December 18, 2016 4th Sunday of Advent ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI … · 01-12-2009  · December 18, 2016 ♦ 4th Sunday of Advent page 3 Pray for the Sick Monday, December 19 Youth Choir,

December 18, 2016 - 4th Sunday of Advent

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH

203 EAST MAIN ST., PO BOX 730, TEUTOPOLIS, IL 62467

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Teutopolis, Illinois page 2

From the Pastor

Mass Intentions

Laudato Si: We continue our reflections on peace-making Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to en-dure whatever comes. I Cor. 13:7 The apostle Paul speaks of love as personal because, in reality, we love one person at a time. This calls for seeing deeply—beyond the surface of gifts or idiosyn-crasies and flaws—to the heart of another where God beck-ons us to take off our shoes and stand on the hallowed ground of that person’s mystery. We are blessed when we see another in this way. We are profoundly graced when we find ourselves thus known and loved. Let us pray for the grace to lay down the arms of resentment or envy that keep us from loving gener-ously. (The Sound of the Gentle Breeze, S. Mary Jean Traeger, OP)

Monday, December 19, 6:30: Betty Koeberlein-Schottman Monday, December 19, 12:10: IAD Tuesday, December 20, 6:30: Betty Koeberlein-Schottman Tuesday, December 20, 7:55: Cac Dang Linh Hon Wednesday, December 21, 6:30: Joe Buscher Wednesday, December 21, 7:55: Bernard & Betty Koeberlein Thursday, December 22 6:30: Raymond & Virginia Probst Thursday, December 22, 12:10: Helen Thoele Friday, December 23, 6:30: Eileen Yeh Friday, December 23, 7:55: Gertrude Burford Saturday, December 24, 4:00: Mert McMahon Saturday, December 24, 6:00: Rich Goldstein Sunday, December 24, 10:30: Scott Westendorf Sunday, December 25, 9:00: Pro Populo

Ministry Sign-ups There are ministry sign-up sheets for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in the main entrance of Church. If you are commissioned to be in any of the ministries: Usher, Reader, Gift Bearer, or Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, please consider sharing your ministry this Christmas. Thank you!

Christmas Mass Schedule

December 24 - 4:00, 6:00, 10:30 pm December 25 - 9:00 am

New Year’s Mass Schedule

Feast of Mary, Mother of God December 31 - 4:00 & 5:30 pm January 1 - 8:30 & 10:30 am

On behalf of the 430+ people receiving Christmas presents from you this year (via the Giving Tree) thank you very much for making it possible – the shopping, wrapping, expense. May God bless your generosity. And speaking of generosi-ty, I received a thank you note from the Promoter of Missions for the Franciscan Province of the Sacred Heart. He thanks you for your donation to the missions. Your collection was $2,289.00.

The last opportunity for Confessions is this Sunday evening, 18 December, at 7 o’clock in church. There will be 3 confessors. There will NOT be confessions on Saturdays, 24 and 31 December. So if you tend to put things off or procrasti-nate, this is it. St. Anthony’s Church in Effingham is having a penance service this Sunday, 18 Dec, at 3:00 p.m.

You have noticed that it is rare when we take up a second collection at Masses. Any second collection will be announced. Otherwise, any additional envelopes, special collections, should be put in the collection basket when the ushers gather the offering. There will be only one collection, no matter how many different envelopes there are.

We are half way to meeting our ACSA (Annual Catholic Services Appeal). Please make your regular contribution or tithe to the parish via the ACSA to the diocese, and be sure to mark Teutopolis in the memo line of your check. Make your check payable to ACSA, memo: TEUTOPOLIS. This is good for your regular contribution whether it is weekly, monthly, quarterly, or once a year! You can send your donation to the diocese or put it in an envelope and drop it in the collection. Thank you. We need to lower the ACSA amount!

You’ll find the schedule of Masses for Christmas Eve and Christmas here in this bulletin. The 6:00 Mass Christmas

Eve will not have incense.

Liturgy Schedule 4th Week of Advent December 19 - 25

Monday, Mass at 6:30 am & 12:10 pm

Tuesday, Mass at 6:30 & 7:55 am

Wednesday, St. Peter Canisius Mass at 6:30 & 7:55 am

Thursday, Mass at 6:30 am & 12:10 pm

Friday, St. John of Kanty Mass at 6:30 & 7:55 am

Saturday, Vigil of Christmas Mass at 4:00, 6:00, & 10:30 pm

Sunday, Christmas - The Nativity of the Lord Mass at 9:00 am

Confession Schedule No Confessions.

