Over thirty years ago, at my first assignment, we had as an Advent theme “Coming Home.” It was supposed to be an outreach to Catholics who had ‘fallen away’ from the institutional Catholic Church. We had beautiful brochures and posters made up, a whole series of prayer services and information nights. It was plain and simply a total failure. In our investigation into what went wrong, the consensus was that we missed the boat. The people we most wanted to reach said the Church left them and not the other way around. “When we most needed you, you were not there. Why would I want to go where I am not wanted, not respected and feel like an outcast?” When our SJA liturgy planning group suggested a theme of ‘home’ for this Advent I think they were taken aback by my initial negative reaction. I was of course channeling the past. The difference this time is that we are not defining “home” as being at one with a set of obligations but exploring what are the relationships, attitudes and actions which constitute being at home or a home. I remember many of my gay friends having ‘anti’ or alternative holiday celebrations, often later in the evening after their family holiday gatherings. People would walk in the door and let out an existential roar, “Thank God that’s over with.” Trying to be someone you are not, to please someone else, can be draining and exhausting. What does it mean to be at home? Everyone needs a place where they are welcome, respect-ed, loved, feel safe and protected. For many it is our nuclear biological family but for many, like my gay friends, it is a created volunteer nuclear family that meets those needs of safety, love and acceptance. Church at its best can be that place. Over the years I have heard so many stories about how St. Joan of Arc is such a place. We heard it just recently at our Thanksgiving Service. We are as a people longing to hear this from the greater institutional church. One of Pope Francis’ most loved characteristics is his call to acceptance and understanding –how do we create a Church that is Home. Of course, this does not mean that home is not a place to challenge each other. Quite the contrary, home is a place where we can challenge and be challenged because the respect and love we have for each other demands that each of us be the best me I can be and it is done with respect. Welcome to the new church year, welcome to Advent, and let’s be, and

explore being, at home.

Presider: Fr. James Cassidy

On this First Sunday in Advent, as we contemplate what it means to be truly "at home," Cyril Paul, longtime musi-cian and friend of St. Joan of Arc, will inspire our sung prayer. Welcome and thank you as always.

Fr. Jim DeBruycker invites us into Advent. At 8:45 or 10:45 am, bring your children to the Parish Center, Upper Room, to make banners for Family Mass. Then join your children in the Church at the usual time for Family Mass. See you there! The Sunday Morning Registration and Information Office is located in the Parish Center. In the office you may register to become a SJA parishioner; get program information; sign up for a program; and register to volunteer. The office is open after both of our Sunday morning liturgies.

Sun, Nov. 30: Isa 63:16b-17,19b,64:2-7; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37 Mon, Dec. 1: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11 Tue, Dec. 2: Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24 Wed, Dec. 3: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23; Matthew 15:29-37 Thu, Dec. 4: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21,24-27 Fri, Dec. 5: Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31 Sat, Dec. 6: Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26; Matthew 9:35—10:1,5a,6-8 Sun, Dec. 7: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

Tuesday and Thursday morning 8 am Mass is celebrated in the Church

9 and 11 am Gym Masses:

Sunday, December 7: Fr. DeBruycker will preside & speak on At Home… when it all comes undone. The SJA Choir will continue our Advent theme with Stephen Paulus' The Road Home.

Sunday, December 14: Presider: Fr. Cassidy. Pre-Mass Speaker: Kate Tucker on At Home… with who we are.

Sunday, December 21: Presider: Fr. DeBruycker. Pre-Mass

Speaker: Carin Vagle on At Home… with our own YES!

FFI check the bulletin, the SJA website or call the Parish Center. The Upper Room is located in the Parish Center; Hospitality Hall is in the Church basement.

