- 11 minutes ago
card
Category
š„
Short filmTranscript
00:07Music
00:11Music
00:12Music
00:13Music
00:13Music
00:26The coming is calm, and all is bright, everywhere but in your heart to cry.
00:39By singing our songs of joy and peace, for your guilt too far gone, and too far not to reach.
00:55Somewhere in your silent light, heaven pierced us all to your broken heart's sky.
01:06Oh, this year's just a bit of fuel, and I would love us all to find you.
01:15Somewhere in your silent light.
01:22From heaven's body to angel home, there is no distance, the prince of a peaceful God.
01:35From angel home, to Calvary's hill.
01:44To bring up steam, this love of Jesus in your chair.
01:50And always loved your child, and the old ways were blind.
01:58Somewhere in your silent light, heaven pierced us all to your broken heart's sky.
02:09Oh, this year's just a bit of fuel, and I would love us all to find you.
02:19Somewhere in your silent light.
02:23In your silent light.
02:27Here's your heart, dear Lord.
02:31There matter how we'll reach you where you are,
02:37He lost your heart, He lost your pain.
02:42I doubt every reason that he came, the reason that he came.
02:54Somewhere in the sight of God's love and fears,
03:01Some of the ruin and gorgeous pride,
03:06All this here, just lift your hands up,
03:12Some will find me somewhere in your silent night,
03:20Love will find you silent night.
03:25Love will find you silent night.
04:06Welcome and thank you for coming out on this Greg and Remy December afternoon.
04:13There's a song that originated many years ago and was sung by Judy Garland in the movie Meet Me in
04:21St. Louis.
04:23It begins like this.
04:25Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light. From now on your troubles will be out of
04:33sight.
04:35That's the message we're bombarded with every day from before Thanksgiving to New Year's.
04:42Even in this Advent and Christmas season, our hearts are not always light. Our troubles may not be out of
04:51sight.
04:51And how about this song? It's the most wonderful time of the year with the kids jingle belling and everyone
05:00telling you be of good cheer.
05:02What if inside we just don't feel like it's the happiest season of all?
05:08How can reality live up to the height of the perfect homework special?
05:14In this crazy world we live in, the focus of the Christmas season has become an emphasis on all the
05:22things that need to be done by December 25th.
05:25The shopping, the decorating, the cooking, the baking, too many social events. It's no wonder many of us feel stressed.
05:34But stress pressed inward can lead to a feeling of depression. We're not talking about true medical, clinical depression here.
05:44But what people used to call feeling down in the depths or feeling blue. Therefore, this is our true Christmas
05:54prayer service.
05:55This feeling of melancholy often causes our emotions to focus on missing our deceased loved ones more so at this
06:05time of year than in any other.
06:07We think to ourselves, if only my mom or my dad or my spouse were still here, I would be
06:15able to engage more fully in the season and enjoy it more.
06:19Since we don't have the power to make that happen, what can we do?
06:24We can continue to remember our departed loved ones, pray to them, and pay homage to them.
06:31That's what we're attempting to do here today.
06:35And there's another theme for our prayer service.
06:38Since it is our faith in God that gets us through the bad times, we need to reinforce our belief
06:45that God loved us so much that he gave us his newborn son, who would ultimately lead us to everlasting
06:53life.
06:54That is the true meaning of Christmas.
06:57How do we get that feeling back?
07:00Hopefully, some of the scripture meetings today and our beautiful music will help you rediscover the feeling of Christmas.
07:15Waluses
07:16Please join in singing over 20, Boku, Boku, Boku, can I and Father in Celeste?
07:23We're five.
07:26We will go, Zan06 SolarŃŠŗŠøŠ¹ singing in Lake Brownā
07:30We'll come,ļæ½ of conhecer the Player ofZ, and it will be an unruly career,
07:36So thank you all in any partģ¢
of the things that we're making.
07:39I'm here, until the Son of God will hear, rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come to me, O Israel.
08:06In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, my friends, the Lord be with you.
08:13Jesus said, come unto me, all you who are labored and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.
08:20And so we invite each other to this time of peaceful worship.
08:25Flee from the wild, from your tasks, your to-do lists, and your chores.
08:30Together, we hide ourselves.
08:38I don't cast aside your burdensome cares, and put aside your glorious pursuits.
