Week of November 30, 2003

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Dear Parishioner,

It is with much gratitude that we share with you the names of those parishioners who have made a commitment to be a part of our fourth Social Concerns Commission. After a four week period of prayer, reflection and discussion the following people will comprise the commission for the next two years.

Chris Bartolotta
John Murphy
Pat Brewer
Jerry Ann Osenar
Joe Daprano
Barbara Painter
Rose Fini
Tom Repko
Bruce Fraley
Bob Sterbank
Karen Farley
Mary Stokes
Ada Gornik
Peg Walsh
Alice Hinkel

The works of charity, peace and justice are integral to the Gospel, not optional, and so they are the responsibility of us all. It is the commission's role to lead and guide us in this area and provide opportunities for us to serve. Please keep this group in your prayers as they discern ways for us to faithfully live out our mission as a community of faith. If you have concerns or ideas that you would like the commission to pursue in the areas of peace and justice please feel free to contact anyone of the new members.

We also want to thank the outgoing commission for their efforts in establishing our Health Care Task Force, our Jail Ministry and our “Let There Be Peace” prayer and reflection group. The past commission also provided several programs on parenting and worked to help educate us about Catholic Social Teaching.

Fr. George Smiga

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, SACRISTANS, SERVERS, AND LECTORS – A sign-up sheet for The Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Monday, December 8) is on the bulletin board by the kitchenette. Please sign up if you can help.

VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED – We are looking for help in the office on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. If you might be interested, please call Carole Lester (440-946-0887) for further details. Thank you.

AT HOME WITH THE WORD – ADVENT PRAYER BOOK – Advent is here and with it the beginning of a new liturgical year. Three items are now available in the narthex, Rejoice in the Lord Always , by Fr. John T. Catoir – Advent Meditations on Joy. At Home With The Word contains the liturgical readings with commentary for the weekend liturgies and also the readings of the day for next year. The Word Among US contains daily meditations for Advent. We invite each family to please pick up one each.

SACRISTANS – HELP!!! We are in need of sacristans for the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Please call the parish office at 440-946-0887 if you can help, or for answers to any questions you may have.

CONGRATULATIONS – James Jarkewicz who received honors at Howe Military School in Indiana for the first quarter of the 2003/2004 school year.

SOCIAL JUSTICE GEMS – “We cannot be called truly ‘Catholic' unless we hear and heed the Church's call to serve those in need and work for justice and peace. We cannot call ourselves followers of Jesus unless we take up His mission of bringing ‘good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and new sight to the blind”' (U.S. Catholic Bishops, Communities of Salt and Light).

ADVENT PREPARATION MUSIC – During the season of Advent, the music heard at the preparation of the gifts will be compositions borrowed from the Jewish tradition. As Christians, Advent is an especially appropriate time to celebrate our Jewish ancestry and express our unity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in our belief in God the Father. The music this weekend is a setting of a prayer of dedication which is found throughout the Jewish holy day and Sabbath service. It typically falls after a period of silent devotion or before a congregationally recited prayer. The text, first sung in Hebrew then in English is “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my redeemer.”

MEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST – Men of all ages are encouraged to attend this monthly event. The Prayer Breakfast is held here at St. Noel on the first Saturday of each month (September-May), from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. It is a morning filled with F ellowship, F aith sharing, F un and F ood. Why not start the month out right? Join us on December 6 to be refreshed and renewed in body, mind and spirit.

THE ST. NOEL WEB SITE - ( www.stnoel.org ) has been up and running for two years. Many volunteers helped with the original design and implementation. We are pleased with the growth of the web site and the many positive comments we have received over the past two years. As we approach our anniversary we are interested in making the stnoel.org as informative and easy to use for all parishioners; so we need your help! We are looking for volunteers that have web site skills that are willing to keep the St. Noel web site up to date and would be able to maintain the site on a consistent basis. Currently we have a core team of 3 people that have been serving over the past two years to maintain the site and a group of 3 or 4 individuals that provide valuable content and pictures for the web site. If you are interested in this new and exciting ministry, please contact the parish office at 440-946-0887 and we will schedule a meeting with those that are interested.

MORE DAYTIME RETREATS … Our first “daytime retreat” was a great success and enriching opportunity for those who attended. Please consider joining us on Wednesday, December 3 as we prepare a place for Jesus in our hearts and lives during this busy time of the year. The day will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the small hall, include lunch and end at 2:00 p.m. Fran Armbruster will facilitate this Advent Journey and a suggested donation of $5.00 will help cover the cost of lunch. Please sign up on the kiosk if you plan to attend. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

HELP PLANT THE SEEDS OF LITERACY – You can tutor a child who needs assistance with schoolwork or help an adult to earn his or her GED. Volunteers from St. Noel are needed again this year to tutor children and adults at St. Augustine Church's Learning Center in Cleveland. The Learning Center project is part of the on-going partnership between St. Noel and St. Augustine parishes. Training is available if needed, and materials for teaching are on hand. There are morning sessions; however, at this time the need is greater for early evening. Thirteen children are waiting to be helped. If interested, call our parish office, or dial directly to Bob Duda, project leader at St. Augustine. His phone number is 216-781-5330 X 29.

