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December 26, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The past several weeks our stewardship center has been very busy with parishioners choosing ornaments from the Advent trees, and more recently bringing back gifts to be shared with those in need this Christmas season. The following note was received from a grateful benefactor of your generosity:
"Dear Catholic Community of St. Francis, Thank you for your kindness and generosity during these difficult times. The food you have provided for our table is greatly appreciated. Christmas will be more joyful because of you."
Thank you to all who have given of their time, talent and treasure this Advent season to provide food, and clothing and gifts for those in our parish and larger community who are in need. The generous response, especially during these difficult economic times for some families, has been heart warming. Your continued generosity makes it possible for us to serve those in critical need in our parish and local community. If you are in a position to make an end of year offering, that could be of help and support to our parish community, please consider St. Francis.
I am grateful to each of you for your generosity of spirit – of time, talent and treasure. We are together "partners in ministry." Thank you, without you we could not carry on the work of the Gospel of Jesus and make our parish the gospel faith community that it is.
On behalf of my brother friars, and the pastoral staff it is a privilege for us to serve you, the good people of the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi. We together are the Body of Christ, born anew at each Eucharist and also born again this Christmas.
May God open our hearts to Christ. May Mary, the one who heard the Word and gave birth to the Word, intercede for us. May we walk in the light of Christ.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
December 19, 2010
Dear friends,
As promised last month, I would like to update you as to the impact of our current shortfall in offertory and its effect on parish operations. As a stewardship parish, we are committed to graciously receiving the combined gifts of our parishioners to build God's kingdom. Inherent in this covenant is our commitment to be good stewards of our resources and to live within our means. Our current financial status is:
Our offertory budget was reduced by 10% or $330,000 and the expense budget cut accordingly. Based on this revised budget, November results indicate that our expenses are once again aligned with our expected revenues. Year to date actual offertory is $70,000 below this time last year or a decrease of 5.5%.
To date 40 families have generously responded to Fr Mark's request for additional year end funds with $14,000 using the yellow envelope provided. If you are able, an additional year end contribution will be greatly appreciated.
As our GIFT building project winds down with the opening of the Siena Center for Lifelong Learning on January 18, we will have realized $500,000.00 in project savings from our construction these past two years. These savings have been the result of the stewardship of our Parish Finance Council and Building Committee and the attention to detail by Clancy and Theys Construction Company and Little Associates Architects. These savings are reflected in our ability to construct the Siena Center early and reduced loan obligations with the Diocese.
With parish debt of $8M supporting the construction of the past 2 years, we have included a lavender envelope in your monthly set of envelopes starting in January that can be used to reduce our debt ahead of the budgeted schedule.
As always, I welcome your input on ways to be a better steward of our resources and to answer any questions you may have. Please email me at email@example.com, or call 847-8205×227 or stop by my office in Clare Hall to see my Christmas cactus in full bloom.
In this advent season of waiting and longing, I am struck by the generosity of our parish even in very troubling times from the simple acts of giving 95 turkeys to families for Thanksgiving to Christmas trees to those who would do without. Our advent giving tree provides a vehicle for each of us to provide much needed help to those families within our parish who may be struggling as well as supporting the many families in our community who turn to St Francis for help.
God has certainly blessed me and my family and I feel privileged to be able to use my gifts in service to our faith community.
God's blessings to each of you,
Ben Whitehouse
Director of Parish Operations
December 12, 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday. The name comes from the scriptures (Philippians 4:4,5) Rejoice in the Lord always. We have a great deal to Rejoice in the Lord about. Many of our Latino brothers and sisters are also celebrating and rejoicing in the wonders of Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast is December 12.
I am grateful to all who have begun to make end of year donations to our parish community to help with the decline in offertory that we have been experiencing. Every gift means a great deal and is very much appreciated. Our parishioners, Polly and Jack Huber shared the following letter they wrote to a friend explaining why they are stewards at St. Francis. It reflects the reasons they rejoice in being a part of St. Francis and the many blessings they have experienced as part of our faith community.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr Mark
Having once found St. Francis, I periodically would go to mass there. The church was built from a reclaimed barn. Its simplicity spoke to me. Large beams, candle sconces, bare bones minimalist environment, but the worship felt personal. The message felt meaningful. It proposed ways in which we might live more meaningful lives by taking care of the poor, the homeless, the lonely, the incarcerated. This was and is a socially active parish. (I once went with a group from St. Francis to the Women's Prison to share a Christmas meal with some of the women prisoners. The experience is one I carry in my heart today, but one that continues in the church. When we went, the priest accompanied us. He took time from a very busy day to lead and/or guide us. It wasn't a we-they situation; it was "our" situation.)
To me St. Francis is the embodiment of hope, peace, acceptance, gratitude, and encouragement within the framework of a spiritual community that both recognizes other faith traditions while embracing them as fellow journeymen on our mission to a deeper spirituality.
The friars in their homilies offer hope to all of us that we are not alone on our daily journey, that there is a greater presence in whom we can rest if only we ask. Within the homilies it is evident that the friars regard themselves as part of the flock. They are guides, not leaders who are separated from the flock. Their humility in assenting their own humanity further deepens the connection to the parishioners. Regardless of the situation, there is hope that we as individuals and as a group can effect a change if we desire. Hope is key at St. Francis.
St. Francis has a mission of peace within the church, our homes, the community, and the world. While not all may agree with a situation on a given day, the statements made by the friars are made in a tone of love and a desire for equality for people everywhere. It is a generous church. St. Francis has a sister church in Central America and hosts some of its parishioners on occasion. St. Francis also sends parishioners of a broad age range to travel to its sister church on mission trips. Understanding between cultures promotes peace. Programs are available to address a broad range of needs. Meeting those needs feeds our inner peace.
Weekly the parish remembers a prisoner who has been sentenced to death. There is a sense of acceptance of any and all who might wish to worship there. Individually it feels like there is a recognition of the value of each person with his/her gifts, talents, and opportunities. Prior to any mass, there is a buzz in the sanctuary as people/neighbors greet one another. It is a home. During the beginning of the mass all are encouraged to introduce themselves to those standing nearby. All faith traditions and visitors are welcomed at the beginning of the mass. In so doing parishioners are given ownership of their spiritual home and it feels good.
The physical church has experienced a tremendous growth within the last 15 years with the building and expansion of a school, a community center, columbarium, and playgrounds.
Finally, this a place where there is a feeling of encouragement…to participate, to join, and to reach out to individuals, the community, and the world. As it is said in the Gospel of John. "In the beginning was the word, and the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us." That indwelling is abundantly clear and present permeating every pore of the church body. This is what you notice when you enter our sanctuary.
Polly and Jack Huber
December 5, 2010
Dear Brother and Sisters,
This Thanksgiving weekend is a time in our nation when we pause to render thanks for God's many gifts to us. As we celebrate the Eucharist, this weekend and every weekend we give thanks. As we approach the Christmas holidays, I'd like to update you on an import aspect of our parish finances: offertory. As you may know, parish offertory funds our operating budget including all liturgical, formational, and outreach ministry as well as our facilities and support for a staff that serves so generously and professionally.
For the first time in our history, though we continue to add registered members each month, our offertory income is down by about 6%. The Finance Council had anticipated a slight increase, so we're faced with having to cut the budget at least 7% and possibly more. We are in the process now of doing that. I thank the staff who have cooperated and tightened their belts. It's not been easy since we already have a lean budget.
I know that the prolonged economic downturn has affected many of our parish families, and so the economy is a major factor for our decreased giving. I am also aware that through the generosity of our parishioners in the GIFT Capital Campaign, we have been able to add new facilities to our campus. We have used these restricted funds to take advantage of lower costs in the construction industry. However, I can see how people might wonder if St Francis really needs their financial support given this level of capital expenditure. Of course this is not true. We need everyone's stewardship. We depend upon the offertory support of our parishioners to pay our bills and fulfill our mission. Perhaps as you consider Christmas gifts you can see your way to making a year-end gift to the parish. It would mean a lot, believe me. Know that we friars, as well as our dedicated staff, lift you and your loved ones up to the Lord that he might continue to bless you and give you peace.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark G. Reamer, O.F.M.
November 21, 2010
Dear Friends,
As Fr. Mark mentioned last week, our parish first quarter financial results reflect a decrease in offertory. Our current budget anticipated an increase in offertory as our membership continues to grow; however, the offertory has actually decreased. Therefore, we have set forth an action plan to "live within our means" by revising the budget to reflect our current and projected revenues. We also requested the support of the diocese to include an audit which took place October 26 and 27. The diocese auditor made the following findings:
There is no evidence of offertory misconduct. The potential exists for offertory to be down 7-10% for the year.
In late October, Fr Mark and I conducted a line by line review of all parish budgets with the responsible staff person identifying areas for savings and thoughtfully discussing the impact it would have upon our mission. This past Monday, November 15 the Parish Finance Council met to review and approve the revised budget and assess future economic projections. As you know, the finance council takes a very conservative approach to the budget so it has been difficult but necessary to make reductions that may have an impact upon our ministries. We have to date identified $220,000 in expense reduction. These reductions include:
We welcome with joy all those who come to us. St Francis is known as a welcoming and hospitable parish. Budgets for hospitability and volunteer appreciation have been cancelled. This will challenge us to be welcoming and appreciative in new, creative and personal ways so that we can continue to be true to our mission.
We reach out in a special way to those who hunger and thirst for human dignity. St Francis is also known for our caring and compassionate outreach to the poor and suffering. With a reduction in offertory, our tithe for outreach has been reduced to reflect 10% of actual income, not projected income. In addition, internal Peace and Justice educational opportunities will be funded by our tithe such as the Middle School Social Justice Day Camp.
