The Church of St. Mary 415 EAST PLEASANT VALLEY SIGOURNEY, IA Holy Trinity Parish 109 NORTH LINCOLN ST. KEOTA, IA Parish Contacts Pastor Rev. Charles Fladung... 641-622-3426 E-mail: fladungc@diodav.org Deacon - Jim Striegel...641-634-2896 Secretary-Bookkeeping-Bulletin Sigourney JoEllen O Rourke... 641-622-2316 E-Mail: stmarysgrnyia@iowatelecom.net Fax... 641-622-2389 Keota Kara Sobaski... 319-461-4501 kmdotski@gmail.com St. Mary Parish Office Hours Monday - Thursday - 12 noon Parish Office Phone 641-622-2316 Holy Trinity Office Hours Wednesday & Friday 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Office Phone - 641-636-3883 DECEMBER 9, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Bulletin deadline Wednesday at 9:00 A.M. For ease in relaying messages for bulletin, send via email to: stmarysgrnyia@iowatelecom.net
2 W E L C O M E T O T H E P A R I S H E S O F S T. M A R Y & H O L Y T R I N I T Y Parish Staff Religious Education Jenny Thompson - St. Mary Office 641-622-2316 Home 641-622-3698 Shannon Greiner - Holy Trinity Cell 641-660-3063 keotaholytrinitydre@diodav.org Altar & Rosary St. Mary Parish Office 641-622-2316 Kathy Greiner - Holy Trinity 319-330-6166 Ruth Johnson - HT Parish Center Rental - 641-799-1678-Leave Message Prayer Line Sigourney - Nancy Weber 622-2877 Bibi Glandon 622-3232 Keota Jeanette Besser 641-635-2303 Keota Connie 641-636-3856 To schedule a Mass intention, please contact Jo O'Rourke during her office hours of 8:30-noon, M-Th. 641-622- 2 3 1 6 or s t m a r y s - grnyia@iowatelecom.net Mass stipends for the Davenport Diocese at $5 per Mass. St. Mary Parish Liturgical Weekend Schedule St. Mary Christmas Program December 16 10:30 AM Holy Trinity Parish Liturgical Weekend Schedule Saturday December 15 Holy Trinity Christmas Program December 16 Keota HCC Dave Shemanski Bryce Patrick/ Nicole Clarahan Grant/ Taylor Garman, Sam Menke Jeff/Darian Graff, Rhonda Wehr Jinger Bell, Shannon Don Conrad, Dave Shemanski Scott, Dave Hammen, Marty/ Marianne VanRoekel Sue Fisher Shannon Greiner Scott Katherine/ Dan/Nolan McLaughlin Confirmation Class 5th Grade Rel. Ed. Dean/Linda, Jay/ Connie Peiffer Confirmation Class 5th Grade Rel. Ed. Dean/Linda Celebration Saturday - 12/8 - (K) Taylor Vogel/Nila Chandra - 12/9 - (K) George Gent Janet Gent Sullivan - 12/9-10:30 AM (S) Elmer Herman Errol/Donna Hahn Tuesday - 12/11-9:00 AM (S) Don Yates Wednesday 12/12-9:00 AM (K) Mary Lee Runde Thursday - 12/13-9:00 AM (S) Don/Marie Peiffer Friday - 12/14-9:00 AM (K) Taylor Vogel/Nia Chandra Saturday - 12/15 - (K) Mary Grace Mayer - 12/16 - (K) Leo/Lydia McGinnis - 12/16-10:30 AM (S) Mary Jane Kerber John Bowers St. Mary Parish Liturgical Weekend Schedule December 23 10:30 AM Bailey/Natalie Redlinger, Wyatt Wehr Janis Collins, Steve Wehr, Barb Blaylock Barb Blaylock Dave/Jenny McLaughlin Family Holy Trinity Parish Liturgical Weekend Schedule Saturday December 22 December 23 Keota HCC Patty Carmen/ Charlotte/ Gretta Connor Strand, Peyton Peck, Owen Menke Becky Morris, Cindy Weber, Tim/Ethel, Steve Menke, Mary Ann Bell Becky Morris Tim, Cindy Weber, Peggy Weber Marvin/Deb Jerry/Rita Sheetz Marvin/Deb Greiner D E C E M B E R 9, 2 0 1 8 S E C O N D S U N D A Y O F A D V E N T
ST. MARY PARISH 3 Announcements St. Mary December St. Mary Rel. Ed. Schedule December 9 - Rel. Ed., 9:00-10:15 AM (Today) Rel. Ed., 9:00-10:15 AM December 16 - Rel. Ed./Confirmation, 9:00-10:15 AM St. Mary Rel. Ed. program, 10:30 Mass Confirmation Class will do ushering/greeting/gifts Breakfast/Santa will follow Mass for all Reconciliation and adoration @ St. Mary Church, 2:00-3:00 PM. The confession location has changed to the NE entrance. (No steps) (12/16) Rel. Ed./Confirmation, 9:00-10:15 AM St. Mary Rel. Ed. Christmas Program/10:30 AM Mass Breakfast following with a visit from Santa The 2019 Liturgical calendars have been provided by Holm Funeral Home. We thank them for making them available to parishioners. You can find them at the entry doors of the church. St. Mary for Christmas Eve Vigil, Monday, December 24 SERVERS: Mac Conrad, Jocelyn Abell, Brady Clark, Cael O Rourke EUCHAR. MINISTERS: Ed/Denise Conrad, Becky Abell, Connie McLaughlin LECTOR: Denise Conrad GREETER/GIFTS: Ed/Conrad Family St. Mary for Christmas Morning Mass, Tuesday, December 25, SERVERS: Halle Garringer, Lexi Swearingen, Taylor Mikesell EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Mary Sue Votroubek, Gail Pilkington, Steve Wehr LECTOR: Janis Collins GREETER/GIFTS: Mary Sue Votroubek St. Mary for New Years Day Mass, Tuesday, January 1, 9:00 AM SERVERS: Heidi Clarahan, Addison Fineran, Ellie Yates EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Janis Collins, Mary Gralapp, Steve Wehr LECTOR: Janis Collins GREETER/GIFTS: John/Carla Dumont St. Mary Stewardship Envelopes Weekly Budget...