december 23-25, 2017 fourth sunday of advent/the nativity...
TRANSCRIPT
December 23-25, 2017
Fourth Sunday of Advent/The Nativity of the Lord
CAST St. Stephen, Martyr is changing this year from NEST to CAST (Chesapeake Area Shelter Team). It is the same operation as NEST but it is for our community. Our week to house guests will be January 10-17, 2018. Sign ups resume the week after Christmas. We will have a box for travel size toiletries and thermal underwear set up in the commons each week. One change is that we are in need of drivers for the bus. You must have a CDL-P license. If you have one and would be willing to drive, please see us at the sign up table. For more information please contact John Geary at [email protected] or 757-944-0588.
Epiphany Party All families are invited to celebrate with fellow parishioners Saturday, January 6, 2018 directly following the 5:00pm Mass from 6:00-8:00pm. There will be Wise Men and Women, music, food and more as you step into an evening of Epiphany galore. Fr. Brian will enlighten us… And ladies, flat shoes are a must! Sign up at the Welcome Table in the Commons to bring an appetizer (no desserts) after all Masses.
New Parish Directory Photo Sessions! Photo sessions are underway! January and February dates are available. Select your date and time with the easy on line scheduling. Everyone that participates will get a FREE 8X10 photo! Please visit the website under Events to sign up or call the office at 757-421-7416.
May the good Lord fulfill you with His promises and bestow upon you
His many blessings. May the spirit of Christmas,
with its peace, the joy of Christmas,
with its hope, the glory of Christmas,
with its love, be with you always.
CHKD Reach Out and Read For more than a decade, Reach Out and Read has been building strong relationships between parents and medical providers. Both see the importance of helping children develop a love of books and reading. This helps get them ready to enter school and eager to learn. CHKD helps to provide books to children of all ages who don’t have ready access to reading material. Please bring new or gently used children’s books and place them in the box provided in Room 2. They will all find deserving homes! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Hospitality Ministry
Share your spirit of joy! Our parish Hospitality Ministry helps to spread the joy by welcoming all who come to Mass. Hospitality Ministers also man the Welcome Table before and after Mass, pass the collection baskets, assist the congregation Communion flow, and distribute
bulletins after Mass. Does this sound like the ministry for you and your family? We sure could use your help! To sign up or learn more please call Pam Wilgus 757-482-7289 or email [email protected].
Prayers of the Faithful If you or your small faith group would like to write Prayers of the Faithful, please contact Marge Marino at [email protected]. A new schedule is being prepared for 2018.
Maison Fortune Update Please pray for the children of Maison Fortune in Haiti for their continued good care, education, health, fellowship, and God's grace. January 1 is the 18 year anniversary of MFO! SSM has a group of eight going to visit the kids on January 2, 2018! Your kind donations are easy to share at www.mfofoundation.org. Mesi! God bless!
Difference Makers Difference Makers will kick off their “Give a Hand to a Hand in Need” Campaign the weekend of December 30. Please donate new or gently used adult gloves. We’d like to collect 300 pairs to give to the homeless in our area. There will be a box placed in the commons through the weekend of January 20. Please help us to warm the hands and hearts of those in need!
We’d like to thank all of the parishioners that adopted CHIP families, donated toys to ForKids and coats/jackets to the coat drive. Sixty-nine families were adopted. The most ever! The generosity and open hearts of those at SSM are deeply valued. These families in need would have gone without for Christmas without your kindness and support. A special thanks to all that helped in manning the tables. “May the Lord reward you for your kindness.” God Bless you all. Merry Christmas! Linda, Jeanne, Elizabeth, Chris and Margaret
Coming Home
Maybe you have been away from the Church for a little while or quite some time, but somehow you
now feel a tug at your heart calling you back home to the Catholic Church. That mysterious pull inside
you, driving you to look into your faith once more,
comes directly from God. Your Heavenly Father is
yearning for a relationship with you again. He’s
waiting for you with open arms. Please feel welcome to call or visit our parish anytime!
Blood Drive Remember, you can save a life by just donating blood! Our next donation date is on Wednesday, January 31. More information is coming soon.
Christmas Un-decorating December 26 - Tuesday: 9:00am (Room 3) Disassemble the Luminaries. Again, assembly line!!
January 8 - 12: 9:00am (Monday-Friday) This entire week we Un-decorate the Church and Commons. Each day starting at 9:00am until we are finished. Ordinary Time starts the weekend of January 13/14, so the church has to be changed to Liturgical Green. Thanking you in advance for your continued help and support! Merry Christmas and Peace to all! Marcia Tschohl, Arts and Environment Coordinator [email protected] 757-724-1356
Eucharistic Minister Training The next training for new Eucharistic Ministers will be held on Thursday, January 4 following the 6:30pm Mass. For more information, please contact Linda Curran at [email protected].
Bishops Installation Mass Parishioners, students and educators hoping to participate in the joy and excitement of the January 12 Mass of Installation for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond’s new Bishop Barry C. Knestout now have a chance to secure admission to the special Mass by entering a lottery. Seating for the 2pm event at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will be extremely limited so the faithful are encouraged to enter the drawing for admission ...tickets by completing the online form here: http://richmonddiocese.org/installation-mass-details/
The last day to enter drawing is Friday, December 29, 2017. The drawing will be held in early January with two tickets awarded to each selected registrant. Those selected will have 48 hours to respond before the tickets are released to alternates. Tickets are not transferrable and may not be sold. For questions contact [email protected] or 804-622-5294.
