…For the first two weeks of Lent I have asked questions to start my homily. Week one: why the door? Week two: why the tent? The door reminds us (as we hear in our psalm today) to keep our hearts open to the Lord. Last week Jesus said, no need for a tent, simply call upon me and I (the Lord) will be with you always. Our question to ponder in this third week of Lent comes from the end of the first reading from Exodus, where they asked, “Is the LORD in our midst or not?” If you are using these Lenten days to keep your heart and mind open to the Lord….if you have returned to the Lord…..then the Lord should be with you. Spend this week searching….watching….looking for the Lord. Grapple with these questions: Is the Lord in our midst or not? If not, who moved? Who stepped away? Who closed the door?
…This weekend we are blessed to welcome Fr. J.T. Lane to our community. He is a member of the Blessed Sacrament Community. He will be leading our Lent Mission this week. He’s a dynamic preacher with an important message on how to use these days of Lent (and always) to be a Eucharistic people – meaning – to walk with the Lord and live and love in His ways. Each night of the mission will offer a meaningful message, time for reflection and opportunities to experience different types/styles of prayer. Open your heart to the Lord. Please join me as we offer a warm welcome to Father Lane. Join us for one, or all, of the evenings of our mission. It’s a great way to ‘return’ to the Lord our God.
…Our Lenten prayer comes from St. Ignatius of Loyola. It’s called the Suscipe. Copies of Lenten prayer cards with this prayer can be found at the doors of the Church.
…We gave out about 1500 Little Black Books for Lent. Are you using yours??? It can really help you use the days of Lent to recognize the presence of God in your midst.
…We continue to hold in prayer the members of Saint Martin Parish in Valley City. This past week they commended their beloved Pastor, Fr. Dunphy, to the Lord. Eternal Rest Grant on to him, O Lord. May the Holy Spirit bring consolation and peace to their community.
…Deacon Matt is working to get our Avila Prayer Group back up and running. The Avilas are committed to praying for an increase in vocations. We all know the need for more vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life is great. As a people of faith, we need to pray for vocations and also encourage our members, and our family members, to open their hearts to God’s call. If you would like more information about the Avilas or vocations, please contact Deacon Matt at MJordan@StAmbrose.us.
…Earlier this week we did a special e-newsletter asking people for their Lenten prayer intentions. It’s a humble blessing to be able to bring your needs and prayers to the Lord. If you would like to offer your prayer intention, simply go to www.StAmbrose.us/prayer.
…Last week Thomas Matheis did a great thing for our parish for Lent – he created a video of the Gospel reading and a Lenten song. Over 1600 people used the video to help them reflect more deeply during the days of Lent. Watch for this each week of Lent on Facebook.
…While on the website, take a few minutes to review some of the Lenten opportunities coming up over the next few weeks (Passiontide, Prayer Services, the Parish Mission, along with some fun things like the Easter Egg Hunt and the Bunny Brunch for kids and grandkids).
…Did you know that about 200 of our members are actively involved in one of 28 Lent faith sharing groups? They are really enjoying the opportunity to gather with friends (and make some new friends), reflect on the Scriptures and discuss how to connect them to daily life. They also enjoy some good snacks and conversation. Many groups are going to continue after Lent. You are always welcome to join or form a Faith Sharing Group. For more information, contact Jane Baldwin at JBaldwin@StAmbrose.us.
…Our Fish Fry is going GREAT…..GREAT….GREAT food…GREAT people….GREAT hospitality….even GREAT take out!!! Thanks to our GREAT Fish Fry team for their amazing efforts for our parish community. Thanks to all who are coming by each Friday from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. All are welcome. Spread the word and bring your friends. The proceeds will be used to continue to upgrade the well-used kitchen equipment in Hilkert Hall.
…God bless our very good friend Gary Panteck and Brunswick AutoMart. Last week they confirmed that they will be providing another car for our summer festival raffle. This is an amazing gift to our parish and a HUGE help to create a great summer raffle and festival. It’s a HUGE help beyond words. Thank you Gary. The summer festival is coming soon. Watch for details.
…This coming Sunday our Bingo volunteers are coming together for Mass and a lunch gathering. It’s a chance to say thank you to these faithful servants of our parish community. We are always in need of a few more friendly folk who can help us once a month for a few hours on a Friday night. For more information, contact Mike Mascio at MMascio@StAmbrose.us.
With our new and improved bulletin, every month you will find a special feature. This month it’s a newsletter for Saint Ambrose School and Littlest Angels Preschool. Check in out on pages 10 and 11.
…Our parish is blessed to have fourteen adults who are preparing for the Easter Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist). Their eagerness to come to the Table of the Lord reminds all of us of the joy that should be in our hearts. Please keep them in prayer as they prepare for the Easter Vigil.
