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In This Issue
Condolences
Parish Notes
Blessing the Animals
The Propers
This Sunday's Altar Flowers
Sermon
Đại Ý Kinh Văn

Upcoming Events


Sunday, Oct 13:  

Confirmation Class, after church

Saturday, Oct. 19:

Feed the Homeless, time TBA.

 

Free Dental Clinic at Saint Patrick's, 9 AM until the 150th patient for the day. 

 

Sunday, Oct. 20:

 

-  Confirmation Class, after church 

 

- Odeon Concert, 4 PM

 

- Youth at the Falls Church, 5-7 PM 

 

 Saturday, Oct. 26:

 

Acolytes' and Young Lectors' Training

 

 

Sunday, Oct. 27:

 

Confirmation Class, after church

 

Harvest Day's Service and Dinner for Youth and Adults, 5:30 PM

 

Saturday, Nov. 2:

 

Bazaar, 9AM -3 PM  

 

Sunday, Nov. 3:

 

Confirmation Class, after church 

 

 

Nov. 8th-10th:

PYM Senior High Weekend @ Shrine Mont

 

Sunday, Nov. 10  

 

- FCS Crop Walk, 1-2 PM 

 

 

Sunday, Nov. 17:

 

- Confirmation Class, after church

 

 

- Odeon Concert, 4 PM 

 

- Youth at the Falls Church, 5-7 PM

 

Sunday, Nov. 24:

 

Stewardship Sunday

 

Confirmation Class to Evensong at the National Cathedral, 4 PM 

 

 

Sunday, Dec. 1:

(First Sunday of Advent)

 

ANNUAL MEETING

 

Thursday, Dec. 5:

 

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM

 

Friday, Dec. 6:

 

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM 

 

Sunday, Dec. 8:

 

Bishop Visitation, 2 PM  

 

Tuesday, Dec. 10:

 

Commissions, 6:30 PM

Vestry, 7:30 PM

 

Thursday, Dec. 12

 

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM

 

Friday, Dec. 13

 

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM

 

Thursday, Dec. 19

 

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM

 

Friday, Dec. 20

 

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM  

 

Sunday, Dec. 22

 

Greening of the Church

 

Wednesday, Dec. 24

 

Christmas Eve Worship, 7:30 PM 

 

Saturday, Dec. 28

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM

 

Sunday, Dec. 29

Hypothermia, 8:00 PM  

 

 

 

Altar at Easter 2013      

Birthdays

October

12   Jean Wetrich

12   Viet-Long Tran

14   Hong Van Phan

16   Joe Hiller

17   Natalie Dang-Ellis

17   Jorden Benjamin

22   Emmeline Pizzola

22   Matthew Pizzola

22   Tess Miller

23   Paul Los, Jr.

27   Victoria Coker-Gunter

28   Harriette Benjamin

30   Carolyn Gawarecki

31   Margaret Mills

 

November

 

1   Bennett Miller

4   Brian Dubas

7   William Herbert

8   Katie Wright

9   Colby Leonard

10   Tom Auld

12   Nhung Dang

18   Nam-Tran Mai

24   Thomas H. Wetrich

25   Kiet Samuel Tran

 

December

 

 4    Irene Graham

 5    Jennifer Moya

 6    Jean Pierre Chanu

10    Winnie Lebo

11    Graham Parvinkarimi

14    Lois Cascella

15    Laurie Los

15    Moi Phan

16    Jean DuBro

18    Jackson DuBro

 25    Amelia Nicholson

28    Paul Los

30    Patricia Phan

31    Trang Diep

31    Chon Kim Huynh

 

Our Prayer List

We remember in our prayer:

 

