St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Where Stewardship is a Way of Life

Kathy Wickward

Our One Great Act of Fidelity, Week 4

Stewardship of Time

Week Four of Fr. Jim’s study on Our One Great Act of Fidelity asks us to consider the role of sacrifice and God’s unconditional love for us.

Lent is considered a time of sacrifice and penance.  What is more important, the sacrifice or the motivation behind the action? 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church informs us that love is when we will the good of the other.  How does loving others include the need for sacrifice of self?

  • Read the Chapters 8, 9 & 10 of Our One Great Act of Fidelity
  • Watch Part Four of Fr. Jim’s video, which is 3 ½ minutes long

Prayerfully reflect on the following questions:

    • Think of a time when you received a gift that was undeserved or totally unexpected.  How did you feel when it was given to you?
    • When have you sacrificed yourself for the good of another?
    • When have you found God’s grace present during a time of pain, brokenness or being wounded?
    • How does celebrating Eucharist remind you of God’s great and unconditional love for you?

Our One Great Act of Fidelity, Week 3

Stewardship of Time

Week Three of Fr. Jim’s study on, Our One Great Act of Fidelity examines Eucharist as “Totus Christus” and our call to move from individualism to the common good.   

He also discusses the image of “manna” and meal as it relates to Eucharist.

This Lent, how are your practices of alms, fasting and prayer leading you to deepen your understanding of being a member of the Body of Christ?

WEEK 3 LENT REFLECTION GUIDE

  • Read the Chapters 5, 6 & 7 of Our One Great Act of Fidelity
  • Watch Part Three of Fr. Jim’s video, which is 12 minutes long
  • Prayerfully reflect on the following questions:
    • How does celebrating Eucharist help us move from being focused on our individual rights toward the common good and being a member of the Body of Christ?
    • Augustine said, “Receive what you are” when distributing Holy Communion. If we become what we receive, how does that transform us to be people of service for others?
    • In what ways is the ritual of Eucharist similar to your experience of family meals and celebrations?

Our One Great Act of Fidelity: Week 2

Stewardship of Time, Uncategorized

As we continue our journey through Lent, Fr. Jim is hoping you are finding a few moments each week to reflect on our parish anniversary gift, Our One Great Act of Fidelity.

This week Fr. Jim discusses the many dimensions of Eucharist and how our faith is also “both/and” as we consider life and social justice issues.

How is Lent encouraging you to be a good steward of your time, in particular, how are you deepening your prayer life?

WEEK 2 LENT REFLECTION GUIDE

  • Read the Table of Contents and Chapters 3 & 4 of Our One Great Act of Fidelity
  • Watch Part Two of Fr. Jim’s video, which is 6 minutes long https://vimeo.com/511333965
  • Prayerfully reflect on the following questions:
    • How do you find Eucharist to be like a diamond with multiple levels of meaning, often paradoxical (cf. page 28)?
    • How do the “both/and” aspects of our Catholic faith inform your understanding of issues such as life and social justice?
    • In what ways is Eucharist the summit of worship and faith for you?
    • How has the pandemic influenced your appreciation for Eucharist?

 

A Concrete Eagle Scout Project

Uncategorized

Concrete is a hard subject to talk about. To talk about concrete, well it is a pretty solid subject.

I am Benny Beatty and my Eagle project, if you have not guessed, involves concrete.

Concrete is a ruff subject. More specifically, to the east side of Saint John’s is a walkway.  A few years ago the steps were removed and a ramp was added.  That was a BIG improvement! That ramp improved pedestrian passage, met ADA requirements and essentially improved the appearance to the Saint John’s property.

However the ramp ends at a gravel path way. That gravel path way is challenging. The surface is uneven, there are small trip hazards, and the surface does not meet ADA recommendations. The gravel pathway is, in many ways, a bit of a safety issue, for pedestrians and for Church liability.

I am with Troop 711 out of Maple Valley.  My Eagle project is to connect the two sidewalks on the east side of Saint John’s, to make it more handicap accessible and to make it safer for all users and finally to meet ADA requirements.

You may be thinking to yourself? How can I, as a 13 year-old scout, know so much about leading this type of project? Let me assure you, I have, as a scout, helped with three (3) other Eagle projects that involved concrete. I am familiar with area prep work, installing forms, and finally the pouring and finishing of concrete. This project involves some 47 feet by 5 feet of new walkway, or about 3 and a 1/2 yards of concrete.  Total cost is around $2,000 dollars in materials.

So how do you start a concrete race? READY…….SET.

Scouts and adult leaders from Troop 711, will be assisting me with my Eagle Scout project. Further they will help with the labor, equipment and technical guidance in this Eagle project. I am asking for your support in funding this Eagle project. Below is a picture.

Any funds that are collected in excess of the cost of this project will be returned to Saint John’s. Those funds will be put into the Saint John’s Grounds Committee operational fund, where my dad serves.

So what is the difference between pavement and concrete? It’s a gray area.

Thank you for your time, support and May God bless each and every one of you and, Thank you for your support!

Respectfully and sincerely yours, Benny Beatty

Snow Day!

Uncategorized

The office is closed today, 2/13/2021 due to snowy conditions for the safety of staff and visitors. Confessions at 4 pm and Mass at 5:30 pm are also cancelled. We plan to celebrate Mass at 9 am and 11:30 tomorrow. We have hired someone to plow the parking lot, but we need someone to shovel the walkway! If you can help, contact the office before 3 pm or send an email to Kathy Wickward. The 11:30 Mass will be live streamed to our Facebook page, just click on the Facebook icon below the video on the home page. We hope to post the recording here on our website shortly thereafter. Stay safe!

Stewardship of Time

Book Study with Fr. Jim: Week 1

WEEK 1 LENT REFLECTION GUIDE

  • Read pages 1-26 of Our One Great Act of Fidelity, then
  • Watch Part One of Fr. Jim’s video, which is 8 minutes long, below.
  • Prayerfully reflect on the following questions:
    • How do experience the ongoing Incarnation of Christ – God taking on flesh today?
    • During the pandemic, many of us have not been able to receive Holy Communion. How has this impacted your hunger to be touched by the physical presence of Christ?
    • How do you explain the Real Presence of Christ to others?
    • In what ways are you grateful for the gift of Eucharist?

Each week during Lent, we will be posting a short video from Fr. Jim on our parish website and some reflection questions from the book.  You can also find this information on our Facebook page!

Stewardship of Time is about spending time with God.  Lent is the perfect opportunity to consider how we are “waiting for Christ in the Eucharist!”

https://sjtbcc.org/new-book-study-with-fr-jim/