Week of July 1, 2007

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Dear Parishioner,

One of the issues I must deal with every summer is setting the thermostat in church. It is not my most important responsibility as pastor, but let me assure you, I do not take it lightly. Some parishioners complain that the church is much too cool. Others insist they are much too warm. I sincerely try to keep everyone happy but after several years of trying I believe this is impossible. Let me explain why.

Cooling our church is not the same as cooling your home. The space in the church is much larger and at a Sunday liturgy it can hold 500-600 people. People generate heat. During the course of one Mass depending on the number of people, the temperature outside, and whether the sun is shinning through our windows, the temperature can rise 6-8 degrees even with the air conditioning in full operation. If we were to set the thermostat at a comfortable 70 degrees for the 9:00 Mass the temperature would be 72 by 10:00. By the end of the 11:00 Mass it could be 78 in church. This has happened in the past and people had to leave Mass because they were unable to breathe.

Because the 5:00 Mass takes place close to the hottest part of the day. The system comes on early in the afternoon attempting to lower the temperature enough so that it can handle the people who arrive at 5:00 and keep them within an acceptable range until 6:00. If you arrive for Mass at 4:30 therefore the church may be too cold, but it will not be so by the end of Mass. It is therefore our policy to set the thermostat to 68 degrees for both the 5:00 and 9:00 Masses. This is cooler than many would prefer but it is necessary.

So that is the situation. I am asking for your co-operation. In order to keep all the Masses within acceptable temperature ranges some need to be cooler and others warmer than they would prefer. If you are too cool please consider bringing a light sweater with you to church. If you are too warm, try a different place in the church. The temperature in some areas is cooler and in others warmer.

I do not know what else I can say or do to improve the situation. If the temperature is not to your liking remember you have the opportunity to adjust for the sake of others in the community who will be worshiping before or after you. Making such adjustments is just one way of showing love and being a part of a community.

                                        Fr. George Smiga

REMINDER – Our July 4 th , 9:00 a.m. Liturgy will be held in the outdoor chapel (weather permitting).

AT HOME WITH THE WORD – We will need to place our order for the At Home with the Word Books in August. If we ordered for you last year, you are on our list. If you did not order last year and would like a book(s), please call the church office (440-946-0887) by July 30 th and we will put your name on the list. If you have ordered in the past and no longer want one, please let us know. As long as we order in bulk, books are $5.50 a piece.

SAVE THE DATE! The St. Noel Parish Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 26th, at Campbell Park (located behind Willoughby Hills City Hall). There will be food, fun and games for all ages. Contact the parish office at 440-946-0887 if you are interested in helping us plan this wonderful event.

ARSIS YOUTH HANDBELL ENSEMBLE of Tallinn, Estonia, will be performing at St. Noel on Saturday, July 28 at 7:30 PM. The Estonian youth handbell choir is touring the United States for the first time ever and we are very fortunate to be included on their itinerary.  Formed in 2003, the ringers were chosen from an auditioned field of over 200 students.  The Arsis Handbell School trains the students from the age of 11 in music theory, piano, music history and handbell technique.  Many of the young ringers have been studying handbells and music for nearly a decade.  Please join us for this wonderful opportunity to share beautiful music and international culture. To learn more about Arsis, visit their web site at www.arsis.ee . We are in need of people to host the members of Arsis in their home for one night. If you are interested in doing this, please contact Marc Weagraff at 440-946-0887 for details. Thank you for your hospitality!

CARING FOR CREATION - ENERGY AND FOOD

Our JustFaith group continues to gather and has been focusing on issues concerning the environment. Periodically we would like to share some of our reflections with everyone in the parish. Here are the results of one member's study regarding Energy and Food.

“I began to see that what I put in my mouth is not a separate health issue; it directly affects everything from hunger to the long-term viability of our soil to global warming, since fossil-fuel consuming agriculture is a top contributor of greenhouse gasses.” Frances Moore Lappe

Agriculture is one of the most weather-dependent of all human activities. It is ironic, then, that a significant percentage of greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. Industrial agriculture plays a significant role in the generation of these gasses. Think about the oil used for trucking foods for long distances, and on industrial processing, packaging, and refrigeration and it is easy to see how the food industry consumes about 20 percent of all the oil used in the U.S. Moreover, about 1 percent of the world's annual energy usage goes into the production of fertilizers. This might not seem like much, but it ties the price of food to that of natural gas, and will make food prices shoot up once energy supplies start to dwindle. Fossil fuel-intensive agriculture is contributing to the creation of unpredictable weather conditions that all farmers will need to battle in the not too distant future.

The good news is that we can still do something about it. Supporting sustainable agriculture by buying from your local organic farms is a significant action to take. Many small farms are now developing highly productive farming systems with low environmental impact. These are the right kinds of farms for the future. We are likely to achieve better results by learning to collaborate with nature instead of brute-forcing it into bending to our will, as has already been tried.

LOAVES AND LETTERS . The Social Justice Ministry invites you to join us on Friday, July 13 th at 6:30 pm to participate in the next Loaves and Letters event. Come share a meal of salad and bread, then learn a bit about the pending 2007 Farm Bill from our friends at Bread For The World. After that, we'll write letters to our legislators asking that the bill be written to

Increase investments that combat rural poverty and strengthen rural communities
Strengthen and expand programs that reduce hunger and improve nutrition
Strengthen and increase investment in policies that promote conservation and good stewardship of the land
Provide a transition for farmers to alternative forms of support that are more equitable and do not distort trade in ways that fuel hunger and poverty
Protect the health and safety of farmworkers
Expand research related to alternative and renewable forms of energy
Improve and expand international food aid in ways that encourage local food security

Presentations and letter writing opportunities are both presented for children or adults.   Look for the sign-up sheet on the kiosk, or call the office.  Remember: THE FOOD IS FREE, A LETTER IS YOUR FEE!

