without God. Life is an endless cycle of guilt and shame but with God, there is freedom to be who I want to be. In a world with no God, our existence has no grand meaning or purpose. “The more you have, the happier you will be” is a lie meant to make me a slave to those in power. Because of sin, I am deserving of Hell. The idea that people can do as they please without eternal consequences is only wishful thinking. It is a comforting thought, however, that an all powerful God brings purpose to the pain and suffering in the world, that there is an all knowing God with a cosmic plan. It’s just foolish to think that God does not exist. I will live my life according to these beliefs.

“Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians