January 24, 2021

Visit: www.stjoan.com 4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419 612.823.8205 Fax: 612.825.7028

Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker

Let's start with a rundown of Jonah’s story: Jonah was chosen by God to preach repentance in the huge (2 days to walk across) Babylonian city of Nineveh. Like all good prophets, he argued with God about his talents and suitability and then tried to run away on a ship. In the midst of a great storm, the sailors realized they had an escapee from God on board and they cast Jonah overboard (I had to do that on a fishing trip once) to calm the seas. God sends a great fish, maybe akin to Jaws - I kid you not - to swallow him (our fundamentalist brethren are still arguing what type of aquatic creature swallowed him.) The fish spits Jonah out, now convinced to go through with the preaching (Jonah not the whale.) He preached up and down the city then left convinced they all were going to be obliterated. They all repented. While waiting for their destruction, he complained about the heat and God gave him a plant for some shade. When Jonah realized God was not going to destroy the city, he complained about all the trouble he went through getting here - and no fireworks. God tried to reason with him asking if he thought he was important, “What about thousands of others… aren’t they valuable?” Jonah still pouted, so God sent a worm to eat his shade.

Jonah is a truly interesting bible figure. Besides being probably the greatest whiner and complainer in the bible - or history - he was one of the only successful prophetic preachers: everyone actually repented. In Jewish theology they recognize his satirical presentation as a reluctant prophet, but more importantly, that God does withhold his anger when there is a true change of heart.

Christians often like to present the old testament God as a wrathful, vengeful God, but I often find the stories like Jonah’s reassuring. Old Testament characters actually converse directly with God; they disagree, they question, they cajole…and God argues back. Of course, God usually gets the final say…or lets someone get their way just to prove how wrong they can be. (Remember, always be careful what you pray for, you may actually get what you want!) On the most amateurish of levels, I like reading the Midrash - the Jewish Rabbinic commentary on the scriptures. It is not like reading a catechism as it actually presents differing opinions on the same story or verse, often including comments on the intelligence of the presenter. Jonah was not completely unique.

Jonah is also hopeful in that he lets us know God can use anyone, even whiners and complainers, to do God’s work. (Thank you, God!) Of course, that is how this reading fits in with today’s Gospel. In addition to the seaside setting, it also has to do with whom Jesus picks for apostles. Though not necessarily the best nor the brightest, they are used to an advantage. Luckily, as usual, he has a cast of strong women to pick up the pieces.

Many times, people ask how they should pray. Written prayers are good, but sometimes we really do need to argue with God to get God’s opinion. And don’t worry about being a perfect vehicle, just offer yourself as available and God will find a way to use you. But - be careful about complaining too much or God might send a worm to eat your shade.

No Gathering for Masses planned at this time. The same applies to all meetings or gatherings.

Parish Center will be open 9:00am - 3:00pm Monday thru Friday

Food Shelf/Toiletries Donations Needed: We will continue to accept non-perishable food items, laundry detergent and body soap for Sabathani Community Center and toothbrushes, toiletry-sized soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and new, lightweight socks for Mobile Loaves Twin Cities. All items can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9am - 3pm, in the bins in the Parish Center. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need!

SJA Vision Statement

To be a visible, progressive, Catholic Community, compassionate and welcoming to all.

Scripture Readings:

Sun Jan 24: Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20 Mon, Jan 25: Acts 22:3-16; Mark 16:15-18 Tue, Jan 26: 2 Timothy 1:1-8; Luke 10:1-9 Wed, Jan 27: Hebrews 10:11-18; Mark 4:1-20 Thu, Jan 28: Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25 Fri, Jan 29: Hebrews 10:32-39; Mark 4:26-34 Sat, Jan 30: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19; Mark 4:35-41 Sun Jan 31: Deut 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28

Carol Anderson, Arlene Axelson, Bill, Marcus B, Dennis Barta, Phyllis Berninger, Rob Brown, Ellen, Erik, Linus & Lily Bendel-Stenzel, Elaine Boehm, Marcia Boehnlein, Michael Branigan, Patty Brennan, Lorraine Bryant, Stacy Budd, Pam Burd, Sue C, David Carroll, Larry Clark, Barbara Cracraft, Dan Crough, Culver family, Larry Dease, Jim DeBruycker, Joe Dooley, Linda Duffy, Ava Dunlay, Kathie DuRocher, Pete Eichten, Ellie Fitzgerald,

John & Margaret Frees, Michelle Fries, Daniela Garcia, Jim Green, Heidi Gregorich, Ron Guillfoile, Amy H, Bob & Sandy H, Christina H, Linda & Tom H, MJ & Fred H, Jon & Rae H, Christina H, Judy Hilkemann, Brad Hinker, Jim Hinton, Gene Hniilicka, Megan Hoffman, Jan Horner, Kathy Horner, Kathy Itzin, Ruth J, Tom Jay, Barb Janisch, Annie Kack, Alex Kalal, Brad Karkkainen, Glen Kelley, Chuck Kennedy, Paul Kennedy,

John Kingston, Sage Kirscht, Lois Koegl, Steve Kremer, Abby L, Helen LaFavor, Amy Lainus, Melva Larson, Pankraz Lechner, Theresa Little, Bob Loftus, Chantilly Lynch, Claire Madden, Amy Matykiewicz, Dawn McCelland, Kate Meyer, Bob Miller, Rita Miller, Tom Moore, Bev Moran,

Royce Morrissette, Jack Muelken, Ted Mueller, Cheri Murch, Nate, Randy Naae, Rita Nelson, Craig Nordby, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera, Mike O’Rourke, Colette Ott, John Palmer, Jacques Parent, Milo Parker, Jimmy Peterka, Alice Pirola, Gina R, Kevin R, Lourdes Ramirez, Carol Reiland, Ann Resemius,

Jack Riebel, Jean Rieck, Donald & Susan Roufs, Dorothy Rowe, Pat Russell, Sam, Monica Sausen, Don Schafer, Carter Schmidt, Phil Schmidt, Colleen Schroeder, Pam Schulstad, Betty Scully, MaryAnn & Dick Seekamp, Gerry Sell, Jack Sell, Sam Slagerman, Harold Sonnek, Teddy Sparrman,

Joan Speltz, Ross, Doug Stahlke, Vivian Steblay, Carson Stier, Nancy Stockhaus, Rick Streng, Christine Stuart, Grayson Taylor, Matthew Tennant, Dennis Thurmond, Glo Tonskemper, Arturo Torres, Al Traynham, Linda Underhill, Jesus Uz Tiu, Abby V, Carin Vagle, Leroy Vague,

Mary Sue VanVeen, Dave Velasco, Floyd Ward, Pam Washington, Marlys Weber, Bob Wedl, Jerry Wohnoutka, George Wolf, Morley Woodruff, Michele Wylie, Dave Youngren, Edwina Zagami, Annemaire & Ava Zubrzycki, Bridget Zvirin

Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To add a name or to renew your request, please call the Parish Center at 612.823.8205.

Prayer Corner: Please remember in your prayers those who are in need of healing:

Our Liturgies from April through today’s will be available through the St. Joan of Arc website. Celebrate virtually with Fr. DeBruycker , Fr. Cassidy and the SJA community. Watch online at www.stjoan.com.

Also join us online for our weekly Family liturgies.

Summary of contributions for the week and fiscal year. Includes plate, envelopes and estimated Sustaining Member payments.

Week of January 11 - January 17, 2021 Actual $54,178 Budget $30,667 Prior Year Actual $32,032

Year to Date (July 1 – January 17, 2021) Actual $1,057,058 Budget $1,148,338 Prior Year Actual $1,262,755

THANK YOU for your continued generosity!!

SJA 2020-2021 Concert Series – Pre-recorded Concerts are broadcast at 7pm on the following dates. Watch for FREE (donations welcome) at stjoan.com • Feb. 14, 2021 - SOFIA: Chambers Of The Heart – A spiritual, open-hearted Valentine experience from this sublime trio: Carin Vagle, Tim Frantzich & Dean Magraw • Mar. 21, 2021 – From My Backyard – Michael Monroe

presents music and reflections about Superior’s North Shore with photos by Jim Brandenburg.

Watch on demand after premier for FREE at stjoan.com - Thanks to our underwriters and SJA for making this series possible. Blessings to you, wonderful SJA parishioners! We have tried our best to connect with everyone, so if you didn’t hear from us, we probably don't have the correct information for you. You can go to our SJA website and make any changes by clicking on "Membership" on our homepage. Thank you! Are You Financially Stressed? In this difficult time, any SJA parishioners who are in need of confidential emergency financial assistance to maintain housing or utilities are encouraged to contact Julie Madden at jmadden@stjoan.com or 612.823.8205 x228. Our SJA CARE Committee is available and waiting to help. Thanks to all the donors to our SJA Outreach Fund, who make this support possible.

We Ring the Bells! This Friday, Jan. 22, the UN International Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons goes into effect, and we will ring our SJA bells at Noon in celebration. The US has not ratified this treaty, but, led by our SJA Peacemakers, we will continue to work to make that happen. LGBTQ+ Group News: FFI/to rsvp, please contact Ron at rejslp@aol.com. • Zoom Happy Hour: Tuesday, Jan. 26, 6 - 7:30pm. This is

such a great way to connect together with old friends and new!

SJA Housing Ministry News: We are all in on ending homeless-ness in our community, and there are so many ways to participate in this sacred work! • On Sunday, Feb. 7, at 11am, we invite you to a virtual coffee

and update on our Housing Ministry goals for the new year. You have a huge role to play in our work, and we will be very excited to see you! RSVP to Julie Madden.

• On Saturday, Feb. 27 (this is a change in date), join our SJA team volunteering on-site to rehab a home or apartment building that will provide beautiful and affordable housing to a low-income family through Urban Homeworks. No experience needed! FFI/to volunteer, contact Julie Madden.

• SJA is the newest member of the Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, and we have a great interview with some of our leaders online - go to https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/blog/congregations/a-community-of-collaboration/ to read it!

"More Than a Single Story: Healing the Pain of 2020": Our friends at Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality present this discus-sion on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 6:30 - 8pm. Register at wisdomwayscenter.org.

FFI on Peace & Justice programs contact Julie Madden at 612.823.8205 ext. 228 or jmadden@stjoan.com. Huge ISAIAH Online Gathering in January: We Make MN

Virtual Launch! On Sunday, Jan. 24, join hundreds of fellow SJAers, and thousands of people of faith from across ISAIAH member organizations, as we lay out a strategic plan for racial and economic justice in the

next legislative session. We will work on issues like paid family leave, immigrant protections, affordable housing, and restoring the vote, and we are a powerful voice in Minnesota. FFI, contact Julie Madden.

We Resist the Line 3 Pipeline: SJA, through our Antiracism and EcoSpirits ministries, is organizing a presence to stand with indig-enous leaders in northern MN to resist the Enbridge Line 3 pipe-line. We will also organize support and advocacy for these re-

sistance efforts. Why are we opposed? According to MN 350:

• This pipeline will add as much CO2 to our atmosphere as 50

new coal-fired power plants every day for the next 60+ years.

• It breaks tribal treaties.

• It crosses 212 bodies of water in MN, including the Mississip-

pi River, which means any leak could be catastrophic.

• The MN Environmental Protection Act forbids any massive project that doesn't directly benefit Minnesotans. None of this

oil is destined for us, or needed by us.

• During the official process, 68,000 Minnesotans spoke

against this project, and 4000 spoke in favor.

Call Gov. Walz (651.201.3400) and let your voice be heard now, and contact Julie Madden to be involved in our SJA efforts.

Immigration Policy Changes: The Hope and Work Ahead of Us. SJA's Welcome the Stranger ministry will host a two part discus-sion on the possibilities for a new, just immigration policy that unites families, honors the dignity of work, and gives people the chance to legalize their status in this country. Part I, on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 1pm, will focus on possible federal changes. A state policy discussion will follow, on Saturday, February 6. FFI/to RSVP, contact Julie Madden at the Parish Center.

Mobile Loaves Twin Cities News: MLTC, a food ministry that

includes hundreds of SJAers as volunteers and lead-ers, has published its first newsletter, available at www.mobileloavestc.org. MLTC has continued to serve our neighbors, even in a pandemic, and we are grateful for their outreach.

Antiracism Discussion: Save the date for our monthly discus-sion, Sunday, Feb. 14 at 11am. FFI, contact Julie Madden.

Peace and Justice

Parish Life

Men’s Retreat: Saturday, February 20, 9am – Noon via Zoom. Theme: It Takes a Village – Where Do We Belong? Led by Ron Joki, Mike Halley & Mark Scannell. To Register, please e-mail Mark @ gasscann@bitstream.net. You will receive a link just before the Retreat. Look forward to

having you with us.

SJA Mission Statement

Saint Joan of Arc is a joyful Christian community which celebrates the loving word of God in worship and action.

We transcend traditional boundaries and draw those who seek spiritual growth and social justice.

We welcome diverse ideas and encourage reflection on the message of the gospel.

We are committed to the equality of all our members and strive to ensure their full participation

through liturgy, education and service. By these means we seek to empower all who come to grow

in wisdom and bring to reality the promise of Christ.

Pre-school: (Ages 4-Kindergarten) FFI contact Magnolia

Ditzler at mditzler@stjoan.com.

