December 3, 2017

Monday - Friday 9am-2pm Business Manager John Steadman [email protected] Accountant • Millie Browning • • [email protected] Director of Faith Formation Bev Fox • [email protected] Youth Ministry Coordinator Kasey Lansford [email protected] Communications Coordinator Emily Faz [email protected] Pastoral Administration Lily Vaughn [email protected] Maintenance Clarence Drinkwine [email protected]

First Week of Advent Advent Terms and Definitions Advent: The word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event. Since the 900s Advent has been considered the beginning of the Church year. This does not mean that Advent is the most important time of the year. Easter has always had this honor… The traditional color of Advent is purple or violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit. Religious traditions associated with Advent express all these themes.

Advent Wreath: "Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles (advent candles). According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice" (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose color vestments are permitted. The Advent Wreath represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world. Each year in Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, His historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, His final coming at the end of time, and His special coming in every moment of grace. During Advent, family and friends can gather around the Advent Wreath lighting the appropriate can- dle(s), read from the daily Advent meditation and sing songs. The Church's official Book of Blessings also provides a blessing ceremony for the advent wreath which can be used in the absence of a priest.

Important Advent Dates 2017

Friday, December 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 6:00p.m. Vigil Mass & 7:30p.m. Spanish Vigil Mass 9:00a.m. Day Mass

Tuesday, December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 6:00a.m. Mañanitas 9:00a.m. Mass 7:00p.m. Bilingual Mass After the 7:00p.m. Mass a Reception in the Parish Hall

Thursday, December 14 COKAS Advent Penance Service 7:00p.m. By Fr. Mattox, Fr. Garcia, Fr. Orellana, Fr. Young, and Fr. Herrera

Saturday, December 16 Parish POSADA (Advent Prayer Service) At 7:00p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 Military Personnel Sonya Stephenson 5PM TONI DAVIS † Tarah Thompson Christopher Stephenson SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 Steve Piller Sean Scott 9AM KITTY BRANCH † Nicholas Piller Walter Cochran 11:45AM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH Rod Piller Andrea Vasquez MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 Barbara Koch Stanley Sides NO MASS Deborah Stritt JoAnn Stauffer TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 Harriet Thompson James Hause 9AM SPECIAL INTENTIONS Linda Chelena Freeda Karwisch WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 Harriet Thompson Jeffery Crane 6PM JERRY SPRATTE † Vicky Abbott THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 9AM NO MASS For those in critical need of daily prayers. Note: Names will stay on the Prayer list for 6 weeks and then they will 6PM TOM WOJNAS † be removed. Call 706-453-7292 x 4 or email [email protected] 7:30PM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH with updates. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 9AM CARNIE HIBBARD † Flowers adorning the SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 Blessed Virgin Mary 5PM JACK SCHUH † have been donated by Jim Collins for Mary’s intercession SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 for the cure of Breast Cancer. 9AM DON WISSMAN † 11:45AM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH

We are the servants of God, each with his or her own task. We will be judged good stewards if, at His coming, He finds us ready and conscientiously pursuing the

EPIPHANY BREAD

The Ring Shaped Bread symbolizes God’s eternal Love, which has no beginning or end. The child that is hidden is a reminder of the moment when Joseph and Mary hid Baby Jesus to save him from Herod. The dried fruit and candy are the distractions of the world that prevents us from finding Jesus. Eating of this bread is a symbol of the communion with Jesus

CELEBRATION OF THE EPIPHANY

Mass Intention Schedule Epiphany, the Feast of The Three Kings If there are specific dates that you Celebration: Sunday, January 7, 2018 would like to schedule mass Social Hall after the 9:00 am Mass intention for loved ones or friends, The Three Maji (Kings) will be giving please come by the office to out presents for the children registered in Faith Formation, schedule. We have the Record Book for 2018 We will have the “Three Kings Bread” ready so please don’t wait until the last minute to and beverages. schedule your masses.

