Brothers and Sisters: God commands us through Jesus Christ to love one another. In baptism, we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace, and respect the dignity of every human being.” Let us now honor those vows and pray that our hearts be opened so that we can experience the love that is present in all we meet today.
We pray for continued blessings on all peacemakers, on leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and warfare here and around the world.
God of peace and gentleness,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the strength of heart and mind to look beyond ourselves and address the needs of our brothers and sisters throughout the world; for the rural and urban poor; for the rebuilding of our communities; and for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten our future.
God of generosity and compassion,
Hear our prayer.
We pray that the Holy Spirit may embrace the most vulnerable members of our society; we pray also for an end to the growing disparity between the rich and poor; and for the grace and courage to strive for economic justice.
God of all gifts and blessings,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for an end to prejudice throughout our country and the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and that racism, sexism, and all other forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our society, and our laws.
God of fellowship and equality,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all prisoners and captives; that a spirit of forgiveness may replace vengeance and retribution; and that we, with all the destitute, lonely, and oppressed, may be restored to the fullness of God’s grace.
God of absolution and mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all children and families, and particularly for the orphaned, neglected, abused, and those who live in fear of violence or disease; that they may be relieved and protected.
God of children and families,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the reconciliation of all people, and for the Church throughout the world, that it may be an instrument of your healing love.
God of outreach and restoration,
Hear our prayer.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear what we ask in the name of your Son. Watch over your people now, guide us in the way of peace and make your ways known among all people. With the intercession of our Most Blessed Mother Mary, all the Saints, and through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
AMEN.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Eagar Grandpa
A big welcome to the newest member of the Joyful Servants family, and congratulations to the proud grandparents Deacon Henry & Donna!
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| Deacon Henry Eagar with his grandson Max... so precious! |
Saturday, November 23, 2013
It's a Power Sherg!
October 26, 2013 will be a day I will never forget.
The journey to ordination has been filled with so many gifts, new experiences, challenges and a bond with brothers and sisters in Christ that can never be broken. People have said to us that the formation process just flew by…….ah, no it didn’t. It was a long and tedious 5 years and sometimes we both really felt like giving up. However, these moments gave us a chance to truly rely on the power of prayer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit and helped form us in to the Diaconate couple that we have become!!
So ordination day was one of the best days of our lives next to our marriage and the birth of our children.
For us the day started early…….5:30 am. Our excitement just could not be contained. We felt like we were floating……..coffee, showers, make up, hair stylist arriving at 7am, getting the kids up and ready, basically 5 adults all dressing to the nines in new suits, dresses and shoes and piling into 3 cars and off we went to St. Columban’s……I will never forget the feeling of coming into the back of the church and the trumpets welcoming us …….both Nick and I looked at each other, eyes filled with tears, thanking God and overwhelmed we were really here!! The mass was glorious……the music, the tradition, the men humbling themselves prostrate to the Bishop, flower and certificate presentation to the wives……awe…the God moments….how blessed were we that our St Martin’s friends sat in the section where at communion they could receive from our former Pastor and friend, Fr. Joe Knerr and Deacon Nick!! Our day was complete at our reception. The room was filled with so much love and friendship……our cup runnith over…….exchanging our Deacon and Deacon wife rings and receiving the blessing from our Pastor Fr. Sy, relishing in the toast and blessing from Deacon Nick and honoring the people we love and who love us the most, truly made this a day we will never forget. God has truly blessed us and for this we will be eternally grateful and will spend the rest of our lives serving Him who has blessed us beyond our dreams!! God is so good…….
The journey to ordination has been filled with so many gifts, new experiences, challenges and a bond with brothers and sisters in Christ that can never be broken. People have said to us that the formation process just flew by…….ah, no it didn’t. It was a long and tedious 5 years and sometimes we both really felt like giving up. However, these moments gave us a chance to truly rely on the power of prayer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit and helped form us in to the Diaconate couple that we have become!!
So ordination day was one of the best days of our lives next to our marriage and the birth of our children.
For us the day started early…….5:30 am. Our excitement just could not be contained. We felt like we were floating……..coffee, showers, make up, hair stylist arriving at 7am, getting the kids up and ready, basically 5 adults all dressing to the nines in new suits, dresses and shoes and piling into 3 cars and off we went to St. Columban’s……I will never forget the feeling of coming into the back of the church and the trumpets welcoming us …….both Nick and I looked at each other, eyes filled with tears, thanking God and overwhelmed we were really here!! The mass was glorious……the music, the tradition, the men humbling themselves prostrate to the Bishop, flower and certificate presentation to the wives……awe…the God moments….how blessed were we that our St Martin’s friends sat in the section where at communion they could receive from our former Pastor and friend, Fr. Joe Knerr and Deacon Nick!! Our day was complete at our reception. The room was filled with so much love and friendship……our cup runnith over…….exchanging our Deacon and Deacon wife rings and receiving the blessing from our Pastor Fr. Sy, relishing in the toast and blessing from Deacon Nick and honoring the people we love and who love us the most, truly made this a day we will never forget. God has truly blessed us and for this we will be eternally grateful and will spend the rest of our lives serving Him who has blessed us beyond our dreams!! God is so good…….