Dee Bailey, Kari Boeskov, Brandon, Jane Chapman, Marie Cosimano, Tim Clary, Dorothy Connelly, John Davis, Donald DeVaughn, Michael Dickinson,  Loretta Dougherty, The Edsall Family, Dotty Eisenhour, Nance Finegan, Luis Garay, Louise Gibney, Anne Goodwin, Jean Graham, Katie Grosse, Nick Giuliani, Katherine Hafele, Anne & Thomas Edsall, Margaret Ellis Harris, Alek Hensley, Leslie Hogan, Cindy Hogman, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., Michael Horn, Mary Isibel, Sarah Jackson, Lindsay Johns, Gray Johnson, Jamie Kaplon, Robert Kelley, Geoff Kent, Quinn Kimball, Jeffry King, Michael Knowles, Peter Kosutic, Susan Lawrence, Lois Magrogan, Colleen Mavrikas, Gregory McGinnis, Margaret Mills, Evelyn Morgan, Danielle Morgan, Ed+ and Margaret Morgan, Que Nguyen, Chick Nixon, Christine Nolan, Olive Oliver, Jim Owens, Gary Owens, Faith Poole, Mandy Rothenhoefer, William Ross, Bill Sitler,  Irene Skowron, Josh Smithers, Inez StantonCandi Stewart, Barbara Stefl, Kara Stryker, Walter Sushko, Steven Talbert, George Thomas, Clara Torres, George Torres, Elizabeth Trigg, Tammy Vanphung, Nhon Thanh Vo, Michael Weekes, Warren Weinstein, The Crowley Family, The Westfall Family, Paula Wiech, Meredith Wiech, Bernard Williams, Donna Wolfe, Rudy Zimple.

 

    

____ 

 

Note: If you have a loved one or friend who needs prayer please call the church and leave a message at 703-532-5656, or write to Tinh+ at

stpats3241@gmail.com  or call him at 703-405-9571.  Also, should a name need be removed from the list, please let Tinh+ know promptly, and give the reason.  

 

 

Saint Patrick's Ministers 

The Ministers of Saint Patrick's Church are the People of this Parish

 

supported by

 

The Reverend  

Tinh Trang Huynh, Rector

 

Ms. Mariko Hiller,  

Music Director

 

Ms. Rachel Burgess,

Nursery Care

 

We serve our Lord as part of the Diocese of Virginia

 

led by

our chief pastors

 

The Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Bishop

 

The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff

Bishop Suffragan 

 

and  

The Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick,

Assistant Bishop 

The Vision of St. Patrick's

Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church is a community of care, called to be Christ-centered and multicultural in worship, Christian education and action to proclaim  Christ's love to the world.

   

Previous Issues of the Epistle
Please click here if you wish to see the previous issues of The Epistle

St. Patrick's Organized for Missions and Ministry 

 

SAINT PATRICK'S ORGANIZED

FOR MISSIONS AND MINISTRY

 
Vestry Committee:
Senior Warden: Tom Auld; Junior Warden:  Bill Houston;
Registrar: Winnie Lebo;
Treasurer:  Kathy Oliver; 

Other members of the Vestry:   Elisabeth Nguyen, Milton Thomas, Jocelyne Miller, Pierre Chanu, Chris Nicholson. 

 

GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES

 

Altar Guild:  Lois Cascella;  
Bell Choir:  Mariko Hiller; 
Sunday Service Bulletin:  Diem Nguyen, Steve Lebo;
Offering Counters:  Bob Cascella; Diocesan Council Delegate: Kathy Oliver (Amelia Nicholson, alternate delegate);
St. Margaret's Circle:  Ann Nelson; Telephone Chain:
Alice King; Feed the Homeless:  Elisabeth Nguyen;
Odeon Chamber Music Series:  Mariko Hiller;
Westlawn Elementary School:  Winnie Lebo;
Falls Church Community Services: Catherine Dubas;
Hypothermia Shelter Program:  Hao Nguyen; 
The Epistle Newsletter Editors: Winnie Lebo and Cindy Rhoad; Flea Market:
Chris Nicholson; Prison Ministry: Nancy Burch;
Meals-on-Wheels: Amelia Nicholson;Sunrise/Bluemont:
Michael Knowles   

Church

 

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October 10, 2013
Condolences

-  Our condolences to Bill Houston and his family on the passing of his son Mark Houston, 47, on Tuesday, October 8, 2013. 

- Our condolences to Nyonkon Mason on the passing of his grandfather, the Rev. Lee Oliver Dia Mitchell, in Liberia.

"Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray.  Remember them, Lord, in your mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."   (Book of Common Prayer, Page 467)
Parish Notes

    Dental Clinic Oct 5

Many thanks to St. Pat's volunteers who helped the Hope For Tomorrow dentists and dental assistants serve 173 patients at the free dental clinic at our church on Saturday, October 5.  We thank all of you who donated food, assisted at the registration table and served lunch to the team in the kitchen.  The members of the team began to arrive at church as early as 6:00 AM on that day, and the chairs in the church were back to their places by 4:30 PM. 

