December 23, 2007
4th Sunday of Advent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, December 22
     6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  December 23
    9:30 AM  For Leon Walter Langille by Therese Therrien
Monday,  December 24, Christmas Eve
   4:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
   6:00 PM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Tuesday,  December 25, Christmas Day
   9:30 AM  For Leon Walter Langille by Therese Therrien
Saturday, December 29
   6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  December 30
    9:30 AM  For Theresa Juneau 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       All children from grade K – 10 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  The children in grades K – 3 attend classes during the weekend liturgies.  We use a Lectionary Catechesis which is based on the Gospel of the week.  Kindergarten students are not obliged to attend regularly.  However, beginning with grade l, students must attend classes on a weekly basis as the program for 1st Communion is a two year program.  It is vital that students continue with their Christian Formation even after their 1st Communion. This year’s program will begin on September 15, 2007 Grades 4 – 10 +   This year’s program for the Generations of Faith begins on Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 4:00 pm.  This program is designed for both parents and children.  Parents are asked to attend the sessions as they have the opportunity to refresh their memory on important matters of the faith .  Please join us on one Sunday per month. Next Month's session is on Jan. 13.  All Confirmation candidates are expected to attend all sessions.                      Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
4th  Sunday of Advent  
Theme: (God Is With Us)
Reading 1: Isaiah 7:10-14 (A Virgin shall Conceive )
Reading 2: Romans 1:1-7 (Established as the Son of God)
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 (Conceived Through the Holy Spirit)

Question for Adults:   How does my faith in Jesus fashion my response to situations in which God does not seem to be present or has left me on my own? Keeping faith when situations are difficult is probably one of the most difficult things to do.  It is easy to remember God when all is well but when things are such that God does not seem to exist or that his presence is very dim, we are often tempted to look somewhere else for consolation.  We have all had the experience of feeling alone and wondering where God is in such desolate moments.  The famous poster “Footprints” gives us an excellent example of this feeling. 
          What we need to ask ourselves this week is whether or not our faith in the person of Jesus makes any difference in these moments.  If not, why not?  Perhaps we could take some time to reflect on this question this week.  It might make a big difference in our lives.

Question for Children?  When can I stop during the day and say, “Thank you, God, for being with me today? The word Emmanuel means God is with us.  This is something that we often forget.  Children need to be reminded of this fact often.  This week’s question gives us the opportunity to remind the children that God is always with us regardless of the fact that we do not see or hear him.  When we think of the fact that God wants to be with us, we cannot help but be thankful. 
    Maybe you could take a few minutes to brainstorm with your child on ideas that would help them live a more thankful life.  There are many opportunities in our daily lives when we have the time to stop, even for a split second, to say thank you to God for coming to live with us.

         

Community News

Catholic Charities Update: The Catholic Charities Appeal for the year 2007 is nearly ended.  As of the end of November, our parish has donated $11,165.00.  Your generous contributions will be greatly appreciated.   The NH branch of Catholic charities is dedicated to doing Christ’s work through the state.  At a time when we are all thankful for the blessings of the year, many of our friends and neighbors are turning to NHCC for help. Thank you so very to all who have made this appeal a successful one

Thank You. . . to all who participated in our annual Giving Tree.  As always, your generosity was outstanding. There are many people who will be happier this Christmas thanks to your contributions.  May you be blessed with God’s own generosity throughout this coming year.  May you all have a very blessed Christmas.

Food Pantry for December
      This month our pantry shelves are in great need of Cereal, (any kind), Soups both canned and packaged such as Ramen noodles.  We also always need canned Pasta such as Spaghetti and meatballs, Beefaroni, Ravioli, etc.
The winter months will be difficult for many people so your generosity will be very much appreciated.  Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.

Prayer Line. . .  One of the less mentioned ministries in a parish is the Prayer Line.   The Coordinators of the St. Peter Prayer Line are inviting the parishioners of St. Paul Parish to join them in this ministry.  When the coordinators receive a call asking for prayers, they in turn contact the members of the Prayer Line and that particular person is lifted up in prayer by all the members for a period of six weeks.  This ministry obviously does not require meetings or dues or leaving the home.  It not only affords prayer for those in need, it also rewards the members of the Prayer ling who experience the fact that prayers of intercessions for the People of God is also beneficial  to the person who offers the prayer to God.  You can become a member of this humble yet effective ministry by praying daily for those who are in need of physical, spiritual mental and emotional healing.  Those of you who are interested in this ministry can call Cathy at 483-2581 or Connie at 627-2297 or crichard5@peoplepc.com.



2008 Liturgical Calendars
    The annual liturgical calendars that are given to the parish by the Maiden-Petrin Funeral Home can be found in the entrances of the church.  Please take one for your homes.  This calendar provides us with all the information we need the church seasons such as Christmas, Lent and Easter.  It is also a valuable teaching tool for your children, providing the colors of the seasons as well as all the saints of the yearly calendar