$2,590 Received... $2,359 Envelope Budget to Date... $59,570 Actual to Date...$56,790 Offertory Weekly Budget... $308 Received...$219 Offertory Budget to Date... $7,084 Actual to Date... $6,627 FIM... $300 Christmas Flower Memorial Christmas Flower and Poinsettia Memorials are being accepted for the Christmas season. Write the name(s) of the person and Christmas Memorial on an envelope or use the flower envelopes available at the doors of the church or in your envelope packet. Place in the collection basket or mail them to the parish office by Dec. 16 for publication in the December 23 bulletin. YET TO DO One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done. Marie Curie TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Look around most Catholic churches, and you will discover an image of John the Baptist, often in the old baptistery, or in a window near where the font is or was located. He has two feast days in the calendar: one commemorating his birth, and the other his death. There are only three nativities in our calendar: for Jesus, for Mary, and for the Baptist. John s birthday is reckoned according to the schedule given in Luke s Gospel of the angel s announcement to Mary. The angel tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is in the sixth month of pregnancy, and so Mary hastens to help her. Reckoning Christmas as December 25, we count backwards nine months to March 25 for the Feast of the Annunciation. Then we count forward three months to June 24 for John the Baptist s birth. Halfway to Christmas, his nativity gives ample reason for rejoicing in the summer, and his symbols of fire and water are used playfully in bonfires and dives into the sea. Even at the polar opposite of Christmas in the calendar, the energy of Christ s birth in the Incarnation provides cause for rejoicing.
4 HOLY TRINITY PARISH Announcements Holy Trinity (Today) Rel. Ed./Confirmation, 9:30-10:45 AM Saturday (12/15) Holy Trinity Christmas Program during Vigil Mass, Soup/Santa to follow in parish center (12/16) Reconciliation and Adoration @ Holy Trinity Parish, 2:00-3:00 PM Holy Trinity Parish is very grateful for the memorial donation given by the family of Ardys Weber. We truly appreciate her family for making that donation to help with special needs in the parish. Please remember Ardys and the Weber family in your prayers of thanksgiving. Holy Trinity for Christmas Eve Vigil, Monday, December 24, 6:00 PM SERVERS: Taylor Conrad, Aiden Conrad, Austin Black EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Jinger Bell, Dave Shemanski, Kevin/Kathy Greiner LECTOR: Jinger Bell GREETER/USHER: Dave/Cari Shemanski, Joel/Susanne Black GIFTS: Dave/Cari Shemanski Holy Trinity for New Years Eve, Monday, December 31 5:30 PM SERVERS: Grant/Taylor Garman EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Don Conrad, Diane Conrad, Larry/Kathy Davis LECTOR: Don Conrad GREETER/USHER: Larry/Kathy Davis GIFTS: RICHES Riches are the instrument of all vices, because they render us capable of putting even our worst desires into execution. St. Ambrose Holy Trinity Stewardship Envelopes Weekly Budget... $2,211 Received... $3,201 Envelope Budget to Date... $50,853 Actual to Date... $49,645 Offertory Weekly Budget... $423 Received... $318 Offertory Budget to Date... $9,729 Actual to Date... $6,347 FIM... $1,700 December Holy Trinity Rel. Ed. Schedule Dec. 9 - Rel. Ed./Confirmation, 9:30-10:45 AM Dec. 15 - (Saturday) Holy Trinity Christmas Program, Vigil Mass, (5th grade-greeter/usher/gifts) Soup/Santa to follow in parish center Holy Trinity Flower Memorials Holy Trinity Parishioners may contribute to their Christmas Memorial Flower fund. Place your contribution in an envelope marked for Christmas Memorials, who the memorial is for and who is giving the contribution and place it in