CHRISTMAS HAPPENINGS

For those of you who sometimes do not look at our website pages.

Parish Christmas Party
December 19
30 St Andrews Drive
Bella Vista AR

If lost call (479) 855-0991 or (479) 721-3250

CHRISTMAS MASS

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 24
7:00 pm

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 25
8:00 am

Confessions are heard 30 min prior to mass.
Appointment Call: (479) 721-3250

THIS SUNDAY IS “GAUDETE” SUNDAY

 Gaudete Sunday is the name given to the 3rd Sunday of Advent. The name is taken from the words of the introit, Gaudete in Domino semper, "rejoice in the Lord always."

The Scriptural basis comes from Philippians 4:4,5. Similar to Laetare Sunday during Lent, Gaudete Sunday is a minor "break" from the more penitential nature of the Advent season, and signals a shift from a penitential style of waiting to a more joyful tone.

In the distant past, when organs and flowers were forbidden during the Advent Season, they were permitted during Gaudete Sunday. Because of the more joyful tone of Gaudete Sunday, rose colored (pink) vestments may be used instead of the normal violet ones. Also, the rose colored Advent candle is lit.

SOME PRAYERS FOR THIS SUNDAY

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son, Jesus Christ, came to visit us in great humility: that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead; we may rise to the life immortal. Through the same Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Gaudete.  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice: let your moderation be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. Ps. Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land: thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.  Gloria Patri.

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Note:
Archbishop Thomas Cranmer wrote some of the most poetic and heartfelt collects in his works found in the English Book of Common Prayer. Much of the basis of his writings came from sources of the current time period including the prayers from the Catholic Sarum Rite, along with writings from Hermann von Wied,

Bishop Thomas Cranmer's unique gift of blending theological substance with simple, humble, and moving clarity has made the Collects (prayers) essential not only to the English liturgy but also to the pastoral tradition of the church: these prayers still remain a deep source of inspiration for Christians enmeshed in the everyday trials and testings of life.

 

Chili Cook Off

 

Have just returned this evening from attending the City of Centerton Pot Luck dinner, which was held in the community hall of the City Offices.

The man event was a chili cook-off with yours truly as one of the three judges. Entries were judged for three categories: best chili, most unusual chili recipe and the hottest entry. Believe me once finished with our assigned chore of sampling each small cup sample of each entry there was decidedly a Maalox Moment.

Additionally each family brought along a Christmas ornament which was exchanged at random with other families. Most certainly a good time was had by all attending.

NEW BISHOP CONSECRATED

HIS EXCELLENCY THE MOST REVEREND BOBBY CHARLES HALL, DD
AUXILIARY BISHOP

 
September 14 2014, on the Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross at Christ the King Chapel, National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, in Belleville, IL;  Fr. Bobby Charles Hall, DD was consecrated to the Episcopal office of  Regionary Auxiliary Bishop of The North American Old Roman Catholic Church - Archdiocese of California by Archbishop Joseph A. Vellone, DD, assisted by  Archbishop-Coadjutor Chris M. Hernandez, DD.

BISHOP APPOINTMENT

                                                 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Salinas, CA. – Archbishop Joseph A. Vellone, DD announced the appointed of the Rev. Bobby, C. Hall, DD as Regionary Auxiliary Bishop of the North American Old Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of California.

Bishop-elect Hall currently serves as a priest in the Archdiocese of California and as the pastor of St. Georges Old Roman Catholic Church, in Centerton Arkansas. 

Bishop-elect Hall attended public schools in Kerens and Corsicana, Texas.  He graduated High school in 1951 from Schreiner Institute located at Kerrville, Texas. Immediately following graduation was to serve as an Artillery Noncommissioned officer during the Korean Conflict. Upon discharge in 1955 entered college.

