Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018

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1 Twenty sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time September 30, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018 Advent 2018

Remembering December 17-22 MONDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM Ann Marie Pryle Walter Dick Cavanagh Judy & Ron Grambo Bernard & Judy Harding Richard Nichols Ethel Locher Dr.

LaBelle Marilyn & Chuck Mercer Joe & Rosie Gralinski The Family TUESDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM WEDNESDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM THURSDAY (OLS) 12:10 AM FRIDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM SATURDAY We believe Eucharist is the

2 Remembering December MONDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM Ann Marie Pryle Walter Dick Cavanagh Judy & Ron Grambo Bernard & Judy Harding Richard Nichols Ethel Locher Dr. Frank Milani Suzanne Spinelli Donald & Joseph Judge Lola Schurman Phil & Dee Judge Patti Berk Kennard Scott Evelyn Kovalsky The Family The Solera Family Marlene Jakes The West Family Christian LaBelle Marilyn & Chuck Mercer Joe & Rosie Gralinski The Family TUESDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM WEDNESDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM THURSDAY (OLS) 12:10 AM FRIDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM SATURDAY We believe Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith and the center of our parish life and mission! Reflecting on Living the Gospel We hear the preaching of John the Baptist today, the Third Sunday of Advent. We are moving toward the imminent coming of the Son of Man. John would have been a fine preacher of the fire and brimstone variety, motivating his audience to action. Three times different groups ask him, What should we do? And three times John has an answer founded in justice and mercy. Follow the rules; share with those who have not. This is fairly simple and straightforward advice. And because of it he was thought to be the Messiah. Furthermore, John tells them that this is only the beginning. Another is coming who bears a winnowing fan, a fork-like shovel. The winnower used the fan to throw wheat grains into the air. The heavy kernels would fall to the ground and the lighter chaff would be blown away, gathered up, and burned. John the Baptist used this vivid image to speak of what the one who is to come would do. Being burned in an unquenchable fire seems a distant image from the lilies of the field Jesus that Luke will narrate later in his gospel. This might cause us to wonder, were John s expectations met? Perhaps in his fire-andbrimstone preaching John was hoping for a fiery judgment. And this could be the reason he sent messengers to Jesus later in the gospel asking him, Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? (Luke 7:19; NABRE). John s own expectation of a Messiah who would bring judgment, wrath, and an unquenchable fire might not have been met by Jesus. John would not be the first to have dashed expectations and hopes. Jesus has another way. Still, John s essential message of practicing justice and mercy are good ways to prepare for Christ s coming. 2

Mission Statement Christmas Eve THE PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST.

SERVE. 5:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil 12:00 a.m. Midnight Mass Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. 12 Noon We recognize God s call to serve our parish family and neighbors near and far!

WHETHER THIS PARISH IS YOUR SECOND HOME OR YOU RE VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN HEARTS. COME AS YOU ARE TO ST.

We may be weary because we are human, but we rejoice in hope because we are Christian. Prepare Him room and gather around the altar of hope. ARE YOU NEW TO ST.

3 Mission Statement Christmas Eve THE PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST. GREGORY, GUIDED BY CHRIST S GOSPEL MESSAGE OF LOVE AND NOURISHED FOR MISSION AT EUCHARIST WELCOMES THE WORLD WITH OPEN ARMS, FAITHFUL HEARTS AND HANDS READY TO SERVE. 5:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil 12:00 a.m. Midnight Mass Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. 12 Noon We recognize God s call to serve our parish family and neighbors near and far! FOR OVER 45 YEARS, THE CHURCH OF SAINT GREGORY HAS GATHERED THE FAITHFUL TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR NEWBORN KING, EMMANUEL GOD WITH US. WHETHER THIS PARISH IS YOUR SECOND HOME OR YOU RE VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN HEARTS. COME AS YOU ARE TO ST. GREGORY S TO WORSHIP, AND WELCOME THE WORLD WITH OPEN ARMS, FAITHFUL HEARTS AND HANDS READY TO SERVE. We may be weary because we are human, but we rejoice in hope because we are Christian. Prepare Him room and gather around the altar of hope. ARE YOU NEW TO ST. Gregory s? WE RE GLAD YOU RE HERE! The Church of St. Gregory is a diverse and vibrant community of faith that offers many opportunities to enrich your spiritual life, serve those in need, educate your family, and most importantly, to belong. You may fill out an online registration form at Thechurchofstgregory.com or download form and return to our office.

Stewardship Love and generosity start here at home.

to put our mission into action: welcoming the world with open arms, faithful hearts and hands ready to serve.

Sunday Offering $13,987.00 Building Fund Payments $ 7,712.55 Religious Retirement $1,002.

