Week of December 13-14, 2003

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Dear Parishioner,

There are two year-end announcements I wish to share with you today. The first is that the yearly holiday concert by our music ministry will be taking place on the Feast of the Epiphany which is Sunday, January 4 at 3:00 p.m. Last year we were worshipping in our parish hall and the concert was held at Divine Word Church.

At that time many people commented on how rich the ministry sounded because of the acoustics of Divine Word Church. This year we will be able to use our renovated church for the first time. Since our church has a hard surface floor instead of carpeting we expect the acoustics to be much more resonant than ever before. I encourage you to come on the 4 th and hear for yourself. The talent and dedication of our music ministry is an immense gift to our parish. Under the direction of Marc Weagraff they work for months in preparation for the music you will hear at Christmas. The Epiphany Concert provides us an opportunity to hear again what they have worked so hard to accomplish and to also hear Christmas pieces of a more secular nature. Please consider bringing your family and friends to close the Christmas season with a joyful sound.

The second announcement is that the Annual Report for our parish will be mailed out this week to all parishioners. This report lists the sacramental celebrations which have taken place during the last year and provides a directory of our staff and all ministries and financial report for the parish. This has been a very critical year for us financially because of the 2.6 million dollar building construction which has just been completed. I ask you to review closely the financial report and especially the explanation of several maintenance items which it was necessary to address during the last year.

I deeply appreciate your generosity which allows our community to serve its mission. That generosity deserves a full disclosure of our financial situation and this report provides it. I encourage you to examine it. Members of our Finance Committee and myself would welcome any questions you might have.

Fr. George Smiga

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, LECTORS AND SACRISTANS - are invited to sign up for liturgies on Christmas Eve (4:30 p.m.; 6:30 p.m. and Midnight); and Christmas Day (9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.); and New Year's Day (10:00 a.m.) Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board by the kitchenette.

COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE will be on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m.

2004 CALENDARS – We have a limited number of calendars in the parish office from DeJohn Funeral Home. They are free. Please come to the parish office to pick one up.

CORRECTION TO THE DECEMBER CALENDAR - There will not be a Mass on Wednesday, December 31st .

BULLETIN ARTICLES for the weekends of December 20 & 21, December 27 & 28 and January 3 & 4 need to be in the office by Tuesday, December 16.

BABY JESUS & ANGEL-LOST? If you purchased a nativity set at the Buy-Once-Give-Twice boutique last month from the COAR table and are missing the baby Jesus and an angel,please see Alice in the parish office. They have been found!

ST. AUGUSTINE CALENDARS will be on sale for $25.00 in the narthex this weekend after all the Masses. For more information, please call Jim Klements at 440-442-2744. Also, anyone who would like a calendar for Christmas can get them in the church office.

SOCIAL JUSTICE GEMS – “In these challenging days, we believe that the Catholic community needs to be more than ever a source of clear moral vision and effective action. We are called to be the ‘salt of the earth' and ‘light of the world' in the words of Scriptures (cf. Mt 5:13-16). This task belongs to every believer and every parish. It cannot be assigned to a few or simply delegated to diocesan or national structures. The pursuit of justice and peace is an essential part of what makes a parish Catholic” (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. This week we will be singing a choral setting of the prayer heard on the first weekend of Advent. This is a prayer of personal dedication used throughout Jewish services. The text 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.”

ANNUAL PARISH ADVENT CELEBRATION – Join us today, Sunday, December 14 after the 11:00 Mass (about 12:15). Bring a friend or the whole family to the large hall as we make “Rainbow Bean Soup!” We will layer the dry ingredients in holiday jars and include a jar in each of the Christmas Project food boxes. If you want to make a jar for your family, bring a quart jar and lid along! What a great way to warm someone's Christmas! Refreshments will be provided, and we will end around 1:30 with a Christmas Sing-along. See you then!

2004 ALREADY!?- Even though time passes quickly, we are always new creations in Christ. Join us on Wednesday, January 7 for a daytime retreat that helps us recognize that we mature gratefully, graciously, and grace -fully. There will be opportunities for meditation, healing prayer, quiet time, and refreshments. 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 retreat, 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.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES in our Diocese strives to help those in need while always working toward a more just and compassionate society. As of this month, 28% of parishioners at St. Noel have helped Catholic Charities. In this time of Thanksgiving and Christmas, please remember the need to support the programs in our area that benefit parishes, children, families, elderly, the disable, and working poor. Please donate by December 31. For more information you can call 800-869-6525, ext. 1049 or visit www.cleveland.com/sites/hope .

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.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for the month of December - December 18 – luncheon – 11:30 a.m. – happy time/pizza & cheese tray- lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. It will consist of prime rib, baked potato w/sour cream, green beans Almandine, salad, rolls, butter and Spumoni ice cream. Cost is $12.00 per person and the deadline for ticket and payment is December 15. Please remember to bring food for the food bank to this meeting. December 25 - NO MEETING – Merry Christmas. Next meeting will be on Thursday, January 8, 2004. Everyone is welcome to attend the fellowship meeting on Thursdays.

