October 21, 2018 Parish Office: 2485993 Fax: 3870517 email: [email protected] www.stjohnfairport.org 8 Wickford Way Fairport, New York 14450 OUR PERSONAL POWER In John Milton's classic tale "Paradise Lost", Satan's final throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for time- words to God ring out with his eternal defiance, "I’d rather ly help". Our confident, constant prayer to the Father for a reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." The use of personal true servant's heart will always be generously answered. power to either reign over God or serve under God was the Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to be great among you will be original Sin in God’s universe. Starting with the Angels' your servant." Our ability to show effective, Christlike Rebellion, then the Fall of Adam & Eve and continuing service only comes from “serving under” the Holy Spirit’s today, such an exalted, demonic desire to be as Powerful as Power. "Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the God remains the ultimate temptation. God gave angels and slave of all." Such a high expectation! We can't possibly humans the powerful Gift of free will, and it came with a conjure up that level of selfsacrifice using our own per- choice: Will I use my personal power to serve God…or to sonal power. We must honestly surrender and exchange serve myself? We Christians do not totally reject God as our personal power for God’s Personal Power (aka Holy Satan did, yet we make daily choices to use our personal Spirit). We will always come back to that eternal “power power to either “reign over” God’s Will or “serve under” choice”: to serve God or serve ourselves. Serving God’s God’s Will. Today’s Gospel shows Jesus dealing with His way requires using God's unlimited power; serving our disciples’ personal power struggles. To correctly use our way requires using our limited power supply. We don't personal power, as God intended us, means that we want to have enough personal power to serve others as Christ empower others through our service. We teach, demon- did. He needed the Holy Spirit, and so do we. Only the strate and lead them into discovering and using their own Holy Spirit enables conversions, evangelization, service, Godgiven personal power. Today our Church celebrates redemptive suffering and effective prayers to occur in and World Mission Sunday. Missionaries are fine examples of through us. Our constant and confident prayers to Jesus, using personal power to embrace, enhance and empower our sympathetic High Priest, keep us joyful and powerful, the lives of others for more dignity and for God’s glory. as we dwell in His Spirit, being His servants on this earth. In the Gospel Jesus explains what God’s leader- Have you ever heard, "SoandSo” is a good person, ship power is like. "You know that those who are recog- so he/she will make it to Heaven." NO. No one deserves or nized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and “earns” Heaven by their behavior. Salvation is God’s Gift their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it to sinful humanity. The Father says in Isaiah, "Through His shall not be so among you." God gave both angels and hu- suffering My Servant shall justify many, and their guilt He mans personal power so that they will serve others. Chris- shall bear." James and John demanded a Heavenly Glory tians are to intentionally lead by example; become another without first accepting their surrender of personal power. Christ on earth; be willing to lay down our lives for others; Jesus’ Blood paid for our salvation, but our sanctification reject our need to “reign over” people, and instead we will is going on now. Sanctification requires our exchange of “serve under” the Holy Spirit. Sadly we all know people personal power for God’s Power, in order to love and serve who serve others out of fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, as Jesus did, through the inner work of the Holy Spirit. For pride, obligation, etc. Such a dysfunctional service is not then we will know sanctity and a life of personal Power, how Jesus served, and comes not from the Holy Spirit. gifted to us by the Son of Man, Who is still continuing to God’s Word promises us, "Let us confidently approach the serve us, even from Heaven. Fall Blessings, Barbara Our Church is equipped with hearingloop for hearing aid wearers. Switching your hearing aid to the “TMode” position should allow you to hear the service. All weekend SJR Masses are live streamed on the Internet. Go to www.stjohnfairport.org and click on Live Streaming Weekend Mass. Page Two St. John of Rochester Church, Fairport, New York October 21, 2018 PASTOR: Rev. Peter Clifford: 2485993 x15; SJR DAY OF SERVICE 2018 [email protected] PASTORAL ASSOCIATE: Ms. Barbara Hesenius; 248 5993x12; [email protected] Day of Service 2018 was a big success!! PASTORAL