November 30, 2011: I Will Make YOU fishers of men

Read It:

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

Reflect on It: Today is the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew is Peter's brother and Christ called both of them to follow him and he will make them not fishers of things in the water, but instead, fishers of men, fishers of souls for the Lord. What I think is remarkable is that BOTH Peter and Andrew left their nets, their very livelihood without a second thought and followed Him. There was not this hestiation, but instead, a total surrender to our Lord. The Lord calls us to a life where we RUN to him without hesitation. As we journey towards Christmas, are we running towards the Christ child? Are we willing to leave everything in order to be like the magi who seek Him? Are we willing to be fishers of men and to bring our friends to Him? What about our family as well. This Advent, let us be men and women who run to him without hesitation and leave behind anything that hinders us from our relationship with Him.

Pray about It: Lord, as we prepare for the coming of your Son, help our lives to be different. Help us to be men and women who choose you daily and who are fishers of men for you and your Son. You made St. Andrew a guide for us, help us to walk in his example this day.

Live It! Challenge: Share about advent with a friend today at work or at school.

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Another Great one about Advent.

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Watch this...it's good for your soul!

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Read It:
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
"I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."


Reflect on It: Blessed are the eyes that see what you see...People desire to know Christ, to see him at work in their lives. So often, we see Christ and disregard him. Through the gracious will of the Father, we are able to have his son in the form of a human. A man who comes to redeem the world. Are you ready for that blessed day?

Pray about it: Father, help me to see you with the eyes of Faith. Help me to see Advent as a time of preparation.

Live It! Challenge: Today, in order to prepare your heart for the coming of the Lord, do something kind for another person

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Advent is Here November 28, 2011

I thought it would be good for us to journey together through Advent, something that I know I just kind of move through, but wonder if I ever really pray through....In light of that, I figured, we would do the same format for every day of Advent. Enjoy!

Read It:
When Jesus entered Capernaum,
a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying,
"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully."
He said to him, "I will come and cure him."
The centurion said in reply,
"Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof;
only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority,
with soldiers subject to me.
And I say to one, "Go," and he goes;
and to another, "Come here," and he comes;
and to my slave, "Do this," and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
"Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.
I say to you, many will come from the east and the west,
and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven.

Reflect on it: In this gospel, we see the words that we say in the Eucharistic prayer as our response: Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof, only say the word and my soul shall be healed. On this first Monday of Advent, we see that we are HARDLY worthy to have the Lord enter our hearts and our lives this Christmas, which leads to the question of if you have prepared a place in your heart for him? As we Christmas approaches, is there space? Are we preparing for him the way we would prepare for any other guest? I hope so.

Pray about it: Sweet Jesus, as Advent starts, help me to realize how truly good you are to want to enter under my roof and it means to have you as an active part of my life. Help me to be ready and to watch for you this Advent.

Live It! Challenge: Today, pray about what the Lord is asking you to do to prepare for his coming.

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Angry Birds Kick Off: September 25th

Senior High Youth Ministry Kick off!
This Sunday, September 25th from 4-6 pm in the gym.
Come play this live version of Angry Birds and three people will win $50 in cash!
It's APPsolutely awesome!

See ya Sunday

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Summer Schedule

Check out our summer schedule below to see what's happening with youth ministry this summer!

St James Summer Schedule 2011
For more information contact Em Anderson at 703-241-2390 or eanderson@stjamescatholic.org

Mellow Mondays: Every Monday starting June 6 from 6:15-7:30 pm at Stacy’s Coffeehouse (709 West Broad Street). We will be doing different things each week, but will most likely be discussing a fabulous book. Senior High only.

Grace and Grub (formerly Lunch Bunch): Every Tuesday of the Summer starting June 21st. Attend Noon mass together, then go some place for lunch. Where we go is up to you. Approximate time: 12-2 pm. Meet at mass. Senior High only.

Open Gym**: Every other Friday night, beginning June 24th from3:00-4:30 pm(June 24, July 7, July 22, August 12, August 19). Come play basketball, kickball, bucketball, Frisbee or anything that you want in the gym. Open to Junior High and Senior High students.

Weekly Trips as follows:
Most trips require a fee to attend. This fee goes towards admission prices, to offset gas, etc. Spots are reserved by turning in a permission slip and payment. All permission slips, will be made available at least 2 weeks ahead of time outside of Em’s office, the rectory office and hopefully in the back of the main entrance of the Church. All trips are subject to change between now and when permission slips go out.

June 12: Summer Kick off: Watch Despicable Me near the playground behind the rectory. 8:00-10:30 pm
June 17: Deanery 1 Classy and Sassy Dance. Meet at St. Phillip’s. 7-11 pm.
June 22: Nationals Game. Meet at 5:45 pm at West Falls Church Metro Station
June 29: All Day Scavenger Hunt. Meet at St. James 9 am- 5pm**.
July 5-6: Decades Theme Lock-in Heller Hall 9 pm-7 am.
July13: Messy Olympics. Held in Lot B 1:00-3:30 pm. Wear clothes you can get dirty.
July 15-17: Steubenville Youth Conference. Previous RSVP required.
July 23-29th: WorkCamp: Woodbridge, Va. Previous RSVP required.
August 5: Diocesan day at Kings Dominion. Time TBD.**
August 10: Trip to the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception 10 am- 3 pm.**
August 17: Bowling. Time TBD.**
August 29: End of Summer Bash: Pool Party 3:30-5:30 pm.**


The summer is going to be epic, so get ready for some fun. Participation in all of these events is optional and students are invited to attend as often as they would like. All RISING 9th graders-Graduated Seniors are invited to attend any of these trips. Trips and activities with stars are open Junior High Students (grades 6-8). Drivers will be required for these trips, so if any adults can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

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