Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruyckerPastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker Lord our...
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Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth into battle—be Thou near them! With them—in spirit—we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended in the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames in summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it—For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimmage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen. (After a pause.) “Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits. “It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said. The above is taken from the short story The War Prayer by Mark Twain. It is amazing how topical Twain can be. I was reminded of it by today’s reading from Genesis, the sacrifice of Isaac or the Akedah the binding of Isaac. The question of course is why would God be so cruel as to have Abraham sacrifice his son. There are literally thousands of reflections on this question from the rabbis of all generations as well as the theologians of other denominations. We often think Abraham was a faith-filled but cruel father that he would allow or think God intended a human sacrifice. Abraham knew God had forsworn human sacrifice-God was breaking his own commandments-so…what was the message? The one reflection which struck me is a more modern interpretation. A number of scholars point to the fact that many parents quite regularly ‘offer their children up to be sacri- ficed.’ How many times do the old send their children off to war with the understanding they may not come home again? How many times have we bet their lives against our ideals? Are we any better than Abraham? From the Christian perspective, the binding of Isaac is said to foreshadow the offering of Jesus, but this is quite a different sacrifice. Jesus’ offering is a choice, a choice to end violence not become part of it. The story of transfiguration is the self-revelation of Jesus to his disciples to understand who he truly is. For us to truly understand the ‘War Prayer,’ that God sees each of us so valuable he is willing, if need be, to die for us. He dies so we might live. As Paul says, ‘if God is for us who can be against us?” The Genesis story can be a reflection on the insanity of violence. It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said. SJA Lenten Gatherings: There Is Always Light Community Gatherings Wednes- days, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17 & 3/24, 7 - 8pm (Zoom). Please join us to share how you are experiencing God’s light and how you are being light during our Lenten season. Reg- ister online at www.saintjoanofarc.org. Lent Daily Reflections: Mending Our Hearts by Alice Camille (Lent Booklet available at SJA (until supply lasts) or Twenty-Third Publications), Fridays, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26 & 4/2, 1 - 2pm (Zoom) Register online at www.saintjoanofarc.org. Lenten Reconciliation Service: On Wednesday, March 3, we will offer a virtual Lenten Reconcilia- tion Service, a time for prayer, song, and reflection as we journey through Lent. The service will be available at stjoan.com beginning March 3. Please join us!
Transcript of Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruyckerPastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker Lord our...
Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker
Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth into battle—be Thou near them! With them—in spirit—we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help
us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended in the wastes of their desolated
land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames in summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it—For our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimmage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet!
We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.
(After a pause.) “Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits. “It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.
The above is taken from the short story The War Prayer by Mark Twain. It is amazing how topical Twain can be. I was reminded of it by today’s reading from Genesis, the sacrifice of Isaac or the Akedah the binding of Isaac. The question of course is why would God be so cruel as to have Abraham sacrifice his son. There are literally thousands of reflections on this question from the rabbis of all generations as well as the theologians of other denominations.
We often think Abraham was a faith-filled but cruel father that he would allow or think God intended a human sacrifice. Abraham knew God had forsworn human sacrifice-God was breaking his own commandments-so…what was the message? The one reflection which struck me is a more modern interpretation. A number of scholars point to the fact that many parents quite regularly ‘offer their children up to be sacri-ficed.’ How many times do the old send their children off to war with the understanding they may not come home again? How many times have we bet their lives against our ideals? Are we any better than Abraham?
From the Christian perspective, the binding of Isaac is said to foreshadow the offering of Jesus, but this is quite a different sacrifice. Jesus’ offering is a choice, a choice to end violence not become part of it. The story of transfiguration is the self-revelation of Jesus to his disciples to understand who he truly is. For us to truly understand the ‘War Prayer,’ that God sees each of us so valuable he is willing, if need be, to die for us. He dies so we might live. As Paul says, ‘if God is for us who can be against us?” The Genesis story can be a reflection on the insanity of violence.
It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.
SJA Lenten Gatherings: There Is Always Light Community Gatherings Wednes-days, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17 & 3/24, 7 - 8pm (Zoom). Please join us to share how you are experiencing God’s light and how you are being light during our Lenten season. Reg-ister online at www.saintjoanofarc.org.
Lent Daily Reflections: Mending Our Hearts by Alice Camille (Lent Booklet available at SJA (until supply lasts) or Twenty-Third Publications), Fridays, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26 & 4/2, 1 - 2pm (Zoom) Register online at www.saintjoanofarc.org.
Lenten Reconciliation Service: On Wednesday, March 3, we will offer a virtual Lenten Reconcilia-tion Service, a time for prayer, song, and reflection as we journey through Lent. The service will be available at stjoan.com beginning March 3. Please join us!
