December 10, 2017 Monday - Friday 9am-2pm Business Manager John Steadman cokas.business@gmail.com Accountant Millie Browning cokas.finance@gmail.com Director of Faith Formation Bev Fox cokas.dre@gmail.com Youth Ministry Coordinator Kasey Lansford cokas.youthministry@gmail.com Communications Coordinator Emily Faz cokas.media@gmail.com Pastoral Administration Lily Vaughn cokas.office@gmail.com Maintenance Clarence Drinkwine cokas.maintenance@gmail.com
The Immaculate Conception The belief means that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved without sin for her entire life. It was Mary's closeness to Christ that made her receive God's "fullness of grace" to be sinless. Without God's grace, it would have been impossible for Mary to be sinless, and she too would be like the rest of humanity. However, because of her decision to say, "yes" in giving birth to Christ, she was given a special privilege by having no sin touch her. Catholics believe that God wanted a perfectly pure woman to carry His Son, the God of the universe, for nothing else short of perfection would do. Evidence from the Scriptures: "And the angel came in unto her, and said, hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." - Luke 1:28 It is the term "full of grace" that is emphasized by the Church when dealing with Mary's Immaculate Conception. The title "full of grace" comes from the Greek word kecharitomene, which describes a "perfection" and "abundance" of grace. In other words, Mary was proclaimed by the angel to be with a perfection of grace, which was a very powerful statement. "the Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God." - Luke 1:35 Luke 1:35 shows Mary as the Ark of the New Covenant. According to the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was the pure and holy vessel that held the Ten Commandments (the Old Covenant). The Ark was so holy in fact, that if anyone where to touch it they could actually fall down and die! It was housed in the Holy of Holies, which was a perfectly clean place where the Jewish high priests could enter only once a year according to their law (See Lev. 16:2-4). So how are Mary and the Ark related? The same language that describes God's "dwelling" place for the Old Ark is used again for Mary's overshadowing by the Holy Spirit. Put another way, the Old Ark held God's Ten Commandments and could not be touched by human hands because of its holiness. Mary, the New Ark, holds the New Cove- nant in her womb, which is Jesus Christ. How much holier is Christ than the Ten Commandments? It only makes sense that for Mary to hold God in her womb, she too would be completely pure and without any sin. Christmas and New Year s Masses Sunday, December 24 The Vigil Christmas 3:30p.m. Children Mass 5:30p.m. Mass 7:30p.m. Spanish Mass 10:00p.m. Christmas Midnight Mass Monday, December 25 Christmas Day 9:00a.m. Mass Monday, January 1, 2018 Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God 9:00a.m. New Year s Mass
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 5PM JACK SCHUH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 DON WISSMAN 11:45AM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 NO MASS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 SPECIAL INTENTIONS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 6PM NAUSER FAMILY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 IN HONOR OF ST. JOSEPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 GILLIAN SWITALA SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 5PM ROBERT MESER SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 ANDREW KRZEMIEN JR. 11:45AM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH Mass Intention Schedule If there are specific dates that you would like to schedule mass intention for loved ones or friends, please come by the office to schedule. We have the Record Book for 2018 ready so please don t wait until the last minute to schedule your masses. Military Personnel Tarah Thompson Steve Piller Nicholas Piller Rod Piller Barbara Koch Deborah Stritt Harriet Thompson Linda Chelena Vicky Abbott Sonya Stephenson Christopher Stephenson Sean Scott Walter Cochran Andrea Vasquez Stanley Sides JoAnn Stauffer James Hause Freeda Karwisch Jeffery Crane For those in critical need of daily prayers. Note: Names will stay on the Prayer list for 6 weeks and then they will be removed. Call 706-453-7292 x 4 or email cokas.media@gmail.com with updates. Flowers adorning all the Saints, Altar, and Pedestals have been donated by The Guadalupe Committee in honor of our Lady of Guadalupe John the Baptist s call to repentance is echoed in the U.S. bishop s pastoral letter on stewardship: Christians must beg God for the grace of conversion: the grace to know who they are, to whom they belong, how they are to live---the grace to repent and change and grow, the grace to become good disciples and stewards. Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday Dec. 12th 2017 Please join us! 5am-9am Morning Prayer and Breakfast 7pm-11pm Mass and dinner
December 9th Christmas Bazaar & Bake Sale 9:00am-2:00pm Social hall 10th Mass 9am & 11:45am 10th DONUTS After 9am Mass 10th Faith Formation 10:30am-11:30am In the PLC 10th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm Sanctuary/Social Hall 11th Morning Bible Study 10:00am 11th NO MASS 11th Virtus Training 6:00pm 11th Guadalupe Novena 7:00pm-9:00pm Sanctuary/Social Hall 12th Feast of our of Lady Guadalupe 5:00am 12th Mass 9:00am 12th Mass & Dinner for Feast of our of Lady Guadalupe 7:00pm Sanctuary/Social Hall 13th Mass 6:00pm 13th Life Night/Edge night 6:30pm 14th Mass 9:00am 14th Youth Choir Social Hall 15th Mass 9:00am 16th Confession 4:00pm 16th Mass 5:00pm 16h COKAS Posada & Reception 7:00pm Each of us has been given at least one gift that we can use on behalf of the rest of humanity. Offertory At Masses 11/25 11/26/17... $ 11,240. Online Giving 11/20 11/26/17 3,210. Total $ 14,450. December second collections: 12/3/17 