Spirit of the Eagle – December 2017

Spiritual Tidbits for December from Father Tim

Charles Dickens in his book A Christmas Carol wrote, “It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that, while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” Advent begins with December this year and is a season for preparation. Each of us should review our life over the past year and consider our sins, faults, and mistakes — one might even say our “diseases and sorrows”. Lord knows I have discovered many in my life this past year — too many. Once we make this review we should immediately pray for forgiveness and choose to make a new and better start. By the latter part of the Advent Season, and after our reflection, repentance, and choice for a better life, the mood of Advent lifts. Rays of joyful warmth appear on our horizon and we look to the approaching celebration of the birth of the Christ-child. God in human form. The First Coming. Joy, exultation; Glory be to Thee O Lord Most High! The promise fulfilled in the birth of Jesus brings a joy which should be “irresistibly contagious” to the worst of the Scrooge’s contained in each of us. We should spread laughter and good humor to all whom we come into contact. Dickens finishes with, “Scrooge was better than his word . . . . He became as good a friend, as good a master, as good a man as the good old City knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough in the good old world.” By Christmas morning I pray we all become “better than our word”. I also pray that your Christmas Season is full of laughter and good humor. ~ Father Tim

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Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!
Linus: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights please. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo the angel of the Lord came down upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.” That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.

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Nine Lessons and Carols

Please come join in the holiday festival spirit at St. John’s Lessons and Carols! We will gather at 4:30 PM on Saturday afternoon, the 16th of December, read the nine Christmas lessons and sing carols. There will not be a Mass, but we will have some guest choristers, some parish lay readers (who may want to dedicate their portion of reading to the memory of a loved one), and plenty of hand candles to light up during our final carol. Afterwards we will meet in the parish hall for a meal and joyful festivities! This is a great opportunity to introduce friends, family, and neighbors to our church family!!!

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The Overlooked Princess

A not so long time ago, in a parish not so far away, there was sent as a gift from God a beautiful little princess named Coraline Parker Bock. Now it was well known that Princess Bock was baptized on the 4th day of June WhitSunday, in the year 2017, but her less than organized priest overlooked her special day when posting “What went right in 2017” in the Annual Meeting booklet. Because of this terrible oversight Princess Coraline has permission to sleep through all of my (and Fr. Neuroth’s) sermons for the next 12 months. The rest of you who were not overlooked don’t even ask. ~ Father Tim

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December Spirituality Class

Please join us after Holy Mass on the 17th of December as we join with the Psalm-Children for a discussion of The Jesse Tree. This month we learn from each other! Both children and adults will take turns with the readings associated with each ornament. We will then talk about the link between the Christ who was, is now, and forever shall be. Please come and bring a friend!

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Annunciation

Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which always is all everywhere,
Which cannot sin, and yet all sins must bear,
Which cannot die, yet cannot choose but die,
Lo, faithful virgin, yields Himself to lie
In prison, in thy womb; and though He there
Can take no sin, nor thou give, yet He will wear,
Taken from thence, flesh, which death’s force may try.
Ere by the spheres time was created, thou
Wast in His mind, who is thy Son and Brother;
Whom thou conceivst, conceived; yea thou art now
Thy Maker’s maker, and thy Father’s mother;
Thou hast light in dark, and shuts in little room,
Immensity cloistered in thy dear womb.

John Donne, The Complete English Poems

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Psalm-Children

This month the children will focus on activities related to the season of Advent. December 3, during the St. Nicholas Day party, we will take a few moments out to explain the Sparkle Box and encourage the children to write down the good deeds and acts of giving they do during Advent to put in the Sparkle Box as a birthday gift to Jesus at Christmas. December 10, we will talk about some of the symbols seen during Advent and decorate Jesse Tree ornaments. December 17 we will have a special class combined with the Spirituality class during which we’ll explain the meaning of the Jesse tree and trace some of the events of the Bible leading up to Jesus’ birth. There will be no class on December 24 or 31. Please feel free to write down or e-mail me with intentions for our Prayer Cross. We invite all children ages 2-12 to join us as we learn through lessons, activities, and fellowship. ~ Mary Matias Akhtar

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Christmas is fast approaching. And now that Christ has aroused our seasonal expectations, he’ll soon fulfill them all! ~ St. Augustine, Sermon 51

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December Ordo Kalendar

Sunday, the 3rd of December is our St. Nicholas visit and Coffee Hour
Saturday, the 16th of December 4:30 PM Nine Lessons and Carols and Holiday Meal
Sunday, the 24th of December 10:30 Mass will be Advent IV
Sunday, the 24th of December 5:00 PM Christmas Carols
Sunday, the 24th of December 5:30 PM Christmas Eve Holy Mass
Monday, the 25th of December 2:00 PM Christmas Day Mass

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

Coraline Parker Bock – Birthday – December 3
Jim Barnett – Birthday – December 3
Fr. Timothy Butler – Birthday – December 4
Lori & Rich Seyberth – Anniversary – December 9
Claudia Anspaugh – Birthday – December 11
Brittany & Joel Sams – Anniversary – December 14
Paige Smith – Birthday – December 17
Michael T. Whalen – Birthday – December 22
Joan & Gary Blade – Anniversary – December 22
Artie Robbins – Birthday – December 24