​Youth Fundraiser All teens can begin to earn money toward Adventure Camp, World Youth Day, Steubenville Conference, Mission Trip … or any of the great opportunities offered. The fundraiser presently available is selling Younkers Community Day booklets. You sell the booklet for $5 (you earn the entire $5), the buyer gets a $10 coupon (a $5 savings) and everyone is happy! This is only available through Nov. 8. For more details, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber.

High School Youth Group meets @ the Becker Home from 8-9pm. The topic for the year will be Theology of the Body for Teens. For questions, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber .

March For Life Pilgrimage 2017 All people 13 years of age and older are invited to be a witness to the dignity of life for the unborn, elderly, and those who society regards as useless. We’ll travel with a Diocesan group via motorcoach. This is for YOUTH & ADULTS. Cost is ~$330 for teens, $290 for chaperones. Deposit of $175 due by Dec. 1. Pilgrims will also get a hooded sweatshirt. Fundraising options and need-based scholarships are available. (*$25 less if you have a hood from previous March) For more information, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber .

Pilgrims for Life Fundraiser – Need PINT Jars & ClothThe youth preparing to participate in the March for Life will again be making and selling delicious Jar Mixes. We need more PINT size canning jars as well as Christmas colored cloth scraps for covering jars. If you have some to donate, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber

To continue our series on the different parts of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we conclude our look at the Introductory Rites with “The Collect” (aka the Opening Prayer) and then move on to take a look at the “Liturgy of the Word” 

“Next the priest invites the people to pray. All, together with the priest, observe a brief silence so that they may be conscious of the fact that they are in God’s presence and may formulate their petitions mentally. Then the priest says the prayer which is customarily known as the Collect and through which the character of the celebration is expressed. In accordance with the ancient tradition of the Church, the collect prayer is usually addressed to God the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and is concluded with a trinitarian…ending.” (GIRM)

Besides being rich in theological meaning the Opening Prayer has a long history that goes all the way back to ancient Rome. “Historically that title (Collect) recalls the old custom of Urban Rome where, about the fourth century, it was the practice for the whole Christian community to come together in one church that they might proceed with solemnity to the sanctuary chosen for the celebration of the day’s Mass; in this sense the Collect is the prayer of the plebs collecta, the prayer of the assembled people.” (TM)

Today, the priest gathers “together, as if in one sheaf, all our hopes and all our good purposes…to offer them to God” and so continues this tradition of a unified prayer of the people at the start of every Mass.

After the Collect, starts the “Liturgy of the Word.” “The main part of the Liturgy of the Word is made up of the readings from Sacred Scripture together with the chants occurring between them. The homily, Profession of Faith, and Prayer of the Faithful, however, develop and conclude this part of the Mass. For in the readings, as explained by the homily, God speaks to his people, opening up to them the mystery of redemption and salvation and offering them spiritual nourishment; and Christ himself is present in the midst of the faithful through his word. By their silence and singing the people make God’s word their own, and they also affirm their adherence to it by means of the Profession of Faith. Finally, having been nourished by it, they pour out their petitions in the Prayer of the Faithful for the needs of the entire Church and for the salvation of the whole world.” (GIRM)

The history behind the Liturgy of the Word is very ancient and even extends before the Christian Church began. To “seek the origin of these readings, we would have to delve into the most ancient of Christian usages, and to go, in fact, even beyond them to practices dear to the heart of devout Israel. The Service of the synagogue knew such readings from the Law and the Prophets. Have we not seen Jesus reading Isaias to his fellow Jews (Luke 4:16,21)? The early church faithfully preserved this usage: reading from the sacred books bulked large in the primitive liturgies, and it would be surprising to the first Christians were they now to return and hear only the…brief scraps which are left in today’s Mass.

“At first, these readings were neither brief nor formally delimited beforehand…and the reader used to go on uninterruptedly until the bishop saw fit to signal him that he thought enough had been proposed for the instruction of his hearers. It was only with the appearance of the Roman Missal of 1570 that there came into general usage the…previously selected fragments…accommodated to the feast being celebrated.” (TM)

In the Liturgy of the Word, we start out by first hearing a reading from the Old Testament, and then a reading from an Apostolic Letter, and then finally we reach a selection from one of the Gospels. The reasoning behind this is simple: “it shows that in the beginning God speaks to us by the agency of intermediaries, by the mouth of men who are His witnesses or confessors, who are inspired by Him to prepare us that we may later receive His own message directly.” (TM)
​
The Liturgy of the Word allows us to hear God’s word to us and prepares us to meet him in the Holy Eucharist.
​

Read the Entire Series

• The Kyrie and the Gloria
• The Penitential Rite
• The Introductory Rites
• Understanding the Ancient Liturgy of our Salvation 

All Saints Day * Holy Day of Obligation * Schedule of Mass times : Monday-October 31, 2016 * Vigil Mass @ St. John’s in Mfld. @ 7 p.m. Tuesday-November 1, 2016 * Mass @ 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Christ the King in Spencer. * Mass @ 6:30 a.m. / 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m at St. John’s in Mfld. Ministry participants are needed for 8:30 am and 7 pm masses @ Christ the King. A signup sheet has been placed on back table, in gathering room. Your help is greatly appreciated 

St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish 4th Annual “Holy Smokes” Pig Roast and Raffle on Tuesday-October 25, 2016 * Social @ 5 pm * Serving : 5:30-7:30 pm *KC Hall in Mfld. Meal tickets are available to purchase @ Christ the King Parish Office during office hours. Cost $11.00 each * You may also buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a Gun, Weber Grill, Kitchen Aid Mixer and more ! Drawing @ 7 pm Tickets: $20.00 each and can be purchased during office hours. * Need not be present to win ! 