The season of Advent is a time to remember the hope, peace, joy, and love that Christ s coming brought and continues to bring to our world.

4 Stewardship Love and generosity start here at home. We are grateful for your faithful stewardship which sustains the life of the parish, supports our outreach and ministries, as well as maintains the level of staffing needed to put our mission into action: welcoming the world with open arms, faithful hearts and hands ready to serve. Thank you for your gift of treasure and commitment to do God s work here at the Church of Saint Gregory offered on the weekend of December 8 & 9, Sunday Offering $13, Building Fund Payments $ 7, Religious Retirement $1, Hands Ready To Serve Weekly Pantry Collection Pancake Mix & Syrup Donations this week will be offered to McAuley Center. Donations of pet food will always be received. The season of Advent is a time to remember the hope, peace, joy, and love that Christ s coming brought and continues to bring to our world. Now more than ever, though, PEACE must be our primary prayer and hope. Join the combined music ministries of the Church of Saint Gregory and Our Lady of the Snows/St. Benedict s in a moving, musical Advent prayer for peace And On Earth, Peace: A Ceremony of Lessons and Carols tonight Sunday, December 16 at 7:00 pm at the Church of Saint Gregory. Join the 60+ voice choir and chamber orchestra in recalling through scripture and song how God s peace has always been present to his people. Admission is free. 4

Refugee Christmas Party The Christmas Party was a huge success.

One of our new families is looking for a sewing machine. If anyone has a machine they do not use, please call the rectory!

Everyone s safety and access to our campus is our primary concern. We apologize for the added inconvenience. It is temporary!

Valet Advent Penance Services Advent Reconciliation services will be held throughout our area in the month of December.

John Vianney (Corpus Christi), Montdale Tuesday, December 18 at 7:00 PM Church of St.

Eve liturgies and two Christmas Day Masses here at the Church of Saint Gregory in hopes everyone will be able to comfortably and

We always encourage as many parishioners as possible to consider the tradition of attending Mass on Christmas day.

the crowds. Our Jubilate! music ministry will begin caroling at 11:30 PM.

5 Refugee Christmas Party The Christmas Party was a huge success. Thank you to all who baked delicious goodies, provided transportation and celebrated with our families. One of our new families is looking for a sewing machine. If anyone has a machine they do not use, please call the rectory! We invite your kind cooperation during the construction phase of our Ministry Center. Please do not park in the main driveway. Everyone s safety and access to our campus is our primary concern. We apologize for the added inconvenience. It is temporary! OLP parking lots are always available. We cherish our relationship with Jesus and strive to make the gospel relevant to our daily lives! Valet Advent Penance Services Advent Reconciliation services will be held throughout our area in the month of December. Please make an effort to attend one of the services listed below. Monday, December 17 at 7:00 PM St. John Vianney (Corpus Christi), Montdale Tuesday, December 18 at 7:00 PM Church of St. Patrick, Nicholson Thursday, December 20 at 7:00 PM Our Lady of the Snows, Clarks Summit O Come All Ye Faithful There are two Christmas Eve liturgies and two Christmas Day Masses here at the Church of Saint Gregory in hopes everyone will be able to comfortably and prayerfully celebrate this wonderful feast. We always encourage as many parishioners as possible to consider the tradition of attending Mass on Christmas day. For those celebrating on Christmas Eve, please consider the Midnight Mass as an alternative option to the 5:00 PM in effort to balance the crowds. Our Jubilate! music ministry will begin caroling at 11:30 PM. We look forward to your warm presence and wonderful praise of God. For anyone who needs assistance when attending mass while we are under construction, help is here! We ask you to please pull your car up to the sidewalk entrance on the OLP side of the rear parking lot at the rear of the rectory. One of our hospitality ministers will meet you to assist your passenger into church while you park your car. You may call in advance during the week and request help for a particular Mass. The gifts of bread and wine are offered this week in memory of Suzanne Pusateri 5

Leadership Teams Pastoral Council Michele Musheno, Theresa Robinson, Scott Pettinato, Marjorie Barlow, Joe Hogan, Donald Broderick, Ted Tomaszewski, Mary Ann Morgan, Logan Lombardo, Deacon Bob, Gemma

John Finance Council Bill Burkavage, John Devine, Paul Gerega, Deacon Bob, Yvonne Cronkey, Ken Paulino, Jim Fleming, Father John.

Gregory s, Angels at the Doorstep, might be just what you are looking for.

of assistance. This ministry would like to provide more services, but we need your help. We need your help in identifying these people in need.

