Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Our parish is delighted to welcome each and every one to worship with us on the Nativity of the Lord. Whether you are a family member, friend, familiar face, or visitor, know that your presence enlivens our celebration and our community. Join us as we gather to praise and thank our generous God. Christmas Eve Masses Monday, December 24 The Family Mass will be held in the Hanlon Center at 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Our Youth Choir will lead the congregation in song. A Vigil Mass will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve in the Church. Our last Mass on Christmas Eve will be at 10:00 p.m. in the Church. The Assumption Choir will lead the congregation in song. Musical preludes will start at 9:30 p.m. Christmas Masses Tuesday, December 25-9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses in Church. The Precious Blood will not be available for the large number of parishioners and visitors for our Christmas Masses. If you have gluten allergies, please contact the office to make arrangements to receive from the chalice. Mary, Mother of God Masses Monday, December 31, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Monsignor Nevin Klinger J.C.L., M.A., Pastor Monsignor Robert Coll, Pastor Emeritus 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18015 610-867-7424 - www.assumptionbethlehem.com YOUR STEWARDSHIP IS THE SOURCE OF OUR GROWTH The total for the December 15-16 weekend is not available because of Christmas bulletin deadline. Thank you for your support and generosity. The statement printed above expresses the gratitude felt in response to the generosity of the people of Assumption parish. For it is your weekly contributions that make much of what is done here possible. Thanks are extended to those who use envelopes and those who contribute through our Online Giving. PARISH CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK Monday, December 24, 2018 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass Hanlon Center 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass Church 10:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass Church Tuesday, December 25, 2018 9:00 a.m. Christmas Mass Church 11:00 a.m. Christmas Mass Church Wednesday, December 26, 2018 10:00 a.m. Bible Study Finnegan Room Thursday, December 27, 2018 7:30 p.m. CODA mtg. Fritz Room Friday, December 28, 2018 Saturday, December 29, 2018 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass - Holy Family Church Sunday, December 30, 2018 7:30 a.m. Holy Family Mass Church 10:00 a.m. Holy Family Mass Church 11:30 a.m. Holy Family Mass Church Dear Parishioners, One of the phrases Christmas brings to mind is Peace on Earth. What a beautiful vision. It is at Christmas that this vision almost seems to be a possibility. We are kinder to one another. We think of others and give more than we do any other time of the year. We carry with us a spirit of peace. In the midst of the shopping, cooking, and wrapping, take some time to find even a little bit of peace and share it with others. May the Peace of Christ be with you this Christmas and throughout the coming year. In Christ, Monsignor Klinger Special thanks to Gene Bosak and all who worked tirelessly to make the Christmas party last Sunday so enjoyable for our parishioners. Thanks also to the Knights of Columbus crew, servers, the kitchen crew, the calling committee, bartenders, and those who helped with the clean up. It was a wonderful parish event! MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Evening Vigil: 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning: 7:30, 10:00 & 11:30 a.m. Monday Friday: 8:15 a.m. Holy Days: Vigil: 6:30 p.m. Holy Day: 9:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. CONFESSIONS Every Saturday: 4:00-4:45 p.m. and by appointment. DIOCESAN VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR Wendy S. Krisak, M.A., NCC, LPC: Direct telephone: 1-800-791-9209 DIOCESAN SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR Sr. Meg Cole, S.S.J.: Telephone: 610-332-0442 x 19 Mission Statement The Church of the Assumption B.V.M. is dedicated to becoming a community of disciples of Jesus Christ. As disciples we make Jesus Christ a living reality in the lives of the members of our parish family. By guiding and encouraging our people to discipleship through a heightened awareness of our Lord s presence in their lives, the parish community becomes a visible and active expression of the living Christ in our world today.
