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wooden gift box Saint Gerard Majella Catholic Church, Judy Bowman

Perhaps no aspect of the Catholic faith is more misunderstood thanindulgences, and this applies to most Catholics' understanding ofthem as well. The history of indulgences during the Middle Agesserved to tarnish this wonderful gift of God's mercy, butindulgences remain for us a blessing and an aid to holiness. Theword "indulgence" comes from Latin and means, "to be kind ortender." In the infinite kindness and tenderness of God's mercy, Heprovides us with these opportunities to grow in love. Each time wesin, we wound our soul. When we ask for God's forgiveness inConfession and repent of our sin, God removes our guilt. But thewound this sin has made in us still remains. Frank Sheed, arespected Catholic writer and preacher, described it this way: Sinis like pounding a nail into a piece of wood. When you confess yoursin and God forgives you, it's like pulling the nail out of thewood. But the hole in the wood still remains and it has to befilled in. We've hurt our souls and now we need to fix the damage.As Christians, we believe that Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross is oursalvation. But we also know from Saint Paul that we have someresponsibility for our own redemption as well. He wrote to theColossian church: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings endured for yoursake and I complete in my flesh what is lacking in Christ'safflictions for the sake of His Body, which is the Church"(Col.1:24). Our communion in Christ, as members of His Body, necessarilyand inevitably involves our own suffering, for His sake and in Hisname. The Church was given the power and authority by Christ toadminister Her infinite deposit of faith and mercy (Matthew 16).This mercy is the healing that our wounded souls need which allowsus to discharge the debt of our sin in this life rather than inpurgatory. An indulgence is like getting your own key to the Bankof God's Grace and Mercy. It's important to understand what anindulgence is not. It's not any kind of permission to commit sin.It's not pardon for a future sin. It's not forgiveness for sin. Andit's not an exemption from any law, duty or commandment. Anindulgence is an aid to grow in holiness, not some sort of "coupon"for "buying" God's forgiveness. Think of indulgences as grantsgiven by the Church to study holiness. They are spiritual gifts,which help us to "work out our salvation with fear andtrembling"(Phil. 2:12). So how do you gain an indulgence? TheChurch publishes a book called The Enchiridion, which lists all themany hundreds of indulgences available to Catholics. Indulgencesare gained by prayer, acts of charity or penance, visiting aparticular Church or shrine, participating in the Liturgy and otherdevotions, or by reading Scripture and other sacred writings. Goingto confession, receiving Holy Communion and praying for theintentions of the Pope are sometimes also required. Giving money isNEVER required. In fact, it's impossible to "buy" grace sinceindulgences are gained through acts of spirituality and prayer. Soyou see, indulgences encourage us to pray, worship, and read theBible--things all Christians should be doing anyway! Catholicsshould never be defensive about the subject of indulgences. Theyare based on the Biblical principles of God's mercy and are awonderful gift of love for His children. The Roman Catholic Churchof Saint Gerard Majella welcomes all Catholics in our area toworship with us. Saint Gerard's is located at 3049 LaFayette Roadin Fort Oglethorpe, just north of the entrance to ChickamaugaBattlefield. Sunday Mass is at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. The Sacrament ofReconciliation is available on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with VigilMass at 5:30 p.m. Inquiry Classes for non-Catholics who areinteresting in learning more about the Catholic faith will be heldat Saint Gerard Majella Catholic Church Parish Hall on Saturday,July 26 at 7:00 p.m. and again on Saturday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m.Regular classes will be held throughout the fall and winterseasons. These classes are open to anyone who wants to know moreabout Catholicism and are also preparation for anyone desiring tobecome a Catholic. If you are interested, please plan on joining uson one of these dates. If you have questions or for moreinformation, please call Linda Swope at 706-861-9762. Havequestions about Catholicism? Email them to us at:stgeradmin@bellsouth.net "Christ loved the Church and handedHimself over for Her to sanctify Her."---Saint Paul, Ephesians 5:25

