Welcome to our parish! As pastor, I hope we can enrich your experience as much as you enrich ours. Fr. David Ruby Disposing of all our old church books is quite a task. Thank you to everyone that helped out with this big job! Monday, December 31 (New Year s Eve) Mass-4:00 pm-jp AA Meeting-7:00 pm-sb Tuesday, January 1 (New Year s Day) Office Closed Today Mass-8:00 am-sb Mass-6:00 pm-fc Wednesday, January 2 Advent Small Group-1:00 pm-brabson s Home Faith Formation-Grades 1-8-4:00-5:30 pm-bh Faith Formation-Grades 9-12-6:15-7:30 pm-bh Thursday, January 3 Scandia Village Mass-2:30 pm-sb Reconciliation-5:00-6:00 pm-bh For Online Giving to our parish, please go to www.stellamarisparish.com and click on Giving to the Parish Electronically on the front page. Stella Maris Mission Statement Stella Maris Catholic Parish prayerfully unites people in the love of Jesus guided by our patron, Mary. Stella Maris Vision Statement We invite all to journey as disciples. By sharing the Gospel, responding to Jesus' love and the gifts God has given us, we welcome all to grow in faith and in our parish life. Website: www.stellamarisparish.com The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph-December 30, 2018
2 Welcome to Stella Maris in Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Jacksonport, Sister Bay & Washington Island ADDITIONAL FLOWER MEMORIALS: William Vondras, Judith Anschutz, Evelyn, Ervin & Dan Franke. FREE LUNCHES-For the sixth year, Ephraim Moravian Church will be offering a free, hot monthly lunch, at noon on the third Wednesday of each month through April of 2019. The lunches will feature hot soups, sandwiches or salads, desserts and beverages. Dates are January 16, February 20, March 20 and April 17. There is no charge for the meal. Bring a friend for hot food and fellowship this winter! The church is located at 9770 Moravia Street. For more info, call (920) 854-2804. In addition, the Sister Bay Moravian Church offers a free lunch on the first Wednesday of each month at noon, year-round. Winter Weather Cancellations Father Dave, the staff and support personnel will make every attempt to maintain our schedule of masses, events and committee meetings. However, we ask that you never place yourself in harms way to attend them. In the event of a cancellation the following methods of communication will be used: Radio station WDOR (FM 94), TV station WBAY-Green Bay (Channel 2) or our website www.stellamarisparish.com (Usually if the schools are closed our events are cancelled) Please use your own discretion for safety. Faith Formation Catholic New Year Resolutions January is at our doorstep...so are New Year resolutions...for me it is partly a diet thing...usually broken within a short time! So I decided to search for some "resolutionary" Catholic thoughts: Never forget that you are God s individual creation and therefore a gift He has bestowed on the world. Without Him you are nothing. Be happy with who and what you are. God made you and loves you. If you feel you need to change to please Him, you can do it. Just ask for His help. The choices you make are your responsibility. Sometimes our choices hurt us. Embrace them and learn from them and move on. Thank God for the experience. Sometimes NOT getting what you want or what you think you need is a blessing. If you trust God, you will thank Him. When one door closes another opens. Always count your blessings, not your troubles. Always do your best. The best is all God expects from each of us. You can make it through whatever comes along. Grace will be there, but it only comes one day at a time. Don t fret about the future. Prayer is the most powerful of weapons and can be your greatest ally in all diversity. Don t take things too seriously, especially yourself. The key to happiness is to give of yourself, not to get for yourself. Miracles happen; you are one I am one we all are one. Temptation is everywhere. It is okay to say NO. Finally, never fail to help a neighbor, whoever it may be, even a stranger. We all will experience highs and lows during the coming year. As Catholics, we have the armor of the Church to shield us and the angels and saints to help us fight our battles with the evil one. HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2019! Blessings, Linda Cummer, Faith Formation Coordinator (resource: aleteia.org) GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDER- STANDING OF SCRIPTURE December 30, 2018 The Holy Family "After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers." As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, this Gospel exposes us to a strange tension. While this family is one we can