St. John the Baptist of New Brighton


	Angel Tree


	St. John's Talking

We will be collecting toys and gift certificates for the Churches of Blessed Kateri and Holy Rosary and our local food shelf through Salvation Army's Operation Joy.
Angels will be on the trees in St. Paul's Plaza starting the weekend of November 22/23. Gifts can be returned to St. Paul's Plaza the weekends of November 29/30 through December 13/14. Gift certificates can be mailed to St. John's or returned to the Parish Office.

PLEASE NOTE: December 14 is the last day to return gifts and certificates because the agencies need time to deliver their presents.


	You are invited to participate in two small group conversations in November for this community building event. The purpose of these two conversations is to inspire increased participation and leadership for ongoing and new parish activities that reach out to our community. We believe that by sharing our faith stories, we will not only strengthen our parish community, but we will also participate more fully in the public arena where we, as a Catholic Community, can bring Jesus Christ's compassion and justice to others. The first conversation will focus on us as individuals. How does God work in our lives? What brought us to St. John's? What keeps us here? The second conversation broadens this discussion to include the opportunities and challenges we face in living our faith day-to-day in our neighborhoods, local communities, and beyond. How do we respond to the call of Jesus Christ to act on the Word of God? If you are interested, or would like additional information, please contact (evenings): Liz at 651-631-8067, Katie at 651-765-9999, or Tom at 612-508-1296. A short training session will be provided for group leaders and hosts. Leaders and hosts will set their own meeting times and place. Please watch for sign-up boards after Masses this weekend and the weekend of November 8/9. May we grow and strive together!

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED:

Collecting the gifts during the weekends of November 29/30 through December 13/14.

Delivering the gifts to Ralph Reeder Food Shelf on Monday mornings, December 1 through 15, at 9:00 am.

Call Judy, 651-633-8333, ext. 1229, if you can help.


	Connections: November 2, 2003 Feast of All Souls

"This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day." (Roman Lectionary: John 6:37-40)

"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength…' 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself…' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Common Lectionary: Mark 12:28-34)

THE FOUR MOST DREADED WORDS IN THE LANGUAGE
The sweetest, most desirable words in the English language are I love you.
The four worst words have to be the dreaded I love you, BUT…
It should be illegal for anyone to say that to another person. What makes that combination of words so harmful is that it comes from someone we believe loves us and is always followed by something unkind, like "this is the worst meatloaf I've ever tasted" or "you're obsessiveness is driving me up the wall;" or it may be followed by something stinging, like "I just want to be friends" or worse, "I want a divorce."
I love you SO…, perhaps; BECAUSE I love you…, okay; but never I love you, BUT… I love you should always stand alone, without a qualifier. I love you should compel and inspire graciousness and compassion, not a cushion for what we really feel or want to do or say. I love you should never be spoken in anger, should never be uttered with equivocation, should never be conditional or offered with set limits. I love you should only be spoken with the total joy and complete hope of the heart.

[Adapted from an essay by Adam K. Hollowell]

CONNECTION: "To love" right and well demands every fiber of our being-- heart, soul, mind, and strength. In today's Gospel, Jesus lifts up such love as the center of the Kingdom of God. Such love is able to endure whatever pain comes its way, but never hesitates, never doubts; such love rejoices and encourages, comforts and consoles, but never patronizes or manipulates. In the twofold "great commandment," we discover a purpose to our lives much greater and larger than ourselves and our own needs, interests, prejudices, and biases; in loving God in one another, we find the ultimate meaning and purpose of the gifts of faith and life.