Welcome to OUR LADY OF GRACE Catholic Church MINISTRY MEETINGS Virtual Meetings only. The Parish Center Conference Room is unavailable until further notice. Devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help: Wednesdays, Rosary and Novena at 6:00 pm, followed by Mass (Church). Bereavement Ministry: Call the Parish Office (916) 371-4814. Bible Study: Tuesdays, 7:00 pm except 1st Tuesday of the month (Parish Center). Catholic Faith Formation: Tuesdays, 5:30 - 6:45 pm (September to May) for K-8th grade, includes first Communion and Confirmation sacrament preparation (School). Graced Youth Ministry: Every other Sunday, 6:00 pm (School Gym). Mom’s Ministry: 3rd Sunday, 6:30 pm (Parish Center). Mom’s Bible Study: Fridays, 8:45 am (Parish Center). OLG Prayer Meeting: 2nd thru 5th Fridays of the month, 7:00 pm (School Chapel). RCIA Adapted for Teens: Sundays, 10:00 am (Rectory). RCIA: Thursdays, 7:00 pm and Inquiry on Mondays, 7:00 pm (Parish Center). Respect Life Ministry: 3rd Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm (Rectory). St. Vincent de Paul: 1st and 2nd Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm (Rectory). Women's Council: 1st Tuesday of the month, 7:00 pm (Parish Center). CHRISTIAN GIVING Please help us reach our Weekly Budget Goal of $4,271.00 ANNOUNCEMENTS PRAYER INTENTIONS SCRIPTURE READINGS Week of December 13, 2020 Sunday Third Sunday of Advent Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Monday Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9; Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23; Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday Is 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25; Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14; Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17 Friday Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 Saturday Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Sunday Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 Church Offerings Bring your offerings with you on Sunday and drop it in the collection basket before or after Mass. There will be no passing of the offertory basket during Mass. You can also drop off or mail your contributions to OLG Church, 911 Park Blvd, West Sacramento, CA 95691 or make a donation by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and debit cards securely online at westsacolg.org/ donate Thank you for your gift of stewardship. MASS INTENTIONS Week of December 12 - 18, 2020 All Masses available for Live stream access: Weekend Masses on OLG YouTube Channel, Facebook or on the parish website: westsacolg.org/live Weekday 8:30 AM Daily Mass on Zoom: Meeting ID 899 4594 0107 Passcode OLG The mysterious figure of John the Baptist, introduced in last week’s readings, comes into sharper focus today. Who he is, we see in today’s Gospel, is best understood by who he isn’t. He is not Elijah returned from the heavens (2 Kings 2:11), although like him he dresses in the prophet’s attire (Mark 1:6; 2 Kings 1:8) and preaches repentance and judgment (1 Kings 18:21; 2 Chronicles 21:12–15). Not Elijah in the flesh, John is nonetheless sent in the spirit and power of Elijah to fulfill his mission (Luke 1:17; Malachi 3:23–24). Neither is John the prophet Moses foretold, although he is a kinsman and speaks God’s word (Deuteronomy 18:15–19; John 6:14). Nor is John the Messiah, though he has been anointed by the Spirit since he was in the womb (Luke 1:15, 44). John prepares the way for the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). The baptism he performs is symbolic, not sacramental. It is a sign given to stir our hearts to repentance. John shows us the One upon whom the Spirit remains (John 1:32), the One who fulfills the promise we hear in today’s First Reading (Luke 4:16–21). Jesus’ bath of rebirth and the Spirit opens a fountain that purifies Israel and gives to all a new heart and a new Spirit (Zechariah 13:1–3; Ezekiel 36:24–27; Mark 1:8; Titus 3:5). John comes to us in the Advent readings to show us the light, that we might believe in the One who comes at Christmas. As we sing in today’s Responsorial, the Mighty One has come to lift each of us up, to fill our hunger with bread from heaven (John 6:33, 49–51). And as Paul exhorts in today’s Epistle, we should rejoice, give thanks, and pray without ceasing that God will make us perfectly holy in spirit, soul, and body that we may be blameless when our Lord comes. (StPaulCenter.Com) O n e W h o i s C o m i n g : Scott Hahn Reflects on the Third Sunday of Advent "Jesus' disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards... Stewards of God's gifts are not passive beneficiaries. We cooperate with God in our own redemption and in the redemption of others." (To Be a Christian Steward, A Summary of the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, 1992) myParish App is a quick way to see what is happening at Our Lady of Grace, especially during Advent. Text App to 88202 to download our parish app. Once downloaded, select our Parish after opening. This Advent, pray for all Members in our Parish, for discernment of how God would like each of us to set our priorities and the ability to focus on them consistently to fulfill His purposes in our lives. The CALIFORNIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE [i] affirms that the imminent Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable and commit to working closely with Catholic health care ministries and Catholic Charities to: Promote and encourage COVID-19 vaccinations in collaboration with state and local governments and other entities; Advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations to ensure that they have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines; and, Provide regular and accurate information to parishioners and the community in support of morally acceptable, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. Life has changed this year in ways few of us could have imagined. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought loss of life and livelihood to every community, rich and poor. We mourn for those who have died and for their families, and we offer our prayers and assistance to those struggling with loss of businesses, unemployment, loneliness, anxiety and other traumas brought on by this calamity. Finally, we offer a special thanks to the health care professionals who have and will continue to care for the sick; to essential workers that enable society to continue functioning; for scientists and researchers who brought us to this moment; to teachers and parents struggling to educate children; to workers in ministries finding innovative ways to bring spiritual and corporal resources to congregations; and to everyone who has helped carry the burden of others during this pandemic. We pray for them as we pray for the world. We still have much work to do, but we now have hope and a path forward rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. We place our trust and confidence in the providence of God. (Read more on Diocese website https://www.scd.org/news/covid-vaccines) [i] Archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco; Dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Stockton 2020 CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Dec 24: Christmas Eve 2:00 PM 11:30 PM Christmas Carols 12 AM Midnight Dec 25: Christmas Day 9:00 AM 11:00 AM Jan 1: Solemnity of Mary 11:00 AM Livestream Saturday Vigil Dec 12 5:30 PM Chapel For Charlene Brumfield (Birthday) Sunday Dec 13 9 AM Chapel For All Members in our Parish 11 AM Outdoor For Josephine Gomez + 4:30 PM Chapel Mass by Eventbrite RSVP only Monday Dec 14 8:30 AM Tuesday Dec 15 8:30 AM Wednesday Dec 16 8:30 AM For Fidel Martinez + For Louretta Lehman + For Rose Rappu + Thursday Dec 17 No Mass Friday Dec 18 8:30 AM For Harry & Jan Valencia (57th Wedding Anniversary)