SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM

"But seek first His Kingdom and

His righteousness, and all these things

will be given to you as well.

Therefore do now worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself."

Matthew 6:33-34

RAISE YOUR PRAYERS; SPEAK TO GOD

EVERLASTING GOD, WE GIVE THANKS AS WE COME TO WORSHIP YOU TODAY. 
We rejoice in Your Presence and in each other as we remember all that Your Son Jesus Christ fulfilled through His Death and Resurrection.

Merciful God, we lift to you today all those who are homeless. 
We pray for an increase in work opportunities. 

Heavenly Father, we lift to you today all those who are most in need.

Lord God, we pray that You will strengthen and guide all those who care for children.

We pray for all who are involved in youth work. 

We pray for Sunday children's groups.

Abba Father, today we lift to you all priests, ministers and pastors who labor devotedly in the Vineyard of the Lord. 
Grant them the strength, humility and courage they need to carry out the task which You - in Your infinite wisdom - have entrusted them. 
We pray that You continue to work in and through your priests, ministers and pastors in all they do to shepherd Your people and to serve the communities in which they live. 
May You richly bless them, their families and loved ones as they honour You through their words and deeds.

Sovereign Lord, please guide and encourage the leaders of our lands. 
May Your Presence among them lift them and enable them to glorify You in all they think and say.

Father, give to us, and to all Your people, in times of anxiety, serenity: 
in times of hardship, courage; 
in times of uncertainty, patience; 
and, at all times, a quiet trust in Your wisdom and Love. 
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holy God, show us Your ways, teach us Your paths. 
Guide us in Your truth and teach us, for You are God our Saviour. 
Our hope is in You.

Sovereign Lord, we thank You for the opportunity to serve You.

We pray for God's wisdom and guidance for governments as they continually discuss and make decisions.

We pray for all congregational leaders.

We pray for all those who serve on Parish Councils.

Father, we thank You for the opportunities of playing a part in the life of others. 

We pray for all fathers, mothers and children.

We pray for all those who are suffering violence at the hands of others.

Father, we pray for all lonely people, especially those who, coming home to an empty house, stand at the door hesitant and afraid to enter.
May all who stand in any doorway with fear in their hearts, like the two on the Emmaus Road, ask the Living One in.
Then, by Your Grace, may they find that in loneliness they are never alone; and that You fill empty rooms with Your Presence.

We pray for Gospel readers. 
Almighty God, please speak through your servants that You may enlighten us through Your living Word and enable us to stand firm in Your promises and to be a voice heard crying out for those unable to speak for themselves. 
Enable us to speak through the prompting and gift of Your Holy Spirit.

Father, we thank you for the gift of music and for the ability of those who use their musical gift to life us into Your Presence. 
We pray for worship groups and choir. 
Continue Your mighty work in them, Father, as we praise and worship You: the One to Whom all praise is due, now and forever.

Holy God, You alone are our hope, O God of our salvation. 
Your love breaks down walls that isolate and divide us.
Your Love heals, forgives, and makes us whole again.
Restore us, O God of our salvation.
Reconcile us, that we may be a true community of believers and live to Your Praise and Glory alone.

God, our Shepherd, give to the Church a new vision and a new charity, new wisdom and fresh understanding.
Grant revival of her brightness and the renewal of her unity.

We praise and bless You Who makes all things new; Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Father God, we pray that during this time, we will spend more time in listening to You, our Father, and less on speaking.
Holy Father, open our ears that we may hear Your Voice.
Amen.

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS ON SECOND DAY OF FASTING, PRAYER - WHY NOT JOIN?

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS ON THE SECOND DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER. We will be completing an eight day fast and prayer; tonight we are holding an all night prayer vigil.
Why not join us in fasting and prayer for the following intentions?

• For Africa to become totally abortion free
• For America to become totally abortion free
• For Europe to become totally abortion free
• For Asia to become totally abortion free
• For all countries to become totally abortion free
• For those far from the Lord to convert and follow the Lord of Life, Truth and Love
• For those most in need of Christ's Mercy
• For those persecuted for their faith
• For those tortured
• For those imprisoned
• For imprisoned priests and pastors
• For imprisoned Christians
• For those hurt by violence and injustice
• For victims of human trafficking, that the Lord may intercede with miracles to release those unjustly treated from their unbearable circumstances
• For those who struggle with their faith
• For our departed loved ones
• For those in the hour of death
• For abortionists, that they may be inspired to convert and leave the industry
• For those in the abortion industry, that they may be inspired to leave and embrace the culture of life
• For aborted babies
• For parents and families of aborted babies, who grieve
• For all priests, ministers and pastors
• For all the ill
• For those in mission areas
• For the poor
• For the terrified
• For the oppressed and harshly treated
• For those suffering with depression
• For those bravely dealing with mental health illnesses
• For those bravely dealing with physical health illnesses
• For parents of sick children
• For sick children
• For bereaved
• For those grieveing
• For those far from home, and lonely
• For those who feel unaccepted by society
• For those struggling with personal issues
• For those bravely dealing with AIDS

Please add your own petitions to this list.

