Armed Forces Prayer Book

Our Armed Forces Prayer Book is now located in the greeting area at the front entrance of church. If you have a member of your family, or extended family, that is serving in the Armed Forces, you are invited to bring a picture of that person and put it in the prayer book, or to simply write in their name. Our parish is praying in a special way for them.

Weekend Scripture Helps

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23
Ecclesiates is one of the seven books in the Old Testament referred to as Wisdom books. Wisdom literature reflects on how to live in this world in a way that is pleasing to God. The author of this book calls himself Qoheleth, a term that perhaps means "teacher." Qoheleth has a pessimistic view of life, in part because he doesn't believe in life after death. The wisdom he teaches is that one should not be burdened by anxieties, but rather live each day as a gift from God.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11
In our previous readings from Colossians, we have seen how Christ is the only mediator between God and the world, and how our baptism has made us one with Christ. The author will today remind us of the heights to which Christ has raised us, and then call upon us to live up to this.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
Today's passage from Genesis is another episode from the life of Abraham, our father in faith. He lived near Sodom, a city notorious for its wickedness. In this passage, Abraham employs the Middle-Eastern technique of bartering to negotiate with God over the future of that city.

Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14
Today we continue our series of four readings from the letter to the Colossians. We have seen how this letter emphasizes Christ as the sole mediator between God and all creation. Today's passage speaks of how we become one with Christ.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10
Chapters 12-25 of Genesis contain narratives about Abraham and Sarah, our father and mother in faith. Today the couple is visited by mysterious messengers from God. With customary Middle-Eastern hospitality, Abraham and Sarah lavishly welcome and feed the visitors who, in turn, promise something wonderful.

Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28
The letter to the Colossians was written around 80 A.D. to Christians who lived at Colossae, a city in what is today Turkey. A major emphasis of this letter is that Christ is the source of every grace and blessing that come to human beings.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14
The events in this reading take place as the Israelites are camped on the shore of the Jordan River, ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses makes it clear to the people that they are expected to remain faithful to the Lord after they have settled in their new land.

Second Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Today and for three more Sundays, the second reading will be from the letter to the Colossians. This letter responds to a widespread belief that God ruled the world through the mediation of angels who were given their own powers. The author quotes an early Christian hymn that emphasizes that jesus is the one and only mediator

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14
The last part of the book of Isaiah contains the words of a prophet who lived after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. In today's reading (which is a poem), the prophet sees a bright future for Jerusalem, and uses the image of
God as a mother.

Second Reading: Galatians 6:14:18
In Galatia, a group of Christians attacked Paul's credentials as an apostle and accused him of false teaching because he said people can be saved without abiding by the Jewish law. In this passage from the end of his letter to the Galatians, Paul defends his right to teach, and stresses that faith in the law has been replaced by faith in Jesus.