The Ascension Of The Lord

May 28, 2017 Volume 4, Issue #23

Pastor: Father Victor Ray

St. Francis’ Mission is: To live by Faith, be known by Love, and be a voice of Hope in order to give

ourselves in service and better the lives of others.

HYMNS

Gathering 404 “In Christ Alone”

Offertory 472 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Communion 572 “Worthy Is The Lamb”

Sending 560 “Sing Of The Lord’s Greatness”

The Ascension of the Lord

Reading 1 = Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm = Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

Reading 2 = Ephesians 1:17-23

Gospel = Matthew 28:16-20

St. Ignatius of Loyola (Prayer after Communion)

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. Amen

Liturgical Ministry Schedule

DATE GREETERS ACOLYTE 1ST READING 2ND READING/

INTERCESSION

EUCHARISTIC

MINISTER

May 28 Cindy M

Marian G

George Fr. Martin Bill S Anthony

June 2 Barb F Mary Lee Mary Lee

June 4 John

Leo

Terry W Deb F Lynn K George

June 11 Don

Nile

Mike M Cheryl V Fr. Martin Ivy V

June 18 Sue G

Florence

Jim v Barb F Gary M Anthony

The Ascension of Jesus The Ascension of Jesus (anglicized from the Vulgate Latin Acts 1:9-11 section title: Ascensio Iesu) is the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God. The well-known narrative in Acts 1 takes place 40 days after the Resurrection: Jesus, in the company of the disciples, is taken up in their sight after warning them to remain in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit; as he ascends a cloud hides him from their view, and two men in white appear to tell them that he will return "in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Stories of Heavenly ascents were fairly common in the time of Jesus, signifying divine approval or the deification of an exceptional man. In the Christian tradition, reflected in the major Christian creeds and confessional statements, the ascension is connected with the exaltation of Jesus, meaning that through his ascension Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God: "He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty." The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the 40th day of Easter, always a Thursday; the Orthodox tradition has a different calendar up to a month later than in the Western tradition, and while the Anglican communion continues to observe the feast, most Protestant churches have abandoned it. The Ascension of Jesus is an important theme in Christian art, the ascending Jesus often shown blessing an earthly group below him to signify his blessing the entire Church. The world of the Ascension is a three-part universe with the heavens above, a flat earth centered on Jerusalem in the middle, and the underworld below. Heaven was separated from the earth by the firmament, the visible sky, a solid inverted bowl where God's throne sat "on the vaulted roof of earth."(Isaiah 40:22). Humans looking up from earth saw the floor of heaven, made of clear blue lapis-lazuli (Exodus 24:9-10), as was God's throne (Ezekiel 1:26).

From The Desk, of

The Pastor

Before the Ascension Christ was present in one place, now he is present in every place. Then he sat and eat with his disciples by the lakeside, now we receive his body and blood, the bread of life, in every country, in every city of the world. Then he walked the dusty paths of Palestine, now he strides through every land, borne by his Church. Then he dwelt in one man and one place, now he dwells in every person who has been baptized into his life. Then he healed a few of the sick, now he blesses millions of the sick through the sacrament of anointing. Then he taught the crowds in the market place, from the boat, and on the hillside, now his words are read from every Church and chapel and pulpit. Then he prayed in solitude on the Mount of Olives, now he prays in every believer. Then his body suffered for us on the cross, now we receive his risen and mystical body and blood in the Mass. Then he showed love and compassion to the weak and vulnerable, now his people bring that compassion to every community of the world, caring for the hungry and the distressed. Now - we do not need to gaze up into the sky: he dwells with us, he lives in us, and is not absent - but among us forever.

Fr. Victor

Let Us Pray for ……

Lucille Champagne, Leo's Mom. Prayers for Speedy Recovery. Mary Ursitti, Joe's Mom. Prayers for Healing and Skillful Surgeon. Myles Rogalla, John and Leo’s Friend. Prayers for Healing Burton Harvey: Uncle to Jessica Villafana Opyd and Mark Opyd, Prayers for Hhealing of a broken hip.

Helen Miller: Aunt to Jessica Villafana Opyd and Mark Opyd, Prayers for Better Health. Bruce Mercer, friend of Zachary Isaac. Prayers for Healing and Peace. David Baughman, Parishioner. Prayers for Better Health. Jacquelyn Cosentino, friend of Tony and David. Prayers for Healing from Brain Cancer Bill Hartwig, Parishioner. Prayers for Healing and Better Health. Myles Rogalla, cousin of John and Leo in preparation for surgery. Prayers for Surgeon Guidance and Healing.

Dawn Rubio, friend of James Hoffmann recovering from a stroke. Prayers for Healing and Thanks to her Caregivers.

Joe Ursiti, Parishioner, battling illness. Prayers for Healing and Speedy Recovery… Mark Talboom, Parishioner, suffering with additional major health issues. Prayers needed for Healing and a Return to Better Health.

