Immaculate Conception Parish, Arnold, MO

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BULLETIN
December 14, 1997

FRIAR'S MIND

Dear Santa,
It is time again to write to you from Immaculate Conception Parish as we prepare our hearts and our homes to celebrate the birth of Mary's Holy Child.
We know that you are very busy at this time of year, but since you were once a bishop we trust that you want to know how our parish is doing.
We have been very good this year. We have listen to the words of the gospel and the teachings of the church and have tried our best to follow them. We have many blessings, but there are still a few things we would like for Christmas.
Above all else, help us to keep our priorities correct. So our first request is that every family in our parish will know peace and happiness. May children know the special wonder and joy of celebrating the birth of Christ without desiring excessive gifts. May parents be rewarded for all the sacrifices they make for their children. May their generous love for their children be returned to them many times over. And may the peace of Christ live always in our hearts and in our homes.
Bring comfort to the sick, peace to lonely. Fill the emptiness of those who have lost a loved one. Stuff the stockings of all laborers with a secure job and a just wage.
And finally we have one special request. We need a new parish center. We know that the responsibility for this is ours, but we need God's blessing on our efforts. May we never forget the words of the Psalmist, "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."(Ps 127:1)

When the Christ Child is reborn in our hearts this Christmas may he find there a grateful heart for all of God's blessings and a generous spirit to further His work in our parish. Merry Christmas!

Frs. Earl & Gilmary

ADVENT CONFESSIONS

Tue Dec 16: 7:30-8:30 pm
Sat Dec 20: 4:00-4:45 pm
Mon Dec 22: 7:30-8:00 am; 4-5 & 7:00-8:00 pm
Tue Dec 23: 7:30-8:00 am; 4-5 & 7:30-8:30 pm

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Dec 24: 5:00 PM (Church & PC down)

MIDNIGHT (Carols at 11:30 pm)

Dec 25: 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 am

I.C. TOMORROW AT CHRISTMAS

A good cause to support in this season of giving is our new parish center. Perhaps your year-end accounting offers an opportunity to make a generous gift. Our new parish center will be a gift that keeps on giving for generations to come.

I C Tomorrow

520 Pledges as of 12-8-97

Amount Pledged: $885,185.00

Amount Received: $584,214.68

A New Parish Center is Coming

Mass Intentions

Mon. Dec 15 - Advent Weekday
(Num 24:2-17; Mt 21:23-27)
7:00 a.m. All forgotten souls
8:00 a.m. In mem. of Joseph Bayer
Tue. Dec 16 - Advent Weekday
(Zep 3:1-13; Mt 21:28-32)
8:00 a.m. In mem.of Elizabeth & Nathanial Rice, Sr.
7:00 p.m. In mem. of Fred Webelhuth
Wed. Dec 17 - Advent Weekday
(Gen 49:2-10; Mt 1:1-17)
7:00 a.m. Intentions of Jane Becher
8:00 a.m. Cathy Wright
Thr. Dec 18 - Advent Weekday
(Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-24)
7:00 a.m. In mem. of Robert Abeln
8:00 a.m. In mem. of James O'Donnell
Fri. Dec 19 - Advent Weekday
(Jud 13:2-7; Lk 1:5-25)
7:00 a.m. In mem. of Martin Ems
8:00 a.m. All Souls in Purgatory
Sat. Dec 20 - Advent Weekday
(Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38)
8:00 a.m. In mem. of Frank & Anna Scheidl
5:00 p.m. Bertha Symsack
Sun. Dec 21 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
(Mic 5:1-4; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45)
7:00 a.m. In mem. of Marie Schwartz
8:30 a.m. In mem. of Clifford Grothe
10:00 a.m. People of the Parish
11:30 a.m. Priest's Intention

Eucharistic Ministers

Sat. Dec. 20
5:00 p.m. Barb & Dick Schaumburg, Florence Naes, Bob Balsman
Sun. Dec. 21
7:00 a.m. Bob Little, Betty Kutilek, Janet Ems
8:30 a.m. Velda Walker, Dorothy Cowin
10:00 a.m. Tonya Lee, Jon Zimmermann
11:30 a.m. Jack & Rose Metzger, Gerri Frenzel

Commentators Lectors

Sat. Dec. 20
5:00 p.m. Barb & Dick Schaumburg
Sun. Dec. 21
7:00 a.m. Steve Ott, Joyce Ott
8:30 a.m. (Children's Mass)
10:00 a.m. Jon Zimmermann, Ann Hillis
11:30 a.m. Barbara O'Neill, Jane Williams

Heavenly Dusters

Fri. Dec. 19- Lorine Lewandowski, Gail Gross, JoAnn Vergin, Rosemary Poposky, Yvonne Schultz

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING INSTRUCTION

The Couple to Couple League (CCL) will begin a four-class instructional series on the Sympto-Thermal Method of Natural Family Planning. The first class will be held at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998 at St. Monica Parish, Olive and I- 270 Creve Coeur, MO. To register or for more information, please call CCL at 314/481-1908. ALSO, classes are held on the Ovulation Method of natural Family Planning the second Tuesday of each month at 8pm at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood. Call 966-1629 for info.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY

Would like to thank everyone who contributed to the loose collection on November 30. Your generous contributions will help many in need.

