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ST. MARY CHURCH CHILLICOTHE, OHIO DECEMBER 13, 2015 TODAY’S LITURGY MONDAY, December 14 8:30 a.m. Kelly Ropar by Kathy & Neal Senff FIRST READING: Zephaniah 3:14-18 SECOND READING: Philippians 4:4-7 TUESDAY, December 15 GOSPEL: Luke 3:10-18 9:30 a.m. Debbie Zeigler by Katie Boesch (Grade 2 at Bishop Flaget School – parishioners welcome) It is quite evident that Sunday’s section of Zephaniah was added to WEDNESDAY, December 16 the original by a later editor. The original work dated to about 620 B.C. 8:30 a.m. Helen Wheeler by Lucille & Brian Nichols Sunday’s reading envisions a time when the dreaded day of the Lord had already come. God had pronounced judgment on the nations and on the THURSDAY, December 17 people of Judah and Jerusalem. Because of this, joy is called for. The 8:30 a.m. George Landrum by Ringwald Family remnant has survived. The suffering is about to end, so rejoice! With the 7:00 p.m. Penance Service at St. Peter Church Lord God in their midst they will dwell secure. When this happens even God will rejoice and sing. FRIDAY, December 18 The theme of joy continues in the Philippians reading. Paul 8:30 a.m. Deceased members of Smith Family by encourages them to be joyful in the Lord. He repeats the cry: “Again. I Cannon Estate say, Rejoice.” What drives this whole theme is Paul’s belief that the Lord is near. Because Paul and the early Christians were convinced that SATURDAY, December 19 the Lord was near, it was easy to urge them to have no fear. 5:00 p.m. Mildred Creager by Family With this belief that the Lord is near Paul encourages them to pray for anything with thanksgiving, and then the peace of God will reign SUNDAY, December 20 over them. If Christians today lived with that joyful awareness that the Lord is near then we might learn not only the meaning of peace but of 8:45 a.m. St. Mary’s Parish faith as well. I encourage readers to read the Philippians passage again 11:00 a.m. Richard Cooper by Ron & Rosemary Zedalis and linger there awhile. Paul offers wise counsel for never giving in to worldly cares and woes, even in the face of death. The Lord is always near. We ought to live like it. The movement, if we can call it that, founded by John the Baptist is not very well-known, except that it called for life changes on the part of those who joined. Membership came by means of a ritual washing SUNDAY, December 13 (called baptism). We have evidence of what changes were called for in today’s Gospel. It amounted to doing socially responsible things, Love In Action Sunday whether clothing the naked or sharing food. Commentators point out that 9:45 a.m. PSR John did not expect people to join him in the desert but to change their 10:00 a.m. Choir lives where they were. 12:15 p.m. Family Choir practice Tax collectors, though considered collaborators with Rome, were told not to charge excessive amounts — not to give up tax collecting. MONDAY, December 14 Soldiers were told not to be violent with people or to falsely accuse them 11:00 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Society Meeting and to be satisfied with their wages. That message probably fell on deaf ears if my own experience in the military is any measure. Soldiers TUESDAY, December 15 always complain about their pay. In any case, John never tells them to 7:30 p.m. Choir Practice – Family Life Center stop soldiering. THURSDAY, December 17 How or why the crowds begin to wonder whether John might be the Christ is not clear. But John shuns such talk, pointing to one who 6:30 p.m. RCIA would come after him. It certainly was part of Jewish hopes in the 200 7:00 p.m. High School Youth Group at St. Peter’s years or so before Jesus that someone of God’s choosing was soon to SATURDAY, December 19 appear who would restore Israel’s former prominence under David, the 10:00 a.m. Grief Relief great king of the past. John’s importance in preaching reform is to see that the reform SUNDAY, December 20 takes place within the life being lived, not by fleeing into some other Collection for Phoenix House existence. Many people over the centuries have thought it necessary to Coffee & Donuts after Masses – Family Life Center enter a monastery or a convent as a way of being righteous. John would Visit with Santa after each Mass – Family Life Center have disagreed. He would have said, Start where you are, not where you 9:45 a.m. PSR wish you were! Transform the world you live in, not the one you wish 10:00 a.m. Choir you were in. 12:15 p.m. Family Choir practice As an Advent reflection on this Third Sunday called “gaudete” (Latin for “Rejoice”) in a bygone era, this message