Sun Feb 28: Gen 22:1-2, 9a,10-13,15-18; Rom 31b-34; Mark 9:2-10 Mon, March 1: Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38 Tue, March 2: Isaiah 1:10,16-20; Matthew 23:1-12 Wed, March 3: Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28 Thu, March 4: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Luke 16:19-31 Fri, March 5: Gen 37:3-4.12-13a, 17b-28a; Matt 21:33-43,45-46 Sat, March 6: Micah 7:14-15,18-20; Luke 15:1-3,11-32 Sun, March 7: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Cor 1:22-25; John 2:13-25
Chuck Abramson, Carol Anderson, Arlene Axelson, Bill, Marcus B, Dennis Barta, Phyllis Berninger, Rob Brown, Linus & Lily Bendel-Stenzel, Elaine Boehm, Marcia Boehnlein, Michael Branigan, Patty Brennan, Lorraine Bryant, Stacy Budd, Pam Burd, Sue C, David Carroll, Mary Cermak, Larry Clark, Barbara Cracraft, Dan Crough, Culver family, Megan & Nick Daoust, Elizabeth Davidson, Larry Dease, Jim DeBruycker, Joe Dooley,
Linda Duffy, Ava Dunlay, Kathie DuRocher, Pete Eichten, Ellie Fitzgerald, Donny Fitzpatrick, John & Margaret Frees, Michelle Fries, Daniela Garcia, Jim Green, Heidi Gregorich, Ron Guillfoile, Amy H, Bob & Sandy H, Christina H, Linda & Tom H, MJ & Fred H, Jon & Rae H, Christina H,
Judy Hilkemann, Brad Hinker, Jim Hinton, Amy Hnilicka, Gene Hniilicka, Megan Hoffman, Jan Horner, Kathy Horner, Kathy Itzin, Ruth J, Janie, Tom Jay, Barb Janisch, Therese K, Annie Kack, Alex Kalal, Brad Karkkainen, Glen Kelley, Chuck Kennedy, Paul Kennedy, John Kingston,
Sage Kirscht, Lois Koegl, Steve Kremer, Abby L, Helen LaFavor, Amy Lainus, Sally Lambert, Melva Larson, Pankraz Lechner, Lindsay family, Theresa Little, Bob Loftus, Chantilly Lynch, Claire Madden, Amy Matykiewicz, Dawn McCelland, Kate Meyer, Bob Miller, Rita Miller, Tom Moore,
Bev Moran, Royce Morrissette, Jack Muelken, Ted Mueller, Cheri Murch, Nate, Rita Nelson, Craig Nordby, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera, Mike O’Rourke, Marleny Rivera Orozco, Colette Ott, John Palmer, Jacques Parent, Milo Parker, Jimmy Peterka, Alice Pirola, Brenda & Ernesto Ramirez, Ahlaia Rash,
Ann Resemius, Jack Riebel, Jean Rieck, Donald & Susan Roufs, Dorothy Rowe, Kevin Rozman, Pat Russell, Sam, Monica Sausen, Don Schafer, Carol Schirber, Carter Schmidt, Colleen Schroeder, Pam Schulstad, Betty Scully, MaryAnn & Dick Seekamp, Gerry Sell, Jack Sell, Nate Shaw, Sam Slagerman, Harold Sonnek, Joan Speltz, Ross, Doug Stahlke, Vivian Steblay, Peter Steen, Carson Stier, Nancy Stockhaus, Rick Streng,
Christine Stuart, Grayson Taylor, Matthew Tennant, Glo Tonskemper, Arturo Torres, Al Traynham, Abby V, Carin Vagle, Leroy Vague, Mary Sue VanVeen, Dave Velasco, Floyd Ward, Pam Washington, Marlys Weber, Bob Wedl, Jerry Wohnoutka, George Wolf, Morley Woodruff,
Michele Wylie, Dave Youngren, Edwina Zagami, Annemaire & Ava Zubrzycki, Bridget Zvirin
Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To add a name or to renew your request, please call the Parish Center at 612.823.8205.
Our Liturgies from April through today’s will be available through the St. Joan of Arc website. Celebrate virtually with Fr. DeBruycker , Fr. Cassidy and the SJA community. Watch online at www.stjoan.com.
Also join us online for our weekly Family liturgies.
Summary of contributions for the week and fiscal year. Includes plate, envelopes and estimated Sustaining Member payments.
Week of February 15 - February 21, 2021 Actual $49,054 Budget $30,667 Prior Year Actual $30,242
Year to Date (July 1 – February 14, 2021) Actual $1,228,267 Budget $1,301,601 Prior Year Actual $1,417,545
THANK YOU for your continued generosity!!
SJA 2020-2021 Concert Series – Pre-recorded Concerts are broadcast at 7pm on the following dates. Watch for FREE (donations welcome) at stjoan.com
• Mar. 21, 2021 – From My Backyard – Michael Monroe pre-sents music and reflections about Superior’s North Shore with photos by Jim Brandenburg.
