December 24, 2006 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 24, 2006 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:1-4a. Bethlehem , birthplace of the Shepherd-King, David, is invoked as a promise of the coming messiah who will take his place as the ideal king.

Psalm of the Day: Ps (79) 80 . This communal lament, at a time of great national suffering, invokes the memories of God's great deeds as the basis for asking God to intervene once more to save “the vine” that is the chosen people.

Hebrews 10:5-10. This passage introduced into Christian thought the idea of a “first” and “second” covenant, the second based in fidelity to God's will, not in strict observance of the Torah. (In fact, “fidelity to God's will” seems to have been Jesus' own interpretation of the First Testament: It is a call to do God's will under all circumstances, with the Torah as the description of the best way to be faithful.)

Luke 1:39-45. Mary's visit to Elizabeth leads to a prophetic statement by the older woman that Mary is the mother of the Lord, the one who believed in the Lord's promise.

Opening: Christ Be Our Light(cc-395)
Psalm: Lord Make us Turn ... (from Lectionary Psalter)
Offertory: Mary's Song(cc-324)
Com 1: This is Jesus(see sheet)
Com 2: O Sanctissima(cc-323)
Closing: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

December 17, 2006 - Third Sunday of Advent

December 17, 2006 - Third Sunday of Advent

http://www.npm.org/Planning/yearc/3sa.html


What does it mean to have a “savior”? What does it mean to be a “savior”? A savior, negatively, is someone who does not do evil things. A savior is someone, positively, who removes evil and replaces it with good.

Zephaniah 3:14-18a. The Jerusalem Temple , in its heyday, was intended to be a sign of a much deeper reality: “The Lord , your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior.” The chosen people are those who are aware of God's presence.

Psalm of the Day: Isaiah 12:2-6 . This poetic canticle from Isaiah is an example of psalm-type compositions in the Bible found in sources other than the Book of Psalms. Here the psalm singer expresses thanksgiving for God's saving presence.

Philippians 4:4-7. Expecting the imminent coming of the Day of the Lord, Paul tells the community at Philippi that their attitude should be one of expectation and rejoicing, not fear at the Lord's coming.

Luke 3:10-18. When people ask John what they should do to prepare for the Day of the Lord, his advice is a mix of negatives (“don't . . .”) and positives (“share . . .”). His expectations of the “one mightier than” himself are similarly a mix of negative (“clear the threshing floor”) and positive (“baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire”) images.

Opening: Let The Valley's Be Raised(CC-218)
Psalm: Cry out with joy and gladness(Rosario)
Offertory: Isaiah 49(CC-403)
Com 1: Behold the lamb(CC-481)
Com 2: On Jordan’s Bank(CC-215)
Closing: Come, O Come Emmanuel(CC-213)

DECEMBER 8, SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Lectionary #689

Today's feast is about the conception of Mary, not about Mary's conception of Jesus. The conception of Mary by Anna as immaculate, that is, as free from original sin, is not taught in the Scriptures; it is a mystery that derives from her future role as the mother of the Lord. It is, in other words, a conclusion derived from the Church's understanding of who Jesus is and Mary's role as Theotokos, Mother of the Lord (see January 1). The readings, therefore, focus on Mary's relationship to Jesus and, indirectly, to the church.

Genesis 3:9-15, 20. The story of the "original sin" was interpreted by the church as suggesting that we are all bound by the failure of our first parents, subject to punishment for their sin. It became church teaching that Mary was freed from this burden by a special gift of God, to prepare her for her mission as the mother of Jesus. The Latin translation of this story gave Eve's name as "Eva," and made it possible for some Latin Christmas carols to pun that "Ave" (the angel's greeting to Mary) "fit ex Eva" ("Ave" was shaped from "Eva.")

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12. Knowing how desperately humans would mess things up by misusing the gift of freedom, God planned to send Christ Jesus and to unite us to Christ. Passages like this led early Christian teachers to conclude that Mary, as part of that plan, would have been prepared by God.