Temperature control. Room thermostats have been programmed for a range of 66o to 74o. This means that heat comes on at 66o and below while cooling comes on at 74o and above. This may cause some discomfort so please dress accordingly.
Vendor services. All vendor contracts have been evaluated and reduced or eliminated as necessary. We will need everyone's support in keeping our facilities clean, turning off lights and reducing utilities as best as possible. Some of our vendors are parishioners who frequently provide additional services at no cost and are supporting us with discounted expenses.
Personnel. Training, development and employee appreciation including Christmas gifts are cancelled. A vacant position will remain unfilled in the stewardship office. We will invite volunteers to continue to support us in this area.
Our response to this impact upon our offertory is and will continue to be dealt with in a thoughtful and deliberate manner. We will closely monitor the budget and will keep you fully informed as we move forward. As we cut our expenses, we also invite parishioners who have not yet completed their annual offertory pledge to please do so. Your offertory gifts are vital to our faithfulness to the mission of St. Francis of Assisi.
Peace and all good,
Ben Whitehouse
Director of Operations
November 14,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
After my return from Sabbatical on October 1, the many wonderful works taking place within the community were evident through the many ministries of our parish. Ben Whitehouse also quickly brought me up to date on a serious situation with regard to our finances. The first quarter of our current fiscal (July 1 to September 30) year has shown a slight decrease. Given that we anticipated a slight increase in our budget due to the increase in number of households joining the parish, we are off projections.
After meeting in early October with Ben and Bob Randolph (chair of our finance council), we asked the diocese to audit our finances to help us determine the cause of the decrease. The audit took place in late October and indicated that there is no evidence of offertory misconduct. Ben and I have developed an action plan to reduce spending immediately. A part of this plan has included meeting with every member of the pastoral staff and reviewing budgets and the impact that reductions will have upon our ministries. Our budget is already lean so this has been a very difficult task. The prolonged economic downturn has affected many of our parish families and the economy is one of several possible factors for the downward trend.
This week the entire finance council will meet to review the actions taken thus far and help us plan the future. We have recently surpassed 5000 households registered within our parish. Approximately 3000 households support the offertory. This is 60% of our registered parishioners. I continue to be thankful and tremendously grateful to these households for their generosity. What is perplexing is that 40% do not support our offertory and so I am making a special appeal to those of you who have not made a financial pledge to support St. Francis. Your support is vital and absolutely necessary.
In the coming weeks, Ben and I will continue to share with you the financial situation of the parish and our response as a parish. As we approach the end of the calendar year, I will also be asking all parishioners to consider making an "end of year" donation to St. Francis of Assisi.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
November 7
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Next Saturday, November 13 is a wonderful occasion to experience our Catholic Schools by coming to the Preschool and / or Franciscan School Open Houses. You will be afforded the opportunity to meet the fantastic administration and teachers. Choosing Catholic Schools is an important way in which we as a parish support parents in passing on the richness of our faith.
On the weekend of October 24 we hosted a wonderful "Gift It Up" fair trade market (see the detailed recap on the Pastoral Ministries page of the bulletin). This event, like all events of our parish, was very much a collaborative effort of many people. Collaboration is the "identification, release, and union of all gifts for the sake of mission" and although collaboration can be messy, an event such as this cannot be a success without the gifts of many people given for the sake of our mission. Thank you to the leaders and volunteers of Gift It Up!
In particular, kudos to:
Lisa Gianturco for her strong, clear, and experienced leadership, organization, and the-holding-it-all-together pizzazz.
Kitty Shanahan for her warmth, smile, welcome, empowerment, and affirmation.
Carol Ware for her smart and smooth attention to hospitality, to the people's needs, to the flow of time, and to people coming and going.
Suzanne Szymendera for her quiet but ubiquitous presence, always there for people, always adjusting the look and stock of the product, always ready for making decisions with calm and poise.
Walt Winiewicz for his thorough and detailed oversight of the numbers, the money, the deposits, and the updated accounting through the weekend.
Pat Mahoney for her steady faithful and detailed attention to all the things that go unnoticed, and unheralded, and her "utility player" status to cover all the bases when needed as Lisa's "sidekick."
Bonnie Angel for her joie de vivre and her conversational, on-call, hopeful, and positive spirit.
Recently, I have also received thank you notes from some of our partners in ministry whom we support through the tithing of our offertory for social concerns.
Betty Rogavich, CEO of Birthchoice writes:
Thank you for your generous donation to the four ministries funded by Benefit for Life. Together with your help we can save the babies, as well as their mothers and fathers from the tragedy of abortion. May God bless you! Thank you for all your church does.
Kevin Campbell, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County writes:
Thank your for your gift to sponsor a home for a hardworking family in Wake County. Your gift plants a seed of hope that will grow into a safe place for children to play, study, and prepare for a healthy and stable future. Your gift, like the miracle of the mustard seed will grow into something far greater than the boards and nails for a home. Your partnership will end the cycle of poverty housing for one family, bring together volunteers from all walks of life to build and testify to the possibility of safe, decent, affordable housing for everyone.
Thank you for your support of our annual offertory pledge. Your sacrificial giving helps us as a parish community to reach out in the name of St. Francis to those who hunger and thirst for human dignity — especially the least among us. In future weeks I'll be communicating more about the current financial situation of our parish and the need for everyone's tithe to our parish.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
October 31
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This weekend our pastoral musician, J. Eugene Pipas retires after eighteen years of service to our Catholic community. In the Diocese of Raleigh, Gene has served for thirty years, and before that, for many years in his home diocese of Cleveland. Gene has dedicated his life to service within our church by generously sharing his natural gifts and talents with so many. I am grateful for Gene's presence among us as a member of the pastoral staff and partner in ministry.
One of the most formative aspects of our lives as Christians is the liturgy. The Eucharist in particular is the source and summit of our lives as Catholics. The pastoral musician is at the heart of such liturgy. I've never heard anyone leave Mass speaking the homily – but humming the music all the time. Gene selected the music, prepared the choirs, instrumentalists, and cantors and and most importantly the assembly that we may lift our voices in praise of God.
The United States Bishop's document "Music in Catholic Worship" states: People in love make signs of love, not only to express their love but also to deepen it. Love never expressed, dies. Christians' love for Christ and for one another and Christians' faith in Christ and in one another must be expressed in the signs and symbols of celebration or they will die . . . Faith grows when it is well expressed in celebration. Good celebrations foster and nourish faith. Poor celebrations may weaken and destroy it.
We give thanks to Gene for the love expressed through his faithful service to this community, and for strengthening the celebration of our faith as a gospel-faith community from baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, marriages, and even the ordination of Fr. George Corrigan, OFM (pastoral intern here in 2005-2006).
During the month of October, Gene's successor, Jim Wahl has been "shadowing" Gene, becoming oriented to the pastoral staff, and meeting the many musicians of our parish. We welcome Jim, and as Gene retires from our professional staff, we pray with gratitude the blessings of God upon him.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
October 24
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Since my return from sabbatical, many have asked – does this mean that Fr. Emmet will be returning to New Jersey? I am grateful, as I know you are, that Emmet agreed to come and serve our community during the past year. His presence has been a wonderful gift to us. In coming to St. Francis – Emmet had an "open-ended return" with an anticipated return of October. He has so enjoyed his time with us that he has requested to make St. Francis his permanent home, and I am delighted to report that our provincial administration has honored his request. This means that Emmet will continue to be on our pastoral staff. In May 2011 he will commemorate his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. {He was a friar for 30 years before he studied for ordination.} This will provide a great opportunity for us to celebrate his life and ministry among us as a friar priest.
Next weekend our pastoral musician Gene Pipas will retire from active ministry. He has served us well at St. Francis for 18 years – and in the diocese for 30 years. I am grateful to Gene for his commitment and dedication to our faith community. From the many celebrations of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and an ordination here in 2007 – Gene has helped us to lift our voices in praise of God as we've celebrated our faith through the sacraments. You will have the opportunity next weekend (before or after Mass) to sign his musical accompaniment books and offer words of appreciation and gratitude to Gene. It will be an opportunity for us to express our gratitude to Gene for his generous sharing of his gifts and talents.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
October 17
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the size of our parish? That's been my sentiment the past two weeks as I get settled back home at St. Francis after my sabbatical. I can't help but wonder if I'm feeling this way – how many of you who are new to our parish, or even who have been here awhile, might have a similar reaction. If you might be wondering, "How can I feel more connected here at St. Francis?" "How do I start to become involved in a ministry?" After each Mass there is a member of the pastoral staff at the reception desk in the Welcome Center – please take a moment to stop by and introduce yourself – and the staff member will be of assistance. Of course you can always speak with one of the friars, we're happy to talk with you before or after Mass as we stand in the gathering space or church to greet parishioners. Please don't be intimidated by our size – there is a place for all to be involved. Your gifts and talents are needed to build up the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi.
One of the great examples of parishioners (with quite varied backgrounds and skill sets) sharing their talents is the building committee of our parish. The building committee has been led by Mr. Bill Laxton for the past six years. Thanks to their leadership, dedication, and lots of patience over the past six years, they have ensured that the parish has been good stewards of our resources.
We received notification earlier this month that our Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) expansion project including Elizabeth Hall, Assisi Community Center, and St. Mary of the Angels Chapel has been LEED Certified at the gold level – a high level of certification and a great accomplishment and testament to our parish's commitment to the environment. LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Developed by the United States Green Building Council, LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that buildings were designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings; water efficiency; CO2 emissions reduction; improved indoor environmental quality; and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. LEED provides a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.
Thank you to the building committee for this great accomplishment. Congratulations to our parish for serving as leaders in energy and environmental design!