We ask Almighty GOD to hear our prayers, and accept our humble offering of fasting and prayer.

If you wish to fast, please be aware that fasting should always be undertaken with prudence. 

It is not wise for the ill, the diabetic, pregnant women, very small children and very senior citizens to fast. 

However, we can also fast from an unkind word. We can fast by eating a moderate healthy sized portion of food, instead of an unduly large meal. We can fast from cigarettes or alcohol. 

We can fast from television programmes. 

There are many ways in which we can fast in honour of the Kingdom of GOD/

Good Shepherd Church is engaged on the old fashioned way of fasting. 

This we do in honour of our Lord Jesus Christ, remembering His Life, Suffering and Death for our Salvation. 

We honour His glorious Resurrection, and humbly beg the LORD to look upon our suffering world and bring about His Signs, Miracles and Wonders among us.

Guidance on how to fast as a Christian can be found at the following link;

http://www.wikihow.com/Fast-As-a-Christian

With thanks to Wikihow

GOOD SHEPHERD HOLDING ALL NIGHT VIGIL

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH HAS BEEN HOLDING AN ALL NIGHT VIGIL OF PRAYER. 
Do you have any intentions which require prayer? Why not join with us as we pray this night, Hallowed Evening, in preparation for the Holy Festivals of All Saints and All Souls Day.
Why not light a candle for your loved one?
http://gratefulness.org/light-a-candle/

If you wish to pray a rosary, join with others in prayer at 
http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

With thanks to gratefulness.org and comepraytherosary.org

CHAPEL OF REMEMBRANCE - PRAYER FOR OUR DEPARTED FAMILY AND FRIENDS

IT IS A HOLY THOUGHT AND DEED TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON BEFORE US.
As we celebrate the feast of All Saints [November 1st] and All Souls [November 2nd], let us pray for our departed loved ones. 

Many pray for their departed loved ones by attending holy Mass and by devout  prayer.
It is an ancient and holy custom to approach a good priest to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the intentions of the deceased.
Many congregants write the names of those departed on a list known as an Altar List.

Why not remember your family and friends in this special way?
Here, in this Chapel of Remembrance, pray for those who have gone before. Also in your kindness offer up prayer for those who have no one to pray for them, and offer especial prayer for those most in need.

Many parishes offer an altar list on which you can write the names of those for whom you wish to pray.

CHAPEL OF REMEMBRANCE
Quiet your thoughts. Now spend some time in prayer for your departed family and friends.

PRAYER:
"Lord, remember family and friends gone to their rest in the hope of rising again. May they rest in peace."

POPE FRANCIS: WITHDRAW THE VATICAN'S NEW SEX-ED CURRICULUM; ALLEGED NEWS. WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?

THREE INTERNATIONAL LIFE-AND-FAMILY LEADERS WHO HAVE DEFENDED CATHOLIC TEACHING ON MARRIAGE, SEXUALITY AND LIFE FOR DECADES HAVE CALLED THE VATICAN'S NEWLY RELEASED SEX-ED PROGRAM FOR TEENS "THOROUGHLY IMMORAL," "ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE," AND "QUITE TRAGIC"; ALLEGED NEWS.

  Dr Thomas Ward, Founder and President of the National Association of Catholic Families as well as a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy of Life, said, "I find it monstrous that an official arm of the Church would not only create a sexual education programme for teens but one that bypasses parents as the primary educator of their children", Alleged News. [1]

Pontifical Council for the Family  
The program, titled "The Meeting Point: Course of Affective Sexual Education for Young People," was released in July 2016 by the Pontifical Council for the Family , Alleged News. [1]

  The Vatican's sex-education is broken down into six units that are to be taught over a period of four years [grades 9 to 12] in mixed classes; Alleged News. [2]

Vulgar stories and sexually explicit images   Vulgar stories are used as a 'springboard' for discussion; Alleged News. 
  Sexually explicit images are used within the program; Alleged News. [3]

Of urgent concern in the program; R-rated films
Unit 4 recommends R-rated film; Alleged News.
[R- stands for Restricted.]

