GIFT: THE CHURCH CHRISTIAN UNITY AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT JAN 5 & 8, 2014 DECEMBER 1 & 4, 2013

Home-Church Connection Bring from home symbols of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, the three Kings or the Holy Family and place them on the prayer table in the center of the room. NOTE: the Nativity Scene, popularized by Saint Francis in the 1200’s is a symbol for Christmas that all Christians use and adore.

Announcements Our GIFT sessions are not over until the Closing Prayer is complete. Please help us make the transition between breakout groups and prayer smooth by encouraging your sons/daughters to return to your tables as soon as possible when they return. Continue the Advent Service Project – Coin Collection for the Working Boys’ Center in Quito, Ecuador and Casa Damien in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Bring your coins to the February GIFT sessions to turn in. Mark your calendars – Feb 1 st from 8-11am Pancake Breakfast at St. Pius for the Mission Trip!

Announcements (con’t) HSYM – Jan 12 th from 5-7pm MSYM – Jan 15 th from 6-8pm First Reconciliation – Jan 18 th at 3:30 pm Youth Bible Study – Jan 19, 26, Feb 16, 23 from 11:30-1:30 pm in Room 5, “Life of Jesus and the Early Church” based on the History Channel’s series, The Bible. Parents are welcome! Walk for Life – Jan 25th

Introduction Our theme, Christian Unity and the Work of the Holy Spirit is in preparation for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which will take place from January under the banner of the theme: “Has Christ Divided Us?” The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years..., in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave (8 days) of prayer for visible Christian unity. By annually observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Christians move toward the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper "that they all may be one." (cf. John 17:21)

Introduction (con’t) In preparation for the week, ecumenical partners in a particular region are asked to prepare a basic text on a biblical theme. This year’s basic text comes from Canada – The prayer experiences we are using for this session are from this effort. During the adult learning session, Fr. Craig will address this ideal of Christian Unity and present some case studies involving families of mixed religious backgrounds. And participants will be given an opportunity to discuss and share their own experiences with one another.

Format for this Gathering… Introduction Opening Prayer – Has Christ Been Divided? Break Out Groups PreK-4 th, 5-8 th grader with Catechists H.S. and Adults with Fr. Craig Return for Summary Closing Prayer Dismissal – Take Homes

Opening Prayer Opening Song ♫Holy Spirit, come into our lives. Holy Spirit, make us truly wise.♫

Leader: We begin our prayer time…  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Let us pray: Loving God, you call all of us: from our homes and from our offices, from our mines and from our factories, from our fields and from our shops, from our fishing boats and from our herds, from our schools and from our hospitals, from our prisons and from our detention centers, to be one in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. A: Make us one in Christ.

Leader: The indigenous peoples of Canada honor an ancient ritual of praying while facing in different directions. With them, let us unite in prayer, facing each of the directions as indicated:

Facing East (towards the Rectory) L: From the East, the direction of the rising sun, we receive peace and light and wisdom and knowledge. All: We are grateful for these gifts, O God.

Facing South (towards the preschool) L: From the South comes warmth, guidance, and the beginning and the end of life. All: We are grateful for these gifts, O God.

Facing West (towards 280) L: From the West comes the rain, purifying waters, to sustain all living things. All: We are grateful for these gifts, O God.

Facing North (towards Cordilleras Road) L: From the North comes the cold and mighty wind and the white snows, giving us strength and endurance. All: We are grateful for these gifts, O God.

Turning towards the front, and facing upward L: From the heavens we receive darkness and light and the air of Your breath. A: We are grateful for these gifts, O God.

Facing downward (looking at your feet) L: From the earth we come and to the earth we will return. A: We are grateful, O God, for your good creation, our earthly home.

L: May we walk good paths, blessed God, living on this earth as brothers and sisters should; rejoicing in one another’s blessings, sympathizing in one another’s sorrows, and together with you, in the name of Jesus, and with the Spirit’s awakening breath, renewing the face of the earth. A: Amen.

Listen LECTOR: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 A Reading from the 1 st Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to * Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I give thanks [to God] that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. (I baptized the household of Stephanas also; beyond that I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. * Leader: The Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

We Respond Leader: Let us join together in professing the Apostles’ Creed. All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Break out Groups GroupSunday CatechistWednesday Catechist PreschoolersGinny Curtin (Rm 1)n/a KindergartenersMs. Laura Markman (Rm 7) n/a 1 st GradersMs. Stephanie & Ms. Debbie (Rm 1) 2 nd GradersMs. Sharon (Rm 2/3) 3 rd GradersMs. Susan & Ms. Kathy (Rm 6) Ms. Jenny (Rm 6) 4 th Graders 5-8 th GradersMs. Sabrina & Ms. Sandy (Rm 5) H.S. /AdultsFr. Craig

Fr. Craig’s Presentation Vatican II: Inside the Council Episode 6: Ecumenism w35GPS4uQ w35GPS4uQ

Summary What is the most important thing you learned? What new insights about the Church’s position about ecumenism have you gained as a result of this session?

Closing Prayer We begin our prayer time…  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you.” Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly city, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and forever. A: Amen.

Leader: Paul challenged the Christians in Corinth to know in their hearts and to show in their actions that Christ has not been divided. He challenges us, too, to realize more fully the unity we already have in Christ. With all those in every place who call on the Lord Jesus Christ, A: Together, we are called to be saints.

L: Graced by God in every way, A: Together, we give thanks for one another. L: Rich in the many blessings God has given us through our union in Christ, A: Together, we are not lacking in any spiritual gift. L: Sure in the God who strengthens us for love and service, A: Together, we affirm that God is faithful.

L: Embraced by Jesus Christ, A: Together, we are called into fellowship. L: United in the same mind and the same purpose, A: Together, we seek to be in agreement. L: Overcoming our quarrels about the one who was crucified for us, A: Together, we belong to Christ.

L: Has Christ, then, been divided? A: No! Together, we go into the world to proclaim his good news! THE LORD’S PRAYER L: As we strive to realize these goals, may we discern your voice, O Lord, and journey together towards the Kingdom for which you prayed. And so we pray: A: Our Father…

♫Holy Spirit, come into our lives. Holy Spirit, make us truly wise.♫

Dismissal Please make sure you pick up a copy of the People of Faith Generations magazine to take home and continue learning! Check out our parish website: Like us on Facebook!