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Matthew 17: 1-9
O Christ,
give us a glimpse. Let us
find you shining like the sun
in the sliver of the moon,
in migrating geese, in
the evening sky,
the spider's
web;
workers, coffee growers,
crossing-guards,
all homeless
people.
Let no one and no place
ever be hidden from
the glow of your
Godly, earthly
presence.
Let us find your glory
in all things.
The Sunday website of St. Louis University
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IW Emergency Overnight Shelter: Needed now.
Focus on coffee and blankets! Bring to Church on Sunday and we will see that they get it.
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Ministry opportunity
Come to mass early and help out!
Each Sunday the Sacred Space needs to be set up for mass.
Come at 9:30 am. It isn't hard, so come give it a try.
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Read the Pope's Encyclical Laudato Si
On Care for our
Common Home
HERE
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Remember to view videos of the Synod on our website and on our Facebook Page.
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Remember to bring something for the food bank!
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Please know that you can email us your Prayer Requests.
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Mass at 10:30 am on Sundays.
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Contemplative Prayer and Scripture Study
Mondays at Noon in the First Christian Church library. Meeting every week alternating each week with Contemplative Prayer and Scripture study.
Recommended books:
Open Mind, Open Heart: a Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel by Rev. Thomas Keating. Prayer: Our Deepest Longing by Rev. Ronald Rolheiser. For more information contact Fr. David. |
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Emmaus ECC
Celebrating God's wonderful Diversity
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Interfaith Works
Needed...
The Emergency Overnight Shelter located here at First Christian Church needs the following items:
- Blankets
- Socks
- Gloves and hats
- Hand warmers
- Coffee and creamer
- Plates, bowls, sliverwar
Contact Meg Martin by email:
[email protected] or call: 360-357-7224.
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Good Shepherd Community of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion
Mass time is 3:00 pm
Sundays.
In Tacoma WA
Christ Episcopal Church 310 North K street
In the parish library
Contact Father David.
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Contact Br. Elijah
The community has recently named itself The Serenity of Sts. Francis and Clair.
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Rejoice: The heater in the Sacred Space is working again!
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Yes! It is time to set all your clocks ahead an hour so you will not be late for mass!
Remember, you can help set up our environment if you come to Church early. Set up begins at 9:30 am.
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion and Lent
While the ECC doesn't prescribe any particular practices for Lent, it is understood that all of us will find a way to honor the basic principles of fasting, prayer, and alms giving. For example, you might continue the practice of not eating meat on Fridays, add some kind of additional prayer into your daily routine, and give more generously to those who need our help -- for example the food bank, and the over night shelter. Pope Francis recently advised us to give without any concern as to how the person receiving our gift will use it. Something to ponder.
Overnight Shelter: Our focus is on coffee and blankets this month.
Rite of Welcome. We will celebrate a Rite of Welcome at Mass this Sunday. This Rite welcomes to our community those who are preparing for baptism on Easter. We will welcome Kate this Sunday.
RISE UP: Connie has suggested that some of us may want to sign up for free Daily Reflections from the Ignatian Solidarity Network. This could be the way you add more prayer to your lent. You can find out more about these reflections, and sign up
HERE. I have subscribed and am finding these reflections useful.
Matthew Fox Mystic Weekend: Matthew Fox is coming to Tacoma! Find out more about this event
HERE. The dates for this event are March 31 - April 1.
Triduum: April 13-15. Mark your calendars for this three day feast. We will celebrate Holy Thursday at the home of John and Jai Tanner, gathering at 6:30 pm, and beginning with a pot luck feast to celebrate the end of the season of Lent. Good Friday will be in the Sacred Space at 7:00 pm. We will celebrate the Easter Vigil and Easter mass on Saturday, also at 7:00 pm.
Note: Invitations for Holy Thursday will be given out at mass with directions to the Tanner home. You can be included in this event by emailing me
HERE. This is not a closed event by any means, but we do need a way to know who is coming. All are welcome.
Easter Candle decorating will happen after mass on Palm Sunday, April 9th. It is time to start looking for craft ideas for our candle, especially for crosses.
Seeking Light in the Darkness at Emmaus ECC
We affirm the dignity of all human persons regardless of economic status, race, national origin, religious affiliation, gender, or sexual orientation. All are welcome.
We invite you to join us in our mission, as we need you more today than ever before.
Invite someone to come to mass with you!
There are many people who used to be Catholic, or belonged to another Christian Church, but don't go to Church any more. Often the only thing they are waiting for is an invitation. Take a chance and be the one who invites them to join you at mass. If you've been away from us for a while, come back, we need you.
If you or someone you know is looking for a wonderful way to be Catholic, you can find an authentic Catholicism at Emmaus ECC. We are
a Catholic community that is welcoming of all. We do our best to follow the teaching and example of Jesus, and welcome everyone into our community, and to our table -- regardless of their race, gender, marital status or sexual orientation. Following the example of Jesus, we believe that everyone is the beloved daughter or son of God, and welcome at the table of the Christ, no exceptions. No kidding!