Prison Ministry The Prison Ministry will be collecting unused Christmas cards and envelopes to share with our incarcerated parishioners at Indian Creek for the 2018 Holiday season. Please consider purchasing leftover Christmas cards and donating them. The prison ministry team goal is to collect 2,000 cards. There will be a box in the Commons starting December 31 to collect your donations. Thank you in advance for your help.
People of the Month Award for December The people below were selected and recognized by the Knights of Columbus Council 11984's for their contribution of their time and talents. If you see these people, be sure to congratulate and thank them for all that they have done for our church.
Knight of the Month
Bob Williamson
Family of the Month
Belin Family
Adult Faith Formation
Survey said: “Back-To-Basics” The Catholic Faith Explained
12 sessions begin Monday, January 22 7:00-8:30pm.
Presenter: Deacon Keith Fournier
If you have questions, please contact the Adult Faith Office at [email protected] or 757-421-7416.
RCIC 2017-2018 Next class: Thursday, January 4 7:00-8:00pm. We will meet in Rooms 1 and 2 to learn about
Vocations with Father Brian.
RCIA 2017-2018 Next class: Thursday, January 4 7:00-8:00pm.
We will meet in Room 4 to learn about Seven Sacraments.
Symbolon will meet on January 8 from 9:30-11:30am in Room 4.
Religious Education
Youth Bible Studies Moving to Wednesdays Starting January 17, 2018 the middle school and high school Bible studies will move to Wednesdays. We will meet in Gordon Hall. Middle school will meet 6:00-7:00pm and high school will meet 7:00-8:30pm. We will pray the upcoming Sunday's Mass readings. Please contact Jason Morrison at [email protected] or at 757-421-7416 with any questions.
Welcome Home! Are you new to the Catholic Church or are coming back? Would you like your children/teenagers to learn more about the Catholic Faith? St. Stephen, Martyr has many programs for children and teenagers. Here is a brief list of our programs:
Nursery-Runs year round for children 6 months up to 3 years and is available during the 8:30 and 11:30am Masses in room 8.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word-Children’s worship that runs year round for children ages 3-6 years old and is available during the 8:30 and 11:30am Masses.
Blaze-Children’s Christian Formation runs from September to the end of May for children in Kindergarten through fifth grade.
First Sacraments-Are for children baptized in the Catholic church who are in second grade or older.
Edge-Middle school aged children, grades 6-8. Runs from September to the end of May.
Life Teen-High school aged teens, grades 9-12. Runs from September to the end of May.
Confirmation-Teenagers in tenth grade and at least 15 years of age, who were baptized in the Catholic Church are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Catholics In Action- For Confirmed 11th and 12th graders.
RCIC/RCIA-Children over the age seven and adults who have not been baptized in the Catholic faith and are in need of either Baptism, First Eucharist or Confirmation.
If you are interested in enrolling your children in one of these programs, please contact the religious education office and we will be happy to assist you!
Upper Room Prayer Fellowship All are welcome to join us!
Next prayer fellowship is Tuesday, January 2
7:00-8:30pm in the Sanctuary.
PARISH STAFF
Pastor: Rev. Brian Rafferty ([email protected])
Deacon Keith Fournier ([email protected])
Deacon Kevin Trail ([email protected])
Business Manager: Crystal Anderson ([email protected])
Office Manager: Sharon Achorn ([email protected])
Communication Director: Zoe Barnette ([email protected])
Facility Manager: Alex Shuflat ([email protected])
Liturgy: Marge Marino ([email protected])
Religious Education: (K-5 grade): Traci Baker ([email protected])
Religious Education (6-10 grade):
Jason Morrison ([email protected])
Religious Education (11-12 grade): Lesley Sarver ([email protected])
Adult Faith Formation & Social Ministry:
Scott Turbitt ([email protected])
Music Director: Jessica Kohan ([email protected])
The Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph December 30/31, 2017
Scripture Readings: Genesis 15:1-6, 21:1-3
Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 Luke 2:22-40
Our Gifts To The Lord
E-Giving You can use E-Giving to donate to the church instead of using envelopes. This is a great way to simplify your weekly offerings. Step 1: Go to www.ssmrcc.org Step 2: Click on the link “E-Giving” on the main page. Step 3: Follow the easy directions to set up recurring or one time donations. You can still reflect your E-Giving on your envelope and place it in the basket if you wish.
There will be no CLOW on Sunday, December 31.
Facebook Stay up to date with current events, Mass cancelations and more! Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/ststephenmartyr/
The office is closed December 25 - January 1. We will reopen at 9:00am on Tuesday, January 2. There will be NO reconciliation that week.
Offertory 12/17/2017 $19,300
Debt Reduction $341
Samaritan $481
Tuesday, December 26 8:30am Mass
Wednesday, December 27 8:30am Mass (Ralph Bastian)
Thursday, December 28 8:30am Mass 6:30pm Mass
Friday, December 29 8:30am Mass
Saturday, December 30 8:30am Mass 5:00pm Mass (William Pepe)
Sunday, December 31 7:00am Mass (Parish of St. Stephen, Martyr) 8:30am Mass (Parish of St. Stephen, Martyr) 11:30am Mass (Kenny Morris) 5:00pm Mass (Parish of St. Stephen, Martyr)
Mass Intentions
Prayer for Our Troops Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need,
and bring them home safely. May their sacrifices bring about a lasting
and just peace in all lands. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Your Prayers are Cherished
for Loved Ones Inside our Parish
Carl Berczek
Rest In Peace
Andre Snead