Tuesday, December 2

Mass, 8 am in the Church

Thursday, December 4

Mass, 8 am in the Church

Parish Council, 5:30 pm in the Upper Room

Choir at 7 pm in the Church

Friday, December 5

Christmas Musical Back to the Manger, 7:30 pm in the Gym

Saturday, December 6

Christmas Musical, Back to the Manger, 10:30 am in the Gym

Sunday, December 7

Confirmation 2015, 2 pm in the Gym

Special Service of Reconciliation, 4 pm in the Church

50+ Second Sunday Supper, 5 pm in Hospitality Hall

Kevin Amundson, Bud B., Dennis Barta, Jean Besch-Patsch, Betty Bonnert, Sara Brock, Don Burke, Dorothy Casserly, Dayna Cell, Nancy Cole, Megan Daoust, Kris & Larry Dease, Bob Dolan, Dale Dolata, Jerry Dudley, John & Margaret Frees, George Getten, Jim Gorman, Bryen Granlund,

Tom Griep, Tom H., Robert Hansen, Margaret Hanson, Betty Hinker, Jim and Pat Hinton, Ethan Hoeschen, Megan Hoffman, Mary Hoody, Jody Hughes, Dan Jay, Tom Jay, Paul Jonsson, Stacy Kenyon, Leslie Knoblauch, Kirk L, Amy Lainus, Melinda Larsen, John Lasota, Gary Lindstrom,

Liz Loney, Peter Lupori, Chantilly Lynch, Dennis Mackiewicz, Tom McCarver, Rose McGonagle, Katherine & Lauren McManus, Kayla McMullan, Jackie Mead, Shell Meehl, Kelley Meyer, Mike M., Sharon Miller, Ginny Miller, Dorothy Mongoven, Jason Monroe, Pamela Morgan, Morris Mundahl, Greg Murphy, Pat Murphy, Nick, David Novitske, Olivia, Doris Oakes, Sr. Dolores Oaks, Matt Olk, Stacey Olk,Bill P., Rick Pattison, Joan Penrose, John Pirola, Liz Pojar, Nikki Poynter, Tom Privette, Dan P., Herb Rorke, Sheila Rossebo, Pat Sable, Sam Slagerman, Emily Slotness, Philip Sosin, John Spalding, Julian Sprunck, Sandy Stroud, Irene Taddiken, Matthew Tenant, Mary Eve Thomas, Echo Thoren, Madison Travers, Carin Vagle,

Patricia Vorst, Ben Weston, Carol Whitlow,Jim and Jerry Wohnoutka, Jane Young, Ava and Annemarie Zubrzycki, Kathleen Ziegler

A Book of Prayer is located in our Gym vestibule. If you have a family member or friend who is ill, or who has recently died, please write their names in our Book of Prayer before Mass so we may include them in prayers during our Sunday Masses.

Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To renew your request, please call Nancy Becker at 612.823.8205 ext. 223.

SignUpGenius for Eucharistic Ministers is available on line. It's simple, user friendly and a reminder is sent 3 days before your scheduled volunteer day. FFI contact Marcia at mkurtz@stjoan.com. Gluten-free Communion is available upon request. Please see any of the Sunday sacristans in the Gym before Mass. For Family Mass please see Gabrielle.

SJA Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Schedule

Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Masses 4 pm: Fr. Cassidy: Especially for Families in the Gym 4 pm: Fr. DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Church 6 pm: Fr. Cassidy and the SJA choir in the Gym 10 pm: Fr. DeBruycker and the SJA musicians, Church

Thursday, December 25: Christmas Day Masses 7:45 am: Fr. DeBruycker (Quiet Mass, no music) Church 9 am: Fr. DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Gym 11 am: Fr. Cassidy and the SJA Choir in the Gym

Rest in Peace Tom Wolfe, parishioner, husband of parishioner Blanche Wolfe

and father of parishioner Teresa Luterbach, has passed on to eternal life.

Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

The Parish Center Offices will be closed Dec. 24, 25 and 26, Jan. 1 and 2.

Choir will rehearse with Dan Chouinard this Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 pm in the Church. Preparation for Advent and Christmas. Schola will rehearse after choir. A Special Service of Reconciliation will be offered for our

community on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 pm in our Church. This candle-lit, Advent Evensong with music from the SJA Schola, prayer and reflection prepared by the Prayer Partners and