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Second Sunday of our Lenten Retreat
Be Affirmed in God's Love
We are in the second week of our Lenten retreat. Remember, we are on a Vision Quest with God, just like Moses, like Elijah and like Jesus who was 40 days in the wilderness. We are called like Sarah and Abraham to leave - to come out of the culture, society and ways of the world - and journey to a new realm where God will establish a new way for us. Like Sarah and Abraham we are asked to trust God's dream for us. Before the beginning of time God has had a dream for us, and for all of Creation. The dream - the vision - has been revealed to us through Christ Jesus, who calls us back to our original purpose.
The days are getting brighter as we head into the season of spring, and this fits the mood of Lent. In fact the name "Lent" was simply a word that meant spring. Spring is all about new life, and you can't hold back the spring. New life constantly finds a way, even in those places where the snow has stayed much too long... spring will come.
But new life does not come without struggle. Even the plants struggle in so many ways, first having to work their way out of husks, then struggle up out of the soil into the light. Little birds peck and push their way out of their shells. And let's not even get into the whole birthing process for mammals.
New life in the form of change also comes with struggle, pain, and suffering. Jesus knew full well that the new life he was bringing to the world could only come through struggle, pain, and suffering. Just prior to this Gospel he told his disciples that he was destined to suffer and be put to death. He was tempted by Peter to turn back, to find a way that didn't involve any suffering.
In today's Gospel we discover what it is that helped Jesus keep going, even when everything begins to go wrong, and all the criticism starts. He was able to stay true to the vision he had received on his 40 day wilderness retreat. He would have the strength to turn his face toward Jerusalem, and face what must be faced. This moment of glory on the mountain top comes at just the right time.
God and Jesus share a brief moment, a brief experience -- a vision of how things really are. There is another dimension where Jesus belongs, where he is held in love and glory. Here he can converse with Moses, the one who represents the Law, and with Elijah, the one who represents the prophets, and have his mission affirmed once more. He will be able to take this bright moment of glory and renewed vision with him as he goes forward with his ministry.
We too need to open ourselves up to experience the love and glory of God, and to be affirmed in our ministry as the Body of Christ. The disciples witnessed Jesus for that precious moment when he was in complete union with God - the divinity in oneness with humanity. They would need that vision when Jesus was arrested and put to death.
Lent is the time to listen to Christ Jesus, but often we would rather be like Peter and stop on the mountain top of glory. We don't want to listen to Christ, and follow him into the struggle of bringing new life; the struggle of overcoming the darkness with the light.
Abraham and Sarah were already old when God called them to go on a journey into the unknown. They spent their whole lives on this journey, and were threatened with failure over and over again, but they persisted in hope. They were willing to break their bonds with a familiar but static past and open themselves up to the future.
We too are on a journey. There is always a further call from God as long as we are still travelling this earth. We find our mountain top experiences in our Eucharistic celebrations, for here we encounter the Risen Christ in body and blood. The mass prepares us for the ministry of changing our world, and so we are sent out to love and serve our God.
Mother Kedda
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I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.
~Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.~
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The Ecumenical Catholic Communion
 From Our Presiding Bishop: Listen to our bishop's Lenten Message HERE.
Your brother,
+Francis
Presiding Bishop
Ecumenical Catholic Communion
ECC: A wonderful way of being Catholic!
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Schedule:
Contemplative Prayer/Scripture study:
Mondays at Noon in Church library.
Palm Sunday: April 9th. Easter Candle decorating after mass.
Holy Triduum begins on April 13th with Holy Thursday. Easter is on April 16th.
Holy Thursday: 6:30 pm at John and Jai's house. Bring something to share for our feast.
Good Friday: 7:00 pm
Easter Vigil: 7:00 pm
Pentecost: June 4th
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| Regional ECC Meeting
The Ecumenical Catholic Communion has several regions. We are located in the Pacific Northwest Region (Washington, Oregon and Idaho). Bishop Thomas Altepeter is our Vicar. The plan is to have a phone conference on every 4th Wednesday.
We need more lay representatives at these meetings!
For years the laity have complained that they have no voice in the Church. Well, you are invited and encouraged to attend these meetings. In order to encourage more participation we have our meetings by phone.
Let Mother Kedda know if you are interested in being on the call.
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| Interfaith Works
Volunteer Opportunities: Would you be willing to volunteer, or to recruit a volunteer, to help with Interfaith Works programs? IW office staff is ready to offer all kinds of support services to volunteers. To get involved, or to request information about any program, please call 357-7224, 9:00am to 2:00pm Monday through Thursday.
Go
HERE to read more about Interfaith Works, and all their programs.
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NOTICE
The Sacraments of Marriage, Reconciliation and Anointing, are available upon request. Preparation is required for Baptisms -- for parents when children to be baptized are below age seven; for those over age seven, our community supports the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Our priests are also happy to meet with you individually, and confidentially, to discuss any spiritual or pastoral concerns you may have.
Email: Mother Kedda
We Support Marriage Equality
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