Home	First Sunday of Advent	2012 Bulletins
	December 2,  2012
SAINT PETER’S PARISH 10 maple street • Dartmouth, NS • B2Y 2X3    tel 466-6183 • fax 466-2207 e-mail:   st.peters.dartmouth@ns.sympatico.ca website:   http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Religion/StPeters PASTOR FR. JIM RICHARDS DEACON JACK MACNEIL • DEACON BERNIE YOUNG   DIRECTOR of MUSIC and LITURGY GREG BECIGNEUL • PRIEST IN RESIDENCE FR. CHARLES BURKE  RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORD HEATHER RIDEOUT • OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR SHERRI LAPIERRE REGULAR OFFICE HOURS:  MONDAY to THURSDAY; 9 am – 4 pm / FRIDAY: 9am – 1 pm  WEEKDAY MASS SCHEDULE Monday ……........................................................No Mass Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.....………..……….....12 noon Friday………………………........................................no mass WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday………........................………………………….…...4pm Private Confession..............….............………….3– 3:30pm Sunday……………...............................8:45, 11:15 and 7pm IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MASS SCHEDULE Monday ……………....………......…..........………..…….… 7pm Private Confessions (Last Monday of Month)...6:30-6:45pm Sunday………………......................…………………….....10am   1st Sunday of Advent - December 2, 2012 This Gospel is not really about the end of the world; it is about the completion of the kingdom. The 2nd Coming is not a deadline; it is an invitation and incentive to live in a certain way in the present time. The Gospel calls us to be vigilant not about a future event but about a present way of living shaped by the Jesus before whom we stand. Our destiny is to share in the Son of Man’s “great glory.” The 2nd reading spells out quite clearly what our daily vigilance looks like. We are to abound in love, be blameless in holiness, conduct ourselves to be pleasing to God, and to receive instructions given “through the Lord Jesus.” Given our present experience of wars, poverty, natural disasters, some people conclude that the end of the world is at hand and are fearful. Rather than inviting fear of an imminent end, these same things call us to become more vigilant about the way we live and witness to the Gospel.   The Evena Prayer Cards For Advent As our parish celebrates this Year of Faith, and as we enter the season of Advent, we are providing prayer opportunities to reach those who are suffering, are in need, or who have been separated from our community.  Sets of Prayer Cards are available to you and your family.  Each set has three cards. The cards are provided at no cost by CHALICE and offer the opportunity to provide tangible evidence to those we know who are in need of prayer.   The intention is to pray three times for someone and then send a card to that person assuring them that they have been thought of in prayer.  The format is called Evena, which means praying three times over three days for someone. The first prayer will happen at Mass each week during the lighting of the Advent Candle. The two ensuing prayers will take place in your home during the week that follows.  Perhaps you would choose to pray in the glow of candlelight emanating from the Advent wreath in your home.  At any rate, the intention is to fulfill your prayer for three people, one on each of the first three weeks in Advent.  On the Fourth Sunday in Advent you will be invited to bring your sealed and stamped Prayer Cards to the church.  The cards will be mailed out together en masse.  As we drench our community in prayer in this time of New Evangelization, this tangible sign of sharing Christ will let them know that the Church is alive, well and faithfully still praying for them.   F.O.O.D. Project Next weekend (December 8 and 9) is our next committed weekend to provide meals for Feeding Others Of Dartmouth. Sign-up sheets are posted in the main entrance of the church where someone from Parish Outreach is on hand to guide you in the best ways to serve.  The help you provide is appreciated by the many in our area who are served in this way.   Catechetical Program Classes continue this Sunday for Primary to Grade 6 EDGE meets next Saturday at 10am Confirmation Class meets next Saturday at 10am Next Sunday (Dec. 9) is the last day for Catechetical sessions before Christmas.   Jesse Tree This Sunday and next at the 8:45am Mass, children from the Catechetical Program will be placing symbols on the Jesse Tree. The symbols represent the family tree or genealogy of Jesus. They tell the story of God's salvation plan from creation and throughout the Old Testament, to the coming of the Messiah. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, "Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit."  This Sunday the Grades 4 & 5 classes will hang the dove, apple, and the ark, stars, ram, ladder and grain, the burning bush, a lamb, the commandments, trumpet, pitchers, crown and crook.   Advent Backpack Project This year our parish is partnering with four other Dartmouth parishes to fill bags of gifts for the patrons of Feeding Others of Dartmouth and other local charities. Our goal is to fill 300 gift bags with useful items for adult men and women who do not have the resources to provide for themselves.  At the entrances to the church, you will find gift bags with a list of suggested items inside.  Please take a gift bag home with you, fill it, and deliver it back to the church on or before Thursday, December 13.  Thank you for generously supporting this worthy outreach project.   The Liturgical Environment for Advent and Christmas When you entered the church today, you noticed a few additions to our worship space. Our Advent wreath, with its four candles, is unique in that it embraces our community of worshippers. Our wreath of green garland enwraps the people in unity during this season of hope and joyful expectation. As well, you noticed our four Advent candles placed carefully around the Eucharistic table in the midst of the people. One new candle is lit on each of the Sundays of Advent. Mary’s niche is temporarily the home for our nativity crèche. Our empty crèche symbolically awaits the Child Saviour. Notice the arch of branches over the doorway. These are the branches of our Jesse Tree.   (see article on Jesse Tree above)   St. Vincent de Paul Advent and Christmas Outreach   ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DINNER For many years our St. Vincent de Paul Society has spearheaded a Christmas dinner for our friends and neighbours in the downtown area who struggle to meet their basic needs.  Annually, hundreds of people enjoy this offering.  Parishioners of St. Peter Parish have always generously given of their time and resources, a great testament to our faith in the mission to serve those who are less fortunate. This year’s dinner will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16.    Your donations of food or money would be appreciated.  Call Anne MacIsaac at 466-3144.  Needed are 48 turkeys, 52 pies, 32 bags of frozen vegetables and 32 cans of gravy.  Donations should be in by Tuesday, Dec. 11. You may wish to help with food preparation (potato peeling and more) on Saturday, Dec.15 at 9:30am.   As well, your help is required on the day of the dinner to prepare food, set-up the parish hall, serve food and of course clean up after 2pm. And hey, a turn out to help like the group that helped out after the book sale would be super! CHRISTMAS SPONSORS  If individuals, groups or businesses are interested in sponsoring a family or a single person at Christmas please call Anne MacIsaac at 466-3144.  We emphasize the need for sponsorship of a single person because often they are overlooked at this time of year.  Please keep the dedicated members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the people served by them in your prayers, particularly at this time of year.     Senior’s Group The Senior’s Group meets this Tuesday to celebrate Mass at noon, followed by a light lunch and social time in the room behind the tapestry.  Consider joining them if you have not yet.   Sacrament of Reconciliation in Advent   On Wednesday, December 12 at 7pm… we will gather in the church with members of neighbouring parishes to celebrate a communal Service of Reconciliation.  Confessions will follow a liturgy of the Word and Examination of Conscience.   Catholic Women’s League Cookbook 2013 will mark the 60th Anniversary for the CWL at St. Peter Parish.  To commemorate the occasion, the League is compiling recipes for a cookbook which will be available for purchase next spring.  The proceeds will be donated to Bryony House, a shelter for women and children who are victims of violence.  The League is seeking your help to obtain recipes from past members of Saint Peter CWL Council.  Perhaps family members may have recipes from deceased CWL members or parishioners may like to share recipes to be included in the book.  Please pass along recipes to Tricia Vermeulen or any CWL member no later than Jan 31.  Thanks for helping out with this effort.   Mental Health Program Christmas Gifts Once again we are collecting Christmas gifts for inpatients and residents of the Nova Scotia Hospital, Abbie J. Lane Building and East Coast Forensic Hospital. Please pick up a suggested gift list from the entrances and drop your new, unwrapped gift off at the main entrance.   Gift Certificate Tree Immaculate Conception Church is selling tickets on a Gift Certificate Tree valued at $1200 to raise money for a new roof.  Tickets are available at the Russell Lake Sobeys on Fri, Nov 30 and Sat, Dec 1 from 9:30am to 2:30pm and at Sobeys at Penhorn Mall on Sat, Dec 15 from 9:30am to 2:30pm.  The draw will be on Sunday, Dec 16.   Sister Norma Heffernan’s Series: Book of Exodus A sincere Thank You to Sister Norma for conducting this series. Sister’s insight into scripture is a valuable gift which she shares to help inspire our faith lives to be more complete.   Liturgical Ministry Christmas Sign-up Sheets The Christmas Sign-up sheets are available in the Sacristy for Lay Ministers of the Altar, Holy Communion, and Word.   Big Brothers Big Sisters Clothing Drive Please drop off used clothing, shoes, linens, toys, books, kitchen ware, sporting goods, tools and small appliances to our parish office during regular hours this week (by Friday). Your donations will be turned into funding for youth mentoring programs. Thank you.       Workbooks for Ministers of the Word Please find your study guide book of readings in the C Cycle on the counter in the sacristy.  Guide book is $10.    Parish Administration   Donations for 2012 In order for your donations to be included in your 2012 tax receipt, please ensure you drop your envelope in the collection basket by Sunday, December 30. Any donations received in January have to be dated 2013, they cannot be backdated to 2012. Thank You for your continued support and understanding.   upcoming liturgies + events + programs + meetings   Catechetical Program Classes as usual this Sunday Choir Rehearsals Children at 4pm on Wednesday.  Adults at 7:30pm on Wednesday. Children’s Liturgy of the Word Sunday at the 8:45am Mass Jesse Tree Dec 2 and 9 at 8:45am Mass Senior’s Group Planning Committee meeting Monday Dec 3 at 2pm (parish office) Senior’s Group Gathering Mass at noon followed by lunch and social Tuesday Dec 4 Catholic Women’s League Tuesday Dec 4 at 7pm (parish office) Liturgy Committee Meeting Thursday Dec 6 at 7pm (parish office) Last Day EDGE and Confirmation Class Saturday Dec 8 F.O.O.D. (Feed Others Of Dartmouth) Next weekend (Dec 8 & 9) Last Day of Catechetical Program until January Sunday Dec 9 Sacrament of Reconciliation Service Wednesday, December 12 at 7pm Deadline to return gift bags for Advent Backpack Project Thursday Dec 13 Food Prep for St Vincent de Paul Dinner Saturday Dec 15 at 9:30am Gift Sorting and Delivery (Advent Backpack Project) Saturday Dec 15 at 1pm (school gym) St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Dinner Sunday Dec 16 12noon–2pm  in the school gym Children’s Choir Annual Caroling at Seniors’ Homes Wednesday Dec 19 at 4pm Private Confessions (in addition to Saturdays 3-3:30pm) Wednesday Dec 19 11am –noon, 12:30-1:30pm Solstice Celebration: Family Dinner – Candlelight Procession – & Light in the Darkness Service Thursday Dec 20 at 5pm start