St Vincent de Paul (TTG code: SVDP) 12/10/17 Retirement Religious (TTG code: RR) 12/25/17 Catholic Charities (TTG code: CC) WE HAVE ANOTHER EASY WAY TO DONATE: TEXT TO GIVE (TTG) 706-445-5132 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Go to: www.cokas.org. Questions: Call or email Millie Browning 706-453-7292, ext. 9, cokas.finance@gmail.com Please Join us in the Social Hall after 9am Mass for Coffee and Donuts! Ryan Parish Library NEW BULLETIN DEADLINES FOR HOLIDAY SEASON! The bulletin Deadlines are as follows: December 16/17: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/8 December 23/24: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/8 December 30/31: All inputs need to be sent by Friday 12/15 The Library is looking for volunteers! Help is needed on Sundays from 10am-11:30am during PSR and Coffee and Donuts. You don t have to have any experience, we will train you! Please contact Lalla Mangin (706) 467-0883, or LMangin@plantationcable.net
FAITH FORMATION Director of Faith Formation Coordinator Youth Ministry Coordinator RCIA (English) Bev Fox Kasey Lansford Bill Richards K-5th Grade Faith Formation Meets Sundays 10:30-11:30 AM *IMPORTANT CLASS DATES* - Our last Sunday class of the year will be Dec. 17. Sunday classes resume on Jan. 7 cokas.dre@gmail.com cokas.youthministry@gmail.com cokas.rciae@gmail.com Middle & High School Youth Meets Wednesdays 6:30PM HEY LOOK! Altar Servers Needed! W e are looking for new Altar Servers to join this ministry! We welcome youth who have made their First Communion. Final Wednesday for Youth Group will be Dec. 13. Children s Liturgy of the Word is celebrated at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Masses for children Pre-K through 3rd grade. NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED This is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in the Parish., learn more about your faith, and take on responsibility. For more information, please contact Tim Winslow (706) 923-1223 or email him at altarserver.cokas@gmail.com Kids Ministries A special Children and. Youth Choir is forming to present a musical Prelude for the children's Christmas Eve Mass, December 24th at 3:30pm Thursday Nov. 30, Thursday Dec. 7, Thursday Dec. 14, Thursday Dec. 21, Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Give the gift of joyful song this Christmas by sharing your talents with our Church. Just Come! Rehearsals will be in the Social Hall as follows;
Pancakes with Santa The Kinghts of Cloumbus would like for you to join them for Pancakes with Santa on December 17. Please join us in the Social Hall at 10am for breakfast and time with Santa! The painting of The Nativity is in the Narthex with the donation tags for the children of our Parish that attend Faith Formation. The donation tags will be up through December 3. When you pick a tag(s), please write your name and phone number on the sign-up sheets next to the tag number(s) you choose. Please return your tag(s) & donation to the Church no later than December 10, 2017. Each tag is for a $30.00 donation. Feel free to take as many tags as you wish. Virtus Training Where? - In the PLC Rooms 112, 113 When? - Monday Dec. 11 at 6pm-9pm Please visit us at COKAS.org for the link to register! GENTLY USED COATS NEEDED HOLY SPIRIT Monastery TREATS The Knights of Columbus are selling fruitcakes, fudge, biscotti & coffee from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Ga. Visit the tables in vestibule in the front of the church and in the Social Hall on the weekend of December 16 and 17 after the 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Masses. All net proceeds collected by The Knights of Columbus are donated to local charities and also go to support the monks and their good works. Windbreakers Fleece Jackets Winter Coats Martha s Closet will be distributing gently used coats in Sparta on December 12th. Please see Gerrie Lambo to turn in your donation near the Brides Room after 5pm Mass and before 9am Mass through December 10th. PLEASE DO NOT leave coats at the church. Thank you!
"ANUNCIOS PARROQUIALES" Novena todas las noches a las 7:00 FIESTA DE LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE Martes, 12 de diciembre 6:00a.m.-8:00a.m. Oración de la Mañana Mañanitas con Mariachi y Desayuno 7:00p.m. Misa Solemne 8:00p.m. Cena y Música (en el Salón Social) DESAYUNO CON SANTA Acompáñenos para un delicioso desayuno de pancakes con Santa, cortesía de los Caballeros de Colon el 17 de diciembre en el Salon Social después, de la Misa de 9am Horario de Confesiones todos los Sábados de 4:00 pm a 4:45 pm Posada Navideña 16 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm en el Santuario y el luego en el Salón Social FECHAS IMPORTANTES Domingo, 3 de diciembre al Lunes, 11 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm Novena de Guadalupe Martes, 12 de diciembre de 6:00-8:00 am Mañanitas Desayuno celebrando DONACION DE y SANGRE La Virgen de Guadalupe Martes, 12 de diciembre de 7:00-10:00 pm Misa y Cena de la Virgen de Guadalupe Domingo, 17 de diciembre a las 10:00 am Desayuno de Pancakes con Papa Noel (Santa Claus), cortesia de los Caballeros de Colon Jueves, 14 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm Servicio Penitencian de Adviento Sábado,16 de diciembre a las 7:00 pm Posada Domingo, 24 de diciembre Misa a las 3:30 pm (Misa de Niños) Misa a las 5:30 pm Misa de Navidad en español 7:30 pm Misa de medianoche a las 10:00 pm El comité de COKAS Respeto a la Vida y el comité de los Caballeros de Colon de Respeto a la Vida quieren agradecer a los feligreses de sus donaciones a la campaña de biberones de First Call. El monto recaudado fue de $3,352.83. Si alguien aun tiene un biberón, con o sin dinero en efectivo, por favor regresarlo a COKAS para poderlo reciclar. Lunes, 25 de diciembre a las 9:00 am Misa Sabado, 31 de diciembre a las 11:45 am Bendicion a las Madres encinta Lunes, 1 de Enero a las 9:00am Misa Solemnidad de Santa Maria Madre de Dios