08:44We give our time to God, and rest in love forevermore.
09:09A reading from the book of Psalms.
09:12I lift up my eyes to the mountains.
09:15Where does my help come from?
09:17My help comes from the Lord, the neighbor of heaven and earth.
09:22He will not let your foot slip.
09:24He who watches over you will not slumber.
09:28Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
09:34The Lord watches over you.
09:36The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
09:39The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
09:43The Lord will keep you from all harm.
09:46He will watch over your life.
09:48The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
09:53The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
10:23Remember your left hand.
10:24Number 466.
10:33In every age, O God, you have been our refuge.
10:41In every age, O God, you have been our hope.
10:48In every age, O God, you have been our refuge
10:56In every age, O God, you have been our hope
11:04Long before the mountains came to me
11:09And the land and sea and stars of the night
11:14Through the endless seasons of all time
11:19You have always been, you will always be
11:27In every age, O God, you have been our refuge
11:35In every age, O God, you have been our hope
11:45Destiny is cast and out your silent word
11:50We return to dust and scatter to the wind
11:54A thousand years are like a single moment gone
11:59As the light that fades at the end of day
12:07In every age, O God, you have been our refuge
12:16In every age, O God, you have been our hope
12:26Teach us to make use of the time we have
12:30Teach us to be patient even as we wait
12:35Teach us to embrace our every joy and pain
12:40To speak peacefully
12:43To speak peacefully
12:45And to rise so strong
12:48In every age, O God, you have been our refuge
12:56In every age, O God, you have been our hope
13:09You have been our hope
13:15You have made your own
13:43A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians
13:48Your kindness should be known to all
13:53The Lord is near
13:55Have no anxiety at all
13:58But in everything
14:00By prayer and petition
14:03With thanksgiving
14:05Make your requests known to God
14:09Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
14:15Will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus
14:21Whatever is true
14:23Whatever is honorable
14:26Whatever is gracious
14:29Whatever is pure
14:31Whatever is lovely
14:34If there is any excellence
14:37And if there is anything worthy of praise
14:41Think about these things
14:43Keep on doing what you have learned
14:47And received
14:49And heard
14:51And seen in me
14:53Then the God of peace
14:57Will be with you
14:59The word of the Lord
15:01The word of the Lord
15:27OƔpidae
15:28Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
16:17Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
16:24Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
16:32The Lord be with you.
16:34And with your spirit.
16:35A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
16:39Glory to you, O Lord.
16:42Jesus said, Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
16:51Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
16:54For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
17:02For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
17:07The Gospel of the Lord.
17:10Praise to you, O Lord.
17:16My dear sisters and brothers, last year, Diane Spaniolo came to me and said she was thinking
17:23about having a blue Christmas service for Father Larry's blessing.
17:27And she invited me to be part of it.
17:31I didn't give it much thought until this past October, when I started seeing Christmas decorations
17:38on sale in Home Depot and Lowe's.
17:41Now I have to be honest with you, I love to celebrate the season of Christmas throughout the year.
17:48It is not unusual for me to play religious Christmas music in July.
17:55What I don't understand is the commercial rush to celebrate a secular Christmas way before December.
18:04A secular Christmas that has nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas.
18:10Instead, it insists on piles of gifts exchanged on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, many of which are returned the
18:21day after Christmas.
18:23And those same gifts that create a long list of bills that have to be paid to the credit company.
18:30It insists that we are merry when we celebrate it with friends and family at parties and dinners.
18:37It causes people to decorate their front lawns with Rudolph, blow up snowmen, Snoopy, etc.
18:48And dragging into their homes the perfect Christmas tree and then putting it out on the curb with the garbage
18:55the day after Christmas.
18:58Just thinking about Christmas in America makes me feel blue.
19:03And here I am talking to you today about your feeling blue at this time of the year.
19:11Blue from sadness because a sense of loss in your lives becomes magnified.
19:19Blue because of feelings of emptiness caused by the absence of loved ones who have passed away.
19:27Blue with feelings of pain because of relationships broken.
19:34Opportunities missed.
19:36Hopes and dreams shattered.
19:39And unsurety in what the future holds.
19:43And some of you are blue with a sadness that comes from sharing and beer bearing with the pains of
19:51others.
