Week of December 27-28, 2003

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Archive of Weekly Bulletins

Dear Parishioner,

With the great feast of Christmas behind us. Allow me to thank all of you for your generosity during this holy time. Fr. Tom Dragga and I would like to thank all who remembered us with cards and gifts during the holidays. I would like to thank our music ministry for the months of work preparing for Christmas and their willingness to come to more than one liturgy so that all our celebrations could have music. The music ministry is one of the most visible and dedicated ministries in our parish. They deserve our support and thanks for their efforts all year long. Our gratitude should also extend to those on the Art & Environment Committee and all of our liturgical ministers whose service is so important to our worship.

I would also like to thank all of our parishioners who supported the annual Christmas project. We collected over $5,220.00 which allowed over 200 volunteers to bring food and gifts to 102 families. This year 63 families directly sponsored a family which allowed them to buy, wrap and deliver the Christmas gifts. All together 172 adults and 344 children received personal gifts of clothing and toys along with a food basket. Those who prepared the food baskets used 5 cases each of apples, pears, potatoes, cucumbers and carrots as well as 100 lbs of onions. Each family received a turkey. Thanks to our PSR children the baskets also included non-perishable food and paper products consisting of everything from canned vegetables and cereal to paper towels and dishwashing liquid. Thanks to your generosity Christmas was a bright day for many others.

Fr. George Smiga

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. A sign-up sheet for Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Sacristan is on the bulletin board by the kitchenette.

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 – “We preach a gospel of justice and peace in a rapidly changing world and troubled nation. Our faith is tested by the violence, injustice, and moral confusion that surround us. In this relatively affluent nation, a fourth of our children under six grow up in poverty. Each year in our nation, 1.6 million children are destroyed before birth by abortion. And every day, 40,000 children die from hunger and its consequences around the world” (U.S. Catholic Bishops, Communities of Salt and Light).

RCIA PRAYER SUPPORT -If you have yet to make a New Year's resolution here is an opportunity! Why not commit to praying for one of our catechumens or candidates each day from now until the Easter Vigil (April 10, 2004) when they will be received into the Church. You might want to do this as an individual or as an entire family. The Lord's Prayer or any prayer of your choosing, formal or informal would be a great blessing. Just pull a name out of the box labeled “RCIA prayer opportunity” on the table in the narthex. All of our candidates and catechumens have individual sponsors but as a community we are all called to offer our support and encouragement to those seeking to be a part of the Catholic family. Thank you for considering this invitation!

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. in the Resurrection Room #1. 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 January are as follows: January 8 – Bingo; January 15 – Auction, January 22 – Luncheon consisting of cheese tray, cold roast beef sandwich, potato chips and cake.

Cost is $ 6.00 per person. January 29 – Bingo; we will celebrate birthdays and anniversaries at this meeting. Please remember to bring your food donations for the food bank to this meeting.

PRIME TIME – No meeting tonight. See you next week for our first gathering of 2004!!

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.

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.

NOTRE DAME COLLEGE – Grow in your faith and beat the winter blues by taking a winter course at Notre Dame College through its pastoral ministry program. Introduction to the Christian Scriptures meets Mondays, 1/12/-3/29, and Principles of Morality and Moral Response meets Tuesdays, 1/13-3/23. They can be taken for credit or audit. Call 216-373-5312 for more information or to register.

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.

ST. LEO THE GREAT, CLEVELAND, is hosting a six week series on The Spirituality of Christian Nonviolence in its Parish Center beginning January 14, 2004 on Wednesday evenings from 7:15-9:00 p.m. Facilitator, Tim Musser, is coordinator of Pax Christi, Cleveland (West). Call 216-661-1006 ext 203 for information or registration.

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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