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Holy Trinity Parish | Hudson, NY HOLY TRINITY PARISH Hudson and Germantown, New York 429 E. Allen St. – P. O. Box 323 Hudson, NY 12534 Dec. 23, 2018 PHONE: (518) 828 - 1334 WEBSITE: www.holytrinityhudson.org E-MAIL: [email protected] VERY REV. ANTHONY BARRATT, E.V. Pastor DEACON RICHARD WASHBURN REV. WINSTON BATH Deacon Pastor Emeritus ADVENT SUNDAY FOUR C there is more than one annunciation Gospel…not just the annunciation of the archangel Gabriel to Mary!). In BE A HERALD AND ANNOUNCE Year A we would read about the angel of the Lord ap- THE COMING SAVIOUR pearing to St. Joseph in a dream and telling him to take TELL EVERYONE WHO HE WILL Mary for his wife. In Year B of our three-year cycle, we would hear the most familiar annunciation: the an- BE! nunciation of the archangel Gabriel to Mary. As we are in Year C, we hear what is called the As always, our brief season of Advent seems to Gospel of the Visitation, when Mary goes to meet her have slipped by and it is sobering to think that Christ- kinswoman Elizabeth. Elizabeth recognizes the mother mas is just a few days away. Excitement levels of her Lord and St. John the Baptist leaps for joy in his (especially with our children) and the heightened sense mother’s womb: both therefore announcing that the of expectation are certainly very obvious. Not surpris- Messiah is near. We can also think of the selfless effort ingly, the prayers, music and readings at the Mass also Mary made to go to her kinswoman. For one thing, she have this atmosphere of joyful anticipation. The Prayer has just received the amazing news that she is to be the after Communion for this Sunday can sum up our mother of the Savior. She does not sit at home brood- thoughts and feelings well: ing, but immediately sets out “in haste” to help Eliza- beth. We should note that Mary’s journey would have …We pray Almighty God, been a long and strenuous one too. that as the feast day of our salvation draws ever The Visitation Gospel invites us not only to nearer, we may press forward all the more eagerly ponder the events that led up to the birth of Jesus at to the worthy celebration of the mystery of your Christmas. It also invites us to think about our response Son’s Nativity. to this annunciation of the good news of salvation. In other words, how can we announce the Messiah and Our readings, hymns and prayers also have the show people just who Jesus is…? Like the Gospel of sense of announcing the coming of the Saviour, and of the Visitation we hear today, we can imitate Mary in making clear who He will be. In the First Reading at her selfless generosity, as she sets out to help Eliza- Mass we hear from the prophet Micah (Micah 5: 1-4). beth. We can also grow in faith, imitating Mary, who Micah lived at the end of the eight century BC, centu- was blessed because she believed that what was spoken ries before the coming of Jesus. He describes two key to her by the Lord would be fulfilled, and because her things. First, he noted that the Messiah would be born soul magnified the Lord (cf. Luke 1: 41-46). We can in Bethlehem. Secondly, gave a description or image of also be like Elizabeth who was open to being filled the Messiah as a shepherd: one who would lead his with the Holy Spirit, so that she then recognized the flock. Psalm 80 also sings of the coming Saviour as a presence of God (Luke 1: 41-43). Like John the Baptist shepherd. Our response to each verse of the psalm we can leap for joy, or at least be heralds of the could be used as a brief but beautiful prayer that one “Gospel of Joy” through our words and actions. might say each day: “Lord let us turn to you; let us see As the season of Christmas fast approaches, let your face and we shall be saved.” us indeed give great thanks for the coming of Jesus Our Second Reading is taken from the Letter to Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Let us remember that our the Hebrews. Scholars debate about the purpose and celebrations are ultimately about what Jesus came and precise authorship of this letter, but it is generally did for us: Christmas and Easter are closely bound to- thought to be an exhortation to encourage the very gether. We can gladly receive God’s great love and early Christians who were facing many difficulties. In mercy, but then we must go forth and show the face of the passage read on Sunday, we are given three further Jesus to others. images of the Saviour. Jesus is shepherd, but