PONDERING
Three years age we began picking a yearly parish theme that would help us as a parish grow together in our faith. Since there are four steps to the development of the spirituality of Stewardship we began focusing on those steps. To refresh your memory those steps are 1) to receive God’s gifts gratefully; 2) to develop them responsibly; 3) to share them lovingly in justice with others; 4) to make a return with increase to God.
Everyone loved step one. At all of our meetings
we invited people to share a gift they had received for which they were grateful.
Step one went very smoothly. Step two was a bit more challenging but after a
while people seemed to be able to discuss how they were trying to make progress
by being more forgiving, more understanding, more focused or less judgmental.
We are only a few weeks into step three – to
share our gifts lovingly in justice with others – but people seem to be having
trouble understanding what it means. The word that seems to be the sticking
point is “justice.” I am going to put on my teaching hat and see if I can clear
up some of the confusion that folks seem to be having.
Some sharing comes easily; some comes with difficulty.
It is often easy, but nevertheless challenging, to share time, talent and
treasure with family and friends. It is less easy and very challenging to share
time, talent and treasure with those people who fall outside our inner circle
of family and friends. We drive children to their practices and extra
curricular activities. We make sacrifices to make sure that our children have
nice clothes and plenty of school supplies. All of this is sharing but it may
not entail sharing in justice. The justice angle invites us to find time to
help with scout troops or soccer teams. Justice invites us to consider becoming
more active, perhaps in Big Brother or Big Sister programs. Justice might
require or invite us to make pizza rather than order it and then explain to
your children that by making the pizza the family saves “x” number of dollars, and now we as a family can decide where we can give
that money to help out those less fortunate. Justice reminds us that there is a
difference between playing in a band for money and playing music at a nursing
home to brighten the residents’ day.
In closing, let me just point out that
there is a difference between charity and justice. Charity is when we give
because we feel sorry for others. Justice is when we give because of the
dignity of the person. Charity is in some way optional; justice is not.
Throughout the coming year, I hope that
all of our families will include in their evening prayers, and/or their grace
before meals, some time to reflect of the quality of their sharing and the
virtue of justice. If you have a family experience that you wish to share just
email me and I will be glad to pass it along to the
rest of the parish.
MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, September 20
5:00 p.m. Anthony Cinelli
Thomas
Cinelli
Sunday, September 21
8:00 a.m. Inez and Thomas Sylvia
9:15 a.m. MaryLou DiSaia
Jack Blessing
11:35 a.m. Theodore Giorgi
Robert
Herchen
Saturday, September 27
5:00 p.m. Manuel and Agnes Alvernaz
Carolyn
Hagenstein
Sunday, September 28
8:00 p.m. Christine Bernier
Robert
Corbey
9:15 a.m. Richard J. Reynolds
STEPHEN
MINISTRY MESSAGE
Fall brings with it changes –
changes in the weather, changes in the pace of life, changes in how we feel.
The more structure that we feel as we settle into fall can be wonderful or it
can be disturbing. Those children we wished would get back to school and, now
that they are gone, we feel lonely. The afternoons spent running around to
various activities are not spent at home overseeing homework or other chores.
The friends with whom we spent so much time have returned to their homes, back
to their jobs, and back to their “real” lives.
The help of a Stephen Minister can help you make the transition easier.
Just a few weeks of talking to someone with whom you can share your feelings
can make a huge difference as you move forward into the fall. Call Larry Bartley at 965-7276 (email LJBJR@cox.net),
Carol Hartley at 783-4036 (email carolhartley@cox.net) or call the rectory.
STEWARDSHIP
THOUGHT
In today’s Gospel, the vineyard owner says, “I am free to do as I please with my money, am I not?” We are likewise free. Is a generous return to the Lord in thanksgiving for His many blessings among the choices we have made?
RELIGIOUS FORMATION
CLASSES
TODAY, SEPTEMBER 21
AS
SCHEDULED FOR GRADES PRE-K TO 8.
Pre-K will meet at 9:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall during
Mass.
Kindergarten through grade 8 will meet from 10:30
– 11:20 a.m. in the following assigned
buildings.
Please note changes:
K, 1, 2, &
3 Swan
Grades
4 & 6 Ballentine
Grades 5 & 7 Washburn
Grade
8 Quinn
A SPECIAL THANKS…. To all for your patience and cooperation with our RF class and
building assignments. Thanks to all teachers, the RF committee and the
Boy Scouts of Troop 1 Kingston, who helped with books, directions and traffic.
Your stewardship in action helped make our first day a success!
1st Communion parents, please
remember to bring in a wallet-sized photo of your child for the Belonging banner.
All photos should be in as soon as possible.
FIRST COMMUNION MAKE-UP MEETING
There will be a make-up meeting TODAY, September 21 from 10:30 to
11:15 a.m. in Swann Hall Room
215 for all parents who could not attend this past week.
PRE-K
Our Religious Formation Pre-K program has openings
for children who were 4 years old by September
1. Pre-K meets in the Parish
hall during the 9:15 a.m. Mass. Please
call the Religious Formation office at 789-0417
if you are interested in registering your child.
