Good Shepherd Church : December 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

Satanic Display in Florida Alleged News

THE REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON
PRAISED BE JESUS CHRIST

SATANIC DISPLAY IN FLORIDA -

A Display marked 'Happy Holidays from the Satanic Temple' has been in the lobby of the Florida Capitol, Alleged News.

Why not sign the Petition?

https://www.americaneedsfatima.org/forms/E14149.html?lang=en

Satanic Temple Approved for Capitol Holiday Display
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/12/04/satanic-temple-approved-for-capitol-holiday-display/

With thanks to americaneedsfatima.org/ miami.cbslocal.com

Leaders of Religious Faiths join to End Slavery

Image by Catherine Nicolette

Luminous and Holy Leaders of our Paths towards God have

joined together to sign a Declaration to End Slavery.

Let us reflect on this commitment made to end slavery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9JGYjqLUcc

With thanks to Youtube

and Walk Free

Heavenly God, at Christmastime

Image by Catherine Nicolette

Heavenly God, Your Son our Saviour, was born in poverty in a stable.

He was laid in a manger, the animals breathing quietly around Him.

Grant that we may value simplicity and goodness of heart

Above the need for gathering wealth and items at the expense of others, Amen.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Service - For unto us a Child is born

CHRISTMAS CHURCH SERVICE

If you are unable to attend a Church Service, why not follow the service below in prayer and make spiritual Communion with Our Lord Jesus Christ? Perhaps you have been working in essential services, are caregiver at home or ill in bed. All of your intentions have been held before the Lord.

The Christmas Church Service;
Celebrant; 'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Congregation; 'Amen.'

Beginning hymn; O, Little Town of Bethlehem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-bXFDDDfXY

Lyrics;
'Oh little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light,
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God, the King,
And peace to all on earth.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous Gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessing of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O Holy Child of Bethlehm,
Descend to us, we pray:
Cast out our sins and enter in,
Be born to us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!'

Celebrant; "Let us pray.
Hear the words of the Angel to Joseph,
'You shall call His Name Jesus,
For He will save His people from His sins.
Let us rejoice in the coming of God's Son,
As we join in prayer this Holy Night."

Invitation to Confession;
Celebrant; 'Christ the Light of the World has come,
to dispel the darkness.
Let us turn to His Light and reflect on our lives.'

Here follows a few moments of silence. Reach out to God with your heart, and think of any area in your life where you can improve as a person. If there is an area in your life on which you need to work, silently communicate with God and commit to addressing this area.

Celebrant; 'God our Father, You sent Your Son full of grace and truth;
Forgive our failures to receive Him.
Lord have mercy.'
Congregation; 'Lord, have mercy.'

Celebrant; 'Jesus our Saviour,
You were born in poverty and laid in a manger.
Forgive the times we have wanted money more than the ways of God.
Christ, have mercy.'
Congregation; 'Christ, have mercy.'

Celebrant; 'Spirit of Love,
Your servant Mary responded joyfully to Your Call.
Forgive us when our hearts are hard.'
Congregation; 'Lord have mercy.'

Celebrant; May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to life eternal.'
Congregation; 'Amen.'

Celebrant; 'May God Who loved the world so much,
That He sent His Son to be our Saviour,
Forgive us our sins, and make us holy to serve Him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Congregation; 'Amen.'

Congregation;
'Glory to God in the highest; And peace to all of goodwill.
We praise You, we bless you, we adore You, we glorify You.
We give You thanks for Your Great Glory.
Lord God, Heavenly King, God the Almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Begotten Son of the Father.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
You Who take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us. You are seated at the Right Hand of The Father,
Have mercy on us.
For You alone are Holy, You alone are Lord.
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ.
With the Holy Spirit in the Glory of God the Father. Amen.'

Readings;
First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah, 9;6-7
'For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given,
And the government will be upon His Shoulder.
And His Name will be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,
Of the increase of His government and peace,
There will be no end.
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.'

Responsorial Psalm
Response; Today is born our Saviour, Christ our Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
Sing to the LORD, all you lands,
Sing to the LORD, bless His Name.

R. Today is born our Saviour, Christ our Lord.
Announce His Salvation, day after day,
Tell His glory among the nations,
Among all peoples, His wondrous deeds.

R. Today is born our Saviour, Christ our Lord.
They shall exult, before the LORD, for He comes;
He comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the earth with justice,
And the peoples with His constancy.