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
October 10
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thanks to a clergy renewal grant from the Lilly Endowment, I'm glad to return to St. Francis. In the immortal words of Dorothy, "there's no place like home." I am grateful to the pastoral staff, the friars, and the leadership team who gave generously of themselves that I might be away. I'm especially thankful to Fr. David for serving as administrator. I heard he said, he was "dusted off." I think a better image might be a few grains of sand were removed, so that the pearl of great wisdom could be polished!
The past four months, I've had time for reading, retreat, and renewal – and travel. As I celebrated the Eucharist Sunday after Sunday, I couldn't help but think of you and give thanks for you and for your example of faith. I worshipped in a beautiful old cathedral, St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, as well as a new one in Oakland, Christ Our Light. I visited the hometowns of Sts. Benedict and Bonaventure, Bernadine and Catherine of Siena, and prayed at the tombs of Francis and Clare, St. Peter and Blessed John 23rd. Each time my prayer was simple – gratitude. Gratitude for so much in my life, including belonging to this Catholic community – and a request, the simple one of the disciples in last week's gospel – Lord, increase my faith.
The Feast of Francis was a wonderful time to return. It was a great celebration. Congratulations to the youth of our parish who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, October 2. Thank you to all who made FrancisFest such a great family event for our parishioners of all ages.
Next Saturday, October 16, the diocese is hosting a Catholic Convocation at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Archbishop Wilton Gregory from the Archdiocese of Atlanta will be the keynote speaker. Focusing on "The Sacred Liturgy: Proclaiming, Celebrating and Witnessing to the Mystery of Christ," workshops will help us deepen our faith and celebrate as a community before going forth to witness more fervently to the Good News. I encourage you to participate in this convocation.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
October 4
Welcome Back Father Mark
Students welcomed back Father Mark from his four month Sabbatical. This morning during morning prayer they unrolled a large welcome back card which they had prepared. The TFS students speak for all of us as we welcome back Father Mark. It's good to have you back!
FrancisFest – This weekend – Get your tickets!
There's something for everyone!
Anniversary of 9.11
If there is any message our Savior has for us, both in his words and by his example, it is a message of healing. In today's gospel, against those who would write people off, he speaks of forgiveness as the road to healing: the parables of Jesus eating with sinners, the woman searching for her dowry coin until she finds it, and finally, the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
Let me take this opportunity to speak about the healing that is so desperately needed in our country and in our world. You've heard me say from this place that any preacher worth his or her salt has the daily newspaper in one hand and the bible in the other. The latter without the former is lifeless and irrelevant. Yesterday we remembered the 9th anniversary of those killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania. Each year in remembrance of this day, we Franciscan Friars celebrate a memorial Mass at our church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City. We call to mind the self-sacrificing dedication of our brother, Fr. Mychal Judge, killed at the World Trade Center and the thousands of others who perished on that day. We also pray there at that Mass for healing among the peoples of the world so that such tragedies might not reoccur. This year, however, the mood in our nation is different. Members of a small independent church in Gainesville, Florida, have received world-wide coverage for their threat to publically burn copies of the Qur'an and declaring that "Islam is of the devil." A project to build an Islamic Center in New York several blocks from "ground zero" has unleashed vitriolic abuse against Islam as a religion. And strong local opposition is surfacing in a number of places throughout the country against Muslims providing places of worship for themselves in their communities. Perhaps heightened by our current economic insecurity, there is a mounting cry against the perceived "other" in our midst and that "true" – i.e., Christian – Americans must somehow "take back" the country.
We Franciscans lift our voices against this tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric in our nation.
We cannot help but recall that in the nineteenth century there was a similar outcry against Roman Catholics as a foreign, inassimilable mass within the nation; that our Catholic practices and values were contrary to the American way of life. Time, of course, proved those sentiments wrong. We must give our Muslim brothers and sisters the same opportunity. We must accept them as fellow-worshippers of our common God. Our position as Catholics is grounded in the clear teaching of our church. The Second Vatican Council's dogmatic constitution on the church, "A Light to the Peoples," (lumen gentium), after speaking of the people of God who have explicitly professed faith in Christ, and then the Jewish people, goes on to state: "God's plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the creator, first among whom are the Muslims:
they profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God,
who will judge all human beings on the last day" (LG, 16). The church thus clearly teaches that Muslims are not "pagans" or "idolaters" but children of the same loving God as Christians and Jews. On a practical level, the Decree on Religious Liberty of the same council, (dignitatis humanae), states that: "Religious groups . . . Must be allowed to honor the supreme God in public worship. . . and promote institutions in which members may work together to organize their own lives. . . . Religious communities also have the right not to be hindered by legislation or administrative action by the civil authority. In erecting buildings for religious purposes, and in the acquisition and use of the property they need." (DH 4)
This has clear implications for how Catholic Americans should accept Muslims in our society. We cannot allow the actions of a fanatical minority to define an entire religion. In a particular way, we Franciscans cannot help but recall that we are followers of a man who crossed frontiers, even battle lines, to offer a message of peace to the perceived enemies of Christianity. As one author strikingly portrayed in his recent study, "The Saint and the Sultan," at a time when some preachers were urging Christians "to kill a Muslim for Christ," Francis of Assisi boldly defied the prejudices of his era to demonstrate to the Sultan of Egypt that Christianity had another face than that of the Crusaders who faced him in battle. Francis was not able to win the Sultan over to the gospel of Christ, but he returned to Europe impressed by the faith he had experienced among the followers of Islam, convinced that he had met other worshippers of God like himself. Our Franciscan leaders in Assisi last year urged us Franciscans throughout the world to take up this heritage and to work in a special way at dialogue among Christians and Muslims and be architects of peace and reconciliation, of healing in our society. I know that here in our parish for the past several years a group of you meet together with Jews and Muslims, celebrating that we are three faiths with one God.
At our church in New York City, three pieces of steel from the tangled mass of debris of the World Trade Center were entrusted to us friars and now form a memorial to the victims of September 11th, including our own brother, Fr. Mychal Judge. The compressed pieces of steel vividly summon the grief and unspeakable sadness of that tragic morning. Still, a single golden rose rises gently from the mass of contorted steel, transcending the senseless brutality with an enduring promise of healing.
Let this time of recalling September 11th be an opportunity for all of us to summon the better angels of our nature, to rise above the anger and bitterness that seem to be an increasing feature of our country, to show respect to all people who seek the face of God, and to be agents of true and lasting peace and healing in our own land and among all nations.
This homily expresses many of the ideas in the letter sent to the friars by our Minister Provincial, John O'Connor, O.F.M. and our Vice-Provincial, Dominic Monti, O.F.M.
August 15,
When I was a child growing up in Temple Terrace, a suburb of Tampa, my brother and I did the Bible School circuit every summer. We went to bible school at our parish, the Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church and the Presbyterian Church. I'd like to think that it was not that my mother wanted us out of the house for the summer but rather to help us grow in our love of God and our knowledge of the Bible. I double checked with my Mom today and she confirmed that was the reason.
At one bible school, the pastor greeted all of the children on the first day. He had a booming voice and to a seven year old, he could pass for God any day. He told us that the theme for the week was centered on God's love for us and he was excited for us to know God's love. In fact, he shared with us his favorite Bible passage. He challenged us to memorize it because if we did and we could recite it to him at the end of the week, he would give us a brand new New Testament. Well, I was certainly going to get my hands on one of those! The memorization commenced that evening.
At the end of the week, I was excited but nervous about my time with the pastor. His larger than life personality and his booming voice made any little kid just a little nervous. He seemed to have a direct line with God so I was anxious waiting my turn. When it was my turn, I proudly shared my passage and with a big smile he said, "Jennifer, well done. You have earned your New Testament. Now, what do you need to do from now on?" At first I wasn't sure. This question wasn't a part of the original mandate. Do now? I was stumped. After awhile, sensing my confusion he said, "You must live your life remembering this passage. It wasn't something just to memorize, but a way of life." To a seven year old, I wasn't quite sure what that meant. However, it is a lesson that has stuck with me for more than 30 years.
As Catholics, we often seem to shy away from the Bible. While other faith traditions embrace Bible studies, we look upon them with quizzical looks. Why should we memorize Biblical verses? Why should we study the Bible? We have our catechism, we have our post Vatican II documents. Sadly though, we forgot that many of our documents, traditions, and faith life are based on the Bible. We all need time to dwell in the words of Christ. We need time to reflect on the words of the prophets, on the beautiful psalms. We need time to really educate ourselves about the life and times of Jesus.
This year, the Catholic Education and Evangelization ministries will continue to build upon the collaboration begun last year to help the entire parish community in lifelong faith formation. We are looking forward to this year's focus on scripture. There will be many opportunities throughout the year for parishioners of all ages to engage in study, conversation, and yes even fun with scripture. I encourage you to find time this year to give to yourself and your faith formation, to join us for the events planned. I especially encourage all of the families of the parish to join us next Sunday, August 29 for Family Biblefest! This will be a great afternoon of fun for the entire family.
Oh and that passage?
I John 4:7-9
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In Christ,
Jennifer Bigelow,
TFS Principal
August 12
Sabbatical Update from Father Mark
Summer greetings of peace. I'm more than halfway through my time away and very much enjoying the opportunity for study, rest, and renewal. Earlier this month I was at the friary for a couple of days to do some laundry and enjoyed visiting with the friars as well as seeing the great work that is being done on the Siena Center for Lifelong Learning – wow – they're moving along quickly and seem to be ahead of schedule.