1st
GRADE LITURGY OF THE WORD
The first meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 5 during the 9:15 a.m. Mass. We are still
looking for stewards to help break open the Gospel with our 1st
graders. Please call Keri McAlice at
792-3395.
CONFIRMATION NOTES
PHASE I: Class tonight, September 21 at 5:30 p.m. in Washburn Hall.
PHASE II: A make-up meeting will take
place Sunday, September 21, at 10:30 a.m. in Quinn Hall for those who
missed the Parent/Student meeting last week. This is a mandatory meeting for
all those who are entering the second year of Confirmation preparation.
The first class for Candidates & Sponsors will be held on Sunday, September 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the hall.
MUSIC MINISTRY NEWS
As you know, singing at mass is an important
part of our experience of communal prayer here at CTK. In an attempt to involve
as many as possible in the music ministry, I would invite and encourage you to
consider joining the music ministry as either a vocalist or instrumentalist. At
this time, we would invite anyone from Junior High and up to consider singing
at liturgy with the following guidelines:
- Adult
parishioners and High School students grades 9 –12 are
invited to the 5:00 p.m., 8:00,
9:15 and 11:35 a.m. liturgies.
- Grade 7 and 8
students are invited to the 11:35 a.m. liturgy only.
- Grade 9 – 12 and
college students are invited to participate in the 8:00 p.m. liturgy.
It is important to understand that the chief function of the music ministry is to serve the musical needs of the liturgies and prayer experiences of the parish community, and we do this by leading the singing of the assembly with choir and instruments. Instrumentalists are welcome to play at the 11:35 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. liturgies.
Vocal Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. in the church. Instrumental rehearsals are scheduled as needed.
If you are interested in this ministry, please
see Tom Kendzia or Andrea Theroux after any liturgy, or contact
Tom at 596-6483 for more information.
PEACE
AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
A Peace Walk and Rally are scheduled for Monday, September 22 at 5 p.m.
Please meet at the URI Kingston campus
ATTENTION
USHERS/COLLECTORS
On Wednesday, September 24 at 7 p.m. in the church there will be a meeting for all women and men involved in this important ministry. If you did not receive a notice in the mail and would like to participate in this ministry, we invite you to attend this meeting. We look forward to seeing you!
Fr. Joe Creedon
Nancy
Drennan
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
There will be a meeting on Wednesday, September 24
at 7 p.m. in the hall for all new
and returning hospitality members. We will review the hospitality
ministry procedures and the schedule.
THANK YOU
Many thanks to
Judy and Hilly Munson, Dotty Shackleton and Marge White for their assistance mailing the Mustard Seed.
WELCOME
HOUSE MEALS
Please share your time, talent and treasure with
our local community! Stewards are needed to prepare Welcome House meals for
Mondays in November, December and January. Welcome House is an emergency
shelter in Peace Dale that depends on local community support. Christ the King
parishioners have delivered an evening dinner once a week for many years thanks
to innumerable stewards. The meal is for 16 – 20 people. Soups, casseroles, a
hearty stew, pasta or a family specialty would be greatly appreciated. You
could prepare the meal as a family, as a group of neighbors, or on your own.
Teen-agers – this could be a wonderful way to fulfill service hours for school
or CCD commitments. The meal needs to be delivered late Sunday afternoon or evening
to be served on Monday. Please email Kristen
and Abbey Greene (greenezone@cox.net)
or call at 284-2183 if you would
like to make a meal in the coming months, be added to
the parish list of Welcome House stewards for future months, or for more
information.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus Yard Sale is on Saturday, September 27
from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at St. Francis
Council Hall,
A JOURNEY FROM
GRIEF TO HEALING
This journey is based on the belief that writing and sharing
one’s thoughts, feelings and experiences is one of the most helpful ways to
move beyond pain and loss. Meetings are held at the
RHODE
The
Rhode Island Men of Saint Joseph invite men of all ages to join in the 10th
annual Catholic Men’s Conference on Saturday,
October 4 at the Cathedral in
OPEN
HOUSE
The Glastonbury Abbey in
FATHER
MICHAEL CROSBY
Many of you remember Father Michael Crosby, OFMCap, who gave a parish mission at Christ
the King in March 2007. His talks are now available in a book: The Paradox of Power: From
Control to Compassion. It is available from Crossroad Publishing Company,
Amazon.com and bookstores.
CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER 21 – 28
Sunday,
September 21
5:30 p.m. PH
I Parent/Student Meeting/Hall
Tuesday, September 23
7:30 p.m. Choir
Wednesday, September 24
7:00 p.m. Hospitality/Hall
7:00 p.m. Ushers/Collectors
Meeting/Church
Thursday, September 25
7:00 p.m. Bible
Study/Hall
Saturday, September 27
Christ the
2:00 p.m. Wedding
4:00 p.m. Confession
Sunday,
September 28
5:30 p.m. PH
II Student/Sponsor Meeting/Hall