Liturgy of the Hours with Friars Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm

Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 12/11/2016 Year 277 Adult envelopes $9,660.00 $197,239.00 Other $783.75 $18,616.02 TOTAL $10,443.75 $215,855.02 Assisi for Africa $1,050.00 $14,989.00 Immaculate Conception $2,036.00 Retired Religious $3,125.00

December 18, 2016 ♦ 4th Sunday of Advent page 3

Pray for the Sick

Monday, December 19

Youth Choir, 5:30-7:00 pm Adult Choir 7:00-9:00 pm DeColores mtg., 7:00pm, Museum Meeting Room Tuesday, December 20

Biblical Walk with Mary, 10:00-11:30 am and 7:00-8:30 pm, St. Clare Hall

Wednesday, December 21

Catechist/Mass Supervisor/Helpers Christmas appreciation, 8-9 am & 9-10 am, Museum Dining Room

Jr. High Religion, 7:20 pm Rosary, 8:00 pm, Chapel Thursday, December 22

Secular Franciscans meet, 6:00-10:00 pm, Museum Meeting Room

Parish Calendar

Please remember in your prayers: Jack Hardiek, Lucille Worman, Agnes Kremer, Devin Mette, Harold Hardiek, Margaret Pruemer, Will Niccum, Joe Ruholl, Bill and Rosie Myers, Emily (Heuerman) McCabe, Lorraine Deters, Dolores Kingery, Claude and Geraldine Brumleve, Craig Lindvahl, Scott Repking, Andrea Wernsing, Elizabeth Weidner, Paula Spencer, Martha Wente, Ray Willenborg, Betty Borries, Jody Furlano, Mark Roedl, JoAnn Deters, Elizabeth Waldhoff, Linus Willenborg, Dorothy Gardewine, Cheryl Woodard, Norma Weber, James “Jake” Niemeyer, Pat Poston, Kathryn Wesselman, Betty Runde.

Sing Along St. Francis Singers and Friends will be singing at Lakeland Nursing Center on Thursday, December 22nd at 10:00 am.

Attention Homebound Holy Communion will not be brought to you on Christmas Day.

Articles for the bulletin for next week are due ear-lier. Our bulletin deadline to the publisher is earlier because of Christmas. Phone the office, 857-6404, for the deadline dates.

If you are going to make an “end of the year” gift to the parish, PLEASE help the parish by donating your gift to ACSA. Write ACSA on the check, and in the memo line be sure to write: TEUTOPOLIS, so our parish gets the credit. This will pay off our ACSA, and it will lower our ACSA for next year. You can drop the check in the basket on Sunday or mail it to the diocese.

Special Collection on Christmas Day. The Catholic Children’s Home continues the legacy of love and care for God’s children begun by the Precious Blood Sis-ters from Ruma in the 19th century. In the spirit of Christ’s special affection for all children, please support the work for the Catholic Children’s Home and contribute generous-ly to this special collection held at all the Masses on Christ-mas. Please use the envelope included with your set. Thank you for your generosity.

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND YOUTH NOTES

GRADE SCHOOL Grade 3 Congratulations to Grade 3 children and families and all those who contributed to the Christmas Missions Store last week. The total amount of proceeds was $2,650.00. The recipients are Sister Ann Fearday’s Bolivia Mission; Sister Christine Spour’s West African missions; Father Damien Isabell’s mission for the African Congo boys; Fr. Paul Habing for the Spanish mission needs in Southwest Illinois; and the thousands helped by the Effingham County Catholic Charities. Many thanks to all! CATECHISTS, MASS SUPERVISORS, VIDEO PRESENTERS, BUILDING SUPERVISORS, OFFICE HELPERS, AND SUBSTITUTES don’t forget the Christmas gathering in the Museum Dining Room on Wednesday, December 21, from 8:00 to 8:45 and from 8:45 to 9:30. Come and celebrate your commitment and service! NO classes on Friday, December 23. School and religion classes will resume on Wednesday, January. 4. Have a Blessed and safe Christmas break!

JUNIOR HIGH Classes take place on Wednesday, December 21, with opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and will be dismissed until Wednesday, January 11. Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Announcement—Parish members staffing the grade school entrances in the early morning from 7:15 to 7:50 ask that “Parents, please do not drop off your child/ren before 7:15.” Doors are open to receive the children start-ing at 7:15. Thanks for your cooperation.

Protecting God’s Children will be held on

Thursday, February 6, 2017 at 6:30 pm at St. Aloysius, Bishop, and on

Monday, March 27, 2017 at 6:30 pm at St. Francis, Teutopolis.