Fr. David and I also had the opportunity to visit with Bishop Gossman. Bishop is in need of our prayers during this time of illness. While vacationing in Canton, Ohio in July, Bishop Gossman experienced some medical problems that required a brief hospitalization. On July 13, he traveled from Ohio to St. Joseph of the Pines, a Catholic healthcare facility within the Diocese of Raleigh, located in Southern Pines. On July 15, Bishop Gossman was admitted to Moore County Hospital in Pinehurst, where he underwent an extensive series of tests, which indicated that he had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that will require several months of rehabilitation and nutritional support. Bishop Gossman has begun his recuperation and rehabilitation at St. Joseph of the Pines. "Bishop Gossman is comforted in knowing of the many prayers being offered on his behalf throughout our Diocese," Bishop Burbidge said. "As always, he remains for us a wonderful example of faith and trust in Our Lord Jesus and in His abiding presence." Cards and written expressions of prayerful support for Bishop Gossman may be sent to him in care of the diocese:
Bishop F. Joseph Gossman
Diocese of Raleigh
715 Nazareth Street
Raleigh, NC 27606
Please consider sending Bishop Gossman a note of support and including him in your prayers.
I continue to remember you in my prayers during my sabbatical and look forward to returning to the parish on October 1. All the best to you and your loved ones.
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Mark
August 8
Dear Friends,
At the conclusion of our fiscal year June 30, I am once again taken aback by your immense generosity and the very real difference that St Francis of Assisi makes in the lives of our parishioners, friends and neighbors, larger community, and the world. Our campus is purposefully designed to provide a welcoming and safe environment for families and individuals of all sizes and shapes to experience our God. Here we are formed in the traditions, values, and beliefs of our faith through Lifelong Faith Formation and Catholic education; here we gather to use God's gifts of time, talent, and treasure to hasten the Kingdom through ministry; here we gather as friends to celebrate as one family through social and athletic opportunities. Here we gather around the Lord's table as one body to be renewed in spirit by God's Word and Eucharist and then to go forth and renew the face of the earth.
This past year, we have responded to the needs of those directly
impacted by the economic downturn with Job Connections, food drives, and direct assistance where possible. We have reached out to the immigrant community in Louisburg, advocated on issues of peace and justice, responded to the disaster in Haiti with funds and a delegation to help
rebuild. We touch the lives of our Sister Parish in Guatemala, our Children in Chernobyl, the home-bound, and those on North Carolina's death row. The list is ongoing and we can certainly be proud of all that has been accomplished.
One of the joys of my job is to work in partnership with our ministry leaders to help them realize the dreams and potential of their ministry. Through our Stewardship Office, we work to help identify God's gifts in each of us and how we can use those Gifts of time, talent, and treasure in ministry to fulfill our parish mission. In a perfect world, the needs of each ministry would be completely met by the volunteers and funds available, but the very real needs of our world rarely allow for this.
Over the next two months, there will be opportunities for dialogue as we together look at how we meet the needs of our world through ministry with the time, talent, and treasure available. The weekend of August 28/29 is Accountability Sunday, where we look at our stewardship for the past year (July 2009 to June 2010). It is an opportunity to see where we may have fallen short and to identify gaps in our various ministries.
In September, we will look to the future to dream together what might be possible if there were additional volunteers and/or funds over and above our traditional budget of fixed obligations and current ministries. It will be a time for each of us and our parish to ask the questions "What makes my/our heart sing?" (which is what our pastor is presently doing on sabbatical) and "What is possible for our parish as we look to the future?"
August is an energizing time for me as we welcome back our school/preschool teachers and staff. Our campus becomes alive with the promise of our children returning, our friends catching up on summer adventures, and the gathering of the Body of Christ.
Ben Whitehouse
Director of Parish Operations
August 1
"I thought you might be interested in this article written by one of our friars, Steve Patti, at Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham. A large part of the Immaculate Conception Community is Latino. The article appeared in the Durham Herald Sun daily newspaper. It received a great deal of response."
Fr. David
It's a warm Sunday afternoon in July, and the 5 o'clock Spanish mass here at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is just letting out. The people come out of the sanctuary holding the hands of their young children, asking questions about how and when they might baptize a newborn baby, or how they can register their children for faith formation. Several people come forward with images of Jesus, or Mary, or a set of rosary beads. Padre, they ask, can you please bless these? We pray, make the sign of the cross, and they take the images with them back to their apartments, or to their trailers, where they hang on the wall and remind them that, even far from their homeland, they are watched over by God.
Sometimes, after mass is over, people will ask, do you have a minute? And so we will find a quiet spot in the church, and they will tell me something of their life. A relative back in Mexico has died, can we remember him in our prayers, say his name during prayers at mass? A family is running low on food, do we know of anywhere that might help them? Or, a man tells me that his brother was murdered in his apartment, shot three times by an intruder looking for money. Later that week, 150 friends and family gather in the church for a funeral mass. We have the mass at 7 o'clock at night, when the men who work in the fields and the women who work cleaning hotel rooms and taking orders at fast food restaurants – unable to get off work during the day – are able to come. The casket is brought to the front of the church, at rest underneath the crucifix, and the people who have gathered in the church offer their prayers – and a goodbye – to their friend. The next day his casket will be sent to Mexico for burial.
Here at Immaculate Conception Church, we are familiar with the letters to the editor, and the arguments that go back and forth, about "Mexicans," or "illegals." Father, someone says to me, don't call them "undocumented," call them what they are, illegal! I recall something that I learned when I was studying theology, that Jesus himself, as a newborn, was an "illegal" when his parents left their homeland for Egypt to avoid the threat of King Herod. Jesus, Joseph and Mary knew the experience of being far from their own home and culture, became strangers in a strange land themselves. And so the Church, looking to its own tradition, makes a space to welcome the immigrant.
The letters to the editor and the arguments go back and forth – where do you stand on the Arizona law? What are we to make of all the "illegal immigrants" or "undocumented workers" in our midst? How will we resolve the questions of immigration in our nation? What often gets lost, in all of this, is the human story. Who is this person in front of me? Where did he or she come from, and why are they here?
Years ago, when I was studying Spanish for a summer in Cuernavaca, Mexico, I was invited to a birthday party. I started up a conversation with the man sitting next to me. He told me how he sometimes crossed the border into Arizona and made his way to North Carolina to work in the fields, picking strawberries. It was always a risky trip. Why, I asked him, would he take that kind of risk? It was the difference, he told me, between earning $8 a day in Mexico or $80 a day in the North Carolina fields. So he would go back and forth a few times a year to earn money to support his family in Mexico.
He poured me a Corona, and one for himself. We lifted our glasses together. Someone lit the candles on the birthday cake. Thank you, I said, for inviting me. I'm happy to do it, he said, thank you for being with us.
Fr. Steven Patti, OFM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Durham NC
July 25
This week the full-time pastoral staff will be on retreat -
a Sabbath for us. Please hold us in your prayer as we take time away for rest and reflection that we may enter more deeply into our relationship with God and one another as servants of the parish. The Pastoral offices will be open for limited hours Tuesday through Friday while we are away.
Sr. Margaret Mary Kimmins, OSF will lead us on retreat. Sr. Margaret Mary serves as president of the board of directors for the Franciscan Action Network. She has previously served as Congregational Minister for the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY and presently works at Bread for the World, a Christian anti-hunger lobby, in Washington, DC. You may remember her from her work with the Franciscan Coalition at the 2009 Hunger Conference. Next weekend Sr. Margaret Mary will also be with us at all the Masses to encourage us in an Offering of Letters.
An Offering of Letters is an annual nationwide initiative of Bread for the World that asks each of us to send a hand-written letter to our congressional representatives on an issue that is important to people living in hunger. We live in the world's wealthiest nation but 16.7 million children live in households that struggle just to put food on the table. While hunger is on the rise in our country and around the world, 2010 is a time to take important steps to reverse this slide. The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit enacted earlier in this decade expire in December 2010. Congress will be deciding which ones to renew or change, if any. The needs of low-income families and hungry children should not be lost in this debate.
What can we do?
Learn more about hunger statistics in NC and find a copy of a sample letter on our parish website at http://www.stfrancisraleigh.org.
Reflect on today's Gospel about prayer, consider what Ron Rolheiser reminds us. "In the New Testament, prayer of petition is linked to concrete charitable action within the community. To pray truly for someone involves also reaching out concretely to help that person. To pray truly for justice and peace involves working actively for justice and peace."
Next weekend, take concrete action. Join in the Offering of Letters by stopping in the Stewardship Center after Mass to write a letter to your senator or representative. Everything you need will be there. All you need to do is to commit to stop in for 2 minutes!
Together we can end hunger in God's world.
July 18
We Are What We Eat by Trevor Thompson, Director of Pastoral Ministries
My wife, two kids, and I just returned from our annual pilgrimage to northern California. I love this summer season of travel, relaxation, and finding time to connect with loved ones. Our special time included lots of swimming, a date night with my wife (our 9th anniversary!), lazy morning coffees, Bocce ball, World Cup soccer, old home videos, and ample laughter and storytelling. My favorite thing about these family gatherings, however, is the daily ritual of our family meals shared at a big, open cherry-wood table.
These meals were the staple of my childhood and they remain what I like best about going home.
My mother is, and always has been, primarily responsible for this meal ritual. She's an impeccable cross between Julia Child and Martha (of today's Gospel). Cultivated over years of culinary adventures through lineage (French and Italian genes), travel (we lived in both Europe and Asia several times near Army bases), marriage (my stepfather is Filipino), and tasting (we ate fresh, local, and organic before there was a Whole Foods), my mother's culinary deftness has satiated every hungry soul that came to our family table. She was committed to gathering her daily, but this table was also an open table, welcome to every soul who wished to come. We regularly had guests, especially during the holiday when there were many soldiers (single or without their families) needing a place to taste the comforts of a home. So too, my mother frequently cooked and delivered warm meals to those who were homebound, sick, grieving, widowed, and newly-made parents. It is hard for me to remember a day throughout my childhood where we did not have a meal around that table. Her kitchen and her table were her ways of giving, touching, healing, and loving.
