December 10, 2006
Second Sunday of Advent

Weekend Mass Intentions
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
Saturday,  December 16
   6:00 PM   For the parishioners of St.Paul
Sunday,  December 17
   9:30 AM For Alcide & Annette Fraser by Normand & Jeannine 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 January 14th.   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
Second Sunday of Advent
Theme: (Preparing the Way)
Reading  Baruch 5:1-9 (Jerusalem’s Splendor)
Reading  2 Phil.: 1: 4-11  (The Day of Christ)
Gospel: Luke: 3:1-6 (Seeing the Salvation of God)

Question for Adults: As I prepare to celebrate Christmas, how do I show that God’s salvation is around us?? 
     This time of the year has become a very difficult one for Christians.  Not only are we bombarded with a million things to do by shopping, cleaning, baking, etc.  we also face the tireless efforts of the people who seem to want to eliminate the true purpose of Christmas.  The recent article in the Union Leader on the experience in Hillsborough tells us that the crunch of time is not our only problem. 
    As faith filled Christians we can take a counter cultural stand on effacing Jesus from Christmas.  The question we are faced with today tells us that we need to take some time to reflect on our own behavior.  Do our actions tells others that God is very much alive among his people or do they tell them that our life is simply a harried mess as we go around in circles getting ready for a holiday we wish didn’t exist any longer?  Let’s think about it!

Question for Children? How can I prepare for Jesus’ coming at Christmas?  The first thing we must do is not to assume that our children know that Christmas is about Jesus.  We must realize that they are inheriting the culture that is forgetting about the birth of Christ.  Once you are assured that they know that Christmas is about Jesus and his birth day, go that extra step and tell them that this Christmas Jesus wants to come into their heart.  How then can they prepare for this coming?    

Just 4 Teens. . .As I prepare for Christmas, do I remember that this day is not primarily about me?  All too often we see Christmas as a time to cash in on the benefits of our skills.  We have learned  how to ask for gifts that our parents really don’t want us to have or perhaps can’t afford.  If we can manage to talk them into it we feel we’ve won an important battle.  Is that what Christmas is about? This week, take a little time to think of the real reason for the season.  A few words that could help you are:  Love, Kindness, Giving without expecting anything in return.  What else can you add?

Community News