St. Noel Church -- Weekly Bulletins

Weekly Bulletins

Week of March 10th

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Dear Parishioner,

Welcome to Lent, a season of joy! "What," you might ask, "is so great about Lent that it could bring us joy?" A good question, especially for those of us raised in an era when Lent focused solely on sin and suffering and self-denial. Certainly this is a season in which we are reminded of our need to turn away from sin, to embrace the Cross and to practice self-denial as a means to deeper union with God and with others. But that is only part of the story. Lent is also a time of anticipation, hope and renewed faith in God, who in Jesus has loved us out of slavery into freedom, out of darkness into light, out of death into new life!

There is concrete evidence of this new life in our midst. Our catechumens, Jeff Suszynski and Rob Woolnough, who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil and our candidates for full reception into the Church, Theresa Moir, Brett Ramming and Matt Renfro are primary symbols of the new life God is blessing us with this holy season. They want to be part of us. They see something within us that attracts them, speaks to them of good- ness, faith and love. They know we're not perfect, yet it is our journey, our way of enfleshing Christ as Catholic Christians that they wish to embrace. We should be honored and humbled!

This Sunday, these folks, along with others from throughout our diocese, travel to Cleveland to participate in the Rite of Election and to meet Bishop Pilla as part of their final preparations for the Easter Sacraments. We ask that you keep them in your prayers and lend them your support, as together we embark on our Lenten journey and pray to be formed more fully into the image of Christ. Have a joyful Lent!

Alice Hinkel

A PRAYERFUL TOUR OF ST. NOEL CHURCH -

THE ALTAR

I wash my hands in innocence and join the procession around your altar, singing a hymn of thanksgiving, proclaiming all your wonder. (Ps. 26:6-7)

At the Eucharist, the People of God celebrate the ritual meal that recalls and makes present Christ's life, death, and resurrection, proclaiming "the death of the Lord until he comes (1Cor. 11:26)." Since the Church teaches that the altar is a sign of Christ himself, its composition should reflect the nobility, beauty, strength, and simplicity of the One it represents. In newer churches there is to be only one altar so that it signifies the one Christ and the one Eucharist of the Church. Carved from Indiana limestone by Norbert Koehn, and reflecting the nobility, beauty, strength and simplicity spoken of above, our altar models the directives of the Bishop's guidelines for churches found in Built of Living Stones. "The altar is the natural focal point of the sanctuary and is to be freestanding to allow the priest to walk around it easily and Mass to be celebrated facing the people. Ordinarily, it should be fixed (with the base affixed to the floor) and with a table or mensa made of natural stone, since it represents Christ Jesus, the Living Stone (1Pt.: 2:4)." As the hymn by Dan Schutte implores us, "Let us go to the altar of God, the God of our gladness and joy!"

"Living and true God, may all who eat and drink at this table one day share in the heavenly banquet with all your angels and saints."

INDEPENDENT SPECIAL COMMISSION ON SEXUAL ABUSE - After months of diligent study and discernment, the Independent Special Commission chaired by William M. Denihan has presented its recommendations to Bishop Pilla and they have been accepted. This new policy expands current diocesan requirements for the reporting and investigation of allegations of sexual abuse of minors and calls for an 11 member review board--a majority of whom are lay individuals--to monitor all allegations of abuse against children. A complete description of this new policy is available in the kiosk. In accordance with the directive of Bishop Anthony M. Pilla, the Special Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Cleveland is accepting applications for potential membership on the Review Board. For further information and to obtain an application, please contact your parish rectory, or visit the Special Commission Web site at:www.specialcommission.org. The deadline for applications is March 20, 2003.

Lenten Prayer Booklets by Joseph Creedon, entitled "From Ashes to Alleluia: Daily Gospel Reflections and Prayers," are available in the hall lobby to guide our personal prayer for Lent-one per family. "Together In Christ: The Lenten Edition," is also available to help families prayerfully prepare for Lent.

Lenten Bags - We will once again this Lent be collecting bags of items for Forbes House, the Lake County women's shelter; Project Hope, The Lake County homeless shelter; Birthright; and St. Augustine Hunger Center. Tags indicating the items needed for each agency can be found on the table in the Lobby. Please use a plastic garbage bag for your items, closing it with the yarn and tag provided. If you do not have your own plastic bags, please help yourself to the plastic bags which are also on the table.

