The community Eucharist celebration is held each Sunday in the Charles Fillmore Chapel at Unity Temple on the Plaza, 707 W. 47th St., in Kansas City, Missouri. We begin meditation at 10:15 a.m. with Eucharist at 10:30. Our sharing of the bread and wine is open and everyone is invited to the Lord's table. Please check the newsletter for additional information.
Each month we also have a healing service at the rectory. Everyone is welcome. Please contact us for directions.
Mass Schedule
10:30 a.m. Charles Fillmore Chapel
January 1: New Years Day
Bishop Cliff Kroski
January 8: Epiphany
Bishop Janet Sunderland
January 15: Bishop Cliff Kroski
January 22: Bishop Janet Sunderland
January 29 Feast of the Presentation of Jesus/
Candlemas/ St. Blaise Day
Bishop Cliff Kroski
Financial Contribution Records
The financial contributions of all who contributed to our church in 2011, and who identified those contributions, will be mailed out this month. You may use these records for income tax purposes. Thank you all for your generosity of spirit and your support of our ministry. We could not do this without you.
Reflections
Happy New Year! It is rare that we usher in the New Year on a Sunday, but this year we do exactly that. It is a day to start anew, to set in motion life changing patterns which will transform us. May we all celebrate this opportunity.
Sunday, January 8th is the feast of the Epiphany, Three Kings Day. This wonderful celebration from Matthew’s Gospel tells the story of three magi, or astrologers, who follow a star and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to a newborn baby.
Whether this story is true or whether it is based on oral tradition really doesn’t matter. We are so very familiar with this story of the wise men, the conversation with Herod, the three gifts (because there were three travelers), and the dream they had to return home by another route.
As we have done in years past, we offer a traditional blessing for you: (20 + C + M + B + 12).
The number of the New Year is split at the beginning and end. The C, M, and B are the initials of the Magi (traditionally Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) and the +’s stand for “saint”. The letters also abbreviate the blessing, “Christus mansionem benedicat: May Christ bless this house.” Write the inscription above the lintel inside the front door as a family member says, “May Christ bless this house.” It’s a wonderful, simple ceremony. Throughout the year those who come and go through that door will enjoy the blessing of Christ though you.
On January 15th we return, briefly, to Ordinary Time. We hear the “call to Samuel” in the First Reading. Samuel replies,” Here I am,” and later on, “Speak for your servant is listening.” This parallels the call of the disciples in John’s Gospel. Andrew and his brother Simon are told by John the Baptist to follow the “Lamb of God.” Jesus upon meeting Simon, changes his name to Cephas, which is Peter. So, we hear two stories of a call and a response, along with a change of name, which signified a particular mission. What is our mission when we hear the call of the Christ?
We hear Mark’s call to discipleship on January 22nd. Again, Simon and Andrew are called to become “fishers of all.” They drop their fishing nets and follow Jesus, who proclaims, “The kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the good news.”
Finally on the last Sunday of the month, we celebrate the Feasts of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Candlemas and St. Blaise Day. We will bless candles for the coming year and we will receive, as we do each year, the special blessing of throats. We also get ready for Lent which begins on February 22nd. Surprise!
+ Cliff and + Janet