Fr. Jim DeBruycker is a prayerful way to quiet ourselves in this sometimes hectic Christmas season. Singles 50+Sunday Supper: December 7 (1st Sunday) in Hospi-tality Hall. 5 pm, social hour, 6 pm, lasagna dinner, 7 pm, The Somewhat Dixieland Band, includes traditional Dixieland, songs from swing era and a bit of ragtime. Cost is $10. Come alone or bring a friend! FFI call Karen at 952.884.5165. Expectant Families Blessing: Expecting the arrival of a new fam-ily member through birth or adoption? A special blessing will be offered in your support on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 pm in the Church. Join us in this time of waiting. Ring In Christmas! SAGES invites SJA seniors to a gathering of prayer, food and song on Thursday, Dec. 11. Celebration begins with Mass in the Church at 11:30, followed by lunch in Hospitality Hall. Entertainment provided by our own JP Fitzgibbons and Dan Chouinard. Suggested $10 free will donation; no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Space is limited; reservations required. RSVP to the Parish Center by noon on Dec. 8. Merry and Bright, a Christmas Concert featuring Minnesota

Orchestra trumpeter Chuck Lazarus and his all-star big band with Tommy Barbarella will be held in the SJA Gym on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 7 pm. Bring the whole family! Tickets are on sale today

and at www.stjoan.com.

New to SJA? Meet a Mentor Family! Sign up with a mentor fami-ly! Your mentor family will join you for coffee and cookies after a Family Mass to share with you the ways their family found a home at SJA. FFI contact Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com.

Come One, Come All, to the Annual Christmas Musical. Back to the Manger will be performed Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10:30 am in the Gym. The talents of our young people are not to be missed! The pre-school choir will sing a prelude on Saturday.

Food Shelf Donations Are Needed: You are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with you when you come to Mass on Sunday and place them in our food shelf bins, located in the en-trances to our Church and Gym. Your food offerings are donated to Sabathani Community Center Food Shelf each week. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need. Mobile Loaves and Fishes needs toiletry size soap, toothpaste toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion, socks, hats and mittens for the winter. Please place your donations in the collection hamper next to the food shelf bin. FFI contact mlf.mpls@gmail.com or 612.615.4348. Parking: Be considerate of neighbors and their property. Don’t block driveways or park in their on-street handicapped areas.

Get Connected! To take advantage of new social media options, log on to Facebook and “Like” our page at Saint Joan of Arc Cath-olic Community. You can also follow us on Twitter at @sjampls.

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities:

Wreath of Love: If you selected a tag from the wreath last week please bring your wrapped gift to the Parish Center or Church sacristy by Sunday, Dec. 7.

Christmas With Dignity (recipient of a SJA Justice Fund grant) seeks volunteers for day of sale (Dec. 12) and/or sorting and pric-ing of gifts. This program makes it possible for low-income parents to purchase gifts at a reduced cost. FFI/to volunteer, contact Paula at 763.228.2493 or PaulaLarsen@outlook.com.

Native American Ministry Holiday Program: Receive a list of suggested gifts for a family from the Church of Blessed Gichitwaa Kateri then bring wrapped gifts to the Egan Room (south end of the Gym) before Masses on Dec. 7 or 14. FFI please call Mary Ellen at 763.535.7241 or Ruth and Gary at 612.922.1539.

Summary of contributions for the week and fiscal year. Includes plate, envelopes and estimated Sustaining Member payments.

Nov. 17 - Nov. 23: Actual $32,164 Budget $34,650 Prior Year Actual $35,871

YTD (July 1 - Nov. 16): Actual $671,274 Budget $678,145 Prior Year Actual $667,509

The Bottom Line: Contributions last week were $2,486 below budget. Year-to-date contributions were $6,871 or 1% below budget. As you do your year end planning, we ask that you thoughtfully consider an additional gift to the SJA community. Please contact the finance office if you have any questions. ~Steve Meyer, Finance Director

Wedding Policies at St. Joan of Arc: Weddings at St. Joan of Arc are provided as a service to members of the parish community. Because of the large number of weddings it is not possible to provide the services of a Presider or our facilities for people who are not registered parishioners. For a wedding to take

place at SJA, it is necessary that one of the engaged couple be a registered member of the parish for at least six months before a wedding date can be set. A date can only be scheduled by one of the priests after an initial interview with the engaged couple. A minimum of six months from the time the date is set to the wed-ding is necessary in order to complete requirements. In cases where there has been a previous marriage ending in divorce, it is not possible to set the wedding date until notice of an annulment is in hand. FFI call Mary Ann at the Parish Center. Recycle: Please use the labeled receptacles for compost, paper, glass, plastic, cans, waste and cups. By doing so we will be eco-logically responsible and a big help to our maintenance staff as well. Thank you.

