PENTECOST SUNDAY + MAY 27, 2007

On the Way....

The celebration of Pentecost reminds us of how God can use the differences in each one of us to create a unified and truly beautiful reality. Many talents and gifts, acknowledged and brought together in His Name, help us realize His presence in our lives and in our society. The individual gifts of so many of you are put to good use in this parish and in the Church throughout the world, as it has for nearly 2,000 years. This is the work of the Holy Spirit, and you continue to deepen your understanding and appreciation as to how God calls you to service here at St. Peter as teachers and aides in the Christian Formation Program, as song leaders, instrumentalists and choir members, as Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers and Greeters and Ushers. May you continue to see that your gifts, your ministry, your talents, come from Him for the glory of Jesus Christ and of His Body, the Church.

Also On the Way....We mark Memorial Day, or, as it often was called, Decoration Day, when the graves of men and women who served in the military are decorated to remind us of their service and sacrifice. By extension we often use this time of late May (after which there is rarely a frost in New England) to decorate the graves of all our loved ones with flowers....and a prayer. This holiday gives us pause to remember all those who are now serving in the military, at home and overseas, and we thank them for their continued service.

PARISH NURSE: The June schedule for the parish nurse is as follows:

7:30-10:00 am, Friday, June 8 and 15.

NO parish nurse on June 1, 22, and 29.

MY SACRIFICIAL GIVING: One miracle of Pentecost was that, despite their diversity, each listener heard God’s word in his or her own language. The meaning for stewardship is that by sharing the gifts poured out on us by the Holy Spirit, we will be empowered to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters, whatever they may be.

Weekly Offertory: $4,366

Ascension of the Lord: $876

Catholic Communications: $520

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who died last week, and especially long-time parishioner Rejean Lavigne.

BANNS OF MARRIAGE:

I Matthew Miller - Katie Gould

REGISTRATION FORMS FOR 2007-08

CHRISTIAN FORMATION are available at the entryways to church. Please fill in the Family information section completely. If your child was not registered in our program this year, please submit a Baptism record, unless the Baptism took place at St. Peter Church.

Call Jake or Mary at 669-5134, or e-mail stpetercf@comcast.net if you have any questions.

MAY DEVOTIONS: This Tuesday at 6:30 pm in church, we will pray the Rosary. There will also be Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

NEXT WEEKEND OUR FOOD DRIVE FOR NEW HORIZONS FOOD PANTRY: In our last collection we received over 120 food items, and they were so grateful! When I let them know we were collecting again Lisa, their receptionist, wanted me to let you know they appreciate our continued support and that we at St. Peter Church are great! I hope we can get them even more items this time to show them we really do support the great work they do. Their most needed items are as follows, but give whatever you can: coffee, sugar, dry creamer, cereal (any kind), juices (any kind) and canned vegetables (any kind). Thank you for helping the hungry of our community. Marie & Tim King, Coordinators for New Horizons Food Drive

MANY THANKS FROM THE GROUP WORK CAMPERS: They raised $573 from the bake sale last weekend. They are most grateful to St. Peter parishioners for their generosity and their continuing support.

ALTAR SERVERS, SPECIAL MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST, AND LECTORS: The sign-up sheet for July-Labor Day is in the sacristy. Please sign up TODAY with a few dates you can commit to. Thank you.

Is your marriage tearing you apart?

Call Retrouvaille at 1-800-470-2230

or go to www.retrouvaille.org

PARENTAL NOTIFICATION: House Bill 184 seeks to overturn parental notification 48 hours before a minor child has an abortion. You may remember that the law was never enforced because of a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood. Studies show that minors submit to abortions at a significantly lower rate when their parents ( the future grandparents) become involved with their young daughter. You are encouraged to contact your State Senator to vote against the bill of repeal. The public hearing will be held in Concord on Tuesday, May 29 at 1:30 in the Legislative Office Building (behind the State House) Rm. 305-307. If you do not know who your Senator is, you may call Julie Laughner at 895-4855 and she will look it up for you.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER:

God makes all things new! Spring is a time for renewal of the earth. When is the last time you felt renewed in your marriage? Let Worldwide Marriage Encounter help you to love your spouse as Jesus loves us. The next weekends in NH are June 22-24 and Sept. 21-23. For more information or to register call 603-867-6929 or e-mail registration@wwmenh.org

Spread the word about the Corpus Christi Seventh Trumpet Mass on June 10 in Veterans Park.

BRW and the Experience, the contemporary Christian music group from Immaculate

Heart of Mary Parish in Concord, will help us kick off the festivities at 2:30 pm. Mass will be celebrated at 3:00 pm, followed by a Eucharistic Procession. Families are invited to make a banner and join the procession! Bring a picnic lunch, your lawn chairs, and plan to spend the day! For all Seventh Trumpet details, visit www.liveinblackandwhite.com or call 669-3100 ext. 132.

THE CAREGIVERS is in desperate need for volunteers. Imagine how comforting it must be when you’re alone, with nowhere else to turn...to hear the words, "Don’t worry, I’ll be there". The CareGivers is there, providing thousands of needed rides, friendly visits and reassuring phone calls for the frail, elderly, and disabled. Even if it’s only once a month shopping, or a ride to the doctor, whatever time you could give would be very much appreciated. Call 622-4948 for more information; also, see flyer on bulletin board and take a pamphlet from the table at the entryway to church.

MASS INTENTIONS

May 29, Tues. 7:00 am Souls in Purgatory by S.M.

May 30, Wed. 7:00 am Margaret Bernard by Kathryn Rogers

June 1, Fri. 7:00 am To end abortions, from parishioners

June 2, Sat. 4:00 pm Mary Hornyak by John and Lorraine Hornyak

June 3, Sun. 8:00 am Jeanne Therrien by Sam and Irene Martel

June 3, Sun. 11:00 am For all parishioners of St. Peter Church

REFLECTION OF THE WEEK

First Reading: Acts 2:1-11

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

Gospel: John 20:19-23

Having heard the Acts version of the descent of the Holy Spirit, we now hear the version contained in the Gospel of John. Jesus breathes upon the disciples to give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is in imitation of how God created Adam, God breathed his Spirit into Adam and he came to life. In this account, Jesus breathes his Holy Spirit into the disciples and they are given new life in Him. The gift of the Holy Spirit is also associated with the forgiveness of our sins. The Spirit is God’s love and is so filled with mercy that it brings us pardon. The sin against the Spirit is to believe that our sins are unforgivable or to presume upon God’s mercy by only pretending to be sorry for what we have done.

Question for Adults

Can I see the Holy Spirit active in my life?

As we read over today’s second reading, we realize once again that the Spirit of God is manifested in multiple ways, all of them good and beneficial, even if different. Knowing and accepting our gifts will go a long way in helping us accept ourselves as we are and others as they are: an often mysterious task we all have. Once the difference is set up, we can even begin to excel at the gift(s) we have been given.

Question for Children

How can I see the Spirit of God around me and in me?

As all parents know, their children have different abilities and talents and other weaknesses and liabilities. When you bring your children around you for this week’s reflection, have them point out the different "gifts and talents" that they have and others do not, and even those they might not have but that others do. Help them learn to accept this for it will certainly lead them to learn a more realistic set of expectations from God, from their parents and from society (which, as we all know, is less sympathetic and understanding and even cruel).