19:51And in that shared pain sometimes comes a lessening of one's own joy.
19:59Yes, valid reasons for feeling blue.
20:03And there is nothing about our secular celebration of Christmas that will remedy your feelings.
20:10In fact, your feelings are often made worse by this secular celebration.
20:18What is promoted from October with sales, sales, and sales has nothing to do with Christmas.
20:27The real celebration of Christmas will begin in ten days.
20:33In ten days we will be celebrating the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God who came into this world,
20:42not as a spirit, but rather as a baby.
20:47The King of Heaven chose to be born into a poor family.
20:51His mother Mary gave birth to him in a stable filled with the sounds and smells, not included in paintings
21:00depicting his birth.
21:02His purpose was to live among us, to know all about the issues that we humans have to deal with.
21:10And then to fulfill his mission by freeing us from the slavery of sin, by dying on a cross.
21:19From the cradle to the cross is what we celebrate every year on the anniversary of his birth.
21:28The tree, his Christmas tree, stands above this altar.
21:35Decorated with the image of his torn body and his blood as a reminder of how great his luck was
21:44for us, is, and will always be.
21:48And our Christmas meal is his own body and blood given to us whenever his mass is celebrated.
21:57His own body and blood which ties us physically to him.
22:02His own body and blood which, by consuming them, he says we will live forever.
22:10I know when you're feeling blue, you feel all alone.
22:15But the reality is, you're not.
22:19God knew of you personally since before the beginning of time.
22:25When your bodies were created by your parents, God instilled in your body his own image and likeness.
22:34His soul, a soul which was slaved to sin for four thousand years from the moment our first parents, Adam
22:45and Eve,
22:47failed to reciprocate his love by believing in him.
22:524,000 years until he willingly chose to die on that cross so we would be able to live forever
23:03with him.
23:05During this time of Advent, we are urged by God to constantly prepare for his second coming.
23:13There is no doubt that he will come for you and me.
23:18For many of us, it will be the way he came for our loved ones at the time of their
23:24physical death,
23:25when he freed them from this valley of tears and welcomed them into his eternal banquet.
23:33A banquet that we will also be part of one day, with all our loved ones for all eternity.
23:42For others, and we do not know when, his second coming will be when the stars fall from the sky,
23:51and our world comes to an end.
23:55Either way, my sisters and brothers, he is here with you right now as if you were the only person
24:03in the entire universe.
24:06With you when you mourn the loss of parents, spouse, children, family and friends.
24:14With you when your marriage fails, your children desert you.
24:20With you when you lose your job and the bills seem insurmountable.
24:27With you as you age and your mind dims, and you seem to battle one sickness after another.
24:36He doesn't remove the obstacles of life, but he is there to help us get through them.
24:43And through our Holy Mother the Church, we are constantly reminded of his love for us.
24:51During Advent, don't worry about Rudolph and Frosty and Jingle Bells.
24:57Instead, gaze on that Advent wreath, which symbolizes our way of preparing for his birthday as we await for his
25:11coming.
25:12See in that wreath, the evergreens, which symbolizes everlasting life in the midst of winter and death.
25:22See the wreath that is circular, reminding us of his unending love and the eternal life that he has made
25:33possible for us.
25:35See the holly berries that some wreaths have, their red color pointing ahead to the sacrifice and death of Jesus.
25:46See the pine cones that some wreaths have.
25:49They symbolize a new life we will have, a new life Jesus brings to us through his resurrection.
25:59See the candles that shine brightly, reminding us that Jesus came as a light into our dark world filled with
26:11sin.
26:11Count the candles, each one representing 1,000 years, adding up to the 4,000 the world waiting for Jesus
26:22after the fall of Admonia.
26:25Finally, know that each of the 4 candles has a special meaning for you.
26:32The first candle symbolizes hope, the second symbolizes faith, the third symbolizes joy, and the fourth symbolizes peace.
26:46Hope, faith, joy, and peace that Jesus offers to you constantly.
26:55And when his birthday arrives, don't worry about gifts for him.
27:01Remember, he is Jesus, the anointed one who turned water into wine.
27:07On his birthday and at every mass, offer him gifts of your sorrow and your love.
27:17He will change them into eternal joy.
27:23Amen.