Please call 857-6404 to register for one.

Financial Peace University will again be offered at St. Francis. Plans are underway to begin another 9 week session of Dave Ramsey´s FPU course after the first of the year. The facilitators will be Scott & Carrie Copple and Brad & Angie Koester. More information will follow in next week´s bulletin. If you have any questions, feel free to call Carrie at (217)994-3049.

Marriage Preparation Pre-Cana is scheduled for Sunday, January 29, 2017 at St. Francis Parish. Please call 857-6404 to register. Foccus is scheduled for January 7, 2017, 5:30 pm, St. Clare Hall April 1, 2017, 5:30 pm, St. Clare Hall July 1, 2017, 5:30 pm, St. Clare Hall Please call the parish office at 857-6404 to register.

Baptism Prep Upcoming Baptism Prep dates are as follows: Thursday, January 5, 7:00 pm, St. Clare Hall Thursday, February 2, 7:00 pm, St. Rose Call 857-6404 to register.

Scrip Card Business of the Month is

Niemerg's Steak House Come buy scrip cards after Masses, at the parish office on Saturday mornings or from Niebrugge Financial during business hours Monday - Friday! Buying scrip cards helps our parish youth and they make GREAT Christmas gifts!

THANKS to all who have been pur-chasing scrip cards! You are making a difference!! Scrip Cards will be sold after every weekend Mass between now and Christmas! They are also available on Saturday mornings at the parish office or Monday through Friday at Niebrugge Financial! THANKS for supporting our parish youth!

THANKS to all who gave gifts and sorted/delivered gifts for the Giving Tree. We donated over 400 gifts to area homes and the Thea Bowman School in East St. Louis! Gifts were sorted and delivered in less than 2 hours! It was amazing! Thank you for your generosity!

SCRIP Card Winner Announced! The winner of the St. Francis Scrip Program’s Scrip Card of the Month for November is Michelle Vogt. She wins a $20 McMah-on Meats gift certificate. Congratulations Michelle!

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Attention Parishioners! Do you ever see people in church and wonder what their names are? Are you a new member and wish you had something to help you put names with faces? Help is on the way! We are producing a new pictorial directory. You will be able to sign up for your portrait session after the Masses this weekend, or you can visit our website stfrancischurch.com, click on What’s Happening at St. Francis where you will click on a link and follow the in-structions. Photography dates open currently, for schedul-ing are during the weeks of 12/26-12/30, 01/17-01/21, and 01/31-02/04. Additional weeks in February and March will be open for scheduling at a later date. IMPORTANT!! Please remember, only current parishioner portraits will be in the directory. These portraits will be marked for the directory. Other portraits may also be taken; you may have a generational picture taken (no more than 15 people), children separate-ly, children with grandparents, etc., but only St./ Francis Parish parishioners in the directory. We are needing volunteers to help with this project. If you are inter-ested in serving as a host/hostess during the photography sessions, contact Lois Meinhart via email, [email protected] or call 857-6378.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Paying attention to dreams. When we get to be of a certain age, we do not always sleep through the night. We are awakened by dreams, by concerns not yet resolved, by other needs. (I am less peeved by this now. I want to be like Joseph in today’s story of the pending birth of Je-sus.) Joseph has a problem. He wants to be righteous. He does not want to shame another. He sleeps on it. He dreams. And God speaks.

What might God be telling me in the quiet of the

night?

How will my prayer, my concern be answered?

What will I choose to do?

Musicians for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses

4:00 pm: Children’s Choir 6:00 pm: Kim Deters and Greg Oseland 10:30 pm: Adult Choir 9:00 am: Kim Deters

2016 CCW Christmas Party -- Thank You The Officers of the CCW wish to thank all those who attended and were involved in making our annual Christmas Party a huge success!! Special thanks to the committee chairpersons and all the ladies in their respective neighborhoods. Food Committee: Laura Deters, Jodi Hoene and Jean-

ette Young Entertainment Committee: Ginny Cooper Decorating Committee: Laurie Drees Thanks also to Santa for taking time out of his busy sched-ule, and the Sisters & the Friars of St Francis for helping us celebrate the season. We had a great and entertaining evening due to the efforts of so many!! A great big Thank You goes to the out-going officers of the CCW- Chris Mette, Tammy Willenborg and Shannon Hin-kle. They have done a spectacular job for the past 2 years. THANK YOU!!!!

ASSISI FOR AFRICA – Fr Damien has sent this photo of worn out mattresses he wishes to replace for the boys. He writes, “Our epi-leptic boy has been found and returned to our house. Thanks be to God. The addition to our home is almost complet-ed. The walls are up and only the roof has to be added. Next step, put in a cement floor. I will keep you posted. Greetings to everyone. I continue waiting. Fr. Damien

Attention All Parishioners Campbell Soup Company has discontin-ued their label program - but are giving us until July, 1, 2017 to turn in late labels for credit. With this credit, we purchase items for our Mission bake sales.

Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held today, December 18th, 7:00 pm for those who wish to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance before Christmas.

God Bless Those Serving our Country. Anthony Vahling, Jeremy Deters,

Caleb Hoene, Cody Bushue, Leighton Blankenship, Jared Apke

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Teutopolis, Illinois page 6

Parish Office

203 E. Main St., P.O. Box 730, Teutopolis, IL 62467-0730 Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. – 9:00 am-4:30 pm Phone (217) 857-6404 Fax 217) 857-1031 Parish E-mail: ................. [email protected] Parish website:……………….stfrancischurch.com Submit written bulletin notices by noon Monday. Diocesan website: www.dio.org Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation Num-ber (217) 321-1155

Area Events New Year’s Eve Cash Bash at the Four Parish Center/Gym, St. Michael’s, Sigel, on December 31st. Tickets are $100 per couple which includes dinner, drinks, and a chance to win a $2,000 grand prize! You must be 21 years to attend. Doors open at 6:30 pm with dinner beginning at 7:00 pm followed by gambling and dancing. It is sure to be a good time! You can get tickets at St. Michael School Office, Sigel Community Bank, or finding us on Face-book. The 3 Kings will be making their annu-al visit on January 6, 7, 8. Contact Clint Goeckner at 821-5311 for the young kings or Joe Thoele at 821-4459 for the old kings. Trivia/Live Auction St. Michael’s Church and School is hosting a Trivia and Live Auction on Saturday, January 14th, 2017 at the Four Parish Center in Sigel. The doors open at 6:00 pm and trivia will start at 6:30 pm. Items will be auctioned off throughout the night. To see auction items please go to our Facebook page Sigel St. Michael’s Trivia Night and Live Auction. There will also be a 50/50 drawing and heads and tails games throughout the night. Food and drink will be available for purchase. All partici-pants must be 21 years old to attend. The cost per team is $160.00 and can have up to 8 team members. To sign up your team call Betty Zumbahlen at 821-7653. Proceeds of the night go to help cover cost of the church and school sesquicentennial coming in the fall of 2017. HSHS St. Anthony’s Foundation is hosting a “Glow-Inga” on Saturday, January 14, at the Keller Convention Center. Pre-sale tickets are $25 per person. Tickets are limited, so please contact 217-994-3158 or [email protected] to get your tickets now.

Coming Soon--Annual Pro Life Breakfast January 15, 2017, 7:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Teutopolis Grade School Auditorium. Featuring all you can eat whole hog sausage, eggs, homemade breads and rolls and drinks. Donation of breads and rolls appreciated; bring to audi-

torium Saturday, January 14th from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm or morning of breakfast.

Volunteers welcome to set up on Saturday, January 14th at 8:00 am.

Workers for the breakfast needed - 2 hour shifts starting at 7:00 am. Call Liz Kremer 217-273-9677 or email [email protected]

Basket raffle this year. If you would like to donate items (remember the kiddos, grandpa and grandma’s love to buy chances for their grandchildren).

Contact Marisa Schabbing 217-343-2286 or Bernice Schabbing 217-821-2694 with any donations for the raffle.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support.

Taste of T-Town Tickets are ON SALE NOW!! Taste of T-Town will be held on January 14 and all CHWC camp-ers have tickets for sale! You can also purchase them at the parish office, Niebrugge Financial or after Masses on week-ends this month! We have a great line up & we can't wait for this awesome event!

King’s House Retreat and Renewal Center is nestled in 47 quiet, wooded acres in Belleville, IL. They are sponsored by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immacu-late. People of all faith traditions are welcomed with warm hospitality and opportunity for spiritual and personal growth. They have released their 2017 retreat schedule and invite you to take time away from your busy life to pray, rest, and reflect on your relationship with God. Retreats include inspirational conferences, prayer, and the opportuni-ty to talk with their qualified staff. For more information, call 618-397-0584 or 800-779-7909 or online at www.KingsRetreatCenter.org.

Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take

Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will

bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." - Mt 1:20-21

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.

Holy Humor Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it.