Reflection Question of the Week
Reflection Question of the Week
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Being Disciples)
September 5, 2010
Reading I: Wisdom 9:13–18b (The Lord’s Intentions)
Reading II: Philemon 1:9–10, 12–17 (Receive Him as a Brother)
Gospel: Luke 14:25–33 (Renouncing Possessions)
Gospel Summary
The people in the large crowd that Jesus addressed in today’s Gospel were deeply committed to loving and honoring their parents. That’s why Jesus’ words must have been shocking to them saying that they must turn from their parents (some translations even say ÒhateÓ). The point Jesus wanted to make was that nothing, not family nor possessions, could interfere with a person’s choice to follow Jesus. Followers of Jesus were to carefully calculate their commitment. Jesus meticulously helped them understand this process by comparing it to a builder who carefully planned out the structure to be built before breaking ground or to a military leader who calculated the size of his army versus the opponent’s. The follower must be willing to pay the price of discipleship before making the choice so that he/she doesn’t quit the commitment. It helps to understand that Jesus was making a point about how committed we should be if we want to follow him. Discipleship is not something we go away by ourselves and do. It’s how we live in our everyday world. It’s how we treat our children, our friends and spouses, coworkers, neighbors, and strangers. When we count the cost of discipleship each morning when we get out of bed, we might consider the challenges we will face with people throughout the day. Even thinking ahead about how we will deal with expected issues or unexpected irritations will help us act like disciples. Asking Jesus to help us throughout the day will remind us that we are not alone!
Adults Reflection Question:
What can I do to recall the good things in my life rather than allow my burdens to paralyze me?
Children Reflection Question:
When I am sad or upset, what good things can I remember to give me hope?
Service: Think of how many blessings you have and pass on some of your possessions to those who do not have your abundant blessings.
Intergenerational Faith Formation calendar
OLW’s Intergenerational Faith Formation Calendar 2010-2011
On Sunday mornings 11:15am – 12:30pm
Preschool through Adult (all parish faith sessions begin in church at 11:15)
Class Locations: Church, Parish Center classrooms, and Administration Building and Garage
Sept.5 no class (Labor Day weekend)
Sept. 12 Start of Intergenerational Faith Formation: adults and children meet in church
Sept. 19 F.F. (Catechetical Sunday, all catechists are recognized at the 9:30 Mass)
Sept. 26 no class
Oct. 3 F.F.
Oct. 10 F.F.
Oct. 17 F.F.
Oct. 24 F.F.
Oct. 31 no class and All Saints Day procession at 4:00 Mass
Nov. 7 F.F.
Nov. 14 F.F.
Nov. 21 no class (Thanksgiving Break Nov. 21-29)
Nov. 28 no class
Dec. 5 F.F.
Dec. 12 F.F. and Our Lady of Guadalupe procession at 9:30 Mass
Dec. 19 no class
Dec. 26 no class (Christmas break Dec. 18–Jan. 3)
Jan. 2 no class
Jan. 9 F.F.
Jan. 16 F.F.
Jan. 23 F.F.
Jan. 30 no class
Feb. 6 F.F.
Feb. 13 F.F.
Feb. 20 F.F.
Feb. 27 no class
March 6 F.F. (Ash Wednesday March 9)
March 13 F.F. and St. Joseph’s Procession at 9:30 Mass
March 20 no class
March 27 no class (Spring Break March 18-27)
April 3 F.F.
Apr. 10 F.F.
Apr. 17 End of Year F.F party for all grades, 11-12:30, Parish Center
Apr. 24 no class (Easter)
May 1 May Day Procession at 9:30 Mass
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Reflection Question of the Week
Reflection Question of the Week
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (The Virtue of Humility)
August 29, 2010
Reading I: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 (Humble Yourself)
Reading II: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a (Approaching Mount Zion)
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14 (The Humbles Will Be Exalted)
Adults: In what ways do I practice the virtue of humility? How might I be more humble in the coming week?
Children: What can I do to make others feel valued and welcome during the coming week?
Service: Spend 15 extra minutes on the readings of humility and how you could take the lowest place.