ASSOCIATE FOR WORSHIP: Mrs. Amy Voll: By the numbers…(my best count…) 2485993 x13; [email protected] 23 different service opportunities IN RESIDENCE: Fr. James Boyle, Fr. Alexander Bradshaw 174 volunteers DEACONS: Jim Pegoni, Parish Deacon; Tom Cleary and Dan countless people donated Kinsky, Senior Status N MUSIC: Amy Voll, Choir Director; [email protected] 248 4 years old youngest volunteer 5993; Marko Pranic, Pastoral Musician (Associate Director of 85+Noldest volunteer Music and Organist) & Catechist; [email protected]; 35 cards made for veterans Brad Batz, Liturgical Musician, [email protected] 35 Christmas crafts made for Meals on wheels DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (K7): TBA recipients RELIGIOUS ED SECRETARY: Ms. Eileen Muoio: 248 N 8850; [email protected] 2,600 envelopes stuffed YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTER: Mrs. Pam Sikora; 1,000+ Sharing Tree ornaments made 2485993 x 38; [email protected] 136 Hygiene kits madeMdonated to Catholic Family YOUTH MINISTRY ASSISTANT: Colleen Young: Center, House of Mercy [email protected] N 275 bag lunches made donated to Holy Apostles, FINANCE DIRECTOR: Bridget Nowak: 248 5993 x 36; [email protected] House of Mercy BUSINESS & PROPERTY MANAGER: Patrick Bianchi: 27 shutins visited with a nice plant 2485993 x 19, [email protected] 10 boxes of children’s books donated to Hope Hall OFFICE MANAGER: Kate Wahl: 2485993 x 10; 3 boxes of food donated to Hope Hall [email protected] ; (office) [email protected] 69 packages of cookies donated to Advent House’s WEBMASTER: Marcia Gyles: [email protected] SOCIAL MEDIA: Marko Pranic: [email protected] freezer BAPTISM: Contact Pastoral Associate Barbara Hesenius: 50 cat blankets made and donated to Lollypop Farm 2485993 x 12. View parish website for more information. MATRIMONY: Contact Pastoral Associate Barbara Hesenius A great big thank you and much gratitude 248 5993 x 12. View parish website for more information. to the committee that helped plan and FUNERAL PLANNING: Contact Pastoral Associate Barbara Hesenius: 2485993 x 12; [email protected]. secure service opportunities: PARISH REGISTRATION: Contact Pastoral Associate Christine Colao, Joann Kuhman, Amy Voll at 2485993 x 13 or register online at parish website. Molly Henry and Kathy Cannon. HOME/HOSPITAL VISITS: Contact Pastoral Associate Barbara Hesenius 248 5993 x 12; [email protected] Also, thank you so much SJR staff for all the PASTORAL COUNCIL CHAIR: Jerry Reyes: [email protected], 6831925 support and for putting up with my steady stream FINANCE COUNCIL CHAIR: Jurij Kushner: 2236441, of emailsNespecially Fr. Peter, Amy, Marko, [email protected] Kate, Barb, and Pam. PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL: Open 24 hours. Saturday Children’s Rosary/Adoration Hour at 3:00 PM. But the biggest thankyou goes to the supergenerous Rosary in Church at 9:00 AM on First Saturdays and 4:15 PM each Saturday. Coordinator: Judy ShanahanN4251396 and kind SJR parishioners who donated their time, SAINT’S PLACE: Settles refugee families. Clothing Closet is talent, and treasure to make this day a wonderful in SJR Parish Center. Call Isabel Miller @ 3856860 to success. It was fantastic to see such great work being volunteer. Drop off donations at St. Louis Church. done with such big smiles. In some groups people PRAYER CHAIN: Contact Marie Kushner: came in as strangers and left as friends. This is what [email protected] PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday: 8:30am to it’s all about! Thank you! Noon & 1:00M4:30pm. CONFESSIONS: Saturday 4:004:45 PM (before 5:00 Mass) WEDDING BANNS SUNDAY MASSES: Saturday at 5:00 PM, and Sunday at N 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 AM and Noon. I Justin Letendre Raphaella D’Alonzo We Are A “Stephen Ministry” Parish Grieving? Chronic illness? Family stress? Call for a Stephen Minister at 2485993 x 16. We are trained to care for you in all situations. Page Three St. John of Rochester Church, Fairport, New York October 21, 2018 STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER “Christ caring for others...through others.” We all go through tough times in life. Times that seem turbulent and unsettling. In Congratulaons to 500 Club winners: the midst of these challenging seasons, it can be Mike Johnson and Fred Conway who each won $75. extremely helpful to have someone come alongside Tickets can sll be purchased for $20 N us to give understanding and encouragement to in the parish office from Kate during the week. provide stability, hope, and Biblical principles to help Every Ticket is eligible for Every Drawing! us through the storm. That’s what a Stephen Minister is able to provide: Weekly and Monthly Winners, plus 2 Grand Prizes a listening ear, a supportive perspective, and God’s of $500 (to be drawn at parish breakfast Word to help us through the challenges of life.