Search
-
Merlot with the Messiah
Dates: Fourth Monday of the month
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Social Hall
2020 Dates:
January 27
Our Christian Brothers - Where are we similar and how are we different?
February 24
The Crusades
March 30 (postponed; date tbd)
What happened that we need Holy Week?
April 27
Catholic Trivia Night
(additional dates to be added)
Interested in discovering more of the fullness of faith?Do you have questions about the church
but don’t know where to bring them?Do you feel intimidated by the commitment of a traditional bible study?
SEAS Adult Faith Formation is offering a low pressure, come as you are opportunity to improve your faith. Come and enjoy a Merlot with the Messiah.
Join us on the fourth Monday of each month and add some leaven to your faith. Let’s see how much more extraordinary you can be.
Bulletin Article
Merlot with the Messiah
Monday, March 30th (postponed; new date tbd)
7:00 pm
We have good news at MWTM! Not only is the sound system up and running but we have a new projector! If you have attended before but had trouble hearing or seeing, please consider coming again. The changes should improve your experience.
As we move through Lent and approach Holy Week and Easter, Father Norm asks all to make an effort to explore our faith. In this vein we look to topics that explore the meat and potatoes of our faith and this year is no exception. We are going to talk about the story, symbolism, and theology of the Fall and its counterpart the Redemption. Come Monday, March 30th as we walk a path to Emmaus explaining the scriptures and set fire to our hearts.
Bulletin Article:
Merlot with the Messiah
Monday, February 24th
7:00 pm
This month at Merlot with the Messiah we are going to explore a period of time in Church history that still reverberates around the world to this day; the Crusades. There are conflicts around the world today that have their roots in the actions and inactions of parties involved. To get a handle on what is going on in the world today, this period of time should not be ignored. History and emotion are not a good combination and so much of this period is wrapped in legend, half truths, and lies. How was the Church and other powerful players of Europe involved? The Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaller built such a legend that Dan Brown, Indiana Jones, and the History Channel still tap into that intrigue today. Come on Monday, February 24th at 7PM and we will try and cast some light on this dark time.
Bulletin Article:
Merlot with the Messiah
Monday, January 27th
7:00 pm
One of the recurring questions during Merlot with the Messiah when we talk about future topics is what are the differences between Roman Catholic Christians and our Christian Brothers and Sisters. Join us on January 27th as Dean takes a deeper dive into our Eastern Orthodox Catholic Brothers and Sisters as well as the other Christian Religions.
Where are our beliefs similar and why are we different?
Bulletin Article:
Merlot with the Messiah
December 2nd, 2019
7:00 pm
What do we know about angels?
Most of us will seek comfort or aid from a guardian angel when we require it. We call on Michael to protect us and in Advent we are reminded of Gabriel and his role in salvation. There is so much more to the role of angels. Angels are mentioned at least 108 times in the Old Testament and 168 times in the New Testament. Even at Mass we ask the angels to pray for us to the Lord our God. Cherubim, Seraphim, Thrones, and Dominions are all mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer. They play a vital role in the interaction between Heaven and Earth. Even the interaction between Heaven and you.
Come on December 2nd at 7 pm and start your Advent off by learning more about this very familiar but little explored part of a complete faith life.
Bulletin Article:
Merlot with the Messiah
October 28th, 2019
7:00 pm
What do St. Joan of Arc, St. John Vianney, St. Maria Goretti, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Padre Pio, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton all have in common? They were all declared saints in the 20th century. In a very short time their stories and faith have left an indelible mark on our Church. Millions of people today have been influenced by their lives and look for their intercession every day. Our Church is in a different place because of them. In this months’ discussion at MWTM we are asking the question - ‘Who could be their counterparts in the 21st century?’ Come with us during this season that we celebrate the Saints and explore some of the Servants Of God, the Venerables, and the Blesseds that could influence the universal Church through their holiness in this Century. Could we introduce you to the next St. Teresa of Lisieux or
St. Faustina?
Bulletin Article:It is back to school time again and that includes all of us here at St. Liz; our new session of Merlot With The Messiah begins at the end of September. As with most of the topics that we discuss, our first subject comes to us as a request from an attendee: The Geography Of The Holy Land. Where is Nazareth? What is it like to walk to Bethlehem, Cana, and Jericho? What kind of sea do you find in Galilee? How does the backdrop of the land that is often called “the fifth gospel”, effect how we can interpret the other four? Being diligent leaders we packed up the family and went to Israel on a fact finding mission so we could report back with first hand knowledge of what it is like there. The first lesson is that it is hot! To hear the rest, please take time to come out on Monday, September 30 th at 7:00 pm and enjoy a glass of wine and good conversation about a topic that is imbedded in the roots of our faith.