Assumption Parish Staff Parish Office: 610-867-7424 - ext. 10 Rev. Msgr. Nevin Klinger J.C.L., M.A., Pastor Deacon Don Elliott - ext 18, Deacon Stu Herman - ext. 19 Saint Michael the Archangel School: 610-867-8422 Mrs. Colleen Weiss, Principal; Mrs. Erin Faust, Vice Principal Assumption Preschool, Mrs. Andrea Powell, Director: powellandrea725@gmail.com Christina Durback, DRE: Parish & St. Michael Middle School: 610-814-0712 Dr. Dennis Varley: Director of Music: dennis.varley@desales.edu Mary Williams/Parish Office x10, Email: abvmrect@ptd.net Kate Varley Room Scheduling/Bulletin x11, Email: abvmkate@ptd.net Special thanks to the Music Ministry members who helped make our Gaudete Concert so beautiful: The Assumption Choir, Contemporary Ensemble and Youth Choir as well as the soloists. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the ushering, candles and clean-up. Save the date for the next Y oung At Heart group meeting. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 17 at 1:00 p.m. in the Coll Room. The meeting will feature Reverend Ann Huey, Chaplin of the St. Luke's Visiting Nurses Association. It is scheduled from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. She will discuss hospice care, what it is, how to access it, and common myths associated with hospice care. She will have literature available to take home as well. Deacon Don will also discuss our parish ministry that volunteers at Hospice House. We could use some extra hands! Come help decorate our church for Christmas this Sunday, December 23 at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome. Many hands make light work. LITURGICAL SCHEDULE The new schedule for Lectors, Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Hospitality Ministers is complete for January through Easter. Go onto our parish website at: assumptionbethlehem.com and click on the Ministries tab then the Liturgical Ministry Link to view the new schedule. Jot down the dates on your calendar that you are scheduled! SOAP PROJECT (Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution) Thank to all those who helped label soap with a human trafficking hotline phone number. With generous donations from parishioners, we were able to purchase 5 cases of soap. Soap will be distributed to motels with labels offering help to identify and report sex trafficking.
www.st-mikes.com Mrs. Colleen Weiss, Principal Mrs. Erin Faust, Assistant Principal Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our Parishioners! At this very special time of year, we are reminded of the most precious gift of all, God s Love for each of us. As we gather with family and friends this holiday season, it is our wish that you each share this gift with one another and keep Christ in your lives. Thank you to all of our parishioners for your prayers, kindness and support throughout the year. Our school family will continue to pray for each of you throughout this special season and the coming year. DID YOU KNOW? St. Michael the Archangel School is Middle States Accredited and has all certified teachers, many with graduate degrees. We also offer a variety of sports and extra-curricular activities such as theatre and academic bowl. Finally, our students are offered special scheduled classes in Art, Music, Technology, Library, Gym and Spanish. We are also a 1:1 ipad school. Want to learn more? Open registration for Fall 2019 has begun and limited space is available in all grades. Contact our advancement office at 610-867-8422 or mgano@st-mikes.com ST. MICHAEL S STUDENTS PREPARE: As the students and families begin to celebrate the Christmas season, many of them will also be working diligently on their school projects. Once again this year, our students will be competing in the National History Day competition and the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science competition. We wish all of them success as they prepare to present their projects in early 2019! Visiting makes the difference! 1/27-2/2 Catholic Schools Week OPEN HOUSES 1/27 form 11-12 at our Middle School 1/28 from 9:30-11 and 2/3 from 10:30-12pm at our elementary school. 2018-2019 school theme: Called to be Holy Called to be Saints Help needed: On Dec. 27, 10 11:30 a.m., we will take down the chairs used for the Christmas Eve Masses in the Hanlon Center. Anyone who is able and willing, please contact Mrs. Durback at 610-814-0712 or durback@ptd.net. This time can be used toward the accomplishment of high school and Confirmation service requirements. Many hands make light work! Confirmation 2019 (Grade 8) Candidates Parents: Please make sure your son/daughter is up to date with activities and forms to be submitted to the Religious Education Office. All service hours reflections and information and sponsor forms should be submitted before Christmas. Confirmation 2018 (Grade 7) Inquirers: Liturgy and Life Reflections should be submitted to the Religious Education Office before Christmas. Volunteers adults and teens are always welcome to assist our leaders of the Children s Liturgy of the Word during the 10 a.m. Mass. You would be scheduled about once a month for this service. If interested, please contact Christina Durback at 610-814-0712 or durback@ptd.net. Reminder to PREP families: If inclement weather should cause the cancellation of a Sunday PREP session, we will send an e-mail notice of cancellation. We will have no phone chain this year. On Wednesdays note that if Southern Lehigh Schools dismiss early or cancel for the day, we will automatically cancel PREP that evening. Assumption PREP sessions resume in the new year on January 3 and 7. Youth Outreach: St. Michael Middle School and Assumption PREP are collecting soup (canned or packaged) and crackers for the St. Paul Food Bank in Allentown and Betty Lou s Food Bank in Coopersburg during the month of January. Please drop off your donations in the boxes in the hallway of St. Michael Middle School. Save the Dates: Assumption s Vacation Bible School 2019 will be June 24-27, 9 a.m. noon. Mark your calendars! Volunteer applications and registration forms will be available in April.
