• Building plans and campaign update
• Stewardship Update
• December Reflections by Tracy Rodenborn, RCIA Director 

Liturgy Column for this weekend's readings: click here.

Holy Day of Obligation: The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary
Saturday, December 8 is the holy day.
Masses are Friday, December 7 Vigil: 5:30 PM in English and 7:00 PM in Spanish. Saturday morning: 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM, both in English.
All Masses at Emmaus.  And - Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil is a Sunday Mass, not a holy day Mass - no two for one!

Two Great Things happening on Gaudete Sunday (December 16):

1. Family Faith Posadas: 3:30 PM, begin in the Great Hall. We will be making Blessing Bags that families can pass along to those in need. We are seeking donations of these items: Tuna To-Go Lunchables, Peanut Butter/Cheese Crackers, Small cans of V8, 100 calorie snack bags, and Squeezable apple sauce. Please bring to PLC by Wednesday, December 12.
2. Christmas Cookies Sharing - share (and show-off!) your favorite homemade seasonal treats with fellow parishioners at Mass. Sign-up on line to let us know which Mass you will be bringing treats. Just drop them off on the way into Mass. Please, include your name. Sharing, with coffee, will be after every Mass. And Social SUNDAY is this weekend also, so even more yummies!  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094FA4AB2EA6FF2-christmas

Your help is needed for our Christmas Season
To make Christmas happen at Emmaus, we need your help!  We have so, so many visitors and "ChristEaster" Catholics at these Masses and we want them to know that they are welcome and have a church home here at Emmaus.

Below is a sign-up link that includes two kinds of help needed:

1. We need greeters before and after each Christmas Mass and at every door. This is great for ANYONE, even families with small children. The greeting is simple, Merry Christmas! Only a smile is needed. Greeters will be handing out our Christmas "bulletin" so no shaking hands. This "bulletin" is an invitation to have our guests come back.
2. We need help with decorating the Church!

Here is the link to sign-up and thank you! It's your church - let's make it happen!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094FA4AB2EA6FF2-help1

Save the Dates for 2019 
Texas Rally for Life - January 26
Volunteer Appreciation Event - February 7
Date Night Dinner Conference - February 9
Community Health Fair - February 16
Gala TWO STEP - March 2
Ash Wednesday - March 6
Women's WELCOME Renewal Retreat - March 9&10
Men's WELCOME Renewal Retreat - April 27&28

PS: Thank you to all that answered the survey questions on our Masses - results will be published soon!

And the funnies...

Deacon Bill was as passionate about golf as he was about his faith. One day he and his wife walked into the office of his dentist, a parishioner. The deacon said to the dentist, "Doc, I am in one heck of a hurry. I have two buddies out in my car waiting for us to go play golf, so forget about the anesthetic. I don't have time to wait for the gums to get numb. I just want you to pull the tooth and be done with it! We have a 10:00 AM tee-time at the best golf course in town and it is already 9:30 AM!
The dentist thought, "My goodness, what a brave guy, willing to have his tooth pulled with nothing to kill the pain." So he asked, "Which tooth is it, Deacon Bill?"
The man turned to his wife and said, "Honey, open your mouth and show him."

A boy comes home from Catholic school and tells his mother he has a part in the class play.
She asks, "What part do you have?"
The boy says, "I get to play the part of the husband."
The mother scowls and says, "Go back and tell the teacher you want a speaking part."