ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH CHESTER, MARYLAND NOVEMBER 29, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy New Year! We begin the new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Ad-vent and we celebrate the fact that we are a people created by God to be in His Son’s Image and Likeness. Our humanity has been informed by the humanity of Jesus Christ. Each one of us can take solace in knowing that we were created with a purpose in the Divine Mind: to be a companion with the Living God, to be a recipient of the Eternal Love of the Father. The Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst us. The Incarnation of Jesus reinforces the embodiment of what remains as the pini-cle of God’s creation, humanity; the God who would take on the flesh of humanity is awe inspiring. Advent enables us time to process what God has in store for us because of His first visitation with humanity; you know, when Jesus walked the earth after his birth, death and resurrection. Each week of Advent we progress in the knowledge of the mys-tery of who Jesus is and who we are in Him who suffered for our sins and brought us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. We light the first Advent candle this week to recall Jesus is the Light and we have been invited to participate in the mystery of His Priesthood, His Prophetic nature, and in His Kingship. These next four weeks bring us an opportunity to embrace what has been given to Jesus when He was visited by the Magi on the Epiphany. Jesus received gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Each of these gifts are “symbolic” and represent characteristics that have been given to each one of us in our baptism. As we pro-gress through these next four weeks, I invite you to contemplate one gift each week and look into your own life to see how you can prepare for the second coming of Christ and live out the dig-nities given to us represented by the gifts given by the Magi to Jesus. The first candle to light this week is marked with the word Priest and is joined with the gift of Frankincense. The gift symbolizes how our prayer rises up like incense to Almighty God. The priest offers sacrifice on behalf of humanity and mediates be-tween the heavenly and earthly realms. The gesture of the Magus making the extreme bow suggests submission to the Divine Will and the ability to communicate as a bridge between this world and the next. As you contemplate the scripture passage each day on our Advent calendar, look to see how you can offer gestures that can bridge people together with God’s love as Jesus did each day of His life. He offered Himself as a sacrificial offering, becoming humble, in human likeness; now we are to humble ourselves and take on Jesus’s likeness. Which Magus, one of the three Magi, bore the Frankincense, and is the one positioned in the group on your calendar in adoration as one who is in submission and appears as a bridge? Next Sun-day you will see if you chose the right Magus… Pax Christi, Vy. Rev. John B. Gabage, V.F.

Attention Audio/Visual Enthusiasts St. Christopher will be establishing a new minis-try that will support the latest live streaming ca-pabilities. In the coming weeks, we will be in-stalling new live streaming equipment in the church and chapel. Live streaming will allow St. Christopher to provide remote participation of the mass and other church services such as ado-ration, weddings, funerals, and baptisms. We are looking for those who are interested in volunteering to be part of the ministry. We know this is new for everyone, so training on the equipment will be provided. If you are interested, please contact Frank Hes-son at fhesson@stchristopherski.org.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

We would like to thank

Taco Bell for sponsoring an ad in our weekly bulletin

MONDAY NOVEMBER 23 No Daily Mass TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24 8 AM Walt Gill + WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25 8 AM Timothy Morrissey, Sr +

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26 8 AM Mildred Hayden + FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27 No Daily Mass SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28 5:00 Jim Holthaus +

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29 7:00 Parishioners of St. Christophers 9:00 Anthony Bullotta + 11:15 Walt Gill +

Especially during this holiday time we appreciate your support of our Backpack Program. We are in need of shelf stable milk (white or choco-

late), chef Boyardee individual bowls, indi-vidual Mac and cheese and individual hot chocolate packets. Thank you!!

Did you know…your Knights of

Columbus Council is participat-

ing in the “Leave No Neighbor Behind” Program. Knights of

Columbus world-wide are en-

couraged to serve and sacrifice

for those around us. Many, including in our own councils and parishes, are isolated and alone in

quarantine. Food banks, blood centers, and other

essential services have been depleted of their vital

supplies. There are many people and places that require urgent help. As we look to the coming

months, we will be on the forefront of helping our

communities recover. We can use your help.

The Knights of Columbus is a organization of Catholic men dedicated to the Church and the Community. We are dedicated to you, St,.Christopher’s parish. Men interested in joining the Knights, 18 years and older should contact Ray Madonna email rcma@atlanticbb.net 410-490-2680, Jim Klunk 410-924-2270 or klunkinc@gmail.com or Phil Boos 410-829-6769 philboos@hotmail.com. Our next meeting will be Nov. 24 at 7pm in the church hall.

Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic

sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have

offered their lives in service to others —educating

the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for

the oppressed. Today, many are frail, elderly, and

in need of assistance. Your gift to the Retirement

Fund for Religious helps to furnish medications,

nursing care, and other necessities. Please give

generously to the second collection on December

5 & 6 or via on-line giving.

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH CHESTER, MARYLAND NOVEMBER 29, 2020

IF YOU ARE NOT receiving the Flocknote e-mail/text

messages from the parish, including lots of timely de-

tails regarding COVID-19, or other periodic e-mail

communications which we send, then you should

SIGN-UP FOR FLOCKNOTE TODAY! Once you do, you

will receive regular e-mails, and if you include your

cell phone number, periodic text messages, about life

in our parish.

To join St. Christopher Flocknotes simply text SCCCKI to 84576. Here is what you do: 1. Open a New Text Message

2. On the “To” line type 84576

In the body of the text: SCCCKI

You will receive a response with a link to complete your sign up. Click on the link and follow the prompts. You may also go to : https://StChristophersChurch.flocknote.com to sign up.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT