952-941-3150 • www.paxchristi .com • Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time • Week of October 1, 2017

WEEKLY BULLETIN

PRAY • SERVE • SHARE In my family, my father was the person who was in charge of the behind-the-wheel practice sessions for the young drivers in training. My mom was a great driver, but her gasps, foot stomping the floorboards, and loud exclamations were a bit much for us siblings. My father, the strong, silent, and stoic Finlander was more of the grim facial expressions master, and if one was concentrating on the road, well you would miss the exasperation tinged with surprise, and perhaps the hint of white knuckle fear.

I learned to drive on the family station wagon, lovingly nicknamed the “Death Trap,” as only two of the four doors opened from the inside. If the car was ever in an accident where one needed a quick escape, hopefully the driver would remember to exit behind or to the right. This was during the late 1970s, with oil embargoes and gas prices were horrendously high — up to $.70 per gallon (insert “Those were the good old days!”). Inevitably, our three teenaged drivers needed something with better gas mileage, so a VW Beetle became the car shared between us three and our mom.

The car was a standard, so the first order of business was to learn to drive a stick shift. My dad and I started out at the fairgrounds and I probably killed the engine 50 times or more, but managed to keep both of us from being launched through the windshield with my frequent sputtering quick stops, and with practice, I improved to the point where I figured I had nearly mastered this clutch. The second lesson started much better. I had learned how to start the vehicle and s-l-o-w-l-y let out the clutch while giving it gas to jerk along the road. Then came the brutal stop sign. I slowed and down shifted and brought the car to a halt. As I waited for traffic to pass by, I noticed that of course, we were on the corner where one of the “cool girls” from school resided. Fate was not shining upon me as it was not only Ms. Cool but also her cool friends sitting on the front porch frittering the day away. My palms started to sweat. My dad said “go ahead, honey.” I frantically searched left and right, hoping for a car, any traffic to delay my forward movement. Not a vehicle on the horizon in any direction. I said, “You know, I think I have practiced enough for the day. Let’s switch

places right now.” Nope, that plea fell on deaf ears, “Let’s go,” dad said firmly. I took a deep breath and started to let out the clutch and just like that, my foot slipped and the car jumped and stalled. The crowd of cool ones across the street noticed my situation, and all conversation ceased as I made the first attempt to restart. Fail. Giggles. Fail. Snorts. Fail. Guffaws. Fail. Rolling on the ground laughing and pointing. Fail. “Please, dad let me stop!” “Mary Lynette, you can do this, pay them no attention.” Fail. Tears from both camps. “I cannot do this.” “If you want to drive this car, you need to know how to get yourself out of this situation.” Fail. “Mary Lynette, I won’t always be with you. You need to figure out how you face moments like this. Believe in yourself.“ Fail. Fail. Fail. “Breathe, Mary.” I reached way down, deep inside, said a prayer, and just like that I went. My dad gave a wave to the crowd as we sailed through the intersection. I’m not going to say I never stalled the car again, but it was a rare occurrence after that day.

Pray. Serve. Share. What? How can that ever fit in this story? The prayer was there, my friends. Prayers to make the crowd get called away, for me to be successful in this ultimate clutch moment, for the ground to swallow me up. Prayers were there. How about Serve? Well I provided some very “cool people” with a great big belly laugh. I also believe that one or more of those gathered thought I served up a heaping helping of perseverance. Would any of them have the gumption to keep on trying like I did? How about share? If my dad hadn’t drilled me on starting over and over again, sharing his expertise as I practiced, then sharing his confidence in me, I would never have succeeded.

We are Disciples on a Mission. Our response to the call of stewardship is to Pray, Serve, and Share our gifts when we can, however we can, and with whomever we encounter. Ten minutes of teaching someone how to get out of a car-starting debacle. How about an hour spent reading to someone with failing eyesight? Weeding that neighbor’s garden, greeting the stranger with genuine hospitality, holding back on that cup of designer coffee and donating instead to a worthy organization – any of these could be your disciple’s response today. Join the mission!

Written by Mary Kennedy, Director of Stewardship and Development

THE 2017–2018 PAX CHRISTI GUIDEBOOK IS ONLINE AND ONLY 1 CLICK AWAY! Head to the Pax Christi website, www.paxchristi.com/serve and click on the Guidebook button to read or download your own copy today. The Pax Christi Guidebook is chock full of information, including a 2017–2018 Calendar, the Sacramental Preparation Schedule for the year, staff contact listing, information about the Pax Christi Leadership Councils, and job descriptions for all of the Pax Christi shared ministry offerings. Use the Guidebook to learn about the shared ministry opportunities available and either utilize the sign-up form in the back of the Guidebook, or sign up under the SERVE tab on the Pax Christi website. One thing that is missing this year from previous years is the Pax Christi Directory section. In a nod to the changes in landlines, and the fact that many of our members prefer NOT to have their cell phones listed in a directory, we no longer are posting member contact information. If you do not have access to a computer/printer, we have hard copies available upon request at the Parish Office.

