ST. SEBASTIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

A church family growing together in Christ.

An independent Christian community reforming

and reclaiming the catholic tradition

 

WEEKLY UPDATE and CALENDAR

FOR THE WEEK of MAY 4h, 2008

 

My dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

Yesterday as folks left church we were treated to an image our Church School kids put together to bring to mind the festival we celebrated on Thursday last.  There on the balcony were a number of blue fluffy clouds and two pink feet sticking out of the center one…a Band-aid© on each foot.

 

A classic image of Jesus ascending to heaven straight from the pages of the Acts of the Apostles which we heard proclaimed.  What would you response have been?  Of all the things I have had the experience of trying to explain to our young ones, this has to be one of the most bizarre..and the hardest to try and fit into our lives and experience.

 

Not all of it, mind you, knowing someone you love as a friend who becomes like family…watching someone you love and care for continue to speak out for what they believe in even when it leads them into harm’s way…loosing someone you love…watching someone you care for suffer unjustly…these are all things I think we can easily identify with.

 

They are part of the story, I believe, so that we might be able to posit our faith in our lives.  We have stood with friends and family and mourned the loss of someone too young to die, or through unjust causes, we have comforted one another through hard times and lived to tell the story with hope in our voice.

 

But then to have him back in their lives…alive and continuing to love and teach them…and then after 40 days to leave them again….but not just “leave”.  To literally take off…up, up and away…clouds and all.  I mean, really.

 

We hear the story and side with the apostles who stand there looking up to the skies trying to figure any of this out.  The angels always seem so smug when they toss these Easter questions our way…”Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking at the skies?”  “Remember what he said, and get on with it!”

And there is the kicker.  Smug angels, ascending Jesus and clouds, as bizarre a scene as it may seem, proclaim the message loud and clear.  That little community of friends of Jesus, good Jews and faithful people could not have moved on to what they needed to if he had not left.  Jesus had to let go of them just as  much as they had to let go of him.  I believe the heartache was both human and divine.

 

At the end of our Easter feast, festival or not, we have lived out these 49 days, seven Sabbaths, seven times seven moments of understanding, challenge, growth, laughter and tears.  Sunday we will add one more day to the symbolic infinity times infinity.  A medieval Easter carol comes to mind as we draw nearer to our Pentecost celebration.

 

 “Fifty days for our delight!  Christ is risen all nature does tell!  Good Christian see ye rise as well!”

 

Peace and all things good to you and those you love.

DBGFlaherty

Pastor

St. Sebastian Catholic Church

 

THE WEEK AHEAD

 

Monday, May 5th, 2008

 

            7:30pm           N.A. Meeting

 

Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

          6:00pm        Church School

 

          7:00pm        Mass

 

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

6:00pm        Evening Prayer

 

7:00pm        Sacred Harp Singers

 

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

          12:00pm       Social Justice Fair

 

          7:00pm        Sunday Vigil Service

 

            7:30pm           N.A. Meeting

 

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

The Day of Pentecost

          9:30am        Christian Ed Class

 

          4:30pm        Mass

 

WELCOME VISITORS

If you are joining us for the first time or a return visitor please consider making St. Sebastian your spiritual home. You are most welcome and a joyful addition to our family’s gathering!

 

WELCOME to a PROGESSIVE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

We are affiliated with the Center for Progressive Christianity.  Discover more about the Center at www.tcpc.org

 

MINISTRY of LECTOR and ACOLYTE

We are looking to train and institute folks to minister at Mass as Lector and Acolyte.  If you are interested, please see Rev. Joan or Fr. DBGF for more details. There will be another training session on Sunday, May 4th from 2:30 – 3:30pm.  There is also a sign-up sheet at the welcome table.  Many thanks to all those who serve!

 

SUNDAY VIGIL SERVICE

Saturday at 7:00pm we celebrate a Vigil Service of light, song and shared prayer.  All are welcome to participate and take leadership in this service.

 

PENTECOST SUNDAY FLOWER CELEBRATION

For the second year in a row, we will prepare the sanctuary and other parts of the church complex with flowers as part of our worship that weekend and to welcome our visitors to the Social Justice Gathering and the Fells Point Mother’s Day tour on Sunday, May 11th.

 

If you would like to join in the fun of putting the flowers together, or learn how to; please sign-up at the welcome table.  No prior experience needed!

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

We have formed a special group of folks to focus and give vision to our call to serve and stay aware of those most in need in our midst.  Please see Jill Midthune for more details.

 

We are preparing for a special celebration of Community on Saturday, May 10th in our courtyard with several organizations.

 

PRESENCE at PRIDE

Baltimore GLBT Pride celebration spans the weekend of June 19th, 20th & 21st this year.  As always, we are putting together a booth and presence at the festival at Druid Hill Park on Sunday the 21st and need folks to staff the table and help with set-up and take-down.

 

We are also considering marching in the parade on Saturday the 20th.  We would like to have as large and diverse a crowd as possible for this.  Please see the sign-up sheet at the welcome table for more information.

 

SUNDAYS in AMERICA

Suzanne Strempek Shea made a year-long pilgrimage across America one Sunday at a time as she attended different church communities.  She writes of her experiences in a book that came out this week from Beacon Press.  If you turn to page 68 you can read about her experience here at St. Sebastian!

 

We are looking to host Suzanne for a book signing in the early summer.  We are also looking to start another Book Club using Sundays in America.

 

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Together with First United we offer Christian Ed classes. 

 

Sunday: 9:30am: Adult Education Class

Exploring church history, sacred scripture and worship with adults sharing their journey of faith.

 

Wednesday: 6:00pm: Church School for ages 5-12.

Helping our young ones grow in an understanding of the love and care of God for them and the world around them.

 

RELIGIOUS ED CLASSES FINISH THIS WEEK

CLASSES WILL RESUME THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 7th

 

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Are you or someone you know interested in learning more about the catholic tradition, or in becoming catholic?   Please see Fr. DBGF for more details on the celebration of Baptism and Confirmation.  Classes include the Sunday morning Adult Ed class as well as classes specific to Initiation and are open to anyone looking to nurture their understanding of our faith life.

 

COOL WEBSITES to CHECK OUT

Our Parish Community; www.saintsebastiancatholic.com

First United Parish Community; www.firstuniteducc.com

National UCC; www.ucc.org

The Center for Progressive Christianity; www.tcpc.org

 

KNOW SOMEONE SEARCHING FOR a PARISH?

Think about it.  How many times do we hear folks talking about being raised in the catholic tradition and having left?  Know someone in your life who might enjoy a visit to Mass on Sunday?  There are actually folks out there who are waiting for an invitation to come and see…why not be the one to welcome them home?

 

 

 

PASTORAL STAFF

 

Rev. David B.G. Flaherty; Pastor

 

Mr. Jon Kmetz; Music Minister

 

Mr. Kevin Platte; Director of Parish Finances

 

Rev. Joan Stiles; Pastoral Associate

 

 

Parish Phone: 443-691-9800