Thought for the Week
THEME OF UNITY WEEK: ‘Has Christ been divided?’
Each year from Ascension to Pentecost all Christian Churches are united in prayer for Christian Unity. We recognize that the ‘scandal’ of division is far from the heart of Jesus; his desire is one Church, “Father may they be one, may they all be one in us.” [As the booklet cover indicates, some churches also celebrate Unity Week in January each year.]
This year the theme chosen by the National Council of Churches asks the question: “Is Christ divided?” Every day of the week different prayers and points for reflection are offered for the Church Unity intention.
The prayers and thoughts here are from the 8th Day – Pentecost Sunday.
THEME: Together… we proclaim the gospel
Three points for reflection
- Together we proclaim anew the good news prophesied in Isaiah, fulfilled in our Lord Jesus, preached by the Apostle Paul, and received by the Church. Facing honestly the differences we have and the labels of denomination we embrace, we must never lose sight of the common mandate we have in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Paul is sent “to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power” (1 Cor 1:17). The path to unity is to be found in the power of the cross.
3. The Gospel we proclaim is made tangible and relevant to us as we bear witness to the work of Jesus Christ in our own lives and the life of the Christian community.
Questions
- In what ways is the ‘gospel’ you have received bound up with its cultural and historical transmission?
- In what ways has that been both a vehicle and an obstacle to unity?
- What other ways are there of “handing on” the gospel?
- Think about/discuss the appropriateness of finding culturally relevant and contemporary presentations of the language, imagery and message of the gospel.
- How would our fuller unity in Christ make us better witnesses to the gospel we have received?
Prayer for the 2014 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
God of wholeness, we recognize, with sorrow, our divisions with each other and with you. As we seek to recover our unity in Christ we recognize the diversity of gifts, talents, understandings and expressions of faith that abound in the life of your churches.
May we see this diversity as an encouragement and inspiration as together we witness and minister to the needs of your world.
May your Spirit continually guide and lead us as we grow in grace with each other and with you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
(Full text of 2014 prayers and reflections for all 8 days, click here).
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All St Mary’s Parish ‘Contact’ details, click here.
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Masses for 7th Week of Easter Time Unity Week
Saturday 31st May
6.30pm Mass (Gordon Poidevin, B Guthrie)
Sunday 01st June – Ascension Day
9.00am Mass (All parishioners)
Monday 2nd June
9.00am Mass (Ricky Fisher, Judith Little)
Tuesday 3rd June
9.00am Mass (Nancy O’Brien, Patricia Smith)
Wednesday 4th June
9.00am Mass (Tom, Denis, Peter and Bernard Rourke)
11.00am Holy Communion to Homes
Thursday 5th June
11.40am Novena
12noon Mass (Marj Strachan, Giovanni Presti)
Friday 6th June
10.00am Anointing Mass-Karinya (All the sick)
11.00am Holy Communions to Homes
Saturday 7th June
8.45am Rosary & Mass (John Ryan, John Hanrahan)
6.30pm Vigil (Ken Hughes, John Skehan)
Sunday 8th June Pentecost
9.00am Mass (All parishioners)
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Roster 7th– 8th June 2014
Gifts:
6.30pm P Culhane J Heagney
9.00am CWL
Lectors
6.30pm M Schnelle P Nixon
9.00am E Christy B Christy
Special Ministers:
6.30pm D & A Norman
9.00am K Roberts P Lemmon
Altar: M Fitzgibbon
Welcomers:
6.30pm D Doyle
9.00am M Flynn
Altar Servers:
6.30pm Luke Heagney Sarah Knight
9.00am Hannah & Emily Tidd
Collection: (Tue 10th) R Packer & I Brooks
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Remember in Prayer
Patricia Kelly, Brian Knight, Bede Guthrie, Margaret Elliott, Fr Sean Conroy, John Skehan, John Hanrahan, Nicole Collins
(For Honour Roll access to details of funeral booklets, click here.)
NOTICES: Meetings / Imp. Dates:
02 June 12pm Ministers Association at Chocolate Factory
05 June 6.30pm Watato Children’s Choir at Corowa Primary School – Free admission
06 June Fri. 7pm Church Unity Service at St Mary’s
11 June E-Conference 10am-3pm at St Mary’s School
14 June Serra Dinner for Vocations – Wagga
DETAILS
Watato Children’s choir – represent 47.5 million children of Africa, orphaned/single parent as result of Africa’s HIV/AIDS & wars.
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Volunteers Wanted
Wrap with Love – ‘Blankets for cold humanity’
Volunteer to help join the hundreds of knitted squares into blankets. Every second Monday of during the month at 9.30am-12pm
In St Mary’s Parish Hall – Enjoy cuppa & chat **Contact: Carmel Moroney – 6033 5381
NEXT SEWING DAY: Mon 09th June 9.30am
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SERRA FUND RAISING DINNER – WAGGA
Saturday 14th June at Wagga RSL – $50 – Guest Speaker: Fr Andrew Grace
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New Resource for Catholic Women & ParishesThe Genius Project is a amazing new four-part DVD resource for Catholic women. Based upon St. John Paul II’s teaching on the vocation and dignity of women. Use it at home or form a small group in your parish. Find out more at: http://www.beingcatholic.com.au/genius-project/ |