Monday, December 24: Christmas Eve 8:15 a.m. Gregory W. Kelly 4:00 p.m. Christmas Flower Intentions 6:30 p.m. Christmas Flower Intentions 10:00 p.m. Christmas Flower Intentions Tuesday, December 25: Christmas 9:00 a.m. Christmas Flower Intentions 11:00 a.m. Christmas Flower Intentions Wednesday, December 26: St. Stephen No Morning Mass Thursday, December 27: St. John No Morning Mass Friday, December 28: Holy Innocents 8:15 a.m. Shannon Haggerty Saturday, December 29: St. Thomas Becket No Morning Mass Vigil 5:00pm Living & Deceased Parishioners Sunday, December 30: Holy Family 7:30 a.m. Anthony Bas 10:00 a.m. Denise Molinaro 11:30 a.m. Josefita Aldea READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79 Tuesday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Wednesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Friday: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Saturday: The Sanctuary Lamp burns this week in memory of Marian Wisser. Mt 2:13-18 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52 Grocery gift cards are on sale every weekend after all Masses and in the parish office Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Assumption Church receives 5% of every dollar sold. On sale now: Giant, Weis, Valley Farm, Fresh Market, Macy s, Red Robin, Copperhead Grille, and Bell Hall Restaurant in Allentown. If you need specific gift cards for the holidays, please call Kate at 610-867-7424 x11. Widowed people created Soaring Spirits because they discovered that connecting with other widowed people made the challenges of surviving a spouse or partner a little easier to manage. This widowed community offers widowed men and women understanding, friendship, inspiration, and encouragement as they learn to live without the person with whom they intended to spend the rest of their lives. For more information contact Sonja at 610-297-0057. Please help our school earn cash! Clip Box Tops from participating products and drop them in the box located at the front entrance of the church. Each one collected earns our school 10 for anything the school needs! Thank you from the children of St. Mike s. Memorial Altar Flowers If you would like to donate altar flowers in thanksgiving or in loving memory of family members or friends, or to mark a special occasion, please contact the parish office. Your flower intentions will be published in the bulletin. The weekly cost is $70. Our best wishes go out to Lilliana Raine Weiss who was brought into our faith through Baptism on December 15, 2018. May she carry her newly acquired Christian dignity through this life and into the next.
