Bulletin for the Week of December 14, 2008

Mission Intention for December
That especially in mission countries, Christians may show with acts of fraternal love that the Child born in the stable of Bethlehem is the luminous Hope of the world.

MARRIAGE: We congratulate and offer our prayers for a happy marriage to Dominica Butchino and Anthony Burgess who were married in St. James Church on December 13th.

BLESSING PRAYER BEFORE SENDING CHRISTMAS CARDS:
Blessed are you, Lord, our God and Father!
You have graced our lives
with friends and relatives near and far.
May these Christmas cards arrive at their destinations
as signs of affection, as tokens of peace.
Send your Son to reign in glory among us.
He will lead your people to glad reunion in your holy city,
where we will sing your praise,
for ever and ever. Amen.

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS IDEA: Give a gift that will inspire long after the tree is taken down - a subscription to the North Country Catholic. Just send $25 to the North Country Catholic, PO Box 326, Ogdensburg, NY, 13669 or, for credit card orders, call 315-393-2540. A gift card will be sent in time for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
Confessions
December 20...............1-3:45 PM
December 21...............Before all Masses
Masses
Christmas Eve, December 24
Children Hymns/Mass..............4:00 PM
Mass........................................8:00 PM
Christmas Day, December 25
Mass.......................................10:00 AM

CHRISTMAS HYMNS WITH CHILDREN: Parents of children in Grades 1-5 who will sing Christmas hymns before the 4:00 Mass on Christmas Eve are reminded to pick up their children at St. James Church at 4:00 PM on December 18th.

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS. We are a small community with a median age of nearly 80. During the past year we found it necessary to engage home health aides. . . . The care has been wonderful but the costs staggering. We deeply appreciate your assistance, writes a Michigan prioress for benefits made possible by your donation to the appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Please give generously to this week’s second collection.

CATHOLIC CALENDARS: Calendars for 2009 indicating the special holy days and saints of the Catholic Church are available for your home or workplace. This year they are on the theme of Christian stewardship.

EXTEND AN INVITATION: Advent is a time of hope. Someone is hopeful in becoming Catholic – waiting for an invitation. A Catholic who has fallen away from practicing the faith is hopeful someone will extend a welcome to “Come Home.” Is God calling you to reach out to the hopeful? Remember, all are welcome in Christ. An informative web site for a seeking or returning person is www.OnceCatholic.org.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: We can actually come and adore Him like the shepherds; we can prostrate ourselves before Him like the Magi. (St. Peter Julian Eymard). Eucharistic Adoration is held throughout the year every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 am to 9 pm at St. John’s Church Adoration Chapel, downstairs. Everyone is invited to spend some quiet time with Jesus anytime during these hours. For more information about spending a special hour with Jesus weekly, or becoming a substitute, please call 561-5083 or email us at Sjohnsadoration@aol.com

MARRIAGE TIP: They say it takes a village to raise a child...but the truth is that it takes a lot of solid, stable marriages to create a village. Find more Marriage Rx at: www.foryourmarriage.org

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS COLLECTION: At the entrance of the church are envelopes for donations for Christmas flowers and decorations. Place the envelopes with your contribution in the collection basket.

GIVING TREE: Thanks to everyone for your generous response to the 2008 Giving Tree!
2009 SUNDAY OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your box of 2009 Sunday offering envelopes placed in the entryway to the church. If you do not find a box of envelopes for your family, it means that either you have not registered with the parish, or you had in the past not picked up the box of envelopes issued in your name. If you would like a box of envelopes, simply pick up a box and place your name and address on the first envelope. As always, thank you for your generosity that allows our parish to continue its mission.