0
19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
AUGUST 10, 2008
The bread I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world, says the Lord.
~1 Kings 19:9a,
11-13a~
~ Romans 9:1-5 ~
~Matthew 14:22-33 ~
St. Mary's Church
Main St., East Islip, N.Y.
(631) 581-4266
Rev. Donald E. Babinsky
ext. 108
Rev. John R. Moore
Associate Pastor ext. 110
Rev. Hugh Cannon
Associate Pastor ext. 112
Rev. Msgr. Peter Chiara
Pastor Emeritus
Sr. Patricia Tippen, IHM
Pastoral Associate ext. 134
Kevin Wilson
Pastoral Associate for Administration ext. 103
Rectory: 581-4266 ext. 100
Rectory Hours
Monday thru Friday - 9am to 8pm
Saturday
- 9am to 4pm
Sunday - CLOSED
Parish Social Ministry:
9:30 - 4pm Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri; 1pm - 4pm Thurs
Pastoral Minister
Sr. Camille Solis, DW
ext. 128
Music Ministry:
Pastoral Minister
Barbara J. Grace
ext. 107
Stewardship:
Pastoral Minister
Denise
Wiley
ext. 125
Family Faith Enrichment:
8am - Noon & 1pm
- 4pm, Monday -Thursday
Pastoral
Minister For Catechesis
Claire
Moule
ext. 122
Pastoral
Minister For Baptism
MaryAnn Giannettino
ext. 120
Pastoral
Minister For
Family Life And Youth Theresa Roach
ext. 124
Parish School:
8am -
2:30pm, Monday - Friday
Pastoral Minister & Principal Biagio M. Arpino ext. 138
Buildings & Grounds:
Pastoral
Minister
Frank Mangilomini ext. 101
Birthright: 277-3888
New Parishioners: All new families are welcome to the parish. They are asked to register by stopping at the Rectory during office hours or by calling our Parish Stewardship Office (*ext 125)..
Anointing of the Sick: 1st Saturday of each month at 8:30 A.M. Mass in the church.
Weekday Masses: Monday through Friday, 7:30am and 9:00 am, Saturday 8:30am
Sunday Masses:
Saturday 5pm in the Auditorium
Sunday: Church - 7:30am, 11am*, 5pm
Auditorium - 9:15am,10:45am, 12:15pm
(* - There is NO
11am mass during July and August)
Eve of a Holyday: 7:30pm in the Church
Holyday: 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 7:30pm in Church
Baptism: Baptisms celebrated during scheduled masses. Parents please call to make arrangements prior to your child's birth. Baptism is not celebrated during Lent.
Reconciliation: Saturday, 4:00pm to 4:45pm
Marriage: Please call to begin the process at least one year in advance. No dates for marriage will be set over the phone. Either the bride or groom must be a member of St. Mary's.
SATURDAY 08/09
8:30
a.m. Margaret Will
5:00
p.m. Catherine and John Zupetz Fr. Romano
SUNDAY 08/10
7:30
a.m. All the Families of St. Mary’s & QAS Fr. Pete
9:15
a.m. Donicio Castro (Lefty) Fr. Don
10:45 a.m. Margaret Cooley Fr. Romano
12:15 p.m. Barbara Brennan
Fr. Hugh
Catherine and Joseph Murphy
Marie Longo
Randolph Schreyer
Charles Kerrigan
Margaret Wilson
5:00 p.m. All the
Families of St. Mary’s & QAS Fr. Hugh
MONDAY 08/11
7:30 a.m. Criszenzo Manna
9:00 a.m. Stanley Hoina
7:30 a.m. Peggy
Moore
9:00 a.m. Barbara
Brennan
7:30 a.m. Leonard Granelli
9:00 a.m. Edward
M. Acker
8:30 a.m. Vincent
Will
5:00 p.m. Barbara
Brennan Fr. Don
SUNDAY 08/17
7:30 a.m. All the
Families of St. Mary’s & QAS Fr. Romano
9:15 a.m. John Drago Fr. Pete
10:45 a.m. Samuel
Joseph Antico, Jr. Fr. Hugh
12:15 p.m. Anthony
J. Santoro Fr. Romano
Mary Provanzano
Mary Bennett
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kent
5:00 p.m. All the
Families of St. Mary’s & QAS Fr. Don
THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Penance on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13th at 8-8:45am Fr. Romano
Penance on SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th at 4-4:45pm Fr. Hugh
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:
Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28c; Matthew 17:22-27
Tuesday:
Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14
Wednesday: Ezekiel
9:1-7, 10:18-22; Matthew 18:15-20
Thursday:
Ezekiel 12:1-2; Matthew 18:21-19:1
Friday: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab;
1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56
Saturday:
Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32; Matthew 19:13-15
Sunday:
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8;
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28
|
Community LIFE |
The
SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE began the weekend of JULY 5th & 6th.