ST. NOEL FISH FRIES - Fridays of Lent (not Good Friday), from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed for serving and clean-up. Sign up on the kiosk if you can help. Also, Randy needs volunteers who can help set-up fish fries on Fridays at 1:00 p.m. If you can help please call the hall office and let them know.

THE JAIL MINISTRY - is in need of two German Bibles. If you can help, please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

HEALING MINISTRY - Everyone of us can be the recipient of God's healing touch for all of our emotional, physical and spiritual problems. Come . . . be touched by His love this Wednesday at the 6:45 p.m. evening liturgy. Experience God's healing through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick during Mass. Be comforted and refreshed by Jesus in the Eucharist. Prayer teams will be available to pray with you if you wish.

"LET THERE BE PEACE" - The St. Noel "Let There Be Peace" prayer and reflection group offers the following invitation: if you know of parishioners or have family members who are serving our country in the Armed Services please add their name to the list posted on the kiosk so that all who see it can pray for their safety and quick return. Our, peace prayer and reflection group continues to meet from 1:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. every Sunday afternoon in the nursery. All are welcome.

BEREAVEMENT SERIES - Our Bereavement Ministry invites anyone (participants need not be parishioners) who are coping with the loss of a family member or friend to attend a series of evenings designed to support and assist people in their grieving beginning March 19, 2003. If you would like to attend, please register by calling the parish office at 440-946-0887 by Monday, March 17, 2003. More information and fliers are available in the kiosk.

BAPTISM DAY - will be held on March 30, 2003 from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parents who are planning to present a child for Baptism in the next six months, or already have done so and have not previously attended such a day, are expected to attend. Please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

THE 2003 CATHOLIC CHARITIES ANNUAL APPEAL has begun! Already, you may have received a letter from Bishop Pilla requesting your financial support for the 2003 Annual Appeal. An early pledge to Catholic Charities eliminates a follow-up phone call or mailing later in the year and reduces overall administrative costs. Again this year, your help is needed for programs that benefit the disabled, children, families, elderly, homeless, and working poor of the Diocese. Donations can be made through the mail, by calling 800-869-6525, or securely online at: www.clevelandcatholiccharities.org.

PRESCHOOLERS AND ALL PRESCHOOL PARENTS - Sunday Preschool will resume March 30, 2003 during the 10:00 a.m. Mass.

PRESCHOOL STAFF - Schedules for the remainder of the school year can be picked up in the preschool office. Preschool will resume Sunday, March 30, 2003.

SEEDS OF LITERACY PROJECT - We need to find a tutor to continue "home-schooling" for Daniel, a nine-year old boy with lack of stability in his life. He is a loving child, and is taking well to the extra attention and instruction he is getting from his "home schooling" at St. Augustine Learning Center. His current tutor must leave and we will need someone to continue where his current tutor has left off. It is not necessary to be a teacher and it is possible that two people can do the job if they would like to share the responsibility. The commitment would be for the rest of this school year. To sign up as a tutor or to receive more information, please call our parish office at 440-946-0887. Brochures are available on the kiosk.

SCRIPTURE STUDY - Come to grow in your appreciation of the Mass' ritual--A three-part series about the Mass: Word, Memorial, and Meal, led by Fr. Bob Marrone. We will explore the scriptural and historical basis of the Eucharistic celebration. Join us on Mondays, March 10,17, and 24 in the basement of Willoughby Hills City Hall from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Commentaries will be available at each session (the cost is $5.00 for a commentary).

FINDING FORGIVENESS FILM FEST - Join us for an afternoon of food, fellowship, films and forgiveness as we view clips from a variety of movies including Ordinary People, Shawshank Redemption, I Never Sang For My Father, and many more. We will begin in the small hall on Sunday, March 16 at 1:15 p.m. with a soup and salad lunch. The day will include opportunities for watching film clips, sharing responses, and reflecting on our own experiences of forgiveness. A sign-up sheet is available on the kiosk and a fee-will offering may be made for lunch.