the offertory basket or mail to the HT parish office. Please have your donations returned by December 16 for publication in the De- "Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." - Lk 3:5-6 The 2019 Liturgical calendars have been provided by Libertyville Savings Bank. We thank them for making them available to parishioners. You can find them at the entry doors of the church. AWAITING THE SALVATION OF GOD The world does not seem big enough to contain the jubilation of the first reading. In the Gospel reading, the Roman empire isn t big enough, either. The great powers of Rome are named and made to stand waiting for the arrival of God s salvation. And we find Paul meditating joyfully on what really matters. According to Baruch, the city of Jerusalem is like a person standing on tiptoe looking for God s salvation, which is coming from the east. Those who were led away on foot, heads down, now come back, a proud people. Why, the very way is smoothed out. The path is lined with fragrant, lush trees. It can t get any better than this, can it? Well, yes, it can. For a voice calls out in the desert. Here is the beginning of the salvation of God.
PARISH & COMMUNITY NEWS 5 If school is cancelled or delayed, morning Mass will be cancelled. From the Desk of Fr. Charles Fladung Friends, in today s Gospel John the Baptist says, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Today the 2nd of Advent, the great liturgical season of vigilance, of waiting and watching. What practically can we do during this season of vigil keeping? What are some practices that might incarnate for us the Advent spirituality? I strongly recommend the classically Catholic discipline of adoration. To spend a half hour or an hour in the presence of the Lord is not to accomplish or achieve very much it is not really "getting" anywhere but it is a particularly rich form of spiritual waiting. As you keep vigil before the Blessed Sacrament, bring to Christ some problem or dilemma that you have been fretting over, and then say: "Lord, I m waiting for you to solve this, to show me the way out, the way forward. I ve been running, planning, worrying, but now I m going to let you work." Then, throughout Advent, watch attentively for signs. Schedule for holiday and Holy Day Masses Holy Trinity Parish = HTP St. Mary = StM Christmas Regular weekend schedule, Dec. 22 & 23 Christmas Vigil, Monday, Dec. 24, - StM Christmas Vigil, Monday, Dec. 24, 6:00 PM HTP Christmas Morning, Tuesday, Dec. 25, - StM New Years Regular weekend schedule, Dec. 29 & 30 New Years Eve Vigil, Monday, Dec. 31, 5:30 PM HTP New Years Day, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 9:00 AM - StM Holy Trinity Rel. Ed. Christmas Program Saturday, Dec. 15, St. Mary Rel. Ed. Christmas Program, Dec. 16, 10:30 AM Also, when you pray before the Eucharist, allow your desire for the things of God to intensify; allow your heart and soul to expand. Pray, "Lord, make me ready to receive the gifts you want to give," or even, "Lord Jesus, surprise me." This, December 9, 2018 at St. Mary Parish, Sigourney, we will have Adoration from 2:00-3:00 P.M. and I will be available for confessions during that time. Next, December 16, 2018 at Holy Trinity Parish, Keota, we will have Adoration from 2:003:00P.M. and I will be available for confessions during that time. Let us enjoy the gift of Christ Risen and offer our spiritual gifts to the Lord. Happy Advent! Fr. Charles+ Reconciliation - On Saturdays before the start of the 4 PM Mass at either Saint Mary or Holy Trinity, the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 3-3:30 PM. To report child abuse contact: Iowa Department of Human Services Child Abuse Hotline: 800-362 -2178 and if it involves clergy or church personnel also notify Alicia Owens, the Victim Assistance Coordinator, 563-349-5002; vac@diodav.org or PO Box 232, Bettendorf, IA 52722-0004. Readings for the Week of December 9, 2018 Monday: Is 35:1-10/Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11/Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Zec 2:14-17 /Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Is 41:13-20/Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Next : Zep 3:14-18a/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 ]/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18