The 11:00am Mass will be cancelled throughout the months of July and August, and
will resume on Sunday, September 7th.
The SUMMER HOURS for the Parish Offices: The Business Office, The Family Faith Enrichment Office and Parish Social Ministry will be open from 8am until 4pm Monday through Thursday. The Rectory Office Hours will be 9am-8pm Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm on Saturday, and CLOSED on Sunday.
ATTENTION! The AUGUST PARISH LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY & PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED FOR THE SUMMER. Please note the change.
The PARISH LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY will meet on Monday, September 8th at 7:30pm in the Auditorium.
The PASTORAL COUNCIL & PASTORAL TEAM will meet in a Joint Meeting on Saturday, September 13th at 9:30am in the Rectory.
CATECHISTS
NEEDED for every grade level!
Would you like the opportunity to share your faith with the children of our
parish? It can be a
very rewarding experience teaching religion to the children. We have many days
and times available to fit your schedule. Please call the FAMILY FAITH
ENRICHMENT OFFICE at 581-4266, x121, x122 or x123 to register or for more
information.
SPLISH
SPLASH ~ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13th
(Price TBA will include a Bus) Permission slips & money
due by August 11th as tickets need to be purchased prior to trip.
RSVP to New Youth Minister, Theresa Roach at 581-4266, x
124 or e-mail
troach@stmaryseastislip.org. ADULT CHAPERONES
NEEDED!
MANHUNT & CAMP OUT AT ST. MARY’S ~ Watch for more info to come!
CHRISTIAN COFFEE HOUSE - Join us on SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th, at 6:30pm, "Under The Stars" for our outdoor Christian Coffee House. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a wonderful evening of prayer thru song, great BBQ, dessert, raffles, fellowship and fun. Music by "EYEWITNESS". Admission is FREE (refreshments will be sold). Bring the whole family!!!! For more info, call Barbara @ 581-4266 x107.
SAVE THE DATE FOR ST. MARY’S AUTUMN LEAVES DINNER DANCE ~ Saturday, OCTOBER 25th from 7pm to midnight at the Irish Coffee Pub in East Islip. This year’s honorees are Nick and Cathy Roberts.
St. Mary School News
ST. MARY SCHOOL NEWS! Registration for all Classes ~ Nursery, Pre-K and K-8 ~ is ongoing. Call the School Office at 581-4266, x137 for more information. Full Day Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten.
ST. MARY SCHOOL will be offering THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION PREPARATION COURSE from August 18th – August 22nd from 8:30-10:30am along with October 20th, 21st, 22nd & October 24th from 2:30-4:30pm. The cost of the entire program is $250. The cost of half of the course is $125. Please call 631-581-4266, x137 to have the Registration Form sent to you.
SCRIP: Retail and Supermarket Scrip will be sold at the Masses throughout the summer and during July & August on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8am until 10am in the School Business Office.
FORMATION |
Dear Friends,
A Tennessee woman by the name of Karen became pregnant with her second child. Every night before going to bed, her three-year old son Michael would sing to his unborn sibling. This practice continued night after night until his mom went to the hospital to give birth.
