St. Luke Link. Finding Love in the Manger CONNECT WITH ST. LUKE PARISH! Like Us on Facebook

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1 ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH 1606 BLANDING BLVD. MIDDLEBURG, FL (904) St. Luke Link CONNECT WITH ST. LUKE PARISH! Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Visit Our Website St Luke has joined the Diocese of St. Augustine in our new parish app. Please Text App to to download. 1) Download myparish App 2) Select St. Luke Catholic Church after opening. (available on the App Store and Google Play) myparishapp.com/ appstore Volume13, Issue 3 Finding Love in the Manger And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 The fundamental truth of our faith that leads us to prepare to celebrate Christmas is our belief in the Incarnation. Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 1). Before all else, the Christian faith is a relationship- a relationship with God- who is himself a relationship in the communion of the Trinity. Through Jesus, we come to know who God really is Love. At Christmas, in the simplicity of the crib, we encounter the true Love as His presence is extended to everyone. In Jesus we are given a home; we become a Church; we build a community of faith, love, hope, of mercy and forgiveness. This is what we celebrate on Christmas: God, our welcoming Father, giving us a place in His heart. As for us today, Pope Francis says, By his taking flesh and coming among us, Jesus has touched us, and through the sacraments he continues to touch us even today; transforming our Christmas 2018 hearts, he unceasingly enables us to acknowledge and acclaim him as the Son of God. In faith, we can touch him and receive the power of his grace (Lumen Fidei, 31). Traditionally, Christmas is often the season for giving and receiving that for many people takes greater importance. Many focus on the social aspect of the personal interactions and overlook that Christmas has to do with a loving and merciful God who sent his Son, Jesus, as an absolutely free gift to make salvation possible for humanity. His most generous gift of His Son becomes a model par excellence for us and our disposition towards our relationship with God and each other. As we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity this year, immersed in the presence of Jesus, touched by the gift of faith, and renewed by the sacraments, let us re-create the stable, by offering on our own to provide a roof for the Holy Child. This Christmas, let us be mindful of those struggles in our relationship with God and one another, struggles in our society and within the Church, and in the light of all that God has done for us, respond with what we will bring to the Christ- Child. Let us extend in this Holy Season our welcome to all who may need it the most a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a family member, church, a priest, clergy or religious, a friend, a co-worker, a fellow parishioner. Let us make room in our hearts for forgiveness and love and reach out to those who are asking for them. I would also ask your generous support to assist with the cost of our roof repair. Your contributions are essential to assure the stability of the building and therefore fulfillment of the mission of the Church with Christ Jesus as her newborn savior. May the Christ-Child find a ready home in each of our hearts and through these and other actions expressed in our generosity help us to bring Christ to others this Christmas. Fr. Xaviour, the deacons, the parish staff and I promise you our prayers in a very special way during this great season of love. May the Gracious God, who has gifted us with His Son, bless you and your family now and always. Merry Christmas! With prayers, Fr. Andy

2 Page 2 St. Luke Link COME HOME! Have you been away from the Church? Have you stopped attending Mass? Have you missed out on the benefits of the Sacraments? Please, come home! We welcome you back! Here are ways to return: + Attend Sunday Mass (5 PM Saturday, 8:15 and 11 AM Sunday) + Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Saturday 3:30 PM, Wednesday immediately after 8:30 AM Mass, any time by appointment) + Get your questions about the faith answered by attending one of our Parish programs, making an appointment with Father Andy, or by checking out this website: or scanning this qr code: Lectors Lectors are called to serve and proclaim the Word of God. The lector ministry is where people can read the Sacred Scripture that has been given to us so long ago. The Sacred Scripture is the Living Word of God that, as lectors, we get to proclaim in Mass. Through the readings, God speaks to the heart of the congregation and aids them to live the Word in their everyday lives. When reading, having a strong vibrant voice lets the congregation take in the readings and apply them into their life fully. As lectors reflect on what we are reading, we can reveal God to others through the message we read. We are called by God and have the Holy Spirit come upon us to serve the Church. That is the true beauty of the ministry, to proclaim the message to others so they can live the life God calls us to live. If anyone is interested in becoming a lector, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Alyssa Burnsed Coordinator 2018 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH Sunday, December 16th Christmas Choir Concert ~ 6:30pm Monday, December 24th ~ Vigil of Christmas Children's Christmas Vigil Mass ~ 4:00pm Christmas Vigil Mass ~ 7:00pm Christmas Caroling ~ 11:30pm Christmas Midnight Mass ~ 12:00am Tuesday, December 25th ~ The Nativity of the Lord Mass ~ 10:00am Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God Monday, December 31st Vigil Mass ~ 5:00pm Tuesday, January 1, 2019 Mass ~ 10:00am Sunday, January 6 ~ The Epiphany of the Lord Mass 8:15am and 11:00am Epiphany Cultural Fair ~ 12:30pm

