Week of February 17, 2008

Weekly Readings

Quick View of Meetings for the Week

Archive of Weekly Bulletins

Dear Parishioner,

I extend to you a warm invitation to join us for a rich musical experience. Five musicians are joining their talent to offer a free concert in our church on Sunday, February 24 th at 4:00 p.m. Christian Roytz plays the cello as a full-time member of the Lima, Ashland, and Mansfield City Orchestras. Mark Sterbank is the instrumental artist-in residence, Director of the jazz ensembles and Instructor of Saxophone at Charleston Southern University. Michael Elias has served as principal clarinetist and concert master of the Lakewood Civic Band for the last 33 years and served as Director of instrumental music at Wickliffe High School. Arthur Goldstein has played trumpet at Music Carnival, The Front Row Theater, Blossom Music Center, and regularly at St. Noel. Robert Sterbank has played piano since the age of five and together with Michael Elias is a member of St. Noel Music Ministry.

The classical program will include works by Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, and others. A free will offering will be taken to support Esperanza Threads which promotes the health and sustainability of our earth through the sale of clothing made from certified organic fibers and produced by laborers who receive a fair wage for their work.

Please join us February 24 th at 4:00 p.m. for a wonderful concert which can lift our spirits in these cold winter weeks.

Fr. George Smiga

HELP OUR BANQUET CENTER - We are attempting to book more day-time and weekday events in our banquet center. If you know of, or work for a business which might consider a luncheon or seminar day, please contact Chef Randy (440-946-6635) with the person in your company who he should contact to present the opportunity of using the St. Noel Banquet Center. As always please continue to recommend us to your family and friends.

CORRECTION - in Father George's Dear Parishioner letter on December 2, 2008 the Communal Penance Service was mentioned to be on Wednesday March 4 th. The Communal Penance Service is on TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

THANK YOU for your generosity – we collected $555.00 for the Latin America collection.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION – How about making a commitment this Lent to visit Jesus at Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays. Jesus waits for you to put aside your busy schedule and spend whatever quality time you can before the Blessed Sacrament. We all need to quiet ourselves in order to hear the promptings of Jesus. Come for an hour, a few minutes or whatever time you can spare – but COME. We have Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Chapel.

HEALING MINISTRY – “Are any of you sick? You should ask for the presbyters of the church. They in turn are to pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14. We do this through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick which will take place this Wednesday, February 20 th at the 6:45 p.m. Liturgy. If you are coping with a serious physical, mental or emotional illness or dealing with the discomfort of aging – come and receive this healing Sacrament. Prayer teams are available after Mass to pray with you if you desire.

THE CLEVELAND ECUMENICAL INSTITUTE FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES - The Institute is an ongoing opportunity in our area for Christians to delve into their faith on a deeper level. Please pick up a green/white brochure in the kiosk and consider whether the Cleveland Ecumenical Institute for Religious Studies could be an option for your own faith development.

SOCIAL JUSTICE/ST. AUGUSTINE- On February 24th our volunteers will be serving the meal at the St. Augustine Hunger Center. There is a sign-up sheet on the kiosk if you are able to lend a hand. After all the Masses on February 23 rd & February 24 th , we will be collecting for our Social Justice Fund. Also, if anyone would like to bake cookies please bring the cookies with you when you come to volunteer at the Hunger Center or they can be dropped off at church before Mass on Saturday. Please put the cookies in the Nativity Room on the counter and mark them St. Augustine.

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND – In January we collected $1,769.00. Our expenses for January were:

We thank you for your support.

LENTEN BOOKLETS - THE WORD AMONG US . A limited number of these booklets are available in the narthex. There are also copies of The Catholic Update which reflects upon Christ's Agony in the Garden.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS – Pray the Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent at 7:30 p.m. in the church (after the fish fry). This week intergenerational families will lead the stations.