During the delivery, complications arose. After being born, the baby was immediately transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville with serious medical problems and placed in the neonatal intensive care unit. Unfortunately, as the days passed, the infant grew weaker and weaker. Aware that the infant was now in grave danger, the hospital asked a pediatric specialist to speak to the family and prepare them for the worst.
Meanwhile, as his sister lay in critical condition, little Michael kept asking if he could visit his baby sister. He wanted a chance to sing to her once more. During the second week of her hospital stay, Michael got his wish. His parents dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and took him into the unit to visit his sister. Upon learning he was there, the medical personnel got angry. The parents were told that their son’s being there was against hospital rules and demanded that Michael be removed from ICU. Karen protested saying, “He is not leaving until he sings for his sister.”
When all the commotion died down, Michael walked over to his baby sister’s bassinet and started singing, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”
His voice proved to have a dramatic effect on his critically ill sister. Overnight, her vital signs began to improve significantly. Three days later, instead of planning her funeral, Michael’s parents were taking his baby sister home. Woman’s Day magazine, which featured this story, called it the “miracle of a brother’s song.” Doctors just called it a “miracle.” Karen, however, called it an “act of God’s love.”
During these summer weeks as we listen at Mass to the Gospel of Matthew, we hear about Jesus’ healing powers. Matthew lumps all the healing stories together into chapters eight and nine. He does so in order to stockpile the evidence in support of Jesus’ divinity. The miracle stories are meant to demonstrate that Jesus was not just some gifted teacher or itinerant wonderworker or magician. He was in fact God’s Son ~ the Messiah.
But in reworking these healing stories, Mathew, the gospel writer, was also careful to demonstrate Jesus’ intention behind each miracle. Jesus did not continuously “ooze” some kind of healing power. Nor were people healed simply by being in Jesus’ downwind direction. Jesus healed others because of their faith and trust in Him. Moreover, Jesus healed people because He was God and God is a healing God. He is the divine physician.
Even in subsequent chapters, Matthew will clearly portray Jesus as a healer. For example, in last Sunday’s gospel from chapter 14 – the story about the multiplication of the loaves and fish, we read, “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.” From the description it is evident that Jesus reaches out to the crowd in a loving way. He shows great compassion for them by healing their sick. The fact is love heals.
Little Michael’s singing to his gravely ill baby sister brought about a miraculous healing. It was truly a miracle of love ~ an act of God’s love working through a child. There is obviously something in common between Michael’s healing and Jesus’ caring, and that is the presence of love.
Compassion, concern, empathy – the so-called “non medical elements” we long for – are the common components in successful healings. It seems love is what opens up that connection between a healer and the one who desires healing. Without love, without a specific need to care, the “healing connection” is impossible to make. The first step then in healing others must be the intention and the ability to extend love towards the ones seeking healing. While love may not be the only cause for healing, it is the only environment in which it occurs.
One of the Prefaces used at Nuptial Masses beautifully and succinctly states: “Love is our origin. Love is our constant calling. Love is our fulfillment in heaven.” If love is the basis for our lives, it makes sense that love is and must be part of the healing process. Like the source of who and what we are ~ GOD ~ all of us are made to be instruments of God’s love in the world. Jesus knew that. And little Michael in his own unique way knew that.
Knowing that to be true, ourselves, will we let God be love by singing us back to life today as Michael did for his infant sister? Will we let God be love by being a person of compassion as Jesus was to the crowds in the gospel? Will we listen to that familiar voice that was speaking to us before we were born? And once we have heard the voice, will we sing other people back to life? There’s a world out there dying because they have not heard the voice of God’s love for them. Will you and I be that voice today?
May God bless you and keep you in His peace!
Fr. Don
JOURNEY: A group for young adults (18-40+) ~ Join us as we break open the Word, all the while getting to know God and one another.
Please call Barbara to reserve your spot at
581-4266 x107 or e-mail
babsmusic@aol.com. Come and journey with us.