FFI on Pastoral Ministries contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at 612.823.8205 ext 231 or via email: mkelly@stjoan.com.

Mental Health Ministry: Monday, Dec. 8 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 41st & Lyndale. Join us for our Joyful Holiday Celebra-tion; an evening of good food, good company and the sounds of the season. Light supper 5:45 pm; program 6:30 - 8:15 pm. All are welcome. (No CEU's for this event.) FFI contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center. Recommended Reading: Taking the Leap, Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears, by Pema Chödrön. Two copies are available in our Parish Resource Library. BeFriender Ministry: Want to learn more about how the SJA BeFriender Ministry can be of assistance? Contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center. SJA/TRUST Grief Support: Dec. 4 will be the Service of Re-

membrance at Our Lady of Peace Church, 5416 12th Ave. S., Mpls. 6:15 pm, registration & refreshments service at 6:30 pm. FFI contact Norine Larson at 952.925.2437 or Mary Ann at the Parish Center.

New for Advent: Take a quiet break from the hustle and bustle of the season, come and rest with God in our beautiful Church, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 10 and 17, 4 pm until 7 pm. The Church will be open for quiet prayer, no programs, no demands, just quiet. A staff member will be quietly praying there each evening. Join us! Enter Door #1 off the parking lot.

FFI on Peace & Justice programs contact Julie Madden at 612.823.8205 ext 228 or jmadden@stjoan.com.

A Christmas Greeting to Those Who Need It Most: Stop by the Parish Center after Mass today for just a few moments to sign a Christmas greeting that will be delivered to one of the 1700 undocumented women and children being held in Dilley, Texas and awaiting deportation this holiday season. As

we seek humane immigration reform, we keep families in deten-tion in our prayers, and invite you to take a moment to remember them. A former detainee wrote: "I was detained in immigration for 8 years, and for six years I did not receive a visit, letter or Christ-mas card. That changed when a group of people started visiting and sending me letters and cards. My days were better. I knew I had people who cared about me." Let Them Eat Cake: We Celebrate Your Prophetic Vote! Next Sunday, Dec.7, following both Masses, all who committed to being Prophetic Voters are invited to stop by the Arc (formerly Grace House, directly across 45th St. from the parking lot) for cake and thanks. Your commitment to voting your values in the midterm election made a difference in the future of Minnesota, and we are grateful. More than 1000 SJAers signed up to be Prophetic Voters, and 80 SJAers reached out to more than 500 neighbors, too. Please stop by (if you didn't sign up to be a Prophetic Voter, come anyway!) We look forward to seeing you.

Health Care Reform Presentation: If your place of work, small

Christian community, or other gathering would enjoy learning more about moving towards real health care reform, our SJA Universal Health Care group is eager to share its message! Please contact Carol at carol.krush@gmail.com or Ron at ron. jankow-

ski@Comcast.net to schedule a great, thought-provoking presen-tation. We thank this ministry for reaching out to the community! 30th Annual Minnesota Homeless Memorial March and Ser-vice: On Thursday, Dec. 18, a march and silent vigil and service of remembrance will honor those who died while homeless in our community this year. FFI please go to www.simpsonhousing.org. Iraqi Voices in Minnesota: This Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 pm at Macalester College Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, the Iraqi American Reconciliation Project (Justice Fund grant recipient and friend of SJA) invites you to screening of several short documentaries created and filmed by recent Iraqi immi-grants sharing their Minnesota experiences. These films will inform your mind and warm your heart!

Items Needed: The Harbor Lights shelter in downtown Minneap-olis needs new or used blankets, linens, towels and winter wear. Drop off items at 1010 No. Currie Ave. in Minneapolis (front door security staff can assist you) or call Liza at 612.767.3108 if you have questions. Thank you for your help!

We form the faith of our community through participation in prayer, liturgy, sacraments, education, community and works of justice.

Baptism: To have your child baptized at St. Joan’s you must be a registered member and participate in a 90-minute Baptism preparation class. FFI and to register call JP at the Parish Center.

: FFI contact Jennifer Gessner, at 612.823.8205 ext.

240, or jgessner@stjoan.com.

