Clergy Corner 

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring the early Christian martyr named Saint Valentine and, through later traditions, has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts  of the world.

There are several martyrdom stories related to February 14th, including the imprisonment of Saint Valentine of Rome for ministering to Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire in the third century. According to an early tradition, Saint Valentine restored sight to the blind daughter of his jailer. The legend says he wrote the jailer's daughter a letter signed "Your Valentine" as a farewell before his execution.

In 18th-century England, it grew into an occasion where couples expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "Valentines"). Valentine's Day symbols today include the heart-shaped outline with Cupid’s arrow going through it.  Since the 19th century, handwritten Valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. On Valentines Day expectations run high for married couples to ensure the husband remembers to honor his wife with flowers and candy on that day. This gesture of love is more significant than on her birthday!

There are several Bible verses reminding us to place love first and above all things and in all circumstances. Perhaps 1 Corinthians 13 contains the supreme definition of love found anywhere in the Bible. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” It's sad that we need a reminder to love. It should be our passion, our motivation, our purpose, our nature, our desire, the epitaph of our life.

While in Viet Nam on my ship, the Postal Clerk was in charge of “movie night” every Sunday evening at 1900 hours (7:00 p.m. for you land lubbers).  The reason he was in charge of it, was because in the mail bag from the carriers would have a movie stuffed in it. Sunday night he would set up the movie projection and screen on the mess deck and show the recently received movie after chow. One Sunday he showed the movie “Love Story”. Big mistake! At the end of the movie during that touching scene when the famous line comes out, “love means never having to say your sorry”, the crew was silent. Whimpering could be heard in muffled tones. In the dark, one sailor said (to break the ice), “Really, is someone crying?!”. I had to leave the room. I was laughing and crying at the same time! All of us were missing our loved ones and sweethearts. I think I went back to my rack and wrote some letters home.

Jesus’ death on a cross is love story.  He did it because He loves us so much! He did this before we even got a chance to say we’re sorry! This Valentines Day think of Jesus too when we express our love for others. After all, He sends us a Valentine every day!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Only God loves you more than me!

De Colores!  Rev. Jack Moody

Men's Cursillo March 9-12

The next Cursillo will be a men's #1214 March 9-12. Please consider sponsoring a candidate or two. The deadline for applications is Feb. 28.

Also consider signing up to assist with one or more of the many support groups that make the weekend possible. Links are at the bottom of this newsletter. 

Cursillo Badges

We have a new vender for Cursillo name badges and a new price of $9.50 for either magnet or pin backs. When a batch of badges is shipped to us, I will bring them to subsequent Cursillo events for pickup. If you prefer that your badge, be mailed to your home address, please include $3.00 for postage.  Thank you! Barb Fulk 309- 750-0234 or bmfulk@ilstu.edu

Men's Cursillo #1214

March 9 - 12, 2023

Holy Trinity Parish Center, 711 N Main Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

Friday

8:40 AM  IDEAL -------------------------------Marty Heller (Shelly)

10:00 AM  SANCTIFYING GRACE ------------ Fr Doug Henessey

1:00 PM Lunch

2:00 PM  LAYMAN IN THE CHURCH ---------- Stuart Nerby (Robin)

3:20 PM  ACTUAL GRACE ---------------------Dcn Al Lundy (Sharon)

5:10 PM Dinner

6:45 PM  PIETY ---------------------------------Jay Barth (Tara)

Saturday

8:20 AM  STUDY -------------------------------Randy Stine (Angie)

9:55 AM  SACRAMENTAL GRACE -------------Dcn Gary Koerner (Connie)

12:30 PM Lunch

2:30 PM  ACTION -------------------------------

4:00 PM  OBSTACLES TO GRACE --------------Rev. Jack Moody

5:20 PM Dinner

6:10 PM  LEADERS -----------------------------Chris Kornfeld (Kendra)

7:30 – 9:00 PM Apostolic Hour - Holy Trinity Church

Sunday

8:10 AM  ENVIRONMENT -----------------------Adam Ghrist (Tracie)

8:55 AM  LIFE IN GRACE -----------------------Dcn Todd Weber (Kim)

9:40 AM  CCIA ----------------------------------Jan Weyhrich (Andrea)

10:35 PM  TOTAL SECURITY -------------------Bob Freitag (Traci)

11:55 PM  FOURTH DAY ------------------------Steve Trainor (Sue)

12:40 PM Agape Meal

3:00 PM Clausura - Holy Trinity Church

4:30 PM - Dismissal (No Social)

Auxiliaries

 Tim Abel (Barb)

Kevin Sanborn (Khrystyna) 

Art Taylor (Camille)

Liam Wheeler

Rector ---------------------Bob Freitag (Traci)

Assistant ----------------- Sean Poston (Robin)

Assistant ----------------- Roy Waltrip (Colleen)

Technical Asst. ----------- Jeff Coughlin (Angie)

Board Advisor ------------ Jeff Furler (Gretchen)

Lay Coordinator ---------- Larry Mester (Mary)