Bishop-elect Hall studied at Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in 1960. On Graduation was commissioned as a 2^nd Lt. Army and served during the Vet Nam conflict in the 82^nd Airborne. In 1965 he entered Texas Chiropractic College receiving the Doctor of Chiropractic Degree in 1970. During several years of practice in San Angelo, Texas he served as incorporator and Chief of Staff of Angelo Chiropractic Associates, a multi-discipline healing arts clinic consisting of Chiropractors, a Medical Doctor, a Parodist and Physical therapists. During this time he was also to serve on several state boards for the Chiropractic profession and by gubernatorial appointment on a Federal medical advisory commission. Ceased practice in 1983 due to an accident on his cattle ranch.

 Later Bishop-elect Hall began studies in Sacred Theology at Saint Aelred’s School of Theology receiving a Masters of Theology in 2001.  He was ordained as a Deacon in July 2005. In 2007 was ordained a priest by the Most Rev. Louis W Falk in Des Moines, IA.

Bishop-elect Hall went on to earn a Master of Ministry degree in 2013 from the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Seminary, Wesley, Oxford, and was later awarded a Doctor of Divinity   ( Honoris Causa ) from the same institution in 2015. He is currently studying as a candidate for the Doctor of Theology Degree. 

Bishop-elect Hall’s parents were Barney and Lovie Hall of Corsicana, Texas, both deceased. 

 Bishop-elect Hall currently resides in Bella Vista, AR and is married to Patricia Ellen Williamson formally of Greenville, OH. They have six children, two of whom are deceased, proudly having 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

                                                                          

AND THE RAINS CAME

And did the rains come and come!

We are a little slow covering the Garage / Bake sale but much has happened since that event filled day. So here goes!

Things were going so well. The morning had been a little slow at first, however by mid-morning things really began to pick up. The hamburger / hot dog concession was drawing a few hungry customers and the bake goods were selling at a moderate rate. Items we thought would possibly never sell were being snatched up by happy purchasers. Yes, things were certainly humming along at this point.

 

There had been a forecast of a forty percent chance of showers late that afternoon but let’s look at it optimistically, there was a sixty percent chance nothing would happen.  It started to look a little dark off to the Southwest and anxious eyes kept glancing in that direction. Then our ever faithful Parish Council Vice-President with his weather app on his cell phone gave the unwanted warning.

BIG THUNDER STORM WITH HIGH WINDS IMMINENT!

And then the sudden burst of wind quickly followed a driving rain descended on our happy event. Customers scurried to their cars, Parish members hung on to the uprights of our  two 10 X 20 canopies while others braving the driving rain ran about moving items located outside under the protection of the canopies. Other items too large to be moved were ceremonially draped with whatever water proof covering we had at hand. At this point it did not look too good for our happy band.

At last it passed and as everyone stood around accessing the damage a buyer showed up. An individual from 35 miles away from the University community of Fayetteville, AR drove in inquiring if we had any bake goods for sale. It seems she had purchased items from the Parish in years past and had seen our notice in the Garage Sale section of the newspaper. A quick assessment was made of the remaining baked items and a bulk sale price was agreed on to the satisfaction of both parties. “Whew!”

As we prepared to go to our homes the last item was to drive ground pins into the bases of the canopies uprights as a safety measure. Now we felt secure that all was complete and following mass the next day we could make a determination of what items would be useful donations to the local Helping Hands ministry. How little did we know? Sunday morning found the canopies blown over on top of the contents with several bent upright legs. However this did not deter the parish from its goal. Items were separated and picked up Monday by the Brother’s & Sisters ministry truck with the reaming items to Helping Hands.  Later in the week the canopies with hardware were loosely stuffed into the front of the storage shed to be folded and stored when it is cooler.

The parish exceeded it goal in sales with plans already under way for another event to be held in October. These ladies of the parish seem to never stop. 

In our efforts we had several teenagers who are not members of the parish helping out. Imagine their surprise when each one received a Certificate of Appreciation for their help.

Keep tuned for the continuing saga of St George's Garage Sales.

Mayor Bill Edwards and Fr Bob with the ALS Challenge

This is now Sunday afternoon following the City Meeting. Mayor Edwards and I are about to be doused with ice cubes and water. All for a good cause.

Mayor Bill Edwards is about to have a wet Sunday Afternoon

Fr Bob about to be doused with Ice cubes & water