PRAYER CORNER PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE LOVED ONES:

Darlene, Jim, Tara, MacLynn, Donna, Bethany, Rose, Donna, Ryan, Fred, S.U., Dan, Randy, Dale, Ben, Kelly, Judy, Diane, Kathleen, Christine, Joe, Jeannette, Catherine, Sherry, Mary, and Irene.

Pax Christi offers, as a community, the gift of prayer. If you would like to have your name listed in this Prayer Corner during a time of need, contact Pastoral Care, 952-941-3150.

Sign-up at www.paxchristi.com/boomersto receive info on upcoming events.

October 6: First Friday Coffee and Conversation

October 19: Feed My Starving Children

November 15: Lunch and Theater Outing

Event information available at paxchristi.com!

UPCOMING EVENTS

This Year This Year Variance from Last Year Variance from Actual Budget Budget Actual Last Year

Week #12 Contributions 75,707 70,000 5,707

YTD through Week #12 563,788 562,000 1,788 570,337 (6,549)17–18 Contributions Goal – $2,785,000 EFT and credit card giving available. Visit www.paxchristi.com for more information.

WOMEN WITH SPIRIT BIBLE STUDYTuesdays through April 10, 9:30–11:30am, $100 RSVP

AN INTRODUCTION TO CENTERING PRAYERTuesday, October 3, 6:30–7:30pm

FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE AND CONVERSATIONFriday, October 6, beginning with Mass at 8:30am

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS – SAVE THE DATE!Saturday, October 7, 9:00am, St. Francis of the Woods Shrine

CAST INTO THE DEEP – ADULT FORMATION SERIESNext session Monday, October 9, 6:30–8:30pm RSVP

MOMS ROCK EVENT: ESTATE PLANNINGWednesday, October 11, 9:30–11:30am, Room 212 RSVP

HOLIDAY TEA HOSTESS MEETING – SAVE THE DATE!Wednesday, October 11, 7:00pm

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN Thursday, October 19, 9:30-11:30am, Chanhassen Location RSVP

NEW TESTAMENT IMAGES BY KIRSTEN MALCOLM BERRYOpening reception Sunday, October 22 following morning Masses

MAKING SENSE OF THE BIBLE – ADULT FORMATION SERIESNext session Tuesday, October 24, 6:30–8:00pm RSVP

HAT AND MITTEN DRIVEDrop off weekend of October 28/29, Sponsored by Twelve Baskets

THIS WEEK’S CALENDARMonday, October 2 8:30am MASS 5:00pm Tai Chi 6:30pm Crossing Borders 6:30pm JustFaith 6:30pm Scout Pack 348 7:00pm Boy Scout Troop 370 7:00pm Venturing Crew 370

Tuesday, October 3 8:30am MASS 9:00am Rosary Group 9:30am Women w/Spirit Bible Study 2:30pm Chair Yoga 6:00pm 50+ Basketball 6:00pm Virtus Session 6:30pm Prayer Ministry Gathering 7:00pm Baptism Prep Session 7:00pm Handbell Rehearsal

Wednesday, October 4 9:30am Angel Hour 11:00am Tai Chi 4:45pm Godly Play 4:45pm Finding God 4:45pm Middle School FF 6:00pm MASS 6:30pm Godly Play 6:30pm Finding God 6:30pm High School FF 6:30pm RCIA 6:30pm Pax Pets Meeting

Thursday, October 5 8:30am Mass 9:00am Quilter Ministry 5:30pm Southwest Grief Coalition 6:00pm Pax Christi Basketball

6:30pm Instrumentalists Rehearsal 7:00pm Alanon 7:00pm Alcoholics Anonymous 7:30pm Singers Rehearsal

Friday, October 6 8:30am MASS 9:00am First Friday Coffee and Conversation 9:00am Name, Claim, and Aim Your Gifts Saturday, October 7 7:30am Strategic Planning Mtg. 9:00am Overeaters Anonymous 9:00am Women’s AA Group 9:00am Blessing of the Animals 9:00am Virtus Session 4:00pm Private Reconciliation 5:00pm MASS - FR. PAVEGLIO Sunday, October 8HOSPITALITY FOLLOWING MORNING MASSES 9:00am MASS - FR. PAVEGLIO 9:00am Children’s Liturgy of the Word 10:00am Children’s Choir 11:00am MASS - FR. MURTAUGH 11:00am Children’s Liturgy of the Word 12:30pm On the Road to Jericho Taskforce Mtg. 3:30pm Teen Choir 5:00pm MASS - FR. MURTAUGH 6:00pm Sunday Evening Meal 6:30pm Good Shepherd I & II 6:30pm Godly Play 6:30pm Finding God 6:30pm Middle School FF 6:30pm High School FF