VBS Approaches

Remember, Vacation Bible School starts next Tuesday, June 21.  There's still time to register kids, and there's still time to volunteer.

Call Fr. Michael or Samantha to get more details.

(318) 872-1144
(318) 840-9196

Flowers to be Instituted

The Vestry and Parishioners of St. George's Episcopal Church cordially invite you to attend a Celebration of New Ministry and Institution of the Very Rev'd James Flowers (you might remember him) as Rector of St. George's Episcopal Church in Bossier City, Louisiana on June 23 at 7 PM.  A reception will follow.

St. George's is located at 1959 Airline Drive in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Jaime asked me to extend this invitation to all the folks at Christ Memorial, and I think it would be great if we could show up in force to support him in his new calling as Rector of St. George's.

Michael+

Samantha Update

Sam is doing great.  Thank you for all your prayers.  I am trying to make sure that everyone knows about her status.  There have been e-mails, updates on FB, phone calls and texts.  Sam feels really good, and she thinks that this procedure might just and done the trick.  I will update more later.

God is very good!

Michael+

Where have you been?

Dear Reader, I did not intend to give up blogging for Lent, it just happened that way.  I prefer to think that God had other plans for my time and talents this last month, therefore, it has been a while since I have updated the blog.

There will be new posts arriving shortly, I promise.

Fr. Michael+

What Do I Do If I Need to Talk to the Priest?

Dear Reader, the simple answer is to pick up the phone and give me a call.  Part of my vocation, a large part of my vocation, is to be available to those who need me.  That is my desire, to be available and responsive to anyone who may have a simple question and to someone who may need help with a crisis.  If either of those, or any number of other issues, is the case, then please don't hesitate to call me.

My numbers are:  840-9196 (cell)
                            872-1144 (church office)
                            872-1237 (rectory)

My scheduled office hours during the week are:
                    Monday:  9-12
                    Tuesday:  10-12
                    Wednesday:  9-5
                    Thursday:  9-12
                    Friday:  By appointment

I am setting aside on my schedule Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to make scheduled pastoral visits to parishioners at home or in hospital.  Additionally, I am available on Friday by appointment.

If you, or someone you know needs a visit or to have Communion brought to them at home, please let me know so I can schedule a recurring visitation schedule with them.

Please also know that in the case of an emergency, I am available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  My door is always open and my cell phone is always on.

Fr. Michael+

Ash Wednesday Schedule at Christ Memorial

March 9, 2011 - Ash Wednesday

  

12:00 Noon in the Chapel of St. Anne

Mass according to Rite II including the Imposition of Ashes

7:00 PM in the Church

Imposition of Ashes and the Mass according to the '28 BCP

There will be no dinner served or Bible Study on Ash Wednesday.  Both will resume on March 16 with dinners of soup and bread and a study of Exodus.  The Stations of the Cross will also be observed beginning on March 16 following the 6 PM Mass.

Fr. Michael+

Practical Stuff

As you, Dear Reader, are undoubtedly aware, the ongoing water project being undertaken by the City of Mansfield has resulted in some temporary patches of gravel in the driveway to the church parking lot and in the parking spaces at the front of the church on Washington Avenue.  The good news is that crews have already patched the spaces in front of the church and are now in the process of doing the same to the parking lot.  The bad news is that the parking lot will be out of commission for a few days while the concrete cures.  The prep work is going on this afternoon (Monday), and the concrete is scheduled to be poured tomorrow (Tuesday).  That means that it should be ready for normal use by Sunday, but will probably not be ready by Wednesday night.  Therefore, please plan on parking in the Big Star parking lot on Wednesday night.

Now we just need to see if we can get grass to grow in front of the rectory again.

Fr. Michael+

More Weather News - Update

The winter weather is apparently moving into the northern part of the state and will, according to the weather gurus, be upon us within the next few hours.  Therefore, after consulting with the Senior Warden, I have decided to cancel Wednesday Night Bible Study this week.  As previously reported, Gayle had canceled choir practice, so it makes sense to play it safe and keep everybody home and warm and dry this evening.

