Acts of the Apostles Discussion GroupMeeting Wednesday, April 24 at 6:45 - 8:00 pm
A discussion on verses from Acts - how they relate to our daily lives and our call to be Christ-centered - based on questions from a pamphlet prepared by Fr. John and questions raised by the group. Very informal – meaning you do not need to prepare, study or do anything special other than attend the meetings you are able to attend. Again, no preparation necessary. Come when you can. Please call Mike St. Charles (423.400.6327) or the Parish Office (886.3424) with questions. You do not need to sign up to attend a meeting. This weekend, April 27-28 is the last weekend the Knights of Columbus will be selling tickets after the Masses for the 1/2 chicken sale. If you would like to purchase a ticket after this weekend, contact Steve at 207-751-9313.
What is a Life in the Spirit Seminar?
It is an opportunity to draw closer to God, especially to the person of the Holy Spirit. The Seminar helps those who attend grasp, with an adult understanding, our Sacrament of Confirmation and how necessary it is to living a full and abundant life in Christ. Confirmation is the least understood Sacrament; the Holy Spirit is the least understood Person of the Blessed Trinity. A Life in the Spirit Seminar can help us to, “...stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give you a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” (2 Tim 1:6-7) What could be better than having Jesus with us here on earth? Yet, Jesus Himself told the apostles, the night before He died for us, that it was better that He go. “For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7). When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will glorify me because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:14). The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name-he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you (John 25-26). The Spirit comes to us bearing incredible gifts. Gifts that enable us to live an effective and powerful life, not on our own strength, but by allowing the Spirit to work through us. The Lord wants you to desire the spiritual gifts, because he wants to give you power to serve him in an effective way. But he wants you to know that the aim of the Christian life is to love God and to love one another. That must be the center of our concern. “Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.” 1 Cor 14:1) Preparation for the Life in the Spirit: Directly before Jesus ascends into heaven, he commissions his apostles to go into the whole world, but then tells them, “...not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4) Even after spending 3 years learning from Jesus, the best rabbi ever, and being sent on healing and teaching mission trips, in Jesus' authority, the apostles needed something more to be fully equipped. Jesus told them to wait until they received the “promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit”. And so, they prayed together with our Blessed Mother for 9 days, until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the best preparation. Pray for the Holy Spirit to come upon you, to be open to receive all that God has for you, to ask for more, to desire more, to be fully equipped. for your vocation, your mission in life. Ask Mary, our gentle Mother, and spouse of the Holy Spirit, to intercede for you. “Come Holy Spirit, come into my life and baptize me in your Spirit.”
St. Augustine has a couple volunteer opportunities to help the less fortunate in our local Chattanooga community
1. Help is needed each week making 200 peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. 2. Serve a hot meal to the homeless on the 4th Saturday of the month. Click on the link below to sign up for one or both of these community service opportunities. Different Ways of Giving to our Parish
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