“…The Lord Came Down In the Cloud…”

…”The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.” The first reading this weekend from Nehemiah is a powerful reminder that God shares His Spirit on all of us. Each of us share in the gifts of the Spirit. Each of us are called to keep our hearts open to God’s Spirit and to use the Spirit to bring to life the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people – everywhere. As we allow God’s Word to speak to us this weekend, how can we carry God’s Spirit and Word into our world.

…As you know, I write the bulletin on Tuesday evening. You could see, hear and feel God’s Spirit in every corner of our campus tonight. Ladies First was sharing great food, friendship and reflecting on the call to be Church for one another. A large group of parents was gathered to help their child(ren) prepare for First Reconciliation and God’s forgiveness. You could feel God’s Spirit in the room. The volleyball and football teams were out in full force – Spirited in every way! The Knights were discussing and discerning how best they can continue to serve the Lord and do great work in building God’s kingdom. The Chapel was filled with God’s Spirit as the Tuesday night Prayer Group was praying and seeking God’s grace, peace and healing. These are just some of the ‘signs’ of God’s Spirit alive at Saint Ambrose.

…It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of September. As we enter into the month of October, how can we use this time to reflect on the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her genuine and faithful ‘yes’ to the Lord allowed her life to be blessed and full of grace. May God’s Spirit strengthen us to generously respond to God’s call in our lives.

…Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 pm. Many of our students from Saint Ambrose School and our Parish School of Religion will be coming together to lead us in a Living Rosary at the Grotto/Football Field. If you’ve never been, it’s a powerful experience to gather in prayer….being a living rosary….with the Light of Christ….and the solidarity of all of us praying together.

…The Annual Parish Directory arrived in your homes over the past two weeks. Many have been responding and returning their form to learn more about some of the ministries and programs in our parish community. Take some time this week to allow God’s Spirit to guide you as you discern how best to share some of your gifts and talents in service to the Lord and our parish community. We need you. Everyone has a special gift or way of giving, serving and sharing for the building up of God’s kingdom.

…Coming this week in your mail will be a copy of our Parish Annual Report. It’s a complete summary of the Pastoral and Fiscal Year that ended in June. It also is filled with wonderful opportunities for all of us to come together in prayer, community and service to the Lord. Please take some time to see the mighty things that God is doing through you and our parish community. It’s one more example of how God’s Spirit is alive and strong at Saint Ambrose.

…Next Saturday is my favorite night of the parish year. It’s our annual Autumn Harvest Celebration. Mass is at the Grotto at 5:00 pm followed by a GREAT family evening of hayrides, free food, pumpkin bowling, face painting, corn mazes, and more. It’s really a great night for the kids and grandkids and the children of God of every age. Please invite your family and friends to join you so they can experience the goodness and Spirit of our parish community. See today’s bulletin for all the details. Please join us!!

…The Autumn Harvest Celebration is a great opportunity to invite neighbors and friends to join you for a ‘church’ event. It’s a great moment for family and friends to experience and see God’s Spirit in the friendly people of our community. It can’t hurt to ask….and btw…is FREE.

…We need to stand together for life! Every person is an amazing expression of God’s love and goodness. We need to promote and protect the dignity and goodness of each and every life. Next Saturday, we will stand together in a ‘life chain’ on Pearl Road from 2:00 – 3:00 pm. It’s a moment of solidarity to show our community that we stand together…and we stand for the goodness and protection of each human life. Please join us.

…God’s Spirit will fall upon entire neighborhoods in Cleveland on Saturday, October 13. It’s our sixth annual ALPHA Village community clean-up day. We are looking for many helpers who can join us for three hours. Together we can lift up neighborhoods in the city with our joy, our help and our service. Working together, many hands will make for light work and a real impact on those we service. Interested? Want to learn more? Contact: CRainey@StAmbrose.us.

…Did you know that we host a Catholic Charities counselor for a day each week? Source of help, and comfort, and hope for some of our members working through personal and family issues. It’s convenient and confidential. If you would like to learn more, please contact Lisa Homady for information (lhomady@StAmbrose.us).

…This past week, Saint Ambrose School underwent a P21 accreditation visit. P21 is a nationally recognized process to validate the quality of a school. We are blessed to have many partners working with our faculty and staff to ensure our students are learning and growing to the best of their God-given potential.

…As you can see, work has begun to prepare the Church for construction. Please keep this effort and all who labor to build the House of God in your thoughts and prayers. May the Spirit of God take all the pieces and parts – and each of us – and renew us as Church. May the Spirit of God fill your heart this week with wisdom, strength and peace.