SAVE PAPER TOWEL TUBES – If you have any empty paper towel tubes please bring them into the parish office. They are needed for Vacation Bible School. Please call Marianne at 440-946-1128 X 21 if you have any questions.

CURIOUS ABOUT CATHOLICISM? A new inquiry group about the Catholic faith has begun. We gather next on Tuesday evening, July 10, 2007 and will meet from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Conference Room. Please call Alice Hinkel at 440-946-0887 if you would like to join us. Bring your questions or concerns, a friend if you like and yourself!

FARMER'S MARKET – Volunteers are needed to help distribute produce at St. John Vianney Church on the afternoons of the 4 th Thursdays of July, August, September, and October. The Cleveland Foodbank along with the western Lake County Food Pantries is sponsoring a free Farmer's Market. Pleas call the parish office at 440-946-0887 if you would like more information and to volunteer.

St. Noel Endowment Fund Although we all put off thinking about end of life issues, it is important to our families and loved ones that we address these issues.   It may seem overwhelming to take that first step but it is important to consider four basic planning documents to get started:   a Last Will and Testament, Health Care Power of Attorney, Living Will and a Financial Power of Attorney.   You should discuss which documents fit in with your estate plan with your attorney.   If you would like to include the St. Noel Endowment Fund in your estate plan, please contact the St. Noel office at 440-946-0887.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for July are as follows: – July 5 th – Horse Racing Game – July 12 th – Speaker from the Cleveland Clinic Topic: medication – July 19 th NO MEETING (Bible Study) – July 26 th - socializing, meeting, and then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our luncheon Menu: breaded pork chops, home fried potatoes w/onions, side of beans & carrots, tossed salad, cheesecake w/strawberry topping. Cost is $6.00 per person – Deadline for tickets and payment is July 23 rd - 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.

LAKE-GEAUGA FURNITURE BANK – The Noel Movers have joined forces with St. John Vianney, St. Mary Magdalene and Hope Ridge United Methodist Church to form the Lake-Geauga Furniture Bank. We've hired a part-time worker to handle all calls for donation. If you any useable furniture, please call 946-3448 x40 to schedule a pickup. The number is still St. Noel Church but a new extension.

STOCK OPTIONS - the market can be a rough ride!! This is the final weekend to invest in the youth of our parish who are traveling to Washington, DC and Kentucky this summer to perform community service and learn about their faith. Stockholders will receive a stock certificate and an invitation to our service report once we return. Sure it's a fundraiser, but this stock will pay big dividends! Shares sell for $10. Stop by the table in the narthex and thanks for your support!

BLOOD DRIVE – The American Red Cross will be at St. Noel Church on Sunday, July 29 th to conduct a blood drive. Thanks to all who supported the drive last month! Further details will be in the bulletin and on the kiosk. The Northern Ohio Regions supplies 57 local hospitals and tries to collect 900 units every day to keep the supplies at adequate levels. High schools and colleges supply 15% of the blood so summer break is a critical time for other groups to help. Please consider donating blood on July 29 th . If you're interested in volunteering to help on the 29 th , please call Anthony.

OUTDOOR RETREAT – Hey Teens!! Save Saturday, August 4 th beginning at 10:00 am for an awesome retreat experience at the West Wood Park in Russell Township. Joel & Amy Firem, a great couple from the parish, will lead the retreat and are excited to be working with PRIME TIME this summer. More info to follow but keep the day free!!

KENTUCKY SERVICE WEEK – Please pray for Jim Drockton, Bridgette Drockton, Joey Drockton & Marie Schaner who are traveling to Vanceburg, KY for a week of service with the Glenmary missions. The group will join approx 30 other people in a week of painting, cleaning and repairing peoples' homes. Have a great week!!

DIRECTOR, SOCIAL ACTION – The Catholic Charities Catholic Commission of Lake & Geauga Counties seeks a full-time Director, Social Action. This individual will direct, manage, supervise, and administer activities advocating social action and justice to carry out the Roman Catholic Church's mission for systemic change for the poor and disenfranchised. For more information, please visit our website at:

www.cchr@clevelandcatholiccharities.org or fax to 216-334-2914.

BRING THE WORLD TO YOUR FAMILY ---- Without Leaving Home! This August more than 21,700 high school exchange students from around the world will arrive. Would you share your home with one of these students for the school year or a semester? AFT Intercultural Programs/USA has led student exchanges for more than 57 years. We know family life makes all the difference for a young visitor. Please call Sandy at 440-953-0840 if you're interested in hosting an AFS Exchange Student.

PROJECT HOPE - IS YOUR HEART BURDENED TO HELP THE HURTING? - Those who are looking to share the love of Jesus Christ are urged to help at Lake County's only homeless shelter. Project Hope is nearing a critical need for overnight volunteers on weekdays. Duties are informal and light, including serving a meal, packing lunches and socializing with guests. Shifts begin at 7 p.m. and include at least 3 others to serve with. Volunteers may sleep about 6 hours during overnight hours. If the Lord is calling you to help, please call 354-6417 x106 to apply for this position.

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