- QUESTIONS OF THE
WEEK
- Second Sunday
of Advent
-
- If we are deliberate in
our prayer rather than just letting it be accidental we can open
our hearts to the experience of Christmas.
Adults: What habits have I formed that need adjustment
in order to prepare for Christ’s coming?
Children: If Jesus were coming to my house, how
would I get ready?
CHRISTMAS EVE CHOIR practice
Fridays, December 12 and 19 from 6:30-7:30 and Tuesday, December
23, from 10-11:00. For children: Kindergarten and up. Contact
Nancy Sand for more information.
SINGERS NEEDED for 10:00 pm Christmas Eve
Mass! Contact Nancy Simmons Beebe, 592-5420, if you would like
to sing in the choir.
- A BLESSING OF
THE CHRISTMAS TREE
The heavens are glad and the earth rejoices!
The forest and every tree in it
Sings your praises, O Lord, our God.
This tree reminds us of our first parents,
Who knew the blessings of paradise
But chose to eat the fruit of disobedience.
This tells us of the tree of the cross on which
Your Son offered the sacrifice of perfect praise.
This tree, with its ever-green boughs,
Calls to mind your everlasting love.
We ask you to bless this tree.
May its bright lights
Herald the coming of the Christ light.
We also ask you to bless us.
May your love rule our hearts,
And may our lives become a song of praise
Now and forever. Amen.
- IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the patron saint
of the United States of America. The people of the U.S., through
their bishops in 1846, asked Mary to watch over them and their
country in a special way. They have chosen one particular title
and feast of Mary — her Immaculate Conception.
The title chosen emphasizes her privilege of
coming into the world free from sin. Through the power of Jesus’
death and resurrection, every human being can be freed from sin
at Baptism. But through that same power, Mary was always free
of sin, even from the very first moment of her life. She never
turned from God to do anything that He would not want. Because
she always chose to do His will, she allowed herself to become
a channel of His love to everyone she met throughout her life.
Remembering this special privilege given to
Mary, people in the U.S. gather together to celebrate Mass on
December 8. At the liturgy, they thank God for all the blessings
He has given to the people of their country. We all thank Mary
for watching over and protecting our people. We pray that she
will lead us to her Son and keep us faithful to His teachings.
—Saints and Feast Days,
Loyola University Press, 1985
PARISH
FOOD DRIVE: The Religious Ed program is sponsoring a food
drive at both parishes to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Food
Pantry and My Sister’s Place. We are collecting non-perishable
items through Sunday, December 14. Put items in boxes
in church or the CTK Parish Center.
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS: In the coming weeks the children in the program
will be leading the parishes in a food drive to
benefit St. Vincent de Paul Society. 15 % of the goods will also
go to My Sister’s Place. On December 14, the Sunday classes
will gather to sort the collected food for the St. Vincent de
Paul and My Sister’s Place, to create the snack bags, to
pray and to celebrate the Advent Season at 12:15 in the Parish
Center. Tuesday families are asked to drop off food donation
by December 9th. On December 16, the Tuesday classes will gather
to go Christmas Caroling to area Nursing Homes at 6:30 p.m. A
celebration of Advent follows in the Parish Center.
FIRST
RECONCILIATION: On December 13 the second grade children
receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). Please keep
the children, their parents and teachers in your prayers as they
prepare their hearts to receive the Sacrament.
LITURGY
BITS AND BYTES
Standing during Holy Communion
Standing together during communion gives a
feeling of community rather than of individualism. It demonstrates
respect for all the participants, and generates a feeling of
solidarity and togetherness. We are God’s people united
in communion with God and with one another. Standing together
expresses this physically.
Copyright © 2008
Resource Publications, San Jose, CA
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- Prepare the way of
the Lord...
- BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
- December 8 - 14
Birthdays: Angie Anderson,
Michael Bruggeman, Beth DiBenedetto, Joe Essman, Chris Gidycz-Lein,
Mike Goodwin, Greg Gorman, Bafende James, Brian Jeffers, Jillian
Mayberry, Joe McLaughlin, Jacob Schriner, Susie Shaw, Amy Yanity
and Bryan Young.
Student: Jennifer Tomasch
Anniversaries: Cynthia
& Mamerto Tindongan (18th), Tammy & Jamie Edwards (27th),
and Claire & Matthew White (23rd). Congratulations!
- Prayers for the Sick
Let's be one in hope and prayerful presence
to all on our prayer list and continue to pray for Kathi Hahn,
Donna and Ray Hart, Don Dillinger, and Bill Rader. (Remembered in the petitions)
-
FEAST OF THE
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Masses 12:15 & 6:00 pm
*St. Paul’s Mass at 8:30 at CTK
office closed
RETIREMENT
FUND FOR RELIGIOUS
Share in the Care -- December 13/14
Religious give thanks: “When my eyes came to the enclosed
check, I immediately prayed a “Glory Be” and was practically
moved to tears,” wrote an abbot at an Oklahoma monastery
for benefits received from The Retirement Fund for Religious.
Please give generously to next week’s second collection,
which benefits the many deserving religious who served our diocese,
past and present, and who now need our help meeting the overwhelming
costs of elder care. www.retiredreligious.org
RESPECT LIFE
A new book entitled My Child, My Gift: A
Positive Response to a Serious Prenatal Diagnosis quotes
one mother of a child with Down syndrome, “The greatest
surprise is this: Our life together has been less about my helping
him reach his potential than about him helping me reach mine.”
- ADVENT RECONCILIATION
SERVICE
Sunday, December 21, 3:00 pm
at St. Paul’s Church
CHRISTMAS
FLOWER MEMORIALS accepted until Thursday, December 18, for the
December 20/21 bulletin.
THE GIVING TREE PROJECT, 2008
Please visit our Giving Tree in the Gathering
Space. Won’t you help some of our neighbors in need by choosing
a gift tag for a child’s gift or family food basket, or
select one of the Salvation Army gift stockings. Please drop
off all your Giving Tree gifts in the Parish Center TV Room before
noon on Sunday, December 14.
MINISTRY SCHEDULE:
Nancy is working on the ministry schedule for January- March.
Please email her (nsand@ctkathens.org) or phone the office (592-2711)
with dates you are NOT available.
SACRED HEART
RETREAT HOUSE -- It’s Christmas Tour time at Sacred
Heart Retreat House: 11:00 am till 8:00 pm this Sunday, December
7. Baked goods and Prayer cards for unborn children will be available.
CATHOLIC
LADIES OF COLUMBIA will hold their annual Christmas dinner
this Monday evening, December 8, at 6:30. Contact Jean
Edwards at 592-1428, or Trudy Montle, 698-4185, for more information
or for regrets.
HELP NEEDED SVDP: Sixty
(60) boxes of food will be put together December 17th
at the Parish Center beginning at 5:00 PM. Set up involves lifting
cases of can goods etc. Filling food boxes will begin around
5:45. Please come and help. Thanking you in advance.
- CHRISTMAS/NEW
YEARS MASS SCHEDULE
Wednesday, December 24 5:15 & 10:00 pm
Thursday, December 25 10:00 am
- office closes at
noon on the 24th &
- all day December 25/26
New Year’s morning 10:00 am
office closes at noon
on the 31st & all day January 1st
MINISTERS NEEDED: If you will
be in town during the Christmas holiday and are interested in
reading or being a Eucharistic minister, please let Nancy Sand
know (nsand@ctkathens.org or 592-2711). We need ministers for
Christmas Eve: 5:15 and 10:00; Christmas Day: 10:00; December
27/28: 5:15, 8:30 and 10:30; New Year’s Day: 10:00; and
January 3/4: 5:15, 8:30 and 10:30. Thanks!
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