7 6 0 1 V I N E • L I N C O L N , N E B R A S K A 6 8 5 0 5

ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE

PASTOR Rev. Lyle M. Johnson Associate Pastor Rev. Christopher M. Eckrich

PARISH DIRECTORY Parish Office: 7601 Vine…………….…..402-489-1946 FAX…………………….…402-486-4762 School: 7601 Vine………………...402-486-1860 Parish or School Web Site: www.stjohnslincoln.com Bulletin E-mail jnel-bulletin@cdolinc.net

MASS SCHEDULE Mon-Sat …………………………………………………………….. 8:15 am M, Tu, Th, F ………………………………………………………….6:30 am Wed …………………………………………………………………..5:30 pm First Friday …………………………………..6:30 & 8:15 am and 5:30 pm Saturday ……………………………………………………………..4:00 pm Sunday ……………………………....7:30 am/9:00 am/10:30 am/12 noon Holy Days (except Christmas & New Year’s) Vigil Mass …………………………………………………………...5:30 pm Holy Days ………………...6:00 am/9:00 am/12:10 pm/5:30 pm/7:00 pm

CELEBRATION OF SACRAMENTS Baptism: Last Sunday each month at 1:00 pm. All parents are required to at-

tend the Baptism instruction class if this is your first child to be bap-tized. The class meets on the Monday prior to Baptism Sunday in the Conference Room at 6:00 pm. Must be a registered and practicing Catholic for six months before the Baptism. Please contact the Parish Office for Baptism instruction arrangements.

Confession: Saturdays from 3:00 to 3:50 pm and 5:00 to 5:30 pm. Vigil of First

Fridays: 6:45 to 7:45 pm; Vigil of Holy Days 6:30-7:00 pm

Anointing of the Sick: Individual celebration upon request—call the parish office

Holy Eucharist: For shut-ins and those recovering from illness, please contact the Par-

ish Office to arrange for home visit.

Marriages: The Priests must be notified 6 months before the proposed marriage date. All couples must be registered and regularly attend Mass. ALL COUPLES are required to attend an Engaged Encounter weekend as part of their marriage preparation.

Funeral Arrangements & Planning Information: www.stjohnslincoln.com (under ―Features‖ - click downloads) PARISH REGISTRATION—New Parishioners: Please register as soon as you move in by phoning the Parish Office.

To register K-8th students, please call St. John’s school, 402-486-1860. To register high school students, call Pius X HS, 402-488-0931.

For information about: Automatic Deductions…………………………....www.stjohnslincoln,com File Downloads - Direct Payment Contribution Form Eucharistic Perpetual Adoration Cindy Kruml ……………....402-489-0170 Alisha Klein ........................402-489-7054 Extended School Care School Office……………...402-486-1860 Godparent Teen Program Mary Sweeney ..................402-202-0193 Grade School CCD Lucinda Murillo ..................402-570-0323 Praise Choir Catherine Brown………….402-432-1663 Prayer Line Requests: Pauline..402-464-1952 / Mary Ann.402-466-2580 Theresa…..wilhelmtheresa@yahoo.com Pre-School Information Leah Bartek ………………402-486-1860 RCIA (Faith Instruction) Susan Carlson...………….402-489-9574 Rental of Gym/Social Hall St John’s School………….402-486-1860 Wedding Coordinator Eileen Perkins…………….402-464-9582 Please notify the Parish Office of any changes of address/phone number.

ON-LINE RESOURCES FOR OUR JOURNEY AS CATHOLICS—Register at FORMED.ORG— CODE:7JKZ86

BULLETIN NOTICES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PARISH OFFICE IN WRITING BY 10:30 AM ON TUESDAY

“And the Word

became flesh—

and made his

dwelling among

us…and we saw

his glory, the glo-

ry of the Father’s

only Son, full of

grace and

truth. “ (John 1:14)

Merry Christmas from our St. John’s family to you and yours!

DECEMBER 25 , 2 0 1 6

ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE Lincoln, Nebraska page 2

NO Children’s Liturgy next Sunday, January 1st.

