Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist ~ 21 Sept 2015

Matthew was a tax collector, he left his job in response to Jesus calling him to become one of the twelve disciples. Matthew means "gift of God". After Jesus’ resurrection, Matthew preached in Ethiopia and that he was martyred there, killed by either an axe or a sword.

We too might be call by Jesus, how has Jesus called you?

Christ has power not only to heal and forgive sins, but to sanctify, to make the unholy holy. God is all about mercy. 

"Jesus did not come to call the righteous but sinners." God wants to show mercy to all sinners and God wants healed sinners to show mercy.

Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by,

he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.

He said to him, “Follow me.”

And he got up and followed him.

While he was at table in his house,

many tax collectors and sinners came

and sat with Jesus and his disciples.

The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,

“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

He heard this and said,

“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.

Go and learn the meaning of the words,

I desire mercy, not sacrifice.I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs! ~ Psalm 49

Because we all will die, our focus should not be on riches and fame in this life, but on eternity with God.

Psalm 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Why should I fear in evil days

when my wicked ensnarers ring me round?

They trust in their wealth;

the abundance of their riches is their boast.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,

or pay his own ransom to God;

Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough

to remain alive always and not see destruction.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Fear not when a man grows rich,

when the wealth of his house becomes great,

For when he dies, he shall take none of it;

his wealth shall not follow him down.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Though in his lifetime he counted himself blessed,

“They will praise you for doing well for yourself,”

He shall join the circle of his forebears

who shall never more see light.

R. Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!

Rev.Fr.Paul Decroix

Rev.Fr.Paul Decroix
Born:1922 

Died:2015
May Perpetual Light Shine upon him
and his Rest in Peace. Amen.

Be an example to the believers ~ 1 Tm 4:12-16

1 Timothy 4:12-16

Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity. Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing. Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.

~ * * * ~ * * * ~

Be examples to other in our word (speech), conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity.

All leaders (bishops, priests, deacons, evangelists, elders and ministers of the church)  provide and set a good example worth following.

All Christians, young and old, should strive to be examples to one another!

Fulfil your ministry, don’t neglect the gift He has entrusted to you.

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son. (Acts 20:28)

Use words to build up others and show them grace: encouragement, praise, appreciation, gratefulness, cheerfulness, understanding, sympathy, testimony, truth, caring correction and warning, and helpful counsel. There is no place for negative words!

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)

Your behaviour which should testify to your commitment to Jesus Christ.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. (James 3:13)

Leaned upon God in our own trials and have proved Him to be faithful, so we can ask and trust God to work in the lives of those to whom we minister.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Self-sacrificing love, caring commitment which shows itself in seeking the highest good of the one loved.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45)

Purity in thought and deed.

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. (1 Peter 1:22)

Put away old ways and change, God has chosen and loves you

Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSVCE)

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

* ) ( * * ) ( * * )( *

Put away the old reactions and then clothe yourself, put on deliberately, in your thinking, these seven qualities that reflect the life and temperament of Jesus. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness (meekness), patience, forbearance (bear with one another) and forgiveness (forgiving one another).

You do things you do not like because you offer them willingly to the Lord as a sweet sacrifice to him. If you love someone you will do things for his or her sake that you do not particularly like doing. If we love the Lord we offer to him the activities of our day; we do everything with a view to his glory. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

* ) ( * * ) ( * * )( *

We have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. (1 John 4:16)

Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 

(1 John 3:18)

Forgive, if you have anything against anyone so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25)

Happy Birthday to Mother Mary and Happy 80th Anniversary NBVM Church Butterworth

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mother Mary, 

Our Lady of the Nativity 

and 

a Happy 80th Anniversary of the 

Parish of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

8th September 2015

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

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Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ 8 September

Hail Mary,

Full of Grace,

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit

of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

pray for us sinners now,

and at the hour of death.

Amen.

Let us celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin Mary; let us adore Her Son, Christ Our Lord. For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that through her are obtained every hope, every grace, and all salvation. For this is his will, that we obtain everything through Mary. Mary was born to be the mother of the Saviour of the world, the spiritual mother of all men. Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, the couple was childless until an angel appeared to Anna and told her that she would conceive at her old age.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 September) is one of the three birthdays in the Church Calendar other than the Birth of Our Lord Jesus (25 December) and the Birth of John the Baptist (24 June). 

Hail, Infant Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou forever, and blessed are thy holy parents Joachim and Anne, of whom thou wast miraculously born. Mother of God, intercede for us. 

We fly to thy patronage, holy and amiable Child Mary, despise not our prayers in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, glorious and blessed Virgin. 

V. Pray for us, holy Child Mary. 

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us Pray

O almighty and merciful God, Who through the cooperation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of the Immaculate Infant Mary that she might be the worthy Mother of Thy Son, and didst preserve her from all stain, grant that we who venerate with all our hearts her most holy childhood, may be freed, through her merits and intercession, from all uncleanness of mind and body, and be able to imitate her perfect humility, obedience and charity. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

You CAN make a DIFFERENCE

Demonstrate your belief in the power and promises of God by giving your support for NBVM Parish Pastoral Center Building Project. If you want God's overflowing blessing and power on your life, this is your moment! We need raise fund for the building project. Contribute NOW! Together we can achieve this GOAL! Dearest brothers & sisters, show your Christian love in action. We (NBVM) need your help right now.

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39)

Blessed Life of Giving

You DON'T have to be RICH to GIVE Generously.

Give Cheerfully!