ANNUNCIATION PARISH January 1, 2017 www.annunciationcatholicchurch.org PASTOR: Fr. Tony Rinaldo, 573-796-4842 [email protected] Emergency Contact for Fr. Tony: St. Andrew's Church 660-433-2162 DEACON: Ed Schepers, 573-694-9331 [email protected] PARISH OFFICE: 573-796-4842 or [email protected], Hall 796-3568 Open Mondays 8 AM to1 PM & Tuesdays 8:30 AM to12:00 PM Phone and Email messages always welcome PASTORAL MINISTER: Sr. Mary Ruth Wand, [email protected] 796-2654 PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Evelyn Jobe, 301-4945, [email protected] MASSES @ ANNUNCIATION: SATURDAY @ 4 PM, SUNDAY @ 10:30 AM, and SPANISH MASS @ NOON MASSES @ ST. ANDREW: TIPTON: SATURDAY @ 5:30 PM, SUNDAY @ 8:30 AM BAPTISMS: By appointment. Please call for Parental Sacrament Preparation WEDDINGS: Please contact at least 4 months in advance RECONCILIATION: Saturdays @ 3:15 PM before Mass – Sundays @ 9:30 AM or by appt. MASSES FOR THE WEEK Sat. Dec 31 4 PM Parish Sun. Jan 1 10:30 AM Anthony & Richard Scheidt Sun. Jan 1 NOON Spanish Mass Tue. Jan 3 8 AM Bill Hentges Thu. Jan 5 8 AM Peter Rinaldo Sat. Jan 7 4 PM Dustin Struemph Sun. Jan 8 10:30 AM Jim Martin Sun. Jan 8 NOON Spanish Mass MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK Mon. Jan 2 5:45 PM Prayer of the Holy Rosary 8 PM AA-ALNON Wed. Jan 4 8:15 PM Mustard Seed Thu Jan 5 Quilting 7 PM RCIA 7 PM Holy Hour Sun. Jan 8 9-12:30 PM Confirmation STEWARDSHIP – OUR GIFT TO GOD Monthly Goal: $23,100.00 1 st week: $ 7,855.91 2 nd week: $ 2,907.25 3 rd week: $ 3,881.87 4 th week: $ 10,665.47 Christmas Flowers: $ 50.00 Mustard Seed: $ 45.00 Seminary: $ 1,096.00 Exceeded Goal: ($ 2,210.50) Pray for the Sick: Ella Henderson (granddaughter of Steve & Debbie Lehman); David Schepers; Patricia Taylor; Sheryl Sullins; Ted Haxel (SMR’s brother-in-law); Rick Wingate; Steve Lee; Andrew Phipps; Rachel Frank; Kevin Munsterman; Myrene Hoellering; Alfred Kirkweg; Mary Ann Kenning; Robert Wolken (Jo Wolken’s nephew); Gladys Mertens; John Thompson; Amy Hoecker; Waneta Mertgen (grandmother of Brooklyn Wasser); Andrea Tilbury; Betty Edwards; Michael Wiseman; Melissa Weis; Delores Bardwell; Abraham Baepler; Teresa Kirchhoff; Joel Rivera; Betty Gombkoto; Phyllis Rimel (sister of Sandy Schaeffer); Carol Rackers; Charlotte Baker; Gertie Leonard; Carol Baker; Doug Distler; Mary Wood; Nick & Emily Beydler and family; Bill Hentges (brother of Helen Drinkard); Linda McKee, Alfred Kempker, and Travis Peck. Donations for poinsettias in memory of loved ones: Frank Haller, Special Intention, Bill Glenn, John & Rosalie Hentges, Margaret Strickfaden, Mildred & Elliott McPherson, Joseph & Mary Agnes Ernst, Bestgen/Scheidt families, Alma Bestgen, Bob Bestgen, Rev. Jerome Bestgen, Walter & Mark Brauner, Earl “Mick” Scheidt, Clem Distler, Arlene Distler, Earl & Margaret Scheidt, Earl & Jo Hirschvogel, Leon & Rita Vanderfeltz, Bernie & Elva Dunn, Charles Pummill, Bill & Gertrude Roll. Christmas decorations will be taken down on Sunday, January 8 th at 2PM. We can use all the help we can get to put everything back away. Pastor’s Notes . . . January 1, 2017 Solemnity of Mary Mother of God In today's gospel text we are told that the shepherds "went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.” It is helpful to note that they did this because they had received a vision of angels who told them, "This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 12). Why does Luke use the image of an "infant wrapped in swaddling clothes? The infant Jesus, wrapped in warm flannel, alerts us to a profound symbolism here, because the flannel wrap stands for God's loving care which is shown to us in the coming of Jesus as our Savior. In a very real sense, we can say that God has wrapped the whole world in secure and loving warmth by sending his beloved Son to us as a sign of his endless loving kindness. Since this feast is the feast of "Mary Mother of God," it is important to note also that "Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” We are not told what "all these things" might be, but we can rest assured that they embraced the whole wonderful experience of bearing a child who is already destined to change the course of human history in ways that will be revealed only later. The beginning of a new year provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the special gift of time. We recall the events of the previous year and express our gratitude for all the good things that have happened, all the while being aware that there have also been sad and painful and perhaps sinful times. But most of all we celebrate the promise of a new set of months and we try to be hopeful in spite of threats of war and recession and just growing older. Today's gospel has a special message for us as we hang up the new calendar with mixed feelings. The fresh new year is in some ways like the infant Jesus "wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Both the new year and the new child seem so vulnerable, but the almighty power of God is hidden in the new year, just as it is in the tiny infant. God is fully prepared to wrap our fragile lives and hopes in the warm blanket of his ever-present and constant love. With such assurance, we can face the future with generous hope and with light hearts. We too need to realize that the angels who spoke to the shepherds are speaking to us also when they say, "This will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger". Come, let us adore him. Fr.Tony Building Fund -- Monthly Mustard Seed – Monthly January 1 January 8 NUM 6:22-27 ISA 60:1-6 GAL 4:4-7 EPH 3:2-3a,5-6 LUKE 2:16-21 MATT 2:1-12