     The clinic will be opened again at Saint Patrick's on Saturday, October 19th, and, our Ann Nelson will coordinate support for the team.  If you can help, please put your name on the sign-up sheet in the narthex or send an email to stpats3241@gmail.com.
 --------------------

 

- From our Ann Nelson:  A second dental clinic will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2013, at Saint Patrick's. We have been asked to supply lunch and snacks for the dental team (50 people).             

Suggested donations should include sandwiches, snacks, juice, soda, and water.

Please let me know what you will be able to provide. Food may be delivered to the church after 3:00 pm Friday and Saturday morning.  

As always , thank you for your generosity.

Ann Nelson

703-560-2429 

ann_garrard@msn.com


-  Fr. Tinh will train acolytes and young lectors on Saturday, October 26, at 11 AM.   Youth and parents are welcome to lunch on Vietnamese sandwiches following the session.  

Acolytes at Recession  

dinner graphicMark your calendar and attend St. Patrick's Harvest Day's Dinner on Sunday, October 27th.  This event is for Youth and Adults.  Ticket to dinner:  $6.00.  Our Amelia Nicholson will coordinate the event.  We will begin with Evening Prayer at 5:30 PM, and dinner will start at 6:00 PM.

-  The Bazaar of this year is intended for fundraising to support St. Pat's outreach, and will be held on Saturday, November 2nd, from 9 AM to 3 PM.  Our Kathy Oliver and Debbie Clark will lead us in this event, and they will need volunteers to make it a success.  There will be food, a bake sale, white elephants, book and games, clothing, household items and small electronics.  Please, no large furniture.  You may start bringing donations to church starting Sunday, October 27. There will be a meeting to plan for the event on Sunday, October 20th, after church.  Please sign up to help and attend the meeting.

CropWalk - FCS CROP Walk -- Sunday November 10th, 1-2 PM.   The Falls Church Community Service, Inc. (FCS) will be holding its very first "CROP Walk" for hunger relief.  Participants in the 2-mile walk in the Falls Church area will work to raise pledges and donations to fund world hunger program administered by Church World Service, with 25% remaining for the FCS food pantry.  All are invited to participate.
 
Bishop JohnstonBishop Shannon will visit Saint Patrick's on Sunday, December 8, 2013. The service on that day will be held in the afternoon.  This will be an opportunity for baptism, confirmation, reception and affirmation of faith.  Fr. Tinh+ will teach a confirmation class that includes four after-church sessions on every Sunday after church from October 13 to November 24.  Parents and Sponsors of the confirmands are invited to join the class.

cookies for Co-eds Cookies for Co-eds.  Thank you to all those who helped shop, bake, sort, bag, and box Cookies for Coeds on Sunday, Oct. 6.  We have sent boxes to each of our undergraduate college students living away from home, plus two extended family members: Ola Thomas, Joe Dubas, Nam-Tran Mai, Amy Phan, Jennifer Phan, Jennifer Moya, Claire Dubas, Graham Parvinkarimi and  
Aja and Cory Anderson, grandchildren of Steve and Carolyn Gawarecki.

     We even had enough after all those boxes to send a box to Richard Prevo's daughter living out of town!  It was yet another example of typical St. Pat's bounty.

      While it was a lot of work, packing and preparing the boxes for shipment went very quickly because we had a great turnout for packing!  There were 12 of us working elbow-to-elbow, and most were able to stay for fellowship and supper afterwards.

      Thanks to everyone who helped make this a "sweet" event!  Special thanks to the bakers (including gluten-free expertise!), to those who designed and prepared the cards, and to those who donated money for shipping.  Please keep our young people in your prayers this fall.

Thank you!   Catherine Dubas

-  The Nov-Dec-Jan Forward Day by Day has arrived, and is now available in the narthex.  This issue features writings by the Rev. Linsay Freeman, the Rev. Scott Gunn and Ms. Kathy Culmer.  On the inner page of the back cover there is the "For Today" prayer, which reads, "Give me strength to live another day..."  Please pick up your copy.  A  donation is welcome, and may be given to the counters in the church after the service, or dropped in the alms basin during worship.

