/Bulletin/

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Dear Loving Brothers, Sisters and Children in Christ Jesus!

We are more or less in a similar situation as that of Prophet Habakkuk.

How can we live meaningfully and convincingly in today’s world?

Instead of being frustrated by the world we have to derive courage and

strength from within us. St. Paul in his letter to Timothy gives a very

enlightening and encouraging message: “God didn’t give us a spirit of

timidity, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-control.” This

awareness is the wellspring of our moral courage.

Only faith in Christ can explain the mystery of life which we experience

as contrasts crosses in life and death, joys and sufferings, good and evil.

Faith strengths us face them with hope and courage. Faith is often

misunderstood as an experience of irrationality before unknowable and

unexplained phenomena. Sometimes it is considered as a leap into

darkness, into uncertainty. But faith is not risking of life nor is it an

expression of blind ignorance. Its knowledgeable, an experience of

wisdom and insight which emanates from the face of Christ. That’s why

faith is described as “Light” in the recent encyclical of Pope

Francis, Lumen Fidei.

St. Paul would say that faith is a power from within. Faith is not only

truth; it’s a way and life too. Faith is a living experience which grows

like a plant or a tree. In the parable of the mustard seed Jesus

demonstrates how powerful and effective faith can be, independent of its

visibility and quantity. It may be as small and insignificant as a mustard

seed. But what matters is its quality and intensity which can perform

great things. Faith can even relocate a mountain!

Faith is a total trust in God and commitment to his service, without

bargaining for rewards. It is the secret of the freedom and self-

confidence which true faith gives us. It makes us serve God and his

people without grumbling, because our sense of duty is detached from

the desire to be thanked and rewarded. Let us live our faith creatively to

realize the Kingdom of God, so that we can say that the world is one

family. 

Bulletin Announcement for Natural Family Planning

Ladies, do you want to be empowered by learning about your body’s

fertility? Men, do you want to discover how to love your wife more and

to treat her with greater dignity? Do you both want to strengthen your

marriage and love for each other? Consider learning Natural Family

Planning (NFP). The first class in a 3-part series will be taught online

on November 13 at 6:00 p.m. The class will be taught by Ben and Rita

Pehl, from Sacred Heart Parish in Terry, MT. Ben and Rita are a

Certified Volunteer NFP Teaching Couple through the Couple to Couple

League. There are also many other online class dates/times available

by other CCL teaching couples. Contact Ben and Rita for more

information, 406-600-3987 (Ben) or 402-640-9494 (Rita), or visit

ccli.org.

Marriage Encounter Weekend:  Less Huddle, More Cuddle!  Between

games this weekend take a moment to apply for a Worldwide Marriage

Encounter Weekend.  The weekend will help you and spouse rediscover

the excitement and fun of sharing life together. These weekends are a

powerful time for you to focus on one another, reconnect and grow closer.

Upcoming dates: Chadron, NE Oct 18-20, 2019, Ucross (Clearmont), WY

Nov 1-3, 2019 and Billings, MT Jan 24-26, 2020.  For more information and

to apply visit www.wwme.org or call Paul and Tracy 307-689-2820.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING will be held October 8 th at 7:00 in the Church

basement.

PARISHIONERS: If anyone has any pictures of parish activities and would like

to share them, contact Jonna Bogart at jonnabogart@gmail.com

COLLECTIONS: Sunday, September 29 th , 2019 – ICC - $762.00

St. Margaret’s Bulletin

Thank you to everyone who helped with the luncheon for Helen Qunell’s funeral.  

Providing a meal following the funeral is an important ministry for our parish.

Thank you to Dan Stine for mowing our church lawn all summer and to Mirjam Thomas

for watering the grass and flowers all summer.  Our church yard looked great!   Ruth

Burtchett continues to keep the interior of our church in pristine condition every week.  

Let the above mentioned folks know we appreciate their time and work.

Harvest Dinner-It is time to begin reflecting on what you want to donate to the Harvest

Dinner activities.  Everyone is encouraged to donate something for the dinner along with

something for the Country Store OR Silent Auction.   The dinner is Sunday, November

10 at 12:30.

Reflection by Trish—Be a light to others

All youth from kindergarten to high school seniors loved the religious education lesson

on being a light for others.  In a fairly dark room I would light one small votive candle. It

produced a small glow.  Each youth would think of something they did that day that was

kind or good. They would share their good action and light a votive candle.  As all the

candles were lit the room became brighter and brighter.  It showed that the more good

deeds we do the better life is for others.  I know the kids enjoyed playing with candles

and light, hopefully some were aware of the symbolism of the activity.   

Many children learn the song with the lyrics, ‘This Little Light of Mine, I’m going to make

it shine…..’  It tells us that there is a light in all of us and we are called to show that the

light to the world.  I had a small sign in my office that said, “THERE IS A SPARK OF

THE SACRED IN EVERYONE.”  I don’t know where the phrase originated, but I believe

it to be true.  We are each called to bring more light into the world around us.  How do

we shine light?

It is easy to be overwhelmed by all the needs we hear about.  What can anyone person

do with all the difficulties around us?  The first thing to do is just focus on where you are

and those you come in contact with.  No one is to save the world, but we are to have a

positive effect on the space we occupy.     

To paraphrase Anne Lamott, ‘A lighthouse shines to save the ships coming close to the

island.  The lighthouse doesn’t run all over the island trying to shine light on the ships

everywhere.  The light house stays put and shines where it is.’

A kind word or a compliment can brighten anyone’s day.  We all enjoy hearing a positive

statement about ourselves.  It reinforces good habits and behaviors in children, and lets

adults know that people notice some of the good things we do.  I think everyone’s

behavior improves when we are told we are appreciated.  

One way to bring a glow is to leave every place we go a bit tidier than when we arrived. 

Wash someone else’s dishes; put something away that is sitting out, arrange things that

are scattered and taking up a great deal of space.  Make a habit of doing small acts that

make a place look a little nicer than when you arrived.

You can also practice making the great outdoors tidier.  Picking up a bit of trash and

putting it in the garage improves everyone’s experience in nature and shows reverence

for the natural world. Don’t litter and take care of whatever area you are at.  Think of

what those coming after you will experience. 

Being present to others with an open heart, listening without judging, look for the good

in others, and try to frame situations in a positive way.  Help to make the space you

occupy welcoming, accepting and open to all. These are all ways to shine your light.   

Some people say, “Why should I clean up other peoples messes?  Why should I be kind

and open hearted when others are crabby, spiteful or even mean?  Why me?”

We are called to be Light to the World.  We are to follow the example of Jesus. We are

to let our light shine.   Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on

a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket,

but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light

shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify

the Holy One.”

We never know who will be touched by our small acts.   Someone might not have to

deal with a mess after we leave.  Someone may feel more positive about themselves or

a situation by our open heartedness.  We can’t control others, but we certainly can

make sure we add light to the moment we are in.   It just might shine into an open crack

in the darkness that is present.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate:

only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THIS WEEK