St. Mary’s RETURN TO THE SACRAMENTS If you or someone you know has been away from the sacraments for any length of time and are considering to return please call Claire Moule at 581-4266, x122.
ADULT
CONFIRMATION:
PRE-CANA:
Proper marriage preparation is a priority in the Church.
As a sign that the whole parish is involved in this preparation, more
than the priests of the parish are involved.
There are four areas where interested parishioners may minister:
1. The initial meeting
with the engaged couples. 2. Helping the couples with FOCCUS. This tool is strongly recommended by the Bishops of the US,
and helps the couple look at the different areas of marriage that are
important for discussion before entering marriage. 3. The Pre-Cana
In-Home Sessions facilitated by married couples.
(The first and last meetings are held on parish grounds.)
4. Leading the
rehearsals before the marriage. If anyone is interested in any of these areas, please call
Fr. Jack Moore at 581-4266.
COMMUNION
TO THE HOMEBOUND:
If you know anyone who is unable to come to Mass
on Sunday and who would like to receive Holy Communion, please call the
Rectory Office and one of the Eucharistic ministers will be happy to visit
with them.
THE BEGINNING EXPERIENCE: Help the heartache of divorce, separation and widowhood. A weekend away for a lifetime of change. The next weekend is AUGUST 22nd through AUGUST 24th. For information and reservations, call Connie at 516-735-1720, Nick at 516-812-6417, Celia at 516-625-1073, or John at 516-822-0635.
|
LITURGY |
ST. MARY’S MISSION STATEMENT
“A vision of Church as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council, the Gospel
message proclaimed by the Lord,
With these as our FOUNDATIONAL STONES, the
ST. MARY’S MISSION STATEMENT is:
“CENTERED IN THE WORD OF GOD AND THE GIFT OF JESUS IN OUR MIDST, THE MISSION
OF ST. MARY’S PARISH FAMILY IS TO BE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY WHICH PROCLAIMS
THROUGH WORD AND ACTION
Saturday
5:00 p.m.
Caroline Killeen
William Killeen
Sunday
7:30 a.m.
David Mulry
Aidan Mulry
9:15 a.m.
Amanda Kunzinger
Kevin Kovalesky
10:45 a.m.
Kathleen Sheehy
Brendon Fusco
12:15 p.m. Robin DeMott
5:00 p.m. Altar Servers needed
AUG. 16th & AUG. 17th
Saturday
5:00 p.m.
Amanda Faux
Matthew Brown
Sunday
7:30 a.m.
Aislinn Keely
9:15 a.m.
Brendon Fusco
Megan Ludwig
10:45 a.m.
Amanda Kunzinger
Kevin Kovalesky
12:15 p.m. Robin DeMott
Fr. Jack will be on vacation until August 19th.
Please remember that the 11:00am Sunday Mass will resume on Sunday, September 7th.
“CENTERING PRAYER” is a method of prayer which helps us move beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Christ. The source of this prayer is the indwelling Presence of God. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. It tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love. It is not exclusive to any one religion but nourishes the heart of every religion. Thus it can enhance the practice of every religion. To learn more about Centering Prayer, call Sister Patty at 581-4266, x134 or join us on MONDAY, AUGUST 25th at 10am in the Rectory Chapel and 7pm in the Church.
ATTENTION EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION! If you are interested in bringing Holy Communion to the Homebound, please call Eileen Bowden at 581-1012.
Please
remember that the Mass Intention for the fourth Sunday of each month at
the 5pm Mass on Sunday will be ”PEACE IN THE WORLD”.
On the first Monday of each month, we will celebrate Eucharistic
Devotion from 5pm –8:30pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the Church.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND ADULT CHOIR
~
Just a Reminder:
If a child has not as yet received his or her First Eucharist and walks
up in the communion procession each week and would like to receive a Blessing,
please have the child cross his or her hands across their heart.
