Overwhelmed, tired and hopeless is one end of the complacency spectrum. It’s the view for the people who have hoped, prayed, worked, spoken up, shown up and yet got no-where. Like lying belly down on a swing, no matter how fast you move your feet and push yourself forward, ultimately you will end up right back where you started. It’s a miserable place to be. It’s hard to offer or hear any words of hope when hope feels unrealistic and, quite honestly, irresponsible.
After Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount and the importance of faith, he climbs down the hill and begins healing the people below who have run out of hope. Between chapters 8 and 9 we see Jesus heal a man who had leprosy, a servant who was paralyzed, Peter’s mother-in-law, a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years, a blind man, a mute man and a girl pronounced dead. Jesus also liberated many who were demon-possessed even sending a legion of demons into a herd of pigs. Every situation records a person who very practically knew that only a miracle could rescue them from their diagnosis, each found faith in Jesus who touched them, healing them physically, emotionally and socially.
As we read through these stories we can feel how scared and depressed these people must have been. One of the beautiful aspects is that it wasn’t always them who had hope, but quite often it was members of their families or their friends who carried them, in one case lowered them to the place where Jesus was, knowing a miracle was possible. While it is easy at times to feel like your life situation has tethered you to a situation where you can only nauseatingly spin in pointless circles, we can trust that whatever hope we lack can be superseded by that which the people who love us still carry. It’s their hope and faith that can reach out and ask Christ for the miracle we no longer think is impossible.
~ Upcoming Events ~
We Need a Vote!
Aladdin is playing at the Pantages and we would like to organize a trip to see it. We have two dates in mind, if you are interested
please Heather or Antonio know which date you prefer so we can get tickets before they run out.
Options are:
Sunday, March 25th at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $50
or
Tuesday, March 27th at 8 pm. Tickets are $35.
(this is spring break week for San Marino USD)
~
Thursday, February 1
Huntington Middle School Cafeteria | 7 pm
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids
Join us for a discussion with Dr. Laura Markham, the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting and Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings: How to stop the Fighting and Raise Friends for Life.
Dr. Markham trained as a Clinical Psychologist and earned her PhD from Columbia University. A question and answer session and book signing will follow the presentation.
For more information please visit www.partnershipforawareness.org
~
Sunday, February 4
SCOUT SUNDAY
Team 1 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Youth Group
5 – 7 pm
Holly Hulick’s
2270 Paloma Street
Pasadena 91104.
Please RSVP so we can provide enough food.
~
Sunday, February 11
Team 2 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teaching: Vicki, Antonio and Heather
~
February 13
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Please join us for a pancake feast before our Lenten fasting begins!
RSVP to Karen at kharrigian@sbcglobal.net or 626-441-0787 so
that we may plan accordingly. But if you find yourself in the mood
for pancakes at the last minute, please join us anyway.
Any proceeds benefit St. Edmund’s Church:
$6 for adults and teens, $3 for children 12 and under.
If you’d like to help in the kitchen before or after you have your pancakes, please also let Karen know. Help would be much appreciated!
~
Thursday, February 15
Trip to SkyZone, Covina
Please RSVP to Heather
~
Sunday, February 18
Team 3 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Heather and Antonio will be out of town for a wedding.
If you are able to teach please contact Heather or Antonio soon
and we will send you lesson plans and ideas.
~
Sunday, February 25
Team 4 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
~
Wednesday, February 28
The Many Colors of Holi
3:45 – 4:45 pm
Norton Simon Museum
Free for kids under 18!
Holi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the end of winter and represents renewal or new life. Look at Krishna Fluting in Vrindavan and learn how Holi originated from the story of Krishna, his love for Radha and his attempt to color her skin so that it matched his own. Create an artwork using an airbrush technique to spray color in an expressive way and bring this story to life.
Please RSVP as space is limited to 15
~
Sunday, March 4
Team 1 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Teachers: Shawna, Antonio and Heather
~
Sunday, March 11
Team 2 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
~
Sunday, March 18
Team 3 Acolyting
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Please feel free to contact Heather if you have questions.
