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This Sunday at St Timothy's | Oct. 23, 2016
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Notes on Sunday | Fr Steve Rice
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As I am typing this, I am sitting in a hotel room in Southern Pines, NC preparing to begin my second day of a three-day retreat with candidates for the next Bishop of North Carolina. For the past ten months, I have been on the Nominating Committee and we are now seeing enfleshed fruits of our discernment. Please keep us and the diocese in your prayers.
On the ride down yesterday (and yes, I will be at St Timothy's on Sunday), I listened to a podcast from one of my favorite contemporary theologians and church leader - Bishop Robert Barron. Bishop Barron is a Roman Catholic bishop in California and has spent most of his priesthood as a seminary professor and lately, digital apologist for the faith. Theologically speaking, an apologist is not someone who apologizes in the sense they are saying sorry, but rather they are giving a defense. Bishop Barron, much like Bishop Fulton J Sheen in the 50s and 60s, uses the modern medium of the internet to defend and argue for the Christian faith in an increasingly skeptical world.
In this latest podcast, he was answering questions about the latest Pew Research Poll that showed how younger Americans are leaving the faith in alarming numbers. The reasons given, Bishop Barron rightly pointed out, were lacking any real substance. In other words, the reasons for leaving the faith were not well argued. They were more emotional responses than a real wrestling with the Truth.
In this podcast, Bishop Barron addressed two common responses he hears against a real life (veram vitam) of faith. One was that Christianity was one truth among many (the argument for an open mind) and the other was lack of time to practice the faith. Bishop Barron’s response, to me, was powerfully convincing. We don’t use subjective language, he says, about things that really matter to us. We don’t use subjective language (this is my truth, you have your truth) about politics. Absolutely not, we spend a great deal of effort trying to convince and change the opinions of those who disagree with us. The same is true for something as trivial as sports teams. If we are passionate about something, we aren’t subjective. He quoted G.K. Chesterton who said that an open mind is like an open mouth, it is meant to close down on something nourishing. Critical thinking and engagement is vital to a lively faith. But subjectivism to the point that is doesn’t matter isn’t being open-minded, it’s being non-committal. He makes the same argument to the response that we are just too busy to be in church and practice our faith. We don’t make that excuse for things that really matter to us.
I write this for food for thought. I found it an incredibly rational and sensible response. I also think it intersects with the parable that Jesus tells this Sunday, of the Publican and Pharisee. His opening line is also the primer to understand his point:
Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt
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Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is objectively the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let’s not bet on ourselves to know the Truth. Let’s find it in Him.
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Sunday's Music | Christin Barnhardt
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This Sunday's Gradual Hymn, "Eternal light, shine in my heart," is based on a prayer by Alcuin. Alcuin [Alcuinus] Albinus Flaccus lived circa 735-804 and was the librarian for the Archbishop of York before moving to France at the request of Charlemagne. His prayer, paraphrased by Christopher Idle (b. 1938), was set to a beautiful tune by Jane Manton Marshall (b.1924):
Eternal light, shine in my heart; eternal hope, lift up my eyes: eternal power, be my support; eternal wisdom, make me wise.
Eternal life, raise me from death; eternal brightness, make me see: eternal Spirit, give me breath; eternal Saviour, come to me:
Until by your most costly grace, invited by your holy word, at last I come before your face to know you, my eternal God.
Hymns:
All my hope on God is founded, No. 665
Eternal light, shine in my heart, No. 466
O God, our help in ages past, No. 680
Humbly I adore thee, No. 314
How firm a foundation, No. 637
Anthem:
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, J.S. Bach
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Children's Formation | Katie Bryant
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Children's Formation
Our fall schedule for formation is in full swing! From the youngest child to the wisest soul, we have a class for you! Most
Sunday
morning classes take place after the
9am
mass (before the
11am
mass), beginning around
10:15am
. If you are looking for a class or a way to get involved, please contact
[email protected]
This Sunday
and every
Sunday
, PreK children (ages 3 and potty-trained to age 5) gather downstairs during the
9am
mass for a time of songs, stories, wonder, and play. Parents can drop children off as early as
8:45am
in room C-4. Children join their families in mass at the passing of the Peace.
All children (PreK through 5th grade) can follow the wooden processional cross at the end of the
9am
mass. We will lead the children downstairs and help them find their class. Here is the list of
10:15am
formation classes for the fall:
PreK Formation--Room C-2
K-2nd grade Catechesis of the Good Shepherd--Room C-4
3rd-5th grade Advanced Godly Play--Room C-5
Middle School & High School Youth Formation--Drake Hall youth rooms
Adult Small Groups--at various locations around the church campus
All classes end just before the
11am
mass. Parents, please pick up your children from their classes in the downstairs hallway. See you
Sunday
!
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Youth Formation | Katie Harper
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Youth Formation Sunday mornings is based on the lectionary readings.
There are two separate classes for Middle and High School Students in Drake Hall on
Sunday
mornings - and yes, the doughnut tradition carries on! Middle School will be in the youth room, High School in the classroom. Our continuing mission is to create a safe space for students to find what it means to be followers of Christ.
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Our Lady of Walsingham Lamp
is given to the glory of God
and in honor of Sandra and Tony Hamby by Steven Tisdale
for the month of October
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St Timothy Shrine Lamp
is given to the glory of God and in honor of
Fr Steve Rice by Kristen Machado
for the month of October
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Altar Flowers in Church and Chapel
The flowers for the altar are given to the Glory of Almighty God and
In memory of Arnold & Frances White, Henry & Martha Turner, and Sarah Turner
by Ed and Ellen Turner
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