February 24, 2008
3rd Sunday of Lent
Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, February 23
   6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  February 24
    9:30 AM  For Nancy McGregor By Rick and Sherry McGregor
Saturday, March 1
    6:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  March 2
    9:30 AM  For Leon Langille by Barbara Langille

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 Mar. 9th.  All Confirmation candidates are expected to attend all sessions.                      Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
3rd Sunday of Lent  
Theme: (Living Water)
Reading1: Exodus 17:3-7 (Thirsting for Water)
Reading 2: Romans:5:1-2, 5-8 (Hope Does Not Disappoint)
Gospel: John 4:5-42 (The Woman at the Well)
 
Question for Adults:  Have I ever grown from a conversation with someone who disagreed with me?  What does such an experience tell me of God’s grace? This is not an easy question.  Whenever we are faced with God’s Grace things can be complex.  It does not have to be however.  Growing when we are challenged by others usually happens when God is involved.  God’s gift of Himself through inspiration often goes unnoticed.  Giving us the courage to accept the words of others as a stepping stone to growth is a gift indeed.  Also, God’s grace is very powerful.  With it we can conquer just about anything.

Question for Children?  How can I learn from those who think differently than I do?
First we have to be open to the idea that we are not perfect.  Sometimes others have good ideas and those ideas can actually help us.  If we can train ourselves to listen to the ideas of others we can usually learn something.   
       

A Simple 10 step Blessing prayer?       If often happens that families have special occasions to celebrate.  It may be a Birthday, an anniversary, or the reception of a Sacrament.  The following is a simple way to may a special occasion a sacred moment. 1. Gather the family. 2. Light a candle 3. Make the sign of the cross. 4. Read a short Scripture passage together.      If it is a child’s birthday they may have a  favorite reading. 5. Reflect on the reading together or have a period of silence. (reflection is good with children.) 6. Offer prayers of intercession.  Everyone can share in these. 7. Give God thanks and praise. 8. Ask God’s blessing on the particular circumstance. 9. Sing a song or shout an alleluia 10. Make the sign of the Cross

Two Month Developing Baby:  Your baby is making progress developing all of his external features and internal organs.  His brain is functioning at 40 days.  His mother can hear his heartbeat on an ultrasound.  His milk-teeth buds are present at 6 ½ weeks.  And it has been reported that a two-month old baby can suck his thumb.  From this moment onward, your spiritually accepted baby grows and refines his body. But everything he needs to survive once he is born is already present by the end of the eight week.

Month 2;  Keep praying for me!  I am two months old now and about 2 inches long.  Look! You can see my eyes, nose, and mouth.  I will use them to experience God’s world after I am born.

Community News

Connie L. Lofgren Continuing Education Scholarship. . .is given annually to a Candia woman who has returned to a post-secondary school after a three-year or more absence from an educational institution.  This scholarship in the amount of $500.00 (paid directly to the college or school) is given in memory of Connie L. Lofgren, a long time member of the GFWC Candia Community Woman’s Club.  Continuing with the process of learning, changing, and growing had bee an important part of Ms. Lofgren’s life as well as on and growing had been an important part of Ms. Lofgren’s life as well as ongoing commitment of the GFWC Candia Community Woman’s Club
Deadline for applicants is March 31, 2008.

News for Care Givers. . . St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Plaistow, NH will be hosting a talk on end of life issues such as living wills, nutrition and hydration, ordinary vs. extraordinary care at the end of life and much more, in light of the teaching of the Catholic Church.  The speaker will be Father Tad Pacholczyk from the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.  The discussion will take place at the parish on 8 Atkinson, Depot Rd. in Plaistow from 7 pm – 9 pm on April 2, 2008.  Please mail in a registration form to the parish with a check of $15.00 per person. For more info please contact the parish office at 382-8324.

Food Pantry for February
    This month our pantry shelves are in great need of toilet articles such as soap, tooth paste and shampoo.  We could also use dessert mixes such as Brownies, cakes and cookies.    Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate

Confirmation Music:  Would you like to participate in our upcoming Confirmation service by singing?  St. Peter Church Choir cordially invites any St. Paul adult parishioner to come for two rehearsals for the joint, St. Paul and St. Peter Confirmation Celebration on  Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 3 PM at St. Peter’s.  Come join us from 7 to 8:30pm at the back of the church (please park in back of the church and use the back entrance.) For more information, please contact Kathy Dallaire at 483-8467.

Stepping Stones Through Grief
Stepping Stones is a bereavement program for children and teens – along with an adult parent or guardian who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.  The program is designed to help facilitate healing by helping participants to understand and express their feelings of grief.  In our program we provide a safe passage through the Stepping Stones of grief.
Stepping Stones works with children and teens ages 5 – 18 in age appropriate groups, meeting once a week for eight weeks. Each group is facilitated by VNA Hospice Staff and trained Hospice volunteers.  Recreational activities and various art forms are used to facilitate the grieving/coping process.  The subject is serious but the kids have fun and supportive friendships are developed.
    Dates:  Monday, March 3, through Monday, April 21, 2008.
    Time: 6-7 PM at Hillside Middle School in Manchester, NH.
 There is no fee for attending, but pre-registration is required.  For information call Gary Andy at 663,4005.