Merlot with the Messiah
September 30th, 2019
The Geography Of The Holy Land
7:00 pm
Bulletin Article:Merlot with the Messiah
April 29th
Art and Architecture
of our Parish
7:00 pm
For the first 1600 years of the Catholic Church, reading and writing were the privilege of an extremely small group. The church spread the message of the Gospel through word of mouth and beautiful art. The old churches of Europe and continuing even onto the grand churches of Detroit are filled with religious imagery that tells the biblical story. These images were readable by the common person and used in all forms of worship and prayer. Today most modern citizens of our church see only the beauty and not the true function of the images that decorate our churches.
April 29th, Merlot with the Messiah will be touring St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, looking at the art and architecture of our parish as well as a few items from Father Norm’s personal art collection.
Bulletin Article:Merlot with the Messiah
March 25th
Marian Art
7:00 pm
Bulletin Article:Note: Date ChangeMerlot with the Messiah
Monday, March 4th
7:00 pm
Merlot with the Messiah will be revisiting the “Experiencing Your Faith Through Religious Art” sessions we had in the spring of 2016. Our second session, will look a the Icons of the Saints. These images were readable by the common person and used in all forms of worship and prayer. Today most modern citizens of our church see only the beauty and not the true function of the images that decorate our churches.
Future Dates:
March 25 - Marian Art
April 29 - Art and Architecture of Our Parish
Bulletin Article
Merlot with the Messiah
Monday, January 28th....DATE CHANGED TO FEBRUARY 4th due to weather
7:00 pm
Experiencing Your Faith Through Religious Art
We, as Catholics, are often accused by our Christian brothers and sisters of not reading the Bible. It is an easy assumption to make but is untrue for one basic reason; the entire Protestant tradition has existed during a time when the written word has been accessible to the masses. For the first 1600 years of the Catholic Church reading and writing were the privilege of an extremely small group. The church spread the message of the gospel through word of mouth and beautiful art. The old churches of Europe and continuing even onto the grand churches of Detroit are filled with religious imagery that tells the biblical story. These images were readable by the common person and used in all forms of worship and prayer.
Today most modern citizens of our church see only the beauty and not the true function of the images that decorate our churches. Merlot with the Messiah will be revisiting the “Experiencing Your Faith Through Religious Art” sessions we had in the spring of 2016. Come with us as we take an opportunity look back and see what our ancestors saw.
January 28 changed to February 4 - Basic Language of the Religious Art
February 25 - Icons of the Saints
March 25 - Marian Art
April 29 - Art and Architecture of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Bulletin Article
Merlot with the Messiah
Monday, NOVEMBER 26TH
7:00 pm
On Monday, November 26th, just prior to the start of Advent, we are going to take a look at the ‘pivotal players’ and symbols of the Advent and Christmas seasons. A virgin, a wild man, angels, shepherds, a manger, and kings each had a part to play. A part so important that it was recorded so that we would know about them more than 2000 years later. We know that they make good imagery on a Christmas card but do we really grasp the part that they play? Come on the 26th and enjoy some good conversation; maybe when you leave you will understand more deeply Linus's statement "and that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."
Bulletin Article:
Monday, October 29th
7:00 p.m.
As Catholics most of us have the desire to go on pilgrimage to see the sights of our faith. Visiting the Holy Land, famous shrines, or following in the footsteps of the Saints all have a pull on us. Many people believe that such trips are not a possibility for time and financial reasons. However this does not have to be the case. If you wish to pilgrimage with your loved ones and friends there are many such sights that are within a day's drive from Troy. Come on October 29th and we will talk about some of places that are out there that are waiting for you!
Bulletin Article:
Monday, September 24th
7:00 pm
Most of the topics that we have discussed at Merlot With The Messiah have been brought up by fellow parishioners and we start our new season off with just such a topic. With the Church embracing social media, we have access to, and receive, a steady stream of communication. How does this compare with the traditional ways the Church communicates: Apostolic Constitutions, encyclicals, exhortations, addresses, letters, or the intimidating Papal Bull? What do they all mean? We, of limited time and attention, need to be able to quickly discern what is important and affects our faith as members of not just St Elizabeth Ann Seton but of the Body of Christ.
Join us on the fourth Monday of each month and add some leaven to your faith.
Let’s see how much more extraordinary you can be.