December 1st Adoration 9:00am-6:00pm Be a little light in someone else’s world to- 2nd COKAS Christmas Party 6pm-11pm 3rd DONUTS After 9am Mass day. 3rd Faith Formation 10:30am-11:30am In the PLC Offertory 3rd Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm At Masses 11/18—11/19/17...... $ 10,209. Sanctuary/Social Hall Online Giving 11/13— 11/19/17… 3,075. 4th Morning Bible Study 9:00am Total $ 13,284. 4th NO MASS 4th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm December second collections: Sanctuary/Social Hall 12/3/17—St Vincent de Paul (TTG code: SVDP)

5th GriefShare 12:30pm-2:30pm 12/10/17—Retirement Religious (TTG code: RR) PLC 215 12/25/17—Catholic Charities (TTG code: CC) 5th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm Sanctuary/Social Hall WE HAVE ANOTHER EASY WAY TO DONATE: 6th Life Night/Edge night 5:00pm-9:00pm TEXT TO GIVE (TTG) 6th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm 706-445-5132 Sanctuary/Social Hall 7th Vigil of the Immaculate Conception 6:00pm 7:30pm—Spanish 7th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm Available 24 hours a day, 7 Sanctuary days a week! 7th Youth Choir 4:00pm-5:15pm Go to: www.cokas.org. Social Hall 8th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm Questions: Call or email Millie Browning Sanctuary 706-453-7292, ext. 9, [email protected] 9th Christmas Bazaar & Bake Sale 9:00am-2:00pm Social hall

Please Join us in the Social Hall after 9am Mass for Coffee and Donuts!

Ryan Parish Library NEW BULLETIN DEADLINES The Library is looking for volunteers! Help is needed on FOR HOLIDAY SEASON! Sundays from 10am-11:30am during PSR and Coffee and Donuts. You don’t have to have any experience, we will train you! Please contact Lalla Mangin (706) 467-0883, or The bulletin Deadlines are as follows: [email protected] • December 9/10: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/1 • December 16/17: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/1 • December 23/24: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/8 • December 30/31: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/15

FAITH FORMATION

Director of Faith Formation Bev Fox [email protected] Coordinator Youth Ministry Kasey Lansford [email protected] Coordinator RCIA (English) Bill Richards [email protected]

K-5th Grade Faith Formation Middle & High School Youth Meets Sundays 10:30-11:30 AM Meets Wednesdays 5:00PM

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is celebrated at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Altar Servers Masses for children HEY LOOK! Needed! Pre-K through 3rd grade. W e are looking for new Altar Servers to NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED join this ministry! We welcome youth who have made their First Communion.

This is a wonderful opportunity to be Podcasts for Catholic Families involved in the Par- ish., learn more

A podcast is a series of digital audio or video about your faith, files which a user can download and listen to. It and take on is often available for subscription, so that new episodes are automatically downloaded to your responsibility. cell phone or other media device. Here are a For more information, please contact Tim few podcasts related to Catholic family Winslow (706) 923-1223 or email him at life that you may enjoy. [email protected]

“More 2 Life” “Catholic in a Small Town” “Adventures in Imperfect Living” Kids Ministries Hear Ye, Hear Ye! A special Children and . Give the gift of joyful Youth Choir is form- song this Christmas by ing to present a musi- sharing your talents with cal Prelude for the our Church. Just Come! children's Christmas Rehearsals will be in the Eve Mass, December Social Hall as follows; 24th at 3:30pm

Thursday Nov. 30, 4:00pm-5:15pm Thursday Dec. 7, 4:00pm-5:15pm Thursday Dec. 14, 4:00pm-5:15pm Thursday Dec. 21, 4:00pm-5:15pm