R. Today is born our Saviour, Christ our Lord.

Second Reading from Luke 2;7;
"Mary gave birth to her Firstborn, a Son,
And wrapped Him in swaddling clothes,
And laid Him in a manger."

Gospel Acclamation:
"Alleluia, Alleluia.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
And we have seen His glory.
Alleluia, Alleluia."

Celebrant; Gospel; Luke 2;1 - 16
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee in Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and town of David.
He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for the Baby to be born, and she gave birth to her Firstborn, a Son.
She wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
An Angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the Glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the Angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring great news that will bring great joy to all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you; He will be wrapped in cloths, and laid in a manger.'
Suddenly a great company of the Heavenly Host appeared with the Angel, praising God and saying,
'"Glory to God in the Highest Heaven,
And on earth peace to those on whom His Favour rests."
When the Angels had left them and gone into Heaven, the shepherds said to one another;
"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger.'

Celebrant; 'This is the gospel of Christ.'
Congregation; 'Glory to Christ our Saviour.'

Word of Encouragement;
Celebrant; 'This Christmas we celebrate the Birth of Christ our Saviour.
It was no coincidence that the Son of God, the Almighty Ruler of the Heavens and Universe, was born in a humble stable.
He came to show us that our true wealth as humans lies in our richness of spirit.
Wealth does not reside in coins of gold (metal we have to leave behind when we pass to our new life in the hereafter.)
Wealth is not found in palaces of stone and brocade; neither is it found in wealth of family and accepted high status in society.
Wealth is found in the intrinsic reality that each of us has been created - individually and with thought - by the Divine Creator in His own Image.
Each of us has been created a son or daughter of the human family of God.
Let us remember this wonderful truth this Christmas.
That Jesus, the Son of God, celebrates each of us as His human sister or brother.
God, having loved us - the children of humanity who were banished from God's Home after their abandonment of their love for Him - so much, that He Himself became human in order to reclaim us into His family.
Glory to God in the Highest, indeed.'
You may spend some time in quiet reflection if you so wish.

Prayers of Intercession;
Celebrant; 'Let us pray to Jesus our Saviour.
Christ, born in a stable,
give courage to all who are homeless.'
Congregation; 'Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.'

Celebrant; 'Christ, for whom the angels sang,
give the song of the kingdom to all who weep.'
Congregation; 'Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.'

Celebrant; 'Christ, worshipped by the shepherds,
give peace on earth to all who suffer.'
Congregation; 'Jesus,, Saviour,
hear our prayer'
.
Celebrant; 'Christ, before whom the wise men knelt,
give humility and wisdom to all.'
Congregation; 'Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.'

Celebrant; 'Christ, whose radiance filled a lowly manger,
give the glory of your resurrection to all who rest in you.'
Congregation; 'Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.'

Celebrant; 'Jesus, Saviour, child of Mary,
you know us and love us,
you share our lives
and hear our prayer.
Glory to you for ever. Amen.,

Breaking of Bread
Celebrant; 'Almighty God, You made a covenant with Your people, and declared Your purpose of justice and love.
When all things were ready, You sent Your Son to be Our Saviour.
In words and deeds He proclaimed Your Kingdom, and obeyed Your Will even to death on the cross.
Through His mighty death and resurrection, He overcame sin and death, to set the whole creation free.
We praise You, Father,that on the night before He gave His life, our Lord Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to His disciples and said; 'Take, eat; this is My Body which is broken for you.
Do this in memory of me.'
Congregation; 'Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life.'
Celebrant; 'After the same manner also He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them saying, 'Take this, all of you, and drink; for this is My Blood; the Blood of the New Covenant which is poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do This in memory of Me.'
Congregation; 'Lord Jesus, You are the Cup of Life, the wine that is blessed for our salvation.'

The Lord's Prayer;
'Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed by Thy Name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever, Amen.'

Benediction;
Celebrant; 'May the joy of the Angels,
The eagerness of the shepherds,
The perseverance of the wise men,
The obedience of Joseph and Mary,
And the peace of the Christ-Child
Be yours this Christmas;
And the blessing of Almighty God be yours this Christmas, now and forever,'
Congregation; 'Amen'.

Final Hymn; Silent Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MjZh597fbs

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A

BLESSED NEW YEAR

With thanks to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Youtube
Image by Catherine Nicolette

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Good Shepherd Church is shortly going into Worship - why not join us?