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Intergenerational Faith Formation
A new vision to Our Lady of the Woods’ Faith Formation:
What is Intergenerational Faith Formation?
IFF is a vision of faith formation that is rooted in the documents of Vatican II. It promotes Faith Formation as lifelong formation through intergenerational learning.
Its components are:
- faith sharing
- reflecting
- service to community.
Each week we will have a reflection question that will be asked in the bulletin, in the homily, and/or at all faith formation sessions. We will share our faith with each other and we will embark on service to our community.
For example:
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time August 22, 2010
(Disciplined Disciples)
Reading I: Isaiah 66:18-21 (Gathering Nations)
Reading II: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13 (The Discipline of the Lord)
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30 (The Narrow Gate)
Reflection Questions:
Adults
How can I enter into a deeper relationship with Jesus?
Children
What does Jesus say about inviting all to be my friend?
Service
Drop off nonperishable food at OLW’s Emergency Food Pantry this week.
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Sunday morning IFF starting September 12th:
Intergenerational Faith Formation will start at 11:15am in the church for all families including, children in grades Preschool through 7th, their parents, Faith Formation teachers, and anyone else who would like to attend.
We will have a 15 minute session together in the church to learn intergenerationally about the gospel readings and then the children will go to their classrooms for grade level Faith Formation until 12:30pm. (Teachers for Preschool through 2nd grade will be in the back of the church with their sign in sheets, so parents can remain in the church.)
Adults are invited to stay in the church for further discussion on the gospel and homily or attend the “A Quick Journey through the Bible” by Ascension Press in the Administration Building living room.
The new later time of IFF on Sunday will allow for social interaction, coffee and donut time, or Knights of Columbus waffle events.
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In response to the question of why we don’t have more for our youth, Our Lady of the Woods has answered that call by putting a youth representative on the Parish Council and with an exciting new Intergenerational event on Wednesday nights.
Wednesday night IFF starting September 15th:
There will be a 5:30 evening Mass ministered by our youth, a light supper, 6:45pm group speaker, and then break-out sessions for different groups from 7pm to 8pm.
Confirmation, RCIA, and high school youth ministry will now be on Wednesday night, in addition to the Wednesday Night Bible Study.
There will be small group breakout sessions for RCIA, RCIC (for the 5-11year olds), adult and teen Confirmation, Youth Ministry, Adult Bible Study, and Adult Catholic life.
Intergenerational Faith Formation will change our whole church as we learn from each other regardless of age. We hope that the change in Faith Formation will allow for formation to continue at home with the weekly reflection questions discussed and lived.
Any questions, please contact Vickie Heffner at 687-9159, ext. 3 or Father Timothy at 687-9345, ext. 2.
Sharing of time, talent, and resources for the good of our church
TELLER COUNTY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
Sharing of time, talent, and resources for the benefit of our Church
Name ______________________________ Phone ______________
The following volunteer positions are needed by our church. Please prayerfully consider helping in one or more areas. Please circle the volunteer positions where you can help this year.
Faith Formation:
Intergenerational speaker – speak on a faith topic to a small or large group of adults and youth on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings. Topics will be provided. One time or several, it is up to you.
Sunday morning Faith Formation Catechist* – Share your faith with the young people of this community. Catechists are needed for Preschool – 7th grade on the first 3 Sundays of the month, September through May, from 11:00a.m. – 12:30p.m. Teacher’s manuals and training are provided. 2 Catechists are needed per grade. Must be 21 to be main catechist. Preferred grade level(s):____________________
Wednesday evening Faith Formation Catechist* – are needed for 8th grade through Adult on the Wednesday evenings of the month, September through May, from 6:30-8:00p.m. Teacher’s manuals and training are provided. 2 Catechists are needed per grade. Must be 21 to be main catechist. Preferred grade level(s):____________________
Substitute Faith Formation Catechist*- Can’t commit to a regular schedule or do you like to be with different ages at different times? We need substitute teachers for all grades. You will be called as opportunities arise and asked if you can teach, no obligation if you are busy. Preferred day and grade level(s):_________
Confirmation Sponsor* – Adults or teens over 16 who have received all 3 Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation ) and are committed Catholics are needed to walk with our Confirmation candidates as sponsors through the year. Requirements include Wednesday night Mass and Faith Formation/Confirmation session, 5:30-8pm.
