Page 2 December 8, 2013 How to Embrace God’s Forgiveness by Joyce Meyer what they are—feelings. If you really know God's Word, no matter how you feel, you can speak scriptures over your life and pretty soon your feelings have lost their authority. For instance, 1 John 1:9 says that if Do you serve God or your feelings? we repent and confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us. You need to Now, that may sound like an odd take hold of that. question for a believer, but really, it The next time you ask God to forgive isn't. Let me put it this way... When you and then feel guilty afterward, you ask God to forgive you, do you open your mouth and say, "God accept His forgiveness right away or forgave me." Quote 1 John 1:9 or use do you waste time feeling guilty? another scripture but say it out loud. So many Christians struggle with guilt There is power in the tongue! and condemnation. They're trying to pay God back for what they did Praying and declaring Scripture out wrong when Jesus already made it loud not only helps to renew your right. mind, it helps you stand firm, and it certainly puts the devil in his place. God's unconditional love is a very difficult concept for people to accept The devil will try to make us feel because, in the world, there's always guilty even when we didn't do payment for everything we receive. anything wrong. So we need to It's just how things work here. But confess our sins until everything is God is not like people! out in the open and told, and then get dressed in our spiritual armor so Aren't you glad about that? we can firmly stand our ground. We need to learn that whether or not we feel forgiven, we're forgiven. Love Conquers Condemnation The Power of Confession Feelings of guilt and condemnation are a huge problem in the Church, but I want you to understand that’s Second Sunday of Advent perform. We just want to be accepted and loved. And God offers that to every single one of us. None of us can earn God's love. But in order to receive God's love we need to first believe that He loves us. We can all have the future God has planned for us if we choose to go after it—if we choose to grow and develop a deep relationship with God. Yes, it's painful to grow. It's not easy to say no to yourself and yes to God. But every time you deny your flesh, it gets a little weaker and you get the victory. People who are really strong, serious Christians are going after the meat of the Word. They listen to teachings on Say, "If anybody can have God's love, pride. They want to be humble, I'm going to have it. If anybody can patient and victorious in Christ, and be free, I'm going to be free. If they train themselves to learn right anybody can be happy, I'm going to from wrong. be happy. If anyone can have peace, it's going to be me. If anybody can be I'm here to tell you that if you know used by God, I can be used by God. If who you are in Christ and you choose anyone can get over their broken to grow, you will have a lot less past, I will." trouble fighting guilt and condemnation. As a matter of fact, Don't give in to your emotions— you will love God and the people He minister to them. Manage them. uses to correct you because they're Remember that every day you're in helping you change and grow. Christ, you're a new person. I don't want you to wake up every Choosing A Season of Growth day and just live your life based on Another area Christians struggle with how you feel. I want you to know that God loves you no matter what is believing God has great plans for their life. Don't trust your feelings on and that you don't have to let feelings dictate the course of your that either. Trust God's Word. life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the I believe you will see a transition if thoughts and plans that I have for you pray and ask God, "Do what you you, says the Lord, thoughts and When it comes right down to it, we want to do in my life. I'm Yours." plans for welfare and peace and not just want to be loved unconditionally I dare you. for evil, to give you hope in your final and accepted for who we are. We Copyright © 2013 Joyce Meyer Ministries outcome. don't want to have to pretend or The Doctrine of The Immaculate Conception It’s important to understand what the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is and what it is not. Some people think the term refers to Christ’s conception in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a human father; but that is the Virgin Birth. Others think the Immaculate Conception means Mary was conceived "by the power of the Holy Spirit," in the way Jesus was, but that, too, is incorrect. The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin or its stain—that’s what "immaculate" means: without stain. The essence of original sin consists in the deprivation of sanctifying grace, and its stain is a corrupt nature. Mary was preserved from these defects by God’s grace; from the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings. When discussing the Immaculate Conception, an implicit reference may be found in the angel’s greeting to Mary. The angel Gabriel said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28). The phrase "full of grace" is a translation of the Greek word kecharitomene. It therefore expresses a characteristic quality of Mary. If you have trouble believing God in this area, don't just put up with it and wish that you felt better. Study the love of God. Read books about it. Listen to teachings on love. Start talking about it. The traditional translation, "full of grace," is better than the one found in many recent versions of the New Testament, which give something along the lines of "highly favored daughter." Mary was indeed a highly favored daughter of God, but the Greek implies more than that (and it never mentions the word for "daughter"). The grace given to Mary is at once permanent and of a unique kind. Kecharitomene is a perfect passive participle of charitoo, meaning "to fill or endow with grace." Since this term is in the perfect tense, it indicates that Mary was graced in the past but with continuing effects in the present. So, the grace Mary enjoyed was not a result of the angel’s visit. In fact, Catholics hold, it extended over the whole of her life, from conception onward. She was in a state of sanctifying grace from the first moment of her existence. country. However, this year, December 8th falls on a Sunday and the celebration of the Advent Sunday takes precedent over any other feast, including the Immaculate Conception. Since Sunday displaces the Feast, the Feast is transferred to the next available day—in this case Monday the 9th. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception When the celebration of the feast moves, the obligation does not move. Therefore, the Church observes the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Monday December 9th but it is not an obligatory holyday. Normally, on December 8th the Church observes the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a Holy Day of Obligation. This feast is observed as an obligation even when it falls on a Saturday or a Monday since it is the patronal feast of our Mass for the Transferred Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in our parish will be on Monday, December 9th at 7 a.m. at Holy Saviour. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue throughout the day with Benediction at 6:30 p.m. December 8, 2013 Second Sunday of Advent We are not “school” WE ARE CHURCH!!!! Dinner Breakfast with Santa [email protected] Elementary Religious Education (ccd) If your child, grandchild, niece and nephew child, neighborhood child is not “being Church” with us yet, IT”S NEVER TOO LATE! Just show up next weekend and stay the year! All are welcomed in this place! Page 3 Saturday, December 14th @ 5 p.m. Msgr. Curran Hall @ Holy Saviour Sit on Santa’s Lap and have your picture taken! Visit Santa’s Workshop and pick out a gift for Mom and Dad, Grandma or Grandpa, or that other special person in your life! Enjoy Breakfast at suppertime! (Yum Yum!) $5.00 per person includes food and picture with Santa. Children under 5 are Santa’s special guests. During the CHRISTMAS EVE MASS AT 4:00 p.m., our teens and children will create a living Nativity scene as the Gospel is proclaimed. Please let us know that YOUR child will be part of this Christmas Eve celebration at Holy Saviour. Dec 8 –outreach: cleaning the cemetery, then pizza out Dec 14—Santa Helpers at “Breakfast” after 4 pm Mass Dec 20—Friday 4:30 CHRISTMAS CAROLING LIKE NEVER BEFORE and Dec 24, the Living Nativity at Christmas Eve 4 pm Mass at Holy Saviour Sofia/Sports Car Raffle Buy a raffle ticket for a Sofia the First Doll or a Radio Controlled Stunt Car. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00 and are available in the Vestibule. Drawing will be December 14th at the Dinner Breakfast with Santa. Santa’s workshop is not covered by the admission price. Happenings! THERE ARE STILL A FEW ORNAMENTS ON OUR GIVING TREES! Help a family in need this holiday season. During this season, we invite everyone to help “un-decorate” the Giving Tree. Our Social Justice Committee Members have prepared gift tags with a variety of requests which should fit into everyone’s budget. For easy distribution, the tags are numbered and color coded. Therefore it is important that you securely attach the tag to the wrapped gift before returning it under the tree. GIFTS MUST BE PLACED UNDER THE GIVING TREES NO LATER THAN NEXT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15TH. If you have any questions, please call Anna at 570-822-1926. Thank You. TICKETS on SALE in the vestibule or by contacting the Parish Office (570-823-4988) LOAVES AND FISHES Food for December is: Canned Fruit The Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus (with special guests) Presents MARY HAD A BABY at St. Nicholas Church 226 S. Washington St. Wilkes-Barre, PA Sunday December 15, 2013 4:00 p.m. Admission: $5.00 For Advance Tickets contact Jim Morpeth (570-822-9756) or Brian Clark (570-8253233) TOYS, and SCARVES, HATS AND GLOVES can be dropped in the boxes provided. We ask that you do not wrap these, as they will be given to Catholic Social Services for distribution. As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated! The Young at Heart Club will hold their Christmas Party on December 11th