From the Pastor s Desk My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Thanksgiving is evoked by the realization of how much one has been a recipient of God s manifold blessings and signs of love, especially the gifts of life, family and friends, material riches and forgiveness. The person thus feels the need to show gratitude to God by doing something in return. The desire to do something in return is seemingly in King David s heart when he expresses -in our First Reading- his desire to build God a house, a temple. God chose and anointed him king to replace Saul; the Lord helped him conquer his enemies and win the hearts of his people and establish his kingdom unopposed. To such a fervent, expect commendation from God. But no, the Lord rejects David s plan to build him a house: the whole universe is God s and God is content with dwelling in a portable tent. No, it is not to be David who will do something great for the Lord; it is the Lord who has something much greater for David. The Lord promises a great name, a steady and safe dwelling for his people, a house. In the end, David can only bow down in praise and thanksgiving for the wonderful promises of the Lord on his behalf. This promise to David is fulfilled in the Gospel (the Annunciation). This time, the recipient, the one through whom the promise is fulfilled, is not a king but a lowly virgin from Nazareth - Mary, as the Lord promised David a great name, a great offspring and an everlasting kingdom. Now the angel Gabriel says to Mary: Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will no end (vv 31-33) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I will remember all in my Christmas Masses. Your Servant in Christ, Fr Khanh D. Nguyen, Pastor THANK YOU from Father Nguyen and the Parish Staff for the cards and remembrances during this Holy Season. They are very much appreciated! NEW CATHOLIC CONVERSATIONS PROGRAM CONTINUES THIS SUNDAY from 11:20 am to 12:30 pm in the Parish Center library. Each week the conversation is based on the Gospel readings of the week. All are welcome. For information, contact the Parish Office 206-363-5724. SAVE THE DATE for our next Wine and Cheese Social on Saturday, January 6 at 6 pm following Mass. READINGS FOR DECEMBER 25 TO JANUARY 7 Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Monday, December 25, Isaiah 9:1-6; Gosp Luke 2:1-14 Masses at 8:00 & 10:00 am Tuesday, December 26, St. Stephen, Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Gosp Matthew 1:5-25 - No morning Mass Wednesday, December 27, St. John, the Apostle, 1 John 1:1-4; Gosp John 20:1a & 2-8 Mass at 8:45 am Thursday, December 28, 1 John 1:5---2:2; Gosp Matthew 2:39-45 - Mass at 8:45 am Friday, December 29, St. Thomas Becket, 1 John 2:3-11; Gosp Luke 2:22-35 - Mass at 8:45 am Saturday, December 30, 1 John 2:12-17; Gosp Luke 2:36-40 - Mass at 8:45 am Sunday, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, December 31, Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Gosp Luke 2:22-40 Monday, January 1, Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Numbers 6:22-27; Gosp Luke 2:16 21 Mass at 9:00 am Tuesday, January 2, St. Basil the Great, I, 1 John 2:22-28; Gosp John 1:19-28 - No morning Mass Wednesday, January 3, St. Genevieve, 1 John 2:29---3:6; Gosp John 1:29-34 Mass at 8:45 am Thursday, January 4, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1 John 3:7-10; Gosp John 1:35-42 - Mass at 8:45 am Friday, January 5, St. John Neumann, 1 John 3:11-21; Gosp John 1:43-51 - Mass at 8:45 am Saturday, January 6, St. Andre Bessette, 1 John 5:5-13; Gosp Mark 1:7-11 - Mass at 8:45 am Sunday, January 7, Epiphany of the Lord, Isaiah 60:1-6; Gosp Matthew 2:1-12 NEW YEAR BIBLE STUDY! A biblical Study! Adult Faith Formation is offering a 5-week New Year study of A Biblical Walk Through the Mass beginning January 10. There will be two time offerings. An Evening study on Wednesdays at 7:00-8:30 and a Day time study on Thursdays from 10:00-11:30. In this study you will come to know and understand the Mass like never before. You will discover the rich meanings behind why we say what we say and do during the Liturgy, leading you to a more meaningful, more fruitful worship experience. Contact Sara Lane (206) 334-5350 or sslane5@comcast.net. Register online at http://ascensionpress.com/studies/25549/registration s/new Please join us for this exciting new study! SAVE THE DATE Saturday, February 3 is the thirteenth St. Matthew Annual Crab Dinner. Tickets ($40) are on sale in the Community Center on Sundays at the Coffee Hour and at the Parish Office during office hours. Proceeds from the event will be used for maintenance of the church.
Sacred Story-Week 12 & 13 Choose the time and place for your 15 minute prayer time. Establishing the ritual is vital to your discipline of prayer. Make no decisions grounded in fear or anxiety. Participation in the monthly gatherings has been supportive of our daily prayer Week 12 We are at the culmination of the first part of our Forty Weeks journey we continue to write/review our letter to Jesus. We will be praying for this week and next on the letter we are preparing for Jesus. Having prepared ourselves for this exercise, we can see the larger story of our lives through our understanding and integration of the work of the past eleven weeks. New instructions for Week 13 focus on the grateful praise theme and identify specific strong reactions to parts of the letter and are helping to knit together our friendship with the Lord and deepen our knowledge of our story in light of the story of Jesus. If (and when!) we get distracted, disengaged, make it an opportunity to reach out to God for help. The distraction becomes a door instead of a wall and the Lord always answers our prayers/opens a path when we get stuck! If your letter is complete and you have resolved to make a Whole Life Confession in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You may make your Whole Life Confession when you are ready Affirmation Lord Jesus Christ affirm You will always transform my sin and weakness into grace and blessings! I will not be afraid. Information Monday, January 8 at 7:00 pm, Parish Office Library is the Sacred Story Gathering. The experience of the Whole Life Confession will be one of the topics at the next Sacred Story Gathering in January. If you wish to receive regular e-mail contact marycross@aol.com and msloane@comcast.net HISTORICAL CHALICE AND CIBORIUM RESTORED In time for Christmas, St. Matthew has restored the historically significant original chalice and ciborium used in our parish over 40 years ago. These vessels hold the Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ and are our heritage and symbol of the commitment of our charter families and parishioners. Fr. Khanh Nguyen will be using these beautifully restored vessels in Mass throughout this holiday season. Thank you to Fr. Khanh, Barbara and John Sweeney and the Altar Society for donating to make the restoration a reality. Special thanks to Laura Girodot for coordinating the restoration process. Donations specific to the restoration are still being accepted.. St. Matthew School News Karen Herlihy, Principal, 206-362-2785, ext. 102 kherlihy@stmattschool.org Andy Hews, Administrative Assistant, 206-362-2785, ext. 101, ahews@stmattschool.org Excellence Diversity Community It s Admissions Time! Please invite friends and family to our winter Open House on January 28 or to schedule a tour. Come explore all that St. Matthew School has to offer: Academic excellence in an environment of community and diversity Affordable before and after school care ($4.50 per hour) Music, art, library and fitness Sports Summer camp program. We also have a limited number of openings in our Pre-K program NOW for 4 and 5 year olds. Private tours available. Email spretti@stmattschool.org. Give to St. Matthew School for Christmas and Your Gift Will Be Doubled! A very generous family has offered a gift to St. Matthew School to honor our amazing teachers and staff, and would like to spread the holiday cheer even more. For each dollar donated to St. Matthew School between now and December 31, that donor will match your gift (up to $4000 total). If you donate $100, the donor will match it and St. Matthew School will receive $200. This is a great opportunity to support the school and extend your gift! Donate online by Dec. 31 to qualify for the matching funds. Ho ho ho! FINANCE All donations (Sacrificial Giving, St. Vincent de Paul, Building Fund, etc.) must be received no later than December 31, 2017. Donations received by that date will be recorded on your 2017 parish giving report. Anything received after December 31 will be acknowledged as a 2018 donation. Please consider St. Matthew Parish or a Catholic charity when making a gift in 2017. Online giving transactions after Dec. 26 may not be recorded in 2017 due to varying processing procedures of banks. DECEMBER 2017 COLLECTIONS Actual Budget Difference Dec.17 $ 7,187 $ 12,450 <$ 5,263> YTD $230,024 $239,750 < $ 9,726> In the first reading, God promises King David that his house and his kingdom will endure forever. It is through Mary s Yes I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say. that the promise finds fulfillment.