Grade School: (Grades 1-6) FFI contact Marie

Bissonnette at mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

First Reconciliation and First Communion: For those who are planning to prepare for First Reconciliation, we may begin to pre-pare early this year, hopefully to be celebrated in February/March 2021. Children 2020 First Communion children who have regis-tered and prepared do not need to prepare again. You will be in-cluded with the 2021 group in whatever plans are developed. The hope is to begin preparation in March 2021, and to celebrate in late April, early May 2021. All plans are Covid-19 dependent! FFI contact Marie, mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

Youth Ministry: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Rose Aspholm at

raspholm@stjoan.com or Brennan Hall at bhall@stjoan.com.

Confirmation 2020-21 Update: Due to the pandemic we have decided to postpone the start to our Confirmation classes until spring 2021. Open to teens in 10th and 11th grade, our program is grounded in relationship building, discernment, and service. If you would like to be added to our contact list for teens and families who are interested, please email Rose and we will keep you up to date with our plans. raspholm@stjoan.com

Trivia Night! Sun, Jan 31, 7pm. Families, groups, and/or individu-als: here's your chance to flex everything you've ever learned, with some pop-culture questions thrown in for fun. No studying or cram-ming required. Our themed rounds change every month! All are welcome, especially new-comers. See you there! Contact Rose with questions and to get the zoom link: raspholm@stjoan.com

FFI on Pastoral Ministries contact Sherri Stella at 612.823.8205 ext. 231 or sstella@stjoan.com.

Monday Mental Health: Please join us for a Zoom Webinar Event Monday, Feb. 8, 6:30 - 8pm as Rev. Melissa Hensley, Ph.D., LICSW, presents, Smooth the Path When the Terrain is Rough. This is a free event. All are welcome. To join us, follow the link on our weekly email blast. FFI contact Sherri Stella at sstella@stjoan.com. To watch

our previously recorded events, follow the link on the Mental Health Ministry page of our website. Family Mental Health: Join us via Zoom as Michael Borowiak, MSW, LICSW and Callie Albaugh MA, LAMFT from Traverse Counseling & Consulting, present a series dedicated to helping families navigate the challenges of COVID-19. Presentations are from 6:30 to 7:45pm on the following Wednesdays: • January 27: Parenting Your Anxious/Depressed Kids in a

COVID World • February 3: Grief, Loss, and Family Resilience During the

COVID Era • February 10: What if Your Kid Says No: Practical Tips of How

to Manage Resistance and Defiance During COVID Times • February 17: Help! Technology is Taking Control; Strategies

for Leading Young People in Healthy Relationships with Technology These are free events. All are welcome. To register, please contact Sherri Stella at sstella@stjoan.com. The South Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support provides education and support on a wide range of needs and concerns for those grieving. Speakers share their experience and knowledge on grief and loss, and small discussion groups follow the speaker each week. Groups are led by trained facilitators. You are invited to at-tend the next series, held virtually, starting Thursday, Jan. 21. 6:30 - 7 pm - Speaker; 7 - 7:30 pm - Breakouts. Attendance is free, but registration is a necessity. Please call 612.827.6159. Zoom details will follow registration. Groups are open-ended and individuals may join at any time. FFI, call Norine Larson at 952.925.2437. For a schedule of speakers, go to www.trustinc.org.

Help Parishioners In Need! If you are able to help members in our community with things like picking up & delivering groceries please contact Sherri Stella at 612.823.8205 x 231 or sstella@stjoan.com.

Pastoral Ministries

Faith Formation

Adult Learning

FFI contact Cynthia Bailey Manns at cmanns@stjoan.com.

SAGES sponsors Last Tuesday Seminar, Jan 26 at 4pm: The topic is The Importance of Intuition. Mark Scannell will provide the input and there will time for discussion. To register for the Zoom link, please e-mail Mark Scannell at gasscann@bitstream.net.

Archdiocesan Synod: The Church Prepares - Please go to https://www.archspm.org/synod/ for more information on What's Next in Year 2 of the Synod. Beginning Jan. 20 - Virtual Faith & Cultural Series-tackles widely misunderstood topics in

Catholic teaching. https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/virtual-faith-and-culture-series-tackles-widely-misunderstood-topics-in-church-teaching/ Contact Cynthia at cmanns@stjoan.com with any questions.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation): It's not too late to join this year's RCIA group! RCIA will meet via Zoom bi-weekly at 6:30pm. All materials are provided. Is this your year to come into full communion with our church? Contact Fr. DeBruycker at 612.823.8205

Parish Book Club: Wednesday, February 10, 6pm. Tribe by Sebatian Junger To register and obtain the Zoom link, email Lucy at lpetermeier@comcast.net

Centering Prayer: Sundays, 10 - 10:30am. To register, email Ray Spack at raymondspack@comcast.net.