St. Bartholomew’s ACW is partnering with Catholic Community Services (CCS) during Advent by collecting new and gently used items for the CCS Infant Layette Program.
Every month, CCS distributes layette gift bags to families in need in Snohomish County who have just had a newborn baby. CCS is almost out of supplies and is requesting items from the list below.
Layette items will be collected in the Narthex through December 22. Monetary donations are also welcome. (Make checks payable to the church with “Layette Program” in the memo line, and place them in the offertory plate.)
INFANT LAYETTE ITEM LIST (New or Gently Used) Diapers SIZE 1 or 2 (diapers size 1 are most needed) Diaper wipes (most needed) Onesie T-shirts (sizes S, M, L) Play and Sleep outfits (sizes S, M, L) (most needed) Infant socks and/or tights (multiple sizes and colors) Infant booties and/or shoes Going Visiting Outfits (sizes S, M, L) Sleepers (sizes S, M, L) Hat (cotton/summer type) Washcloth or Hooded towel Receiving Blankets Baby jacket or sweaters Crib Blanket and Sheets Children’s Books Bottles, pacifiers Rattle and safe infant toys Baby shampoo Diaper Bag
With All Souls’ Day coming up we may wonder, Why do we pray for the dead?” Francis Hall explains in Dogmatic Theology (Vol. X),
“Praying for the departed was a widespread custom among ancient gentilic peoples; and the custom is abundantly justified by the principle whatever we may rightly desire we may also pray for, and by the consideration that the assurance at death of a soul’s final beatification does not eliminate from its intermediate state the contingencies of progress which afford occasions for prayer…To pray for each other is the most effective method and support of the communion of saints, and if the barrier of death does not, surely it does not, break the mystical bond between the living and the departed, the living should pray for the departed.”
Faithfully yours Fr. Rick Gregory
The Collect for All Souls’ Day
O GOD, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful: grant unto the souls of thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins; that through devout supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired. Who with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.
Halloween should not be a day when our churches go dark and Christians retreat into the shadows, but when we fill the darkness with Christ’s light and go out into the culture, inviting everyone to the prepare for the festival of the saints with all the joy we can muster.
Dear brother and sisters in Christ:
As we near All Hallows Eve, a.k.a. Halloween, I usually get asked some questions and Halloween, a.k.a. All Hallows’ Eve, and its Christian roots and celebration.
This year, the St. Francis Day Pet Blessing took place on Saturday, October 5th. We had a wonderful time meeting the extended family of St. Bart’s: dogs and turtles! Thank you to all who helped make this a special day for our dear pets who love us unconditionally.
Photos courtesy of Katie Guthrie.
Participants in the event included the très chic Winifred R. (far left) along with two noble German Shepherds and their human mother, Elizabeth Feiberg. To the right side is the extended canine family of Harrison and Rachel Hess.
Pets received a St. Francis medal with their blessing.
A delicious assortment of treats for the pets and their humans.
Cooper, the copper lover of souls.
One of the Talbott turtles came for a blessing.
The vigilant Zoe Guthrie stands guard over the event.
Keep up to date on all the parish news. Contact Father Rick to be added to the weekly parish newsletter e-mail list.
We had a fantastic time and enjoyed our delicious meal from Larry’s Smokehouse immensely. Desserts were provided by Larry Talbott and the Hess Clan. Thanks to all who participated. For those of you who were not able to join us, we missed you!
The morning began with Morning Prayer and The Holy CommunionOur dear brother, Alex Dale helped prepare the banquet tablesGreat fellowship with our parish familyA game of questions covering the Bible and Church History was played. Some of the best answers were shared from the youngest among us. Out of the mouth of babes. Great prizes were won!