Unit 6 recommends R-rated film; Alleged News. [2]


SLIDE SHOW; CAUTION - NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN
  See link to article containing Slide Show; What's in the Vatican's new sex-ed program; Alleged News.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/media/whats-in-the-vaticans-sex-ed

PREVIOUS CONCERN
Previous concern about Catholic Relief Services sex-education program was raised in August 2015. [4]
According to a report from the Lepanto Institute, Catholic Relief Services worked to implement a sex-education program entitled My Changing Body with young people in Rwanda, Alleged News. 
  The program, developed by Georgetown University's Institute for Reproductive Health, is designed for adolescents; Alleged News.
  It refers students to Planned Parenthood for further information, Alleged News. [4]
See Link to www.lepantoinstitute.org pdf file, 'Catholic Relief Services and Planned Parenthood Style Sex Education'; Alleged News.
Caution; Not Suitable For Children
http://www.lepantoinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CRS-My-Changing-Body-FINAL.pdf

PETITION TO POPE FRANCIS AND ARCHBISHOP VINCENZO
A petition sponsored by the American Life League has been addressed to His Holiness Pope Francis and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council of the Family.
The petition discusses the many flaws within the Pontifical Council for the Family's new project, and calls on His Holiness and Archbishop Vincenzo to retract the project and reinstate the Church's perennial teachings on both the primacy of the parents as the educators of their children, and the proper approach to this task as explained in Familiaris Consortio. [5]

WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?

https://www.lifesitenews.com/petitions/withdraw-the-vaticans-new-sexed-curriculum

VALUE-BASED SEXUAL EXPRESSION PROGRAM
Good Shepherd Church believes the following to be helpful in a value-based sexual expressions program;

• Emphasis that it is parental responsibility to give life information to their children
• It is likewise the responsibility of the guardian or educator to ensure that the youth's future not be jeopardized through ignorance of the facts of life
• It should be borne in mind that the role of educator is not to replace that of parental responsibility. The educator plays a supportive role
• Moral guidelines are invaluable in teaching value-based sexual expression
• Education on the subject of the Facts of Life also involves the task of assisting youth to develop a godly character ; one that will use the power of sexuality - which can be used either to great good or in a destructive manner - with responsibility and accountability
• Popes Pius XI and Pius XII formulated that sex education should be a matter of inculcating modesty, purity, chastity and morality; a matter of teaching the sixth and ninth commandments [6]
• Pope John Paul II gave biblical reflection on human morality and sexuality in his work 'Theology of the Body' [7]
• Youth should be instructed about the dignity, duty, and expression of married love. Trained in good moral values and self-mastery, they will be able at a suitable age to enter a marriage of their own after an honourable courtship [8]
• Sexuality has been a part of God's Plan from the beginning and thus is very good
• Christian marriage is a sacrament through which sexuality is integrated into a path to holiness
• However, owing to sin, sexuality can be wilfully misused, and for this reason every person is called to purity and chastity - no matter what his or her state of life
• Education in values is best done privately, in the heart of the family. This should also take into account the individual stage of development of each child thus being educated [6]
• Four working principles should always be operative whenever matters related to sexuality are taught; Firstly, human sexuality is a sacred mystery and must be presented according to Scriptural and moral teachings, bearing in mind the effects of original sin.Secondly, only information proportionate to each phase of their individual development should be presented to children and young people. Thirdly, no material of an erotic nature should be presented to children or youth. Fourthly, No-one should ever be invited, let alone obliged, to act in any way that could objectively offend against modesty or that could subjectively offend against his or her delicacy or sense of privacy [6]
• The practice of decency and modesty in speech, action and dress 
• Education of children for a life lived based on sound moral values requires the following; Firstly, a positive atmosphere of love, virtue and respect for the gifts of God, in particular the gift of life, in the family. Secondly, to help youth understand the value of sexuality and good moral values in stages, sustaining their growth through enlightening word, example and prayer. 
• Other educators can assist in this task, but they can only take the place of parents for serious reasons of incapacity. [9]
• The importance of prayer life and the sacraments
• Role models in Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Within their family, they followed Bible-based values. Joseph, as the father and head of the family, gave Jesus example of the virtues and characteristics of a godly man. In likewise manner, Mary gave Jesus example of the virtues and characteristics of a godly woman. Jesus gave virtues and characteristics of a godly child
• Knowledge about the facts of life 
• The responsibilities of married life and towards the children who bless the sacramental union
• Facts of Life information for parents who require a resource re same
• Natural family planning within a sacramental union

The manual 'Facts of Life (Value Based Sexual Expression) was written in order to provide resource for parents, guardians and teachers approaching the sensitive and godly task of teaching youth about the Facts of Life.

