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#stanthonydesert

Invitation by pastor dorian

3/23/2020

2 Comments

 
Dear Friends in Christ,
 
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God. 
To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Ephesians 1:1-2)
 
Perhaps we will never look at the Apostle Paul’s letters in quite the same way.  Paul wrote to churches in the far flung reaches of the Roman Empire with words of encouragement, words that shared his deep faith, and words that affirmed his commitment to Jesus.  He wrote letters because sometimes travel to be there in person was not possible or because he was “inconveniently” confined (in prison).  Could we take a page or two from Paul’s letter writing practice to share our own words of encouragement, faith and commitment to Jesus with one another?
 
The God that we worship chose to create this world, chose to be a part of this world in Jesus, and chose to be continually present through the power of God’s Spirit.  This means that God is present in every challenge and difficulty that we face.  And God seeks to bring good even in the most trying of times.  We are called to be attentive and alert to the ways of God which reflect this goodness.  So, I encourage us to see God’s presence among us and share this with one another. 
 
Where is God present?
 
  • God is visible in the countless medical personnel around the globe who are working long hours and risking personal well-being to care for the sick. 
  • God is present in small acts of kindness – check-in phone calls, the delivery of meals, volunteering to grocery shop for others, even in sharing toilet paper that is in short supply! 
  • God is present with volunteers roaming the church property to pull up weeds and keep things tidy.
  • God is present with the church staff scrambling to learn the ins and outs of on-line media to keep everyone connected. 
  • God is present to offer us courage and strength, a love that binds and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
 
While experiencing our own form of confinement we will begin a modern-day epistle – a blog – so everyone at St. Anthony can participate.  You can reach our blog, and if you wish, contribute reflections, poems or prayers by following this link: 
 
Your turn now – Where is God present to you?
 
In Christ’s Love,
Dorian+
2 Comments

March 13th, 2020

3/13/2020

0 Comments

 
A Poem by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM

Lock down.
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan (China) after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi (Italy)
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighborhood.
So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way.
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.

So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

 - Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM March 13th 2020
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Saint Anthony on the Desert ~ 12990 E. Shea Boulevard ~ Scottsdale, AZ 85259
480.451.0860 ~ email: communications@st-anthony.net