D A and Dee, Parishioners, dealing with health issues. Prayers for Healing. Birgit Wilhelm, Parishioners, dealing with health issues. Prayers for Healing. Ivy Villafana, Parishioner, recuperating. Prayers for Healing.

Those dealing with unseen issues affecting the heart, mind and body such as grief,

depression and anxiety.

For the lonely, the dying, those who have entered God’s Eternal Kingdom and those who are grieving them.

Church Guy Inquiry: Please let me know who we need to pray for! The power of prayer works,

but I need to know who we can all pray for…..

What Makes My Belly Laugh!

Influenced by Wayne Rettke

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they

were on the way to church service,

“And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?”

One bright little girl replied,

“Because people are sleeping.”

*******************************************************

A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a

question, “Boys and girls, what do we know about God?”

A hand shot up in the air. “He is an artist!” said the

kindergarten boy.

“Really? How do you know?” the teacher asked.

“You know – Our Father, who does art in Heaven… ”

Thanks Jim Villafana

Any more funny pictures, jokes, comics, funny faces, recipe, etc.

Please email media.stfrancis.ecc@gmail.com

Upcoming Anniversaries and Birthdays:

Aryn Zahnow Birthday 5/28 Al O’Donnell Birthday 5/30

D.A. Marx Birthday 6/2 Peter Lambert Birthday 6/8

Ivy Villafana Birthday 6/8 Louise Gauthier Birthday 6/10

Father Victor Ray Birthday 6/17

LOOKING AHEAD

Check out the Calendar page for more details.

• Every Sunday in May we will have a Rosary at 9:30am

• Spiritual Healing from Florence Jean-Pierre. Contact her for appointment.

Phone Number is on Website on Parishioners Page.

• May 26th – August 10th – “Help The Kids” Summer Food Collection. See

bulletin board for more information.

• May 28 – Sunday – Memorial Mass for Richard Baugh by John O’Grady

• June 2 – Friday – First Friday Mass at 7pm

• June 4 Sunday – Pentecost Sunday

• June 5 – Monday – Whit Monday

• June 9 – Friday – Bingo at 7pm

• June 11 – Sunday – 3rd Anniversary Luncheon at Finley’s Irish Pub

• June 11 – Sunday – Trinity Sunday

CHOIR PRACTICE IS NOW ON TUESDAY EVENINGS AT 6PM

NINE DOT PUZZLE (Continued From Last Week Bulletin)

The puzzle proposed an intellectual challenge—to connect the dots by drawing four

straight, continuous lines that pass through each of the nine dots, and never lifting the

pencil from the paper. The conundrum is easily resolved, but only by drawing the lines

outside the confines of the square area defined by the nine dots themselves. The phrase

"thinking outside the box" is a restatement of the solution strategy. The puzzle only seems

difficult because people commonly imagine a boundary around the edge of the dot

array. The heart of the matter is the unspecified barrier that people typically perceive.

Ironically, telling people to "think outside the box" does not help them think outside the box, at least not with the 9-dot problem. This is due to the distinction between procedural knowledge (implicit or tacit knowledge) and declarative knowledge (book knowledge). For example, a non-verbal cue such as drawing a square outside the 9 dots does allow people to solve the 9-dot problem better than average. The nine-dot problem is a well-defined problem. It has a clearly stated goal, and all necessary information to solve the problem is included (connect all of the dots using four straight lines). Furthermore, well-defined problems have a clear ending (you know when you have reached the solution). Although the solution is "outside the box" and not easy to see at first, once it has been found, it seems obvious. Other examples of well-defined problems are the Tower of Hanoi and the Rubik's Cube.

In contrast, characteristics of ill-defined problems are:

• not clear what the question really is

• not clear how to arrive at a solution

• no idea what the solution looks like

An example of an ill-defined problem is "what is the essence of happiness?" The skills

needed to solve this type of problem are the ability to reason and draw

inferences, metacognition, and epistemic monitoring.

Father Victor Ray

Office Hours

Are Currently By Appointment Only.

Please Email Father Victor on Website Contact Page

2017 Community Council

Leo Champagne, Chair

727-215-3217

Jim Villafana, Vice Chair

727-288-6177

Larry Roush, Secretary/Treasurer

727-437-7556

Jon Laubscher, Council at Large

727-350-3778

Terry Winslow, Council at Large

727-397-1709

Mike Heimsath, AdHoc

727-656-2000

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St. Francis

Ecumenical Catholic Church

12041 66th Street North,

Suite E,

Largo, FL 33773

Phone: (727) 234-1380

Website: www.stfrancis-ecc.org

Email: info@stfrancis-ecc.org

Facebook: St Francis Ecumenical Catholic Church

Father Victor Ray, Pastor

MASS Each Sunday at 10:30am

Followed by Coffee and Fellowship