HOLY INNOCENTS MASS Wednesday, December 28, 6:30pm

6:30 pm Reading of Names; 7:00pm Mass John XXIII Diocesan Center

3700 Sheridan Blvd.

All are invited, especially those who have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death or abortion. If you would like your child’s name to be added to the banner and remembered, please call the Family Life Office at 402-473-0620. If you have placed your child’s name previously, it will remain on the list.

USHERS NEW YEAR’S

Vigil 4:00 p.m. Day 7:30 a.m. D. Seim B. Gasseling B. Barber D. McKee L. Kavanaugh R. Beck P. McCoy D Kelly/Wolfe/Parolek Day 9:00 a.m. Day 10:30 a.m. J. Snyder R. Perkins J. Snyder T. Furasek M. Gesch M. Milburn D. Divis Need one more

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

MONDAY, December 26 6:30 am Bonat Family 8:15 am Repose of the Soul of Floyd Potter TUESDAY, December 27 6:30 am Mary A. Reinke 8:15 am Lyle Wurtz WEDNESDAY December 28 8:15 am Katarzyna Garbacz 5:30 pm Dana Oehlertz THURSDAY, December 29 6:30 am Jim & Karen Neal 8:15 am Lad Dolezal FRIDAY, December 30 6:30 am Sister Christa 8:15 am Katarzyna Garbacz SATURDAY, December 31 8:15 am Sister Agnealis 4:00 pm For the Living & Deceased Members of the Don & Connie Wieser Families SUNDAY, January 1, 2017 7:30 am Mark Kovar 9:00 am For the people 10:30 am Deceased Relatives of O’Donnell & Foral Families 12:00 noon NO NOON MASS

W E E K L Y S C H E D U L E

12/25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! Masses 7:30, 9:00 & 10:30 NO Noon Mass NO Children’s Liturgy 12/26 NO SCHOOL 12/27 FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE NO SCHOOL 12/28 NO SCHOOL NO CCD Benediction and Night Prayer 8:00pm, Pink Sisters 12/29 NO SCHOOL 12/30 NO SCHOOL, Classes resume Jan. 3rd 12/31 Church cleaning 8:45 am Scrip sold 8:45 –10:00 a.m., Parish office CONFESSIONS 3:00-3:50pm and 5:00-5:30pm Sunday Vigil Mass (for Holy Day) 4:00pm

S t JOHN’S is once again hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on January 2, 2017, from

12:30pm—6:00pm in St. John’s Social Hall. This is a wonderful gift to share and a great way to start the New Year. Call 800-733-2767 to register or online go to: www.redcrossblood.org. For more information call Bob Kelly at 402-326-3292. Joy & Hope Anniversary Recognition Mass and recep-tion for all married couples will be held Sunday, Febru-ary 12, 2017, at the regular 11:00am Mass at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ. Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz will be the Main Celebrant at the Mass for this celebration of Christian Marriage. Special recognition will be given to those couples celebrating 25, 40 and 50 years or more who have registered. Family guests are welcome. Suggested donation of $10 per couple to cover reception costs appreci-ated! Call the Family Life Office at 402-473-0620 to register.

We walk this walk together in Christ as a Sacrament of Matrimony

Marriage Encounter Weekend

February 10-12, 2017 in Lincoln

Contact Pat & Janelle Benson Home 308-946-3568 Janelle 308-940-1105

Pat 308-940-0670 May we have the courage to share God’s many blessings with those most in need. We pray to the Lord.

Collection Report

Sunday, December 18, 2016 Adult Envelopes $25,891.00 Children Envelopes $ 50.22 Plate $ 1,094.21 Total $27,035.43

Direct Withdrawals for November 2016 $21,127.67 (not included in the Sunday adult envelopes above)

**Our Budgeted Goal is $27,325 Per Week**

Special Offering for Education

Pink Envelope (December 18) $ 2,974.00 Education Pink Envelope to Date $47,501.17 (Includes a $1,500.00 donation from our Knights of Columbus. Many thanks for their generosity.)

This leaves our shortfall for FY 2015/16 of $53,053.11 after adjustments for Joy of the Gospel rebates and Social Hall donations (which are non-operational designated gifts) at $5,551.94.