Andrei Rublev's icon of the Trinity (ca. 1410)
"And so Israel, like virtually every other known society, sustained its existence by communal eating and drinking. Jesus began his preaching of the kingdom of God by feasting with tax collectors and prostitutes. All this festivity reaches forward to the Eucharist, in which we are at home with each other in Christ…The climax of the Eucharist, Communion, is our homecoming to each other and to God." Timothy Radcliffe, OP
Why Go to Church: The Drama of the Eucharist
Not only have all my mother's children's taste buds become spoiled or turned into finicky gourmands, mine included, but all of them have gone on to their own culinary adventures. My sister, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, is a pastry-chef specializing in chocolates, my brother is an organic farmer and an artist who paints canvases of vegetables, and after a three-year stint as a farmer at a community-supported agriculture project, I directed a community kitchen that served free, healthy, and yummy food and hospitality before moving to North Carolina in February. We all can pull our weight in the kitchen, and we all count our greatest temptations (and expenditures) to be the ones we consume and excrete.
I'm also growing deeper in my understanding of the myriad of ways this mealtime ritual has shaped our worldview, our habits, and our relationship with all things sensual and bodily. Sure, we went to Mass every Sunday and participated in religious education (my mother even worked for the church), but as I reflect on it, it is this mealtime practice at home around our table that made the liturgy full of implications that mattered in my life and in the world. My sense of hospitality, service, vulnerability, forgiveness, respect, and joy are all rooted in this daily practice of kitchen, food, and table. Around that cherry-wood table I learned how to be human, how to be church, and how to know the mystery that is God.
I'm fully conscious that home-cooked meals and gatherings around dinner tables are more and more marginal in today's American culture. My experience was the gift of the sacrifices of a stay-at-home mom and her culinary twists of fate. Nevertheless, today's first reading of the story of Abraham, the three visitors, and the portending meal, coupled with my family gathering this past month in California, stirs my imagination and helps me understand better why my wife and I continue to choose to take our two children to church and gather faithfully around a table of home-cooked food. Although they will grow to feed themselves, we pray that our kitchen, food, and table might similarly shape our children's culinary adventures and spiritual lives. Bon appétit.
July 14, 201
Church Parking Lot will be Closed…
From Monday, July 26th – Friday, July 30th, the church parking lot will be undergoing repairs, re-paving, and re-striping. As a result, please note the following.
- The entire "church parking lot", and all entrances/exits except the St. Francis Drive Entrance will be closed.
- The main driveway will be barricaded just past the Community Center/Chapel driveway. Access to the Community Center and Chapel will not be affected. However, the main driveway will become 2-way traffic for the short distance between the Community Center and Leesville Road.
- Visitors (and staff and volunteers) to the church/pastoral offices/Anthony Hall will have to enter the property by way of St. Francis Drive and then drive to the top of the TFS lot nearest the church, park and then walk in. Limited spaces will also be available in front of the Community Center.
- In the event of a funeral, and depending upon the project area of focus that day, the contractors will work with Rob and attempt to allow limited access somewhere in the lot.
Since most of the staff will be away on retreat, traffic in the pastoral offices will be light. The staff who will be present will assist the receptionist with answering any questions that arise.
July 11, 2010
The Good Samaritan
by Fr Bill McConville, OFM
On the weekend of July 10-11 the Church proclaims Jesus' well-known parable about the Good Samaritan. It is a powerful story of compassion and practical help. Often, when we reflect on this story, we are drawn to the fact that the protagonist in the story is an outsider, a heretic despised by faithful Jews of Christ's time.
He offers help, at some risk to himself, while the religious leaders (the priest and the levite) walk on by.
How about this, however? What if the victim – lying stripped, despoiled of possessions, and wounded – absolutely refused to be helped or cared for? What if the victim threw up obstacle after obstacle to prevent the giving of healing and care? More pointedly, what if the victim lying by the side of the road was someone you knew, someone you cared about, indeed someone you loved? What about if the victim by the side of the road is one of your ill and aging parents?
Many of us are now confronted with a situation quite new for us. Our parents, who have always been reasonably healthy and in control of their lives, are suddenly quite fragile. Physically they are winding down, and they bitterly resent it. The car keys have been taken away, the ultimate indignity. They become obsessed with their medications and doctor visits to the exclusion of all else. As painful as it is for us to watch the physical deterioration, we find ourselves much more affected by what has happened to them psychologically. They become bitter, resentful, angry, and unappreciative. Even when we try to care for them, to be "good Samaritans" for them, they push us away and make it impossible to care for them. This is a tough situation for all concerned.
I find that most of us respond to this by a mixture of sadness and anger. We are sad because we want to be there for those who loved us into life and nurtured and care for us. We are sad because of what their lives have become. At the same time we are angry because of the pain they are inflicting on their families, because of what we judge to be (often mistakenly) their willfulness in failing to operate or at least be appreciative.
I have no easy answers to this dilemma in which many families are finding themselves. But I do try to remind myself of the following (not always successfully):
1) let go of the anger – there is enough anger here already;
2) try to remember that, even though aging and fragile, they have not lost their dignity;
3) to embody your love for them by touching – the elderly are rarely touched;
4) when necessary draw a line in the sand, set parameters – they need to be allowed to live with the consequences of what they insist on;
5) try to be attentive to the fear and inner darkness that may be shaping irritating behavior.
Finally, we can never give up praying for them. I have found that my attitude and my behavior changes when I pray for people whom I find a challenge. I pray that Christ, the ultimate Good Samaritan, will indeed pour healing oil on their wounds and take them to a place of safety and healing.
June 18
The oil disaster prayer vigil held at St. Mary of the Angels Chapel drew parishioners, non-parishioners and those of different religious tranditions to come together and pray for all who are suffering, as well as for our environment. The news media also came out to cover the event.
(Father David with our Guest Speaker, William Dinges, PhD)
Here is a reprint of Father David's Homily from Sunday Mass, on the oil spill disaster.
Who of us is not deeply shocked by the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico? Our hearts break for the lives that have been lost, for the families whose livelihood has ended, and, of course, for the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, killed or maimed, and the environment: the coastland, the rivers, the Gulf and even now the Atlantic Ocean. It's a tragedy, a devastation of the first order. And we did it.
Not God. Not nature. Not chance. But us. We did it. And it just gets worse.
Public concern over the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe has, to date, focused almost exclusively on practical and technical issues: how to stop the leakage, how to protect the shoreline, how to clean up the mess. Ominous concerns over the long-term ecological and economic impact are also mounting. But what does this mean for people of faith? What is a religious response to the inferno of the deep water horizon rig and the oily devastation released by it? For the oil workers who lost their lives and for their families, for those whose livelihoods have been decimated, for those working to stop the flow, and for those immediately involved in the clean-up efforts, the response is obvious: prayer, concern and support.
But what of the deeper faith implications of the disaster? As people of faith, we ask forgiveness. We acknowledge that nowhere in our faith tradition are we given absolute sovereignty over the gift of creation. We are called to stewardship, to "cultivate" and to "keep" (protect) creation (Genesis 2:15), not to exploit it, nor to take risks with it. As stewards of creation, we are called to protect nature's integrity and dignity, to be guardians of its gifts, to maintain a "right relationship" with it, and to live in ways that honor and respect it. As people of faith we again proclaim creation as the primary form of revelation. Writes the poet Hopkins: "The earth is charged with the grandeur of God." Really! Now the grandeur is marred by our carbon footprints. All of creation is charged with divine energy. All of creation mediates the divine mystery. All of creation is an ongoing form of prayer. To damage and degrade creation is to damage and degrade our relationship with God. As people of faith, we recognize our responsibility to continue to proclaim the sacredness of creation. This is why we must not allow the tragedy in the Gulf to remain framed exclusively in the secular stated language of an economic or industrial problem. We must not, as Pope Benedict XVI recently warned, allow nature to be viewed from a purely materialistic perspective. As it has been said "we have an addiction to oil." But the gas and oil lobbies are so strong that they fuel this addiction. If we are to live simply on the earth, these issues must be named and engaged from the depths of our faith convictions.
As people of faith, we are called to participate in the liberation and healing of the earth and of ourselves. The gulf disaster presents dramatic challenges in this regard. We need a deep rethinking of our own use of natural resources. As people of faith, we acknowledge in the face of Gulf disaster, that we are called by the scope of the ecological destruction caused by human error, greed and consumptiveness, to what Pope John Paul II called an "ecological conversion." This conversion involves much more than an "adjustment" of attitudes or recycling. It necessitates a transformation of consciousness impacting our relationship with the earth community as a whole, with one another, and with God. The current tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico illustrates in a dramatic and unambiguous way how imperative this call to "ecological conversion" has once again become.
The psalmist sings: "The earth is the Lord's and its fullness." May we embrace and live out that truth.
(Some of the ideas in this reflection have been taken from Dr. William Dinges' paper on the same subject.)
Here are links to local news coverage on the Prayer Vigil held at St Francis for the oil disaster in the Gulf.


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Definition of Research methods
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Research methods Definition from Social Science Dictionaries & Glossaries
Glossary of Sociology
The diverse strategies used to gather empirical (factual) material in a systematic way.
Research methods Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia
RE/Search Publications is an American magazine and book publisher, based in San Francisco, founded and edited by Andrea Juno and V. Vale in 1980. It was the successor to Vale's earlier punk rock fanzine Search & Destroy (1977–1979), and was started with $100 from Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. RE/Search itself began as a tabloid-sized magazine.
