December 21, 2008
4th Sunday of Advent

Weekend Mass Intentions
Saturday, December 20
   6:00 PM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  December  21
    9:30 AM  For the Souls in Purgatory by J. Laughner
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Vigil Masses
    4:00 PM  For the Parishioners of St. Paul
    6:00 PM  For the Intention of the Celebrant
Thursday, December 25, 2008  Christmas Day
    9:30 AM  Feast of the Incarnation of Our Lord
Saturday, December 27
   6:00 PM  For Parishioners of St. Paul
Sunday,  December 28
    9:30 AM For the Protection of the Unborn Human Lives  by Julie Laughner

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 January 18, 2009 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
4th Sunday of Advent  
Theme: (Do Not Be Afraid)
Reading I: 2 Samuel: 7: 1-5, 8-16(The Lord Speaks to Nathan)
Reading II: Romans. 16: 25-27 (Him Who Can Strengthen You)
Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38, (The Guardian Angel)

Question for Adults:  What do the words, “Do not be afraid” say to me this Advent?  What fears do I need to turn over to God?  The recent events of our nation and world have given us many occasions to be “afraid”.  We should have no problem coming up with things or situations that make us anxious of fearful.  Perhaps our greatest problem is to limit our fears to a workable number.  Sometimes we become overwhelmed with fear.  This week’s gospel message gives us the opportunity to reflect on these fears thus enabling us to quiet ourselves from within.  We are so fortunate to have a scripture that lives.

Question for Children? Who is the person I trust the most?  What makes this person trustworthy? Trust is at the root of all real relationships.  There are always some people we trust more than others, however.  Take the time to talk to your child about trust and how he/she feels about this.  Ask them to make a short list of people they trust and then to narrow it to one or two people they trust the most.  The younger the child, the more trusting they are.  If they trust many people, ask them why they trust these people?  You may have some wonderful surprises.

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.

Adjusting our Habits. . .  Over the next few months we, as a parish community, will make an effort to adjust some of the poor habits many, if not all of us have developed over the past few months or even years.   This month we will take special note to eliminate gum chewing in church.  The main reason that gum chewing should not exist in church is that it is very irreverent to receive Communion when we have gum in our mouth.  Our belief that we are receiving the Body of Christ is another way of saying that God himself is coming to us through the reception of the sacred host.  We should not have anything in our mouths at the time of Communion.  We will be placing a receptacle in the entrances of the church so that you can throw your gum away as you enter the church.
      We will also focus on eliminating the distraction of cell phones.  We have noticed that some people are beginning to text message during Mass.  This is inappropriate for several reasons.  So, this coming week, please shut off your cell phones before coming into church. Thank you for your cooperation.

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.

Looking for Used Baby Clothes:  If you have young children that have outgrown their clothes and the clothes are still in good condition, Birthright of NH would greatly benefit from their use.  There are many young mothers who need a great deal of help in this line.  If you have clothes anywhere within the size range of Newborn to 4T, please bring them to the church and we will deliver them.  Thank you so much.

A Look at Upcoming Events

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
    The Thomas More college wishes seniors a Merry Christmas and good luck with upcoming college applications.  Thomas More is accepting applications for Fall 2009.  Apply before Feb. 1 to waive the $25.00 application fee at www.thomasmorecollege.edu. Remember to take time and enjoy this blessed season.
The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
6 Manchester Street
Merrimack, NH 03054
603-880-8308

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.