of Sacred Heart Stewardship of Treasure How shall I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? Psalm: 116

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Janis Thomas
5 years ago
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1 The Heart Beat of Sacred Heart Second Week of Advent Advent is a time of preparation, reflection, hope and anticipation. As we enter the second week of Advent, all these efforts are meant to help purify our hearts and prepare us for the celebration and great message of Christmas, which is to remind us that Christ came to live among us, to be our Lord and Savior. Today, we re-light the candle of faith and now also light the Second Purple candle of love. We know that God is love. We remember with thankful hearts the gift of Jesus, who came as a babe in a manger, lived and loved among us, died on a cross, and arose! Love endures forever. Fr. Tom blessed the Advent Wreath and the first candle was lit by Joe King on Saturday evening and Dr. and Mrs. Aranis family on Sunday morning. Dear Lord, through the darkness, let us look for your wisdom. Help us to be awake and aware of the radiance you bring to our lives. Help each of us to be grateful each day for the blessings of family and friends. Let us be a peacemaker in our own lives. Let us pray especially for the difficult events in our world and we pray for those who are so in need of an end to violence. Let this Lord be our Advent prayer today. Last Saturday morning, Sacred Heart Elves came and decorated the church for Advent. Within a few hours the church looked beautiful with the color of purple. Julie 2 and Johnny were busy changing the missalettes while Debby was placing the Giving Tree and hanging the ornaments. Barb and Anita were busy adding the special touches of holly to the Advent Wreath. This author was busy running around with the iron, spray starch, and the ironing board. It takes much time, energy, love and dedication of our volunteers to prepare our church for all the liturgical seasons. We re blessed with a group of parishioners that always give their time to make this happen. We are asking that each of you to consider helping with any of these events during Advent and Christmas. An extra person makes a big difference. You will notice the Ambo has been moved back to the left side on the altar. Fr. Tom was hesitating some when returning back to his chair. He s so use to sitting on the left side. Don t worry Fr. Tom you ll get use to the move! Stewardship of Treasure How shall I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? Psalm: 116 We must be good stewards of God s gifts to us, receiving them gratefully and cultivating them with care. I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgement, so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. (Philippines 1:9-10) CREATED FOR JOY We are more than an accident of evolution. We are greater than the sum of our biology. God exists, is good, loves us, and made us in his image to share in his joy. God takes an active hand in our lives and sent his joy. God takes an active hand in our lives and sent his only Son to restore our dignity and lead us home to God.

2 To those participating in the Sacred Heart Giving Tree. It is a wonderful Christian Outreach Service activity and tradition for our parish. Through your generosity, our parish brings Christmas cheer to underprivileged children in our area. Debby has requested the gifts be returned by Sunday, December 11 th. To those who are participating this year with the Reverse Advent Offerings. The basket is filling up with lots of food! Remember, bring a non-perishable food item for each day of Advent and put it in the basket. You can do this weekly. To those who began Tuesday afternoon decorating the social hall. This was a work-in-process and took several days but we have done it again! The tables were rearranged (Joseph s design); the Christmas runners pressed and placed on the tables; the Christmas tree now stands by the fireplace; the stockings hung by the tree; live wreaths hung on the doors, and the social hall is beautiful with the colors and fragrance of Christmas. Barb, Joyce, Millie, and Amber decorated everything this year, even the railings and second floor. The social hall is ready for Christmas! (Rumor someone called the City Police for cutting greenery from a tree?) A special thank you to Johnny for all his help in taping electrical cords; getting the fireplace logs once again burning, putting the tree together, and just for helping the ladies! A very special thank you to Barb and John Vance. Once again this year, Barb has shared her collection of the different Santa s from different countries. They are displayed as the centerpieces for our tables in the social hall. They re beautiful! To Our Sponsors Sam and Janice Olive, Andy and Lisa Ashurst who brought their special dishes for the Brunch last Sunday. Wow, everything was so good! To Lonnie Bowen for his beautiful hand crafted wooden bowl he donated to raffle. Amber was the winner of this beautiful piece of Lonnie s gifted talent. Amber then passed the bowl as a gift to our Joyce Bertschy. Joyce is so generous to help with any event and volunteers do help in any way. She had admired the beautiful bowl when she purchased her ticket. She said, I have the perfect place for it! Merry Christmas Joyce. Lonnie will donate a special piece each week until Christmas for the LAS to raffle. The ladies made $45.00! To All that attended 1 st Friday Devotion/Benediction to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The meager meal was canceled by the sponsors due to the preparations for the Pancake Breakfast. To The Knights of Columbus and Ladies Altar Society for the Breakfast with Santa To Mr. & Mrs. Santa for your special visit! Special thank you to Johhny Venturino, the Knights, and ALL our Volunteers! This event was very special to our late Karl Moore. Karl s presence is always missed flipping our pancakes, laughing, and giving out orders. He would be proud of the volunteers! Thank you to all who helped and attended. To those who donated money to purchase the live Christmas Wreaths. Food City will keep them for us; spray them with fresh water to keep them looking good until Sunday, December 18th when we begin to decorate the church Thank you John and Jamie Weaver for sponsoring our calendars. We certainly appreciate their continued support and thoughtfulness for our parish. This is the twelfth year of their sponsoring our calendars. Thank you to those who continue to participate I m Praying a Prayer for Your Family Please continue to keep Chris Jessie in your thoughts and prayers. Chris is still at the Select Specialty Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Please continue to pray and to ask God to hear our prayers for Chris. Ask God to comfort him, bless him with his loving care, and renew his strength. Also, please remember Chris family in your prayers. Please keep all our parishioners that are having medical issues in your thoughts and prayers; especially Jeanette, Philly, Martha, Opal, Toni, and Mary Anna. We certainly pray for them and miss their presence. Barb Vance continues to amaze the doctors with her recuperation from surgery! She s attended mass and volunteering like she s never had surgery. Please keep Barb s grandson, Payton Rose in your prayers.