See more at Wikipedia.org... |
Research and experimental development is creative work undertaken systematically to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of humanity, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications (OECD (2002) Frascati Manual: proposed standard practice for surveys on research and experimental development, 6th edition. Retrieved 27 May 2012 from www.oecd.org/sti/frascatimanual.) It is used to establish or confirm facts, reaffirm the results of previous work, solve new or existing problems, support theorems, or develop new theories. A research project may also be an expansion on past work in the field. To test the validity of instruments, procedures, or experiments, research may replicate elements of prior projects, or the project as a whole. The primary purposes of basic research (as opposed to applied research) are documentation, discovery, interpretation, or the research and development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge. Approaches to research depend on epistemologies, which vary considerably both within and between humanities and sciences.
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Flipping the Doctor's Office
July 18, 2013 | Culture of Health Post
Doctor visits should be meaningful. All too often, they're not, says Thomas Goetz, RWJF Entrepreneur in Residence. How can we change the way we deliver primary care?
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July 18, 2013 | Culture of Health Post
Doctor visits should be meaningful. All too often, they're not, says Thomas Goetz, RWJF Entrepreneur in Residence. How can we change the way we deliver primary care?
December 5, 2013 | Human Capital Blog Post
Around the country, print, broadcast, and online media outlets are covering the groundbreaking work of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) leaders, scholars, fellows, alumni, and grantees.
November 20, 2013 | News Release
New program explores reorganization of staff roles in doctors' offices to improve patient outcomes without increasing costs.
November 4, 2013 | Human Capital Blog Post
Michael Hochman, medical director for Innovation at AltaMed Health Services, discusses ways to reinvigorate primary care.
September 25, 2013 | Culture of Health Post
Not only does the Flip the Clinic idea seem to meet a clear and broad need for new thinking about health care delivery, but it may just offer a necessary inspiration for doing some hard but necessary work in changing it.
The LEAP project identified 30 primary care practices that use health professionals and other staff in ways that maximize access to their services, so these workforce models can be replicated and adopted more widely.
September 23, 2013 | Human Capital Blog Post
Maryjoan Ladden writes about her site visits to innovative primary care practices, as part of The Primary Care Team: Learning From Effective Ambulatory Practices (LEAP) project.
September 11, 2013 | Human Capital Blog Post
For years, medical students have been choosing specialties over primary care at a rate that has alarmed experts concerned about a shortage of primary care providers. Two new surveys shed light on the primary care workforce.
September 1, 2013 | Toolkit
This guide for primary care practices provides lessons from Detroit on reducing avoidable ED visits and was developed in partnership with the Greater Detroit Area Health Council as part of its work with Aligning Forces for Quality.
August 21, 2013 | Human Capital Blog Post
Twenty-seven years after EMTALA became law, a greater emphasis is placed on preventive measures and comprehensive care, rather than urgent care, as a means to reduce negative health outcomes.


text: We come to Treasure Island every November for a couple of nights and always end up here! Chilled out beach bar (not quite on the beach). Screens inside showing the games, band out back and later a different one inside. Singer outside is v funny - let's all drink", "chin chin". Only downside is no draft beer. See you all... More


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John speaks at a number of private events, e.g. in-house company social media workshops. The events listed here are public events only. If you would like to enquire about hiring him for a speaking engagement or workshop, please complete the 'Contact Us' page. Thank you.
John also writes regularly for a number of third party publications and participates in interviews. Some strategic social media tips and podcasts may be found at the ACCELerate™ Your Social Media PR page.
Some recent events:
ACCELerate™ Your Events with Social Media, 11am Wednesday 22nd May
Academic Venue Show
ILEC Conference Centre, Earls Court, London
Speaker at The Business Show, London ExCel , Thursday 6th June 2013
Speaker at the Breakfast Briefing at Surrey Chambers of Commerce
8.00am, Tuesday, 5th November 2013
Epsom Down Racecourse, Surrey
Speaker at the 'Good Day at Work' Conference
Immarsat Conference Centre, London EC1
9am to 5pm, Wednesday, 13th November 2013
'ACCELerate™ Your LinkedIn' (11.55am to 12.30pm)
Panoma Press 'Holiday Showcase – Books that Change Lives'
6pm to 8pm, Monday, 25th November 2013
Blackwell's Book Store, London
John has been asked to speak again at The Business Show, Olympia, London
Thursday 28th & Friday 29th November 2013
South East London Business Network's Ḉḧṙḭṥṫḿḁṥ 2013 Event
6.30pm, Tuesday 10th December 2013, Henry's, Bromley
News: ACCELerate™ Social Media makes its debut in America < 2 play buttons
Update: John was recently re-invited to appear on the Small Business Advocate® Show, America. The recording may be found here.
We're holding more events which will be listed shortly. Follow us on twitter and register here to keep tabs on what's going on.
In addition to hosting and presenting at our own social networking seminars in London, these are just some of the speaking engagements John Coupland has been commissioned for during the last few months:2012 The Business Show, Olympia, London. (The UK's biggest business show). All sessions overflowed. Host and Co-Speaker: LinkedIn & Twitter Seminar, London. Fully booked. http://linkd.in/xEUBq3 with Rick Itzkowich, ("The LinkedIn Guy", California). Social Media Week® 7 Seminars – all fully booked. E.g: http://goo.gl/25uZw Rugby School Careers Convention, Rugby School http://www.rugbyschool.net/2012-careers-convention Details: Speaker (Panel 6) http://goo.gl/iRwX1 Photos:http://goo.gl/NEsrU Hotelympia 2012 Excel, London. Speaker: 3 engagements: Main stage: "Social Visualisation" Hospa Hub: Building Targeted Networks Hospa Hub: Mobile Socialisation Podcast interviews 2012 Guest: 'Your London Business'. It includes two strategic tips http://bit.ly/HqA1tI Interviewer: George Montgomery. Guest: 'Networking Giants Radio Show': Recorded to be released soon. Interviewer: Rob Brown Book John's book, 'Accelerate Your Social Media', published on 22nd November 2012 during his speaking enagements at the UK's biggest business exhibition, The Business Show, Olympia London on 22nd & 23rd November. Photos: http://bit.ly/ACCELerateBookLaunch Book launch celebration, Piccadilly, London: http://bit.ly/ACCELerateCelebration 2011 Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) AGM , RAF Museum, London Host and Co-Speaker: 'Social Media SMART", FSB's "We Mean Business" Fairfield Halls, Croydon (Sold-out at 100. Total no. of attendees at the exhibition 800+. We led the FSB's social media campaign too and exceeded their attendee targets). Speaker at numerous 'The Sales Roadshow' Seminars, Kent, covering various social networking topics. Speaker at "Mobile, Social Media and Business Now!" Greenwich. 'Social Media Sling' (Singapore's Digital Economy). |
Testimonials ('Mirroring' the speaking engagements featured above)…2012
Great to hear that attendees are since realizing ROI as a direct result of our event!" March 8, 2012 1st Rick Itzkowich, Trainer and Speaker, Rick Itzkowich Consulting Social Media Week® Video testimonials on our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/johnnetworkerplus Also written, eg: "I have attended several seminars hosted by John on social media. Prior to the seminars I considered myself reasonably knowledgeable on the subject as part of 'Generation Y', how wrong I was! Top qualities: Expert, Good value, Creative 1st Ben Beavers "The great Henry Ford once said that: "Obstacles are those frightful things you can see when you take your eyes off your goal." Having met and brainstormed with John Coupland at the "Social Media Week London" seminars, I now classify him as a modern day Henry Ford. He is a naturally gifted problem solver and brilliantly forward thinking social media tactician. It's no wonder he is the award winning e-business expert that businesses are lining up to work with. If you have the opportunity to go to one of his training seminars or just have a friendly chat, you will very quickly realize why John stands out from the crowd. He helps you overcome your online obstacles and keeps you focused on your end goals." March 9, 2012 1st Mark Hughes, Social Media Marketing, Funky Social Media Rugby School Careers Convention "Dear Mr Coupland, I would just like to say, a very big thank you for your support in speaking at the Careers Convention. The day was a huge success, we have had some fantastic feedback from attending pupils who very much appreciate the opportunity and the time you have given. Please see below one comment that has been received from a pupil: "I now know what I want to do and how to go about achieving it". Very many thanks again, Best wishes. Mrs Harry Higgins Rugby School Careers Department" (E-mail dated 14th February 2012) Hotelympia 2012 Testimonials due, however these were the organisers: Stirling Johnstone (Main Stage) Sophie Allcock (Hospa Hub) 2011 Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) AGM "John presented on social media at the Association of Interior Specialists, AIS AGM on the impact of social media on members' businesses. He prepared a thought provoking, relevant demonstration of how companies can take advantage of the opportunities presented through new methods of communication with clients. Top qualities: Personable, Expert, Creative 1st David Frise 'Social Media SMART", FSB's "We Mean Business" "I attended the mini-SMART Workshop at the We Mean Business Event in Croydon: The content was enlightening and the format of the workshop brilliant, with interactive sessions, videos and lively and supportive group discussions. Topics were only briefly covered in the mini-session, but I've taken away and used ideas already. Hungry for more, I will be taking up the full workshop offer: to learn how to focus my new media strategy to get the best use of it in the very little time each day brings!"November 8, 2011 1st Elspeth Lucy Holmes FCA, Business Improvement Specialist, Pro-actions LLP 'The Sales Roadshow' Seminars "John is quite character-resourceful, creative and aware. He's been hugely supportive in the time that we've worked together on the Sales Roadshow and I very much appreciate this.