3 Volume13, Issue 3 Page 3 Upcoming Events! November 17 November 24 November 30 Bingo 7PM December 1 Parish Christmas Dinner 6:30PM December 9 Advent Mission 7PM December 10 Advent Mission 7PM December 11 Advent Mission 7PM December 12 Advent Penance Service 7PM December 15 December 22 January 5 January 19 January 25 Bingo 7PM January 26 February 2 February 16 February 22 Bingo 7PM February 23 March 2 March 16 St. Patrick s Dinner March 23 April 6 Traveling Chalice Ministry The purpose of the Traveling Chalice Ministry is to encourage families to pray and promote vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. The consecrated Chalice is a tangible reminder of this special intention for the Church. The Second Vatican Council highlights the responsibility of the laity to pray for and support vocations. This urgent call has been strongly affirmed in the writings and addresses of both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Praying for vocations is the most powerful way to support vocations. A vocation is a call from the Holy Spirit, a gift from God that is nurtured in prayer. When we pray for vocations, we lift up to our Father those men and women whom He is calling to follow Him in a very special way. We hope that those who bring the cup home will continue to pray daily for vocations. How the Program Works: Each week after Mass, an assigned family is called by the priest to come forward to receive the Chalice and a blessing. (This box contains a consecrated Chalice, the prayer card, and a book for intentions. The family takes the Chalice home and puts it in a place of honor. Each day for a week, during prayer time, morning, bedtime, or at meals, the family prays for an increase and perseverance of vocations. The following Friday by 2:00 PM the Chalice is returned to the Parish Office. TravelingChalice@aol.com Phone: Hugs for the Homeless Event St. Luke's Council of Catholic Women (CCW) provides our parishioners the opportunity to support this Florida statewide annual charitable collection sponsored by the Florida Counsel of Catholic Women. Hugs For The Homeless monies are collected throughout the state of Florida and are divided equally among the seven diocese, and each diocese may distribute to up to four charities. Our diocese allows one charity per DCCW deanery as we have four active deaneries at present (Gainesville, St. Augustine, North Jacksonville and South Jacksonville). St. Luke's CCW is a member of the St. Augustine Deanery, and our affiliation has a voice in choosing a local charity for these funds. We have supported L'Arche Harbor House in Jacksonville, a community which provides homes and workplaces where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers, create an inclusive community of faith and friendship and transform society through relationships that cross social boundaries. Other recipients have been St. Gerard House, Orange Park Outfitters and Miriam's Basket to name a few. St. Luke's CCW is able to support this program through our parishioners loving generosity. We are most thankful for your participation in serving those in need and please know that you are included in our prayers of thanksgiving. The Hugs For The Homeless Event will take place at St. Luke's during the month of January Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us. Submitted by Jeannie Moore