at Andy’s Restaurant beginning at 3 p.m. The Menu for the event is a tossed salad, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Almandine, Roast Beef and Italian Chicken. Tickets are $16.00 pp. Reservations can be made by calling Val Snitko at 570-824-6762. Deadline is TODAY! December 8, 2013 Page 4 Income to the General Fund December 1, 2013 Financial Pages Promoting Fiscal Responsibility in our Parish and in our world Loose Expenses from the General Fund December 2-6, 2013 327.60 Candles There is a reason that John the Baptist appears in our Gospel reading for this Second Sunday in Advent calling out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We might conclude, and not entirely in error, that the reference point is the imminent birth of Christ, the ultimate conclusion of Advent. However, the meaning of this is much deeper and broader, something which needs to strike a chord in our hearts and in our lives of stewardship. Second Sunday of Advent Sunday Offering 9.00 Parish Assessment 6,304.51 School Assessment EASTER CHRISTMAS 95.00 Christmas Flowers Immaculate Conception 5.00 595.00 26.00 1,917.00 Easter Flowers Often we make reference to the fact that stewardship requires conversion. There are actually two accepted translations of μετανοέω/metanoeō, the original Greek word construed as “repent” which begins John the Baptist’s admonition. One is “repent” which is always good advice to us. The other is “change.” Last week Jesus told us to wake up. This week John the Baptist is telling us to change. Advent is the time for us to come alive, but it is not just an occasion for action. It should also motivate us to alter the way we approach living — to seek ways to live out stewardship in service, in love, and in gratitude. But, yes, it is a time to be penitent as well. It is a time to repent in the original sense of that word. St. John Chrysostom wrote eloquently on how to repent. He gave us five paths (terms) to lead us to repent: 1. Confession; 2. Forgiveness; 3. Prayer; 4. Almsgiving; 5. Humility. That is good advice for Advent. CHRISTMAS EVE 4 PM MASS LIVING NATIVITY All parish children and teens are welcomed to participate in the Living Nativity during the proclamation of the Gospel. Our Rel Ed Elementary and Youth Group have begun rehearsals. Please join us each Sunday at 9:15 AM in Msgr Curran Hall on December 8, 15 and 22. The dress rehearsal is Saturday, December 21 from 10:00 AM until Noon. All children participating will be given costumes provided by our seamstress Pat Zurewich. We have a part for everyone! You, too, can be a shepherd, shepherdess, angel, king, singer and “other!” Sister Madonna Diocesan Annual Appeal Our Parish Goal is $33,750.00. To date $27,853.00 has been pledged. This places us at 83 % of our parish goal. We are only $5,897.00 away from our goal! Debt Reduction 65.00 Diocesan and National Collections Clergy Residence Liturgy 288.36 1,614.52 Religious Education Operation & Maintenance 2,760.71 National and Diocesan Collections Care of Priests 1,237.75 Rel Ed Elementary Religious Education TOTAL SUNDAY COLLECTION Loan Principal Payment Social Justice Initial Offering Dues 6,822.97 Loan Interest Payment Ascension All Saints Administration $9,344.11 City Taxes SH TOTAL EXPENSES THIS WEEK 600.00 6,574.10 $19,898.41 992.75 General Fund Recapitulation Military Collection Rel. Ed Elementary Rental of Properties General Fund Previous Balance (11/29/13) Transfer from Fund Raising + Income this week +10,336.86 Perquisites - Expenses this week -19,898.41 TOTAL INCOME TO THE GENERAL FUND THIS WEEK $10,336.86 Balance Forward (12/6/13) $35,669.05 $26,107.50 AGNUS DAY by Pastor James Wetzstein Your Gift to God December 1, 2013 Above $100.00 4 $100.00 4 $76-99 3 $75 0 $51-74 4 $50 0 $26-49 24 $25 21 $21-24 1 $20 51 $16-19 0 $15 19 $11-14 4 $10 108 $6-9 12 $5 90 Below $5 39 Total Envelopes Used 384 141 gave $20 or more to support their parish 149 gave between $10 and $19 to support their parish 160 gave less than $10 to support their parish COPING WITH CHANGE Helpful advice as we move forward as parish Coping with Loss by Dr. Richard Tedeschi The next meeting for the Parish Liturgy Committee will be on TUESDAY, December 5th at 6 p.m. in the POMR. Date and Time change from normal schedule due to Thanksgiving & inclement weather. Hope to see all members there! The Parish Social Justice Committee will meet on December 12 at 6 p.m. in the parish office The Parish Pastoral Council The next meeting of the Pastoral council will be December 19, 2013 at 6 p.m. in the Parish Office Lower Meeting Room. The next meeting of the Parish Finance Council will be on Thursday, January 16th. The Parish Cemetery Committee is reforming. We ask interested parishioners to call the parish office so that we can schedule a time for the meeting. So far only one parishioner has shown an interest in the parish cemeteries. Votive Offerings St. Stanislaus Worship Site In memory of Offered by Victoria & Paul Piwawarczyk Daughter, Mary Ann Bread & Wine Sanctuary Lamp Holy Saviour Worship Site Bread & Wine Sanctuary Lamp Q: You've been suggesting ways to cope with grief. Are there ways of coping that may be unhealthy? A: Some of the