I received an email last week from a parishioner informing me that when she was at the Princeton Primary School in line to pick up her grandchildren, there was a vehicle in front of her that had a bumper sticker that read, "Choose Violence." Apparently, there are lots of stickers like that around our area.
Whoa, that’s way out of line. That’s not who we are . . . as a community, at whatever school. Come on. We’re better than that. And it’s certainly not how to act before or after an election.
Back in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln gave his inaugural speech and he called upon the better of angels of our nature. He said: “We are not enemies, but friends. . . The mystic chords of memory, . . . will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
Better angels of our nature. We all have these better angels within our nature. That is, the part of us that knows what is right and fair. That knows what is just and loving. But sometimes things happen that seem so huge, like a loss or a set-back and we get confused and our minds go blank. But we can always call upon this power from within us especially when we’re not sure what the future holds . . .
[I sing] Calling all angels, calling all angels
Walk me through this one, don’t leave me alone.
Calling all angels, calling all angels
We’re trying and we’re hoping, but we’re not sure how this goes.
We may not be sure of what’s going to happen, but there are so many things that we can control. It starts in little ways, not with someone else, but with you. In the gospel, there is the wonderful story of the poor widow who thinks beyond herself and gives to the temple (which is the church) more than one would think is possible.
She is poor, she have nothing. Yet she gives what she can, about 2 cents. It’s a great story for all of us to give more than we think is possible, but also an example of thinking beyond ourselves and living for others.
I can think of so many ways that you have all tried to live for others:
The nurse who took on an extra shift so that her colleague could be home with her sick child.
The teenager who paid for his buddy’s food when his friend was low on cash.
The grandparent who stepped in to coach his granddaughter’s basketball team, because they didn’t have
a coach.
The family that consistently stays after Mass to straighten out the hymnals here at church.
The young couple who rakes the lawn of an elderly neighbor.
The teacher who stays after school to help a struggling student prepare for an important exam.
The volunteers delivering Meals on Wheels, or Meals-A-La-Car or helping with our Community Meals.
The person who simply listens to a friend going through a tough time
The family who takes on a family as part of the Christmas Giving Program.
[I sing] Calling all angels, calling all angels
We’re trying and we’re hoping, but we’re not sure how this goes.
Think beyond yourself. You have it. When you don’t know what’s ahead, don’t choose violence . . . choose goodness and giving and peace. The woman in the gospel did, and Jesus praised her.
This is tithing weekend. As a parish we tie 5% of what we receive each weekend in our general collection. A list of what that tithing amount for this past fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024) is on page 4 of the bulletin. It totals $37,187. And already this year we have tithed $8,967. That’s fantastic. Tithing is thinking beyond yourself and giving and living for others.
I have asked Deanna and George Louie (5pm), Bill and Patty Daw (8:30am), Shilo Topp (10:30am to share their experience of tithing and what happened to them. [I invite them up to speak]
The biblical notion for this “giving to God” is called tithing. It means giving 10% of what you earn away. 10%. That’s 5% to our parish, 4% to all those wonderful organizations and charities all around our community and world and 1% to the needs of the Diocese.
Look in your bulletin on page 5. Look at the chart of tithing. Here’s what 5% looks like. Some of you are doing that already, and we thank you. But to all of you, I say, “Please consider giving more.”
If you believe in the good things that we have accomplished together here, please consider giving more than you have given, especially if you want us to continue doing good things. We need you to “think beyond yourself” and continue to “live for others.” Our costs have gone up . . . facility costs, benefit costs, materials we need to serve you. If you believe in who we are as a Catholic Church . . . welcoming all, growing in faith, sending you forth to go make a difference, then please consider increasing your contributions, so that we can do what our mission statements says: Love God. Live the Eucharist.
On page 6 is a form for automatic contribution. This is what I use. Many of you use this but haven’t increased your amount for years. If you haven’t started using the automatic form, please consider it. It’s safe. It’s easy. Our preference is to have your contribution come right from your checking or savings account so that there are no processing fees. But even if you use the form, you can still receive envelopes that you can put in the basket . . . if you prefer placing something in the basket during Mass.
At this time, pass down the little pledge cards and a pencil. We want you to prayerfully consider what you can pledge for 2025. [Explain how to fill it in]
Also, on the back of the pledge card, please write down any prayer requests that you have for us. And we will be praying for those on during Advent.
[During the filling out of forms I sing]
[I sing] Calling all angels, calling all angels
Walk me through this one, don’t leave me alone.
Calling all angels, calling all angels
We’re trying and we’re hoping, but we’re not sure how this goes.