Week of December 9, 2007

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Dear Parishioner,

I am pleased to share with you today two exciting opportunities which involve our Banquet Center.

The first is a new initiative we are attempting this month. It is called “New Year's Eve To Go.” Since 9/11there has been a significant drop in interest for large New Year's Eve parties. Most people have opted for smaller and more personal celebrations. But why would you choose to fight crowds at restaurants and food stores on New Year's Eve? Why not allow St. Noel Banquet Center to provide you with an exceptional meal at home? Chef Randy has designed 5 gourmet packages to please you and your guests. Each option includes the ingredients of a terrific dinner with complete directions for a simple preparation. The packages include various combinations of steak-lobster with all the sides. All you need to provide is the plates, drinks, and the people! After liturgies today, the ushers will be handing out sheets with complete information and pricing on our “New Year's Eve To Go” opportunity. Take one home with you. If you do not choose to use it yourself please pass it on to a friend or associate, so that the word of this attractive holiday option spreads beyond our parish.

The second opportunity in our Banquet Center is the annual Mardi Gras Dinner Dance. It is a simple and fun evening with good food and music. The Mardi Gras will take place this year on Saturday, February 2 nd . At this time we are looking for parishioners willing to contribute some of their talent to make the event a success. There will be an informational meeting next Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in the Visitation Room for those who would like to hear how to help. The profits from the Mardi Gras are directed to the St. Noel Justice Fund which supports the monthly meal at St. Augustine, our food pantry, and provides one-time emergency financial assistance for those who live in our area. But we cannot have a successful event without the involvement of our parishioners. Please consider attending the informational meeting at 10:00 a.m. next Sunday.

Fr. George Smiga

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS – Ushers will be in the narthex next weekend to accept donations to benefit elderly women and men religious. More than 19,000religious have less than 20 percent of the amount needed for projected costs of living and health care. To learn more, visit www.retiredreligious.org .

BULLETIN ARTICLES- because of the holidays, bulletin articles for the weekends of December 22/23 - December 29/30, 2007 , and January 5/6, 2008 must be in the parish office by Monday December, 17 th .

PRIME TIME - See you tonight – we're talking Advent and more! Please sign up to help with the Christmas Project – we're shopping on the 16 th . Thanks to Joey Drockton, Becca Pattie, Jill Lipold, Kayla Short, Jessica Lipold & Deanna Kucmanic who stepped forward to serve as leaders in PRIME TIME. We welcome your gifts & talents!

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – See you for wrapping on the 18 th at 7:00pm. Please bring non-perishable food items.

CHRISTMAS PROJECT – We're collecting money again this weekend after Mass – thanks for your generosity! We hope to raise $5,000 again this year. Check the kiosk for ways to help. There's still time to sponsor a family!! Please call/email Anthony for details ( acamino@stnoel.org ).

CHRISTMAS PROJECT SHOPPING & DELIVERY – We're shopping for gifts on Sunday, December 16 th at 8:30pm at the K-Mart on Vine St. Gifts and food baskets will all be delivered on Saturday morning, December 22 nd beginning at 9:00am in the banquet center. Sign up on the kiosk if you can help.

CHRISTMAS PROJECT SET-UP – Ever wonder how all those baskets get organized? Come and help on Friday, December 21 st beginning at 9:00am to find out. Please call Anthony if you would like to help setup for delivery (946-1128).

ALTAR SERVERS – We are need of servers at all liturgies. Adults are welcome to serve at Mass as well – you must be in at least the 4 th grade to serve. Please sign the sheet on the kiosk if interested in serving.

TEEN MASS – high school teens from around the area will be gathering for Mass and a Christmas dance on Sunday, December 16 th beginning at 4:30pm. All are welcome – we're expecting a big crowd! See the kiosk for details.

YOUNG NEIGHBORS IN ACTION – Since 1996, teens from St. Noel Church have served throughout the country with YNIA. This summer we're serving in Buffalo, NY during the week of July 20-26. We have 10 spots for teens - $100 will reserve your spot. Check the kiosk or contact Anthony for more info. This is a memorable experience – any 9-12 grade student is welcome.

BLOOD DRIVE – We are again sponsoring a blood drive on Sunday, December 30 th beginning at 8:00am in the Banquet Center. You can register online at www.givelife.org Follow the prompts and use “stnoel” as the sponsor code. We are in need of volunteers to work the welcome table at the blood drive. Please call Anthony (946-1128 x20) if you can help.

ADULT CONFIRMATION – preparation for any adult interested in being Confirmed will be offered at St. John Vianney Church on Tuesday nights beginning January 8 th . If you are a baptized Catholic and, for whatever reason, were never confirmed, please call Anthony (946-1128) for more information on celebrating this Sacrament.

2008 CALENDARS courtesy of DeJohn Funeral Home are available on the counter in the church office. Please help yourself.

OFFICE HELP – We are in need of a volunteer in the church office on Thursday evenings. You will be alternating every other Thursday evening with another volunteer. If you are able to help please call Carole in the church office (440-946-0887) for further details.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS - Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day - Liturgical Minister schedules (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Sacristans) are on the bulletin board by the kitchenette. Ministers are asked to sign up if they are able to help for the holidays.

HEALING MINISTRY – This Wednesday, we will again be celebrating the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick as part of our 6:45 p.m. evening liturgy. For those dealing with a significant physical or emotional struggle, come and receive this beautiful Sacrament of Anointing. For those who are dreading the approaching holidays because of feelings of loneliness, depression, hurt or disappointment be healed by His touch through the Eucharist. After the liturgy, prayer teams will be available to pray with you for individual needs.