things that would be unhealthy would be turning to alcohol or drugs to buffer the pain of this. There are a lot of similar avoidance maneuvers that people can engage in — such as overeating or anything with an addictive nature to it that people can turn to just because they get some temporary relief from the pain of things. Some people may start to think things like, 'I wish I were dead and I would be reunited with my loved one in heaven.' This is not particularly unusual in grieving people, but if they are taking that very seriously, then I would become concerned. Those are the kinds of things that are unhealthy in grieving, though I'm very reluctant to label things in general as unhealthy because people in grief experience so many things that feel odd and unusual. For the vast majority of people that I've seen who are bereaved, all these odd and unusual things, things that look odd and unusual from the outside, things that may even feel odd and unusual to themselves, all these things end up being helpful for most people. People have all kinds of thoughts about the death after it has occurred that some of us might think are kind of strange. This [the death of a loved one] just brings out in most normal people all sorts of unusual considerations and thoughts and reactions, and I hesitate to think of any of them as pathological in any way. Q: What steps can someone take toward resuming a normal life after loss? A: I think it's very important to recognize that it's a part of living that all of us are going to have to be involved with. It's very important to be able to talk about it and not to avoid people who are in grief. But again [for the person who's grieving], it's important [that those around them] take the lead, take the signal from the person in grief about what they need. And maybe there will be times that they won't want to talk about it, so you shouldn't push yourself on them. Being open means being ready when they're ready and not avoiding them or being nervous about being around them. There are a lot of books written about grief, so that's a good resource for people, and also to talk to other people who are in similar circumstances. That kind of support can be helpful so they can learn that what they're thinking and feeling is not so unusual, and they don't have to be worried on top of their grief — worried about their own reactions and if they're OK. And of course, if they don't have a good listener, someone who is open and supportive to them, then they may need to find some professional or organization that can help them and act as those listeners and supports. Most communities have bereavement services of some sort, and they should not hesitate to seek them out. It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what sort of heartbreak is happening. -Sue Monk Kidd Advent: An Adventure of the Spirit by Bruce G. Epperly Advent season invites us to take adventures of the spirit. An adventure of the spirit, as Whitehead notes, is not for the faint-hearted or those who seek a safe path. Spiritual adventures are for those who are willing to leave their personal, relational, and congregational comfort zones to explore God’s pathways of possibility in our time. It is for those who seek new horizons of faith and spiritual transformation. Isaiah presents a breathtaking vision of Shalom that will change everything in our lives. The corporate and governmental world must relinquish violence and competition. Swords are beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. God’s way of justice must take root in our daily face to face and distant political and economic relationships. The non-human world will reflect God’s dream of harmony: enemies will become companions and predator and prey will lie down together. History is being judged, albeit through the eyes of love, in relationship to God’s vision of Shalom and Wholeness. Isaiah imagines a spiritual leader or spiritual community that will be a precursor to this new age. This individual and corporate embodiment of the new age will call the world to wholeness, and like an ancient shaman join the human and non-human world in harmony. The new community will reflect the reality that God addresses non-human and human alike: the nonhuman world stands on its own as beloved by God and has its own unique mission in God’s realm of Shalom. The whole planet is called to align itself with Shalom and live out of God’s abundant blessings. Christian teachers imagined that Isaiah’s vision of spiritual leadership found its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth the Christ. They saw Christ as embodying Isaiah’s dream through healing, hospitality, and personal transformation. Christ’s evolving realm came to include all persons, the nonhuman world, and all creation in a circle of healing and creative transformation. What happened in Bethlehem and then in Galilee shaped human and world history alike. The Psalmist celebrates a truly Godembracing ruler. Guiding by God’s vision of Shalom, the ruler seeks justice and provides sustenance for the vulnerable and marginalized. Justiceseeking in human communities furthers well-being in the non-human world. In the fabric of