1st Louisa Felstead, Owner, Facilitator "I've seen John present twice now, and each time his presentations (on different subjects) have been highly motivational and entertaining. John not only knows his "stuff" but engages with his audience to ensure that not only does he get his message across, but that he also pitches his message appropriately. There are Social Media Experts. But then there is John!" July 2, 2011 1st Andy Snook | Performance Evaluator & Mentor, Director, Performance Evaluations Limited "I was privileged to meet John at a Sales Roadshow event earlier in the year, where he was presenting. John's knowledge and passion for social media together with his approachable nature, makes him someone you need and want to know. Since then we have met and spoken many times. Johns understanding of how best to get social media working for your business is invaluable – I am going to be getting John involved in a new venture I have planned – as I know this will be a key ingredient crucial to making it a success." July 5, 2011 Top qualities: Expert, High Integrity, Creative 1st Debbie Hunt << Debbie Hunt, Lexus Hatfield, has since become one of our clients for social media marketing. "Mobile, Social Media and Business Now!" "John brings his deep knowledge of the Asian mobile social networking scene to the UK with great effect. Western ideas of mobile lag many years behind Singapore and Japan, so John's perspective is of great value to advertisers seeking new ways of engaging in the mobile revolution." December 11, 2011 1st Tim Belfall, Founder and co Director, ARL Mobile Ltd Others and details of awards may be found in John's LinkedIn profile: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/networkerplus |
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
- May 31, 2012 at 11:40 am
John really understand the mysteries of social media and will truly help you get up to speed in a way that is right for your business. I highly recommend him
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text:
A good man doesn't drink
And I've been drinking alone
So what does that make me?
My hands they always shake
And no one's calling my phone
So what does that make me?
And I know the kid with his guitar
So drunk and anxious
Has been done to death
So tell me what hasn't
I'll try it
Because I'm selfish enough to wanna get better
But I'm backwards enough not to take any steps to get there
And when you realize it's a pattern
And not a phase
It's what you've become and it's what you will stay
That's ballgame
'Cause I don't got room in my life for anyone else
And I've driven away all the people that could help
And I still don't even know what I need to do to fix myself
There's a clamp around my chest
That tightens every time I lapse into
Another sorry story
About my miserable collapse
A bronze box I keep encased in glass
And dust off whenever I want your pity
'Cause lately I've had to come to grips with scope and figure
How my problems stack up in a world two steps from ruin
(Or maybe it's rapture)
Well, either way, I realize that my shit's about as small as it could be
But that makes me feel worse for even feeling this bad in the first place
'Cause there's a war starting soon, and all the flags'll be waving
Daniel's 20-year-old friend will be ready, and willing, and waiting
He's a Marine and he told me
And that makes me sad
Really, really fucking sad
But at least he'll act
I'll just bite my tongue and then say, "Daniel you wish him luck
or pray that he comes back for his mother's sake",
and then I'll drink those thoughts away
I've gotten good at that
And when you realize it's a pattern
And not a phase
It's what you've become and it's what you will stay
That's ballgame


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Jay and Manny set out to cut down their own Christmas tree; Gloria is on edge when her mother visits; Mitchell does last-minute shopping to find the perfect gift for Lily. watch
Jay and Manny set out to cut down their own Christmas tree. watch
Jay takes Manny out to cut down their own Christmas tree, and Gloria is on edge with mom in town, but changes her tune when she sees her bonding with Claire. Elsewhere, Mitchell is forced to do last minute shopping when they didn't get Lily the right gift, and Cameron takes Lily to a charity event where they experience the true meaning of Christmas. watch
Modern Family: 'See You Next Fall' Sneak Peek
Modern Family: Sneak Peek
Modern Family Sneak Peek
more Nolan Gould Clips & Interviews videos
Most friendships are complicated. Some are more complicated than others.
When two friends decide to try something new and take advantage of their mutual attraction without any emotional attachment, they soon realize romantic comedy stereotypes might exist for a reason.
Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) think it's going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their friendship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon discover however that getting physical really does always lead to complications.
more Nolan Gould Movies videos
Jay and Manny set out to cut down their own Christmas tree; Gloria is on edge when her mother visits; Mitchell does last-minute shopping to find the perfect gift for Lily. Also available on ABC, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and VUDU
Cam is extremely focused -- and ruthless -- as a big football game approaches; Claire wants to prove herself at work; Phil tries to teach his children about optimism. Also available on ABC, iTunes, Xfinity, Amazon Instant Video and VUDU
Claire encourages Jay to go to ClosetCon, where he is reunited with former colleagues; for the first time, Cam takes Lily and Mitch to the Tucker farm. Also available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and VUDU
The family goes to the annual school fair; Phil and Claire each plan a separate surprise for their 20th wedding anniversary; Haley has an awkward encounter. Also available on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and VUDU
more Nolan Gould On TV videos
more Nolan Gould credits (12 total credits)
This week, Billy Crystal revealed the little-known true origins of Duck Dynasty in an interview with Jimmy Fallon, while Jimmy Kimmel hosted "Modern Family Feud" with the young cast members of Modern Family. Yahoo! released a spoof of ESPN's 30 for 30 about the basketball game in Space Jam, Scott Porter took TVGuide.com on a tour of the Hart of Dixie set, and a Russian police choir sang Daft Punk's "Get Lucky." Check out those clips and more in our weekly roundup of the best online videos:
Send questions and comments to firstname.lastname@example.com and follow me on Twitter!
Question: Last Sunday's "Hitting the Fan" episode of The Good Wife lived up to the hype. It was a game changer, but I guess it left me feeling slimed. Alicia has always taken a righteous position and walked a fine ethical line. On Sunday, I feel like she fell off a cliff — not only was she a party to trying to download files which I'm not sure is illegal but certainly not ethical (notwithstanding the ends-justify-the-means argument), but she also seemed gleeful about Peter using his political position to her gain. As Will seemed so right to point out, she seems to have no idea how bad she has become. This is not the good wife that I have been watching. What were your thoughts? — Megan
Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who has the best costume of them all?
That's the question the first annual Hub Halloween Bash aims to answer. The two-hour special, hosted by Saturday Night Live's Kenan Thompson, features children from across the country competing in a star-studded costume contest with the winner nabbing $25,000 and a walk-on role on the Daytime Emmy-winning series R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series.
Modern Family's Nolan Gould (Luke) was born eight years after Macaulay Culkin became a superstar in 1990's Home Alone, but after discovering the film on DVD, Gould campaigned for his own version — and is getting his wish.
In next week's episode... read more
Time for some serious soul-searching on the usually glib Castle, so it must be the end of another season. "With any luck, this could be your last case," crows the tone deaf-as-usual Capt. "Sir" Gates as the boss lady celebrates the prospect of Kate Beckett being "headed for bigger things" — or so promises the FBI Deputy Director (guest star Kyle Secor) who recruits the sultry homicide pro for a federal task force based in Washington, D.C. And what would that mean for Beckett's still budding but not quite defined romance with Castle? "I think our plot just thickened," quips the mystery writer-turned-crime solver — though he's talking about the week's murder case, not yet aware of his squeeze's big opportunity. With Castle fuming over trust issues that expose doubts in both parties, Beckett is left at an emotional crossroads: "What happens when the music stops? What if all we were in love with was the dance?" ABC dropped the last minutes of the episode (Monday, 10:01/9:01c) from the advance screener, so it's anyone's guess what their next step will be.
You might be also interested in the following websites:


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Grab a Button!
Product 202/243
Max is a soldier down on his luck, and when the king sends out a call for volunteers to solve the mystery of the twelve dancing princesses, Max figures he has nothing to lose. Nothing, of course, except his head if he should fail. Max has faced death before and doesn't fear it, but when he meets the princesses, all lovely, light-hearted, and battling constant exhaustion due to their mysterious nightly escapades, he realizes he could lose his heart as well.
To win his princess, Max must break the spell. But he must face the truth that the twelve princesses are terribly naughty and do much more than just dance, and he will have to join in the amorous festivities himself to get them out.
Be Warned: spanking, public exhibition, menage sex, multiple partners, anal sex, bondage, voyeurism.
Perdita, the mistress of the ball, walked around to different trios of dancers and administered light spankings where she thought appropriate. Some of the twins she upbraided for not giving themselves to the night, for not dancing with all the passion they could muster. The princesses giggled and moaned, enjoying every moment of their punishment. Max wondered if some of them did not dance badly on purpose just so they could get spanked. After being disciplined, the twins danced with greater heat as they wiggled their buttocks on their partners' growing cocks. Perdita walked on, and the expression on her face reminded Max of a matron of a particular cat-house he used to visit regularly. Everyone had assumed that due to her severity, she hated men and wanted nothing to do with them. But Max had known better. Over her own protestations, he gave her a good fucking one night, taking her instead of one of her girls. That was just what she had needed, and he had known that. Whenever he went back there, he always fucked her. Perdita was much the same way. She looked stern and intimidating, but Max knew all she needed – all she wanted – was a forceful cock inside her that would not spurt within the first minute of intercourse. Strong women had that effect on men. They needed even stronger men with even greater stamina to topple them and give them the orgasms they craved. Max returned his attention to Alaren, and his cock regained its vigor. Alaren was the woman for him; there was no doubt about it. She was what he needed. Max lost track of time. He did not know how long he stood there jacking off, but the music finally ended. The princesses' slippers were worn through. They must have danced for hours, but how time flowed in the faery realm Max did not know. He was still as horny as ever. The princesses were all covered in sweat, their hair drenched and clinging to her skin, their corsets moving up and down with their labored breathing.