• Watch on demand after premier, including our recent, SOFIA: Chambers Of The Heart – A spiritual, open-hearted Valentine experience ,for FREE at stjoan.com - Thanks to our underwriters and SJA for making this series possible.
Lenten Sundays – Feb. 21 through March 21: Join our faith community on Sundays as we are challenged to see the light of the gospels and be that light in our world. Fr. Jim DeBruycker and Fr. Jim Cassidy are joined online each week by parishioner greeters, readers and the musical inspiration of our SJA musicians. Online Family Liturgies: Continue to worship as a family during Lent. Take a little time to pray, sing, and reflect together each week at a gospel-based service designed for the whole family.
SJA Housing Ministry News: Join us in our work to end homelessness! Contact Julie Madden to register
and participate in this sacred work!
• Thanks to all our Feb. 27 volunteers doing hands-on work helping to rehab an apartment building with our friends at Urban Homeworks! Our next volunteer date is Saturday, March 27, and we need volunteers for our team. No experi-ence necessary, and it's a great day of work together.
• Monday, Mar. 1, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative hosts a monthly 30 minute "Rent Is Due Day of Action" at 8:30am. Go to beaconinterfaith.org.
• Go to the SJA Facebook page for a great interview by Rose and Brennan with Housing Ministry leader Daymond Dean!
Ending Nuclear Weapons Before They End Us: Our SJA WAMM/Peacemakers invite you to a March 4 online event, co-sponsored by Back From the Brink and the Int'l Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons (2017 Nobel Peace Prize laureate). We'll learn about the challenges and opportunities ahead as we seek to abol-ish nuclear weapons together. FFI/to register, go to preventnuclearwar.org. SJA CARE Committee: Thanks to our incredible volunteers and donors to the SJA Outreach Fund, our CARE Committee is up and running. Each month, a small team of parishioners meets with applicants for emergency housing or utilities assistance. We have adapted our processes to meet COVID safety requirements, and we are grateful to be able to offer help to neighbors in our city in this very difficult time.
FFI on Peace & Justice programs contact Julie Madden at 612.823.8205 ext. 228 or [email protected].
SJA Welcome the Stranger: Sanctuary State Response. Thank you to all who registered your thoughtful comments and questions regarding our proposed endorsement of the MN Sanc-tuary State Coalition Position Paper. The responses have been forwarded to Fr. Jim DeBruycker for his consideration - both Fr. Jim and our SJA Parish Council have expressed their support, and we are grateful to them, and to all of you. As one parishioner responded: "I know I am in the right place at the right time when I read SJA furthering such a necessary undertaking. YES we must be a sanctuary and YES the laws must protect those who cannot protect themselves. I applaud the parish in going forward with supporting the work of our Lord."
Health Care for ALL: The SJA Chapter of Health Care for All Minnesota (HCAMN) continues to work for equitable and affordable health care for eve-ryone in our state. FFI on this initiative go to www.hca-mn.org. To join our SJA chapter
contact Carol at [email protected].
Resist the Pipeline: Our SJA EcoSpirits and AntiRacism minis-tries are collaborating to support indigenous-led efforts to stop the Enbridge Line 3 oil pipeline in Northern MN. Your presence is needed to ensure a livable future in our state for our children and grandchildren. There is a week of solidarity actions coming up March 8-14, and we have three ways you can participate: • Be a front line ally, spending a day (or longer) with those on
site in nonviolent witness.Training is provided. • Donate supplies or funds to support those on site. We are
working with MN350, which is collecting needed items. • Contact bank executives to urge them to disinvest from this
pipeline (contracts are being renewed in March). And you can also join the push for clean cars in MN - a critical and timely issue. Public input is sought by next month, and we can help you make sure your voice is heard. Contact Julie Madden for more info.
LGBTQ+ Book Club: There will be a Zoom discussion of "Operation Stop Hate" by local author Jessie Chandler on Monday, Mar. 15 at 7pm. FFI/to register, please contact Ron at [email protected].
SJA Antiracism Discussion: Join our monthly gathering on Sunday, March 14, 11am - 1pm, when we'll be focusing on the intersections of health care and racial justice. FFI/to register, please contact Julie Madden.