Offering

Our grateful tithes to God last week:
Adult $7,413.21
Youth 22.15
Parish Improvement..................5.00
Misc. (Loose $) 439.25
TOTAL..........................$7,879.61
(Envelopes: 342 adult, 26 youth)

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS:
I. C. Tomorrow $8,525.00
Feast of Immaculate Conception 163.00
Christmas & Solemnity of Mary 66.00
Seminary 40.00
Campaign for Human Development 10.00

STEWARDSHIP This third Sunday of Advent is "Gaudete" Sunday, the Sunday of "rejoicing." Stewardship is a joyful response to all our blessings from God.

Bulletin Board

Mon. Dec. 15
AA Mtg. 7:30 pm, PC up
Tue. Dec. 16
New Parish Center Mtg. 7:00 PM, Friary basement
Daisy Troop 10:45-11:45am, PC up
Brownie Troop # 2128, 3-5 pm, PC down
Brownie Troop #3721, 6:30-8:00 pm, PC up
Wed. Dec. 17
Athletic Assn. Mtg., 7-9pm, PC up
Boy Scout Troop #419, 7-8:30 pm, PC down
Choir Practice - 7pm in Church
Quilting 9 am - 3 pm, Convent Basement
Brownie Troop 1982, 3-4:30 pm, PC up
Girl Scout Troop 2033, 3-5 pm, PC down
Thur. Dec. 18
AA Mtg., 7:30 pm, PC up
Junior Troop 116, 3-5 pm, PC up
Cub Scouts, 3-5 pm, PC down

Mass Servers

Week of Dec. 15 - Dec. 21
8:00 AM FRI - Michael Skaggs, Michael Throm
8:00 AM SAT - Kelly Strecker, Laura Ziegler
5:00 PM SAT - David & Theresa Duchinsky
7:00 AM SUN - Alex Kladiva, Lisa Corsale
8:30 AM SUN - Ryan Cooney, Erin Blaha
10:00 AM SUN - Kyle Robinson, Alex Groves
11:30 AM SUN - Adam Hanks, Aaron Owens

ADVENT COFFEE, DONUTS, & JUICE

Today and each Sunday of Advent from 7:30 to ll:30 am the Catholic Knights will serve a complimentary continental breakfast in the parish hall. Join us.

COOKIE SALE

Again a Great Success!

Thanks to all who baked, brought cookies, donated supplies, and especially those who donated their time so generously.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR FOR CHRISTMAS

All school age children who are able to act appropriately in Mass are invited to sing in the choir. Practices will be the next two Mondays, Dec. 15, & 22 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm in Church. Call Julie Engel at 296-5159 or Cheryl Schulze at 631-0330 for further information.

THE SHARING TREE

Our Sharing Tree has a new look this year. The tree is empty and there is a box for cash donations under the tree. We ask that you contribute the amount you generally would spend on a Christmas gift for the needy. This money will purchase gift certificates for needy families. For every $5.00 donated, you may tie one of the red bows on the tree. Our generous parish can fill the tree with red bows.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIAL PLANTS

You can help beautify our Church for Christmas by donating poinsettias in memory of your dear departed. A donation of $7.00 for a small plant and/or $10.00 for the large plant. One name per plant, please. Forms should be returned to the Friary as soon as possible. Name of Person(s) to be memorialized (please print):

____________________________________

THANK YOU "I C TOMORROW" BINGO

I.C. Tomorrow Bingo has now given a total of $96,000.00 toward our new parish center! Volunteer workers are still welcome. Call Bob Little at 296-9191, or Evelyn Webelhuth at 287-6210.

ARCHDIOCESAN ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN

RETURNING GOD'S GIFTS, SHARING OUR HOPE

Our parish goal is $200,471.00. Our pledges to date total $112.157.00, 56% of our goal. You can still make a gift. Forms available in church and at the parish office.

Msgr. Donald Sullivan will observe his 45th priestly anniversary on Dec 20. His address is: Mother of Good Counsel Home, 6825 Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, MO 63121.

Baptisms

We wish to welcome into our Parish Family:
Dillon Scott, son of M/M Britt DeWayne Jenkins
Michelle Ruth, dau. of M/M Raymond J.Slesinski
Cassidy Jo, dau. of M/M John Michael Brank
Caroline Ann, dau. of M/M Mitchell J. Wilson

BAPTISM CLASS RESCHEDULED

The baptismal instruction class scheduled for Tuesday, December 23, will NOT be held due to the holidays.

-- CHILD CARE in my home, full or part time.
Call Midge 464-7550.

-- WANTED - lady to do light housekeeping and some shopping Call 296-5647.

-- WANTED- Female part-time live-in, 2 or 3 days a week, in Affton. For details call Brad Buchek at 296-9086.

-- BUY, SELL & REPAIR lawn mowers. Also car engine repairs. Call 296-3222.

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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION BULLETIN December 14, 1997