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Lyrics Depot | |
Lyrics » Pearl Jam Lyrics » Helphelp Lyrics |
Lyrics Depot is your source of lyrics to Helphelp by Pearl Jam. Please check back for more Pearl Jam lyrics. |
Helphelp LyricsArtist: Pearl JamAlbum: Riot Act Tell me what I wanna hear This shit's too good to be true My dear Tell me lies Tell me lies, tell me Tell me lies, tell me Help me.. help me.. help me.. Storybook keeps from hurting me You see Shell of the man from the sea Tell me lies Tell me lies, tell me Tell me lies, tell me Tell me why Tell me why, tell me Tell me why, tell me Tell me lies,... Help me Reservoir Of hate and fear Invisible In repair A hundred theives Cast a spell This is hell Related: |
All lyrics are the property of their respective authors, artists and labels. |


text:
At midterm time, Chefs Anne and Robert want to see how the recruits perform without supervision. Via video message, the chefs assign their teams a scrambled recipe for the Skill Drill. Each team works together to unscramble the recipe and cook the dish while the chefs secretly watch their attempt on closed circuit TV. For the Main Dish Challenge, the chefs shock their recruits with the news that they must cater an hors d'oeuvre party for NFL star Kris Jenkins, his wife, and 30 of their guests! It's game time, and the two least successful cooks are cut.
Recipes in This Episode
- Avocado-Bacon Relish and Cheddar Fondue
- Black Bean Taco Fritters with Spicy Mayo
- Blue Cheese Chicken Meatballs
- Cheeseburger Roulades
- Chorizo and Manchego Puffs
- Crab Cakes with Grilled Corn Relish
- Marinated Lamb Shoulder Chops with Tzatziki, Arugula, and Feta
- Mini Corn Cakes with Avocado and Tomatoes
- Mini Grilled Gruyere and Ham Sammies with Cornichons
- Roasted Pork Loin with Cider and Chunky Applesauce
- Shrimp Balls with Water Chestnuts and Spicy Soy Dipping Sauce
- Veal Paillard with Lemon Sauce, Haricot Verts Salad, and Mashed Red Potatoes
- Warm Savoy Cabbage Slaw


text:
Dr. Petrosini's Background
Research training, expertise and qualifications
Dr. Petrosini's Specialties
- Orthopedic Surgery
- View all 1 specialties and 1 board certification
Procedures Dr. Petrosini Performs
- Arthroscopic Surgery
- Sports Injuries
- See all 6 procedures
Conditions Dr. Petrosini Treats
- Sports Injuries
- Work Related Injuries
More About Dr. Petrosini's Background
Hospital Quality
The right hospital is as important as the right doctor
- Jersey Shore University Medical Center
- 1944 Corlies Ave
- Neptune, NJ 07753
9 Facts About Hospital Quality
You have an 85.6% lower risk of dying at a hospital with 5-stars for heart bypass surgery compared to a hospital with 1-star. Choosing the right hospital is critical to your health. View Slideshow
Patient Satisfaction
Patients' feedback on their experience with Dr. Petrosini
Likelihood of recommending Dr. Petrosini to family and friends is 2.9 out of 5
See More Survey Results
8 Facts About Patient Satisfaction Surveys
Patient satisfaction surveys provide a standardized way of reporting about healthcare experiences. But there can be more that meets the eye when reviewing scores. Here's what you should know
Appointments & Offices
Check insurance plans, locations and make an appointment
Accepted Insurances
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Coventry Health Care
- HIP of NY
- Horizon BCBS
- See all 6 insurances accepted
- Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey
- 3499 US Highway 9
- Freehold, NJ 07728
- 226 Route 37 W
- Toms River, NJ 08755
7 Tips to Prepare for Your Appointment
The key to a successful appointment is communication. To get the most out of your visit, prepare ahead of time so you can lead the conversation with your doctor. These 7 tips will get you ready


text:
A showdown is brewing in doughnut land.
For years, Dunkin' Donuts has squabbled with the Riese Organization, which runs nearly half the Dunkin' Donuts franchises in Manhattan and a smattering in the other boroughs of New York. There was the infamous case of the mouse munching on the coconut doughnut in the window of one Riese outlet in Midtown in 1998, which wound up on the front page of The New York Post. Four times since then, Dunkin' Donuts has sued Riese, saying its stores are unsanitary.
But now, Dunkin' Donuts has had enough. In a suit making its way through federal court in Brooklyn, Dunkin' Donuts USA Inc., based in Randolph, Mass., seeks to oust Riese as a franchisee, accusing it of operating filthy shops, shortchanging Dunkin' Donuts on profits and, in an act of corporate treachery, selling doughnuts to the competition.
The suit seeks the revocation of Riese's franchises and unspecified monetary damages for the ''irreparable injury'' inflicted on the Dunkin' Donuts name. Among other complaints, it says the Riese bakery in Queens that makes doughnuts for the 18 shops it operates in New York City has been selling them to rivals -- in particular, an upstart chain called Donut Connection.


text:
Return To the Team working Mom's feeling Guilty
SO, Iomsiltin here at work, watching Total Divas and reflecting on the week. yesterday was My and my Boyfriends two Year Anniversary ' and I realize,... Read more
so I never understand why it is So easy to fall off of the wagon And So hard to get Back on, I did so well for two months, then It was like I was thro... Read more
Heard a quote: I'm not a glass half-full or half-empty kind of person; I'm just happy to have a glass". I think the feeling of gratefulness is what ma... Read more
I think I'm finally getting the idea if how to make my health a priority. I'm finally realizing that I put my energy where I chose to, so I need to ch... Read more
I love the fall. I love school supplies. I love the cool nights. I also love that it's RUNNING SEASON. All the 5Ks, 1/2 marathons, full marathon ra... Read more
So yesterday did a 7 mile walk. ouch yeah I felt the burn today got on my elliptical for 30 minutes. My husband said we are going somewhere next year... Read more
Today I am traveling. I am setting an intent to choose airport food wisely, to stay away from Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes, and to use my time on t... Read more
Welll ok. I did elliptical today. I reset my weight because I am 213 now. So my first goal is to get back at 206. So I gained 7 pounds...blah. but I w... Read more
I went through some papers on my night stand last night and found a weight tracker from June 2012 that showed a weight of 162. Imagine how embarrassed... Read more
So returned to work and working out went out the door. Have gained some weight. And work just has not been easy. Debating if I want to change from tea... Read more
So in March of this year I ran my 5th half-marathon. And was very sad to finish more slowly than any one I'd ever run. Now, I apparently have cold-we... Read more
So this month, I turned 40, and I like to think that I have handled it well. I have some friends who are younger and are frankly a bit terrified ab... Read more
I'm back.... Read more
I just wanted to follow up from yesterday's post. I am most definitely on the upswing. Today has been a really good day. I had work stuff to do, but I... Read more
So it's literally been nearly 6 months since I blogged last. But now's a time when I should do it. I have a hard time blogging some times. There are t... Read more
Had a baby (YAY!!!) Gained more weight (Boo) Life is stressful. We are trying to run again. This is our first serious attempt since 2007. Hubby B... Read more
Today did my Zumba which was awesome!!! 355 did my elliptical at home first 314 after Zumba did the stairs and then sauna. I feel amazing today. Yest... Read more
Another day at the gym.. did treadmill and was able to jog for 20 minutes.. and got on stairs for 30 minutes. I got a good workout.. I broke a sweat b... Read more
I started taking pole fitness classes on May 20, 2013. I've always wanted to do it, but I must admit I was a bit apprehensive about it. Ive always... Read more
I am back from my trip to Okinawa! Wow! What a great time I had. There were alot of things that opened eyes. The most amazing thing is that I got t... Read more
This morning went with Court to a bootcamp. It was fun.Did a fitness test did better than I though,, I needed it. Afterwards went to gym and did 30 m... Read more
Ok so yesterday went to cycling and zumba. Zumba was okay but cycling was AWESOME!!! It was great. The instructor told me and friend that we were doin... Read more
I must say I am feeling good. Went to zumba 353 this morning with a different instructor it was okay but still broke a sweat. Then went to body pump... Read more
So I took a few days off. Taking care of other things I have to admit didn't really eat healthy those days. I decided not to start my counting all ove... Read more
Didn't go to gym. My brother came in from out of town and I missed him so much. I am not going to beat myself up about it because I know I have been d... Read more
Went to gym today. Did body combat. it was better than Saturday. After the class did stairs for 10 minutes pushed as much as I could on level 6. I fel... Read more
Worked out today did.body pump.at gym then did stairs for 10 minutes.then sauna.so ifeel great... Read more
Today didn't go to gym mostly got rest. Slept quite a bit I was actually tired and really needed to listen to my body. I ate a little more than I shou... Read more
Today went to gym did Body Pump and Body Combat. It was a good workout. My body is feeling more toned Im getting it. I felt a bit tired after workout... Read more
Went to Zumba today .. Was great instructor was great she don't let you slack... She will tell you get down stop cheating or make you do a song all ov... Read more
Ok so considering that it is 5am and I'm blogging should show how frustrated I am. I blogged earlier this month how I noticed randomly that I di... Read more
Today was awesome..went to zumba at gym and loved it so will go.to.class tomorrow.It was an awesome workout..I cant wait..did good with eating and jui... Read more
Well today was an okay day. Did cycling at the gym and it was okay. I did not really like the seat it was a pain. I tried to readjust it time and time... Read more
Class tonight was kickboxing was awesome. Great workout. I can feel it in my legs and arms mostly but even my abs. Eating is still good. Juicing is ta... Read more
First class started good and then got intense . Did bodypump at gym . I loved it. Going to stick to this 2 days in the row at the gym. And as for diet... Read more
30 days exact till my birthday. So I am going to challenge myself to a 30 day exercise, no junk food, or take out food challenge. :-) Today I worked m... Read more
I am going to the Drive-in tonight! World War Z and family fun here I come!... Read more
Breakfast will be Special K protein shake as usual. Lunch I plan on eating a Chicken Salad with vinaigrette dressing. Dinner is going to Grilled Chi... Read more
Ok so I literally jus sat down at work but I needed to blog. I'm so frustrated I jus wanna scream of hide in a hole or eat as much pasta and chocolate... Read more
Feeling a bit well a lot better today. This morning body didnt hurt as much but workout last night felt great. I juiced this morning which I loved. Ne... Read more