ST. NOEL FISH FRIES – Fridays of Lent (not Good Friday), from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed for serving and cleanup. Sign-up sheets are on the kiosk. You will not receive a phone call – just come at the time you have signed up. Also, Randy needs volunteers who can help set up fish fries on Fridays at 12:30 p.m. If you can help, please call the hall office (440-946-6635) and let them know.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PTA WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS - We are a social organization for parents of children from birth through 6 years old in Lake, Geauga and Eastern Cuyahoga counties.  Our planned activities provide children and adults with opportunities to interact with each other on weekdays and weekends throughout the year.  Please visit www.WHECPTA.org for more information.

PRIME TIME - See you next Sunday, February 24 th at 7:00pm

DIVINE WORD/ST. NOEL YOUTH GATHERING – All 9-12 grade students are invited to 5:00pm Mass at Divine Word Church on Saturday, March 1 st . Dinner and social will follow. The evening will conclude at 8:00pm. RSVP to Anthony (946-1128 x20 or acamino@stnoel.org )

MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP – Our next session is this Tuesday, February 19 th at 7:00pm – bring your bibles & pennies.

PENNY JAR – Did you notice the large jar in the narthex?? It will remain there through Lent. Our middle school youth group has been reflecting on how each of us can make a difference by doing little things. Please feel free to place pennies (nothing else, please!) in the jar to symbolize the difference we could make if everyone did something. Thanks for making a difference…..

PANCAKE BREAKFAST – thanks for your support! The breakfast raised over $500 for our youth ministry. Our next breakfast is scheduled for April 20 th in the banquet center!

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE – Our next drive is scheduled for Sunday, February 24 th from 8:00-1:00pm. Please consider giving the gift of life. You can sign up at the table in the narthex or online at www.givelife.org . Use sponsor code “stnoel”.

EASTER HAMS – PRIME TIME is again offering delicious, spiral-sliced hams for your Easter celebrations. We continue to work with Chef Randy to provide hams of the highest quality. Last year we sold 51 hams – this year we're shooting for 60! Why not support youth ministry at St. Noel Church and enjoy a mouth-watering ham? They're a great deal at $4.75/lb, and yo u can place your order by calling or emailing Anthony (946-1128 x20 acamino@stnoel.org ). Half hams are 8-10lbs and whole hams are 14-17 lbs.

ATTENTION ST. NOEL MEN! - Inspired by St. Noel's former “Men's Prayer Breakfasts,” planning has begun for a new and slightly different meeting of St. Noel men entitled “Following HIS Path through the Lives of the Saints!” These gatherings will be held at 8:00 a.m. Sunday mornings on the 4 th Sunday of February/June/October. The first such meeting is scheduled for Sunday, February 24, 2008. Coffee/pastries will be provided. Although this has been designated as a Men's Prayer Gathering, women interested in a journey through the lives of the saints are indeed invited and welcomed. More information may be obtained at any time by contacting Ken Bollam at 440-639-8896. Those interested in this program should sign the registration sheet on the kiosk in the narthex so that adequate provisions may be made for all.

Something to think about from the St. Noel Endowment Fund…. When is the last time you looked at who was the beneficiaries of your life insurance, IRA or other accounts? It's time to take a look, update if necessary. If your intention is to leave and IRA to someone other than your spouse the new rule in 2007 allows you to leave the funds to a non-spouse beneficiary who can now roll the proceeds into a qualified IRA. When updating beneficiaries, know that a charity like the St. Noel Endowment fund can be a beneficiary of all or part of your IRA.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for February are as follows: – February 21 st - socializing, meeting, and then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our Breakfast Buffet, Menu: French toast, cheese blintzes, scrambled eggs, sausage links, fried potatoes. For more information or tickets please call 440-585-9088. Cost is $6.00 per person and deadline for tickets and payment is February 18 th. February 28 th - birthdays and anniversaries, side board, and we will have a guest speaker, Dr. Posk from the Willoughby Hills branch of the Cleveland Clinic and her topic will be Osteoporosis & Treatment. - We will celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Also, please remember to bring your food donation for the food pantry to this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend the Senior Fellowship on Thursdays.