27:47In the spirit of the season, let's now confidently ask our God for all the good things we need for
27:55ourselves as we participate in this Christmas as people coping with our many different losses.
28:05For peace throughout the world as proclaimed by the Christmas angels on that far away hillside.
28:11God, hear our prayer.
28:13And in your mercy. Amen.
28:16For our family and friends, that they may continue to help and support us and that you bless them with
28:21love, peace, and joy.
28:24God, hear our prayer.
28:25And in your mercy. Amen.
28:27For greater understanding of the lessons of love and acceptance as taught by Jesus Christ.
28:34God, hear our prayer.
28:35And in your mercy. Amen.
28:38Please bow your heads in silence and present your personal intentions to the Lord.
28:51God, hear our prayer.
28:52And in your mercy. Amen.
28:55God of great compassion and love, listen to the prayers of these, your people.
29:01Grant to all, especially the bereaved and troubled ones this Christmas, the blessing we ask in the name of Jesus,
29:09who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
29:12Please be seated.
29:15Please join us in singing, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. It's number 21 in the song.
29:21God, hear our prayer.
29:51Let us find our rest in Thee.
29:58Here's my strength and consolation,
30:04O the holy error.
30:09Here is my cross every nation,
30:15Joy of every loving heart.
30:19O thy people to deliver,
30:27O thy children will love thee,
30:32Lord, to make in us forever
30:37Love thy gracious kingdom pray.
30:44By thy own eternal spirit,
30:50For in all our hearts alone,
30:55By thy mouth so rich and heavy,
30:59Praise us to thy glory of the Lord.
31:18After each candle has lit,
31:20we invite you to please join in singing
31:22the verse of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
31:24which is located in here for a breath.
31:55And to Thee in my ear,
32:04Rejoice! Rejoice!
32:08Emmanuel
32:10Shall come to me as love to dwell.
32:21The first candle represents our sorrow.
32:26We own the pain of losing loved ones,
32:29of dreams that go unfulfilled,
32:32of hopes that evaporate in despair.
32:36We remember with love all who are burdened.
32:47We remember the new well,
32:51And with the mountain children yielded well.
32:58We comfort to the land itself here,
33:04And to Thee in my ear,
33:11Rejoice! Rejoice!
33:15Rejoice!
33:15Rejoice!
33:18Shall come to me as love to dwell.
33:27The second candle represents our courage.
33:30It symbolizes the courage to confront our fears and sorrows
33:34In times of mourning,
33:36In feelings of grief, sadness, boniness, and pain.
33:39We ask God to take away the darkness.
33:46We ask God to take away the darkness.
33:57We serve!
34:03We ask God to Hear intanya to hear.
34:05And to Thee who our heart will cheer.
34:12Rejoice!
34:13Rejoice!
34:27this third candle represents our memories we pause to remember them the
34:36memory that binds them to us thank God for their lives in ours in the silence of
34:45your hearts name them remember
35:06in comfort to all men's eyes dear and to the living God in cheer
35:18with the Holy Street Christ Emmanuel shall come with us above to dwell
35:35this fourth candle represents our love the love we have given and the love we
35:41have received the love that has gone unacknowledged and unfelt and the love
35:47that has been shared in times of joy and sorrow
36:02and with what we have given children dwell
36:08we comfort to all men's eyes dear and to the living God in cheer
36:21Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel, shall come near him as come to hell.
36:37At this point in our service, we invite all of you to come forward to receive and light a vote
36:46of candle to remember a loved one.
36:49A loss or a hope. As you light the candle, remember that it is God who lights a candle in
36:57our darkness and holds us close until we are able to shine.
37:03We will follow the same procedure we do for Mass.
37:07Starting with the front rows, please form two lines where you will be given a vote of candle and our
37:14wonderful gentleman will help you light it.
37:17Then, please return to your seats via the side aisles.
37:22You may sit until all candles are lit and everyone has returned to their seats.
37:28Do not extinguish your candles.
37:44Come, soul, my dear Lord, the once dear to me, sweet to the heart of Jerusalem.
37:54The time of your morning is ended now, the Lord of life will come.
38:04A voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the water.
38:15A voice cries out in the wilderness, which raise the highway for God.
38:26Every valley is great, the plain, every mountain is great.