“JOURNEY TO JOY” – a support group for persons being treated for depression and/or family members will be meeting the 1 st and 3 rd Saturday mornings of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the Visitation Room and the 2 nd and 4 th Thursday evenings of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Visitation Room. ( Our next meeting will be Saturday morning, December 6 at 9:00 a.m. For further information call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – meets every Thursday at noon in the hall. Everyone is welcome to attend.

PRIME TIME – Great job!! Don't miss tonight – see you at 7:30pm. All 9-12 grade students are welcome!

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – Our next session is this Tuesday, December 2 nd in the large hall. We start at 7:00pm – Bring your bible.

CLEVELAND FOODBANK – We're volunteering on Monday, December 1 st . Please call Anthony if you're interested in serving. We leave the Church at 5:30pm.

NOEL MOVERS – We are in need of all size mattresses and box springs. Please call Anthony if you can help.

CHRISTMAS PROJECT – We are in need of sponsor families. Please call Anthony to learn more about sponsoring a family or to volunteer to help with the project. Also, you can bring in your turkey donations anytime. The project donates a turkey to every family so we need a lot of birds! PRIME TIME will be collecting money this weekend and next weekend after all Masses. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

CDEM – for engaged couples is Thursday, December 4 th at 7:00pm in the Conference Room

CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES – Our first session for older children will be December 10 th at 7:00pm. Please be on time.

ENTERTAINMENT 2004 BOOKS : are available in the church office. Cost of the book is $25.00 until December 1st, after that date cost will be $30. All proceeds benefit mentally handicapped children. Also, Lake Catholic High School students are selling Entertainment Books 2004. The cost is $25.00 per book until December 1st. After that date the cost is $30.00. For more information please call Lake Catholic at 440-951-0077.

THE LAKE GEAUGA DISTRICT PRESENTS - “Wholeness begets Holiness”, an evening of reflection, reconciliation, and healing for those who are separated or divorced. Join Deacon Tom Senn for this spiritual experience of sharing, support, healing, and reconciliation on Thursday, December 4 th from 7-9:00 p.m. at St. Anselm Church, 12969 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland. To register or for further information, please call Karen Jubeck at 440-352-8282.

THE NEXT BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND – (this is a weekend for divorced, separated and widowed men and women of all ages) will be held on February 13,14 & 15 at St. Joseph Christian Life Center in Cleveland, Ohio Call 440-546-9192 or 330-607-1512 for information.

CHRISTMAS IN CHARDON – Craft fair and bake sale will be held Saturday, December 6 at St. Mary School , 401 North Street , Chardon. Show features 100 vendors, and instant raffle, bakery table, and delicious homemade lunches and desserts.

Ursuline College – On Monday, December 8, the Graduate Program in Ministry at Ursuline College will sponsor a colloquium on “Becoming a Pastoral Care Specialist.” The event will be held on the Ursuline College campus from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Mary Beaumont Dining Room. Carol Ann Killoran, D.Min., SSJ-TOSF, LPCC will lead this practical workshop on “Becoming a Pastoral Care Specialist.” This event is open to the public. The cost of this dinner program is $8. For more information or registration please contact JoAnn Grillo at 440-646-8195 or

jgrillo@ursuline.edu.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR CHRIST, INC. – is a nonprofit organization supplying worldwide Christian Medical Missionaries. We are in great need of medical supplies, including respiratory and diabetic items, hearing aides, home health care provisions, and all medical items. We also accept Depends, Ensure type products, vitamins and minerals, Slimfast products and protein powder drink mixes. Won't you please join us to reach out and help the least of God's people? If you would like additional information, or to have your items picked up, please call 440-975-9028.

OPENING OUR HEARTS TO THE LIGHT – An Advent Day of Reflection, directed by Wayne Simsic on Sunday, December 7, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cost is $40.00 and includes lunch. Also there is an overnight Advent retreat called THE SPIRITUALITY OF WAITING taking place on Friday, December 12, 7:00 p.m. through Saturday December 13, 7:00 p.m. This retreat will be directed by Sr. Jeannette Kearns, OSU and Pat Kassay. The cost is $70.00 including accommodations and meals. Please call the St. Joseph Christian Life Center for more information or to make reservations at 216-531-7370 ext. 0.

TAIZE PRAYER – will be held Thursday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalene Church, 460 East 321, Willowick. For more information please call 440-943-2133. All are welcome.

ST. NOEL PARISH HALL PRESENTS A HOLIDAY SHOW- featuring Shout & “Legends of Soul” Show Band. It's your last chance this year to hear this amazing band. They will be performing here on Saturday, December 13, from 8:00 until midnight. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. We will be serving assorted gourmet pizzas, a vegetable and cheese display followed by a make-your-own-ice-cream sundae bar. A cash bar will be available. This event would be a great idea for your holiday office party. Tickets are $20.00 per person, and can be purchased by calling the hall office at 440-946-6635.

CATHOLIC UPDATE – entitled “Finding The Heart of Jesus' Life: Looking At Jesus In The Gospels,” by Kenneth R. Overberg, S.J., is now available in the kiosk.

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