December 3, 2006
First Sunday of Advent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday,  December 2
   6:00 PM   For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  December 3
   9:30 AM For Julie Boisvert by Richard & Madeleine Bilodeau
Saturday,  December 9
    6:00 PM  For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  December 10
    9:30 AM  For Brenda Bendas by John & Joanne Fraser

Parish News and Notes

Parish office hours
    Our parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The Pastoral Associate is in most afternoons until 4:00 PM.  If you need to come in the PM please give us a call to make sure someone is here. Messages can always be left on the answering machine. 

Are you registered?
     Are you new to our parish?   If you are, please pick up a registration form in the vestibule of the church. Registration is very important.  Just drop it in the basket or mail it to our office.  Thanks!  We are always happy to receive new parishioners.  We welcome you and pray you will be happy here with us.

Please use church envelopes 
    Envelope users provide the bedrock of our financial support.  Please consider using them.  New packets of envelopes are mailed every three months. If you would like to receive some but you are not yet on the mailing list, please call Jeannine to give her your name and address. Thank you!

Envelope Request Form ____ I want to support our parish on a regular basis. Please add me to the envelope list. Name ______________________________ Address___________________________ Town ________________,NH Zip ________

Christian Formation News

Grades K – High School     If you have children of age for Religious Education, please remember to pick up a registration form for Religious Education for the coming year.  All children from grade K – the end of Confirmation must register.  The registration does not roll over from one year to the next.  You can pick up a form in the back of the church or you can visit the parish office Monday – Thursday during office hours or give us a call at 483-8481 and ask us to mail you a form.  We would be happy to do this Grades K- 3  Classes for children in these grades has resumed on the weekend of September 16/17. Grades 4 – 10 +    Last year we initiated a new program for the children in these grade levels.  The classes are held once a month and the program is geared to the entire family. Parents are strongly urged to attend the sessions as there is an adult component to the program which helps them to deepen their knowledge of the faith as well as making it possible for them to compliment the practice of the faith in the home. Our first class was held on Sunday, October 15, 2006.  Our next class is scheduled for December 3rd.   This year, the classes will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 pm here at St. Paul’s.        2006-2007 Schedule (click here)

Question of the Week
First Sunday of Advent
Theme: (The Coming son of Man)
Reading  Jeremiah 33:14-16 (Fulfilling a Promise)
Reading II Thess: 3:12 -4:2  (Strengthened Hearts)
Gospel: Luke: 21:25-28,34-6 (Redemption Is at Hand)

Question for Adults: What stumbling blocks might keep me from being ready to meet the Lord should he return today?       We all have a laundry list of faults we are very familiar with in our personal lives.  We can always depend on our “enemies” or sometimes even our friends to remind us of our faults and failures.  In as much as we automatically things of these faults when asked about our stumbling blocks, we do not often think of things such as the people we associate with, the places where we spend our leisure time, our place of work etc.
    Another area that does not always come to mind easily is our goals and aspirations for life.  We are so conditioned to think of our goals as a matter of success, initiative, ambition etc., which in our mind’s eye are all positive traits, that we simply skip that entire aspect of our life.  However, the stumbling blocks of our life can include anyone or anything  or anybody that we associate with, or are in some way related to.  It’s worth a serious look.

Question for Children? How can I choose to live more fully as a Christian this week?  For children, living more fully is often a serious challenge.  As parents, you are aware of your child’s level of development.  Because you know where they presently stand, you are the best person to help them take the next step.  You could start with having them tell you what they presently do to live their Christian lives.  Then you could assist them in identifying ways to grow.  Encourage them to limit themselves to one way, not three or four, this week.  This only leads to discouragement.          

Just 4 Teens. . .Do I live my life as though I were invincible and immortal?  What leads us to  believe that we are going to live forever?  If we live our lives in a way that is greedy and self-centered and insensitive to other people’s needs, in essence, we are saying exactly that.  Is that what we really mean when we are acting selfishly or is it that we are simply not thinking things through to the end.  During the Season of Advent, we are preparing for the coming of Jesus in the core of our being.  How will that change how you see and do things?  

Community News