St. Michael - West Memphis

Hello all.  I went to Memphis to look at a possible basset hound for me to adopt.  She totally snubbed me so I'm still looking.  Since I was on that side of the state, I attended St. Michael in West Memphis.

I attended the 5 pm Vigil on Saturday.  It was pretty full.  St. Michael's was a nice little church and the people seemed friendly.

Music:  Apparently the organist didn't come, so Father randomly picked songs.
Opening:  We Gather Together
Offertory:  Amazing Grace
Communion:  Silence
Closing:  Now Thank We All Our God

Homily
I really like our nuns but sometimes we drive each other crazy (I see).  Father then related a story about how he and Sister were driving somewhere and Father asked Sister to give the trucker the finger (the scandal).  So Sister gave him a thumbs up.  In today's Gospel, Jesus says if something bothers you, you need to address it yourself.  But we don't do that.  We go to the authorities first.  We go the person last.  Cops say domestic disputes are the worst, because there are no winners.  When we have a problem with another person we gossip or call the authorities but we don't confront that person.  It is very difficult.  We don't like to be confrontational. (some of us live for confrontation....)  When someone is bothering us, ask is it worth it?  Is it worth getting the authorities involved?  Look at your priorities.  Let it go instead of making a big deal out of it.  If you don't like something that a priest does, don't call the bishop first, let it go (somebody's gotten in trouble....).  We have to stop passive-aggressive behavior (*blink* but it is so much *fun*).

Father used one of the Eucharistic Prayers for Various Needs...it was all about love.  There were bells at the Consecration.

I was impressed.  Mass was over in 33 minutes.

Pictures:

Links:
St. Michael - West Memphis 

Salvation History in Stained Glass

 Sorry about the blurry images - Eucharistic Adoration was occurring and I was trying to be respectful.

St. Michael the Archangel - Shrewsbury

September 29 is the Feast of the Archangels, (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael), I decided to go to St. Michael the Archangel in Shrewsbury.  I attended the 11 am Mass on September 27, 2009.

The church of St. Michael greatly resembles Sts. Mary and Joseph in South St. Louis City, except more decorated.  What was odd, was that the top row of window was glass blocks.

There was a choir accompanied by a piano.  Instead of using the choir loft, the choir was positioned in front of the tabernacle.  The songs for the morning were:

Opening:  Gather Us In

Offertory: They'll Know We Are Christians

Communion:  We Are Many Parts and Let Us Break Bread Together

Closing:  We Are Called

The homily was discussed the meaning of prophet, "one who speaks on behalf of God." In essence, we are all prophets.  God and the Church's Teaching Authority give us a sense of Truth, so we can tell whose the right kind of prophet.  There was also a call for stewardship.

Father ad lib the Eucharistic Prayer II in 2 spots.  Once before the consecration, and once after the part where we prayer for the Pope and our Archbishop.  He then said "...here we pause to remember living people..."  uhm.  The Our Father was sung.

There were three servers, who knelt in front of the altar for the Eucharistic Prayer.  Normally I see them on the side.  What was surprising is given that there were 3 servers, no bells were rang at the Consecration..

Oh and there was no mention of the upcoming feast day.

Pictures:

View From the Back Pew

(The Tabernacle is front left, in case you're wondering.)

Altar

(What liturgical season is striped?)

Picture of St. Michael

Link to St. Michael the Archangel parish website

More pictures at Rome of the West

Prayer to St. Michael

St. Michael the Archangel,

Defend Us in battle.

Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;

and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host

by the power of God,

cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits,

who roam the world 

seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.