SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Something very special happened in KidsRelig this week.  We baptized one of very our own, Daniella Chung (4^th Grade, WO).  With her mom and dad, Nancy and Vincent, and her brother Robbie, and with her godparents, Becky Mildenhall and Peter McGuire, we anointed her with the Oil of the Catechumens and with Chrism; we clothed her in white; we passed on to her the light of Christ from the Paschal Candle; we touched her ears, her eyes and her lips, and we poured water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Although I have repeated the words of Baptism hundreds of times in my last 12 years as a deacon, I have never been more impressed by the power of the sacrament as I was this week.  Because with us in the church were all of our 4^th Graders from Westorchard (Judy Houlihan and Sarah Girardi’s classes).  They watched and listened intently to all of the words and action of the sacrament, and they gathered closely as we poured the water.  Then, once Daniella was baptized, all of the kids rushed around her in what this deacon witnessed as a genuine expression of joy.

And faith!!!  A faith the kids had just spoken to me when we read in Matthew’s gospel about Jesus’ promise to be with us always, even to the end of the age. 

When we finished the gospel, I asked them if they believed I could show them something that no one in the world had ever seen, and once I showed them, no one would ever see again.  And they believed, maybe with some doubts, but they believed.  Then, I showed them an unshelled peanut; I cracked it open to reveal for the first time the peanut hiding inside, and in front of everybody, I ate the peanut, never to be seen again.

Turned out they were right to believe.  But why did they do it?  “Because we trust you,” they told me.   

And why do we believe Jesus’ promise to be with us always?  The kids told me that it was because people heard this good news from people they trusted and were trustworthy enough to pass it on to others.  And when enough people trust each other with this good news, then Jesus is with us—always.  Why?  Wait until you hear this next answer.

“Deacon Charlie, that’s Church!” 

See what I mean.  When the kids rushed around Daniella, it was joy; it was faith; it was Church!

Altar Servers

In our first round of altar server training in the fall, we added some excellent servers.  You already see them regularly in the sanctuary.  Now, it’s time to add some more. 

Scheduling the training sessions is always a challenge.  I am proposing that we hold our sessions after the regular KidsRelig elementary sessions from 4:50 to 5:15 PM.  And let’s start on the day after the MLK Holiday, January 22.  So, here’s the Altar Server Training Sessions Schedule:

January 22, 23 and 24:  4:50 to 5:15 PM

January 29, 30 and 31:  4:50 to 5:15 PM

February 5, 6 and 7:       4:50 to 5:15 PM

This should get us ready for Lent and the Easter Season. 

Please register your child by emailing me at kidsrelig@optimum.net.  I need to know who is coming. 

Love,

Deacon Charlie