Save the Date! Christ the King will be hosting a Parish Mission on November 8-9-10 beginning at 6:30pm each evening. Father Chris Alar, will be our guest speaker. Father Alar is Director of the Association of Marian Helpers. We are thrilled to have him coming to our parish!

Parishioners of Christ the King * A Silent Auction will be held the weekend of November 5 and 6 and November 12 and 13, 2016. Bids will be taken for handmade quilts . There will be 3 quilts which were made by the women of the PCCW, to bid on. The proceeds from this will benefit the upcoming P.CC.W projects

Night of Adoration for the Election: Please join us at St. John’s as we pray for the future of our country. We’ll be adoring Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 6th and will conclude with Benediction at 6:50 a.m. (just before the 7:00 a.m. Mass). You’re welcome to come at any time. In a time of widespread confusion and unrest, we come together and beg Our Lord to send us the Holy Spirit, that we might know God’s will and have the courage to follow it. Sign up sheets for each hour will be available at St. John’s beginning on October 29th

During the “Month of October ” the rosary only will be recited 20 minutes before Mass * Needed: Parishioners of the parish to lead the congregation in reciting the rosary. A sign-up sheet can be found on back table in gathering room. Your help in being a prayer leader (Ladies, men or young adults) in reciting the rosary would be greatly appreciated. Parishioners * Please show respect for the rosary being prayed and enter church quietly. Thank you. 

Christ the King Catholic Church is hosting “A Community Thanksgiving Worship Service” it will take place this year, on Wednesday -November 23, 2016 @ 7 pm. @ Lucille Tack Center This is a perfect way to start out the Thanksgiving and Christmas season with our gifts of praise and gratitude. Come worship .. Everyone is welcome ! Please bring a non-perishable food item for the Kings Community Food Pantry, if you are able to do so. Refreshments will be served by our parish following the program. Kathy Burnett is organizing the Ecumenical Choir and extends an invitation to anyone who loves to sing and wishes to be a part of this program. You may call Kathy Burnett @ 715-659-4390 to offer your singing voice or if you have questions. Parishioners of our parish will be asked to help out in different aspects of this worship service on the 23rd of Nov. Contact Michelle Pickett, she is on Christ the King Planning Committee, and she will be able to let you know where help is needed. Show your community and parish support by volunteering !
​
Last spring you were asked to keep in mind that in the fall there would be an event at school where winter outer wear would be available for those needing it. Joann Roehl, Elementary School Counselor, said that the Family Fun Fest will be held November 3rd this year. We are trying to get the winter clothes, that are often requested on the Giving Tree tags, to those who need them earlier in the cold season. So if your children have outgrown or you are at garage sales, please bring clean, gently used coats, boots, snow pants, hats, mittens, and scarves for students 4K-12th grade to Christ the King by Sunday, October 30th . There will be a labeled box for them in the “North Parking Lot Entrance” in the coat rack area. Questions call Carol Sallee at 715-255-8158

​Youth Fundraiser All teens can begin to earn money toward Adventure Camp, World Youth Day, Steubenville Conference, Mission Trip … or any of the great opportunities offered. The fundraiser presently available is selling Younkers Community Day booklets. You sell the booklet for $5 (you earn the entire $5), the buyer gets a $10 coupon (a $5 savings) and everyone is happy! This is only available through Nov. 8. For more details, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber.

High School Youth Group meets @ the Becker Home from 8-9pm. The topic for the year will be Theology of the Body for Teens. For questions, contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber .

​INFO MEETING for the March For Life Pilgrimage 2015 Mon, Oct 24 @ 7pm in the Columbia Rm at St. John’s will be an infor mation meeting for the March for Life which will be Jan 25-29. All people 13 years of age and older are invited to be a witness to the dignity of life for the unborn, elderly, and those who society regards as useless. We’ll travel with a Diocesan group via motorcoach. This is for YOUTH & ADULTS. Cost is ~$330 for teens, $290 for chaperones. Deposit of $175 due by Dec. 1. Pilgrims will also get a hooded sweatshirt. Fundraising options and need-based scholarships are available. (*$25 less if you have a hood from previous March) For more information, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber .

Pilgrims for Life Fundraiser – Need PINT Jars & ClothThe youth preparing to participate in the March for Life will again be making and selling delicious Jar Mixes. We need more PINT size canning jars as well as Christmas colored cloth scraps for covering jars. If you have some to donate, please contact Mr. Dan Kitzhaber

To continue our series on the different parts of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we continue to examine the Introductory Rites and take a look what is commonly known as the "Kyrie" and "Gloria.”
  