look to for an example, they are not quite the same family unit as everyone else. There is an otherness to Jesus, something profound. And yet, perhaps on second thought, are our families so different? When Mary and Joseph encountered Jesus in the temple, "they were astonished." But at what? Mary's response is surprised. They're not astonished that Jesus is preaching in a place for respected teachers. They're not astonished that their son has captured the attention of the wisest men of the time period. They're astonished at his seemingly disobedient behavior! "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." All our children have an "otherness" about them, something that makes them unique and different. They are distinctly not "me." What will our own children become? What temple will they wander off to? Who will they astound? Health & Wellness Living Healthy is a Prayer FALLING UPWARD: HOPES FOR THE FUTURE Your Stella Maris Health & Wellness Committee sends wishes for a blessed New Year and invites you to join us in prayer as we make our initial Steps into the Future: God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, Thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, Mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power. May we walk gently. May we speak only after we have listened well. Creator of all life, help us to enter the New Year reverently, aware that you have endowed every creature and plant, every person and habitat with beauty and purpose. May we regard the world with tenderness. May we honor rather than destroy. Lover of all souls, help us enter the New Year joyfully, willing to laugh and dance and dream, remembering our many gifts with thanks and looking forward to blessings yet to come. May we welcome your lavish love. May we cast off the small vindictive god our fears have made. May the grace and peace of Christ bless you now and in the days ahead. (Attributed to Vanita Hampton Wright.)
JANUARY FOOD item being collected is canned fruit for the CARE 24/7 Food Pantry, a ministry of Stella Maris. Donations can be left at the Fish Creek and Baileys Harbor sites. RESPECT LIFE-Blessed Joseph, you took Mary and Jesus into your home. You followed the prescripts of the Law, presented Jesus in the temple, taught him skills at the plane and the lathe and daily, you shared traditions which were built on the covenants he came to fulfill. Hear the prayers of the siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and entire families of children who have been adopted. May they be the source of loving welcome and a font of faith. Through Christ our Lord. St. Joseph, descendant of David, pray for us. USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities Novena to St. Joseph for Those on the Path of Adoption. END OF YEAR CHURCH CONTRIBUTIONS-Church contributions for 2018 must be postmarked on or before December 31st to be credited to 2018. January postmarks no matter the date on the check will be credited to 2019. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS-A Big Thank You to all of you that came out to support the Packer Tail Gate Party Fund Raiser for the food pantries of Door County. We were able to raise over $2,700. The only thing that would have made it better would have been a Packer win. Well there is always next year and we hope you join us for the 18th Annual Tailgate Party. SAVE THE DATE: For all women of Stella Maris on Thursday, January 17 to Sail into the New Year with the Fourth Annual The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph December 30, 2018 3 Parish Life & Upcoming Events "New Year, New Friends" CCW Luncheon at Alexander's. Details to follow. Call Beckie at (920) 839-2903. OLD HYMNALS AVAILABLE! In case you d like to have a copy of our old hymnal to sing and pray the songs at home, we saved some that were in excellent condition. If interested, stop at the parish office any time to pick one up in the box on the back porch or contact Mary Gomoll at (920) 562-4020. ANNOUNCEMENTS need to be sent to our Director of Music and Worship, Katrina Welborn, by Wednesday each week. NORTHERN DOOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED SUPPORT GROUP meets the second Tuesday of every month at First Baptist Church, 2622 S. Bay Shore Dr., Sister Bay from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. If you are struggling with vision loss, come learn the many steps you can take to increase your independence. Join us for socialization and education. ENDOWMENT TIP-Did you know you may be able to donate stock tax free to the Stella Maris endowment? Pick up an endowment brochure at the church entrance to learn more.
