JANUARY 10, 2021 20800 Grand River Avenue Detroit, Michigan 48219

PARISH MISSION We are Christ the King Parish, a richly diverse Christian Community in Northwest Detroit. We are on a journey of Discipleship with Jesus, seeking conversion, reconciliation and renewal. We reach out in welcome to all the people within our neighborhood, proclaiming the good News of Christ the King, building community, celebrating together, serving one another’s needs and the needs of all our neighbors.

The Christ: One With the Universe

As the early Church was getting or-ganized, there was a theory that God merely “visited” us during the time of Jesus. Jesus was born and lived his childhood and adolescence strictly as a human being. As a curious young man he heard about John baptizing people in the Jordan. He stepped into the water, along with all the other sinners, and was baptized.

Suddenly the Spirit of the Christ, the second Person in the Trinity, came upon him, and as St. Mark described it, the Holy Spirit “drove him into the desert” to pray about what had just happened to him. All through his public life, the Spirit of Christ was acting through Jesus, teaching, heal-ing, forgiving sins. Then at the Transfiguration the Christ left him and returned to the Father, and the strictly human Jesus went to Jerusa-lem where he was arrested, crucified and died. The proof for this is in his last words, “Father, why have you forsaken me?”

These Christians could not believe that God could suffer pain and actu-ally “die.” Actually, even today, many Christians still think this. But the Word of God “became flesh,” as St. John says. The Greek word is usually translated flesh, but it is more than human flesh. It is every-thing – every physical thing, everything in reality. It does mean every human person, of course, in a uniquely human way (body, mind and heart); but as St. Paul says, God’s plan is to bring every thing together under the au-thority of Christ – every thing in heaven and every thing on earth (Ephesians 1:10). As a young man, the mystic Teilhard de Chardin had a vision of God’s glory shimmering in every material thing.

A modern-day mystic is Fr. Richard Rohr. We have read some of his books, such as Breathing Under Water – Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, and The Divine Dance – The Trinity and Your Transformation. Fr. Rohr gets some of his convic-tions from the theologian Duns Sco-tus, who believed that God would have sent Christ into the world even if we had never sinned – it would be God’s way to show us that God is part of who we are, and we are part of who God is. Rohr’s most recent book is The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe.

There are four distinct worldviews. The material worldview thinks that the only “real” world is what we can see, hear and handle. All science, from Aristotle to Carl Sagan, is based on a material worldview, and many scientists simply discount anything “spiritual.” Of course, many scientists, from Bacon to Ein-stein to Dr. Francis Collins, do be-lieve in God.

The spiritual worldview extends from Plato to “New Age” thinking, and includes most of the “Great Re-ligions,” such as Buddhism – and Christianity. But taken too far, the spiritual worldview can tend to think that the only thing “really real” is the spiritual dimension. It can have little concern for world-wide hunger or the degradation of the earth.

The priestly worldview has pre-sumes that there is quite a chasm between the two worlds, and needs someone to build a bridge between the two. It needs a trained profes-sional ministry to help people make good connections between the mate-rial and the spiritual worlds. It is typical of organized Christian relig-

ions like the Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran, as well as the psy-chological and self-help approaches to daily living. Finally, there is, in which we un-derstand that matter and Spirit have never been separated; they reveal and manifest each other. The incarnational worldview relies on awakening, seeing, and growing in consciousness. Rohr holds this worldview and explains it in his book The Universal Christ. (The four worldviews are described on pages 237-241.) What does this have to do with the Baptism of Jesus, today’s Feast Day? Obviously, it flows from the Feast of the Nativity, which cele-brates the incarnation of the Word of God into this world. The Feast of the Holy Family celebrates the inti-mate relational way Jesus came to understand that he could call God “Father.” Today’s Feast celebrates the way Jesus grew more and more aware of his union with God – in his humanity – just like we come to such an awareness! In the First Reading today, Isaiah can assert: “The rain comes down, transforms the earth and provides food for humanity, and does not return without achieving God’s will.” He comes to realize that God is “wedded” to this earth and to all of humanity, and we, along with the rain, are united to God. Isaiah is coming to the incarnational worldview, even before Jesus is born. The Baptism of Jesus celebrates God embracing the whole universe from before the Big Bang. - Fr. Clore

Christ the King Parish ~ Grand River at Burt Road Rectory

16805 Pierson…………………………313-532-1211 School

16800 Trinity…………………………..313-532-1213 Parish website

Www.ChristTheKingCatholicDetroit.org

St. Christine Christian Services 15317 Dacosta at Fenkell………………313-535-7272

Www.SCCSdetroit.org

Siena Literacy 16888 Trinity…………………….…...313-532-8404

Sr. Janice Brown, O.P………..jbrown@sienaliteracy.org

St. Vincent & Sarah Fisher Ms. Diane Renaud……………………..313-535-9200

diane.renaud@svsfcenter.org

Pastoral Staff Rev. Victor Clore, Pastor…...….clorevi@udmercy.edu Rev. Joshua Peters S.J., Asst. Pastor jpeters@jesuits.org Deacon Joe Urbiel………deaconjoeurbiel@gmail.com 248-910-0490 Deacon Chris Remus…..chris.remus@sbcglobal.net 313-717-5672 Mrs. Maureen Northrup...…Christian Service Outreach MaureenNorthrup@gmail.com Ms Nicole Evans………………….…..Office Manager n.evans112@gmail.com or christking@ameritech.net Mrs. Andi Kovach ………………………Bookkeeping andiatck@hotmail.com Mr. Ivan Branson…..………………………...Principal ivan.branson@christthekingschooldetroit.org Ms. Bethanne McCall………………….Choir Director feddy428@gmail.com