38:35Every valley is great, the plain, every mountain is grand-longed.
38:36The glory of God shall then be revealed, and the nations sing in praise.
38:44A voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the water.
38:56A voice cries out in the wilderness, which raise the highway for God.
39:07A voice cries out in the wilderness, but the Lord shall cry.
39:27A voice cries out in the wilderness, but the Lord shall cry.
39:36Lord, the voice cries out in the wilderness, it strays the highway for God.
39:48Sion, shout from the mountaintop, lift up your voice, O Jerusalem, and say to the people
39:59of God's home land, behold, behold your God.
40:07A voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord.
40:17A voice cries out in the wilderness, it strays the highway for God.
40:26The Lord will appear as a shepherd, holding his lambs in his arms, keeping his love so
40:39close to his heart, bringing them all old and young.
40:46A voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord.
40:56A voice cries out in the wilderness, it strays the highway for God.
41:15A voice cries out in the wilderness, it strays the highway for God.
41:17A voice cries out in the wilderness, it strays the highway for God.
41:46The time of your morning is ended now, the Lord of life will come.
41:56The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
42:06The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
42:18Every valley is made, lake, every mountain is levels.
42:27The glory of God shall be revealed, and the nations sing in praise.
42:35The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
42:45The voice cries out in the wilderness, in strength of life for the Lord.
43:03The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
43:08The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
43:45The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
43:56The voice cries out in the wilderness, prepare the living room for the Lord.
43:57Please join in singing number 62 in the Missalette, Silent Night, number 6-2.
44:11Silent night, holy night.
44:18The voice of the Lord.
44:23The voice of the Lord.
44:27The voice of the Lord.
44:31The voice of the Lord.
44:35The voice of the Lord.
44:38The voice of the Lord.
44:39The voice of the Lord.
44:39The voice of the Lord.
44:44The voice of the Lord.
44:47We peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
44:57We peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
45:27We peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
46:03We peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
46:11We peace, sleep in heavenly peace.
46:19Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
46:28Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
47:02Amen.
47:03Before the final blessing, I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for coming out.
47:11As Deacon Joe mentioned, Diane Spangolis planted a seed well over a year ago talking about having this service this
47:21afternoon.
47:22And I want to thank Diane and the treatment group ministry with Deacon Joe and Kathy McGowan, but also the
47:32funeral ministry and our music ministry.
47:34So it really was a team effort.
47:37But I want to thank all of you for coming out.
47:39It just shows how true it is that yet outside the lights are on and there is that sense that
47:47we need to be joyful.
47:48We know that all of us, I look around this church, and I know your crosses that you are carrying
47:57at this time, whether it's the cross of loss, the cross of a difficult time, and your life, the cross
48:04of so many other things.
48:07But it's good to be together to realize Jesus is the light of the world, and He came into the
48:13world to shatter the darkness and to give us His peace.
48:17And that's the one place you will find that.
48:21It's in Christ.
48:22So I want to thank you for coming out this afternoon.
48:25I just want to thank again the three ministries that have worked on this afternoon.
48:33the Reuben ministry, the funeral ministry, and our music ministry as well.
48:38I want to thank Father Raphael, Father Jonathan, Deacon Joe as well for being here.
48:44All of this together.
48:45We have to support each other.
48:47When one person in our parish family is hurting, all of us need to be there to support each other.
48:53And that's what our funeral ministry does.
48:55That's what our Reuben ministry does.
48:57And that's what our music ministry does as well.
48:59When we gather for, not only for Mass on Sunday, but also for funerals and other parts of the year.
49:07It shows what one family together in Christ.
49:10My friends, the Lord be with you.
49:12And we bow down for the blessing.
49:15In the dark and quiet grief of winter, may the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit make her home with you.
49:22Amen.
49:23May the hope of the Christ child sustain you through your distress. Amen.
49:29May God bless you in those you love, particularly those who are recalled here today and throughout the days ahead.
49:37Amen.
49:38And may Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you and
49:44remain with you forever. Amen.
49:47Let us go in peace.
49:49Let us go in peace.
49:50Let us go in peace.
49:51Let us go in peace.
49:51Please join us in singing Patience People, number 29, Hermes 11.
50:06Let us come in peace to the Lord.