CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER; SOME SIMPLE IDEAS ON HOW TO GET STARTED

 

Meditation for the Common Good

Taken from Richard Rohr's Newsletter from the Center for Action and Contemplation 

Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service, is a leader of the “Nuns on the Bus” who advocate for fair and generous federal budgeting, particularly for those on the margins. She is also vocal about her need for a daily contemplative practice of meditation to balance her action on behalf of the common good. She offers some simple instructions:  

In meditation, making space for physical silence is only one part of the experience. It is also important to quiet the body. In an erect posture, I can sit in stillness for long periods. If you are tempted to fidget, take a deep breath and do not give into the urge. Sometimes (or often) I get concerned that my timer has stopped, and I want to check it. When I feel this urge, I take a deep breath and restate my desire to be open to the Divine in all things . . . even the distractions!

Sit straight so that you can breathe deeply. A key to doing this is sitting so that your knees are a bit lower than your hips. Try to imagine a string pulling at the crown of your head that gets your head, shoulders, and lower back in line. Your lower back should tilt in a little to give you the balance of an “S” curve. This is the balance you need for stillness. Take a deep breath. And, as you breathe out, set your desire on being silent and open to the Divine. Sometimes, I just say that I am hungry for an awareness of the sacred.

After focusing on becoming present, I try to be open and listen through my body to the Divine. Sometimes, it is good to have a word or mantra to use as I breathe. It gives my mind a focus while I try to be open. This mantra can be an expression of desire or spiritual openness. Trust what comes to mind and breathe with the word(s). . . .

Do not expect fireworks in this form of meditation. Most days are very quiet. Every now and then there might be some insight or awareness that is important and sets a direction. However, know that the consistent practice brings a profound openness to others and a willingness to risk for the common good.

We invite you to participate in some form of contemplative practice today, setting the intention of “openness to others and a willingness to risk for the common good.” 

FELLOWSHIP DATE FOR NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 20TH "EVERYTHING PUMPKIN"

 

HOSPITALITY / FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER:: THEME IS “EVERYTHING PUMPKIN “

WE WILL GATHER AFTER MASS ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20^TH

 

PLEASE LET ALICE JO OR JANE KNOW  WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE

 

Pumpkin Facts:

·         Pumpkins are usually orange but can sometimes be yellow, white, green or red.

• The name pumpkin comes from the Greek word ‘pepon’, meaning ‘large melon’.
• Pumpkins have thick shells which contain pulp and seeds.
• Scientifically speaking, pumpkins are a fruit (they contain seeds) but when it comes to cooking, they are often referred to as vegetables.
• Pumpkins are usually shaped like a sphere (ball).
• They vary in weight but an average sized pumpkin might weigh around 13 pounds (6 kilograms).
• Giant pumpkins can be grown for competitions, with some weighing over 1000 pounds! (450 kilograms). In 2010, the world record was 1810 pounds! That’s huge!!
• Pumpkin plants feature both male and female flowers, with bees typically being involved in pollination (the transfer of pollen).
• Over 1 billion pounds (450 million kgs) of pumpkin are produced in the US every year.
• As a food, pumpkin can be baked, roasted, steamed or boiled.
• Pumpkin soup is popular, as are roasted pumpkin seeds.
• Pumpkin pie is a sweet dessert that originates in North America and is traditionally eaten during harvest time and holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

ST JOHN'S FOOD BAGS FOR LINTHICUM ELEMENTARY

 