- Taken from Lisa Sherg's facebook post
Friday, November 15, 2013
First Things
It's been more than a couple of weeks since the ordination, and I still have this surreal feeling of "I can't believe I'm a Deacon!" So, to convince myself that I am now an ordained minister of God, I am recording a list of firsts for posterity:
1st Mass - 10/26/2013 at 5 p.m. at St. Anne with my spiritual father, Fr. Bob. Fr. Bob knew that I'd get choked up with emotion and so, he was kind enough to take over the homily, but I ended up shedding tears anyway.
1st Mass with Bishop Vann - 10/27/2013 10 a.m. - No major blunder. Bishop Vann gave me this advice: "Yes, dear", "Yes, Monsignor", and "Yes, Bishop", I'll do just fine if I say those words to the right people.
...and I can't believe I don't have any picture from this mass!
1st Homily - 10/28/2013 9 a.m. - I told Fr. Bob that since it was the feast day of Sts. Simon and Jude, I thought it was appropriate that I should lay my life down after I preach and teach, just like Sts. Simon and Jude. No such luck, as you can see, I'm still alive to write the events down.
1st Exposition and Benediction of Blessed Sacrament - 11/1/2013 8 a.m. - I have no words to describe the experience of lifting up the Blessed Sacrament and showing it to the congregation. Just Awesome.
1st Baptism - 11/2/2013 11 a.m. - Perhaps I've found my true calling? It was so amazing to be the one to welcome little Davis into the community of believers. God is good, I know, all the time, yes, God is good.
1st Mass - 10/26/2013 at 5 p.m. at St. Anne with my spiritual father, Fr. Bob. Fr. Bob knew that I'd get choked up with emotion and so, he was kind enough to take over the homily, but I ended up shedding tears anyway.
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| Fr. Bob looks on as I deliver my first penitential rite |
1st Mass with Bishop Vann - 10/27/2013 10 a.m. - No major blunder. Bishop Vann gave me this advice: "Yes, dear", "Yes, Monsignor", and "Yes, Bishop", I'll do just fine if I say those words to the right people.
...and I can't believe I don't have any picture from this mass!
1st Homily - 10/28/2013 9 a.m. - I told Fr. Bob that since it was the feast day of Sts. Simon and Jude, I thought it was appropriate that I should lay my life down after I preach and teach, just like Sts. Simon and Jude. No such luck, as you can see, I'm still alive to write the events down.
1st Exposition and Benediction of Blessed Sacrament - 11/1/2013 8 a.m. - I have no words to describe the experience of lifting up the Blessed Sacrament and showing it to the congregation. Just Awesome.
1st Baptism - 11/2/2013 11 a.m. - Perhaps I've found my true calling? It was so amazing to be the one to welcome little Davis into the community of believers. God is good, I know, all the time, yes, God is good.
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| Let the Children come to Me... and watch in amazement! |
Thursday, October 31, 2013
With The Help of God
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| Joyful Servants |
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| Joyful Servant Deacons and Wives with Bishop Vann and Bishop Brown |
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Oregon excursion
No, I haven't stop the novena. I just got back from a quick trip to Portland, Oregon with Loni visiting some old friends. My quick trip mentality somehow did not include a cord to power my laptop! So, with divine providence, I was taken away from my "internet world" and was blessed with an amazing time out with God's creations.
I will be posting Day 3, 4, and 5, as soon as I can get my self reoriented with the "always connected" world. It's a strange feeling to be gone for just a few days and finding myself with a new perspective on life. I hope to share thoughts on this in a near future post.
I will be posting Day 3, 4, and 5, as soon as I can get my self reoriented with the "always connected" world. It's a strange feeling to be gone for just a few days and finding myself with a new perspective on life. I hope to share thoughts on this in a near future post.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Novena to Deacon Saints, Day 2: St. Francis of Asissi
Since we visited Catholic Charities of Orange County last night, and Joe S. made the suggestion, I thought our Day 2 should focus on the deacon saint most exemplified the spirit of love for all creations, St. Francis of Assisi. Much have been written on St. Francis, and it would be a disservice for me to try and duplicate those efforts. Having noted that, I hope that you will join with me in lifting up our intention for a most blessed ordination and a lifetime of service to all, by the intercession of St. Francis, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
O Divine Master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled
As to console;
To be understood,
As to understand;
For it is in giving that we
Receive, it is in pardoning that
We are pardoned.
And it is in Dying that we are
Born to Eternal life.
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| St. Francis of Assisi, by Deacon Lawrence Klimecki The Book of Saints |
A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Lord, make me an instrument of peace
Where there is hatred,Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
Where there is hatred,Let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled
As to console;
To be understood,
As to understand;
For it is in giving that we
Receive, it is in pardoning that
We are pardoned.
And it is in Dying that we are
Born to Eternal life.
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