PARISH SEDER MEAL - On Sunday, March 23 at 5:00 p.m. join us for the traditional ritual of the Passover meal led by Rabbi Fred Eisenberg of Temple Israel. You may make your own seder plate or borrow one of ours. Bring the whole family for an evening of tradition, good food, and fellowship. A sign-up sheet is on the kiosk or call Marianne Slattery at 440-946-1128 X 21 to register.

LENTEN LITURGICAL MUSIC: The Lenten season is often seen as a time to simplify. We do this in our meals by fasting and in our daily lives by concentrating on payer instead of the trappings of our busy lifestyles. We also do this in our liturgy through the use of music. For the first five weeks of Lent, the music prayed at the preparation of the gifts will be Gregorian chant as prescribed in the Liber Usualis for that Sunday of the liturgical year. In some cases the chant has been adapted with modern harmonies to make it more palatable to our modern ear. The chant will be sung in its original Latin with the translation provided in the bulletin. Our hope is that this beautiful music dating back to the early years of our Church will heighten our worship experience during our Lenten journey. The translation for this weekend is: With His shoulders, the Lord will overshadow you and under His wings you will trust. God's truth will encompass you.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP - Activities for the month of March are as follows: March 13th - guest speaker, Sister Elizabeth. March 20th - luncheon consisting of Cavatelli, meatballs and sausage, salad and Tiramisu for dessert. Tickets are $6.00 per person. March 27th steal-a-gift, socializing, birthday and anniversary celebrations, we will be serving cookies. Please remember to bring your food donation for the food bank. Everyone is welcome to attend the Senior fellowship on Thursdays.

ROSARY - Join us Tuesday, March 18th from 7:00-7:45 p.m. in the nursery as we pray the rosary. All are welcome to this quiet, reflective time in honor of Mary and her Son, Jesus.

PRIME TIME - Teens! We'll conclude our series tonight with Tim Warneka, LPCC who is a martial artist and adolescent therapist. Learn about our Catholic peacemaking heritage through the principles of the nonviolent martial art of Aikido. Build peace in mind, body and spirit!!

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP - Our next session is this Tuesday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m.

GORDON FOOD SERVICE -Fliers are available in the kiosk - Please support our youth ministry. You can check it out online www.gfsmarketplace.com.

EASTER HAMS - It's not too early to start thinking about purchasing your spiral-sliced ham through PRIME TIME, our awesome high school youth group! These delicious hams are fully cooked and vacuum-sealed to ensure freshness. And at $4.75 per pound (no increase from last year), they're the best value in town!! Last year, over 130 people enjoyed these hams, and we hope to increase that number this year. See the kiosk for details. Call 440-946-6635 (the hall) or 440-946-1128 X 20 (Anthony) to place your order.

NOEL MOVERS - The moving ministry is in need of dressers, beds, and any other furniture items in good condition. Please call Anthony (440-946-1128 X 20) if you can help.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST - Our delicious breakfasts are back!! Join us on Sunday, March 30th from 9:00 a.m. until Noon for a delicious meal of pancakes, sausage, french toast and potatoes. All proceeds benefit PRIME TIME and our summer service trip to Toronto. The price is still the same: Adults - $5.00, Children - $2.00.

THE DIVORCED AND SEPARATED OF LAKE AND GEAUGA COUNTIES - A divorce recovery group will take place on March 18th through May 6, 2003. Tuesday evenings, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at St. Gabriel, Concord. Contact Catholic Charities at 440-352-6191 to register or for more information.

LAKE COUNTY CHURCH NETWORK - is seeking 6-8 volunteers to make home visits to clients for the purpose of interviewing them and discussing the need for assistance. This position requires adults who have 2-3 hours at a time to spend with families or individuals--talking to them, learning about the need, filling out applications for assistance and taking the information to the Church Network office and sharing the information with the director. Interviewers always visit in pairs. No one ever goes alone. Others who have experience will train you. You can make visits during the day or in the evening. CONFIDENTIALITY IS VERY IMPORTANT! If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Alice Hinkel at 440-946-0887.

HEAP - CUYAHOGA COUNTY - Energy assistance, including HEAP, Emergency HEAP and Weatherization assistance, is available to eligible young families as well as seniors, homeowners and renters alike. For example, a family of four with an income no more than $27,150 qualifies. A senior couple with an income no more that $17,910 also qualifies. Call the Community Service department at 216-443-7050. This winter's filing deadline is March 31,2003.

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