Shortfall for FY 2015/16 $53,053.11 Less: Pink Envelope to Date -$47,501.17 Remaining Shortfall $ 5,551.94

$CRIP Update for December 12—18, 2016 Amount Exchanged $39,345.00 Profit $1,850.24

Propelr Card Update: Profit for October 2016 $249.41

School Endowment for November 2016 $ 00.00

Church Endowment for November 2016 $ 00.00

Joy of the Gospel Note: We have received a 5th Joy of the Gospel rebate of $15,887.68 for a total of $117,516.81 to date. Based on our $1,709,142 in pledges, we will receive $416,571.00 in total rebates. Thank you for your support!

Additionally we have designated donations of $24,806 for a new Social Hall.

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD December 25, 2016 page 3

$CRIP NEWS:

Fresh Thyme is now available from $CRIP in $25 and $100 denominations with 5% rebate coming back to St. John’s

Propelr Card News: New merchants just added to Propelr: Scheels and Olive Garden both with a 5% rebate back to St. John’s. Don’t forget you can use your Propelr card for online purchases at Amazon, Target, and WalMart, all giving back 3% to St. John’s. For more information, go to: www.propelrcard.com.

Low denomination $crip available now while supplies last. These are on a special order basis. The cards available are Amazon $10, Applebees $10, Barnes & Noble 45, CVS $10, Olive Garden/Red Lobster $10, Outback $10, Panera $5, and Target $10. If you would like to order any of these contact nancyfitzwolf@aol.com. These denominations will only be available for a limited time.

Due to low sales we no longer carry Pizza Hut, Parker’s and Ruby Tuesday.

CHURCH CLEANING for Saturday, December 31, 2016 Families responsible for cleaning this Saturday at 8:45 am are listed below. At least one member of each family should be present! If you can’t attend, call and trade with someone whose name is on the list in the monthly mailing, or call a St John’s World Youth Day Rent-a-Teen at 402-817-8869.

James & Gail Bogatz 402-325-0442 Robb & Marge Bohy 402-770-4432 Jeff & Teri Boles 402-416-4840 Linda Bonacorso 402-610-1011 Imre Bonyhady 402-464-1024 PJ & Laura Book 402-480-2153 Nicholas Borgman 402-430-6749 Jennifer Bosn 402-340-6281 Sean & Alyssa Bottger 402-304-7031 Venita Botti 402-570-0239 Mary Ann Bouc 402-466-2580 Carl Bouges 402-304-7440 Jessica Bowen 402-432-0769 Jeff Bowland 402-310-8233

There was a ―Family‖ birthstone ring found in church. Please call parish office to identify, 402-489-1946. St. Patrick’s Church has ornament and cookbooks for sale. The ornaments and cookbooks were personally de-signed by our marketing coordinator, Melanie Colton, and are a great way to commemorate the 100 years of Catholic education. The cookbooks are $15 and the ornaments are $10. All of the proceeds go towards the new playground equipment. Please consider gifting a cookbook or ornament for your family or neighbor and help support St. Patrick playground at the same time. Thank you for all your support!

St. John's has many hours of adoration available. Please contact Alisha Klein, 489-7054 or alisha.klein@gmail.com if interested.

Mondays: 10a-11a, 5p-6p Tuesdays: 2p-3p Wednesdays: 12p-1p Thursdays: 9a-10a Fridays: 10a-11a, 12p-1p, 3p-4p, 4p-5p, 5p-6p, 6p-7p, 8p-9p Saturdays: All hours are open except 2-3 Sundays: 2p-3p, 7p-8p

Apples for Students Program at Russ’s Market: From now until February 24, 2017, parents, families and friends of your students can collect register tapes from our local Russ’s (130 N 66 St) and contribute them to our school. The value of these register receipts will then be redeemed by our school to earn FREE educational equipment from this program. So turn in those receipts to the school office and we’ll collect them for FREE items to benefit the school! THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping!!

ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE Lincoln, Nebraska page 4

SPIRITUAL ADOPTION—Your spiritually adopted baby has been quite active over the past month. Already your baby is 10,000 times bigger than at conception. Your baby has developed the foundations of his brain, spinal cord, and nervous system by the 10th day. His heart began to beat on the 21st day and is pumping blood through its own circulatory system. The blood type can be different from his mother’s. Your baby is most vulnerable during the next month of being aborted. Pray that the Lord of Life might move the heart of his mother to give him the most precious gift of all—the gift of life. Lincoln MOMs is a group of Catholic mothers searching for fellow-ship, hope, & joy in our ever changing vocation. Monthly meetings are held every first Saturday at John XXIII Center from 8:30-10:30am. Our next meeting is January 7th focusing on the 5 love languages of kids. Justin Hannemann, a Marriage & Family Thera-pist and Executive Director at GracePoint will speak and answer questions. Please come and bring a friend! Suggested free will donation of $5 helps cover the cost of speakers, babysitting, and coffee/snacks. Please contact Rosie Bohnart (via lin-colnmoms@outlook.com or our Facebook page) to reserve your spot for childcare or any other questions.

SAVE THE DATE – 2017 Endowment Dinner The date has been set for the 2017 Endowment Dinner Please mark your calendars for Saturday, February 25, 2017. ―Back to the 80’s‖is the theme and a ―totally awesome‖ time will be had by all. More details to follow in the upcoming weeks; however, if you have any items that you would like to donate for the auction, please contact Cathy McArthur at mccath97@hotmail.com.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Luz Elisa Acosta Alice Barry Justice Bennett Deb Brandt Larry Buller Paul Bruckner Bob ―Hoppy‖ Cassidy Elaine Cave Irene Chermok George Chick Laura Cramer Karen Czapla Mary Jo Daigle Margaret Darnell Robert Darnell Leonard Deschene Harold Dorty Caleb Fetch Lillian Fish Jan Garbacz Shannon Gocke Brianna Grundy Diane Herms Dan Hicks Marion Hodde Denise Hoffman Diane Horstman Alyse Hunt Don Kaspari

Pam Karstensen Maxine Killeen Donna & Bob Kruml Fritz Kruml Richard & Mary Kuntz Michael Marsh Family Daniel Mendoza Frank Musil Marge Musil Tonya Nelson John Noble Eleanor Oler William Pettit Wallace Podwinski Steven Poynter Genna Rathke Joey Reisdoff Larry Rice Lou Rice Bernice Ruyle Justin San Miguel Tony Shotkoski Decland Siedenburg Kathy Smith Ruth Staley Francis Stastny Pam Svoboda Michelle Uerling Avery Vaska

Jerry Weatherholt Shirley Wernke Donna Westen Carrol Wilson Makenzie Wynegar

MAY THEY BE

STRENGTHENED AND HEALED

if you have updated information on any-one listed, call the parish 489-1946.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEMINARIANS:

Douglas A. Daro Douglas is from St. Mary parish in David City. His parents are Russell & Loretta Daro and he has three brothers and two sisters. He is currently a Theology 3 seminarian at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Rev. Mr. Jason H. Doher Deacon Doher is from St. Patrick parish in Lincoln. His parents are Sidney & Mary Doher and he has three broth-ers. Deacon Doher is a Theology 4 seminarian at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He will be ordained as a priest in May, 2017.

Did you know?

The worst suffering of seriously ill people ―is often not physical pain, which can be alleviated with competent medical care, but feelings of isolation and hoplessness.‖

―Hospice care focuses on alleviating pain and other symptoms, meeting basic needs, and providing comfort.‖

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS Blood Drive Jan. 2 Marian Sister Appreciation Dinner Jan 13 K of C Parish Soup Supper Jan 15 Trivia Night Jan. 21 Endowment Dinner Feb. 25 Confirmation Mar. 21 First Communion Apr. 30

Readings for the Week of December 25, 2016 Sunday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31/Mt 10:17-22 Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124/Mt 2:13-18 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96/Lk 2:22-35 Friday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/ Ps 128/Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96/Jn 1:1-18 Next Sunday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21

Observances for the Week of December 25, 2016 Sunday: Nativity of the Lord Monday: St. Stephen, the First Martyr Tuesday: St. John, Apostle and Evangelist Wednesday: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Thursday: St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr Friday: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Saturday: St. Saint Sylvester I, Pope Next Sunday: Mary, the Holy Mother of God; Octave of Christmas; New Year's Day; World Day of Peace Catholic Social Services has an opening for a Front Desk re-ceptionist at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center, Lincoln. This is a full-time position with benefits. For a more de-tailed job description or to apply, please email Dr. Tony Palmer, at tpalmer@cssisus.org