The manual includes information on;

• Moral guidelines on sexual education
• The value of love
• Married love is open to life
• The Family - Sanctuary of Life and Faith
• Role Models in Life Education
• Life Education for Youth; Resource for the Educator
• Marriage
• Children
• Engagement and Future Plans
• Difference between Love and Lust
• Human Reproduction or The Facts of Life
• Conception of a Baby
• Birth Control or Family Planning according to God's Law
• Natural Family Planning; The Billings Ovulation Method
• Ovulation Home Test
• Family Planning with Harmful Side Effects
• Possible Complications of Sex
• Infertility
• Amniocentesis
• Ultrasound Scan
• X-Rays
• Birth of a Baby
• Breastfeeding
• Caesarian Section
• Postnatal Depression or 'Baby Blues'

The booklet can be found at the following link;

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_JEo1vAsAPsdGJxUE1mdVRBdUk

[1] Vatican sex-ed 'surrenders' to sexual revolution: Life and family leaders react; Alleged News
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/vatican-surrenders-to-sexual-revolution-with-release-of-sex-ed-program-life

[2] At World Youth Day, Vatican releases teen sex-ed program that leaves out parents and mortal sin; Alleged News
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/vatican-releases-explicit-sex-ed-for-teens-that-leaves-aside-parents-and-mo

[3] What's in the Vatican's new sex-ed program? Caution; Not Suitable for Children
https://www.lifesitenews.com/media/whats-in-the-vaticans-sex-ed  

[4] Lenten Alms given to Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Used to Fund Abortions; Alleged News
http://lumierecharity.blogspot.ie/2015/08/lenten-alms-given-to-catholic-relief.html

[5] Familiaris Consortio
http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_19811122_familiaris-consortio.html

[6] Whitehead, Kenneth D. 1996. Sex Education: The Vatican's Guidelines
http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/marriage-and-family/sexuality/sex-education-the-vatican-s-guidelines.html

[7] West, Christopher. 2009. Theology of the Body for Beginners. A Basic Introduction to Pope John Paul II's Sexual Revolution. Ascension Press; USA

[8] Vatican II. 1975 Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: Gaudium et Spes; Chapter 1. No 52
Vatican II. 1975 Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World: Gaudium et Spes; Chapter 1. No 52

[9] The Pontifical Council for the Family. 1995. The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality. Guidelines for Education within the Family. Vatican City: Section I. No 23
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc _pc_family_doc_08121995_human-sexuality_en.html


With thanks to lifesitenews, educazioneaffettiva, lepantoinstitute.org, catholiceducation.org, vatican.va and youtube

ESTONIA CAN NO LONGER KICK IMAGE OF OUR LADY, ALLEGED NEWS. WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?

ESTONIA'S NEW NATIONAL MUSEUM WILL NO LONGER GIVE VISITORS A CHANCE TO KICK TO PIECES AN IMAGE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY; ALLEGED NEWS.

HOLOGRAPHIC IMAGE
The modernist museum, recently opened in the university town of Tartu, marked the 500th anniversary of the Protestant reformation by presenting an holographic image of the Blessed Virgin Mary inside a display case, whose base contained a plate that viewers were invited to kick. When they did, the image shattered, Alleged News. [1]

ARCHBISHOP URMUS VIILMA
Archbishop Urmus Viilma of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church said the exhibit is offensive not only to Lutherans but Catholics and Orthodox, Alleged News.
Moreover, Estonia as a nation was dedicated to the Virgin Mary 300 years before the Reformation, he said, so "for Estonians, Virgin Mary has a special meaning: no wonder the country is popularly called the Land of Mary," Alleged News. [1]

LEADER MART HELME
Mart Helme, the leader of the opposition Conservative Party, pointed out the exhibit could worsen relations with Russia by offending the large minority of ethnic Russians who are religious: Alleged News. [1]

HEAD VARRO VOOGLAID
The head of the Estonia Foundation for Family and Tradition, Varro Vooglaid, said the museum "has taken a big step in the right direction which we welcome", Alleged News. [1]

The image still shatters at scheduled intervals, but visitors can no longer activate the display with a kick, Alleged News. [1]

WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?

https://americaneedsfatima.org/forms/e16185.html?lang=en

[1] Estonians can no longer kick image of Blessed Virgin Mary, Alleged News

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/estonians-can-no-longer-kick-image-of-blessed-virgin-mary

With thanks to lifesitenews and americaneedsfatima.org