Holy Spirit Parish

Dear Holy Spirit Parish:                       January 17, 2021
                    “You are Simon, you will be called Peter.”      (John 1:42)

After his baptism, Jesus began his public ministry.  And according to John, from the very beginning those who met him became new people!  “You are Simon, you will be called Peter.”   And if that is the mark of a community of his disciples—that people are being changed—then we are definitely one of them.
 
The first example of dramatic life change that comes to mind is that being made by Deacon Bill and Mary Jo Holzhaeuser.  Just in case the story is not familiar to you, Deacon Bill and Mary Jo have just left their home of 30+ years in Ashland and moved to Stevens Point.  As for many retirees, the motivator behind this move is a grandchild and two more on the way. Fortunately for us their daughter and family are members of Holy Spirit parish and so Deacon Bill and Mary Jo have joined our parish.  We have offered Deacon Bill the part time position of Director of Family Life Ministries that Lea Ann Baker held until a very sick grandchild called her away.  Deacon Bill met with the Family Life Committee for the first time on January 7^th. and all were pleased with the new arrangement.  “You were a St. Louis parishioner, you will be called a Holy Spirit parishioner!”  Out of love for their granddaughter, which is one form of love of Christ, they have been changed.
 
Next Saturday our second graders will take their first attempt at practicing conscious change. They will gather for their First Reconciliation Retreat and as part of the retreat, they will actually celebrate their First Reconciliation.  This of course will be an in-person gathering but with social distancing fully in effect for the eleven children who will come.  Maybe not so much for young children just learning the practice, but there are many Saturday mornings here where at the end of someone’s confession it would be most appropriate to say:  “You are Simon, you will be called Peter.”
 
Though sometimes an adults’ confession is not much different than a child’s:  “I fight with my brothers and sisters.”  This Martin Luther King Day lifts up the need for many of us adults to confess:  “I fight with my brothers and sisters.”  Our parish Committee on Ending Racism is sponsoring a course on how to change one’s relationship with those of a different political view than yours.  We are reading Beyond Your Bubble by Tania Israel.   During three meetings we will learn and practice ways of overcoming fear and ignorance.  The first meeting is this Monday.  Unfortunately, the group size had to be limited to allow for group discussion and it is full.  Hopefully by book’s end we will change the names we call each other.
 
Monday also starts the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  Because of limitations on gatherings, I have not arranged a pulpit swap this year…. And well, also because there is so much else going on.  But our ecumenical group of pastors in town, The One Big Tent, has been working steadily on a ministry of companioning those in need of assistance.  Instead of just giving someone a number to call or food coupon, a volunteer will befriend them and help them on the longer journey of stabilizing their lives.  There has been a series of meetings between pastors and area service providers to define this role and set up the relationships they will need.  And those professionals told us that this ministry is greatly needed because it is almost impossible for a person to change unless their relationships change.  More than a gift card, more than a drug, the warm welcome of a faith community has the power to truly change a life.  “You were homeless, you will be home.”  This is a community of Christ’s disciples!
 Fr. Steve

Enliven your soul - and the middle of your week - as we share in The Wild Goose series. In this video series, Fr. Dave Pivonka invites viewers to an encounter, or a renewed encounter, with the Holy Spirit.  “Wild Goose” is an image the ancient Celts had for the Holy Spirit and The Wild Goose videos, filmed all over the world, are truly a work of the Holy Spirit!  Over the lunch hour, each week for the next 14 weeks, join us while we watch one episode and reflect on it as a group.  To sign up, click HERE 
 
 

To sign up for this three week discussion of the book Beyond Your Bubble: How to Connect Across the Political Divide, Skills and Strategies for Conversations That Work with Dona Warren  beginning January 18 please Click Here. This is sponsored by our parish Committee on Racism.

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