December 7, 2008
2nd Sunday of Advent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, December 6
   6:00 PM  For Julien Marion by Jeannine & Normand Fraser
Sunday,  December  7
    9:30 AM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Saturday, December 13
   6:00 PM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  December 14
    9:30 AM For the Protection of the Unborn Human Lives  by Julie Laughner

Monday, December 8, 2008 Feast of the Immaculate Conception   This feast is a holy day of obligation. Mass will be celebrate on Monday evening at 7:00 pm.

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

All children from k – 10 must register for Religious Education each year.  The registration does not roll over from one year to the next.  We will be mailing a registration form through e-mail in the near future.  If you have not received a form by mid-August it is because we do not have your e-mail address or perhaps you are not yet registered in the parish so we do not have any pertinent information related to you family.  You can call the office between Monday –Thursday at 483-8481 to update your e-mail info or you can pick up a registration in the entrance of the church. 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 1, students must attend classes on a weekly basis during the Mass, as the program for 1st Communion is a two year program.  The program for the school year 2008-2009 will begin on the weekend of September 20th and 21st.  Classes are held during both weekend Masses. Grades 4 – 10 +, Generation of Faith     This program is designed for both parents and children.  Parents who have children in grades  4 - 10 are asked to attend these monthly sessions. The adult session gives them an opportunity to refresh their memory on important matters of the faith as well as giving them the chance to share with other adults on pertinent issues of faith. The next class for parents and children in this program will be December 14, 2008 at St. Peter Parish in Auburn.  All GoF classes are held on Sundays from 4 – 6 pm. Confirmation Program:      The Confirmation students will begin their two year program on Sunday, October 5, 2008.  Classes are held from 11:00 am to 12 noon. Students must be registered in the program and must be registered members of the parish.  If you have not yet registered your child for classes please call the office to speak to Lorette.                      Schedule of Classes

Question of the Week
2nd Sunday of Advent  
Theme: (Prepare the Coming of the Lord)
Reading I: Isaiah: 40: 1-5, 9-11(One loud voice)
Reading II: 2 Peter 3: 8-14 (A New Heaven and A New Earth)
Gospel: Mark 1: 1-8  ()

Question for Adults:  What habits have I formed that need adjustment in order to prepare for Christ’s coming?  We all have habits that need adjustment.  Some of us have more than others but that is another matter.  Advent is a beautiful time in the liturgical cycle.  We are waiting for the gift of gifts, God himself is coming to us, or at least, that is the plan.  Will we have place for him in our busy, hectic schedule, or will he have to wait on the sidelines for his turn because we haven’t adjusted or tweaked our habits during the season of Advent?

Question for Children?  If Jesus were coming to my house, how would I get ready? Most often, the first thing that comes to mind when we think of getting ready for guests is the process of cleaning. Even children learn this ritual at a young age.  This is not a bad concept to relate to the coming of Jesus.  When we think that Jesus is coming, we want to “clean our heart” of things that are not just right.  Take some time to discuss this idea with your child. Advent is a wonderful time to “clean our house.”

Community News

Food Pantry for December     This month our pantry shelves continue to be in need of Tuna,  Cereal,  Instant Rice, Ravioli, Beef Stew, and any kind of Soup except Ramen.  We are also always in need of juices and instant milk.  Thank you very much for all you do for those less fortunate.

RCDC (Dept. of Corrections, Rockingham County) is looking forward to the joyous celebration of Christmas in anticipation of the hope that Christ will bring to the men in detention.  In addition to your continued prayers for the inmates, the DoC is asking for your generous contributions of unwrapped gifts in the form of various card and board games.  The acceptable games are as follows:
Checkers    Backgammon    Chess   Triominos
Skipto         Battleship         Phase 10   Risk
Puzzles and Playing Cards. 
    Please bring your gifts to the church by December 20th.  Thank you and God’s blessings for a very merry Christmas.

Our Giving Tree:  The 1st Sunday in Advent ushers in the annual gift giving tradition that St. Paul Parish has had for many years.  We begin by choosing a tag of the giving tree in the front of the church.  We have names for some Seniors who are at the Wellstone House and at the Inn at Deerfield.  These tags are marked with the person’s first name.  This is an important ministry for our parish since many of these elderly people no longer have family members who can provide gifts for them.  All of them are always very appreciative.  If you choose one of these tags, please wrap the gifts and bring them back to the church with the tag on the gift by Dec. 14th.
    The other tags are labeled with the gender and age of a child.  These children are often in great need of almost anything and everything.  If you choose one of these tags, please do not wrap the gifts.   Please return these gifts to the church with the tag attached by Dec. 15th.
    Thank you so very much for your kindness and generosity for these children and the elderly in our parish.

The Wellstone House  , located at 125 Langford Rd in Raymond, is an Assisted Living facility with a total of 12 beds.  There are single and double rooms.  It has a homey atmosphere with 24 hours staffing which provides cooking, oversight of medications and assistance with daily care.  If you are looking for a home for a loved one, please consider this facility and contact Ginny at 895-9303.

The Pregnant Women Support Act
    The USCCB has worked closely with lawmakers to seek passage of the Pregnant Women Support Act.  Establishing a toll-free number to direct women to places that will provide support during and following their pregnancy;
-    Funding collection of accurate data on abortion
-    Providing child care to low income and student parents
-    Providing parenting education in maternity group homes
-    Making the Adoption Tax Credit permanent.
This bill did not pass in the present Congress but will be re-introduced in the next congress.  The NH diocesan council of Catholic Women will let you know when the bill gets re-introduced so that we can support the bill by contacting our representatives.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Lights on the Hill Celebration
    Come and experience the true light that came into the world which is the celebration of Christmas!  Join us for the Annual candlelit celebration (walk or ride the bus) in a country setting.  Enjoy music, crafts, caroling, baked goods, a campfire, live nativity, and Christmas traditions.
    The event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 13 & 14, 2008 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.  at the Candia congregational Church on High St. here in Candia.  Admission is free.  If you can, please help us with a donation of winter hats or gloves for a local outreach program.

The VNA Child Care & Family resource Ctr. The largest, non-profit childcare center in the state is offering a four-week training.  Sessions will be hold Fridays, Jan. 9, 2009 from 10 am to 11:30 am.  Volunteers are needed to provide support and act as positive role models to children and parents.   Some of the topics of the training include:  child Development, Cultural Diversity and communication Skills.  Interested members of the community including homemakers, retirees, and professionals are encouraged to explore this opportunity.  Pre-registrationis required.  To receive an application or for more information please contact Linda Krisch, Coordinator of Volunteer Resources at 663-4008 or lkrisch@elliot-hs.org.

CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS Please remember the following people and intentions in your daily prayers: Our sick parishioners and friends…    Please pray for the following people: Josephine Stout,  Frank Huard, Betty Lintz, Cecile Gendron,  Kimberly Mirolo, Rita Sullivan, Kathy Gauthier,  Jean Swindler, Roger Plante, Joseph Gesel, Jacob Desrocher, Cindy Huard, Deborah McGovern, Ethel Thomas, Gordon Gladden and Carol Sheperd.  For peace in the world, especially in the Middle East… For those serving in the armed forces... For families experiencing stress due to financial, emotional or relational problems For our sister parish in Haiti... For vocations to full-time ministry, especially the priesthood, the deaconate, religious life lay ministry...     If you would like to add a person or intention, please let us know. If people on the sick list are no longer in need of prayers, please let us know.