******* ADVENT WREATHS

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1 Advent Christians believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of God s promise to us. We believe that when the time was right, God sent his only Son to be our Messiah and to save all people from sin. Advent is the time in the liturgical year when we recall God s promise kept and await with joy Jesus promise to return to us in glory at the end of time. ******* ADVENT WREATHS Signup sheets are available on the table outside the vestibule of church for those wishing to participate in the Advent Wreath lighting at both the 4:00 PM and the 10:30 AM Masses during Advent. ADVENT REFLECTION BOOKLETS We are offering Advent Meditation Booklets, The Little Blue Book. They will be located in the bulletin holders at the entrances of the Church this weekend. There is a meditation for each day of Advent through January 9, 2017, the Feast of the

2 Baptism of Our Lord. We encourage you to take one for your Advent spiritual growth. THE GIVING TREE Christian Service Ministry Each year we have participated in activities assisting some families by supplying gifts for children. These requests come from Herkimer County Catholic Charities and Benton Hall Elementary School. We will place these requests on The Giving Trees that are located in the Church Vestibule and near Blessed Virgin Mary s Altar area, The First Week of Advent, November 26/27. Please take a tag that will specify boy or girl, age and size, buy a gift, and secure the tag to the gift and return it by the weekend of December 10/11. Wrapped gifts or gift bags are both acceptable. The Christian Service Committee will meet and assemble the gifts. The gifts will be delivered to Catholic Charities and Benton Hall Elementary School representatives will pick up the gifts and distribute them. Giving of oneself so others may have is a gift within itself. All of the sponsored children are in need of Christmas joy, and may not otherwise have gifts to open on Christmas Day. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. ADVENT FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION As The Christmas Season approaches we think of it in a spirit of giving. We come to you with the need to assist the needy who come to the Food Pantry for help. In addition to food items, monetary donations are also welcomed.

3 First Week of Advent 11/26 & 11/27 Pasta, Sauce and Macaroni & Cheese, Canned Ravioli or Spaghettio s Second Week of Advent 12/3 & 12/4 Canned Fruit, Peanut Butter, Pancake Mix and Syrup, Juices. Third Week of Advent 12/10 & 12/11 Soups, Crackers, Packaged Potatoes, Paper Products Fourth Week of Advent 12/17 &12/18 Canned Tuna or Meat, Beans, Canned Vegetables and Stews CHRISTMAS HAMS will be helping to provide Christmas Hams that will be distributed to those families in need, through a donation to the YMCA Food Pantry of Little Falls. This has been facilitated by the Christian Service Committee. If you would like to make a monetary contribution in support of this Ministry, please place an envelope marked Food Pantry Christmas Hams, in the collection basket or stop in the Parish office. Thank you. CHRISTMAS PLANTS We remember our shut-ins at home, in the hospital and nursing homes by delivering a poinsettia plant, Christmas card with an ornament and a Catholic calendar to them. Christian Service members and Eucharistic Ministers will make deliveries on the weekend of December 17/18. Please call the parish office at if you know of anyone who will be in need of a plant. Thank you

4 FEAST OF THE IIMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation We will celebrate two Masses: Thursday, December 8th 12:10 PM St. Joseph Thursday, December 8th 5:00 PM COMMUNAL SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Jesus Christ came into the world to reconcile all of creation with God, the Creator. What better time for our communities to celebrate the precious gift of forgiveness and reconciliation than the sacred season of Advent. The Sacrament of Penance will be celebrated on the following schedule: December 6 th 7 PM Blessed Sacrament Mohawk December 14 th - 7 PM Little Falls

5 CHILDREN S CHRISTMAS MASS AND PAGEANT This year, our Children s Christmas Mass will be held on December 18 th at 10:30 AM, the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The Children s Choir will be leading us in music that day, and a Christmas Pageant will be held during Mass. Our young people will be depicting the birth of Christ, titled Just a Little Christmas This is sure to be enjoyed by all ages. A Family Christmas Party, with a potluck lunch, will follow in the parish hall

6 CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Christmas Vigils St. Joseph December 24th December 24th 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM 7:30 PM Christmas Day December 25th 10:30 AM ************ SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD December 31st 4:00 PM St. Joseph January 1st January 1st 9:00 AM 10:30 AM

7 2 nd Holiday Shopping Spree Church Hall back of Academy Apartments Saturday, November 28 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Variety of Vendors Chinese Auction 50/50 Raffle Cookies Café The Christian Service Committee members are asking parishioners to help by donating baked goods that can be delivered to the Church Hall ~ Friday November 27 3:00 PM 7:00 PM We appreciate your help! Sponsored by the Holy Family Christian Service Committee