December 2-3, First Sunday of Advent

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1 St. Nicholas December 2-3, 2017 First Sunday of Advent Christmas Tree & Wreath Sales Christmas Tree and Wreath sales continue. Please prayerfully consider purchasing your Christmas tree and/or wreath from the parish this year! Bring the aroma of holiday cheer to your home with a fresh cut Fraser Fir tree. Cash, check or credit card are accepted. Hours of Operation Prices List Candy Cane Wreath $20 10" Wreath $10 16" Wreath $20 20" Wreath $30 Small Tree $45 Medium Tree $65 Large Tree $95 Monday-Friday 3:00pm-9:00pm Saturday-Sunday 9:00am-9:00pm Christmas Pageant Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. The Music Ministry will present a Christmas concert featuring Joyful Noise Children's choir presenting a Christmas show titled "Away from the Manger" and the Adult choir performing the Christmas cantata I Hear the Prophet Callin. The evening will be filled with beautiful music to prepare our hearts for the Christmas season! This is an event for every member of the family! Additional details will be in the bulletin and e-newsletter as the concert date approaches. Be sure to save the date and we look forward to seeing you there! Year End Giving A distribution from your IRA is a great way to support the Church! If you are 70 1/2 or older, you can make a direct distribution (up to $100,000) from your IRA to a qualified charity, such as St. Stephen, Martyr. Other ways to give include cash envelopes and e-giving for more information about how you and the Church can benefit, contact your IRA administrator, tax preparer, or the parish office for more information. Take advantage of the end of year benefits by donating today. Family Adoration Children of the Eucharist Please join us Wednesday, December 6 at 6:00pm for the second session of Children of the Eucharist Holy Hour at St. Stephen's! This Holy "Hour" will consist of music, prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament geared specifically towards families with young children. We encourage EVERY FAMILY in our parish to take advantage of this time spent with the Lord where the wiggles, giggles and joyful exuberance of children are welcomed!!! The atmosphere will be relaxed but reverent. There will be stories of the Saints, explanations of why we do what we do at adoration and so much more! Don't miss this chance to build the faith life of your family!!! See you at 6:00pm on Wednesday, December 6! Advent Reconciliation Services December 5, 7:00pm Prince of Peace December 5, 7:00pm St. Matthews December 12, 7:00pm St. Stephen, Martyr December 14, 7:00pm St. Mark Advent Candles Advent Candles are available now on the Credenza for $5.00.

2 Santa For A Senior Please remember to return your Christmas bags before December 10! Thank you from all the seniors who will benefit from your kindness! Merry and Bright Advent Outreach Our advent outreach is off to an amazing start. Thank you to everyone who has selected a family, picked up a gift tag, or donated a coat. Please consider one of the ways below to support families in need in our community. Adopt A Family: Consider adopting a family that is qualified through CHIP (Children's Health Investment Program). Please provide two gifts per child in the family ($25-30 per gift) and a food basket that includes food for a family Christmas dinner. Parishioners who sign up for a family are responsible for contacting the family and delivering the gifts and food basket to their home on Saturday, December 16 or make arrangements with the family for delivery date. Most of the families live in Chesapeake but some may live in Portsmouth and Norfolk. This information will be clearly marked on envelopes at the sign-up table after Masses. New Parish Directory Photo Sessions! Photo sessions begin next weekend! December, January and February dates are available. Select your date and time with the easy on line scheduling. If you choose a December date, you are guaranteed your photos by Christmas! Everyone that participates will get a FREE 8X10 photo! Please visit the website under Events to sign up or call the office at The Amazing Grays Our Christmas gathering begins on Wednesday, December 6 with a 10:00am Mass. After mass we will have a brief meeting and then go to Lynnhaven Fish House for lunch. The fun continues with a party at Carol Madden s home. Members with the last names starting with M-Z are reminded to bring desserts to the party. Coat Drive: Make someone s Christmas Merry, Bright and warm. Please donate a gently used child or adult coat in the Commons. The coats will be donated to those in the CHIP program. GiftsForKids: Please support the ForKids program by providing an individual gift for a child. ForKids is an organization that serves homeless families and those transitioning to stable housing throughout the region, including the Our House shelter in Chesapeake. You can pick up gift tags on the table in the Commons. Gifts must be returned to the church unwrapped & placed in the bins at the sign-up tables by Sunday, December 17 at 5:00pm. Gift cards are acceptable to give as gifts too. Contact Linda Hollingsworth at lindahssm@gmail.com or for more information about our Advent Outreach programs. Thanks to all who help those less fortunate in our community.

