February 21-22, 2009
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 43:18-25 Second Corinthians 1:18-22 Mark 2:1-12

There has been a flurry of supposedly pretty smart folk who have apparently erred with their income taxes or other financial improprieties. These ‘slip-ups’ have come to light because these same folk are being invited to assume important government positions. How very embarrassing it must be to suddenly have the world know that you tried to short-change the very government for which you are endeavoring to work! Does it strike anyone else as being downright stupid that people, who will probably always be in the public eye, slip up on something as mundane as income taxes? And yet….there but for the grace of God might go any of us….after all, is there anyone among us who would endeavor to limit our tax liabilities…even if it meant ‘inadvertently overlooking’ certain obscure payments. At what point do we acknowledge that none of us are perfect…and if we are waiting for the perfect mom or dad or teacher, or priest or politician or entrepreneur….we will be long dead and buried before they ever come along? Most of us hope that God will ‘forgive’ our failings and wrong-doings, we acknowledge our capability to sin (as well as our acting on this capability) every Mass. The more thorny issue is whether we are able to forgive each other….or ourselves. While we might recognize that a person has gained forgiveness from God for offenses committed…many of us hold on to perceived grievances for inordinate amounts of time. Gosh, some people can clearly speak about the exact moment and place when someone did something to us, it’s as if they are reading a script…and with each telling, the passion is renewed as if the event had just happened! So much for letting time heal old wounds. While those who enjoy wallowing in past grievances may derive a maudlin pleasure from it…the sad reality is that the inability to let go and move forward is a ‘paralysis of spirit’ which prevents the afflicted from fully living their life. Forgiveness is not really about the person who has rendered offense…it is about the person OFFENDED choosing to MOVE ON….to ‘Pick up our mats’ and live our lives. Some people derive a perverse pleasure in watching the perceived missteps of others…perhaps as a way of avoiding looking at their own. Missteps happen, sin happens, offenses are given, we hurt each other, we hurt ourselves….this is reality. Whether we choose to stay rooted in the hurt and failure is our choice, God gives us both the opportunity to say ‘I am sorry’…and to move on with our lives. Are we willing to do the same for ourselves and for others as well? As a final question, what do we gain by refusing to forgive? How are our lives improved or enriched by holding on to the hurts or offenses done against us? Why would we want to stay paralyzed by refusing to forgive ourselves for past mistakes?

Thank you for sharing this final weekend of Ordinary Time with our Corpus Christi Catholic-Christian Community. On Wednesday we are ushered into the season of Lent…and that is of course followed by Easter…which means we will not see the green of Ordinary Time again until June! Consider yourself invited to our Ash Wednesday Services, which begin at 4:00 a.m. It takes very little time to swing by and receive an ashen cross on your forehead…such a small and simple sign of being Roman Catholic in our discipleship of Jesus Christ…..the Bulletin has more information. This weekend is our Mardi-Gras Food Fair…lots of delicious tastes and treats…the profits benefit both the individual ministries as well as our Building Fund (50/50)…so eat away…and perhaps take some home for dinner tonight as well. Please take a Bulletin with you for information on Lenten events coming up in the weeks ahead….and remember, even with ashes on your forehead, you are loved. FKB

Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church Press Release For Release: February 13, 2009

30071 Ivy Glenn Drive Contact:
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Winnona Gaviglio
(949) 249-1218 (949) 212-4752

LAGUNA NIGUEL, March 11, 2009 – Kids’ from Laguna Niguel and surrounding areas are collecting and distributing coats at the Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church (LNPC) parking lot for families effected by the economic crisis. From 3:30-5:30 pm volunteers from LNPC will give raffle tickets to win gift cards for Golden Spoon to people bringing more than 1 bag of gently used children’s clothes. Items will benefit Kids’ Closet, a program to reduce clothing costs for parents.
According to Kids’ Closet program director Winnona Gaviglio, “We’ve helped over 200 families in Orange, San Diego, and LA Counties with the donations people are sharing,” says Gaviglio. “Now that more families close by have lost jobs, we’re helping even more kids stay warm.”
Kids’ Closet receives gently used, boys and girls clothing and furniture. Individuals select items they need, and leave a small cash donation to further the program’s efforts. Kids’ Closet provides services weekly to families of all income levels, yet relies totally on tax-deductible, public gifts. Kids’ Closet is located at 30071 Ivy Glenn Drive in Laguna Niguel, California. For further information about Kids’ Closet, or to make a financial donation, go to www.LNPC.org, or call Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church at (949) 249-1218.

# # #

Time For EFY
http://ce.byu.edu/yp/efy-programs/efy/index.cfm

Especially For Youth
This is the full, five-day, overnight program which begins on Monday morning and concludes early Saturday morning. Youth have the opportunity to learn and grow together while attending classes, devotionals and firesides together. Weekly highlights include Family Home Evening, dances, a musical program, a banquet, games night, service projects, a variety show, and a testimony meeting.

Registration Information
Online registration began January 14th 2009.

Contact Phone Numbers
Registration Questions: (801) 422-8925
EFY Program Information: (801) 422-3817

What is EFY?
EFY is a youth program with the objectives to encourage, assist, and guide youth participants (ages 14-18) as they strive to “come unto Christ.” EFY creates a setting where youth have the opportunity to develop spiritually, physically, intellectually and socially. EFY programs are held throughout North America every summer and are attended by more than 50,000 youth. Sessions are primarily supervised by young-adult counselors between the ages of 20-25 and who are positive role models for the youth. All sessions are directed by adult instructors.

Cost:
$415.00 EFY (excluding California, Alaska, and Special Editions)
$450.00 EFY in California and Alaska
$515.00 Special Edition EFY programs
$75.00 EFY Area Programs

Victoria Bushfire Relief Fund

LDS Newsroom – Australia
02/16/2009 02:02 PM MST

MELBOURNE, Australia – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced today that it will donate $250,000 (AUD) to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund to support efforts to help communities devastated by recent wildfires in southern Australia.

“The LDS Church has closely monitored the bushfire crisis as it developed day-by-day,” said Elder David S. Baxter, the Church’s Pacific Area President. “We have been in contact with relief agencies and officials to determine how best to help those who have been affected by this tragedy, and who have lost homes, property and loved ones.”

The most senior leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve — have been kept informed of these developments, according to Elder Baxter. “They have expressed their sympathies to all who have suffered loss, and to all of Australia.”

One way Latter-day Saints support people affected by disasters and others in need is through what Mormons call fast offerings. The first Sunday of each month members of the LDS Church are invited to go without food and drink — or fast — for a day. The money saved from buying the skipped meals is contributed to a fund that is used to help individuals and families in tough financial circumstances. The LDS Church’s donation to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund comes from contributions of Australian Latter-day Saints who regularly make such fast offerings.

Australian Red Cross is administering the relief fund.

As is the case in other parts of the world after natural disasters, hundreds of Mormon volunteers are gearing up to work alongside others in the clean-up effort that will begin when it is safe to do so.

—

LDS Newsroom – Australia; Photo Copyright the Associated Press, 2009.