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS SHORTLY GOING

INTO WORSHIP. If you are unable to attend Christmas Midnight Mass for any reason, why not join us in

spiritual worship. May you and all your loved ones

have a Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Image by Catherine Nicolette

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Interfaith Blogspot joins Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery - why not join?

Declaration with the Global Freedom Network:
United to end slavery.

Committed to the dignity and freedom that is the birthright of all humankind, Catholic, Anglican, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, and Orthodox leaders signed a Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery at the Vatican on World Day for the Abolition of Slavery.

The Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery

"We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative to inspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people of good will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020 and for all time.

In the eyes of God*, each human being is a free person, whether girl, boy, woman or man, and is destined to exist for the good of all in equality and fraternity. Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labour and prostitution, organ trafficking, and any relationship that fails to respect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have the same freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity.

We pledge ourselves here today to do all in our power, within our faith communities and beyond, to work together for the freedom of all those who are enslaved and trafficked so that their future may be restored. Today we have the opportunity, awareness, wisdom, innovation and technology to achieve this human and moral imperative.

_{*The Grand Imam of Al Azhar uses the word “religions”.}

Pope Francis

Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma)

Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong (representing Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh)

The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia

Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka

Rabbi Dr. David Rosen

Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif (representing Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar)

Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi

Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, Special advisor of Grand Ayatollah (representing Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi)

Sheikh Omar Abboud

Most Revd and Right Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France (representing His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew"

WHY NOT SIGN?

http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.org/declaration/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBkobMMHEFY

With thanks to Globalfreedomnetwork.org and Youtube

What are our children listening to? Ten

What are our children listening to? Nine

What are our children listening to? Eight

AS PRIEST, PARENT OR GUARDIAN, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are aware of what our children are listening to, and reading. It is a safe and sensible practice to keep an eye on reading material, resources. A series of posts will be made available by Good Shepherd Church with information on resources we are aware children and youth are listening to.

Morbid Angel lyrics to
Abominations
Album; Abominations of Desolation

Churning sea of Absu
Place of weeping death
Tiamat, dark serpent
Lord of the morbid priests
Enraged with hate for god
The priests of chaos chant
From the book of the worm
They burn the symbols of christ

We spit on the virgin lamb
And mock the words he spoke
His ways not worthy of me
We choose to burn in the pits of hell

Wreakers of death and havoc
Inflicting never ending pain
Sing the words of emptiness
Formulas of death
Call the queens of death
And the god of the dead
The sea of Absu rolls
Rising spirit of Nar-Marratuk!!!

Bow down before the master
And pray the defeat of God Dog
Prayer of the ensnarers
Blind fiends of chaos rule

Rise up o powers of the sea
In the name of Absu I call
Come and carry my curse
To the ones who cause me disgust
May they burn in my cauldron
For they are as molten wax
Burn consume thy powers
IA ADU EN I

Liars in wait, priests of the night
Make images to burn by the moon
Robbing the spirit, breaking god's law
Send up our hate to burn heavens gate

[Repeat 1:st verse]
[Repeat 4:th verse]
[Repeat 5:th verse]
[Repeat 6:th verse]

http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/morbidangel/abominationsofdesolation.html#2

What are our children listening to? Seven

AS PRIEST, PARENT OR GUARDIAN, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are aware of what our children are listening to, and reading. It is a safe and sensible practice to keep an eye on reading material, resources. A series of posts will be made available by Good Shepherd Church with information on resources we are aware children and youth are listening to.

Morbid Angel
Lyrics for Hell Spawn
On Album Abominations of Desolation

Satan master you are the one
I am of you I am your son
You took all my light
I've given no fight
Turn me to black
Possessed to attack

I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn

You are all I need
For you I bleed
Plant your seed
Demons to feed
Blacken my soul
Under control
Born of fire
I shall return

I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn

Die

Blacken my eyes
You I defy
For you I lie
Master I will die
Born of fire
I shall return
Taken my soul
Under control

I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn

Satan master you are the one
I am of you I am your son
You took all my light
I've given no fight
Turn me to black
Possessed to attack

I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
I am the Hellspawn
Hellspawn
Hellspawn

http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/morbidangel/abominationsofdesolation.html#2

What are our children listening to? Six

AS PRIEST, PARENT OR GUARDIAN, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are aware of what our children are listening to, and reading. It is a safe and sensible practice to keep an eye on reading material, resources. A series of posts will be made available by Good Shepherd Church with information on resources we are aware children and youth are listening to.