SJA ISAIAH: We are bringing our collective power to the state legislature, including a virtual lobby day on March 2, 10am - 1pm on housing legislation, with a focus on immigrants. Here's the link to sign up: https://secure.everyaction.com/jcC_FO4oUKCCTP7MGgSRA2
SJA, We Need You! Recently our Fr. Jim DeBruycker had an exploratory procedure in response to new cancer cells that have been detected. We anticipate he will be away from SJA for a couple of weeks. Please keep Fr. Jim and his care team in your prayers as he and our community navigate these days. And to buoy his spirits, we are collecting brief videotaped well-wishes and greetings to Fr. Jim. Just record a greeting on your phone and email to Brennan at [email protected]. Thank you. We continue to lift each other up and see each other through! Food Shelf/Toiletries Donations Needed: We will continue to
accept non-perishable food items, laundry detergent and body soap for Sabathani Community Center and toothbrushes, toiletry-sized soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and new, lightweight socks for Mobile Loaves Twin Cities. All items can be dropped
off Monday through Friday, 9am - 3pm, in the bins in the Parish Center. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need. The St. Joan of Arc Parish Council is seeking SJA parish mem-bers interested in serving a 3-year term on the Parish Council. The discernment process will begin tentatively sometime in the summer/fall, once we are able to safely meet in person,. Please contact Dennis Heaney with any questions [email protected]
: (Ages 4-Kindergarten) FFI contact Magnolia
Ditzler at [email protected].
Baptism: To have your child baptized at St. Joan’s you must be
a registered member and participate in a 90-minute Baptism preparation class. During these Covid times, both of these offerings can be achieved with measures in place to ensure the good health and safety of families participating. FFI and to register contact JP at the Parish
Center or by email at [email protected].
: (Grades 1-6) FFI contact Marie
Bissonnette at [email protected].
First Reconciliation and First Communion plans are currently on an indefinite hold due to COVID-19. If families want to prepare in order to be ready, they may work through the on-line lessons with their child at this link: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/blessed/blessed-program-view.html Unless I hear from you otherwise, I will email the families who have inquired already.
: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Rose Aspholm
at [email protected] or Brennan Hall at [email protected].
Confirmation 2020-21 Update: Open to teens in 10th and 11th grade, our program, slated to start in Spring of 2021, is grounded in relationship building, discernment, and service. If you would like to be added to our contact list for teens and families who are inter-ested, email Rose and we will keep you up to date with our plans.
Trivia Night! Tonight, Sunday, Feb. 28, 7pm. Families, groups,
and/or individuals: here's your chance to flex every-thing you've ever learned, with some pop-culture questions thrown in for fun. No studying or cramming required. Our themed rounds change every month! All are welcome, especially new-comers. See you
there! Contact Rose with questions and to get the zoom link: [email protected]
1st Sunday Lesson-Women in the Church: Looking ahead to next Sunday, March 7. 7pm. Come learn about women of the Church and the roles women play. In the Church All are welcome To register, email Rose at [email protected]
FFI on Pastoral Ministries contact Sherri Stella at 612.823.8205 ext. 231 or [email protected].
Monday Mental Health: Please join us for a Zoom Webinar Event on, Monday, March 8, 6:30 - 8pm as Vicki Elliot, Execu-tive Director of Mental Health Connect presents, Tan-gled up in Grief: from pain to recovery to hope (not in any particular order). This is a free event. All are wel-come. To join us, follow the link on our weekly email
blast. FFI contact Sherri Stella at [email protected].
Thank You! We want to extend a huge thank you to all the individu-als and families who created Valentine’s Day cards for our commu-nity. We are so grateful for your creativity and dedication to our community.
Pastoral Care: During these difficult and uncertain times, we want you to know that you are not alone. If you, or a loved one is in need of pastoral care support, please contact Sherri Stella at 612.300.6228. or [email protected].
Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another.” John 13:34
We never know the challenges someone is facing, the pain they are enduring, or the grief they carry with them. So, always remember to reach out to one another in the spirit of love, compassion and grace. Even small acts of love and kindness can make all the difference in someone’s life.
FFI contact Cynthia Bailey Manns at [email protected]. Spiritual Resilience Gatherings, Fridays, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 9 - 10am (Zoom) "Spiritual resilience is not simply about recovering from adversity. It is about bouncing back in a way that deeper knowledge of both God and self may result." (Robert J. Wicks) (Required Book – Spiritual Resilience: 30 Days To Refresh Your Soul by Robert J. Wicks). Register online at
www.saintjoanofarc.org. SAGES: Monday, March 8 at 12pm. Come for community, laughter and engaging conversation! Contact Mark at [email protected] for Zoom link.
Parish Book Club: This Wednesday, March 10, 6pm. I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg. To register and obtain the Zoom link, email Lucy at [email protected]. Centering Prayer: Sundays, 10 - 10:30am. To register, email Ray Spack at [email protected].
Women of Saint Joan of Arc (WSJA), In The Sanctuary Of Women, Saturday, March 27, 10am - Noon (Zoom). Jan Richardson reminds us that, "In this place, may you find a space of hospitality for all of who you are. Here among these women, may
there be comfort and challenge, mystery and grace to provide sustenance for your every step. For everything that lies within you, may there be a welcome. May this be for you a refuge, a place of meeting, a shelter. May it be a sanctuary." Register online at www.saintjoanofarc.org.
