Week of October 22, 2006

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Dear Parishioner,

On Tuesday November 7, 2006 we will be invited to exercise one of the most important freedoms we have as Americans, and that is to elect our public officials and vote on issues that will impact our lives and the lives of others. In considering this freedom, our bishops have written, “The most important challenges we face are not simply political, economic or technological, but also ethical, moral and spiritual.” While there is no perfect candidate or flawless issue, we are asked to study the candidates and issues in light of their ethical impact and then make the best choices possible for the good of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. As Catholic Christians, our faith should inform our choices. To that end we are making available to you, two publications from the Cleveland Catholic Diocese that address our responsibilities and concerns as Catholic voters. One is a “Candidate Survey,” the other is “Faithful Citizenship - a Catholic Call to Political Responsibility – Questions for the 2006 Election Year.” These documents pose important questions for us to consider as we prepare to vote. Both can be found on the table in the Narthex. Please be sure to take a copy of each.

As you may know, churches are not permitted to endorse particular candidates, but church leaders may address issues. Currently the Ohio Bishops oppose state Issue #3, “the learn and earn gambling amendment,” and ask Catholic voters to do the same. They remain neutral on state issues #'s 2, 4 & 5. I invite you to visit www.ohiocathconf.org . for fuller commentary. We will also be voting on Lake County Issue #7. Catholic Charities asks us to support Issue #7 as it will assure continued funding for social services for our senior citizens.

As November 7, 2006 approaches, I urge you to do three things: 1) prayerfully study the issues and candidates, 2) schedule a time on that date when you will vote, 3) and then plan to join us at 7:30 p.m. for Mass with Bishop Lennon!

                                           Fr. George Smiga

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS   - As election Tuesday approaches, each of us will be deluged with literature, propaganda and sample voting guides.  Please know that St. Noel Church does not permit anyone or any group to place flyers on cars in our parking lot, and if this should happen, please know that it is being done without our permission.   We want the information you receive from the parish to be informed, balanced, accurate and in line with our status as a private, non-profit organization. 

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY is being celebrated this weekend, October 21 st & 22 nd .  Our ushers will be in the narthex after Masses to accept your donation which are collected for a common fund of solidarity distributed in the Pope's name, by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, among the Missions and missionaries of the world.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.

THE FOLLOWING MASSES WILL BE CANCELLED:

8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24 th – There is a Priest Convocation; 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25 th – GIFT- join us for that evening.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, LECTORS, SACRISTANS, AND SERVERS -Please sign up on the bulletin board by the kitchenette if you are able to help with All Saints on Wednesday, November 1 st for Noon and the 7:00 p.m. Liturgies. Also, Eucharistic Ministers and sacristans are needed for the All Souls Liturgy on Thursday, November 2 nd .

MARK YOUR CALENDAR/TIME CHANGE – Next weekend, Sunday October 29 th , at 2:00 a.m ., we will turn our clocks back one hour.

REMINDER - If you ordered At Home With the Word it is ready for pick up in the parish office .

HOSPITALITY – We are in need of help at the 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Mass to help set up and serve coffee and donuts. You will be scheduled once a month. If you can help, please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

SOCIAL JUSTICE/ST. AUGUSTINE- On October 29 th 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 October 28 th and October 29 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 (formerly the nursery) on the counter and mark them St. Augustine.

SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND – In September we collected

$808.00.Our expenses for September were:

We thank you for your support.

CCHD IS COMING! For 36 years, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development has stood with poor and low-income people, helping them create permanent solutions to poverty. CCHD, established by the US Catholic bishops, relies on the generosity of individuals like you to support community groups working for this end. By joining in solidarity with Catholics across the country, you lend strength to efforts already underway to foster self-sufficiency and strengthen communities. The collection will be on Nov. 18-19 -- more info in the bulletin in coming weeks.

MEAL MINISTRY UPDATE – We are happy to announce that a number of people are now taking advantage of this new ministry.  Because of this we could use a few more cooks.  If you would like to join the ministry as a cook please sign-up on the kiosk or call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

ADVENT TEA – This year's Advent Tea will be held on Sunday, December 10, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. in the parish Banquet Center. Prayer, music, conversation and a delicious luncheon will all be a part of the experience. The sign-up for the tea will be on the Weekend of November 4 th and 5 th only in the narthex after the 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Masses and before the 11:00 a.m., Mass. The cost of the Tea is $13.00 and payment must accompany your registration. No registration monies will be taken at the door. Any proceeds will benefit the St. Noel Social Justice Ministry Fund. We are looking forward to this wonderful event and hope that many women from the parish will be able to attend.

FAIR TRADE PRESENTATION - The Beyond Just Faith group invites you to a presentation by Sister Josie, HM of Heartbeats, a ministry dedicated to the principles of fair trade.  We will gather at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 12, 2006 in the Resurrection Room. Sister Josie will increase our awareness of how we might engage in the work of solidarity by "shopping with a conscience."  Heartbeats is committed to developing the self-sufficiency of women and minority artists from around the world through networking with them and by marketing their creative endeavors. Please join us on November 12!

FOR THE ILL AND HOMEBOUND – Don't forget that we have Eucharist Ministers available to bring Communion to those unable to worship with us.  This can be a short term or long term need.  Ministers are willing to schedule visits at a time convenient for all.  Please call the parish office at 440-946-0887 to make arrangements.  We want to be sure that all of our parishioners, sick and well, have an opportunity to pray with one another and to receive Communion.

ST. NOEL CONCERT SERIES - On November 5 th at 4:00 p.m., the St. Noel Concert Series will present a concert featuring the excellent soloists you may have heard at our holiday liturgies. Pianist Bob Sterbank will be joined by clarinetist Michael Elias, trumpeter Art Goldstein and saxophonist Mark Sterbank for an afternoon of delightful instrumental chamber music. We are especially pleased that Mark Sterbank, who holds a degree from the Eastman School of Music and is a professor at the University of South Carolina, will be able to join us for this wonderful concert. It, too, is free of charge. A free-will offering will be taken for Womankind of Greater Cleveland.

FAMILY SCRIPTURE STUDY – All families are invited to join us for a “family-friendly” look at next weekend's Gospel. Plan to attend either the 9:00 or 11:00 Mass on Sunday, October 22 nd and join us in the Banquet Center/small hall from 10:15-11:00 (between Masses). Along with other families we will explore and share the Sunday Gospel. Reservations are not necessary. Just grab a donut and come on in!!

ATTENTION ALL FAMILIES - The GIFT program provides faith formation materials for children preschool-age through teens. Age-appropriate magazines to help children live the Gospel message and learn doctrine, puzzle pages to reinforce weekly Gospel passages, monthly activity calendars and a family "Take Out" magazine can be found on the counter in the Lower Level. A few Family Scripture Study books also remain. Materials will be changed around the time of the GIFT sessions each month. Please feel welcome to take what your family needs to grow in faith.

SPIRITUALITY IS NOT JUST FOR MONKS!    Parker Palmer offers us a "spirituality for the uncelibate, unsolitary, and unsilent lives most of us lead."  Join the Spiritual Reading Group to discuss Parker Palmer's The Active Life:  Wisdom for Work, Creativity, and Caring" at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, November 14th.  For further information call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

PARISH RETREAT - will be held on Wednesday, November 1 st from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The retreat theme will be “Saints: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Paths to Holiness.” The retreat will be facilitated by St. Noel parishioners and this retreat will include the Noon Mass to celebrate the feast of All Saints. Sign up is on the kiosk. (A $7.00 donation is suggested for a light brunch at 10:45 a.m. and lunch at 1:00 p.m.) Call the parish office at 440-946-0887 for more information.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP -The activities for the month of October are as follows: – October 26 th - Games of your choice and we will also celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Please remember to bring your food donation for the food pantry to this meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend Senior Fellowship.

NOEL MOVERS – The movers continue to pick up and deliver furniture at no cost. We need twin size mattresses and boxsprings. Please call Anthony to arrange for pick up or to help in the furniture ministry. We are currently forming two-person crews to pick up and deliver furniture. Contact Anthony for more info.

PRIME TIME – It's the Silver Ring Thing this Monday at Mt. Carmel Church. No meeting on Sunday.

CLEVELAND FOOD BANK – A dedicated group of workers has been serving at the Food Bank for over 6 years! We are looking for more people to add to our core. We serve the first Monday of each month for about 2-2 ½ hours; workers must be at least 12 years old. Please sign the interest sheet on the kiosk for more information. Make a difference: serve at the Cleveland Food Bank

CLEVELAND FOOD BANK – We're serving at the Food Bank on Monday, November 6 th . Please call Anthony if you're interested in serving.

STEPHEN MINISTRY – Do you or someone you know need the caring presence of Christ during a difficult time? Stephen Ministers are trained, compassionate listeners ready to spend time with you. Please call Anthony to learn how a Stephen Minister could benefit you.

LEAF RAKING – need help with your leaves? Prime Time, our awesome youth group, can help! Please call Anthony (946-1128 x20) to learn more.

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – See you at GIFT on Wed. It's not too late to register for GIFT – call the Church office.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 2007 are available in the church office or by calling Paula Garbo at 440-942-4884. Cost of the book is $25.00 until December 1 st , then $30.00 after that date. All proceeds benefit mentally handicapped children. Please make all checks payable to Paula Garbo. Books are also available through Lake County Right to Life. Please call 440-255-5257 or 440-428-9023 for more information.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF LAKE/GEAUGA COUNTY FOR THE DIVORCED AND SEPARATED:

“Facing Your Loneliness”- Feelings of isolation and loneliness are often present for those who are struggling with separation or divorce. We will be meeting on Thursday, October 26 th , from 7:00-9:00 pm, at St. Gabriel Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord. To register or for more information, kindly call Karen at 440-352-8282

PROJECT HOPE - You can help make a difference in your community by lending a helping hand at Lake County's only homeless shelter, Project Hope for the Homeless. To continue the success of helping homeless men, women and children back to solid ground, we need your hands to help serve a meal, eyes to see someone in need, ears to listen, and just a few hours a month. Training provided. You pick the times and dates from our schedule. Daily hours start at 7 p.m. To learn more about this opportunity please call Melissa Knight, volunteer coordinator at 440-354-6417.

FLU SHOTS for senior residents of Willoughby Hills will be given at Lakeland Community College in the Athletic Fitness Center on November 7 th . Registration for the flu shot has begun. For more information, please call 440-946-1234 or www.willoughbyhills.net .

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