relatedness, the human and non-human worlds are connected, and there is no break between humankind and nature. Our greed, consumerism, and violence leave scars in our most vulnerable human companions and create desolation in the ecosystem. God hears the cries of the suffering whether they come from little children, grieving parents, or dying species. Our hope, the Psalmist believes, in his justice-seeking communities, guided by leaders who walk the pathways of Shalom. The gospel introduces John the Baptist, that fire-brand, no nonsense preacher and way-shower. John’s words are harsh and direct, challenging us to let go of everything that stands in the way of embodying Shalom in our lives and communities. John brings a pruning hook to cut away all the unnecessary debris of life so that God’s light might shine in. God is near and we must be prepared, or the realm of God may pass us by. Jesus once described his relationship to his followers as being like a vine and branches; fully connected to Christ, we bear much fruit. But, disconnected we wither and die. John’s pruning opens us to the energetic and enlightening power of God’s love. Repentance opens us to more than we ask for or imagine in relationship to God. Repentance invites us to practice a spiritual, relational, and economic simplicity so that we can experience God’s moment by moment call in our lives. The divine aim is so easily drowned out by the consumerism of our culture, our own self-centeredness, and our temptation to substitute things for love. Awareness of God’s aim emerges from practicing spiritual simplicity, moving from the subliminal to the forefront of our experience, when we pause long enough to listen, prune out the inessential, and commit ourselves to exercising our creativity in response to God’s call. In the Romans reading, the apostle Paul invites us to leave our ethnic and social comfort zones to embrace strangers. God’s realm includes persons of all races, and the pathway of Jesus and the words of Isaiah counsel a truly joyful realm of diversity. Welcoming diversity is not a chore, but a joy, awakening new possibilities for growth and creativity. The ministry to the Gentiles, to ethnic others, fulfills Isaiah’s prophetic dream. Harmony among peoples and harmony in creation mirror one another. The dynamic unity-in-diversity that stands as the mission of the Christian movement is part of God’s dream of a new heaven and a new earth. Following Jesus’ pathway is always countercultural. It goes against common social and governmental wisdom, it counsels simplicity and purity of heart, and it takes us beyond enmity. In its simplicity, there is joy beyond measure. During the busyness of December, today’s readings challenge us to step back a bit, and to take stock of what’s truly important in our lives and in our institutions. The process may be painful at first and challenge us to turn our lives around, especially when we let go of familiar habits and comforts, but in the quest for spiritual simplicity, we will discover a deeper wisdom that gives a glow to every day and wonder to every encounter. Process & Faith is a program of the Center for Process Studies, an affiliated program of the Claremont School of Theology. ©2012 Process & Faith The Second Week of Advent December 9-15, 2013 Day and Date Time Intention Offered by Monday December 9 7a.m. HS Anna D. Kane Joseph Caffay Sr, Immaculate Conception (transferred) Tuesday, December 10 8 a.m. SS Anthony Rasimas Mr. & Mrs. Charles Kasko Advent Weekday 8 a.m. SS Donald Polacheck North End Slovak Citizen Club Sunday Golf Group Wednesday, December 11 7a.m. HS 5:30 p.m. Choir SS 3 p.m. Young @ Heart Christmas Party at Andy’s Restaurant No Morning Mass Scheduled Advent Weekday 8 a.m. SS Catherine Broderick John Hilla and Theresa Poplasky Thursday, December 12 7a.m. HS Mary Ungvarsky Stella Banas and Jeanette Our Lady of Guadalupe 8 a.m. SS John Shurmanek Anna Hudock Friday, December 13 7 a.m. HS Marguerite Yencha Mr. & Mrs. Bernie Adamczyk & Family 8 a.m. SS Mary Kozick Grandchildren Saturday, December 14 Non-Obligatory Solemnity 7:30 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration HS 6:30 p.m. Benediction No Morning Mass Scheduled 7 a.m. HS St. Lucy Events of the Week Our Lady of Guadalupe 6 p.m. Social Justice Triskaidekaphobia Day 9 a.m. Admin Staff Mtg. 7 a.m. HS No Morning Mass Scheduled 3 p.m. Confessions 4:30 p.m. Confessions 8 a.m. SS No Morning Mass Scheduled 5 p.m. Dinner Breakfast with Santa MCH St. John of the Cross Third Sunday of Advent Vigil 4 p.m. HS Vigil Kathryn Ostrowski Anita 5:30 p.m. SS Amy Lynn Owca Owca Family Sunday 8:30 a.m. SS Frank Slusarz Daughter, Fran Sunday 10:30 a.m. HS Parishioners Pastor 9 a.m. Religious Education Program MCH @ HS Collect Parish Giving Tree Gifts 11:30 Sort Giving Tree Gifts HS Liturgical Ministries December 14-15 Third Sunday in Advent Servers Lectors Extraordinary Ministers of Communion 4 p.m. HS M. Boris J. Boris A. Bergold J. Bergold M. Sweeney 5:30 p.m. SS E. Ulichney J. Bednarz E. Slade 8:30 a.m. SS N. Kreidler A. Katsock A. J. Kondracki 10:30 a.m. HS Sr. Tina J. Rushton J. Connell C. Krupsha J. Zoccola
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