Week of December 30, 2007

Weekly Readings

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Dear Parishioner,

As the holidays draw to an end and we look forward to a New Year, it is important to re-affirm the faith which is ours and recommit ourselves to live it. Central to the message of the Gospel is the call of Christ to pray and work for peace in our world. In the Christian tradition the presence of violence and war has been always seen as an evil which at times must be endured but never regarded as normal or acceptable.

To mark the New Year and our commitment to peace, our parish “Let There Be Peace” prayer group will pray the Rosary for world peace in our church chapel on Tuesday, January 1 st at 3:00 p.m. You are invited to join them to pray for our world.

If you are unable to join the peace group in church, I encourage you to take some time on January 1 st to pray for peace and perhaps to use this prayer by Pope Paul VI:

Lord, God of peace, you have created us, the object of your kindness, to be close to you in glory. We bless you and we thank You because you have sent us your beloved Son, Jesus, making Him the mystery of the pasch, the architect of all salvation, the source of all peace, the bond of true unity. We thank you for the desire, the efforts, the realizations, which your spirit of peace has roused in our day: to replace hatred with love, differences with understanding, unconcern with care. Open yet more our hearts to the needs of all our brothers and sisters, so that we may be better able to build a true peace. Remember, God of mercy, all who are in pain, who suffer and die in the cause of a more united world. For those of every race, of every tongue – may your kingdom come: your kingdom of justice, of peace, of love. May the earth be filled with your glory.

Amen

Fr. George Smiga

MARDI GRAS – SAVE THE DATE – Because Lent begins very early in 2008, Mardi Gras will be on Saturday evening, February 2, 2008, so mark your calendars now!  See you there!

ST. AUGUSTINE RAFFLE CALENDARS (365 chances to win) calendars will be available in the church office, Mondays through Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and Sundays after Mass. For more information please call Jim Klements at 440-442-2744

PRIME TIME - No meeting tonight – see you in 2008. Be safe!! Sign up for GIFT

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – Our next session is Tuesday, January 8 th at 7:00pm – bring your Bibles. Let's have a great 2008.

CHRISTMAS PROJECT – All deliveries were made - thank you for your generosity!! We served 93 families this year and helped over 450 people with food and gifts. May we continue to spread God's love and work to end poverty.

ALTAR SERVERS – We are in 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.

BLOOD DRIVE – the Red Cross Blood Drive is today (Sunday) from 8-1pm in the large hall. Please consider giving the gift of life for 2008 – thank you!!

TEEN MASS – The Mass, dinner/dance has been re-scheduled for Sunday, January 6 th beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Banquet Center/Large Hall. Both the Mass and dinner/dance will take place in the Banquet Center. The event will end at approximately 8:30 p.m. Please call/email Anthony with questions.

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. Spots are being reserved - we have 6 remaining 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.

PENNY JAR – Did you notice the large jar in the narthex?? 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.

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.

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.

WEDDING MUSIC – We will have an Evening of Wedding Music on Monday, January 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the church. This workshop is for engaged couples who will be getting married this year, and will feature over an hour of music appropriate for liturgy, as well as a chance to hear parish soloists and instrumentalists. To better assist you in making choices, you are strongly encouraged to bring a tape recorder and tape the session. See you there!

JANUARY GIFT – Start the new year with a “faith lift!” Come to GIFT on Wednesday, January 9 th or Sunday, January 13 th . The session is entitled “Islam 101: Shared Faith in the Family of Sarah and Abraham .”

Our guest speaker, Father Joe Hilinski, will teach all adults (parents included!) about the Islamic faith and help us overcome religious stereotypes. Children will explore the similarities and differences among Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Don't let your busy holiday schedule keep you from registering. Visit the table in the narthex, call (440)946-1128, ext. 18, or go to www.stnoel.org .

CARING FOR CREATION – Come and join us on Sunday, January 20, 2008 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. as we share ideas on the topic Resolved: Reduce , Reuse, Recycle . We will begin with a potluck supper and then explore our topic.

MUJER Y COMUNIDAD – A detailed year-end report of the activities and future plans of our partners in El Salvador, Mujer y Comunidad (Women and Community) can be found in the Social Justice section of the kiosk. Mujer y Comunidad will need our financial support ($4500) yet in 2008 and then the women hope to move toward sustainability in 2009. Please help yourself to a copy of the report and most especially, keep the women in your prayers!

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 – Next meeting will be on January 3, 2008.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERTS – If you would like to receive by e-mail 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 suggest 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.

ST. NOEL BANQUET CENTER – Great dates are still available in the Banquet Center for 2008. April 19 th & 26 th are open as well as May 3 rd & 24 th and June 7th. Most Fridays throughout the year are also open. If you or someone you know is planning an event of any kind please call the Banquet Center office at 440-946-6635. We are willing to make a deal.

SHOUT BAND & PASTA BUFFET – Tickets are now being sold for the Mo-town Show at St. Noel on January 19 th from 6:00 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Cash bar available. Tickets are only $25.00 per person and are going fast. Please call and reserve a ticket at 440-946-NOEL (6635). If you have never had the pleasure of eating at St. Noel or have never been entertained by Shout before, do yourself a favor and plan to attend this event.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 2008 are available in the church office or by calling Paula Garbo at 440-942-4884. Cost of the book is $30.00. All proceeds benefit children with disabilities.

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.

EL SALVADOR SPEAKER – Megan Horton, a long time volunteer with Crispaz, an organization dedicated to informing North Americans about El Salvador and the history of the country's struggles, will be speaking at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, January 3, 2008 at Resurrection Parish in Solon. Come and hear about her personal commitment to this country and its people and be updated on the current political, economic and environmental situation there. All are welcome!

HOPE CHEST NEEDS men's gloves and hats. Donations can be brought to Hope Chest, 85 North Park Place in Painesville, on Mon-Thurs 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Come to the loading dock in the rear of the Sr. Citizens' Building and ring the bell or bring the items upstairs to Hope Chest. For more information about dropping off donations please call 440-352-0885 or 440-974-7934.

REGINIA HIGH SCHOOL will hold its Scholarship Testing for the class of 2012 on Saturday, January 5, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. until Noon. Registration is $15.00. All eighth grade girls may register for the test by calling Ms. Mathews, Director of Admissions at 216-382-2110, Ext 225 or register on line at

www.reginahigh.com .

SEEDS OF LITERACY - GIVE THE GIFT OF LITERACY – Become a Tutor!

Session 1 –Saturday, January 12 th from 9 am-1 pm

Session 2 – Saturday, January 19 th from 9 am-1 pm

For more information please call 216-651-4302 X 20.

RETROUVAILLE – weekend will be held from Friday, January 11 th (8:00 p.m.) through Sunday, January 13 h (3:00 p.m.) at the Hilton Hotel, 3663 Park East Drive, Beachwood, Ohio. Retrouvaille is a peer ministry program to help couples struggling in their marriages to gain helpful skills in communication and understanding.

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