Thursday, December 8th - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11th Mass at 10:00 AM followed by our Sacred Heart Christmas Dinner.

Again, this year, 34-ATE will host our Ladies Altar Society dinner Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 6:30. It s not too late to make your reservation. The dinner is $15.00 per person.

The dessert is Italian Crème Cake. There is an ornament gift exchange (please keep to $5.00 or under limit). Reservations should be made by Sunday, December 11th.

ndividual confessions held afterwards. Flower OFFERING envelopes for Christmas are on the table at the back of church. This is a special Remembrance for our deceased loved ones during Christmas.

National Appeal Sunday, December 11, 2016 Retirement Fund for Religious Please give to those who have given a lifetime.

3 Thursday, December 8th - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11th Mass at 10:00 AM followed by our Sacred Heart Christmas Dinner. Sacred Heart Parish and the Ladies Altar Society will host and furnish our Christmas Dinner. Judy Holbrook s Catering is serving our dinner. Fr. Tom is asking everyone to please come. Again, this year, 34-ATE will host our Ladies Altar Society dinner Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 6:30. It s not too late to make your reservation. The dinner is $15.00 per person. The Altar Society will pay for the drinks, the desserts, and the rental of the room. At the LAS meeting the menu was chosen and our dinner is called Stuffle! Sounds and looks delicious. The dessert is Italian Crème Cake. There is an ornament gift exchange (please keep to $5.00 or under limit). Reservations should be made by Sunday, December 11th. Janie has planned some special surprises! Hope to see ALL the ladies there! Fr. Tom has will have the Penance/communal service on Friday, December 16th at 6:00 pm. Fr. Greg will also be with us. ndividual confessions held afterwards. Flower OFFERING envelopes for Christmas are on the table at the back of church. This is a special Remembrance for our deceased loved ones during Christmas. You can also see Debby and give her your list of intentions for the Christmas Flower Offering bulletin. There is no set amount of donation for the flowers. National Appeal Sunday, December 11, 2016 Retirement Fund for Religious Please give to those who have given a lifetime. Be faithful to your prayer life and have a sense of humor, says Sister Rita Polchin, a member of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Danville, Pennsylvania. That s my advice for a long, happy life. And, at age 87, she ought to know. Throughout nearly 70 years of religious life, this philosophy has served her well, especially as she ministered in Catholic schools. One year I had a class of 54 students, she recalls with a smile, but they were all good! Like Sister Rita, the senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests and some 33,000 more across the nation have offered their lives in service and prayer. They have educated the young, cared for the sick, and spoken for the oppressed. Many, including Sister Rita, continue to serve. Others need assistance. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide nursing care, medications, and other necessities. Roughly 95% of donations aid senior religious.

The CSA contributions also helped to spread the Gospel message of Christ across our Diocese and here at our parish. I am thankful for the generosity shown toward the 2016 CSA.

4 A message from Fr. Tom.. The 2016 Catholic Sharing Appeal (CSA), Opening the Door of his Mercy, gave each of us an opportunity to fulfill Pope Francis wish to express mercy and compassion toward those in need. The CSA contributions also helped to spread the Gospel message of Christ across our Diocese and here at our parish. I am thankful for the generosity shown toward the 2016 CSA. I am so grateful to announce that Sacred Heart Parish surpassed our goal. We are presently at 117% of our $ goal. Our parish has contributed $ Let us be mindful of God s Mercy and the role each of us have in the works of his Church. I offer my gratitude to you who gave in order to meet and surpass our CSA goal by seventeen percent. May the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Thomas Chacko THIS WEEKEND, December 3rd marks the 5th Anniversary of the new format for the Bulletin and the addition of the Heart Beat. We work diligently on these publications each week and we are always looking to you for your input and support. It is with the humblest sincerity that we say Thank You, Amber & Janie Thank each and every one of YOU for your love, dedication, and support. WE ARE A TEAm! together everyone achieves - much

The Heart Beat. of Sacred Heart

The Heart Beat. of Sacred Heart The Heart Beat of Sacred Heart Originally, Veterans Day was called Armistice Day, and the date was chosen to commemorate the signing of the armistice with Germany that ended hostilities during World War