5 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph-December 30, 2018 Worship and Music Column What are your holiday traditions? Are they family traditions that have been passed on from one generation to the next? Are they traditions that have melded after two families come together through marriage? Are they traditions you started because you didn t really have any traditions growing up or you didn t like the ones you did? How do traditions start? What do they matter to us? Do we do them out of obligation or do we do them because they highlight the season? Do we get so wrapped up in the tradition that we limit ourselves from being open to new things and new experiences? Do we get so wrapped up in the tradition that we lose focus of the season of giving and celebrating Christ? Most of the time when we talk about traditions, we do them because that s just what we do. Rarely do we take the time to actually ponder why we have these traditions. Do these traditions help us celebrate the season or wear us down by having to do things that we may be too tired or busy to do. Do our traditions bring people together? Highlight the liturgical season? Help others? What is the meaning behind our traditions and why do we do them? Just take a few minutes to think about what you and your family do and why. Some of my friends don t put their tree up until Christmas Eve and leave it up through the whole Christmas season allowing them ample time to focus and enjoy Advent. Others put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving and still are able to enjoy and focus on Advent. Sometimes we think, oh, maybe I ll try that, thinking it will be the righter way of doing something. There is no right way of celebrating the holiday season in terms of traditions and decorations. The real focus is that Christ came down to earth in the form of a child. If we all focus and remember that, how we decorate and celebrate doesn t matter. For me, this year is the first year where I ve started new traditions on my own. I put up my tree during Advent, but I don t turn on the lights until something happens (an interaction, moment, etc.) that puts me in the true spirit of Christmas. Then the lights go on and I know that I am ready to celebrate the Christmas season and that my season of anticipation prepared me. For me, it allows me to enjoy the decorations and celebrate each season without too much pressure to do things right. Keep it simple. Enjoy the holidays! Merry Christmas! Love has come. Nowell. KgW Liturgies of the Week Saturday, December 29-The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Washington Island 10:30 am-dr Stella Maris Parish Fish Creek 4:00 pm-dr Paul Muckerman Sunday, December 30-The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph Jacksonport 8:00 am-dr Richard Ruby Sister Bay 10:00 am-dr Robert Ossyra Monday, December 31 (New Year s Eve) Fish Creek 8:00 am No Morning Prayer Jacksonport 4:00 pm-dr Bryan Ruby Tuesday, January 1-Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God Sister Bay 8:00 am-dr Elizabeth Gonzales Fish Creek 6:00 pm-dr Edna Smith Wednesday, January 2-Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church Egg Harbor 8:00 am-dr Paul Muckerman Thursday, January 3 Sister Bay 8:00 am-dr Clarice Berns Scandia 2:30 pm-dr Phyllis Runde Friday, January 4-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Baileys Harbor 8:00 am-dr Richard & Bryan Ruby Saturday, January 5-The Epiphany of the Lord Fish Creek 4:00 pm-dr Jerry Koessl Sunday, January 6-The Epiphany of the Lord Jacksonport 8:00 am-dr Marty Gureski Sister Bay 10:00 am-dr Elizabeth Gonzales Washington Island 3:30 pm-dr Stella Maris Parish DR=Fr. David Ruby Readings for the Week of December 30 Sunday: 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28/Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 [cf. 5a]/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24/Lk 2:41-52 Monday: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96: 1-2, 11-12, 13 [11a]/Jn 1:1-18 Tuesday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal 4: 4-7/Lk 2:16-21 Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/ Jn 1:19-28 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:29-3:6/Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6 [3cd]/Jn 1:29-34 Friday: 1 Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 [3cd]/Jn 1: Saturday: 35-42 1 Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 [2a]/Jn 1:43-51 Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 [cf. 11]/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 LPi