Little Scholars - Christ the King Campus Cora Rodgers, Director 313-693-4260

Parish Council Elected Members: Joe Fitzgerald..……...……………..…Council Chair Rachel Conner, Stacie Harris, Mark Barkey, Suzie Groenenboom, Jerry Randall, Sheila Fenbert, Nicky Marcot, Gary Beaman

Commissions Maureen Northrup………..………..Christian Service Carole Ann Beaman…………………...……Worship Ron Hildebrandt……………………...…Stewardship Michelle Lewis……………………...Faith Formation Dcn. Joe Urbiel….……………….....Finance Council Lois Phillips……………………….….Evangelization Bob Bruttell & Ron Eady…………………..Inclusion St. Vincent dePaul………...…………313-535-7272

Liturgy Schedule Sunday…………………………….………10:45am Wednesday and Friday……………………..8:30am

Family Religious Education Contact Deacon Joe for more information.

Becoming Catholic Adults, Children, Youth: If you are interested in becom-ing a member of the Catholic faith or learning more about the Catholic Church, the Adult Catechumenate will prepare you for this decision. Please call the Parish Office if you would like more information. Infants: Baptism is the public celebration of the beginning of life in the Church. At the celebration of Baptism, parents publicly affirm their decision to raised their child in the faith of the church. To make arrangements for your infant to be bap-tized, please contact the Parish Office. Pre-Baptismal classes for parents and godparents are necessary, held as arranged with families. Holy Eucharist and Confirmation Preparation Call the Parish Office…………………..313-532-1211

Please let an usher know if you would like to receive Communion at your pew.

MASS INTENTIONS

Sunday January 10 2021 10:45am Giuseppe & Elisa Piccirilli By Guy & Carol Piccirilli

Monday ~ No Mass Tuesday 9am at SS/OLGH

Wednesday CHRIST THE KING 8:30am Pietro & Rosa Piccirelli By Guy & Carol Picirelli Thursday 9am at SS/OLGH Friday CHRIST THE KING 8:30am Dorothy Sullivan By People of Christ the King Saturday ~ No Mass Sunday January 17, 2021 10:45am Loretta & Tonino D’Amore By Guy & Carol Piccirelli

PRAYER & WORSHIP

OUR LITURGICAL MINISTERS

FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY 1/10 The Baptism of the Lord Is 42:1-7, Acts 10:34-38, Mk 1:7-11 Mon 1/11 Heb 1:1-6, Mk 1:14-20 Tue 1/12 Heb 2:5-12, Mk 1:21-2 Wed 1/13 Heb 2:14-18, Mk 1:29-39 Thu 1/14 Heb 3:7-14, Mk 1:40-45 Fri 1/15 Heb 4:12-16, Mk 2:13-17 Sat 1-16 Heb 4:12-16, Mk 2:13-17 1/17 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 1Sm3:3b-10,19 Ps 40:2,4,7-10, Jn 1:35-42

For NEXT Sunday January 17

Lectors: Avia Pichon & Tom Tomala

Servers & Liturgy of the Word for Children: None at this time

Serving at the Table of the Lord: Jean Krystyniak

Ministers of Service: Mary Beth Seefelt

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE

Sun 1/10 10:45am Mass No Coffee Hour Tue 1/12 9am Mass SS/OLGH Wed 1/13 8:30am Mass CK Thu 1/14 9am Mass SS/OLGH Fri 1/15 8:30am Mass CK Sat 1/16 9:15am-11:30am Virtual Tour of the Holy Land (register by noon, January 15th at: https://forms.gle/ENCw2qmwjaMFD6KbA)

Sun 1/17 10:45am Mass No Coffee Hour

Wear a Mask! Social Distancing Observed!

Calendars

There are two different styles of calendars at the doors of the Church. Please feel

free to take one home for your fam-ily. If you would like to make a do-nation for your calendar, you may use the wooden drop boxes at the Burt and Grand River entrances to the church. Thank you!