The Blessing of the Animal -- Oct. 6, 2013 



 

 

"Gracious Lord, grant your people grace to follow the way of your servant Francis, that we may for love of you delight in your whole creation; for you have made us, O God, and all living things. We thank you for giving us these pets and the joy they share. As you care for us, so also we ask that you grant us tender and careful hearts that we might care for those entrusted to us.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen." (From the service of Blessing of the Animals.)

The Propers 

Sunday, October 13, 2013
This Sunday is the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost     
(Proper 23)

Texts:     

Jeremiah 29:1,4-7
Psalm 66:1-12
2 Timothy 2:8-15
Luke 17:11-19
 
Collect:    Lord, we pray that you grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works;  through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

This Sunday's Altar Flowers  


The flowers on the altar this Sunday
are to the glory of God,
and are given by the Dubas Family
in loving memory of Evelyn Morgan

Last Sunday's Sermon 

Proper 22 -- Year C -- October 6, 2013

Text:  2 Timothy 1:6-14                           Tinh Huynh+ 

------------------------

 

In the Second Reading of today,

Paul wrote to Timothy, and he said,

"I am reminded of your sincere faith,

a faith that dwelt first in your grand mother Lois

and your mother Eunice,

and now, I am sure, dwells in you.

Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you..."

------------------

For some time, when I was a teenager,

I did not think well of my parents.

But as time goes,

and as I grew up,

through the Vietnam War and all that,

I have come to appreciate them.

Both of my parents have died.

Twenty-five years ago,

when I applied for postulancy to Holy Orders,

the Church asked me,

"In what way do you appreciate your parents?"

That question was puzzling at first.

What kind of gift they gave me that I considered most important?

After thinking for a while,

I wrote, "The greatest gift that my parents gave me was

their introducing me to Christ."

The greatest gift that has been passed on to me is the gift of salvation.

It is the gift of being raised Christian.

--------------

Paul, in today's scripture, reminds Timothy that he grew up in a Christian home.

Through the lives and witnesses of his grandmother and his mother,

Timothy came to accept Christ as his savior.

God in Christ's death and resurrection had bestowed upon Timothy the gift of salvation.

It is God's free favor.

It's the favor that we humans are not worthy to ask for.

--------------

Paul says that the gift that Timothy received from God was also through Paul's laying on of hands.

I remember very well the time I knelt before the Bishop at confirmation,

feeling his hands on my head

and hearing him pray,

"Strengthen O Lord, your servant Tinh with your Holy Spirit;

empower him for your service; and sustain him all the days of his life."

I was overwhelmed by the powerful prayer, and by the laying on of hands.

The gift I received was not for my own service, but for God's service.

The laying on of hands at my confirmation was not an empty gesture.

There in it was the expression of the donation and the receiving of a gift.

--------------------

What Paul says in the letter is not for Timothy alone.

Paul wanted the early Church members to be aware that salvation is a gift that dwells in them.

The leaders of the first century's Christian Church worried about the integrity of the Church

and about the conducts of believers.

There was persecution, and there were heresies.

Now that all of the disciples of Jesus had died,

the apostles being imprisoned or dead,

and Christ had not yet come back,

will the next generations of believers continue to be faithful in witnessing for Christ?

Will they be fervent in their prayers and will they be strong in faith?

Will they continue to walk in love and do all the good works that God wants them to do?

What would happen to the Church when its members neglect the gift?

The ancient church leaders had strong reason to worry,

because once the gift of God,

the Spirit of power and love and self-control,

is neglected,

problems could easily develop among the members of the community of faith.

If the faith in their hearts is just like a very dim light,

how would they survive the winds of heresy, temptation and persecution?

God does not regret or withdraw God's gift.

But the gift can be ineffective if it is neglected.

------------------

This is why the epistle writer says,

"Rekindle the gift of God that is within you."

The New International Version Bible phrases it this way,

"Fan into flame the gift of God within you."

Fan it into flame!

We all know how the gas stove in our kitchen works.

There's the little pilot light.

All we have to do is to turn the knob and hear some clicking,

and there comes the flame.

It takes only a second or two.

Long time ago, when I was a child,

I saw my mother blowing through a piece of bamboo,

which was like a tube.