1st Sacraments Retreat help (First Eucharist/Reconciliation)* – Teens are needed to help with 1st Sacrament retreats.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word Team* – A team is needed to work together to provide Liturgy of the Word once a month during 9:30 Mass. Readers, musicians, and activity planners are needed.
Children’s Christmas Play* - Volunteers are needed to help put together a Christmas Play through directing, music, costuming, cleanup, etc.
Vacation Bible School Team* – Adults or teens are needed to work together on a summer Catholic Vacation Bible School.
Provider of food for special events – Bring food or supplies for the Catechist trainings or the end of the year Faith Formation Appreciation Dinner. Someone will call you to indicate what is needed and when.
Campbell’s Soup Labels, Boxtops, Capri juice boxes, ink jets fundraising help – organize items for shipment. These fundraisers provide additional funds for the Faith Formation and Youth Ministry programs.
RCIA:
RCIA Catechists – Volunteers are needed to teach a section of the RCIA process.
RCIA Sponsors – Walk with a RCIA candidate on their journey to the Faith. Sessions are on Wednesday night.
RCIA Team Leaders – Adults are needed to help organize the RCIA year.
Youth Ministry:
Chaperones* and drivers* and event planners are need for field trips.
Youth Council Members – Young adults are needed to provide peer leadership and direction to our youth activities.
Liturgy:
Ministers - Adults and teens are needed to be lectors, ushers, acolytes, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, Musicians, etc. Please circle what ministry you are interested in and you will be contacted.
Office:
Faith Formation Office Help – Occasional filing.
Parish Office Help – The office receptionists are volunteers who commit themselves to spending a few hours each week assisting with phones, mailings, projects, etc. Flexible hours, babies and children are welcome.
Library Help – volunteers are needed to straighten the library shelves anytime.
Babysitter during special events* – Adults or teens are needed to entertain young children during trainings, adult education opportunities, and other special events. Videos, coloring supplies, games, and other entertainment are available.
Social Justice:
Community Cupboard – We need several people to deliver food collected in our food baskets to Community Cupboard. They are open Mon., Wed., and Fri., 9:30-11:30a.m.
Emergency Food & Firewood Help – We need help running the OLW’s Food pantry on the last Sunday of each month, 11-1pm.
Please turn this into the Faith Formation or Administration offices. Thank you.
* – needs a volunteer application and a background check.
BUDGET for July 2010 through June 2011
Finance Council Report to Parish Sunday June 27, 2010
(Presented by finance council members at all Masses).
My name is ________________, and I am a member of our parish Finance Council. I serve on the Council partly because of my background and experience, but mainly because this community of faith has nourished my own growth in faith. It continues to challenge me to grow in love of neighbor and in stewardship as a way of life for a follower of Christ. In this regard, the Finance Council has just finished preparing the budget for fiscal 2010-11. I believe the budget we have prepared is both realistic and appropriately challenging. A summary sheet of this budget is found in today’s bulletin, and the full detailed budget can be viewed on the parish website. If you wish to have a paper copy of the detailed budget, you can obtain one simply by calling the parish office. What I wish to do in the next four minutes is to highlight the rationale behind the major changes in it.
Again this year, we began our budgeting process by soliciting input from those involved in all our ministries. We asked them to submit both what were the bare essentials needed to accomplish their ministry, and what was needed to grow their ministries in ways God was calling them to grow. In doing this, we believe we were being true to the way the Spirit has moved in our community, especially in the recently completed discernment process. We listened carefully to what the Spirit was telling us through the voices of our fellow parishioners and the voices in our community. What we heard was, first, that we were proud of our roots, our history as a small country parish responding to the needs of a small country town. There are many strong values in this image, which we want and need to preserve. At the same time, we heard a call to begin to re-image ourselves. We are now a mid-size parish in a growing community. Given this new situation we need to define our mission more clearly. We also need to be prudent in going forward, in view of continuing economic uncertainty.