3 Advent and Christmas Decorating 2017 Merry Christmas! It s time for decorating! Mark your calendars, and come be a part of the magical transformation of the Commons and Sanctuary for our Advent and Christmas Celebrations. ANY help is welcomed on the work days listed below, even if you can spare an hour, please come. All are welcome! December 7 - Thursday:9:00am (Room 6) All large indoor and outdoor wreaths will need to be unwrapped, 'fluffed, bows straightened or replaced. Bring soft gardening gloves, as the wires/branches can be hard on the hands. December (Tuesday-Thursday): 9:00am (Commons) Construction will begin on the large Nativity in the corner of the Commons. Commons Christmas Trees can go up as well. If the weather is promising, we can start outdoor portico decorating. If it takes less time to get the Nativity completed, we ll move on to other projects too. We try to stay on task, but we have to be flexible, since unexpected needs of the Parish can create a change in the schedule, i.e. funeral, etc. December 18 - Monday: 9:00am (Sanctuary) The Arch over the Altar window, Altar and Alcove Trees, and Greenery at each window and Choir Wall. The Christmas Pageant is Tuesday night! December 19 - Tuesday: 9:00am (Commons) Finish anything required in the Church before tonight s Pageant. The 12 foot Tree in the Commons goes up and we ll decorate always a fun day! Portico decorating if the weather has prevented us from starting out there. December 20 - Wednesday: 9:00am (Commons) Assemble the luminaries, check/replace our LED candle batteries. A good assembly line makes this go fast. Create the Nativity in the Sanctuary. December 21 - Thursday: 9:00am (Commons) Plant delivery day! All the poinsettias arrive, and will have to be placed in their Gold Sleeves. Decorate with the ones designated for the Commons, and the rest will be stored in Room 7 until Saturday morning. It s Ironing Day. Bring your irons! We ll have 3 ironing boards on hand, (and you may bring your own if you like). Yay It s less to iron than at Easter, so it should not take as long. December 23 - Saturday: 7:00am:(Sanctuary) Transforming the church to Gold and White, Altar Arranging, Floral Placement, changing the Advent Wreath to Gold and White. Place Poinsettias in the church, Banner and Flag Hanging. December 24 - Sunday: 1:00pm (Outside) Placement of the Luminary Bags around the church grounds and walk ways...weather Permitting. We will NOT be doing this if it is raining, windy, or if there is a high probability of rain/wind for the afternoon and evening Masses that would ruin the luminaries and their lights. LED lights, no candle flames! Families going to early Mass are encouraged to help prior to Mass! If the weather is poor and the luminaries were not used, December 27 work day is cancelled. December 25 - Monday: Merry Christmas! Not a work day! Parishioners coming to church for the morning Masses are asked to PLEASE pick up as many luminary bags as you can carry on your way in to church and place them on the tables in Room 3. December 26 - Tuesday: 9:00am (Room 3) Disassemble the Luminaries. Again, assembly line!! January 8-12: 9:00am (Monday-Friday) This entire week we Un-decorate the Church and Commons. Each day starting at 9:00am until we are finished. Ordinary Time starts the weekend of January 13/14, so the church has to be changed to Liturgical Green. Thanking you in advance for your continued help and support! Merry Christmas and Peace to all! Marcia Tschohl Arts and Environment Coordinator MFT195610@gmail.com