6 Leadership Teams Pastoral Council Michele Musheno, Theresa Robinson, Scott Pettinato, Marjorie Barlow, Joe Hogan, Donald Broderick, Ted Tomaszewski, Mary Ann Morgan, Logan Lombardo, Deacon Bob, Gemma Chuff, Mary Chuff, Matthew Walsh, Theresa Acla, John Zaums, Marian Farrell, Barbara Bratz, Chris Behan, Perry Rose, Fr. John Finance Council Bill Burkavage, John Devine, Paul Gerega, Deacon Bob, Yvonne Cronkey, Ken Paulino, Jim Fleming, Father John. Angels at the Doorstep D o you have a relative, friend, or neighbor who is in need of assistance but you have not had the time to reach out to them? This newest ministry at St. Gregory s, Angels at the Doorstep, might be just what you are looking for. This ministry provides outreach services to our parishioners who are either sick, hospitalized, in a nursing home or who have suffered a loss of a loved one and are temporarily in need of some sort of assistance. This ministry would like to provide more services, but we need your help. We need your help in identifying these people in need. We are also in need of more volunteers either to provide long term assistance or short term interventions. If this ministry is one which interests you or you know someone who could benefit from these services, please contact Joe Hogan at jhoganstgregory@gmail.com. 6 Fresh brewed coffee in St. Joe s Café every Sunday from 8:00 am to Noon and Wednesday mornings after Mass. We depend on your Christmas offering as it affords us the opportunity to start and build new ministry efforts. Please give special consideration for your best gift this year. Your generosity is deeply appreciated and serves our family in wonderful ways. All gifts directly support the mission and life of the Church of Saint Gregory. Your generous donation will not be appropriated for any other Diocesan need. In addition, you may want to consider a year-end gift of stock. Donations to St. Gregory s Building Campaign Fund of stock or mutual funds transfers may provide you with an income tax deduction, as well as a way to avoid paying capital gains tax on the shares increased value. As always, check with your tax consultant for details. A member of our leadership team will be happy to meet with you and discuss project details and options with you! Congratulations to Marilyn Pryle Pennsylvania s 2019 Teacher of the Year

Thank You A very sincere word of thanks to all who took an ornament from the Giving Tree.

All toy donations will be picked up this Sunday, December 16 at 1:00 PM for delivery Monday, December 17.

We believe that our Baptism forms us into a family joined together to love God and one another!

December 20, all practices will begin at 4:00 PM. Practice for All parts will be held on Saturday, December 22 at 10:00 AM.

We have four more children to be baptized and we will have completed a years total of 59 children.

Greczek Cameron Michael Holbrook Rosina Nicole Lankowski Chase Giovanni Lochner Joseph Philip McCormack, IV Jackson Matthew

7 Thank You A very sincere word of thanks to all who took an ornament from the Giving Tree. We kindly ask that you wrap and return your gift as soon as possible. The final gifts pick up will be December 20. All toy donations will be picked up this Sunday, December 16 at 1:00 PM for delivery Monday, December 17. As always we appreciate your generosity, especially during this time of year. We believe that our Baptism forms us into a family joined together to love God and one another! Christmas Eve Liturgy with Children The following is a schedule of practices: Monday, December 17, Tuesday, December 18, Thursday, December 20, all practices will begin at 4:00 PM. Practice for All parts will be held on Saturday, December 22 at 10:00 AM. This year Saint Gregory s has been blessed, so far, in welcoming 55 children into the church through the Sacrament of Baptism. We have four more children to be baptized and we will have completed a years total of 59 children. We thank all parents and families of these children for choosing to have their children baptized as they begin their journey of faith. Cayson James Bleich Isabella Rosalie Castaldi Lillie Avalon Davis Addison Catherine Edwards Benjamin Craig Edwards Anna Marie Greczek Cameron Michael Holbrook Rosina Nicole Lankowski Chase Giovanni Lochner Joseph Philip McCormack, IV Jackson Matthew Mirabelli Get Involved Whether you re interested in serving, connecting with others, worshipping, giving, or growing spiritually, we offer many opportunities for adults of all ages and youth to choose from. This bulletin along with our website is the best source of information for those wanting to engage. Selena Maria Morales Emmie Elizabeth Nelson Isabel Grace Paulino Lucy Elizabeth Peters Maya Lynn Ruddy Tegan Schlear Jackson Gregg Severs James Francis Sheils Ella Ray Slavinski Amelia Bryn Zagorski 7

Baptism Baptisms are normally celebrated on the Third Sunday of every month during or following the 12 noon liturgy. Baptisms may be arranged at other times when necessary.