THE ST. NOEL ANNUAL EPIPHANY CONCERT – will be held on Sunday, January 6, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in the church. Come and celebrate the completion of the Christmas season with the full St. Noel Music Ministry which consists of our wonderful 65-voice choir, the 20-voice chamber singers, our handbell choir which rings 5 octaves of bells and chimes, and our excellent instrumentalists. They will be presenting their music from the Christmas season including the Midnight Mass program. Please invite your friends and family and join us in an afternoon of beautiful music.

HOLY HOUR FOR PEACE – Our “Let There Be Peace” prayer and reflection group will be leading us in a Holy Hour for Peace on Tuesday, January 1, 2008 from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. In addition to celebrating the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God, January 1 st is also the World Day of Peace. Our prayer will center on the Rosary for Peace. We will gather in the Eucharistic Chapel behind the main altar. At the beginning of this new year, please consider joining us for this opportunity to intercede for our world that “peace on earth and good will to all peoples” may prevail over violence. There is a box and forms on the table in the Narthex for you to submit specific prayer requests for peace, be they in your family, among your friends, in your place of work or more global in nature. These intentions will be prayed during our Holy Hour.

EXTRA CANVASS BAGS? – In an effort to reduce the number of plastic and paper bags we use, we would like to issue as many canvass/cloth grocery bags as possible to our food pantry clients so they can reuse them, if they need to revisit us and for their other shopping.  If you have extra bags and are willing to donate them, simply place them in the food bin in the food pantry area.  Thank you for helping to care for God's creation!

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP – Activities for December are as follows: –– December 13 th – Games of Choice – December 20 th – CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON – 11:30 am - socializing, meeting, punch, pizza, cheese tray w/crackers and then at 12:30 p.m. we will have our luncheon menu: Prime Rib, baked potato, mixed vegetables, salad, rolls, butter and cheese cake. Cost is $12.00 per person. For more information or tickets please call Marianne at 440-943-6822. Deadline for tickets and payment is December 17 th . December 27 th - NO MEETING. Next meeting will be on January 3, 2008.

HOSPITALITY - We are in need of help at the 5:00 p.m. Saturday evening Mass and the 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Masses on Sunday to set up and serve coffee and donuts. You will be scheduled once a month. Families as well as individuals are welcome to sign up. We thank you for your help. If you are interested please call the parish office at 440-946-0887.

ADULT FAITH MATTERS – Checkout the kiosk for adult faith formation opportunities offered throughout the Lake/Geauga District.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERTS – If you would like to receive by email the legislative action alerts sent to us from the Diocesan Social Action Office please sign up on the kiosk.  This is a great way to be aware of legislation pending both in Ohio and on the national level that will have an impact (either positively or negatively) on the values fostered by Catholic social teaching.  Alerts include contact information for the legislators involved and suggested the points to be emphasized when we make our contacts.  Part of our call as Christians is to advocate for those who are in poverty, suffering injustices or whose very life and dignity may be threatened in some way.  Please prayerfully consider signing up for these action alerts.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 2008 are available in the church office. Cost of the book is $30.00. All proceeds benefit children with disabilities.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY hosts a monthly Grief Support Group. The next session is on December 11 th at 7:00 p.m. For further information and necessary registration please call Rita at 440-942-0336 .

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH in Willoughby is sponsoring a Bereavement Support Program called “Getting Through The Holidays,” on Friday, December 14 th at 7:30 p.m. in the school gym. Please call 440-942-4500 for reservations.

CATHOLIC UPDATE entitled “Praying for Christian Unity,” by Fr. James F. Loughran, S.A. is now available in the kiosk.

URSULINE COLLEGE invites you to participate in their Master of Arts in Ministry Program. Classes begin January 14, 2008 if you would like more information, please call 440-646-8195. Scholarships are available.

ASSUMPTION SCHOOL (Geneva) invites all former students to attend the “Alumni Home for the Holidays” reception, Sunday, December 30 th , from 1-3:00 p.m. in the hall at 594 W. Main St, Rt. 20, Geneva.

REGINA HIGH CHRISTMAS CONCERT will present “Step Into Christmas”, a musical Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 16 th at 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call 216-382-2110 Ext 258.

ST. JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH in Mentor is presenting “Choral Sounds of Christmas”, Concert on Sunday, December 16 th at 3:00 p.m. in the Church. Admission is free but donations would be greatly appreciated.

ST. FELECITAS CHURCH 140 Richmond Road, Euclid, Ohio is presenting their bell Choir, Traditional Choir, and Contemporary Music Group to celebrate the Advent

and Christmas Season. This event will take place on December 16 th at 3:00 p.m.

VILLA ANGELA-ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL is presenting their Christmas Concert on Thursday, December 13 th at 7:30 p.m. in the gym. Admission price is $2 for adults and $1 for students. Everyone is welcome to attend.

PLEASE SAVE YOUR USED STAMPS – for the Maryknoll Sisters for their missionary work. Cut the stamps from the envelope using scissors. Leave ¼” margin around the stamp. Postage meter stamps are of no value. Place the stamps in the box located in the coat room. Because of modern devices such as e-mail, direct deposit, postage meters etc the use of stamps is way down. We really need your help! Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

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