Since school starts August 29–31 with Staggered Openings for ECI, PreK, and Kindergarten and August 3 for grades 1–12 we will begin to restock our pantry to provide weekend food bags for Linthicum Elementary. The guidance counselor needs time to determine the students needing the most help. We usually start delivery about 2 weeks after school begins. Below is a total list of food items we collect to fill the bags. Any food items as well as monetary donations to Weekend Food Bags is greatly appreciated. We thank you for all the support the congregation has given this ministry over the years and our students and staff at Linthicum Elementary appreciate any help that we have provided.    Food items can be left in the Outreach Room on the table facing the shelves with the bins on Sundays. Anyone anyone interested in joining our team on 2 Tuesday mornings a month to sort, pack, and help deliver are welcomed! The members of the team are Pam Weammert (410-766-4208), Cheryl Barrett (443-831-9897), Linda Hill ( 410-562-0897),Sharon Honts, and Amy Everhart (410-859-5314) .  You can ask any of us for information or let the office know you are interested so we can contact you

 FOOD BAGS SHOPPING LIST 

• Individual boxes of raisins
• Fruit cups
• Applesauce cups
• Spaghetti Sauce packets
• Knoor's packets - both rice and pasta sides
• Vienna sausages
• Ramen noodles
• 6 oz. Cans tomato paste
• 3x5" box Hormel pepperoni
• Vegetable cups
• 16oz jars of peanut butter
• Individual packets of oatmeal
• Pudding cups
• Zatarains or Rice a Roni box of Rice and Beans, Gumbo, or Jambalaya
• Boxes of pasta
• Individual cups or boxes of cereal
• Packets of Cocoa mix
• Pudding cups
• Large and small cans light tuna
• Large and small cans chicken breast
• Cups of mac n' cheese
• Boxes of Mac n' Cheese
• Cans of Beanie Weanies
• Cups or cans of Chef BoyArdee or Spaghetti O's (with meat)
• Snacks - peanut butter crackers, cheese crackers, granola bars, popcorn, fruit snacks, and other snacks that are individually packaged

MEETING GOD IN PRAYER FROM THE CENTER FOR ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION

 

                                                                                                                                                                 Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of enjoying the Presence. 

                                                                                                              

  Prayer is not primarily something we are doing to God, something we are giving to God but what God is doing for us. And what God is doing for us is giving the divine Self in love. 

                                                                                                                                                                  Quiet, contemplative prayer happens when we are still and open ourselves to Christ’s Spirit working secretly in us, when we heed the psalmist’s plea: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). These are times when we trustingly sink into God’s formless hands for cleansing, illumination, and communion. 

 

  In prayer, we know we’re not being manipulated, we’re not being used, we’re not being judged, we’re not being evaluated. Who wouldn’t want to go there? It’s the place of ultimate freedom.    

                                                                                                                                                                            We can imagine God as our intimate friend, with whom we share everything. We can talk to the Divine about our needs, complaints, and difficulties. We can ask for advice, offer thanksgiving, and make acts of faith or reparation for our sins. We can seek guidance for our children, or shed tears about illness and death.

 

  Prayer is the longing of the human heart for God. It is a yearning and desire for relationship with God, and it is God’s attention to our desire: God-in-communion with us.

Excerpted from the Center for Action And Contemplation

WINTER RELIEF AT ST CHRISTOPHERS FOR 2022

 

WINTER RELIEF AT ST. CHRISTOPHERS

 

St. Christophers will be hosting a mixed gender group of 20 people for Winter Relief from  Monday December 5^th thru  Monday December 12^th.  We have volunteered to help with staffing and providing dinner  for Monday December 5^th (Dinner and Snack) . And providing lunch for distribution on Tuesday the 6th. 

 What can you do to help ?

# 1. We will assemble lunches for 20 people on Sunday December 4th. This will be done after mass on Sunday.  These will be distributed on Tuesday December 6th

# 2. We need 4 people to help serve the dinner.  Totally optional to “ hang out “ afterwards from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the 5^th. Also assist in dinner clean up and help with "snacks" in the evening. 

#3. We need  people to prepare dinner casseroles that will serve 10 people each.  They would need to be delivered on the “day of ” the event on December 5^th. Included with the meal would be a Salad, Garlic Bread and some type of dessert.

 

Sunday Livestream for Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024

Please see below for all of the necessary information.

Click here the view the readings.  

Click here for the hymns

Click here for the livestream of our liturgy on Facebook