Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church

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. 4th Sunday OF Advent 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. DEC. 24, 2017 MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Evening Vigil: 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning: 7:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 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. Christmas Eve Masses Sunday, 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 Hanlon Center. 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 Monday, December 25-9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Masses in Church. Mary, Mother of God Masses Monday, January 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. and noon 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 2019 Monsignor Nevin Klinger J.C.L., M.A., Pastor Monsignor Robert Coll, Pastor Emeritus Fr. Benoy Joseph, in residence 4101 Old Bethlehem Pike, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18015 610-867-7424 - www.assumptionbethlehem.com

YOUR STEWARDSHIP IS THE SOURCE OF OUR GROWTH December 16-17, 2017: $16,908.87 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 25, 2017 9:00 a.m. Christmas Mass Church 11:00 a.m. Christmas Mass Church Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Wednesday, December 27, 2017 10:00 a.m. Bible Study Thursday, December 28, 2017 7:30 p.m. CODA mtg. Fritz Room Friday, December 29, 2017 Saturday, December 30, 2017 7:30 p.m. CODA mtg. Fritz Room 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass - Holy Family Church Sunday, December 31, 2017 7:30 a.m. Holy Family Mass Church 10:00 a.m. Holy Family Mass Church 11:30 a.m. Holy Family Mass Church Monday, January 1, 2018 10:00 a.m. Mary, Mother of God Mass Church Noon Mary, Mother of God Mass Church Dear Parishioners, Despite our best efforts to plan, Christmas is often full of uncertainty. Mary and Joseph knew that feeling. Even in the final hours before the birth of their son, they were uncertain where they would find a place to deliver him. One thing they knew for sure was God would take care of them. They held tight to their faith and the message of the angel. Although it may not have been the way they planned it, it turned out the way God planned it. May God s grand design direct and bless your Christmas. In Christ, Monsignor Klinger Special thanks to Gene Bosak, Mary Thompson and Kathy Fidati and all who worked tirelessly to make the Christmas party last Sunday so enjoyable for our parishioners. Thanks also to the decorating team, servers, the kitchen crew, the calling committee, bartenders, and those who helped with the clean up. It was a wonderful parish event! 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! 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 Culture of Encounter: Family Holy Hours The Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Family Ministry is partnering with twelve parishes in each deanery to offer a Eucharistic holy hour specifically for families once a month through October 2018. Bring your whole family to encounter Christ! Stay for a few minutes or for the whole hour. Babies, toddlers, children, teens, young adults, and adults are all welcome! Prayer resources will be provided for both children and adults in English and Spanish. Some Holy Hours will provide an opportunity for silent prayer, while others will have planned prayer services. Pick up a postcard at the parish office for the schedule, or visit www.allentowndiocese.org/encounter. The next Holy Hour will be held on Sunday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Bangor, PA. 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. 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. Bible Study Groups at our parish focus on The Gospel of Luke. These Bible Study Groups meet at the following times: Monday mornings, 10:00-11:30 a.m. in the Finnegan Room Monday evenings, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Finnegan Room Wednesday mornings, 10:00-11:30 p.m. in the Finnegan Room. Adult Education Series entitled Catholic Spirituality, Lives of the Saints, and the Sunday Gospel meets in the Finnegan Room on Sunday Mornings, 8:30-9:50 a.m. This series includes videos of Bishop Robert Barron. Join anytime. If you are interested or have any questions, contact Larry Durback at 610-867- 7424 x 12 or email ldurback@gmail.com.

www.st-mikes.com Mrs. Colleen Weiss, Principal Mrs. Erin Faust, Assistant Principal Nurturing Students. Challenging Minds. Inspiring Faith-Filled Leaders. 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 2018 has begun and limited space is available in all grades. Contact our advancement office at 610-867-8422 x17. 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 2018! St. Michael s Upcoming Events 1/28 2/3 Catholic Schools Week VOLUNTEERS NEEDED On Wednesday, Dec. 27 from 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 the religious education office, 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! Save the Dates: Rockin with the Rock, Assumption s Vacation Bible School 2018 will be June 25-28, 9 a.m. noon. Mark your calendars! Volunteer applications and registration forms will be available in April. Confirmation 2018 (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 should be submitted before Christmas. Confirmation 2017 (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. Reminders for PREP families: If inclement weather should cause the cancellation of a PREP session, you can call the Religious Education Office to listen to a recorded message. We will have no phone chain this year. On Wednesdays note that if Southern Lehigh Schools dismiss early or cancel, we will automatically cancel PREP that evening. Assumption PREP sessions resume in the new year on January 3 and 7.

