A Good Lenten Practice

We used this as our opening prayer at our staff meeting today, and I thought it was worth sharing. I think it's a worthy challenge for Lent. Start fasting/feasting!

Fast from worry -- feast on God's Word for those who trust in Him

Fast from complaining -- feast on appreciation

Fast from negatives -- feast on affirmatives

Fast from unrelenting pressures -- feast on the power of prayer

Fast from discontent -- feast on gratitude

Fast from anger -- feast on forgiveness

Fast from hostility -- feast on harmony

Fast from bitterness -- feast on acceptance

Fast from idle gossip -- feast on deep purposeful silence

Fast from judging others -- feast on the Christ within

Fast from self-concern -- feast on compassion for others

Fast from words that pollute -- feast on phrases that purify

Fast from emphasis on differences -- feast on oneness with God

Fast from thoughts of illness -- feast on the healing power of God

Fast from suspicion -- feast on the trustworthiness of people

Fast from thoughts that weaken -- feast on words that inspire

Fast from the inconsequential -- feast on the essential

Fast from facts that depress -- feast on the truths that uplift

Fast from problems that overwhelm -- feast on God-given opportunities

Fast from feeling alone -- feast on God's loving presence always

We are all looking for jobs

If there is anyone out there in the Internet world who is reading this blog, just about everyone in the Echo class is looking for a job.  Here are some of the location and interests:

• Ohio
• Indianapolis, IN: 1) Youth Minister/DRE 2) legal secretary/work for the tribunal
• Washington DC Area (multiple people)
• Ft.Worth, TX (and metroplex area): Youth Minister/Young Adult Minister
• Seattle area
• San Francisco, CA
• Portland, OR
• Greater Boston Area (preferably accessible via public transportation): theology teacher/high school campus minister/youth minister/adult minister

If you are interested in hiring an Echo apprentice as full time minister (youth minister, adult minister, child minister) or teacher/catechist, click on a contributor on the right hand column there and one of us will get you in touch with an apprentice who is looking for a job in your area.

Each apprentice is expected to receive a MA in theology from the University of Notre Dame at the end of THIS summer.  In addition to the experience we have gained as an apprentice catechetical leader, most of us have multiple years of experience in ministry prior to entering Echo.

Blessings,
Isaac

So, how's it going?

Well Echo 5, we're in the last stretch. And by last stretch, I mean the last 4 1/2 months left at our parishes. I'm sure we're all crazy busy at our parishes; I hardly have time to G-chat anymore during the workday! So maybe that's a good thing. How are things looking for the future? Anyone have thoughts about where they're heading (or staying) come the new fiscal year? I'm planning on staying in Fort Worth, and if possible, at my parish. That would be awesome...

Is it taboo to post twice in a row?

I would just like to point out the rapid decline in our blogging. We blogged for 5 months (6 if you count the 2 posts in July) in 2008... 164 posts!

All 12 months of 2009? Only 91.

Conclusion: We're overworked. (...and underpaid.)

See you in less than 3 weeks!!

Raise your hand if you like to pray!

Here's a cool website that I thought you might enjoy...

soon and very soon

There are only 24 days until we are all joyously reunited at Winter Retreat!
Hooray! Can't wait to see you all!

Best Staff Christmas Party...Ever

On Thursday, Dec 17th, the staff at St. Andrew held our staff Christmas party. I was on the party planning committee, and thankfully we didn't have any issues of what kind of cake to get. The other ladies on the committee were super excited about things, and possibly a little overzealous and ambitious about games and skits. We played team games, mostly relay ones, that involved wrapping or unwrapping gifts. We had two skits; the first, before lunch, was The Christmas Carol. The newest friar to join St. Andrew played Scrooge, and he was magnificent. Fr. Carl, the friar that passed away in August, came to visit him three times as the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Here is a picture of the Ghost of Christmas Past and Scrooge:

We had a delicious lunch of steak (or chicken), baked potato with all the fixings, a broccoli salad, spinach salad, bread, and of course plenty of desserts. After lunch our pastor read the St. Andrew rendition of 'The Night Before Christmas.' Our retired pastor played Santa and I, well, I was a reindeer. That was also when we received our Christmas bonus and then did our gift game swap, whatever you want to call it (similar to white elephant, but we had nice gifts). I think at least 4 or 5 people went home with a bottle of alcohol. I was so close to taking home Butterscotch Schapps, but the last person took it from me, since the gift also included a blanket. SO CLOSE! Here is a picture of 'St. Andrew's Night Before Christmas.'