I will be celebrating the Mass at 6PM for anyone who wishes to attend, but there will be no dinner or Bible study tonight.  We will resume next week with a discussion of the origins and use of the Book of Common Prayer.

Fr. Michael+

Feast of the Epiphany

No, don't worry.  It's not Epiphany, yet.  Please mark your calendars, however, for Thursday, January 6 at 6PM for our celebration of the Feast of the Epiphany.  Epiphany marks the arrival of the Magi at the home of the Jesus and his family in Bethlehem.  The arrival of these gentiles from the East also reinforces the universality of God's plan for the salvation of His Creation.  The Messiah has not come just for the Hebrew people, but for all the people of the world, and since the Gospel is not yet ready to be carried to the world, the world will instead come to the Gospel.

Also on Thursday evening, we will observe an old tradition of the Church by blessing chalk.  This chalk is then used to inscribe a blessing on the door post of one's home as an acknowledgement of God's blessing upon us for the new year.  The chalk will be blessed prior to the conclusion of the Mass.

Finally, we plan on having a King Cake Thursday evening, so plan to hang around to enjoy is traditional treat of Epiphany (at least in Louisiana).

See you Thursday!

Fr. Michael+

Requiem Mass Set for Saturday

The Requiem Mass for Dr. Walter Platt will be Saturday at 10AM at Christ Memorial.  Visitation will be at Roseneath Funeral Home on Polk Street on Friday night from 5PM to 7PM.  Interment will be at the family plot in Grand Cane following the Mass on Saturday.

Fr. Michael+

Dr. Walter Platt, Rest In Peace

For those who have not yet heard, Dr. Platt passed away this morning.  I will post the plans for the visitation and funeral on this blog as soon as they are finalized.  The family appreciates your prayers for Walter and for them during this painful, yet glorious time.  I say painful because losing a loved one or close friend is not an easy thing; but it is a glorious time because our friend has realized the promise of eternal life that has been promised to him by God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Put another way, we grieve for our loss while at the same time rejoicing in his gain.

May his soul and the souls of all the departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Fr. Michael+

It's About Time

Sorry, Dear Reader, for the long delay in posting to the blog.  Last week was a whirlwind of wonderful activity.  We had the Bazaar last Thursday, and it was a spectacular event.  I cannot say enough about the folks who spent almost an entire year planning, cooking, and preparing for this event.  I am also not even going to try to thank people by name because I will leave somebody out, but let me just give a huge THANK YOU - YOU ARE AWESOME to all of the ladies in the ECW, the men who helped move tables and cook the pasta and to everyone who donated items to the White Elephant Sale.  And, we must also thank all those people from the community who came and enjoyed what I think might be the best chicken spaghetti on the planet.  And that's not to mention the jellies and Jerry's amazing Sweet and Hot Pickles.  The good news is that we still have some jelly left, so if you want some, come by the church office.  They are $3.50 per jar.

I do also want to update everyone about the condition of one of our most dear parishioners, Dr. Walter Platt.  Dr. Platt was in the hospital in Mansfield for most of last week, but yesterday he had a bit of an issue with his heart.  He is stable and is now in the ICU at WK North in Shreveport.  The prognosis is good, but he is not out of the woods just yet.  His family is with him, and I know that they would appreciate your prayers for his healing and for their strength.  I will relay more information as it becomes available.

Thanksgiving is November 25, and we will be celebrating a Eucharist in thanksgiving to God for all the blessings which He has bestowed upon us.  The Mass will be at 10AM.  The Christ Memorial Outreach Committee will also be helping out some needy families in the area have a joyous Thanksgiving this year.  We are in the process of identifying families to whom we can provide a full Thanksgiving meal.  In this way, we trust that Christ's message of Hope and Love will be shared with all His children.

I would like to thank all of those who have contributed to the Minister's Fund and the Food Pantry.  Your contributions have made it possible to restock and reorganize the pantry; and we aren't finished buying the food yet.  This ministry is an important one for the community as well as for our parish. 

Finally, I want to thank God for the blessings that He has poured out upon my family, this parish and me.  It never ceases to amaze me how much God loves us, despite our sin and, at times, generally questionable behavior.  The blood of the Lamb washes us clean, and bathed in His Grace do we walk joyfully ever onward in His presence.

Fr. Michael+

Big News

Dominus vobiscum:

For those of you who were not at church on Sunday (tsk...tsk...tsk), I present to you a few items that you might find interesting:

1.  There will be an LSU / Auburn football party beginning at 1:30pm on Saturday, October 23 in the Parish House.  The church will provide the soft drinks, so all you need to bring is some form of snack, appetizer or finger food to share with the other hungry Tiger (purple and gold ones, of course) fans.  The kids can play on our new playground and a good time can be had by all.

2.  On October 30, which is the Saturday before Hallowe'en, we will have a party at the church to celebrate the Feast of All Hallows Eve.  There will be food, fun and, I am led to believe, entertainment in the form of an age appropriate scary movie.  Come one, come all; and bring a guest with you.  Invite a friend or a co-worker or a family member to come to the party and then to come to church on Sunday.  Let's show Mansfield what a great place Christ Memorial is for families and people of all ages.

3.  The Diocese of Western Louisiana held its annual Convention in Alexandria this past weekend, and there are a couple of interesting developments.  First, Christ Memorial will have two people going to Indianapolis in 2012 to represent the Diocese at General Convention.  Karen Nash was elected to serve as a Lay Deputy and I was elected to serve as a Deputy from the Clergy Order.  It is a great honor to serve, and also a lot of work, so both Karen and I will need and greatly appreciate your prayers.  Second, because of the great bounty that God as given to the Diocese through the oil and gas revenues produced from the Garland Scout Camp property right here in DeSoto Parish, the Bishop announced in his address to Convention that he was granting a waiver for every parish 4th quarter asking.  This means that we will not have to make our final contribution to the diocese this year.  This is a one time benefit, and by the Grace of God, we now have that money that we can use for the spread of the Gospel and the furthering of God's Kingdom right here in Mansfield.

4.  Another item from Convention deserves some attention as well.  The Bishop, again in his address to Convention, alluded several times to an upcoming period of change in the diocese.  He was referring to his impending retirement as our Diocesan Bishop due to the achievement of the 72nd anniversary of his birth.  This will happen in mid-summer of 2012.  Therefore, the Bishop announced that he would be calling for the election of the IV Bishop of the Diocese of Western Louisiana some time in the Spring of next year.  The process of electing a bishop is a long and complex one.  If it does indeed begin in the Spring of 2011, then, and I believe this is the Bishop's desire, our new Diocesan would be elected, consented and installed prior to General Convention (July 2012).  Bishop MacPherson is a gift of God to this diocese, and we should all give thanks to Him for that gift.  Bishop MacPherson has worked tirelessly to be a good steward for this diocese and to be a true Defender of the Faith in the face of sometimes daunting opposition.  He is a loyal man of God, a believer of the first order, and I will miss not having him safely ensconced at Diocesan House (or Hoose, depending on from what side of the border one comes).  I am asking everyone who reads this blog post to begin now to pray fervently for God's guidance and protection as we seek to follow His Will in selecting a new bishop.  This will be a decision of the utmost importance.

Fr.  Michael+

Light Perpetual....

I am saddened to announce the passing of Monika Christian this past Sunday following a long battle with cancer.  Jeanne is doing well and is appreciative of your prayers for Monika and for her.  There will be a Memorial Service in Houston and a graveside service here, but the details have not been settled.  I will put up another post as soon as we know anything more.

Please continue to pray for Monika and Jeanne.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon her.

Fr. Michael+

Light Perpetual....

Julie Evans died this morning at home in the presence of her family and under the prayerful watch of many, many friends.  Her Memorial Service is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Friday at Roseneath Funeral Home in Mansfield.  There will be a visitation at Roseneath Thursday evening from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.  I will post any additional information as it becomes available.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon them.

Father Michael+