The Sanctuary Lamp burns this week in honor of Kathryn M. Orlando. Monday, December 25: Nativity of the Lord 9:00 a.m. Christmas Flower Intention 11:00 a.m. Christmas Flower Intention Tuesday, December 26 No morning Mass Wednesday, December 27 No morning Mass Thursday, December 28: The Holy Innocents 8:15 a.m. Pasquale & Nina Castiello Friday, December 29: St. Thomas Becket 8:15 a.m. Helen Becker Sat., December 30: 6th Day within the Octave No Morning Mass Vigil 5:00pm Catherine Faulds-James Sunday, December 31: Holy Family 7:30 a.m. Special Intention: 25th Birthday of Rocky Kutulis 10:00 a.m. Living & Deceased Parishioners 11:30 a.m. Thomas Williams Weekly Sales: Dec. 11-17: $9,650.00 Please use gift cards for your holiday shopping. Our parish receives a profit from all of the stores we purchase from: 20% profit from Red Robin for holiday gift cards 10% profit from Macy s for gift cards 8% profit if you buy Copperhead Grille gift cards 5% profit from the following grocery stores: Giant, Weis, Valley Farm and Fresh Market. Check out Bell Hall Restaurant, Allentown, PA too Parish Registration for the 2018-19 school year for Assumption Preschool begins on January 16, 2018. Registrations will be accepted in the parish office at 9:00 a.m. Please contact Andrea Powell with any questions at powellandrea725@gmail.com. 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. Memorial Altar Flowers Masses for the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God will be held on Monday, January 1st at 10:00 a.m. and noon. 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 $65. Our best wishes go out to Giovanni Ciminera and Henry Lee Haklar who were brought into our faith through Baptism on Dec. 16, 2017. Congratulations for Declan Gabriel Bailie and Vera Denise McGeehan who were baptized on Dec. 17. May they carry their newly acquired Christian dignity through this life and into the next. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Barbara Hubbard, mother of parishioner Maddie Hubbard. Maddie s brother, Bill Hubbard also passed away within 8 days of his mother. May the angels lead them into paradise, may the martyrs come to welcome them and lead them to the Holy City, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

END OF YEAR CHARITABLE GIVING Before you make your IRA withdrawals...discover how both you and Assumption B.V.M. Parish can benefit from the IRA charitable rollover. Individuals aged 70 1/2 or older may now annually direct up to $100,000 tax-free from their IRA accounts to qualified nonprofits, like Assumption B.V.M. Church, at any time of the year. And don t miss out on these little known planning pointers: ******************************* One-Step Gift: A IRA charitable rollover may offer relief from the application of the alternative minimum tax (AMT). ******************************* Two-Step Gift: Consider giving appreciated securities that you own outside of your IRA instead, and use your distribution to replace those securities in your portfolio thereby establishing a new and much higher cost basis. Or diversify your portfolio by purchasing other investments. This information is offered for general information and educational purposes. You should seek the advice of an attorney, CPA, or tax professional for how this may apply to your own situation. By using IRA assets to make charitable gifts, you can: Exclude the amount of your gift from both Federal and State (if you file) income tax. Count the value of your gifts toward your required minimum Annual distribution. Gain tax advantages from charitable giving, even if you do not itemize or otherwise are subject to limits on charitable income tax deductions. For your gift(s) to be qualified IRA charitable rollover(s): You must be 70 1/2 or older at the time of your gift(s). The transfer must go directly from your IRA administrator to Assumption B.V.M. Your total IRA gifts(s) cannot exceed $100,000 in a given year. IRA gifts must be allocated for current use or to the Endowment. IRA gifts may not be directed to donor advised funds, Supporting organizations, or private foundations.

Fourth Sunday of Advent Fullness is an experience we glimpse only briefly in this world. Once in a while, the tank is full of gas, the pantry shelves are stocked, our appetites are completely satisfied. But then the world keeps spinning, and we have to search out more gas, more groceries, more food. God designed us to be satisfied with nothing less than eternity; God alone provides fullness. Today s readings praise God for being everything, at all times, to everyone. King David learns that God alone has the power to order history to fulfill the divine plan. Saint Paul praises God s glory forever and ever for bringing salvation not just to the Israelites, but to all nations. Sweetest of all, Mary learns that God has filled her with grace. Mary is uniquely capable of holding God s fullness in her flesh a fullness so vibrant that it becomes a child, our Lord Jesus Christ. GLORY BE! Truly, God creates us for glory. The burdens of daily life can shrink our hopes, but we must remember that we are made for nothing less than infinite glory. Who could have believed that the beleaguered Israelite nation could defeat all of its enemies? And yet our first reading today proclaims that God gave David rest from his enemies on every side. Who could hope to unify the entire world in obedience to one Messiah? And yet Saint Paul insists that the only wise God has revealed salvation through Jesus to all people. Who could expect one young woman to decide the course of human history? And yet the angel tells Mary that her yes will establish a kingdom to endure forever. We know, of course, that Israel did not maintain its peace. Even today, that area of the world is far from stable. We also recognize the wide variety of world religions that do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the true savior. Though God has set us on the path to fullness and glory, we are still broken. Our danger lies not in hoping for too much, but in trusting too little in God. God can resurrect any darkness replacing terror with peace, healing ancient wounds, uniting families, bringing stability to chaos. This is the message of Christmas. God can, and will, do everything to cover the world in love. 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 on the first, second AND third Sunday of each month immediately following the 11:30 a.m. 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 PASTORAL COUNCIL The Council welcomes any comments or suggestions by parishioners. Please contact Dominic Santanasto at santa1994@ptd.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. Our website: www.assumptionbethlehem.com