Still, our discernment found some urgent needs which we have to address in order to be faithful to our identity as a Catholic Community of faith. First among these was our comprehensive Faith Formation program. This includes offerings from pre-baptism through Adult Ed. Over the years, more and more responsibilities were added to the job of the Faith Formation Coordinator, without a significant increase in her hours. She has performed her ministry excellently in the midst of great constraints. In order for her to continue to do her ministry with excellence we believe we need to increase her position from part time to full time. This, along with the supplemental equipment and supplies needed for this ministry, accounts for the biggest increase in the budget – an increase of 6% in that area. A second major area of increase was liturgy. Liturgy is the central activity of every Catholic parish. From it all ministry flows, and to it all ministry leads. The budget for this coming year includes line items for new liturgical books and study aids, needed to accommodate the changes in liturgical texts, currently scheduled for publication sometime in the Spring or Fall of 2011. The budget also includes modest increases in stipends for directors of our Music Ministry, and funds for some necessary vestment repair and replacement. Other increases involve mostly cost of living increases.
We are confident that we can both meet this budget, and move forward with funding the phased building additions which our discernment process has also called for. Yes, this will require that we all increase stewardship of all our resources – of our time, talent, and treasure. We sincerely thank all who are currently giving to the support of our parish, and ask them to continue to do so, increasing that giving if possible. We ask all who may not be currently contributing financially to begin prayerfully doing so. We do have reasons to be confident in moving forward. Last year at this time, although required to submit a balanced budget, we basically were facing an $11,000 deficit for this fiscal year. This was approximately 6% of the budget. Through your generosity, even with the hard economic situation of this past year, we will finish this year in the black. The budgeted increase over this year’s actual is only 2.9%. We are also asking the Diocese to help us in this effort to be the parish we are becoming by providing a subsidy – although we cannot be certain of receiving this subsidy. We have come this far by faith, perseverance, and commitment. Let us continue to challenge each other to grow through our love in Christ.
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Discernment to Implementation … Reports, Minutes & Nomination Form
The Discernment Committee, guided by the Holy Spirit, has completed its work.
Below are two documents with the reports
The entire parish community, invited to an All Parish Meeting on June 17, 2010 discussed these recommendations and as an added bonus, met with the new pastor.
The Documents may be opened by clicking on the titles.
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Our Lady of the Woods BUDGET
Our Lady of the Woods BUDGET for Fiscal Year July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.
For a summary of the budget click this link … … … Budget Summary with charts
To view the detailed line item budget click this link … … … OLW 2010-2011 Budget
Finance Council Members: Lorraine Bailey, Johnny Lopez, Terry Lutz, Dale Schnitker, Todd Wiseman. Staff Members: Fr. Don Dilg, Vicki Rector
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5-23-10 Mass – Pentecost
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT OLW
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL AT OLW
For Preschool-6th Grade
Gospel Light’s SonQuest Rainforest Vacation Bible Study
Bible Stories ? Crafts ? SkitsGames ? Songs
TELLER COUNTY CATHOLIC COMMUNITYYOUTH MINISTRY AND FAITH FORMATION
OUR LADY OF THE WOODS 116 S. WEST STREET, PO BOX 5590 WOODLAND PARK COLORADO, 80866
Wednesday August 4, 2010 & Thursday August 5, 2010
8:30 am—2:30 pm
Parents’ Program and Reception Thursday 7:00 pm
All Activities Lower Level of Our Lady of the Woods
Join Our Team
___ Volunteer Adults needed for supervision and lunch preparation
___ Volunteer Teens needed for Teaching, Crafts, and Games
___ Sign-up-sheets in Parish Center on Youth Board or use form below
Please E-mail: JulieTCCC@aol.com or call 687-9159 for questions.
VBS Registration—Cost $20 – Deadline July 1, 2010
Child Name:___________________________Age____
Child Name:___________________________Age____
Child Name:___________________________Age____
Phone Number:_______________________
Email:__________________________________
Parent’s name:__________________________________________
? Volunteer Teen Name:__________________________Hours of availability_____________
? Volunteer Adult Name: ________________________Hours of availability_____________
Drop in designated Box in Parish Center … Mail to OLW … or Drop off at Office … or email to OurLadyWoodsTCCC@aol.com before July 1, 2010
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