of John complements the “preaching of Good News to the people.” For it is this same message that Jesus taught and preached as he entered our lives and our world. Father Hummer THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT OFFERTORY REPORT Our Turn, Our Time, Our Home December 6, 2015 Capital Campaign Update Average Weekly Offering $6807.70 Needed weekly to meet budget $6923.00 Regular Collection $7827.32 We have received 66 pledges totaling $139,590.00 for Phase II of the Church Restoration Project. Pledges are still coming Restoration Fund $3788.50 in, and it’s not too late to fill out the pledge card you Bishop Flaget School 1486.00 received in the Fall Newsletter. Simply fill it out and drop it Christmas Flowers 753.00 in the offertory basket. Please fill out a pledge card, even if St. Vincent de Paul Society 450.00 you are unable to donate. A follow up letter was mailed this Catholic Charities 200.00 week to parishioners who have not returned a pledge card. Retirement Fund for Religious 200.00 We will, in any case, contact all registered parishioners who Immaculate Conception 150.00 have not yet responded. Christmas Offering 100.00 We have received approval from Bishop Campbell to It is a generous and joyful giving of time, talent and treasure. proceed with Phase II of the Restoration Project. We Stewardship is what we do after we say we believe. anticipate that we will be having Mass in the Family Life Center in the coming weeks. More updates to follow. HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP We have started a new To receive credit for a 2015 donation for your tax program this year called YDisciple and the leadership is very excited records, they must be received in, or before, the about it! With the new program, High School Youth Group is now December 27, 2015 offertory collection. open to Grades 8 –12 and is held on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the youth group room, at St. Peter Church. All teens in Grades 8- Thank you for your continued support of the project, and 12 are encouraged to join us in this new adventure! Upcoming topics continued pledge payments. are: 1/7 The Dignity of life; 1/14 – Unbound; 1/21-23 – March for Life Pilgrimage; 1/28 – The Business of Abortion; TBD – Snow Tubing at Mad River Mountain. For additional information or THE SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND is for the questions, contact Jenny French at 740-774-4172. Retirement for the Religious Fund. Aging religious need your help. In the United States today, there are more than 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. These religious worked tirelessly in Catholic schools, BISHOP FLAGET SCHOOL HAS ADOPTED SIX hospitals, and agencies, usually for little to no pay. As a result, SOLDIERS to send letters, cards, and care packages to many religious communities lack adequate savings for retirement over the year and would appreciate your help in making their months and eldercare. Your gift to today’s collection for the Retirement special. The following items are suggested as great things to send to Fund for Religious helps provide medications, nursing care, and the soldiers: more. Please be generous. ● Snack Foods: individual drink mixes, beef jerky/Slim Jims, licorice, Fiddle Faddle, Cracker Jacks, cheese crackers, chips, ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY NEWS pretzels, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, fruit roll-ups, gummies, granola bars, Fiber One Bars, Power Bars, Month of October 2015 Cumulative Year To Date gum, coffee/tea, hot chocolate, microwavable food (popcorn, Chef Families served 157 1404 Boyardee), oatmeal instant packs, cereal, poptarts, canned fruit, Assistance given $4,849.87 $40,188.03 soups, tuna (pull tabs), protein powder ● Personal Health (travel size): hand sanitizer, lip balm, baby wipes, THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY has envelopes combs, brushes, bobby pins, Qtips, aloe vera gel, bandaids, in the back of church which may be used for memorials, birthdays, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, anniversaries or other occasions. You may designate the recipient of mouthwash, advil or aspirin packets, breath mints, cough drops, a card that will inform them that you have made a donation in a sunblock (SPF 45), gel deodorant, gel pads for feet, gold bond loved ones memory or in honor of his or her birthday etc. You will powder for boots receive a card recording your tax deductible donation. Just complete ● Entertainment: new/used CDs/DVDs, word game books/puzzles, the envelope and your donation and place it in the offertory basket.