BREAD FOR THE WORLD WORKSHOP – On Saturday, March 8, 2008 Bread for the World, a national organization addressing the issues of hunger and poverty around the globe, will hold a workshop here at St. Noel from 8:45 a.m. to 1p.m. Learn ways we can help reduce poverty and hunger throughout the world by convincing Congress to fund effective poverty-focused development assistance programs.  Get the advocacy tools, the creative spark, and the knowledge you need to make a difference in ending hunger and poverty and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals! This workshop is offered free of charge. Registration begins at 8:45 am. Morning refreshments and lunch beverages will be available.  In order to attend you MUST register with Bread for the World by going to http://ga4.org/Bread/events/cleveland2008/details.tcl .

Following the Offering of Letters workshop that ends at noon, those interested in discussing ways to revitalize the Cleveland-area Bread for the World local group will stay for an additional hour to discuss next steps. If you plan to stay for that discussion, please bring a sack lunch for yourself; the church will provide drinks.

WANT TO EXPLORE THE CATHOLIC FAITH?   If you are not presently Catholic but interested in exploring the Catholic faith, a new inquiry session will begin soon. Please call Alice Hinkel at 440-946-0887 for more information.

LOAVES n FISHES n LETTERS (oh my!): The Social Justice Ministry invites you all to come and write letters in support of Ohio House Bill 333, dealing with abuses in some PayDay Lending institutions. Rather than our usual format of providing a simple meal, it will take place during the Fish Fry on Friday Feb 22nd, from 5-7:30. Stop by the Resurrection Room before or after your wonderful meal (it's Mac-n-Cheese week!) to learn about, then take action on this very important piece of legislation. As always, we'll provide the background information, addresses, stationary, envelopes, stamps and even sample letters for your inspiration.

PINK SUNDAY – On the weekend of March 7 th & 8 th the Susan G. Komen organization is sponsoring “Pink Sunday” which is an effort to educate church members of all denominations about breast health and breast cancer.  Please visit the table in the narthex after Mass on March 7 th or 8 th to pick up your information and to talk with some breast cancer survivors from our parish. 

“MARCH FOR MEALS” ON SATURDAY, MARCH 8 TO BENEFIT NUTRITION PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY- Help us provide nutritious meals for elderly adults in Lake County! Join us for the Council on Aging Foundation's Third Annual “March for Meals” on Saturday, March 8 from 8-10:00 a.m. inside Great Lakes

Mall in Mentor. This indoor walk will raise funds for home delivered meals (Meals on Wheels) and congregate meals for older adults in our community. Cost is $10 per person, $5 for children under 12. Registration includes refreshments, giveaways, entertainment and more! Call 440-205-8111 ext 247 for details.

WATER FOR LIFE is an initiative of the Cleveland Diocese Council on Global Solidarity and the Diocesan Social Action office in collaboration with a number of parishes and the Apostles of Jesus and the Tanzania Hai Kilimanjaro Water District Office to provide clean and safe water to the people of Tanzania. Join us in the small hall on Tuesday evening, March 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. to learn more!

ADOPTION INFORMATION MEETING – Anyone interested in learning about International Adoption is invited to an information meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. here at St. Noel in The Nativity Room. For more information please call Karen Myers at 440-974-8116.

CARING FOR CREATION – We're “recycling” our January program which was cancelled because of bad weather!  And so we invite you to join us on Sunday, March 2, 2008 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for Resolved:  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle !  Plan on sharing a potluck supper and your ideas, as we discuss some fresh perspectives on a tried and true approach in caring for God's gift to us of the planet Earth!  Please sign up on the kiosk.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING – This is an issue which we can easily assume is only a problem in other countries.  Unfortunately, that is not so!  It is a serious concern not only in Ohio, but in some local communities.  The good news that there are things we can do to become aware, to request legislation and to report possible situations of trafficking.  Want to learn more?  See the kiosk for two different upcoming gatherings on the topic of Human Trafficking.  The first is February 19 th from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Notre Dame Educational Center in Chardon, the second is February 28 th from 6:30 p.m. – 8p.m. at the Don Umerley Civic Center in Rocky River . 

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