Food for Thought

Happy New Year! Let me start by reminding you that your year end financial statement is available at the Burt Road door of the Church. Anyone who itemizes on their in-come tax will need this document. If you see any mistakes, just let andi know and we will fix it imme-diately! Next, just a note of thanks to the many of you who have been making regular donations. Your consistent giving helps us keep the heat and lights on! We are truly grateful for your support. That being aid, it will come as no surprise to you that our Christmas donations this year are down by about half. This is yet an-other sign that the Covid virus is hurting all of us! We are in this struggle together, and we will continue to do our best. If you feel that you can give a little more, your donations are most wel-come! You can drop your envelope in the mail box at the office door, in the basket at in-person Mass or by regular snail mail. We also have available Pay Pal and My E-Offering for electronic donations. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Be assured of our continued prayers for your safety and good health.

EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS The Catholic Church’s first martyr, Saint Stephen, who

was stoned to death for preaching the faith, is an example of how small, every-day acts of goodness can have a major, yet often unseen, impact of the world. Martyrdom is very much a contemporary phenomenon too. Today’s victims of religious hatred, are many, unfortunately. Saint Stephen someone who shines in the darkness. Although Stephen was accused of blasphemy and eventually stoned to death, he allowed the light of

Jesus to shine: he prayed for his murderers and forgave them. He is the first martyr, or witness, the first of a host of brothers and sisters who continue to bring the light into the darkness – people who respond to evil with good, who do not succumb to vio-lence and lies, but break the cycle of hatred with meekness and love. In the world’s nights, these witnesses bring God’s dawn. Stephen, was a model example of how to imitate Jesus through service to others. Stephen was a deacon, He tried to imitate the Lord every day and he did it even to the end: like Jesus, he was captured, condemned and killed outside of the city, and like Jesus he prayed and forgave. What purpose examples such as the one set by Stephen serve in a world consumed with so much darkness and hatred, saying the question of “what good it does” to pray and forgive in these circumstances is normal. There’s a lot more to the story. One detail of Gospel account of Stephen’s death, is that, ac-cording to the text, one of the people for whom Stephen prayed and who he forgave was a young man named Saul, who participated in Stephen’s death, but who would later convert and become Saint Paul. By God’s grace, the greatest missionary in history.” Paul was born by God’s grace, but through Stephen’s forgiveness. That was the seed of his conversion. This episode is proof that loving actions change history: even the ones that are small, hidden, everyday. God guides humanity through the humble courage of those who pray, love and forgive. Small acts of love change history. God, wants the faithful to make our lives masterpieces through the ordinary, everyday things we do. As Christians, We are called to bear witness to Jesus right where we live, in our families, at work, everywhere, even just by giving the light of a smile and fleeing the shadow of gossip and telling tattle-tales. When something happens that is wrong, instead of criticizing, badmouthing and complaining, I urge Christians to pray for the person who made the mistake, and for any difficulties that arose because of it. If an argument erupts at home, instead of trying to win it, let us try to diffuse it; and start over again each time, forgiving the one who has offended us. While Saint Stephen was being hit by stones of hatred, he reciprocated with words of forgiveness. He thus changed history. We too can change evil into good each time just as a beautiful prov-erb proposes which says: ‘Be like the palm tree: they throw stones at it and it drops down dates.’ Let us entrust these brothers and sisters to the Virgin Mary, that they might respond with meek-ness to oppression and that, as true witnesses to Jesus, they might conquer evil with good.

THE WISDOM OF POPE FRANCIS

Women Bridging Change: Wounded Healers Care Group

..a small group ministry for those seeking spiritual and emotional healing

Women Bridging Change: Wounded Healers Care Group is a comprehensive sixteen-week small group experience. Each session lasts 2-2 1/2 hours. Partici-pants receive their own workbook and two textbooks. The workbook provides everything the participant needs for the small group times. Each meeting in-cludes teaching materials on the session topic, an activity centered around the topic, and a healing prayer time. If you are interested, please contact the rectory at 313-532-1211.

Holy Land “Zoom” Pilgrimage 5 Saturdays

January 16—February 13 9:30am to 11:30am

(Join by 9:15am to avoid technical difficulties) Register by noon January 15 at

https://forms.gle/ENCw2qmwjaMFD6KbA

Pilgrimage guides are Deacon Chris and Mrs. Ruth Remus and Sr. Anne-liese Sinnott. Guest Guide: St Helena of Constan-tinople, who traveled to the Holy Land in327 CE when she was nearly 80 years old and is said to have dis-covered to site of the tomb of christ and the True Cross. January 16: Jordan, Mount Nebo/Madaba and Mount Tabor January 23: Nazareth/Sepphoris and the Modern City of Ibillin January 30: Caesarea Maritima/ Judean Desert and the Jordan River the site of the Baptism February 6: Galilee and Bethlehem February 13: Jerusalem and the church of the Holy Sepulcher Prepare fopr Lent and Easter by “visiting” the Holy Land via Zoom.

Thank You!!

If you were in Church over the holi-days you probably saw the huge pile of blankets and cereal. Once again Christ the King has an-swered the call! Thanks to all of you who have donated these items, we can continued to keep our neighbors fed and warm. We all now how important it is to have the simple comforts. When it is a cold day in January, you’d be surprised what a gift it is to have a warm blanket and something to eat. Thank you to each of you for always following in the steps of Jesus by caring for your neighbor.