4 Page 4 St. Luke Link Annunciation Catholic School ACS Students take first place in JEA Water Tower Competition! It is nothing less that Jesus Christ himself who stands as the model and basis for all that we do at Annunciation. Box of Joy Outreach by ACS Students The excitement at Annunciation Catholic School cannot be contained any longer construction on the gymnasium has arrived and is moving along steadily each day! As this report goes to press, the building crew is set to pour the concrete slab, a fantastic sign of the progress and reality of this addition to the school campus. As we watch the slab poured into place, in our gratitude, we remind ourselves that this gymnasium will be more than just a building, that as one architect said, It is not the beauty of a building that you should look at; it s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time. And what is our foundation at Annunciation? It is nothing less than Jesus Christ himself who stands as the model and basis for all that we do at Annunciation. So, in a new gymnasium that will teach children to develop their Godgiven athletic talents, that will teach them the principles of Christian sportsmanship, that will teach them the rewards of hard work and fair play, we remember to give thanks to God for the many parishioners, staff, clergy, and families who have supported the vision of this gymnasium for the past twenty-five years. We remember to acknowledge that all we do is for the greater glory of God and for the good of the children entrusted to our care. And we remember that this beautiful building should forever be a sign of the union and support among our school, St. Luke, St. Catherine of Siena, Sacred Heart, and the greater Catholic community of the Diocese of St. Augustine. Please follow our Facebook page to watch the daily progress and growth of the Angelplex Gymnasium. In support of the gymnasium, our annual golf tournament, the Annunciation Classic was held at Eagle Landing. Golf Coordinator Peggie French worked her magic, along with her stellar team, resulting in a sold-out tournament, with a profit of over $37,000. Many thanks to Peggie, to all the volunteers and sponsors, and especially to the Annunciation students, who raised over $1,300 in their pre-tournament raffle, where the most desired prize was a big blue monkey, won by 4th Grader Daniel Stefanelli. Not to be forgotten is that Annunciation continues its unique relationship with the University of Notre Dame STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Program. This is a prestigious distinction for any school (the process to become a STEM school is very competitive, and to be associated with Notre Dame is an honor in itself) and one that we have taken seriously for the three years that we have had the program. Our STEM Coordinator, Angela Lhotka, continues to challenge students and teachers to look at God s beautiful world from a STEM approach, understanding that nature and numbers are everywhere and are plenty of fun to learn about. One sign that this approach is working was the recent win by our students in the yearly JEA Water Tower Contest. Students work in teams and construct a working water tower, using all their STEM skills to build an attractive, practical tower, usually with a humorous kick to it. Our team of Gabriela Goodlatte, Carolyn Harris, and Serena Kershaw wowed the judges with their Watermelon Tower, their coordinated outfits, and their engineering expertise. And in a show of living out what they are being taught at home and at school, the girls donated $50 of the $200 prize winnings back to the gymnasium fund true stewardship! Finally, Annunciation participated, for the second year, in the Cross Catholic International Box of Joy outreach program, filling over 215 individual boxes and collecting $1,150 in donations. The Boxes of Joy are sent to children in Catholic orphanages and mission churches in Third World countries. A Box of Joy consists of a shoebox filled with small items such as travel size toiletries, school supplies, small toys, and religious articles. As part of our school mission to foster the Christian ideals of love, witness, and service, we know the Box of Joy project will impress upon our students the Gospel directive to love our neighbor by sharing with the less fortunate, especially during the season of Advent. As partners in providing an authentic Catholic education for our students, we would like to thank the parishioners of St. Luke for their prayers and help, and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May we all rejoice in the Good News of our newborn King and Savior. Victoria Farrington Principal

5 Volume13, Issue 3 Page 5 Inside Story Headline This story can fit words. Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter. Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context. Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols. Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image. Caption describing picture or graphic.

