Worship News

Volunteers Needed to Bring Forth the Gifts
We all know the joy of selecting a gift for someone, wrapping it up, and then giving it to them. Each week at Mass, during the presentation of gifts, we bring forth our gifts to the altar with joy and excitement.  Individuals and families are invited to be a part of this procession each week.  It is easy to do and with the assistance of the hospitality ministers and the altar servers who lead the processional, all you have to do is bring the gifts from St. Joe’s statue to the altar.  A sign up sheet is on the bulletin board near the sacristy.  Very few people have been signing up, so our hospitality ministers end up scrambling to try to find people.   Please sign up for a Mass or two to present the gifts on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
 

Information Ministry Volunteers Needed
Does St. Joe’s have a lost and found?  Do we have daily devotions book available to take home? Who do I contact to become Catholic?  How do I join the parish? 
These are all questions that people have asked the information desk in the last few months.  As a welcoming community, we have found it is very helpful to have a person at our information desk after mass to help parishioners and visitors get information or direct them to the correct people to help them.  
We are in need of more people willing to be at the information desk for 15-20 minutes after Mass to be available for any questions. All information is in a book to help you direct questions. You would be on the schedule once a month at the Mass you normally attend.  You can even get a cup of coffee while you sit there. Contact Tarri Nelson in the office at 763-400-7205 for more information.
 

#SJTW15 – The Holy Family Chapel
The Holy Family Chapel has been designed to be a multi-purpose room.  A place for daily mass, funerals, weddings and various meetings and gatherings.  The chapel was designed to slightly resemble the Worship Space with its hardwood floor, larger window and architectural ceiling, as well as the antiphonal seating. On the walls, one can find an icon of the Holy Family, written by Nicholas Markell. Also, from the St. John’s Bible, you will find four Illuminations of the Gospels.


#SJTW15 – The Sanctuary
The sanctuary, which runs down the center of the Worship Space, was designed to show the various connections between the many liturgical actions and elements.  Starting at the entrance to the Worship Space one encounters the Baptismal Font, the place where we are initiated into our faith; then the Ambo, where we are nourished by the Word of God; then the Altar, where we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ.  Without going through Baptism and Word, one cannot be filled with the Sacrament.



#SJTW15 – The Ambry
The Ambry is the place where the Holy Oils are displayed.  The oils here are: Sacred Chrism, the Oil of the Sick, and the Oil of the Catechumen.  Sacred Chrism is used to anoint the head of the infants after baptism and is placed on the forehead of those who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  The Oil of the Sick is placed on the forehead and palms of those who receive the Anointing of the Sick.  The Oil of the Catechumen is placed on the forehead of those who are preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism.  The Ambry is made of the base of the tabernacle from the old Worship Space.  The two marble carving next to the Ambry are the bases of the altar from the old Worship Space.  Putting the three carvings together recreates the “high” altar of the church in North Minneapolis.  The three carvings are: IHS, which is the first letter of the three words, in Greek, of the title given to Jesus.  Iesus Hemeteros Soter, or Jesus, Savior of Humanity.  This is one of the earliest inscriptions of the church.
A Lamb, in the middle, represents Christ, the suffering servant. With the cross and the lamb reclining it signifies the wounded Christ
The pelican has long been a symbol of the Eucharist and redemption.   There is an ancient belief that the female pelican would rip open her breast to feed her young with her own life-blood to avert their starvation.  It is the ultimate symbol of self-sacrifice.

#SJTW15 – The Candle Stands
The candle stands are all made of oak.  As you look up the stand you will see an acorn and oak leaves.  This is to make the connection between the materials that are used in most of the liturgical furnishings but also to symbolize the life within the acorn and the ever-changing cycles of life similar to those of an oak leaf changing through the seasons. 

#SJTW15 – The Processional Cross
This icon by Nicholas Markell, leads us into worship, bringing our family into focus on the word and sacrament so that we can be nourished and then, it leads us back into the world to “celebrate the challenge to live the mission of Jesus Christ.” 
 

#SJTW15 – The Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross are embedded in the floor around the perimeter of the Worship Space so that all may reflect upon the way of the cross of Jesus each station is marked with a Roman Numeral.  Individuals or groups may now journey with Christ as they pray the Stations.  The Stations of the Cross are made from the marble windowsills of the old Worship Space, which also came from the old church in North Minneapolis.

#SJTW15 – The Presider’s Chair and Deacon’s Chair
The presider’s chair is located so that the priest may preside over the celebration.  It is from this place that the priest leads the liturgical assembly in prayer. The deacon’s chair is smaller, but similar in design. Have you ever noticed the backs of the chairs are shaped, abstractly, like a tree – Tree of Life!

#SJTW15 – The Baptismal Font
The baptismal font has been designed in the shape of a coffin for it is in Christ that we die to ourselves so that we may rise with him in new life.  The rock, made of granite, at the front of the font was found right off of Hemlock Lane.  The rock reminds us that baptism is the foundation of our faith.  Out of this rock is honed a small pool which will be used for infant baptisms.  The water of life pours over the rock into the larger pool, which will be used for adult and children’s baptisms especially at the Easter Vigil.  Built into the end of the font is the holder for the Paschal Candle.  This candle represents Christ, the light of the world.  It is lit during the Easter Season, at funerals and baptisms and serves as a reminder that we have been given the light through the death of Jesus Christ.

#SJTW15 – The Tabernacle
The tabernacle is the original tabernacle from St. Joseph Catholic Church in North Minneapolis, where our community existed before Maple Grove. It is a place where nourishment – the Body of Christ, is reserved so it may be used in times of need, for the sick and the homebound. The tabernacle was enlarged when we moved from the previous Worship Space (now St. Joseph Hall). 

#SJTW15 – The Altar
The altar has been designed so that we are all gathered around the table of the Eucharist.  Gathered as a family gathers for celebrations.  We are a faith family who gathers at this table to celebrate the challenge of the mission of Jesus Christ.  The altar, too, has a base that resembles the trunk of a tree – the Tree of Life.  Again, the tree symbolizes our roots, our connection with our history.  Some trees produce nourishment for each of us to fill ourselves full.  This Tree of Life, the tree upon which Christ was crucified, fills each of us with the Body and Blood of Christ.

#SJTW15 – The Ambo
The ambo is the place from which sacred Scripture is proclaimed.  It is reserved solely for this purpose.  The base of the ambo is formed to resemble a trunk of a tree – the Tree of Life.  Symbolizing the roots we have in Hebrew and Christian Scripture.  The roots of our ancestors stem as far back as the beginning of creation and the tree symbolizes an ever-present need to search deeper and deeper for refreshment from the Word of God.  The front of the ambo contains a place for displaying the Book of the Gospels after the Gospel has been proclaimed.  Once the Word of God has been proclaimed, it is no longer contained in a book, but in our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

 

Children’s Liturgy of the Word Leaders
Want to help our young people get more out of the Mass? Want to see them deepen their relationship with God? Want to help them understand the readings? Become a Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) Leader. All materials and training are provided. We offer this opportunity for children grades 1-4 at the 8:30 and 10:30 Masses. Contact Tarri in the Worship Office at 763-400-7205.

Musicians Needed
We are in need of additional musicians for our Sunday evening OneWith Band. This band leads the music for our OneWith Formation approximately twice each month. We are looking for guitarists, synthesizer players and a drummer. If you would be interested in being a part of this band, please contact Tarri at 763-400-7205.