News from Good News Ministries:
- New GNM community inspired by a difficult Christmas
- This week’s recommended video: The Joy of Recognizing Jesus
- Plus great links to great content!
New GNM community inspired by a difficult Christmas
Down through the years, what has made GNM successful is the feedback we get from those we serve. We remember one question: What do people need and want, which will help them grow closer to Christ and learn more about the teachings of the Catholic Church?
We listen to and pray about all feedback that’s sent in. I also look around me. In my local church and whenever I’m out and about, I pay attention to how people feel and I wonder how Jesus might make a difference. I observe what makes people hunger for more love, more sympathy, more answers.
I learned a valuable lesson when I was training to be a successful author: What unmet needs do I have myself? I’m not the only one. What I discover for my own sake can be shared with others for their sake. (This is why many of my readers think I was hiding in their living room when I wrote this or that reflection that addressed what they were dealing with.)
Now the holiday season is reminding me of how much I miss my late husband Ralph. And I’m not the only one who’s suffering from loss this Advent and Christmas.
My parish does not have a bereavement group. I’m not interested in opening my heart to a secular group for widows and widowers. On Facebook, there are groups for Catholic and generic “Christian” widows/widowers, but as soon as I joined, I heard privately from men who are not what they advertise themselves to be.
So I thought, “Why not create a smaller, safer group owned by Good News Ministries?” Not on Facebook but where the only people who find our group are friends who are already a part of the GNM community.
If you’re a Catholic widow or widower, let’s talk. Join our online chat group for widows and widowers! Meet up with other faith-filled Catholics whose beloved spouses have passed. This is a private group chat held on the Telegram app.
Come and know that you are cared about. If you don’t yet have Telegram, no worries. It’s simple to set up and start sharing your heart.
Get started now. Click t.me/+2A6K_6ylIUc5MTUx
This week’s recommended video:
The Joy of Recognizing Jesus
In your journey through Advent, examine: How much does the joy of Christ’s Spirit affect your daily life? The joy that comes from recognizing the presence of Jesus is God’s Christmas gift to us. It’s a joy that’s meant to last all year.
The verses of Luke 1:30-44 shows Elizabeth and her unborn son, John, reacting to the nearness of the unborn Christ. We know that Elizabeth immediately understood that Mary was pregnant with the Lord, because this Gospel passage says she was filled with the Holy Spirit. But how could the fetal John understand? How could he leap for joy while still in the womb? Watch this Advent video reflection to find out!
Visit gnm-media.org/joy-recognizing-jesus
Good News Prayer Room:
Use our collection of Catholic prayers designed with your needs in mind. They will give you hope and a stronger connection to God’s love and support. What do you need prayers for today?
Visit gnm.org/prayers.
Post your prayer requests @ gnm.org/post-a-prayer.
Good News WordBytes:
WANT MORE FAITH and HOPE in TROUBLED TIMES? WE’RE HERE for YOU! Choose from a variety of topics on our website of Catholic Faith-building articles. What do you need today?
Visit wordbytes.org.
God bless you!
Every morning, I lift up in prayer everyone who helps Good News Ministries in any way (donors, volunteers, prayer supporters, etc.) and all the prayer requests posted on our site. What can I cover in prayer for you? Post your prayer request.
How else can the team and I serve you today? Visit our homepage.
Thank you for reading this newsletter.
Your servant in Christ,
Terry Modica, Executive Director
Good News Ministries
gnm.org
Find this and past issues at gnm.org/newsletter. Please share what will minister to others.
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A free PDF document of this is available for your own personal use.
How to Win Victories in Spiritual Warfare
Knowing God’s Will and Doing it Well
Lessons from the Blessed Mother
Daily Prayers with the Saints