Twilight Twitches

Dear Family,
Who Do We Say He Is?
The question Father Bill Mason, OMI, brings us this week, ought to keep us busy for a while. I hope so, because the answer(s) we come up with have a lot to do with how we live our parish life. I’m musing on whether we want to come up with a single vision around which we can unite, or do we work along the lines of a stew to which everyone contributes. Both have their merits.

Dear Family,
Prayer... Fasting... Almsgiving...
The words of Lent. What do they mean to you? I asked myself the question and the first thing that came to my mind was, “Boy, you better have an answer or you might get chopped!” (For those of you who watch the Food Channel, explain to those who don’t.) So rather than a detailed theological explanation of these powerful words, I’ll try and share some insights the words evoke for me.

Dear Family,
ASH WEDNESDAY! Lent is here! Are you still opening Christmas cards? I’ve opened mine, and I’m deciding to reread one each day and pray for the person who sent it. It will be a little extra effort for Lent. Speaking of which...

FAST AND ABSTINENCE REGULATIONS
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

Dear Family,
The first thought that hits me this morning is to thank Sue and Scott Martinez (the Martinis) for their dispositions. There is no doubt that I like their pancake breakfasts, but I also like the way they do it. One of the warming ovens in the present serving area seems to be inhabited by gremlins who must live up north and just pop in occasionally. It just quits. Then Scott talks to it in gentle tones (ok, maybe not so gentle,) and it works again. And they just get on with it.

They are always here the Saturday morning before pancakes to get things ready and begin cooking sausages and such. And they gather like-minded people around them to serve. They make ministry look easy.