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph-December 30, 2018 6 Pastor Reverend David Ruby pastorsmdc@gmail.com Egg Harbor Office (920) 868-3241 PO Box 49, 7710 State Hwy 42, Egg Harbor, WI 54209 E-mail: churchofficesmdc@gmail.com Fax (920) 868-1481 Web site: www.stellamarisparish.com Office hours: (Mon-Fri) 8:00-12:00 & 12:30-4:30 Pastoral Associate Becky Nash pastoralsmdc@gmail.com (920) 421-3332 Director of Worship and Music-Katrina Welborn worshipsmdc@gmail.com Director of Facilities, Administration and Technology- Kevin Revolinski managementsmdc@gmail.com Bookkeeper/LoSEC (Local Safe Environment Coordinator) Jim Slomski booksmdc@gmail.com Receptionist/Secretary/Bulletin Editor Lorie Orthober churchofficesmdc@gmail.com Normal Bulletin Deadline - Tuesday, 9am Faith Formation Coordinator-Linda Cummer cummerlinda@gmail.com (920) 421-2195 Maintenance Coordinator-Jim Charles maintsmdc@gmail.com (920) 493-4089 Faith Community Nurse-Bonnie Mirkiewicz nursesmdc@gmail.com (920) 421-4997 Wedding Coordinator-Pat Gureski patgureski64@gmail.com Secretary Trustee-Michelle Piatek piatmch@aol.com Treasurer Trustee-Garey Bies garey.bies@gmail.com Pastoral Team Leadership Chair-Paul Lisslisspl1024@gmail.com Finance Council Chair-Peg Berezewski mberezewski@robertmorris.edu Deacon David Kowalski-inoiamdjk@yahoo.com Health & Wellness Committee livinghealthyisaprayer@gmail.com Please cut out this coupon and present it next time you Patronize One of our Advertisers. Thank You for advertising in the Stella Maris Parish church bulletin. I am patronizing your business because of it! Parish Membership Stella Maris Parish is delighted when new people want to join our parish and gladly welcomes them into our faith community. Contact the parish office. Infant Baptism The baptism of new babies and young children revitalizes our faith community. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements for baptism. Adult Initiation The Catholic Church is always enriched whenever any adult chooses to be Catholic. Adults wishing to be baptized, or baptized adults wishing to be confirmed, the RCIA program is available. Reconciliation God s great mercy is something to be celebrated. Ritually we Catholics experience God s unconditional love in the sacrament of reconciliation. Our pastor is available for this sacrament on the 1st Thursday of the month from 5:00-6:00 pm at our Baileys Harbor site (except holidays) and by appointment. Sacrament of Matrimony A faith-filled wedding is a joyful time for the couple and the parish. Our parish wants to have all weddings here be the best possible. The couple must meet with the pastor before a date can be reserved. Please contact the parish office at least 12 months in advance to begin preparation. Ministry to the Sick Everyone needs extra compassion and care when his or her health is not at its best. As a parish, we try to meet that need. Communal anointing Masses take place twice yearly, with individual anointing done when requested. Parishioners in the hospital, nursing home or other institution are encouraged to notify the office to arrange for visits or communion. Devotions MORNING PRAYER: Monday-8:00 am, Fish Creek SCRIPTURE CLASS: Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am at Scandia Village in Sister Bay. Please join us for a closer look and discussion on St. John s Gospel. Visitors are always welcome. ROSARY: Tuesday-Noon in Baileys Harbor. Rosary for Life-2nd Tuesday of month, Noon, Baileys Harbor RECONCILIATION: Usually the 1st Thursday of the month from 5-6 pm in Baileys Harbor or by appointment. Offertory Contrib. December 22-23, 2018 Actual Budget Stewardship Envelopes $ 9,302.00 $15,000.00 ACH $ $ WeShare $ 2,057.00 $ 600.00 Offertory $ 1,317.00 $ 3,500.00 Totals $12,676.00 $19,100.00 2018/19 Actual YTD $352,757.00 2018/19 Budget YTD $362,600.00 2017/18 Actual YTD $364,796.00 Total Attendance last week-425