What's Happening During Our Catholic Comeback
As we navigate our Catholic Comeback, this newsletter will continue to bring you
updated information.
Spiritual Meanderings
Parish News
Sacraments of Initiation Rescheduled
 
I am pleased to announce that we have been able to reschedule two of the sacraments of Initiation. Confirmation has been scheduled for Thursday evening, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. The Confirmation Mass will be presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Haines.
 
We also received an exemption to hold First Holy Communion at our usual Saturday morning time. While a few of our children received Holy Communion in May, they are invited and encouraged to take part in the group First Holy Communion on Saturday, September 12, 2020.
 
Also on August 15 at the 4:30 p.m. Mass, our four catechumens will be formally brought into the Catholic Church. Two from different Christian denominations will make their Profession of Faith as Catholics. And two adults who were baptized Catholic as babies will be confirmed. I encourage us all to pray for those who will be receiving these important sacraments over the next few weeks.

Begging For Festival Money
 
To date, we have received almost $45,000 to replace the $70,000 we lost when we had to cancel the festival. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to the festival to help us meet all of our financial responsibilities in the coming year.

 New Ministry Opportunity

I am pleased to hear people talk about how much they enjoy watching St. John’s Mass on the live stream. They say watching St. John’s Mass on the TV helps them feel more connected to the parish when they aren’t able to be here physically. We still have a need to train a few people to help oversee the computer when Mass is being live-streamed. If you are relatively comfortable around computers, and especially if you attend daily Mass or on the weekends, please consider joining our “Stream Team” of volunteers. If you are interested, or would just like more information, please contact Denise Kasulke in the parish office at (414)321-1965 or email dkasulke@stjohns-grfd.org and let her know you might be interested in being trained in this new ministry.

Scam Alert

Please be aware of telephone calls, texts, and emails that appear to be from myself, or other Parish staff or Parish leaders. There has again been a recent increase in this kind of activity. The sender’s email address is mmerkt.stjohnsgrfd@gmail.com or revfr840@gmail.com. Do not reply to this email address. It is not my legitimate email address. I will not ask you for a favor, or ask you to buy gift cards for myself, for staff or for other Parish leaders. Please be on alert for these and similar scams. Ignore, and/or delete, any such messages.

24-Hour Perpetual Adoration

“The Rosary, especially prayed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, is a powerful means of spiritual grace.” The Most Reverend Thomas V. Daily, Bishop of Brooklyn, tells us that Perpetual Adoration is a direct pipeline to the Blessed Mother. “In all of our efforts to promote the sanctity of human life, prayer is our first and strongest resource. May we rely upon the power of our Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament and the intercession of His Blessed Mother to guide and help us in fostering a greater respect for human life and an end to abortion in our society.”
St. John’s is fortunate to have 24-hour Perpetual Adoration. Please take advantage of this beautiful opportunity to stay close to God in these difficult times. Hand sanitizer is available in the Adoration entrance (south side of Church), and we ask that you practice social distancing and stay at least six feet from others while in Church.
 
There is currently one open hour for Adoration
on Monday from 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
 
Please call Kay Shomperlen to volunteer (414) 763-1250. Come join us!
Confessions will be held on Friday and Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at the northwest entrance (opposite the Adoration entrance) of the church.
Live-streaming: Mass and Adoration
 
We are live-streaming daily and Sunday Masses as well as Adoration for those who are unable to attend:

  • Monday at 8:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday at 7:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday at 8:00 a.m.
  • Thursday at 7:30 a.m.
  • Friday at 8:00 a.m.
  • Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday at 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Our YouTube channel is SJE-Greenfield.

If you miss the livestream, you can watch the upload of each daily Mass on our YouTube channel.
Your donations are needed and will help us
continue to operate during these unsettling times.
Nineteenth Sunday in
Ordinary Time
August 8/9, 2020

Stewardship spirituality invites us to surrender control of our lives to God in grateful recognition of the simple fact that all we have is a gift from Him.

Today’s readings illustrate what amazing things can happen when we wholeheartedly invite God to take charge of our lives by embracing the stewardship way of life.

When we take our eyes off God, we fail to see that all we have is a gift from Him. We lose trust in the Lord, and we do not make our lives a grateful response to Him.

Peter makes this mistake in our Gospel passage from Matthew. Jesus sends the disciples in a boat ahead of Him to the other side of the shore. Later that evening, Jesus casually strolls up to the boat, walking on the sea. He invites Peter to join Him. As Peter begins to walk on water, he momentarily takes his eyes off Jesus to notice the strong wind surrounding them. With that, he sinks.

But what if Peter had not taken his eyes off Christ? What a grand adventure he could have experienced walking on the sea with Jesus! When we take our eyes off Christ, the many blessings He has given us, and the loving way He treats us, we too sink.

When we embrace the stewardship way of life, letting go of a tight hold over our money, time, and talents, our lives become a grand adventure, rooted firmly and gratefully in the God Who always cares for us.
CDs from Augustine Institute

Did you know we have CDs (and other items) located in the narthex? Each week we will highlight one of the available CDs.

Cost is $4 each.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth and young adults. Yet despite the many TV shows, movies, and articles on this topic, suicide, depression, self-harm, and loneliness remain difficult subjects for adults of any age to discuss. Speaking with honesty, humor, and personal experience, Noelle Garcia tackles these issues head-on, encouraging those who are struggling (or know someone who is) that God's mercy and love are waiting for them; that you, and your life, truly matter.
Start earning the easy way with the new mobile app: RaiseRight by ShopWithScrip
RaiseRight is simply the right way to fundraise for our organization. Shop gift cards from more than 750 top brands to earn on your daily purchases—right from your phone.

Turn your shopping list into fundraising
·      Discover new earning opportunities every day 
·      Narrow your search with categories that fit your everyday shopping needs
·      Easily browse brands offering bonus earnings
·      Add brands you love to your Favorites for faster shopping
·      Manage your gift cards in one place: your Wallet

Pick up right where you left off. Sign in with your same ShopWithScrip username and password. Access your gift cards right away. And check out with payment information already saved to your account.


SCRIP will now be sold before and after all weekend Masses. We will be outside under the tent in front of the church. As always, SCRIP is available at the parish office during regular business hours. We have materials available below if you would like to set up an online account.






Our enrollment code is 18DE7D4F11822. Once you have an online account you can pay by direct debit from your checking account (Presto Pay), by credit card, or by check here in the parish office. If we do not have the item in stock, we will order on Monday and have the cards by Thursday. Once you have the physical card you can enroll it in your "wallet" and reload it as needed.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the parish office at 414-321-1965.
This program allows .5% of your shopping on Amazon to be donated to St. John the Evangelist.

If you purchase Scrip, St. John's receives an additional 2.25%. That's 2.75% of your purchases to St. John's if you are already shopping Amazon.
School News
The newsletter is published on Wednesdays. Articles for each week's publication are due on Mondays at noon.

To submit articles e-mail to: newsletter@stjohns-grfd.org
"Remember God's Will in Yours!"

Please keep the needs of St. John the Evangelist in mind as you do your estate planning. For information on how to include the parish as a beneficiary, contact the Parish Office at 414-321-1965.
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