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8 Hope 4 Life Baby Bottle Campaign Hope 4 Life thanks the parishioners of St. Stephen, Martyr for their overwhelming financial support of $3,560 during the recent Baby Bottle Campaign. These funds help numerous women and families with life affirming services. If you d like more information about Hope 4 Life or know someone who needs our help please contact us at or visit our website Annual Pro-Life Rosary Join us to pray for an end to abortion during the Annual Pro-Life Rosary in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, December 9 at 3:00pm in front of the 4 abortion sites in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Newport News. This year there will be a reception following the Rosary at the Martinez home at 600 Botetourt Gardens, Norfolk, VA (corner of Olney Road, 1 block west of the Chrysler Museum). This is a family event. Thank you and God bless you. Adult Faith Formation Survey said: Back-To-Basics The Catholic Faith Explained 12 sessions begin Monday, January 22 7:00-8:30pm. Presenter: Deacon Keith Fournier RCIA Next class: Thursday, December 7 7:00-8:30pm. We will meet in room 4 to learn about Rituals and Traditions. RCIC Next class: Thursday, December 7 7:00-8:00pm in rooms 1 and 2 The Topic will be on Salvation History. Advent Food Collection There will not be a food collection weekend in December as we provided many families with Thanksgiving food and will do so again for Christmas. However, many others are in need of everyday food. Please consider donating food as an Advent almsgiving for the poor anytime throughout the month of December. All regular foods such as soups, canned meats and vegetables, cereals, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, etc. are appreciated. More sweet potatoes/yams are also needed for Christmas baskets at the Great Bridge Food Closet. The Food Closet provided 30 families with food for their Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you for helping our Chesapeake neighbors in need. Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Listen to nine Scripture lessons which recount the Fall, the promise of a Messiah, the Incarnation, and the Great Commission to preach the Good News. Each lesson is followed by a carol or other song that reflects on the lesson s message and a brief prayer. Join in this 19 th century tradition on Sunday, December 10 from 5:30pm- 6:30pm at Good Shepherd Catholic Church (300 Smithfield Blvd. Smithfield, VA). Advent Reconciliation will follow at 6:30pm. Symbolon will meet December 4 from 9:30-11:30am in Room 4. Topic is on The Last Things. Upper Room Prayer Fellowship Come join us every Tuesday 7:00-8:30pm in the Worship Space The Divine Mercy Chaplet sung Praise & Worship songscontemporary Sacred Scripture/ Catechetical talks Testimonials, sharing God s gifts Intercessory prayer for healing Join us for the next Upper Room Prayer Fellowship on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. The talk is Hope: Do I pray with a confident, purpose and plan for the promised land? If you have questions, please contact the Adult Faith Office at scott@ssmrcc.org or

9 Our Gifts To The Lord Due to the holiday the Offertory 11/26/17 information will be provided in the Weekly Newsletter sent on Wednesday through . Immaculate Conception Friday, December 8, Immaculate Conception Masses will be held at 6:30am, 8:30am, 12:00pm and 7:00pm. The office is closed Friday, December 8. PARISH STAFF Pastor: Rev. Brian Rafferty Deacon Keith Fournier Deacon Kevin Trail Business Manager: Crystal Anderson Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass Schedule Saturday, December 23 5:00pm Sunday, December 24 7:00am 10:00am Office Manager: Sharon Achorn Communication Director: Zoe Barnette Facility Manager: Alex Shuflat Liturgy: Marge Marino Religious Education: (K-5 grade): Traci Baker Religious Education (6-10 grade): Jason Morrison Religious Education (11-12 grade): Lesley Sarver Christmas Mass Schedule Sunday, December 24 6:00pm 9:00pm 11:59pm (Midnight Mass) Monday, December 25 7:30am 10:00am Adult Faith Formation & Social Ministry: Scott Turbitt Music Director: Jessica Kohan Second Sunday of Advent December 9/10, 2017 Scripture Readings: Isaiah 40:1-5, Peter 3:8-14 Mark 1:1-8

10 Monday, December 4 6:30am Mass Tuesday, December 5 6:30am Mass Wednesday, December 6 6:30am Mass 10:00am Mass (Amazing Grays) Thursday, December 7 6:30am Mass 6:30pm Mass Friday, December 8 6:30am Mass 12:00pm Noon Mass 7:00pm Mass Saturday, December 9 5:00pm Mass (Kaitlyn Duffy) Mass Intentions Sunday, December 10 7:00am Mass (Parish of St. Stephen, Martyr) (Parish of St. Stephen, Martyr) 11:30am Mass (Jerry Wells) 5:00pm Mass (Parish of St. Stephen, Martyr) Your Prayers are Cherished for Loved Ones Inside our Parish Melanie Doherty Louise Rawls Your Prayers are Cherished for Loved Ones Outside our Parish Eddie Shanley Barbara Shanley Rest In Peace Thomas Herrick Bernard J. Loonam Prayer for Our Troops Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need, and bring them home safely. May their sacrifices bring about a lasting and just peace in all lands. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.