Fourth Sunday of Advent Today s Readings: Mic 5:1 4a; Ps 80:2 3, 15 16, 18 19; Heb 10:5 10; Lk 1:39 45 In the Gospel, Elizabeth and Mary, marginalized women, brazenly celebrate that their sons will be world-changing instruments of God. We further learn that this audacity is rooted in trust in God. The author of Hebrews describes the faithful obedience of Jesus. Mary is shown as the exemplar of faithful trust in God. This is the way God often seems to work, in the ordinary and marginalized in our world. Those who seem weak have learned to trust in God s strength. These have the audacity to become instruments of God s peace and justice. FROM SCANDAL TO HONOR The meeting of Mary and Elizabeth follows a strong tradition of women in their culture, to come together to support each other during pregnancy. Mary likely carried a shadow of scandal in her pregnancy, since it began before her marriage. Elizabeth, having carried her own burden of social disapproval after many years without children, sees only cause for celebration. Elizabeth sees beyond the social shame of Mary s situation to observe how God is working, and how Mary has accepted joining in this work. Unlike Elizabeth s husband Zechariah, who thought it unbelievable that God could bring them a son, Mary believed the angel s message. Elizabeth honors Mary, in part, for simply being able to imagine that God could do this extraordinary thing through her. Perhaps God had been preparing Mary s heart throughout her young life, so that she could be fully receptive to God s specific call when the time was right. Mary opened herself to an uncertain future, trusting that God would accompany her in the joys and sorrows of being the mother of Jesus. PREGNANT WITH GOD Advent, as a time of preparation for Christmas, echoes the pregnancy of Mary. Something is stirring within us, and we await the coming of Jesus. Although we the Church have observed Advent and Christmas many times, God is always offering something new to us. Like the angel asked Mary, God is always asking us to allow Christ to be born in and through us. Christ wishes to make himself at home within us, and increase his presence in our hearts. You are invited to a special event The Master Craftsman: God s Amazing Plan for Teens (and their Parents) co-sponsored by the Office of Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry and St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church. Join us for a faithfilled evening with nationally-recognized speaker Scott Anthony, as he helps us see the Truth of God s guiding hand in our lives. We encourage teens in grades 9-12 and their parents to attend! After this evening, you and your youth will look toward the future with a newfound sense of hope. The event will take place on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 7:00 PM, at St. Thomas More Church Family Center (1040 Flexer Ave, Allentown, PA 18103). This event is free of charge. Light refreshments will be provided. To register for this event, please visit www.allentowndiocese.org/craftsman. For questions call (610) 289-8900, ext. 2021 or email Francesca Frias at Ffrias@allentowndiocese.org.
MARCH FOR LIFE FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2018 Join Assumption B.V.M. and St. Joseph s Church as we March for Life in Washington D.C. Mass will be celebrated at 6:00 a.m. at ABVM. The bus departs Assumption Church at 7:00 a.m. The bus arrives at the National Mall in Washington DC at 11:00 a.m. *We will not stop for lunch. Please pack a bag for lunch. The bus returns to Assumption Church around 8:30-9:00 p.m. The schedule is as follows: 11:30-1:00 p.m. - Musical Opening and Rally Program - 1:00 3:00 p.m. - March up Constitution Avenue to Supreme Court and Capitol Building. The bus will depart soon after 3:00 p.m. On the way home, we will stop at a food court for dinner. COST: $25/person OR $75/family. To reserve a spot, email Lisa Temple at: lisa_temple3@yahoo.com or call 281-507-8912. Payment is due Jan. 11, 2019. Make check payable to: Assumption BVM. Send check to: Lisa Temple, 5850 Woodcrest Drive Coopersburg, PA 18036. The March for Life is the world s largest annual human rights demonstration. This year s theme is: Unique from Day One: Pro-Life is Pro-Science NEW PARISHIONERS Welcome! Our parish family invites all of its members to participate fully in our spiritual and social life. Please contact the parish office to register. BAPTISMS Baptisms are scheduled in the parish office after receipt of sponsor certificates. Baptisms take place immediately following the 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Contact the parish office at 610-867-7424 x10 at least six weeks in advance. Parents must attend a Baptismal Preparation Class. WEDDINGS Couples must contact the pastor at least 6 months prior to the wedding. BULLETIN All copy must be received in writing two Fridays prior to the intended Sunday publication. We reserve the right to edit all copy. All inserts must be received at least two weeks in advance. PRAYER CHAIN Call Carol Herman at 610-838-1048 or email her at prayer@ealvinc.com and give her your name and intention. She will contact other parishioners participating in our Prayer Chain on your behalf. Parish Registration for the 2019-20 school year for Assumption Preschool begins on January 16, 2019. Registrations will be accepted in the parish office at 9:00 a.m. Please contact Andrea Powell with any questions at powellandrea725@gmail.com. PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL The Council welcomes any comments or suggestions by parishioners. Please contact Jeanine Faust at faust2@epix.net this month. PARISH MEMORIALS Following the death of a relative or friend, offerings may be made to the Church in loving memory of the deceased. The offerings may specify a particular request or placed in the Parish Memorial Endowment, The Parish Education Endowment, or the Health Ministry Endowment. Beautiful 2019 Religious Calendars are available at the entrances of the church. Special thanks to the James Funeral Home for sponsoring the calendars again this year! Our website: www.assumptionbethlehem.com