She blew into the coal that burned overnight,

to start a flame to boil water.

Here in America we see in the museum the hand-pump that was

used for the fire-place in the settlers' houses.

If Paul and Timothy were living in our time,

Paul would have said, "Turn on the gift of God within you,

push that button and make it work!"

------------

There is a call to rekindle the gift of God within us.

Once the flame begins to rise,

it affects us tremendously.

It helps us to boldly face the challenges of life.

With it we may reveal the Christ in us to others,

proclaiming the love of Christ to our neighbors.

Once the flame begins to rise,

relationships are renewed,

and the Church is edified,

and God glorified.

-----------

God calls us in different ways

and into different ministries.

God gives us different talents

and enables us to minister to each other,

whether we are at church, at home or at school.

------------

Some of us grew up in Christian homes,

and some of us became Christians later in life.

But all of us receive the same gift of salvation,

and we are called to rekindle the gift of God within us.

Fan it into flame!

Amen.

Đại Ý Kinh Văn Chúa Nhật Vừa Qua

Chúa Nhật, 6 tháng 10, 2013

Kinh Văn:  Luca 17:5-10                  MS Tỉnh+ 

--------------------------------------

Luca 17:5-10 là một bài đọc khó hiểu vì trong đó có hai phần dường như là không ăn nhập với nhau.  Khi các môn đệ thưa xin Chúa thêm đức tin thì Đức Giêsu lại nói về chuyện chủ và nô lệ.  Chúa đáp rằng đâu cần đức tin lớn; chỉ cần đức tin rất nhỏ mà thôi thì muốn gì cu~ng được. Rồi Chúa quay qua nói về cách chủ đối với nô lệ:  Chủ đâu bao giờ mời nô lệ ăn cơm sau ngày làm việc ngoài đồng;  trái lại, khi nô lệ trở về phải tắm rửa sạch sẽ rồi làm thức ăn đàng hoàng mời chủ xơi trước.  Chủ ăn xong thì nô lệ mới được ăn.

      Muốn hiểu câu chuyện nầy thì quý vị phải đọc Kinh Thánh sách Luca ngược lại từ đoạn trước, trong đó có lời Chúa dạy phải tha thứ và phải yêu người.  Các môn đệ hỏi Chúa phải tha người mắc lỗi với mình bao nhiêu lần, có phải 7 lần không?  Chúa bảo:  cùng một lỗi ấy mà tha 7 lần chưa thấm vào đâu.  Phải tha bảy mươi lần bảy -- có nghĩa là tha hoài.  Chúa lại còn bảo phải chịu đựng, phải tha thứ kẻ thù, phải yêu kẻ thù. Ôi chao, khó quá.  Nhiều người nghe Đức Giêsu nói chịu không nổi nên bỏ đi.  Những người ở lại thì xin thêm đức tin để có thể thực hiện được.  Từ đó mới có chuyện Chúa nói về nô lệ và chủ.

      Thời nay chế độ nô lệ không còn công khai như xưa, song trong xã hội của Đức Giêsu và ở đất Palestine, họ hiểu chuyện Chúa nói.  Tại sao trong khi các môn đệ xin thêm đức tin Chúa lại nói về nô lệ?  Chúa nói rằng làm theo lời Chúa dạy không phải là chuyện có đức tin nhiều ít, mà là là chuyện vâng lời tuyệt đối.

      Có rất nhiều khi chúng ta nói mình có đạo và theo Chúa, song không làm theo lời Chúa dạy.  Có những người nói rất hay về đức tin, nhưng trong lòng vẫn không tha thứ và nuôi hận thù.  Có khi ta sao lãng không để ý tới người nghèo khó, gạt qua một bên những đau thương của những người không cùng tôn giáo hay chủng tộc, ở nơi xa xôi ngoại quốc.  Hoặc có khi ta thi hành việc phúc đức mà trong lòng thầm nghĩ mình hay hơn người khác vì làm được việc tốt.

      Chúa bảo rằng ta c u~ng như nô lệ của Chúa.  Chuyện làm theo lời Chúa dạy -- như tha thứ, yêu thương, giúp đỡ -- là chuyện bắt buộc phải làm, và Chúa không có bổn phận phải ban thưởng.  Quý vị hàng năm khai thuế, và nếu trong năm đóng không đủ thì tờ khai phải kèm theo chi phiếu trả đủ số thuế.  Có bao giờ sở thuế viết thư thay mặt cho quốc gia cám ơn quý vị chăng?  Chúa chẳng khi nào phải cảm ơn quý vị khi quý vị làm điều tốt.

