Intention Readings Special Events

8:00 AM †Olive Plazerine by Sg 2:8-14 Jan Plazerine Lk 1:39-45 St. Margaret Saturday

December 21st 4:00 PM †Joe Plazerine by of Scotland Charlie & Ro Boyle

Is 7:10-14 Sunday Rom 1:1-7 December 22nd Mt 1:18-24 Adult Faith Formation 10:00 AM pro populo (cancelled this week) Fourth Sunday of

Monday Mal 3:1-4, 23-24, No Mass today December 23rd Lk 1:57-66

OFFICE CLOSED Tuesday December 24th Is 62:1-5 Bible Study 4:00 PM ( Mass) Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 (cancelled until January 7th) pro populo Mt 1:1-25 Roman Wednesday 12:00 AM (MIDNIGHT MASS) OFFICE CLOSED Is 52:7-10 December 25th pro populo Heb 1:1-6 Holy Spirit Prayer Group Jn 1:1-18 10:00 AM pro populo (cancelled until January 8th)

Thursday Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 No Mass today OFFICE CLOSED December 26th Mt 10:17-22 MASS SCHEDULE MISSION STATEMENT Sunday Liturgy: 4:00 PM (Vigil) To grow in the love of the Lord, Friday 8:00 AM Ro & Charlie Boyle Jn 1:1-4

December 27th by Jan Plazerine. Jn 20:1a, 2-8 8:00 AM (seasonal) follow the teachings of the Church, 10:00 AM & serve one another and the community. Monday: 8:00 AM Kaitlyn Conger by Jn 1:5—2:2 No Mass Today Valuja Family. Mt 2:13-18 Tuesday: 4:00 PM CLERGY & STAFF Saturday Wednesday-Saturday: 8:00 AM Rev. Christopher Bond Pastor December 28th 4:00 PM †Joan Rubenacker Holy Day of Obligation: Refer to back Rev. Mr. Miles Merwin Deacon (seasonal) by Torda Family. page for specified Mrs. Ruth Schultz Secretary schedule Ms. Nicki Conroy Faith Formation

Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 Snow Days: Contact office Mrs. Bernice Smathers Choir Director Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Refer to back page for possible changes Ms. Faith Garner Organist Sunday Adult Faith Formation 10:00 AM pro populo December 29th (cancelled this week) CONFESSIONS: Saturday: 3:00-3:45 PM, OFFICE HOURS: Sunday: 9:00-9:45 AM, 1/2 hour before all Monday-Friday: 9:30 AM—5:00 PM Daily Masses, or by appointment Saturday-Sunday: Closed SACRAMENTS/FUNERALS: Contact office Holidays: Refer to back page To request a Mass intention, please visit the parish office during normal business hours. ADDRESS: 37 Murphy Dr. P.O. Box 1359 Maggie Valley, NC 28751 PHONE: (828) 926-0106 Note: Please be aware that our bulletin is posted on our website. WEBSITE: www.stmargaretofscotlandmv.org EMAIL: [email protected] Any information herein is, therefore, public. STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION PASTOR’S CORNER As our Advent preparations draw to a close and Christmas fast ap- Very soon we will be celebrating Christmas, proaches, it is fitting that today’s readings demonstrate the intensity of the Fa- the great Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord. It won’t ther’s perfect love for each us, culminating in the gift of His own Son, be long before we start wishing each other again a Christ, on Christmas Day. In response to such an overwhelming gift, what else Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Each can we do but offer our lives in return? household will once again be filled with lots of In Matthew’s Gospel, we find sweets and gifts for the festive season. However, let an unparalleled example of one who us all pause for a moment to see if we have come embraced this way of life. St. Joseph to understand what Christmas is all about. obeyed God’s call to him through the When we say “Christmas,” we actually re- message of an angel. We never hear fer to the Incarnation of God; in other words, the St. Joseph speak, but the Scriptures tell mystery of God becoming a human being. We call this a mystery since no hu- us he was always listening - attentive to man person will ever be able to fully understand how it was possible for Jesus, the Holy Spirit. It was Joseph who Our God, to take on human flesh. No one will ever understand how it is possible found the stable where the baby Jesus that the eternal God became a little child. Only the Three Persons of the Holy would be born. No doubt, it was Joseph who cleaned it up and prepared it for Trinity are able to fully comprehend this marvelous mystery. All we humans can Mary and Jesus. Joseph protected the family, guarded it, tended to its safety. do is stand in awe before the mystery of the Incarnation and thus glorify the Though we do not hear any words from St. Joseph, his actions clearly show that Trinitarian God. he offered himself, his whole life, as a gift to his family through his strong guid- On behalf of the Parish of St. Margaret of Scotland, I would like to wish ance, protection, and service. you all a Blessed and Holy Christmas. May Christ our True God, Who was born in Let us imitate St. Joseph then as good stewards, giving our very lives to a manager for the salvation of the entire human race, grant to you and your those around us in love and gratitude to God who has given us everything we families His abundant mercy and love! have, especially His own Son, Jesus Christ. Copyright20www.thecatholicsteward.com +Fr. Bond

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS IN MEMORY/HONOR OF: “THANK YOU” FROM THE PRISON MINISTRY Angie & Henry Rodriguez, Deceased Members of the Wright We delivered 150 pairs of socks and 300 Christmas cards for inmates to mail to Family, the Tompkins & Conroy Families, John Merle loved ones. Also, thank you to our Faith Formation children for the cards they Esbenshade, Don Loetz, James Halasz, Esther Quirk, Bob sent to the prisoners. They were very grateful! Geasland, Joan Hutson, Wayne Hutson. Kay & Tony Bryant,

Kathleen Eberhard, Joan Swenson, Mary Meschenross, Rich- KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ard & Anna Makua, Mark Makua, Bill Hooper, Jr., Sheila Ma- The Knights of Columbus delivered 18 Christmas gifts from the giving tree to kua, Gertrude & William Hooper, Sr., Al Beckemeyer, Tish Pie- the Haywood Christian Ministry. Thank you all who made this possible! ty, Ralph & Viola Timm, Mae & Sal Luigi, John & Kathryn Dwyer, John & Ethel Anelli, Harcourt “Bud” Quick, Regina Sullivan, Jerry Horne, PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS Peggy Horne, Jerry Allen, Hal & Bettye Allen, Regina Michael, Jim Bielick, Dan R. Allan, Chris Churchill, Denise Collins, Deacon Miles, Thomas Dexter, Elliot Rys, Philip Dexter, Frances Dexter, Mary Hamel, Pauline Hamel. Dowdell, Norma Esbenshade, Pat Gerakaris, Jeff Hanson, Rance Hood, Gwen Horn, Maryellen & Ray Hoefer, Joe Hoefer, Ann Ketchum, Josh Ketchum, DIOCESAN SUPPORT APPEAL Kimberly Krisan, Matt Loetz, G. Lydia, R. Mas, Peter Mino, Robert Missana, OUTSTANDING DSA PLEDGES DUE BY END OF DECEMBER: $130.00 Deborah Mock, S. Mullen, Michael Naydock, Joseph Orvos, Pat & Suzanne Palmiere, Pat & George Pastore, Mike R., Marie S., Sue Quick, Edward Smathers, WEEKLY OFFERING Austin Strader, Tinley Jane Toner, Kathy Torda, Olivia Triollo, Bella Grace Preservation & Christmas Religious Offertory Improvement Heat Fund Votive Flowers Retirement Yarrington, Bruce Yarrington, David Yarrington, & all in need of prayer. Names will remain on this list for one month unless notified otherwise. $3,436 $728 $40 $56 $61 $55