Westside Missionary Baptist Church, Joan LaFerry

Something to ponder over. This is from EZGtoons.com. and was in ourchurch flyer: Honey, Satan is at the door. He wants to know why wewon’t return his calls. On Wednesday night Martha and Red,Johnny and Sonny, and Penny and Red, sang the special songs. PastorMorgan brought the message from the Book of 1 Timothy 1:1-16 andActs 26:24-29.Paul is saying that God is our Savior and Jesus isour hope. Paul is warning Timothy about false doctrines. Verse 5tells us the goal of the command is to love out of a pure heart,from a clear conscience, and from genuine faith. We are saved bygrace and mercy and not by anything that we have done. In Acts24:25 men often put off receiving Christ as Savior, waiting for aconvenient season. Rarely does that time come. 2 Corinthians 6:2God says: “Behold now is the accepted time; behold now is theday of salvation. On Sunday morning we had a good service. Weappreciate all our visitors. Linda our visitor sang, “I AmRedeemed.” She did a beautiful job. Those that are saved havebeen redeemed. When someone asks who we are say, I am redeemed.It’s better than complaining. That’s giving the Lordpraise for saving us. Pastor Morgan brought the message on Davidslaying Goliath. David was a young and a ruddy lad, but heunderstood that God was his deliverer. David knew that God woulddeliver him out of the hand of the Philistine. David had the faithto believe and God delivered him. God is our strength and refuge.God was David’s armor. God is our redeemer. When we arewilling to do what the lord’s will is, we will be successful.When we surrender to God, he will give us a victorious life. Ourway is the wrong way, but God’s way is the right way. OnSunday night we had special singers “The Right Path”sing for us. They are a new group but they did a wonderful job.They were a blessing. Pastor Morgan brought the message from 2Peter 3:1 and Revelation 20:10 on how we need to stir up our mindsand bring to our remembrance what the Lord did for us. Jesus cameto pay a debt that he didn’t owe. It was a costly price thatHe had to pay. If you die lost you will go to hell where you willbe tormented day and night forever and ever. Hebrews 9:27 says:“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this thejudgment.” If saved we don’t have to worry about goingto hell. We need to be witnesses to lost souls. We are havingVacation Bible School this week from July 14th through July 18th.The time is from 6:30 until 8:45. The Church Bus will be running.Misty Murphy is in charge. Misty does a great job along with allthe others that participate. Pray that the Lord will bless it andsome will be saved. Friday night will be the cookout. We’llhave good food and fellowship. We will not have our regular serviceon Wednesday night because of Vacation Bible School. Happy Birthdayto Gary Self Jr. on July 13th, and to Heather Williams on July15th. May you both have many more to come. Please pray for thefollowing: Rose Hughes, Chris Miller, Red and Betty Liles, JerryMcAllister, Burnice and Lavon, Jerry, Betty McAllister, Gene andJoann Swanson, Bobby Williams, Scott Fouts, Pat Hambright, KellyLyons, Carolyn Wallace and family, Melvin Burson, Wanda Cline, MacLawson, Doris Gurley, Gail Carson, Maryruth Bennett, Lisa Craig,Brenda West, Farrell Therber, Virginia Mchone, Connie Dawson,Red’s brother, Rikki Manning & Jeremy, Billy Collins, RhondaMassey, Frances Swissgood, David Raines, Buck Hasty, Vance, KellyLeCroy, Barbara & Larry Morgan, Tony Dycus, Alice & Ross, Dot Hall,Joey, Samuel, & Jake, Sissy & Clifford, Lamar Rogers, JimmyMcClure, Renee Eaves, Nash Norris, Heather & Rob Williams, RebeccaHankins, Jessica & Johnny Brown, Penny Hooper, Nova Petty, DorothyBroome, Vicki & Jerry Allmon, James Stevens, Johnny Mac, JackMcAllister, Ronnie Long & family, Starr Daughtery, Sara Daffron,Donna Jones sister, Mary, Margaret’s family, Frances Smith &family, J.B., Curtis Smith, Dustin McConathy, Hospital & NursingHome Ministry, Our country and leaders, Our service men and women,unspoken requests, Annette Crawford, Crystal Miller’s family,My family, Sonny Mason’s prayer board, Edna Fowler & family,Andrew Crawford, Doris Vaughn’s sister’s and theirchildren, Vacation Bible School, all our children andgrandchildren, and all the lost souls.

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