13th Sunday of Pentecost

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ." Ephesians 3:11

In the Gospel today, Jesus compares us to soil- hard soil, rocky soil, thorny soil, and fertile soil. Jesus and the apostles are the sower, the seed is the gospel, and we receive the good news. When we receive the good news, we all receive something good, eternal, and transformative, yet, some of us receive it poorly or abandon the good news. We must be the fertile soil. Now we know we are the fertile soil by the fruit that we bear. When we are the fertile soil we become apostles, we become the sower. When we are the sower we must share the good news even though we cannot control how others receive the good news. We can control how we receive the good news. We can control our own yes to Jesus and in that yes we can witness to the world that they too can be transformed. The final festival numbers are not yet set as receipts are still coming in. This year our festival grossed approximately $57,000. This is our best year ever, 25% more than last year and 5% more than 2017. Thank you to all who volunteered and donated to our festival. Fr. Alex will prepare a thank you luncheon for everyone this Sunday, September 1st after both liturgies. - This Sunday we would like to begin soliciting suggestions about space use and hall/ kitchen renovationfor our new home. The Pastoral Committee has prepared an optional feedback sheet that any parishioner may fill out to submit suggestions. -Remember to be cautious Incident has officials sounding alarm on mental illness WASHINGTON TWP. — A man shot by police in 2017 recently showed up uninvited to a closed meeting for Incarnation School in Washington Twp. Although he committed no crime and later was deemed not to be a threat, the incident triggered a discussion about how the public and law enforcement should handle incidents when potential mental health or safety issues are involved, especially in light of the recent mass shooting in the Oregon District. According to a memo from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office obtained by WHIO-TV, Austin Linker, 18, arrived at the parish activities center at Incarnation Catholic Church last week during a closed Incarnation School teacher in-service-training session. He was asked to leave. He did so and made no attempt to enter the school. https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/incident-has-officials-sounding-alarm-mental-illness/4ULNIKbwbwEn59IzK5KyuI/

-We will host an open house October 19th and 20th with evening prayer and a blessing with the relic of St. Ignatius of Antioch on October 19th at 6 PM followed by light refreshments and a question and answer session on "Who are the Maronites?" Liturgies on Sunday, October 20th will be at 9 am and 11 am with a lecture on Maronite history and spirituality. Please volunteer to be a greeter at this event.

- Annual St. Ignatius of Antioch Banquet Saturday, December 14th with Bishop Elias.

-Consecration and dedication: Bishop Elias will consecrate and dedicate our new home on December 15th at 11 am.

- Initiatives- To what is God calling you? What are your hopes, dreams, and ideas for our parish? What do you want to do? Mission, charity, prayers, work, fundraisers, or maintenance? How can we support you? -We need volunteers to read during the liturgy and to bring the gifts. If you would like to do so, please see George Najem for 11 am liturgy or Jim Zaidan for the 9 am Liturgy.

- Please pray for a parishioner who broke several bones last week. - Please pray for all affected by the Dayton Massacre. Let each one of us seek what help we need for ourselves and give what help we can to others.

- Bible Study every Sunday at 10 am.

- Sunday liturgies 9 am and 11 am

- Confessions immediately before and after liturgies or by appointment.

St. Ignatius of Antioch 13th Sunday of Pentecost September 1, 2019