DEAR FRIENDS

Busy, busy, busy this time of year—The Church no less so than everyone else... I won’t waste your time with rambling thoughts, but there are lots of announcements below, so please do take a minute to “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” them.  As you on spend, spend, spend, on others this season, remember also to complete, complete, complete your 2017 pledge, if you have not done so already, and to make, make, make your pledge for 2018.
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Wallace
 

CONFESSIONS

•  It is traditional for Christians to make their confessions at least twice a year, generally during Advent and during Lent.  Please contact Father Wallace to make an appointment.

THE CRÈCHE LITURGY IS THIS SUNDAY!

December 17th

• 9:45—All children meet in the Sunday School Room for prayer.  Then we’ll go into the church to practice.  Please make every effort to be on time.  It’s hard to rehearse when everyone is not there.  The rehearsal will include all readings and walking the actual figures to the Créche so that the children can practice carrying them.
• 11:00—Children should sit with the parents during mass and then move into the sacristy hallway after Communion.  Jean, Cynthia, and the other parents will be there to help everyone get organized and ready to process in.

HELP THOSE IN NEED: 

Socks and Books 

• Sock Drive—St. Paul’s is collecting socks again this year to be distributed to the homeless during the winter months. The collection bin is in the Parish Hall. See Eoin if you have any questions.
• Children’s Christmas Book Drive—Sunday is the last day to contribute to the Children’s Christmas Book Drive.  Donations of NEW books (for ages 4 to 18), cash or checks (made out to St. Paul’s/labelled Book Drive) are most welcome. At Coffee Hour on Sunday, we will wrap the books. Volunteers of all ages appreciated! The books will be taken to the Miccio Community Center for distribution. 

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE 

(N.B., it’s different than last year)! 

Sunday, December 24: 

• 11:00 AM, Low Mass with Hymns (Advent IV)
• 5:30 PM, Mass of Christmas for Families
• 10:45 PM, Carols to Welcome Christ’s Birth
• 11:00 PM, Solemn Mass of Christmas

Monday, December 25, Christmas Day 

• 9:00 AM, Low Mass, in the Lady Chapel

Sunday, December 31, Christmas I 

• 11:00 AM, Low Mass with Hymns

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS 

• You will find again in this week’s service bulletin the envelopes for Christmas flowers. This is your voluntary gift to the Christ Child on his birthday and to help decorate St. Paul’s for the Christmas Season. If you would like to donate flowers in memory of someone or in thanksgiving, indicate it clearly on the envelope which may be placed in the collection plate. Christmas flower donations may be made at any time, but memorials received after Wednesday, December 20th will not appear in the Christmas Eve bulletin.

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

• Sunday School will not meet Sunday, December 24th, or Sunday, December 31.

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

• Just in time for last minute Christmas shopping, the Fundraising Committee again this year will be selling crafts and holiday items at coffee hour. The Craft Table has lots of cards and paper goods and other crafts.

CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES AT CHRIST CHURCH COBBLE HILL

• 5:00 PM, Sunday, December 17:  A Feast of Carols
• 7:00 PM, Wednesday, December 20: A dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”; free admission

THIS COMING SUNDAY AT ST. PAUL’S DECEMBER 17

The Third Sunday of Advent & The Creche Liturgy

• High Mass—11:00 AM
• Sunday's Regular Appointed Readings—
  Old Testament: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
  Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
  The Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
• Anthem at Communion—“The Five Joys,” by Curt Oliver
• Children’s Gift to the Christ Child—”Away in a Manger”
• Hymns and Carols—
  “Come, thou long-expected Jesus,” Stuttgart, 66
  “The King shall come when morning dawns,” St. Stephen, 73
  “O come, O come Emmanuel,” Veni, veni Emmanuel, 56, verses 1-4
• All the Christmas Carols for The Créch Liturgy