also our high priest. He is also the one who “comes to do God’s will: the obedient servant. Furthermore, he is a sacri- fice; that is one who “makes holy” (for this is the origi- nal meaning of the word sacrifice). At Mass on the Fourth Sunday, our Gospel is Father Anthony always about one of the annunciations made in prepa- ration for the coming of the Messiah (yes, in a way, The following Eucharistic Moment has THE WEEK AHEAD been shared by the perpetual Adoration Committee to promote Eucharistic adora- SUNDAY, December 23 tion: Christmas Pageant - following 9:00 a.m. Mass Sunday, December 23 at St. Mary’s Church "Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacles expressly for you, for you alone? He burns with de- MONDAY, December 24 sire to come into your heart." Office Closed– Christmas Eve Day RESPECT LIFE TUESDAY, December 25 Two immediate Pro Life battles face us today: NYS’s intended expansion of abortion Office Closed– Christmas Day to include partial birth abortion and the fight to keep NY from being the next state to legal- THURSDAY, December 27 ize euthanasia. Bible Study - 7:00 p.m. - St. Mary’s Academy There is much to be done, please vol- unteer to help raise the alarm. Contact Steve and Betsy Acciani 518-392-4699 or Dawn Meyer 518-828-8412. Re-igniting Our Faith is a diocesan campaign that will ensure that our parish communities, ministries and programs will continue to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must act now so that we may share our rich faith with generations to come. Please join us in re-igniting our faith by par- ticipating in our local parish campaign. More information will be forthcoming. Christmas Eve Prayer Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Bus Trip to Radio City Christmas Show Jesus, that we may share in the song of the Sponsored by Parish of St. Christopher and St. angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and Sylvia in Red Hook on Thursday December 27, worship of the wise men. Close the door of 2018 hate and open the door of love all over the Cost of $85 per person includes show and bus world. Let kindness come with every gift and transportation. The bus will depart from St. Christo- good desires with every greeting. Deliver us pher’s Church parking lot at 8:00 am for the 11:00 am from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, show. There will be time after the show to have and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. lunch and shop/sight see in New York. The bus de- May the Christmas morning make us happy to parts New York City for the return trip at 4:00 pm. A be thy children, and Christmas evening bring limited number of tickets are available. us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiv- ing and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. For more information please call St. Christopher rec- Have you ever thought about how stars became the symbol of Christmas? Christmas star, also known as the Star of Bethlehem, is associated with the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The Story of the Star of Bethlehem Christmas Schedule this Year A new star was seen in the sky, along with CHRISTMAS EVE other stars, one fine night and this star was so radiant that its bright rays spread light as bright as day on the Monday, December 24th gray hills of Bethlehem. The shepherds, who were resting after a hectic day, saw this strange, bright star 4:00 P.M. - Hudson and were frightened because of the unusual shine. Im- 4:00 P.M. - Germantown mediately, to their surprise, an angel came to them and said: “Do not be afraid; the star has come to bring 6:00 P.M. - Hudson you good tidings of great joy, and to show you the 10:00 P.M. – Hudson place where a little baby is born, a little babe whose name is Jesus, and who will give peace and joy to the whole world.” The angel disappeared after saying this CHRISTMAS DAY and the shepherds decided to go and see the child. Tuesday, December 25th They left their flock of sheep resting on the hillside and took their crook. 10:00 A.M. – Hudson The shepherds started towards Bethlehem, fol- 11:00 A.M. – Germantown lowing the bright star and reached the stable where Jesus Christ was born. They bowed to the baby who was cradled in a manger. It was the same star that ap- peared before the three wise men. Sacrificial Giving The Christmas Star is not just a colorful décor; it signifies peace and high hopes.
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