St Joseph Catholic Church

10/30/2024

10/14/2024

This is one of our favorite Christmas hymns and even more so now that this is a very good explanation.

Hymn Guide: Once In Royal David’s City
By Peter Johnston
The moment is magic. A hush descends as the Christmas Eve service is about to begin. And then a single child’s voice breaks the silence, singing: “Once in royal David’s city…” This tradition, first started at King’s College in its annual service of Lessons and Carols, has spread throughout the Anglican world and now to churches of all denominations.

The hymn was written by Anglican poet Cecil Frances Alexander and published in her 1848 text, Hymns for Little Children. The appealing tune, IRBY, was written for the text by Henry John Gauntlett. Choirmasters and musicians should maintain a lively tempo, especially when singing most or all of the verses.

Verse by Verse
Can you imagine being the boy in the King’s College Choir who sings the first verse alone on a BBC broadcast estimated to reach 370 million worldwide? I don’t think I’d be able to sleep the night before! To address this problem, the choirmaster at King’s College does not select the boy to sing until the moment has arrived; the chorister has mere seconds to prepare (and no time at all to get anxious!). He remembers the words, finds the opening note, takes a breath, and begins:

Verse 1
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

Drawing on Luke 2:7, the hymn begins by depicting a mother and her baby and then identifying them as Mary and Jesus Christ. Though simple, this functions as a sufficient introduction to the hymn as a whole. Unlike other Christmas Carols, “Once in Royal David’s City” does not introduce any other characters from the Christmas story. We do not meet Joseph, shepherds, angels, or magi, and the only reference to oxen is by negation in the final verse.

Verse 2
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And his shelter was a stable
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

The second verse develops the theme of Jesus’ humility, of the one who “emptied himself” (Philippians 2:7). He who is “God and Lord of all” nevertheless came to “stable” and “stall,” foreshadowing his compassion for and ministry to “the poor and mean and lowly.”

Verse 3
And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honor and obey
Love, and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.

Verse three focuses on the theme of obedience, both Jesus’ obedience and that of Christian children today, in imitation of Christ. Some object to this latter concern, with Erik Routley calling it “characteristically Victorian moralism” (Hymns Today and Tomorrow, 77).

Routley is right regarding “mildness”—Jesus’s Jerusalem adventures as a twelve-year-old could hardly be called mild (see Luke 2:41-52)! But obedience is certainly a proper virtue for all Christians, including children. Moreover, the thematic movement from humility to obedience simply mirrors Paul’s treatment of Christ in Philippians 2:7-8.

Verse 4
For he is our childhood’s pattern
Day by day like us he grew,
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us he knew;
And he feeleth for our sadness
And he shareth in our gladness.

Though we do not have an extensive record of Jesus’ childhood, it is right to note that he grew as do all children: progressively, step-by-step, from total dependence and vulnerability to increasing independence and strength. Yes, it is a bit sentimental to sing that “tears and smiles like us he knew.” But it is probably more accurate than the infamous line in “Away In A Manger”: “But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.”

Verse 5
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love,
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.

Where Jesus had moved from heaven to earth, the fifth verse reverses the order and tracks the movement of children from earth to heaven. Without reference to the crucifixion or resurrection, Jesus has now ascended to heaven, where “he leads his children on.” This verse is sometimes omitted, which keeps the hymn from becoming overlong. Nor is much lost thematically, as the final verse covers similar conceptual territory.

Verse 6
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

The reference to stable and oxen here serves a double function. First, it recalls the shed and manger from the opening verse, forming a lovely bookend to the hymn. Second, by negating the stable and oxen, the hymn shifts our attention from looking down to looking up, from the “lowly” to “heaven.” Our eyes thus lifted up, we arrive at the profound final couplet, in which Christ and the children are finally united, children together of God on high.

10/06/2024

From Jonathan Daniell:

Tropical Storm Milton has formed in the western Gulf of Mexico and should become a hurricane later today. It is forecast to rapidly intensify as it moves towards Florida over the next few days. The current National Hurricane Center forecast calls for Milton to make landfall as a powerful major hurricane near Tampa, Sarasota, or Fort Meyers on Wednesday.

Impacts from Milton will be possible in far Southeast Georgia, mainly in counties across southern GEMA/HS areas 5 and 8. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds may move into these counties on Wednesday morning and continue through Thursday morning. Significant storm surge and tornadoes are not expected in Georgia with this system. It is important not to focus on whether an area is in the forecast cone or not — like with Helene, impacts will be felt hundreds of miles from the center of the storm.

Tropical storm force wind gusts will be possible in extreme southeastern Georgia counties (Camden, Glynn, McIntosh, Charlton, and Ware) with gusts of 30-40 mph possible between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. Even though wind gusts should remain below 30 mph for the rest of South Georgia, this could still hamper recovery efforts and bring down weakened trees on Wednesday and Thursday.

There is already some light rain moving through South Georgia. This is not associated with Milton and should diminish by tomorrow morning. An additional 2-4 inches of rainfall will be possible in the following counties on Wednesday and Thursday: Echols, Clinch, Ware, Brantley, Pierce, Wayne, McIntosh, Glynn, Charlton, and Camden. Camden, Glynn, and Charlton Counties could receive up to 6 inches of rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. While flash flooding is unlikely for most of South Georgia, areas that receive the highest rainfall totals (likely Camden, Glynn, and Charlton) could see some isolated flooding concerns on Wednesday and Thursday.

Milton has the potential to devastate parts of Florida, particularly around Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota, and Fort Myers. Southeast Georgia is the only part of the state expected to receive any impacts from Milton. However, because several of these counties are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, any impacts that will disrupt recovery efforts are significant. Please monitor forecast updates from the National Hurricane Center, your local National Weather Service office (especially if you are in NWS Jacksonville's area), and reliable media outlets this week.

Will Lanxton
Meteorologist
GEMA/HS

09/02/2024

From Kim Komando: If your phone rings and someone says, "Can you hear me?" or "Is this [your name]?" hang up. Scammers record your "Yes" to create voice authorizations for bank account access.

07/27/2024

From Sean Dietrich:

It’s a sunny July day. Kids are riding bikes. Climbing trees. Little League teams are yelling “Hey batta batta!” And Morgan is in a step-down unit from the ICU.

Morgan is a college freshman. She is pretty, smart, and redheaded—so you know she’s trouble.

She is a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She made the president’s list last year. Which is impressive when you consider that Morgan is epileptic, diabetic, and has paralysis on the left side of her body; her left hand doesn’t work.

Also, she has low vision, and is nearly blind in one eye. Her intestines are paralyzed, too, so digestion is an issue.

And yet she made the president’s list.

We became friends when I wrote about her a few years ago. She’s soft spoken. She’s always smiling. And she has an Alabama drawl that sounds like ribbon cane syrup.

A few days ago, Morgan sent me this text:

“I’ve been in the hospital for the last six days, with no discharge date in sight.”

The doctors can’t figure out the cause. They can’t get her ketones down. On top of it all, the paralysis of her stomach has worsened, so doctors are trying to come up with a plan.

Morgan’s text finished with: “It’s been pretty rough but I’m making it!”

She ended her message with a heart emoji. She always closes texts with a heart emoji. Her last name is, after all, Love.

Since then, I’ve had my friends praying. Since then, she has had more tests. Since then, they did a scope to see what was going on inside her gastrointestinal tract.

“I have erosions and inflammation... Still high ketones. It’s been a busy but productive day! Also, my sorority sisters stopped by which was sweet!”

Heart emoji.

Yesterday, six Delta Gamma sisters surprised her with a visit. Multiple sisters have been coming all week. The halls of UAB hospital have sounded like Spring Break 2024.

“Delta Gamma has been super supportive through it all,” Morgan texted.

Heart emoji.

This morning, Morgan hung a miniature cross on her hospital IV stand. The cross is multicolored, made of cardboard paper. Her siblings colored it for her. In the center is the word “Jesus.”

Her family has been spending nights in her hospital room, leaving her bedside only to eat.

An optimist like Morgan would never admit what I’m about to tell you: But this is hard. This is really, really hard.

Even so, Morgan will not tell you about all the tears. She will not tell you about the heart-stopping fear. She will not—not even once—complain.