      Câu chót của đoạn Phúc Âm có môt chữ rất hay là chữ "không xứng đáng." Một khi ta tin trong lòng rằng chính mình không xứng đáng trước sự thương xót của Chúa, thì ta có thể hiểu chuyện tha thứ cho người khác là điều mình phải làm.

      Đoạn Kinh Thánh nầy không có ý nói về vấn đề đức tin mà nhấn mạnh ở điểm vâng lời.  Là môn đệ Đức Kitô, chúng ta phải vâng lời Chúa.

 

--------------------

 

      Thi Thiên 37 là một bài thơ của người Do Thái.  Truyền thống cho rằng hầu hết các đoạn thi thiên là do Vua Đavít làm.  Thi Thiên là lời cầu nguyện phát xuất từ tấm lòng của thi sĩ, phản ảnh niềm tin của người tin Chúa.  Trong thi thiên có sự tạ ơn, và c u~ng có oán than.  Tuy vậy, thi thiên nói lên kinh nghiệm sống, và luôn nói lên niềm hy vọng.  Trong thi thiên c u~ng có nhiều bài học cho đời tin kính.

      Một câu rất đặc biệt trong Thi Thiên 37 là câu 7.

     Câu nầy nói:  "Hãy yên lặng trước mặt Đức Chúa, và kiên tâm chờ đợi Ngài."

      Trong Anh Ngữ, câu nầy được viết: "Be still before the Lord."

      Chữ "still" có nghĩa là ngồi yên hay nằm yên, hoặc ở yên (không cựa quậy).

      Trong Phúc Âm có câu chuyện Đức Giêsu quở giông bão giữa biển.  Ngài phán: "Be still" (Hãy yên lặng đi), và biển êm lặng như tờ.

      Quý vị và tôi nghĩ gì về chữ yên lặng?

      Có phải là một ít phút, một giờ hay một ngày tịnh khẩu chăng?  Nếu ở một mình thì mình có yên lặng được chăng?

      Đương nhiên là nếu không có ai bên cạnh thì không phải nói.  Nếu có người bên cạnh mà mình giữ đừng phát ngôn thì khó hơn một chút.  Hãy thử ngồi với một người nào đó mà không nói trong vòng 5 phút, coi có thấy chột rột hay không.

      Khi không nói, và nhất là khi ở một mình, thì mới thấy những náo động từ bên trong mới dồn dập hơn nữa.  Tịnh tâm khó hơn tịnh khẩu.

      Câu "Hãy ở yên trước mặt Đức Chúa và chờ đợi nơi Ngài" chính là về sự tịnh tâm. 

      Có lẽ tác giả Thi Thiên đã kinh nghiệm chuyện bị người ta vu oan giá họa cho mình.  Ông nói một cách khôn ngoan, và khuyên mình phải kiên nhẫn yên lặng trước mặt Chúa.  Chúa sẽ làm cho sự ngay thẳng của bạn được bày tỏ ra như bình minh.  Bạn chẳng cần nổi giận với kẻ vu khống và kẻ ác.

      Lời cầu nguyện của chúng ta hôm nay là xin Chúa cho chúng ta một tuần lễ bình tịnh, biết rằng mình sẽ có thể phải đối phó với những giông bão của đời.  Xin Chúa cho chúng ta có sức mạnh để vượt qua.  Khi tâm hồn chúng ta xáo trộn, chúng ta biết rằng mình có yếu đuối, và cần Chúa.  Mỗi giữ tâm mình bình tịnh qua một khó khăn nhỏ, chúng ta biết rằng mình đã tập được một bước trên cuộc hành trình tâm linh. 

      Khi chúng ta an tịnh thì sẽ thấy được ân sủng Chúa thật bao la,và thấy cái không xứng đáng của mình.  Từ đó dâng mình làm "nô lệ" cho Chúa và quyết tâm vâng lời Chúa.

May God bless and keep you, and may God grant us peace. 

 

The Rev. Tinh T. Huynh

Rector of Saint Patrick's Church