Luke 1:26-38. Earlier (and somewhat inaccurate) translations of this announcement story were used to argue for Mary's freedom from sin. The Latin translations called her "gratia plena," "full of grace," and theologians argued that she could not be "full of grace" if she were subject to original sin. That translation tradition is echoed in the translation we are currently using, but the story, in any translation, certainly makes the point that Mary was a central part of God's plan to save humanity from its sin.

Prelude: Ave Maria(Norbert) (see sheet)
Opening: Save Us, O Lord (CC-339)
Psalm: Ps 98: All The Ends Of The Earth[CC-98]
Offertory: O Sanctissima(cc-323)
Com 1: One Bread, One Body(in spanish and english)(cc-490)
Com 2: I Sing a Maid(see sheet)
Closing: Immaculate Mary(cc-321)

Cantor Schedule (Nov 19th to Dec 25th)

Date	Song	5 mass	8:30 mass	10 mass	Ccm mass
November 19, 2006 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time B	For You Are My God V2,3,4 [CC-425]	Michael	Michael	Tim	Pam
November 26, 2006 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King	Our Lord Jesus Christ(B) (from Lectionary Psalter)	Teri	Silke	Cathy	Kate
December 3, 2006 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT C Lectionary #3	Ps 25: I Lift Up My Soul(cc-16)	Danielle	Michael	Kristina	Sarah
December 9, 2006 – Immaculate Conception(9am mass + 7:30pm mass)	Ps 98: All The Ends Of The Earth[CC-98]		Teri
December 10, 2006 - Second Sunday of Advent	God has done great things for us(from Celebration Series)	Katie	Lisa	Tim	****
December 17, 2006 - Third Sunday of Advent	NEED TO WRITE ONE				****
December 24, 2006 - Fourth Sunday of Advent	Lord Make us Turn ... (from Lectionary Psalter)				****
December 24, 2006 - Vigil of Christmas					****
December 25, 2006 / Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)					****

December 10, 2006 - Second Sunday of Advent

December 10, 2006 - Second Sunday of Advent

Reference material : http://www.npm.org/Planning/yearc/2sa.html

Opening: Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord(see sheet)
Psalm: CS2: God has done great things for us
Offertory: A Voice Cries Out(cc-214)
Com 1: you are my all in all(see sheet)
Com 2: O Come, Divine Messiah(CC-221)
Closing: Let Heaven Rejoice(cc-286)

December 3, 2006 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT C Lectionary #3

December 3, 2006 - FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT C Lectionary #3

Context from http://www.npm.org/Planning/yearc/1sa.html

*** Need to teach MPB the Mass of St. Tim ***
*** LAST CCM MASS ***

Opening: O Come, O Come Emmanuel(CC-213)
Ps: Ps 25: I Lift Up My Soul(cc-16)
Offertory: Hosea(CC-341)
Com 1: Draw Me Close To You(see sheet)
Com 2: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus(cc-216)
Closing: Alleluia! Hurry, The Lord Is Near(cc-223)
Postlude: Rise Up Jerusalem(see sheet)

November 26, 2006 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Jesus Christ is the “faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and ruler of the kings of the earth.”

Daniel 7:13-14. The mysterious image of “one like a Son of man”—probably representing the faithful people of Israel in its original context— was evoked by Jesus to describe his ministry.

Revelation 1:5-8. The author expects Jesus, the faithful witness, to return in victorious triumph, revealing the meaning of the resurrection to all.

John 18:33b-37. In the confrontation between Jesus and Pilate, Pilate learns a new meaning of kingly rule: giving testimony to the truth.


Reading 1 - Dn 7:13-14
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5
Reading II: Rev 1:5-8
Gospel: Jn 18:33b-37

Opening: He Is Exalted(ss1-179)
Psalm: ??????????
Offertory: To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King(cc-310)
Com 1: Crown Him With Many Crowns(cc-309)
Com 2: How Great Is Our God(see sheet)
Closing: Soon and very soon(cc-465)
PostLude: Prince of peace(see sheet)

November 19, 2006 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time B

November 19, 2006 - Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time B

Reading I: Daniel 12:1-3
Responsorial Psalm: 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
Reading II: Hebrews 10:11-14, 18
Gospel: Mark 13:24-32

Michael, protector of the weak, is the model for all public service. We need to put our belief into practice.