And that’s why I’m writing this.

I don’t know who you are, reading this, or even IF you are still reading. I wouldn’t blame you if you gave up after the first poorly written paragraph.

But IF you are reading, and IF you have some time, and IF you feel like sending a card to someone who could use encouragement and prayer, I know a girl who needs some.

I’m not going to request something ridiculous and ask for cards from all 50 U.S. states. Forty-nine U.S. states will be fine.

Send all cards to Morgan Love, c/o Sean Dietrich, P.O. Box 130305, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Heart emoji.

07/21/2024

A lot of Biblical stories shown in this picture.

07/08/2024

Amazing!

07/08/2024

From Jonathan Daniell:

HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING
Heat Advisory issued July 8 at 2:30AM EDT until July 8 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
* WHAT...Heat index values up to 111 expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northeast and northern Florida and southeast
Georgia.

* WHEN...From 11 AM this morning to 7 PM EDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.

06/25/2024

06/24/2024

So true.

06/13/2024

From Sean of the South. Dan Lovette became an usher at the Baptist church on Easter Sunday, March 26th, 1961. He stood at the door shaking hands, passing out bulletins. Nobody knew Dan.

Weeks earlier, Pastor Lovette had introduced Dan as his older brother.

Dan was a tall man with a soft voice and rough skin. He wore a brown suit that was too small. He hardly spoke. He sat on the front row during sermons. After service, he smoked ci******es behind the church. People asked the pastor questions about Dan, but he was quiet when it came to his older brother.

Over the years, folks saw a lot of Dan Lovette. He could be seen pushing a mower, changing the church sign, painting clapboards, passing out bulletins on Sundays, or cleaning the sanctuary on Mondays.

Dan lived in a back room of the church. His earthly belongings were: a cot, a hot plate, a coffee pot, a transistor radio, a shaving kit, and one brown suit.

Nobody can forget the Sunday that the pastor announced he would be baptizing Dan after service. This surprised people. Most thought it was strange that the pastor’s own brother had never been baptized. But no explanation was given.

So, sixty-four church members stood near the creek, watching the tall quiet man wade into shallow water behind his younger brother.

It was a simple ordeal. Down Dan went. Up he came. Applause. Bring on the banana pudding.

But life was not all pudding and baptisms. In 1974, tragedy hit the church. The pastor was in a car accident on his way home from Montgomery, doctors thought he’d had a stroke while driving. Dan sat beside his brother’s hospital bed without sleep or food. He lived beside his brother’s bed, taking care of his brother’s every need.

The next Sunday, Dan Lovette took the pulpit with tired eyes. It was a hushed room. It was the first time any members of the church ever heard more than a sentence from old Dan.

“Most of you know me as Dan Lovette,” he began. “But that ain’t my name. Real name’s Springfield. Daniel Springfield…”

It was so quiet you could hear a Bible drop.

Dan went on to tell the story about how in 1961, Pastor Lovette had been walking into a department store when he saw Dan standing outside, begging for money. Dan was homeless, looking for handouts—or a bottle to cure his shakes.

Pastor Lovette treated Dan to supper. Then the pastor carried Dan home to live with his wife and kids. He helped Dan. He sat with him through hard withdrawals, he took Dan to sobriety meetings, he bought Dan a brown suit for Sundays.

Dan went on: “I felt so bad for all his charity, I came close to leaving. But the pastor just told me one night, ‘You can’t leave us, Dan. Why, we’re brothers, you’n me.”

Dan had never been anyone’s brother before. He’d never been anyone’s anything. All he’d ever been was hard up. But not anymore.

So he got rid of his old name, and his old habits. And if I had room to tell you the rest of the story, I would. But there’s no need. You already have the important parts.

What I will tell you is this: If you’re ever driving a lonesome two-lane highway in the middle-of-nowhere, Alabama, and you see a dilapidated, clapboard meeting house, pull over.

Go to the rear cemetery. A few graves have flowers. Most don’t. There’s a marker for Pastor Lovette, and one for his wife. And there’s a headstone for a man who died sober, with his adopted family surrounding him.

The stone reads: “Big Brother Dan.”

He was just some homeless guy at a department store. But now he has a mansion.