This gesture indicates to the Priest or Extraordinary Minister that the
child standing before him or her would like to receive a Blessing.
CIRCLE
OF SCRIPTURE will not
gather during the summer months. We will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2nd.
Allow the Word of God to
challenge your comfort zones and to comfort your troubled soul by reading
prayerfully some portion of the Scriptures listed for each day on the inside
flap of the weekly bulletin.
“The Word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” ~Hebrews 4:12
The ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Will be celebrated on SATURDAY, September 6, 2008 at 8:30am in the Church. All are most welcome to participate in this Eucharist.
Please pray for the children who will be baptized and for their families:
Devon Leon Davis * Jaden Steven Vargas
Christine Marie Vargas
Trevor Robert Rizzo * Isabella Nicole Grim
First Time
James Andrew Mennella and Jacqueline Mary Dessert
Second Time
Robert Cusack and Jennifer McArdle
Christian Maguire and Lauren Taigue
Third Time
Jordan Bistany and Christine Messner
The Sick
Stephen Hyland & Family, Maura O’Neill, Brian Hocker, Sharon Bowe, Peggy Bowe,
Sierra Bianchni, Teagan Haniszewski, Dennis Sullivan, Daria Samek
Queen of All Saints ~ Our Sister Parish
Christian Rodgers, Cynthia Santiago, Helen & Mario Velardi
John J. Matuska Sr., Peter Noto, William Haas Sr. & William Haas, Jr., Lois Phillips,
George Souhrada
Queen of All Saints ~ Our Sister Parish
Albertine Van Thiel
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL ~ Beginning in September, names for the sick will be announced from the pulpit for a maximum of three weeks. From then on, they will be placed in the bulletin for as long as necessary. Thank you.
PARISH SOCIAL MINISTRIES
Parish Outreach Office Hours
Mon., Tues., Wed. 9:30-4:30;
Thurs., 1:00-4:30
SAVE THE DATE! ~ SUMMER BLOOD DRIVE ~ SAVE THE DATE!
Bread for the World:. Bread is a collective voice of Christians urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. God’s grace through Jesus Christ moves us to help our neighbors, whether they live in the next house, the next state or the next continent. By changing policies, programs, and conditions that allow poverty and hunger to persist, we provide help and opportunity far beyond the communities where we live. (Hunger Sunday, July/August 2008).
SCHOOL
SUPPLIES: Don’t panic!
Summer isn’t over yet, but it’s not too early to think about school supplies.
All parents know how expensive it can be getting the children ready. Since
school requirements are teacher-specific these days, would you consider buying a
SCRIP gift card for a child in need? SCRIP can be purchased after
the weekend Masses, and at the School Business Office during August on Tuesday
and Wednesday mornings from 8am-10am. Thank you for your continuing
generosity.
EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE MINISTRY: This ministry provides assistance to individuals who are either seeking employment or are aspiring to increase their earning potential and benefits. We assist our neighbors who are unemployed or underemployed with resume writing, job searches and networking. The main purpose of the ministry is to provide support to a client during what can be a most difficult time by letting him/her know that there is someone who cares and is trying to help. Please contact Parish Social Ministry at 581-4266, x128.
Please do not forget our FOOD PANTRY during the summer days. Hunger never takes a vacation! You can bring your donations to the Parish Social Ministry Office Monday through Thursday, or leave them at the back of the Church or Auditorium after Mass. As always, we thank you for your ongoing generosity!
THRIFT SHOP: St. Mary’s Thrift Shop makes available clothing at extremely economical prices for those in need. Donations of “gently” used SUMMER clothing, especially for children, would be greatly appreciated at this time, and can be dropped off at the shop any day from 10am-4pm, except Sunday. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE CLOTHING OUTSIDE WHEN THE SHOP IS CLOSED. Thank you for your generosity.
St. Mary’s Parish Social Ministry is once again offering the MINISTRY OF REASSURANCE. If you would like to receive a friendly phone call or note, please call Sr. Ellen at 581-4266, x131 on Tuesday mornings. You may also leave a message. We would love to hear from you. Anyone interested in volunteering for this Ministry of Reassurance can call the office at 581-4266, x129.
VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES:
TRANSPORTATION ~ The Parish
Social Ministry is in need of people who would be able to provide rides to
parishioners to supermarkets, doctors’ appointments, and Sunday
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact the Outreach Office of Parish Social Ministry at 581-4266, ext. 128. All contacts will be confidential.
PRAYER/SUPPORT GROUPS:
The next meeting for Catholic
Gays/Lesbians and their Parents will be held on the third Tuesday of
each month at 7:30pm. For further information, please call Al and Rita Mazza
at 631-650-7016.
If you are in any process of Divorce and Separation and would like information regarding the support and prayer group, please contact Parish Social Ministry at 581-4266 ext. 128. All calls confidential.
Have you suffered the loss of a baby in miscarriage, stillbirth or infancy? St. Mary’s Parish in East Islip has begun a free open support group on the third Thursday of every month from 7:30pm to 9pm at St. Mary’s Parish in the Joseph Room (entrance on side under Parish Social Ministry Office). The meetings will be on THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST & SEPTEMBER 18th. We invite you to join us for a time of sharing and mutual support with others who have experienced similar losses. The group offers comfort, understanding and bereavement support to parents and grandparents in an effort to assure that you are not alone in your grief. For additional information, please call Ginni Sandles at 631-277-1754
Please remember in your prayer those members of St. Mary’s Parish who 
serve
in the Military and have asked for our prayers.
If you have a relative or friend that you would like to add to our
Prayer List, please call Teresa Van Buren at 581-4266 (x105).
Let us remember in our prayer:
RESPECT LIFE
The argument that the government should not be involved in such a personal decision as abortion is fatally flawed. The government got “too involved” in abortion when it claimed (through the Supreme Court) to have the authority to deprive some human beings of their right to life. Also, when someone’s “choice” destroys someone else’s life that choice is no longer merely a personal, private matter. (Father Frank Pavone). PRAY that the example of Mary, who not only accepted but welcomed her unexpected pregnancy, may be an example for all who consider abortion.
|
STEWARDSHIP |
Thank you for sharing your Treasure
Last Week’s Gift Offering (envelope) $19,541
Biweekly Offering (EFT) (7/15 & 8/1) $ 4,483
Minimum Weekly Budget for 2008
$23,615
Year-to-Date
Deficit as of August 2008 ($102,678)
A Will is your final statement of your Christian stewardship.
When planning your bequests and memorials, prayerfully consider including
our parish community of St. Mary’s.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Elijah recognized the voice of God not in the strong wind, not in the earthquake and not in the fire, but in a tiny whispering sound. May we find enough quiet in our clamorous world to hear His voice and discern what He is calling us to do and be.
~~~~~~
We are grateful this week for all stewards in our parish who recognize Jesus as Lord by seeking to listen to Jesus before they act.
Stewardship Prayer
Generous God,
I give thanks to you for the gifts you have given me – my life, my family, my friends – time, talents, and material possessions. All that I have comes from you. Help me to remember this and rejoice in your goodness.
Walk with me, my God. Help me, on my spiritual journey, so that I may constantly renew my relationship with you and all the good people in our parish and throughout Long Island.
Renew in me your Spirit. Give me the strength and courage to become a better follower of Jesus, to be a disciple. Help me hear the call to “Come, Follow Me.”
I give glory to you, my god as I make Stewardship a way of life.
Amen.
This week we will celebrate our Parish Feast Day (August 15th) ~ The Assumption of Mary; celebrating her passage to heaven – body and soul.
As we celebrate The Assumption of Mary, we listen to the Magnificat as Mary praises God and acknowledges His greatness and the wonderful things He has done for her. She recognizes that many will benefit as she allows God to work through her. So too, will others benefit as we open ourselves to the grace of God, accepting His favor and pass it on as good stewards of His many blessings.