Daniel 12:1-3. Even under persecution, the people should continue to hope for deliverance from God. The Archangel Michael was considered the special protector of Israel.

Hebrews 10:11-14, 18. Christ has made the perfect “sin offering.” Where there is complete forgiveness, there is no need for any additional offering.

Mark 13:24-32. Many people in Jesus' time expected an imminent ending of time, or at least a dramatic ending of the “age” in which they were living. Jesus accepts that expectation, but he calls on his disciples to remain faithful to his teaching, which “shall not pass away.”

Prelude/Extra: Breathe On Me (see sheet)
Opening: Let The Fire Fall(see sheet)
Psalm: For You Are My God V2,3,4 [CC-425]
Offertory: Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest[CC-293]
Com 1: O Sacrament Most Holy[cc-362]
Com 2: We Will Rise Again(cc-429)
Closing: Sing a New Song[CC-372]

November 12, 2006 - Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time B

http://liturgy.slu.edu/32OrdB111206/theword_working.html

November 12, 2006 - Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time B


Reading I: 1 Kings 17:10-16
Responsorial Psalm: 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Reading II: Hebrews 9:24-28
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 (long form);
12:41-44 (short form)

Key words and phrases from the Gospel: He . . . observed, rich people, large sums, poor widow, her whole livelihood

To the point: Surprisingly, the "large sums" given by the "rich people" pale in comparison to the widow's far greater gift of "two small coins." She gives her all, "her whole livelihood."

It is not the size of the gift which measures its value but the depth of the self-gift from which it comes. This is the kind of giving of which Jesus takes note.

Connecting the Gospel to the first reading: The gospel widow gives her last coins; Elijah's widow gives her last meal. If Elijah's widow is rewarded with food for a year, imagine how great the gospel widow's reward!
Connecting the Gospel to human experience: A child's handmade birthday card to Mom is as precious to her as Dad's gift of jewelry. It is not the size of the gift which measures its value but the depth of the self-gift from which it comes.

Understanding Scripture:
Selfless giving and giving of self: Apart from the Temple discourse in Mark 13, the episode in this Sunday's gospel is Jesus' last public act before his passion and death.

With the sober reality of the cross looming large, the religious posturing of the scribes in the Temple precincts is especially onerous. Their clothing, seating, public acts of piety, and places of honor keep public attention focused on them.

This is the same posturing and jockeying for position for which Jesus had rebuked James and John (Sunday 29). But the self-seeking of the scribes goes far deeper: Jesus charges that they "devour the houses of widows" (see Isa 3:14).

The exploitation and victimization of widows represents a far more grievous offense than merely seeking honor and prestige. Moreover, these disgraceful acts are hidden behind the "pretext" of "lengthy prayers." Using public piety to mask private corruption will receive a "severe condemnation."

The self-seeking and self-serving deeds of the scribes set up a contrast to the inconspicuous generosity and selfless other-centeredness of the unnoticed widow who acts with genuine piety.

The severity of her poverty may be inferred from her offering: the Greek word translated as "two small coins" refers to the smallest coin in circulation (equivalent to our smallest coin, the penny). These two coins constituted her "whole livelihood." When the text calls her a "poor widow," it is an understatement: she is closer to destitute.

Her poverty is contrasted to the "rich people [who] put in large sums." We may presume that the offerings of the rich were exactly calculated tithes, while the offering of the widow was complete and unstinting she "contributed everything she had."

On the one hand, she is a model of discipleship as she humbly gives what she can. Again, the story of the rich man (Sunday 28) comes to mind: even his desire for eternal life cannot induce him to give up his possessions, while this poor widow gives up "her whole livelihood."

On the other hand, her offering everything she has anticipates the offering Jesus will soon make when he, too, gives his entire life.

Opening: We are called ( CC-511 )
CCM Opening: Come, Now is the time to worship(SS2-383)
Psalm: CC-99: Praise the Lord My Soul
Offertory: give thanks(see sheet)
Com 1: the supper of the lord (cc-486)
Com 2: eye has not seen (cc-439)
Closing: city of god(cc-509)