8 Baptism Baptisms are normally celebrated on the Third Sunday of every month during or following the 12 noon liturgy. Baptisms may be arranged at other times when necessary. Parent and Godparent preparation may be scheduled by calling the rectory for an appointment. Anointing of the Sick Prayer Shawl Ministry The prayer shawl ministry meets the second Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM in the rectory. Angels at the Doorstep A team of volunteers who provide comfort, a meal or assis- Please contact the rectory at anytime for the celebration of this sacrament. tance with parishioners and neighbors suffering loss or illness of any kind. Coordinating Teams Marriage Veterans Ministry This ministry seeks to raise awareness of the growing problem of homelessness of veterans within our local community and serve residents at St. Francis Commons. For more information please bburkavage@gmail.com WORSHIP Arrangements should be made six months prior to the desired wedding date. Please contact Father Lapera. Music Ministry Rehearsals (Both) Spirit Song Ensemble and Voices of Faith Choir: Wed. 7:00 p.m. Genesis Children s Choir: Wed. 4:00 p.m. Art and Environment A team of volunteers who provide appropriate ideas and Refugee Family Ministry This team will encourage parish support for refugees arriving in our community from all over the world in cooperation with CSS of the Diocese of Scranton. design for the decoration of our worship space. Holy Grounds Ministers of Hospitality Family, friends and visitors are welcome for coffee after Mass in St. Joe s Café on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. Ministers of Hospitality are the welcoming ambassadors of our parish family at liturgy. Please contact our office for more information. Communion Calls A team of Extraordinary Communion Ministers visit our homebound with Communion every month. For more Information please contact Deacon Robert Sheils at rsheils1@comcast.net Rosary Groups Every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM, every Tuesday afternoon at 5:15 PM and every Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM. Hospital Visitation If anyone has a family member, relative or friend in any of the area hospitals and would like them to have a visit, please call the rectory. St. Joseph s Outreach Our parish partners with St. Joseph s School in Uganda. Donations are always welcome in support of student tuition. Heavenly Paws A pet group that collects food and supplies for the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter. For more information please contact Lisa Thomas at lmt01@comcast.net Hands Ready To Serve Weekly donations may be left in the closet to your left as you come in the new entrance on the OLP side. There is a wagon inside the door for all donations. See page 4 for a list of items we are collecting each week. There are also four large annual collections. Women s Guild Guild meetings take place the first Thursday of every month from September through May, with the exception of January. Meetings begin at 7:00 PM and are held in the rectory. saintgregoryswomensguild@gmail. com Community Table A social gathering to foster fellowship, friendship and parish family for all parish adults. The community table meets at a different venue monthly. Information will be published in the Green Dialog or you may judywalsh730@gmail.com. Religious Education Our Religious Education program takes place every Sunday Morning at 11:05 AM at Our Lady of Peace School for grades 1-8. Kindergarten Class is held at Our Lady of Peace School. Holy Cross School System Our Lady of Peace School 410 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA Mrs. M. Colleen Jumper, Principal - Holy Cross High School 501 E. Drinker Street, Dunmore, PA Mr. Benjamin D. Tolerico, Principal - R.C.I.A. There currently is an R.C.I.A. team ready to welcome anyone interested in becoming a Catholic or to learn more about their Catholic faith. Please Connie at rsheils1@comcast.net Family Faith Formation Seasonal Faith Formation opportunities for all ages are David Hemmler, Marion Eagen, Nina Magnani, Cindy Dick, Debbie Colarossi, Ron Grambo, Donna Nasser, Judy Grambo, Danny Marx. SERVICE Julie Nastasi, Carol Strauch, John Devine, Kate Sebring, Chrissy Jacoby, Deacon Bob, Meg & John Hambrose, Jane Farr, Judy Burkavage, Susan Scanland, Ken Walsh, Doris Sanner. The Service Team has a complete list of service connected opportunities. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Julie Nastasi at Julie.nastasi@gmail. com. COMMUNITY Tracy Bannon, Saul & Lisa Rigau, Yvonne Cronkey, Bridget Walsh, Bill Durdach, Danelle Hogan, Molly Johnson, Pam Jones, Mary Griffin, Joe Hogan, Nina Magnani. Parish activities and sign-up sheets may be found on the Welcome Cart. For more information, please contact Tracy Bannon at tracybannon@stjosephscenter. Org WORD Ruth Fried, Bob Barry, Jack Rubano, Connie Sheils, Patti Staples, Fred Mercandante, Dr. Ted Tomaszewski, Carlon Preate, Dan Haggerty, Bob Sheils, III, Cristen Klamp. To learn more about the Word Coordinating Team, please contact Patti Staples at thstapes@comcast.net.

First Sunday of Advent December 02, 2018

Twenty sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time September 30, 2018 First Sunday of Advent December 02, 2018 Advent 2018 Remembering December 3-7 MONDAY (OLS) 12:10 PM Dan & Kathryn Millett Helen Owens The Family