Morbid Angel
Lyrics to The Invocation/ Chapel of Ghouls
On Album Abominations of Desolation

Ia Ia lord of the waters Iaksakak lord of the waters I summon thee
Come forth and make the gate appear
Iaksakak is the gate in which the spheres meet
Open wide the gate
The ancient ones ruled us all and shall rule again
Come forth through the gate and take the earth as your own

I am the god of all gods
I am the lord of darkness and the master of magicians
I am the power and the knowledge
I am before all things
I am before all gods
I am before all days
I am before all men and the legends of him
I am the ancient one
No man may seek my resting place
I am the god of gods
I am before all things

[Chapel Of Ghouls]

Ghouls attack the church
Crush the holy priest
Turning the cross towards hell
Blind with Satan's flame

Crush the priest
The feeble church

Dead - your god is dead
Fools - your god is dead
Useless prayers of lies
Behold Satan's arise

Crush the priest
The feeble church
The family of dog
Lust upon my altar

Demons attack with hate
Satan in hell he awaits
Death against you all
God hear my death call

http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/morbidangel/abominationsofdesolation.html#2

What are our children listening to? Five

What are our children listening to? Four

Pro-Choice and Pro-Life

According to LifeNews.com, Dr Gregory Fiebig, Professor of Communication and Theatre at Indiana Wesleyan University, allegedly stated;
“I don’t know if you know what cognitive dissonance is. It’s somebody who holds two opposing views equally. I am equally pro-choice and pro-life. And that may drive people crazy,” in the link, a video taken of the event. “This is our belief; that life begins at conception. It is not the world’s belief. And so, if we start telling the world how to live their lives, and hold them to a morality that we believe, that is a little bit akin to playing the Holy Spirit.”
When questioned about whether he would prefer to see abortion made illegal, the Christian university professor replied: “I am not prepared to go that direction right now.” (1)

Will of God
Good Shepherd Church always goes back to the origin of Christianity's mandate; God.
God has made clear in the Bible His inspired Word, and His Son Jesus Christ came to earth to make God's Will for us as humans even more clear.
Jesus' example showed that He abhorred killing; He never killed an unborn infant, child, or adult in His Life. Neither did He offer violence to any human being.
Even as He was being taken away to His trial and subsequent execution, He healed the ear of one of those who arrested Him, and remonstrated with Peter for having attacked the man. (Luke 22;50-51)
50"And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus answered and said, "Stop! No more of this." And He touched his ear and healed him. "
Thus; Jesus' example was consistently one of healing the sick and suffering, bringing the dead to life. Not of killing the live; which would include newly conceived life.

Hands that shed innocent blood
God's inspired Word in the Old Testament; Proverbs 6;16-17 tells us, 'There are six things the Lord hates; seven that are detestable to Him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood".
God made it clear that the unborn infant is fully human, and fully entitled to life, His love and attention;
"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." Jeremiah 1;5.
Murder of the unborn infant, infant, child, youth, adult and older adult of all genders are equally forbidden by the Almighty and Ever-Living God; "You shall not kill", Exodus 20;13.

Power of Holy Spirit
The New Testament tells us that Jesus mandated that we, empowered by the Holy Spirit, witness to Him to the ends of the earth (Acts 1;8); "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Thus we are called to witness to the whole world - empowered by the Holy Spirit within us - at Jesus' command.

Exodus 20;13
As followers of God and Jesus Christ, we have but one choice; either to obey God's Word, or to reject it. There is no half way. Either we ally ourselves to full adherence to the Law of God in Exodus 20;13, or we do not.

Full commitment
This is the time of full commitment to God and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. As we follow the Rabbi born in a stable, reared in poverty, often seen as outcast, and staunchly non-violent and non-killing to the point of forgiveness of His executioners as He hung struggling for breath on the cross and dying, let us try to be worthy of this amazing Human Being Who held the Divinity within His Frame.

Let us choose to protect the sanctity of life in every instance, for every human being, of every persuasion and culture. It is what He did.

(1) Christian College Professor: "I'm Equally Pro-Life and Pro-Choice" on Abortion (video attached)
http://www.lifenews.com/2014/12/02/christian-college-professor-im-equally-pro-life-and-pro-choice-on-abortion/

With thank to Lifenews.com