Pancakes When: Saturday December 9, 2017 with Santa Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Where: Church Social Hall The Kinghts of Cloumbus FREE ADMISSION would like for you to join SHOP WITH OVER 30 VENDORS AND FINISH YOUR them for Pancakes with CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! HOME BAKED GOODS Santa on December 17. KIDS SHOPPING CORNER (50 cents - $3) Please join us in the Social Hall at DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREE RAFFLE 10am for breakfast and time with Santa! ATTENTION BAKERS: The Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale is coming up and we need your help to make the bake sale successful! The painting of For More information Please We need: The Nativity is in contact: the Narthex with Cookies Brownies Sue Tutcher (706) 485.2094 the donation tags Pies [email protected] for the children Cakes Terry Goldman (706) of our Parish that Cupcakes 485.4243 attend Faith For- Bread [email protected] mation. The do- ALL BAKED GOODS SHOULD BE TURNED nation tags will IN ON DEC. 8th be up through December 3. GENTLY USED COATS NEEDED When you pick a tag(s), please write your name and phone number on the sign-up sheets next to the tag number(s) you Men’s, WomenWindbreakers’s, and Kids choose. Please return your tag(s) & donation to the Church Fleece Jackets no later than December 10, 2017. Each tag is for a $30.00 Winter Coats donation. Feel free to take as many tags as you wish. Martha’s Closet will be distributing “gently used” coats in Sparta on December 12th. HOLY SPIRIT Monastery TREATS Please see Gerrie Lambo to turn in your donation near the Brides The Knights of Columbus are selling fruit- Room after 5pm Mass and before cakes, fudge, biscotti & coffee from the 9am Mass through December Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, 10th. PLEASE DO NOT leave coats at the church. Thank you! Ga. Visit the tables in vestibule in the front of the church and in the Social Hall on the weekend of December 16 and 17 after the 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Masses. All net proceeds collected by The The COKAS Respect Life and the K of C Respect life committees Knights of Columbus are donated to local charities and also go to would like to thank the parishion- support the monks and their good works. ers for donations to First Call baby bottle campaign. The amount collected was $3, 352.83. If any- one has a baby bottle, with or without cash, please return to COKAS to return to First Call for recycling.

"ANUNCIOS PARROQUIALES"

Horario de Confesiones todos los Sábados de 4:00 pm a 4:45 pm

Posada Navideña Novena todas las noches a las 7:00 16 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm en el Santuario y el luego en el Salón Social

FECHAS IMPORTANTES

Domingo, 3 de diciembre al Lunes, 11 de FIESTA DE LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE diciembre a las 7:00 pm Novena de Guadalupe Martes, 12 de diciembre Jueves, 7 de diciembre a las 7:30 pm 6:00a.m.-8:00a.m. Misa de vigilia de la Inmaculada Concepción Oración de la Mañana DONACION DE SANGRE Mañanitas con Mariachi y (Español) Desayuno 7:00p.m. Misa Solemne Viernes, 8 de diciembre a las 9:00 am 8:00p.m. Cena y Música Misa de la Inmaculada Concepción (Ingles) (en el Salón Social) Martes, 12 de diciembre de 6:00- 8:00 am Mañanitas y Desayuno celebrando La Virgen de Guadalupe

Martes, 12 de diciembre de 7:00- 10:00 pm Misa y Cena de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Domingo, 17 de diciembre a las 10:00 am Desayuno de Pancakes con Papa Noel (Santa Claus), cortesia de los Caballeros de Colon

Jueves, 14 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm Servicio Penitencian de Adviento

Sábado,16 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm Posada El comité de COKAS Respeto a la Vida y el comité de los Caballeros de Colon Domingo, 24 de diciembre de Respeto a la Vida quieren agradecer Misa a las 3:30 pm (Misa de Niños) a los feligreses de sus donaciones a la Misa a las 5:30 pm campaña de biberones de First Call. El Misa de Navidad en español —7:30 pm monto recaudado fue de $3,352.83. Si Misa de medianoche a las 10:00 pm alguien aun tiene un biberón, con o sin dinero en efectivo, por favor regresarlo a COKAS para poderlo reciclar. Lunes, 25 de diciembre a las 9:00 am Misa