ROSARY – Join us Tuesday, December 16, 2003 in the Chapel as we pray the Rosary. All are welcome to this quiet, reflective time in honor of Mary and her Son, Jesus.

PRIME TIME – No meeting tonight. Our Christmas Party is next week at 7:30pm. See you this week for wrapping and delivery.

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – See you this Tuesday, December 16 th in the large hall at 7:00pm. We'll be wrapping presents!!

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

CHRISTMAS PROJECT DELIVERY – Meet in the large hall at 9:00am. All youth must have a signed permission slip to participate. You can pick one up in the kiosk. Thanks for all your generosity.

PRESENT WRAPPING – All gifts from the Christmas Project will be wrapped on Tuesday, December 16 th . Come to the Church between 9:30-11:00am or from 7:00-8:30pm to help out. We have all the paper, bows, etc. Bring any shirt boxes and tape you need. Thanks!

CHRISTMAS PROJECT SETUP – Ever wonder how all those baskets get organized?? It all happens Friday, December 19 th at 10:00am. Our awesome group sets up all the food and gift baskets for delivery the next day. Are you free the 19 th during the day? Please come to the church to help out. Call Anthony for more info.

ADULT CONFIRMATION – Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place at St. John Vianney Church beginning Monday, January 5, 2004. The sessions consist of six consecutive Monday evenings and run from 7:30 – 9:00pm. Please call Anthony if you are interested in learning more about Confirmation.

EMPTY BOWLS REPORT – We had a wonderful event with over 110 people! St. James Lunch Program received $1100 to support their ministry. Thanks to all who contributed to Empty Bowls. Unfortunately, one of our artists, a parishioner, is missing 4 silk scarves from her display. These scarves were not for sale or donation. If anyone picked up a silk scarf from the art show, please return it to the Church. The $25 left on top of her display does not cover the cost of even one scarf. The artist would greatly appreciate having those scarves back. Thanks!

CLEVELAND FOOD BANK – Start off the year with a little service! We're serving at the Food Bank on Monday, January 5 th . We leave the Church at 5:30pm. Please call the Anthony (946-1128 x20) to participate.

THE CLEVELAND ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES will be presenting “A Christian Journey Through the Hebrew Scripture” with Rev. George Smiga, S.T.D.; “Benedictine Spirituality” with Wayne Simsic, M.A.; “Martin Luther King, Jr and Malcom X: Dreams, Nightmares and Present Hopes” with Rev. Valentino Lassiter, D.MIN; and “Jesus and Mary in the Islamic Tradition” with Zeki Saritoprak, PH.D. Brochures are available in the kiosk which contain registration forms and all information concerning dates and times of the classes.

DIVORCE RECOVERY FOR CATHOLICS: An 8-week support group for divorced/separated Catholics will be held here at St. Noel, beginning Thursday, January 8 through February 26 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sessions are designed to provide direction and faith-based support along with tools for coping. For more information or to register, please call Catholic Charities at 440-352-6191 or 1-800-242-9755.

DIVORCE RECOVERY FOR CATHOLICS -The experience of divorce is never easy. It can leave you feeling alone, hurt and confused. In an effort to help those in need, the Catholic parishes of the Lake-Geauga district have formed a ministry that offers a series of support groups and workshops addressed to the specific needs of those who are divorced or separated. For more information or for a program schedule, please call Karen Jubeck at 440-352-8282.

PLEASE SAVE YOUR USED STAMPS for the Maryknoll Sisters for their missionary works. Cut the stamps from the envelope using scissors. Leave ¼” margin around the stamps. Postage meter stamps are of no value. Please put the stamps in the box in the coatroom. Thank you.

THE OHIO BOY'S CHOIR will present a concert of Christmas classics at St. Vitus Church, 6019 Lausche Ave. in Cleveland on Sunday, December 21 at 3:00 p.m. Admission is free.

THE TWELVE GIFTS of Christmas is an Advent Night of song, story and video about twelve events and persons which led to the birth of Jesus. “Twelve gifts” is hosted by St. Mary Church in Painesville on December 14. Refreshments will follow.

EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN AMERICA – The Institute of Catholic Studies at John Carroll University will be offering an Adult Education program on the history of the Church in the United States. The non-credit course, “Understanding the Catholic Church in America Today,” will be taught by Fr. John Leahy, Ph.D on Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9:00 p.m. from January 28-March 3. For more information, or to register for the course, please call the Office of Continuing Education at 216-397-3008.

HALL BOOKING FOR THE YEAR 2005 - Any parishioner who would like to book the hall for the year 2005 will have the opportunity to do so before the dates are open to the public. You may do this between January 2 and January 12, 2004 by calling 440-946-6635. After January 12, the bookings will be open to the public. Also, as in previous years, parishioners who are planning weddings for themselves or a son or daughter will receive a 10% discount. Parishioners will receive a 5% discount for any other functions scheduled in the hall for a member of their immediate family. Please call the hall office (440-946-6635) Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. if you have any questions.

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