6 Page 6 St. Luke Link Raise the Roof! As you may recall, the construction of the church was completed in Although the roof is only 16 years old, we have experienced problems ever since the construction was finished. A few months ago, we began investigating why our 16 year old roof had failed and was leaking, resulting in interior damage to the roof structure and to our ceiling. The main problem identified was incorrect installation of the underlayment materials that go between the plywood and the clay tiles of the roof. In the last several years, we have experienced numerous leaks. We were very attentive to them and we tried to fix problems by patching them. Now, however, we are at risk of further damage to the roof and the entire building structure including the beautiful art work inside the church. The leaks throughout the years eventually soaked through the roofing material and into the materials beneath. If left long enough, it will soak into and destroy the structural elements of the building. Roofing specialists and other experts in the field have made it clear: we are beyond the point of making further repairs. They ve also made it clear: if we don t replace the roof, we risk severe damage to the structural elements, assuming there s none already. Such damage would greatly increase the cost, so we cannot wait any longer. The cost of a new roof is substantial. After reviewing bids, the estimated cost of the 31,000 sq. ft. roof will be roughly $500,000. While we have some parish reserves and we applied for a grant to offset the cost, they are not nearly enough for this project. After several discussions with the Finance Council and Pastor s Advisory Team, our plan is to take out a loan, but the idea of taking on more debt is not desirable. As most of you know, we run on a pretty lean budget. I realize that s likely true for a lot of you. We are very conscious of controlling our costs, operating within our means, and trying to be responsible with our contributions received through generous sacrificial giving. On behalf of the Finance Council and P.A.T., I, as your pastor, am asking you - as you are able - to contribute towards the roof. Whether your contribution is great or small, it will reduce the amount of the loan that we will request. I am aware that you all have great financial demands already, and that s why I seldom ask, as not to overburden you with requests for financial support. If you wish to contribute today, use the special envelopes in the pews. If you need time to pray about your contribution, please take the envelope home and return it later. And for those who prefer to give online, you may do so through the online giving service on the website. Although this unexpected challenge creates a level of stress and uncertainty, we should feel blessed and trust God who is with us in all we do beneath this leaky roof. We at St. Luke Parish have been sharing our gifts of faith and ministry for over 36 years with the Middleburg community and beyond. It is that time when we need to invest to fix the roof problem on the main worship space so that we can continue

7 Volume13, Issue 3 Page 7 Roof (continued) to share our faith for many, many more years. The good news is that we were assured that we will be able to continue to use the church for Masses and other liturgical services while the roof is undergoing repairs. If all goes as planned, we should start the project, which is scheduled to take 6-8 weeks, in the middle of November. We will keep everyone informed of the progress of this project as it goes along, and if we encounter any obstacles, we will let everyone know. We don t allow our own houses to leak, nor should we allow our House of God to leak. I pray that you appreciate the urgency of this problem and join me, so we can preserve our beautiful church for generations to come. Please know of my gratitude for your generosity! With prayers, Fr. Andy Stewardship Greetings, This past November 3 & 4 we celebrated our annual Stewardship Renewal Weekend. The activities started a week earlier with Johnny and Joyce Moak delivering a personal testimony to the entire congregation, at all three weekend Masses, of their inspiring stewardship journey. Thank you, Johnny and Joyce, for sharing your beautiful story. During renewal weekend, the Stewardship Committee hosted a Ministry Fair. This was an opportunity for parish ministries to showcase their good works, and it gave parishioners a chance for in-depth exploration of the works of our parish through its ministries and programs. The fair was very successful. It was informative, generated great fellowship, and it was fun. It was well-supported by St. Luke ministries and well-attended by parishioners and guests. A high number of people expressed their interest for future ministry participation by offering their contact information. The Stewardship Committee would like to thank the Pastor s Advisory Team and the parish office for their support with the planning and organizing of the fair. And, of course, we are excited about and grateful to those who attended and answered the call to serve the Lord with gladness. I am happy to announce that effective this past November, George Cox took over as Chairman of the Stewardship Committee. Please join me in congratulating George and in praying for the Stewardship Committee s future success. As we journey through Advent and celebrate Christmas, it may sound like a cliché, but remembering the reason for the season can help us keep things in perspective. Christmas is about remembering God s greatest gift, His only Son, and helping to bring Christ s love into the world. When we re feeling overwhelmed by holiday tasks consider asking ourselves: Is this a fitting way to remember Jesus birth? or Will this help to bring God s love into the world (or to my family, parish, or community)? Keeping this focus will help make Christmas both a giving experience and a deeply fulfilling one. Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas! George Ferfecki Former Chairman

8 Forging Links Among Parishioners We are grateful to our fine sponsors! Submissions to St. Luke Link are welcome and may be edited for length or clarity. CRACKERS LOUNGE & PACKAGE St. Luke Catholic Church 1606 Blanding Blvd. Middleburg, Florida NON-PROFIT ORG. U. S. Postage P A I D Permit No. 27 Middleburg, FL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED