Letter from Fr. Allen: October 6, 2017

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+JMJ+

Dear friends,

Always we have so much to be grateful for, so many causes of joy, and at the same time, we don't have to look far to be reminded that "the whole world groans in travail," and that the ravages of sin and rebellion and the rejection of God's love are to be seen all around us, sometimes in the most startling and horrific of ways. That happened again this week in the terrible massacre in Las Vegas. There are no words adequate for this kind of evil, which seems so far to have no rationale whatsoever, however twisted, irrational, or unjust, but rather just one individual's cult of death. .

In the coming days and weeks there will be much conversation (often heated, no doubt) about gun control and other measures to help prevent this kind of deadly violence - and those are very important and necessary discussions to have. But the problem goes deeper than politics. Before his Passion, our Lord characterized the age between his Ascension and his return in glory to judge the quick and the dead as one of "wars and rumors of war." But the response of the Lord's disciples to these horrors can never be retreat but rather joyful witness to the culture of life, to a sure and certain hope that perseveres in the face of the death, to the power of mercy and forgiveness. So let us pray for the repose of those who died, for healing for the survivors, and strength to be compassionate signs life for those who struggle in the valley of the shadow of death.

This Sunday evening at 5.30 is our monthly Evensong & Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. We have a very fine little choir to lead our praises. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring friends to experience the beauty of our patrimony and, I hope, the warmth of our community.

Our Wednesday School program got off to a great start this week. Please do join us - and I want especially to thank Scarlett C., Kathryn W., and Hayden & Alice C. for leading Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for our children. See below to RSVP for supper and register children for Catechesis.

God bless you!
Fr Allen

Mass Intentions

It is the ancient tradition of the Church that priests may apply the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for a particular intention of the faithful and receive an offering for doing so. The intentions are usually for the sick, the faithful departed, or in gratitude for some blessing received. On Sundays and Holy Days (Solemnities), at least one parish Mass must be offered pro populo – that is, for the intentions of all the people of the parish.

If you would like a Mass offered for a special intention, please contact the parish office (email; 843.702.6162) to schedule the Mass. In the Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter (for Corpus Christi), the suggested donation for a Mass is $10.

Want to learn more about Mass intentions and why we pay for them? Read on.

RSVP for Wednesday School, 11 October

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11 October 2017

11 October 2017

Planning on joining us for Wednesday School on 10/11? Please RSVP so that we may adequately plan and prepare! If your children will be attending Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and are not already registered, please click here to register.

8 October: The 17th Sunday after Trinity

James B. Janknegt, Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Collect of the Day  Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and follow us: and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R/ Amen.

Lesson  Isaiah 5.1-7  Let me sing for my beloved a love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.  He digged it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.  What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?  And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard.  I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.  I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.  For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry!

Epistle  Philippians 4.6-9  Brethren: Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

Gospel  Matthew 21.33-43 At that time: Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, "Hear another parable.  There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country.  When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.  Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them.  Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'  And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes'?  Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."

VIEW THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Tonight! 5.30PM, refreshments to follow.

FATIMA JUBILEE: This Friday, 10/13. 100th Anniversary of final apparition of Our Lady & Miracle of the Sun at Fatima. Mass at 12PM. Statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for veneration from 11AM. Rosary and devotions to follow Mass.

WEDNESDAY SCHOOL: Christian Formation for children and adults beginning 4 October; 5.30PM, family supper; 6PM, class. Go to corpuschristicsp.org to RSVP for supper and register children for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd!

DAILY MASS: Monday through Thursday, 8AM; First Fridays, 12PM, Adoration & Benediction to follow.

KEEP IN TOUCH! Sign up for our weekly newsletter at corpuschristicsp.org/contact

1 October: The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

The Parable of the Two Sons, 1534

The Parable of the Two Sons, 1534

Collect of the Day  O Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church: and, because she cannot continue in safety without thy succour; preserve her evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R/ Amen. 

Lesson  Ezekiel 18.25-28  Thus says the Lord: "You say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.'  Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just?  Is it not your ways that are not just?  When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die.  Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life.  Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die."

Epistle  Philippians 2.1-11 Brethren: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel  Matthew 21.28-32 At that time: Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, "What do you think?  A man had two sons; and he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he repented and went.  "And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go.  Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.  For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him; and even when you saw it, you did not afterward repent and believe him."

NOTICES

RSVP for Wednesday School, 4 October

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4 October 2017

4 October 2017

Planning on joining us for Wednesday School? Please RSVP so that we may adequately plan and prepare! If your children will be attending Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, please click here to register.

24 September: Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

Van Gogh, Red Vineyard, 1888

Van Gogh, Red Vineyard, 1888

Collect of the Day  Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy: and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall; keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R/ Amen.

Lesson   Isaiah 55.6-9  Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Epistle  Philippians 1.20c-24, 27a  Brethren: Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me.  Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  I am hard pressed between the two.  My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Gospel  Matthew 20.1-16  At that time: At that time: Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.  After agreeing with the labourers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.  And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place; and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.'  So they went. "Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'  "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' "He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' "And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the labourers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.'  "And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.  Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius.  And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' "But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius?  Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you.  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?  Or do you begrudge my generosity?'  So the last will be first, and the first last."

17 September: The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

Claude Vignon, Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, 1629

Claude Vignon, Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, 1629

Collect of the Day  Almighty and everlasting God: give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. R Amen.

Lesson  Sirach 27.30-28.7  Anger and wrath, these also are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them. He that takes vengeance will suffer vengeance from the Lord, and he will firmly establish his sins.  Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.  Does a man harbour anger against another, and yet seek for healing from the Lord?  Does he have no mercy toward a man like himself, and yet pray for his own sins?  If he himself, being flesh, maintains wrath, will he then seek forgiveness from God?  Who will make expiation for his sins?  Remember the end of your life, and cease from enmity, remember destruction and death, and be true to the commandments.  Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbour; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook ignorance.

Epistle   Romans 14.7-9  Brethren: None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Gospel  Matthew 18.21-35 At that time: Peter came up and said to Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.  When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'  And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.'  So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'  He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.  Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'  And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."