November 28, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we mark the First Sunday of Advent tomorrow, we have much to celebrate and much to contemplate. Certainly, joy at the start of our new church year and the anticipation of celebrating the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, we remain in this unbroken loop of life during COVID-19 – a time when our lives and daily routines look very different from a year ago – yet, here we are as people of faith, remaining true to God’s plans for us and continuing to practice our traditions in whatever ways we can. That is truly a reason to rejoice!
And so, this Advent, we begin as we always do: quietly reflecting on and preparing for our Lord, who came into the world as an infant some 2,020 years ago and will one day return, as our Redeemer and Savior. Whether you are attending in-person Mass or our virtual liturgy, one way you can celebrate this First Sunday of Advent is to make or bring out an Advent wreath and pray the Blessing of the Advent Wreath. The three purple candles symbolize the prayer, penance and preparatory sacrifices and good works we undertake during the Advent season; the pink candle, which is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, marks the mid-point of our Advent season and reminds us that our wait for the Christ child is nearly over.
If you created an altar or prayer space in your home at the start of the pandemic, now is a good time to add religious items that are meaningful to Advent. Director of Religious Education Susan Anderson suggests incorporating purple in your prayer space, whether that be fabric, a table runner or ribbons tied to white candles on your Advent wreath. Add statues of Mary and Joseph to your prayer space. And, if you have a nativity, consider adding one figure a day, so we might reflect upon the people, animals and angels who joined to witness the birth of Jesus Christ.
The best advice for starting our Advent season can be found in tomorrow’s Gospel reading from Mark 13: 33-37:
“Watch therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
I wish you all a watchful and wonderful start to our Advent season. May God bless you today!
Yours in Christ,
Fr. John
Here are the parish events for Saturday, Nov. 28; Sunday, Nov. 29; and Monday, Nov. 30:
Saturday, Nov. 28:
- Parish Christmas Tree Sales from 9 am-8 pm in front of church.
- Confession from 3:30-4:30 pm on the Rectory porch. Heard by Fr. William Brailsford.
- In-person Mass at 5 pm in the church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass readings and Mass aid.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Led by Deacon Jim Datovech.
Sunday, Nov. 29:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Led by Deacon Jim Datovech.
- In-person Mass at 9 am in the church. Led by Fr. John Dillon. Mass readings and Mass aid.
- Parish Christmas Tree Sales from 9 am-8 pm in front of church.
- Sunday online Mass at 10 am. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon. Mass readings and Mass aid.
- In-person Mass at 12 pm. Celebrated by Fr. Paul Dressler. Mass readings and Mass aid.
- In-person Communion Service from 1:30-2 pm in the Gathering Space.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Led by Deacon Jim Datovech.
Monday, Nov. 30:
- Morning Prayer at 7:30 am. Led by Deacon Jim Datovech.
- In-person Mass at 9 am in the church. Celebrated by Fr. John Dillon.
- Parish Christmas Tree Sales from 3-8 pm in front of church.
- Virtual Parish Rosary at 4 pm. Led by Fr. John Dillon.
- Evening Prayer at 7:30 pm. Led by Deacon Jim Datovech.
This Week’s Advent Activities:
- November 29: Virtual Advent mission from 8-9 pm. Take part in a four-part online mission, titled, “The Fulfillment of All Desires,” led by Catholic thought leader and author Ralph Martin. Register for the free webinar at https://www.renewalministries.net/advent-mission/.
- November 28-December 13: Parish Christmas Tree Sales from 9 am-8 pm Saturday and Sunday and from 3-8 pm Monday through Friday in front of the church. Come buy a Frasier Fir of varying sizes, a freshly decorated Christmas wreath or fresh white pine roping.
- Wednesday, December 2: Confession from 5-7 pm. Fr. John Dillon and Fr. William Brailsford will hear Confessions in the Gathering Space.
See our Advent service opportunities, including the Alternative Gift Program and Spirit Tree Program.