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St. Francis , Sherwood, OR Volume 4 February 2012

God’s Love and You

During Ordinary Time in the Church calendar 1. I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before Me. just before , it would make sense for us to 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. think about God's love for us and how he has manifested that love throughout time, first in the 3. Remember you shall keep holy the Lord's day. Old Testament time and then in the human institution of the 4. Honor your father and your mother. church itself. God's commandments often seem restrictive, but they are a beautiful act of love on His part. 5. You shall not kill. How can we love and serve God? 6. You shall not commit adultery. We can love and serve God by keeping His Commandments. 7. You shall not steal. Which are the two great Commandments? 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 1. You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole strength and with your 9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. whole mind. 10. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods. 2. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The first three Commandments refer to God; the other seven refer to How do we keep these Commandments? us and our neighbor. God Himself gave the Ten Commandments to We keep these commandments by keeping the Ten Moses on Mount Sinai, and Christ our Lord confirmed them. Commandments of God and the rules of the Church. A suggestion is to take one or two of the commandments each week During this upcoming season, it might be a good time as a family to during Lent and let members of your family reflect on their meaning, learn and reflect on these ten commandments of God: both academically and how they relate to their particular lives.

Symbol Key Lenten word search for the whole family to enjoy together.

Formation Charity and Service Fills in the holes of faith knowledge that Highlights charity and service opportunities you may have missed growing up and for the family within St. Francis parish highlights what makes Catholics distinct and the greater community.

Prayer and Worship Family (The Domestic Church) Understanding what happens at Mass Incorporating Catholic customs and and incorporating prayer into family life. traditions into family life. 12

Charity and How is the Mass different during Lent? As Jesus relived the life of Israel by Our Lenten Exile Service fulfilling all that Israel had failed to do, During Lent however, our focus is on the the Church lives the life of Jesus in its Kingdom coming, not on the Kingdom having As Lent gets closer and liturgical seasons and the Mass. already come. people are considering their The Church makes changes to the Mass to reflect We are on a spiritual journey toward the Lenten sacrifice, why not the liturgical season. What’s different in the Mass Second Coming and our eternal life in Heaven. start with volunteering at during Lent? The most notable changes are the In order to remind us of that journey, the Hope Diner? What a great way for colors of the priest’s vestments (purple symbolizing Church, during Lent, removes the Alleluia from your family to become involved in a penance) and the absence of the Gloria and the the Mass. Instead, we acknowledge our sins and ministry that helps people in our Alleluia. practice prayer, and almsgiving so that own community. one day we may again have the privilege of The Alleluia What is it? Hope Diner is a sit-down worshiping God alongside the angels. dinner served at the Old Parish Hall every Alleluia is Greek and means "praise Yahweh." The Return of the Gloria and Alleluia at Sunday night. It is open to anyone in the The Alleluia is seen as the highest term of praise community who wants a place to socialize of the choirs of angels as they worship around the throne of God in Heaven. The Alleluia is a That day comes triumphantly on Holy and have a hot meal, but whose income Saturday night during the Easter Vigil when the doesn’t allow this to happen. The meals term of great joy and our use of the Alleluia during Mass is a way of participating with the priest or deacon chants a triple Alleluia before are provided free of charge. Attendance proclaiming the Gospel and everyone responds ranges from 15-30 people each week angels in worship. It is also a reminder that the Kingdom of Heaven is already established on in turn, with a triple Alleluia. 1. The Lord is with a predominately elderly crowd, risen 2. The Kingdom has come and 3. Our though a few families have also attended. earth, in the Church, and that our participation in Mass is participation in the Heavenly liturgy. joy is complete. In communion and in concert What is my commitment? Teams Did you know that we participate in the with the angels and saints, we greet the risen of 6-8 people are assigned a night about Heavenly liturgy right here at St. Francis? Lord with shouts of "Alleluia!" every five weeks. The team is responsible for the planning, shopping, cooking, set-up and clean-up of a meal. The Food A Time of Renewal Bank that operates out of the Old Hall Of all the liturgical seasons, Lent to come to understand the true meaning supplies some of the food, the volunteers seems to be the most unmatched of our Lenten sacrifice. provide the rest (approximately $10 per to the season that it falls in. While team member). Plan on arriving at Reconnect with Baptism. Consider helping 3:00pm and finishing by 7:30pm. the world begins to bloom with your children re-connect with their baptism. new life, we are focusing on Lenten sacrifice and Take out the picture album or videos and show Can my kids help? Yes! This is a honoring the customs of fasting and abstinence. them their baptism. If possible, take them to the great opportunity for kids to learn the Lent seems to be such a somber time that church where they were baptized and introduce value of service. Even though kids are not happens in the happiest of seasons. In preparation them to the priest that baptized them. Reach out allowed to help cook (adult cooks will for Lent this year consider that Lent is a time of to their Godparents and invite them to join you need a food handler’s permit), there is renewal. The observance of our Lenten practice in this experience. Most importantly, explain the plenty for them to do: serve dinner, bus is designed to bring about “true conversion of reason for baptism and why you chose to dedicate tables, and help with set-up and clean-up. our hearts and minds as followers of Christ”. them to Christ. If you need help with this, the For further information, contact Arlene (USCCB) We are called to reflect on our own United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Voelker (503-625-7067) baptism in which we began a new life in Christ. website is an excellent resource: www.usccb.org. A Time of Sacrifice. So how do we Lastly, re-connect to your own baptism. Ask your accomplish this in our families? To start, help parents and Godparents to meet and share with your children understand that what they are you the details of the day you were baptized. If “giving up” for Lent is merely a sacrifice to possible, reach out to the priest that baptized you remind them about the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus and visit the church where the ceremony was held. on the cross. However, Lenten sacrifice doesn’t Talk with your parents about why they chose to have to be giving up a favorite activity (TV, video dedicate you to Christ, and reflect on what you Mission Statement games) or food (dessert, Starbucks). Here are can do to more fully honor their decision. The Strong Catholic Families initiative at additional ways families can honor Lent: St. Francis will provide support to help families pass on Lent is indeed a time of renewal. We are blessed the traditions of the faith and share the love of Christ. • Give time to help someone in need. by the sacrifice of Christ, and each of us can do For more information visit: • Donate part or all of the kids’ allowances to more to honor the Faith that we proclaim. http://www.stfrancissherwood.org/ a homeless shelter. What will you do? (Go to: Faith Formation then Strong Catholic Families) Making a commitment to action in Lent may be a much more fulfilling way for children