―...keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ―It is more blessed to give than to receive.‖ (Acts 20:35)

WARM Up WINTER! Help Spirit 102.7-FM bring

warmth to people across the listening area as we Warm up Winter! We're accepting donations of new socks, mittens, hats and boots for both adults and children. The NEW donated items can be dropped off at the locations below and the items will be distributed in the area. Drop off your new, unwrapped donations

of warm, winter gear by Dec. 28. Our partner in this project is Catholic Social Services Lincoln & Hastings, Nebraska. For questions, contact events@kvss.com or call 855-571-0200.

Warm Up Winter Drop-Off Sites:

Catholic Social Services Lincoln - 2241 O Street in Lincoln. (M-F 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 5 p.m.) Spirit 102.7-FM - 630 N. Cotner, Suite 101 in Lincoln (M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

D iocese of Lincoln Natural Family Planning Creighton Model Introductory Sessions for January,

2017: Tues., Jan 10 and Thurs., Jan 26 at 7 pm. Go online to register or download a registration form at www.lincolndiocese.org/nfp.

Helping find Peace, Power and Passion after your di-vorce. 12 Week Session begins Monday, Feb. 6 at John XXIII Diocesan Center, 3700 Sheridan Blvd from 7-9 pm. This is on a first come, first serve basis. Registration Fee, $50. For more info: Call Office of Family Life, 402-473-0620. UNBOUND—Four 20 minute sessions (The meaning of de-liverance; Unbound Ministry; Witness to the Power of Deliv-erance; Q & A Panel) Wed. Feb 1 at St Mary’s Parish Flynn Hall, 1420 K St from 7:30—9 pm.

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD December 25, 2016 page 5

Catholic Coffeehouse: The Dioce-san Evangelization Office invites you and your family to Gianna’s Java & Gelato, 2241 O Street, Lincoln, from 7-8:30pm (1 hour presentation followed by 30 minutes for Q&A) on Sun-day evenings this fall/winter. This year’s theme: ―The Pilgrim Church: Rediscovering the Faith through Pilgrimage.‖ Visit www.lincolndiocese.org/coffeehouse for info. Jan.15– Fr. Rand Langhorst– Irish Saints and Places

Consider a Qualified Charitable IRA Distributions to St. John’s – The Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) rules allow taxpayers to make IRA distributions payable directly to a qualified charity without treating the distribution as taxable income. The QCD will satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution for the year. To complete a QCD from an IRA to a charity like St. John’s, the IRA owner must: 1. Already be age 70 ½ on the date of distribution 2. Submit a distribution form to the IRA custodian, re-

questing that the check be made payable directly to the charity 3. Ensure that no tax withholding is being done from the

QCD to the charity (as the money must actually go to the charity to qualify, and as a non-taxable distri-bution no withholding should be necessary)

4. Send the check directly to the charity, or to the IRA own-er to be forwarded along to the charity

While the process of completing a QCD to a charity is fairly straightforward, the key administrative requirement is that the distribution check must be made payable directly to the charitable entity. If the funds go to the IRA owner and are then passed along to the charity, it is still a taxable distribu-tion to the IRA owner and not a QCD.

Resisting Happiness – by Matthew Kelly We at St. John’s know the fact that only 1) thirty- two percent of people at Easter and Christmas Mass only come to church once a year. So what if we, the good stewards of St. John’s, were to just hand them a great Catholic book as they go in or out of St. John’s this Christmas? Another fact we at St. John’s acknowledge is that 2) books change our lives. Sometimes all it takes to bring people back to church is the right book at the right time. Resisting Happiness is that book. It was written to specifically re-engage disengaged Catholics and to increase engagement among those who are at church each week but don’t really get it. It is light and inviting—there is nothing deeply religious about the cover or the table of contents. The short chapters were designed for busy people. And the reality is, we are all on a quest for happiness. In a deeply personal way, Matthew Kelly’s new book helps readers discover that only by unmasking resistance and defeating it in their own lives can they really experience the happiness God created them to experience.