Our Nursery, located in the lower level of the Parish Center, is open for the 9 and 11 am Sunday Masses. The Nursery Cooperative is a wonderful community of families and volunteers that allows parents to enjoy Mass and meet other young families in the Parish. Drop-ins are welcome!

: (Ages 4-Kindergarten) FFI contact Therese

Pendleton at 612.823.8205 ext. 230 or tpendleton@stjoan.com.

: (Grades 1-6) FFI contact Marie Bissonnette

at 612.823.8205 ext. 229 or mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

First Reconciliation: Please submit your chosen date if you haven't already. Services will be Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 at 10 am in the Church. FFI contact Marie Bissonnette. Grades 1-6 Schedule Today: No Class, Happy Thanksgiving! Family Mass, 9:45 & 11:45 am, Fr. DeBruycker invites us into Advent. Dec. 7, 14: Regular Class and Family Mass Dec. 21: No Class, Special Family Mass: We begin at 9 & 11 am with an Advent play including SJA actors, musicians & Children’s Choir. Family Masses follow. Dec. 28 and Jan. 4: No Class or Family Mass Jan. 11: Classes and Family Masses resume Jesse Tree gifts need to be in by next Sunday, Dec. 7, in order

to be distributed by Christmas. Place unwrapped gifts, with ornament attached, under the tree inside the Church. Thank you for your continued generosity

and support. ¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you to all those who donated school supplies to Guatemalan families in need. Together we collected more than 2,400 items to help keep kids in school!

: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Donelle

Poling at 612.823.8205 ext. 241 or dpoling@stjoan.com.

Confirmation 2015: Registrations for Confirmation 2015 are due ASAP. Registration packets are available in the Parish Center. Our program year begins Dec. 7 with a retreat from 2 pm to 6 pm for candidates and sponsors. FFI contact Donelle Poling.

Youth Ministry Movie and Cookie Decorating! Come celebrate the Christmas season with your friends! Join us on Friday, Dec. 19, for a Christmas movie and cookie decorating at 6:30 pm in Hospitality Hall. $20 grades 7-12. Dinner included. Permission slip/Code of Conduct can be found online. Deadline for registration is Dec. 18. FFI contact Donelle at the Parish Center. Slopefest (grades 7-12): Join us for a weekend full of fun, faith,

friends, skiing and snowboarding. Friday, Feb. 13 - 16. $250 for skiers/snowboarders, + $10/day to rent skis, $20/day to rent snowboards. We will be hitting the slopes of Spirit Mountain in Duluth, staying at

YMCA Camp Miller. Pick up permission slip in Parish Center. FFI contact Donelle at dpoling@stjoan.com. Must register by Feb. 6.

: FFI contact Julie McConaha at

612.823.8205 ext 226 or jmcconaha@stjoan.com.

Introduction to Centering Prayer: SAGES workshops are for everyone! Explore meditative prayer based on the work of Fr. Thomas Keating with parishioner and facilitator Ray Spack. Join us for all four sessions or as many as you can. Saturdays, Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20, 9 – 10:30 am in the Parish Center Upper Room. Free-will offering; RSVP to the Parish Center. FFI contact jmcconaha@stjoan.com.

Opportunities for Advent Daily Study: Prepare for your personal journey towards Christmas with one of these offerings. Supplies are limited; when they’re gone, they’re gone. Wake Up to Joy! Family Devotions, Gym & Church The Marvels and Mysteries of Advent daily practice and pray-

ers, Gym & Church The Word Among Us Complete Mass and daily meditations,

Church Sacred Space 2015 Prayer Book $10, year-long daily scrip-

ture, Parish Center Carmen Pampa Advent Meditations - a special gift to us

from www.carmenpampafund.org, Gym & Church SJA Book Club: Everyone is welcome, anytime. 6:30 pm on Wednesdays in the Parish Center. FFI contact jmcconaha@stjoan.com:

Dec. 10: A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote Jan. 14: Ordinary People by Judith Guest Feb. 11: Until They Bring the Streetcars Back by Stanly Gordon West Mar. 11: The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorean #SJA<40 December Fun! Everyone in their 20’s and 30’s are most welcome! FFI at SJAUnderForty@stjoan.com. Dec. 7: Brunch at Turtle Bread Co after the 11 am Mass Dec. 19: Cookie Exchange & Game Night, 7 pm, Upper Room