"After the Act of Penitence, the Kyrie is always begun, unless it has already been included as part of the Act of Penitence. Since it is a chant by which the faithful acclaim the Lord and implore his mercy, it is ordinarily done by all, that is, by the people and with the choir or cantor having a part in it." (GIRM)

The Kyrie and the Gloria have been a part of the preparation to celebrate the Divine Mysteries of God since the very beginning. "The Kyrie [Lord have Mercy] is a remnant of those litanic dialogues, of those acclamatory prayers, which rose up spontaneously in the breast of the primitive Church. It originated in the Greek-speaking East, perhaps in Jerusalem where [it was heard] sung [in] about the year 500 [AD]. [The Kyrie] carries to the Three Divine Persons in turn, our heartfelt need and purposive desire for salvation." (This is the Mass (TM), 44)

The Kyrie and Gloria express two desires that arise in the hearts of man. "To give glory to God and to beg His mercy are the two purposes which link man to God: it is because we know that God is Almighty that we beseech Him to have mercy upon us." (TM, 44) In other words, we recognize that because God is glorious and worthy of praise (Gloria), we seek his forgiveness (Kyrie) before daring to enter into His dwelling place.

Immediately following the Kyrie, "there is intoned a hymn to the Majesty of God." (TM, 44) "The Gloria is a very ancient and venerable hymn in which the Church, gathered together in the Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the Father and the Lamb. The text of this hymn may not be replaced by any other text...It is sung or said on Sundays outside the Seasons of Advent and Lent, on solemnities and feasts, and at special celebrations of a more solemn character." (GIRM)

Historically speaking, the Gloria has been a part of the Church since the very beginning:
"The Gloria is a very old prayer, already in existence in the second century, which was incorporated into the Roman Mass in the sixth century. It opens appropriately with the words in which the angels sang praise 'to God in the highest;' for is not every Mass a renewal, in some sense, of Christmas, and does it not mark, once more, the Coming of Our Lord? " (TM, 44)

The words of the Gloria are rich in meaning, and start out with the words of the angels at the birth of Christ, "Glory to God in the Highest..." (see Luke 2:14)  The remaining words were picked deliberately to help convey our own hearts thankfulness to God and our understanding of who He is. The deep meaning of the words can be seen especially in the recent translation of the Mass texts:

"In the [recent] translation [of the Mass], Jesus is addressed as the 'Only Begotten Son.' This more closely follows the theological language used in the early Church to highlight how Jesus is uniquely God's Son, sharing in the same divine nature as the Father. This also reflects the biblical language in John's gospel, which uses similar wording to describe Jesus' singular relationship with the Father." (A Guide to the New Translation of the Mass, 12)

As we progress through the Mass, let us remember that the Mass is ultimately a prayer of thanksgiving that gives honor and glory to God. Attending Mass gives us the opportunity to praise Him and recognize His presence in our lives. He is the Creator of the Universe and more importantly, the Creator of us! We owe everything to God and so it is "right and just" that we praise Him with every fiber of our being!

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
​For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father, Amen.

Read the Entire Series

• The Penitential Rite
  
• The Introductory Rites
• Understanding the Ancient Liturgy of our Salvation 

All Saints Day * Holy Day of Obligation * Schedule of Mass times : Monday-October 31, 2016 * Vigil Mass @ St. John’s in Mfld. @ 7 p.m. Tuesday-November 1, 2016 * Mass @ 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Christ the King in Spencer. * Mass @ 6:30 a.m. / 8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m at St. John’s in Mfld. Ministry participants are needed for 8:30 am and 7 pm masses @ Christ the King. A signup sheet has been placed on back table, in gathering room. Your help is greatly appreciated 

Save the Date! Christ the King will be hosting a Parish Mission on November 8-9-10 beginning at 6:30pm each evening. Father Chris Alar, will be our guest speaker. Father Alar is Director of the Association of Marian Helpers. We are thrilled to have him coming to our parish!

During the “Month of October ” the rosary only will be recited 20 minutes before Mass * Needed: Parishioners of the parish to lead the congregation in reciting the rosary. A sign-up sheet can be found on back table in gathering room. Your help in being a prayer leader (Ladies, men or young adults) in reciting the rosary would be greatly appreciated. Parishioners * Please show respect for the rosary being prayed and enter church quietly. Thank you. 
​
Last spring you were asked to keep in mind that in the fall there would be an event at school where winter outer wear would be available for those needing it. Joann Roehl, Elementary School Counselor, said that the Family Fun Fest will be held November 3rd this year. We are trying to get the winter clothes, that are often requested on the Giving Tree tags, to those who need them earlier in the cold season. So if your children have outgrown or you are at garage sales, please bring clean, gently used coats, boots, snow pants, hats, mittens, and scarves for students 4K-12th grade to Christ the King by Sunday, October 30th . There will be a labeled box for them in the “North Parking Lot Entrance” in the coat rack area. Questions call Carol Sallee at 715-255-8158