Talents for Haiti

UPDATE: Pictures

Biblical Definition
Talent: [Old English talente, from Latin talenta, pl of talentum sum of money, from Greek talanton unit of money or weight; in Medieval Latin the sense was extended to ability through the influence of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14--30)]
Modern Definition
Talent: a special natural ability or aptitude
This year for our Lenten almsgiving our Church, Corpus Christi, is asking us to use our talents to raise money for our sister parish, St. Michael the Archangel in Dilaire, Haiti. The goal is to focus on education and to add one classroom to the existing school.  So how does this work? The Funds for Haiti group gave out seed money to those who wished to participate.  With this seed money you were asked to use your talents to multiple your seed money by using your god given talents. I have chosen to partake in this and was given $40 to fund my talent.
For those of you who don’t know, I like to sew.  In the past I have made and sold bags, so I thought this would be a good time for me to resurrect those bags and use my talent for a good cause.  Sine fabric is expensive I am donating fabrics that I have accumulated over the years and hoping to only use my seed money to purchase the notions needed (i.e. buttons, closures…)
I will be making two styles of bags. One is purse sized and the other tote. Since I am using fabric I already own chances are there will only be one of each, so these bags will be one of a kind…or as the French say couture. As I complete each bag I will post photos here and in an album titled Talents for Haiti on Facebook.

Large tote on top, purse size on bottom.

Corpus Christi will be holding a Talents Bazaar on April 27th from 8am to 3pm. Myself and other parishioners will be there selling their talents, feel free to attend! If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a bag from me please let me know and I will send the one you like your way! Or if you would just like to make a monetary donation, that is welcomed as well.
ALL (100%) of the money will go directly to the Education fund at St. Michael’s in Haiti.
Thank you for your support in this endeavor and in this season of selfless giving.  This project will run until June 8th, when I will turn in my talents. If you have any questions about this project or would like to get involved, please let me know! And feel free to share with friends and pass this on :)
Thank you, Stephanie
Steph3@hotmail.com

This is HARD!

It's almost embarrassing to say how often I want to open Facebook.


Then I realize that I really don't care about half the things on there anyway. I mean don't get me wrong I LOVE seeing family and friends and what they're up to, but there is just a lot of stuff that is unnecessary time wasters.



I have to keep telling myself it's just a habit. It's only been a week! Hopefully after this next week it will be a little easier to move through the internet and not be tempted.



And for the record, No I haven't cheated or peaked.



How are all of you coming with your sacrifices??

Sacrifice

3. the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
Yes, it is that time again…a little later this year, but Lent is here.  It’s interesting every year to hear about peoples sacrifices they choose to give up and more so the questions I get “Why?” “what’s the purpose?”

I’m not hear to discuss the purpose of Lent the meaning behind it all.  Because honestly, this is something that I have known and lived with for (gulp) 32 years.  It is a 2000+ year tradition, no that’s not the right word, duty? honor? penance?, that my family partakes in. 

My Catholicism is as much as who I am and where I come from as my Prussian/Polish/Fr. Canadian background.  It’s something that just is.  I could run away from it, like a lot of people I know, but then I’d be leaving behind a part of who I am.  And each year as I get older I reflect more and more on the deeper meaning of sacrifice and almsgiving and prayer. 

Now I can’t speak for Adam, but I do try every year to find a vice that will be difficult and not self gratifying (loose weight) to give up, but I also always try to set spiritual goals as well as goals that have to do with making me a better person.  It usually is something like-Don’t have mean thoughts about people, be more patient, don’t be quick to judge.  And honestly those are the hardest to accomplish.

How many times have you walked past a complete stranger and thought “Ug that is the ugliest sweater!” Or cursed someone for cutting you off?  I hate to admit I’m really quick to judge. And deep down it’s embarrassing.  I think to myself, “Stephanie, you don’t know where that person is rushing to-maybe they’re late to work and it’s their last strike.  Or that sweater was her grandma’s whom she just lost.” 

Lent is not only about sacrifice, but about becoming closer to God and living in a way that brings you closer to God.  So I will continue my quest this year to be a better, more kind person-especially to those I don’t know and who don’t know I’m not being kind inside. Because I’m not the only one who hears my thoughts….  I will also be giving something up …. are you ready for this?




Yep. I thought about it and realized that it is one thing in my life that I don’t NEED – nor does it make me a better person – and half the time it is a waste of time. Time I could be putting to better use.  This is going to be hard, because it’s become such a habit, I think it will be more difficult than giving up beer or coffee. (which I’ve done)

At mass today the gospel really clicked with me-it resonated with me because in a way this is how I practice my faith.  I've never been comfortable with preaching my belifes to others and actually become uncomfortable when others do to me.  So I took comfort in hearing these words today and as we begin Lent it's a good refresher on how to deal with the sacrifices we'll be making over these next few weeks.

Matthew 6: 1 - 6, 16 - 18


"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.  Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

As you all enter into the Lenten season please keep a few special people in your prayers; My Aunt Sandy who’s undergoing chemo; My Grandma who is old and ill and hanging on; and my friends father, Johnny, who is also battling cancer.  I will keep you in mine and pray that you too will emerge on Good Friday a better person.

can of worms

Disclaimer: I do not mean to offend anyone-this is just something that I  have a strong opinion on and needed to express after YEARS of regression. What better place than cyber space. So if you are easily offended stop reading, click here and enjoy a very non offensive site.

I want to begin by saying that i strongly believe a persons religious beliefs are THEIR beliefs and that NO ONE can tell them they are wrong for what they believe. Faith is a personal relationship with whomever a person chooses.  Some people are are lucky (or are they?) that they may share similar beliefs with others-hence religions-churches-communities.

I was born, baptised, confirmed and married Catholic. And I will die Catholic. This is not to say that in my life - those formative teenage years- there were times i didn't take it seriously and it was shoved down my throat like dry toast. i am grateful for my parents strong faith and even stronger hand in taking us to church EVERY Sunday. I was also lucky enough to marry a man who was raised (for the most part) Catholic. And even luckier to have him join me at church on Sunday-and to FINALLY find a priest HE likes.  (I like him too).  This was important to me.

Anyway back to that can of worms.  It was during my electives in college that i found a greater interest in religions and faiths of the word-America-what have you.  My eyes were opened beyond the stereo types I had formed and beyond my upbringing in small rural Pentwater. (which by the way has 5 churches!)  The majority of my friends are from a Christian background, however I never made their religious choices and beliefs a main factor in our friendship.  Their beliefs are theirs, not mine to judge. When I began blogging I also began reading other blogs. Strangers blogs mind you and a few friends.  I have found a common string in most of these blogs-they all talk about being "Christan" and what is the "Christan" way to live your life. Great, good for you, that's a nice place to start.

But then I started thinking...I'm sure other people, strangers like me, read these blogs about decorating, cooking, life, raising families...etc. What does a Jewish person feel about reading this-or do they even read it?  How about a Buddhist or a Muslim. They are strong faiths and we all know older religions than Christianity.  Now I'm not claiming to be a theologian of any kind, but do we really want segregate our fellow friends by throwing around the "Christian way" left and right?  Are they saying that a person of Jewish faith doesn't lead a holy and morally correct life?

I think it's wonderful that other bloggers feel so open to sharing their beliefs with the world-more power to you.  Sometimes though,  I just feel like maybe they should stop and realize that they aren't the only ones who have these great beliefs. It really makes my blood boil when people talk about the "Christian" way.  It feels like segregation all over again. Putting a label on it....excluding others. That doesn't seem very Christian to me now. Have they enclosed themselves in such a large bubble that they are missing the point? Or is it me? Jesus would want us to love our neighbors, green, blue, smelly, Jewish, Dutch, atheist, all the same. God would too. And I bet Allah does too. I'm pretty sure Buddha might. Why are these bloggers not more open to acknowledge our shared morals and beliefs? Portions of the bible, in some version, is shared by Muslims, Jews and Christians. Hello! Connection! Wake up!

My cousin married a Muslim, she was raised Catholic. They have a great life, a great family and great morals. I have a good friend who is an atheist-she was raised Christian. She is funny, kind and would bend over backward for you. My best friends brother just married a Jewish girl whose family welcomed his protestant family with open arms into their own. Sharing and merging traditions of faith, love and family. 
Are they no longer "good" people for going outside of the Christian bubble? Of course not. They are wonderful, loving, ACCEPTING people. Not judging. If we all just live by the golden rule, teach by example, learn from our mistakes and follow in the footsteps laid out befor us we'd have a better place to play, raise our families and live our lives. Right?

There is a book that I've been wanting to read for sometime now...

The Faith Club

Maybe I can get some answers...some understanding...and another point of view.  I am more than willing to unzip my Catholic bubble and learn from others. My beliefs are strong-I'm not worried-Granny isn't going to roll over.  But to see the other side of the coin...might be good for a lot of people.

P.S. I also believe in the Easter Bunny-my dad saw him. My dad doesn't lie.