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Week
of December 20-21, 2003
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Dear Parishioner,
This Sunday
is the last Sunday of Advent. Our Christmas schedule is as follows:
On Wednesday, December 24 th , there will be Christmas liturgies
at 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., as well as Midnight. On Christmas Day,
there will be two liturgies, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Before
the Midnight Mass, there will be a program of Christmas music by
our music ministry, beginning at 11:15 p.m. All of the Christmas
liturgies are crowded, especially the 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve;
therefore, please make sure you come early.
On Thursday,
January 1 st the Feast of Mary the Mother of God our liturgy will
be at 10:00 a.m. This year because of the church expansion we will
have more seating in the church. Before the renovation our church
seated 601. In its present configuration there is seating for 700.
At Christmas because of our flexible seating we will be able to
add an additional 100 seats which are presently in the chapel and
in storage. Because of the glass wall now between the church and
the narthex, those who will need to stand in the narthex will have
a much closer view into the church. It is important to recognize
how the construction of the last year places us in a much better
situation to accommodate the additional people who wish to worship
with us at Christmas and Easter. Thank you again for your support
of the church enlargement.
I realize
the many demands that are upon all of us during this holiday season.
I do, however, encourage you to plan ahead, so that you will be
able to worship with your family in a calm and prayerful manner.
As
always, remember the additional people who come on Christmas should
be seen as an opportunity for us to demonstrate our faith by extending
to them a warm welcome. So please come to worship with your family
and bring with you a sincere desire to treat those visiting us with
hospitality.
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.
SOLEMNITY
OF MARY-THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, is a Hoy Day upon which Catholics
are asked to participate in Mass. Our Mass will be at 10:00 a.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 31 st .
ST.
AUGUSTINE RAFFLE CALENDARS are available in the parish
office.
SOCIAL
JUSTICE GEMS – “Effective social ministry helps the parish
not only do more, but be more-more of a reflection of the gospel,
more of a worshiping and evangelizing people, more of a faithful
community. It is an essential part of parish life” (U.S. Catholic
Bishops, Communities of Salt and Light).
SOCIAL
CONCERNS/ST. AUGUSTINE – We will not be serving the meal
at St. Augustine Hunger Center this month.
SOCIAL
CONCERNS FUND – In November we collected $899.00. Our expenses
were:
Food
Pantry Supplies $255.40
St.
Augustine Meal 256.83
Rent
730.04
Sudanese
Dental Needs 500.00
Utilities
103.75
Total
$1,846.02
We thank you
for your support.
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 using an instrumental arrangement
of one of the most famous Jewish prayers. “Avinu Malkeinu.” This
is a prayer of supplication that recognizes our own sinfulness and
implores to God to show us mercy. Even without text, one can hear
the plaintive quality of the music and the improvisatory style which
is characteristic of the Jewish cantorial music.
EPIPHANY
CONCERT – Your are cordially invited to share in the beautiful
sounds of Advent and Christmas at the Epiphany Concert presented
by the Music Ministries of St. Noel in honor of the Feast of the
Epiphany. This free concert will be held at St. Noel on Sunday,
January 4, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. Please call Marc Weagraff, Music Director
at St. Noel 440-946-0887 for more information. We look forward to
celebrating this great feast and this wonderful music with you.
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.
PARISH
POT LUCK AND GAME NIGHT - Join us following the 5:00 p.m.
Mass on Saturday, January 10 for a relaxing evening of food, fellowship,
and fun. Bring a dish to share and any table or board games you
might like to play (we'll have some, too). After dinner, we will
set up games like Trivial Pursuit, Pictionary, Chronology, chess
and checkers, pinochle, Chutes and Ladders (and many more). All
you have to do is decide what game you want to play and we'll spend
the rest of the evening table hopping from game to game (or stay
put if your luck is holding out)! Make plans now to join us in the
Large Hall for this fun evening of food and entertainment. We will
provide pasta and meatballs for the main course, but please sign
up on the kiosk with the number of people from each household attending
and what you think you might bring as a side dish. If you have any
questions or suggestions, please call Marianne Slattery at 440-946-1128
x 21.
CATHOLICS
UNDER FIRE! - If you've ever been stopped at school or
work or by friends or relatives who ask you challenging questions
about your faith and Church but were not quite sure of the answer
… this session is for you! Fr. George will begin the evening at
7:30 p.m. in the small hall on Wednesday, January 14 with an overall
presentation of the topic and then allow time for questions and
answers.
MARDI
GRAS MAY RETURN! – If you attended the St. Noel Mardi Gras
celebration in the past you know it was a great time. We took a
year off during the construction but are considering bringing the
event back. Mardi Gras would fall on Saturday, February 21. There
is going to be a meeting to set-up an event committee on Thursday,
January 8 at 7:30 p.m. Your support and interest will bring this
fun event back to St. Noel.
LADIES
BIBLE STUDY invites women of all ages to join us for a
weekly study and fellowship. We are currently studying the book
“God Came Near” by Max Lucado. We will start the New Year's study
on Tuesday, January 6 at 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Child care is provided.
Please call Anthony at 440-946-1128 x20.
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 -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 January 3 to be refreshed
and renewed in body, mind and spirit.
CATHOLIC
CHARITIES - Give a holiday gift to Catholic Charities!
During this holiday season, please remember the need to support
programs in our area that benefit over 600,000 people. Remember
86 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to services. All
payments to the 2003 Annual Appeal are due by December 31. To donate
please call 800-869-6525, ext 1049, or visit www.cleveland.com/sites/hope
.
ST.
NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for the month of December
- 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.
PRIME
TIME – Our Christmas Party is tonight beginning at 7:00pm
(a little early)!! We welcome all our college alumni to the party.
It will be great to see you.
JUNIOR
HIGH YOUTH GROUP – Our next meeting is January 6 th in
the large hall at 7:00pm. Bring your bibles.
NOEL
MOVERS – We are in need of all size mattresses, box springs
and bunk beds. Please call Anthony if you can help.
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.
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.
WRAPPED
IN SORROW, TOUCHED WITH JOY: AN EVENING FOR THE BEREAVED
Wednesday, January 14, 7-9:00 p.m. Directed by Sr. Jeannette Kearns,
OSU, this is an evening for those who are grieving to experience
the promise of new life in the new year by better understanding
the interplay of sorrow and joy in their lives. The cost is $15
per person. Also a day retreat for PSR teachers called “Take the
Word of God with You” will be offered on Sunday, January 18 from
2-7:00 p.m. The cost for the day is $25 and includes dinner. For
reservations and information on either of these programs please
call the St. Joseph Christian Life Center at 216-531-7370 ext 0.
CATHOLIC
UPDATE entitled “The Luminous Mysteries: Exploring
Five Major Events in Jesus' Public Ministry,” by Jack Wintz, O.F.M.,
is now available in the kiosk.
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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