The Advent wreath has many symbolic meanings. The circle of the wreath reminds us of the eternal circle of life and the evergreen of everlasting life. The four candles remind us of the light of Christ and four of his greatest virtues; hope, love, joy and peace. The four candles are named after those virtues and are lit in that sequence.

However....

Like many symbols of the church, the theology about them seems to have been created after the fact, such as attaching Christian meanings to times of seasons and old pagan holidays and gods. For instance, Christmas supplants Roman Saturnalia and Easter, our greatest feast day, is named after a Celtic Goddess of fertility...hence the rabbits and eggs.

At one time, Friday the 13th was a very lucky day. It was the queen goddess Freia’s day. Thirteen was her lucky number and her symbol was the black cat - you couldn’t get luckier than having a black cat walk across your path on Friday the 13th. But those pesky medieval monks had to get rid of the superstitions, so they created new ones by making the day one of evil and the cat a bad omen. Women and cats have never done well by monks.

It would seem that the advent wreath has a rather simple but mundane history and much shorter than imagined. This is if you trust Wikipedia, which I do, like everybody else, when it serves my purposes. The symbolism of the evergreen wreath and burning candles has been around almost forever. It took a hard-pressed Lutheran minister, director of a German orphanage in Hamburg early in the nineteenth century to put it all together.

Orphanages never were the happiest of places but Christmas, even for orphans, was a great day. They got sweets and extra food plus other treats. So, imagine a hundred children asking you every hour of every day, “Is it here yet?”

So our good pastor had a brilliant idea. He took a broken down wagon wheel (they used to be everywhere, not just on suburban driveways) and wrapped some evergreen boughs around it to give it a Christmas look. He then added four large candles, one for each Sunday in Advent with six red smaller candles between them for the weekdays. He now had a physical visible clock the children could use to count down to Christmas.

He should have copyrighted it. It took off like the Christmas tree. Of course being human and ‘meaning searchers’ (nothing wrong with that) we sought inner meanings for all this and a plethora of theologians with nothing much to do, provided explanations.

Of course, trying to make a few orphans happy doesn’t exactly call for an apology. It has a very rich theological tradition of its own.

Presider: Fr. James Cassidy Throw off the darkness, put on the light! With these words and those of Karen Hering and Vic Klimoski we begin our four weeks of Advent in preparation for the coming of the "Light at Christmas!" Sofia...Tim Frantzich, Carin Vagle and Dean Magraw, move us toward the light with the words of Jesus, in His original Aramaic, translated by Neil Douglas-Klotz. We invite you to join our SJA Schola in our sung prayer. “Light the candles! Open your heart! Clear your throats! In beauty we begin!” info: ww.sofiasings.net

No Family Masses this week. Join us next Sunday in the church at 9:45 or 11:45 am to begin our Advent celebra-tions!

Sun, Nov. 27: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44 Mon, Nov. 28: Isaiah 4:2-6; Matthew 8:5-11 Tue, Nov. 29: Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24 Wed, Nov. 30: Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22 Thu, Dec. 1: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew 7:21,24-27 Fri, Dec. 2: Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew 9:27-31 Sat, Dec. 3: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23; Matt 9:35-10:1,5a,6-8 Sun, Dec. 4: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

FFI check the bulletin, the SJA website or call the Parish Center. The Upper Room is located in the Parish Center; Hospitality Hall, in the Church basement; the Arc, across 45th Street, 4457 3rd Av.

Sunday, November 27

Sister Parish Card and Craft Sale after masses

Monday, November 28

Every Church a Peace Church at 6:30 pm in Hospitality Hall

Tuesday, November 29

8 am Mass in the Church

Thursday, December 1

8 am Mass in the Church

Parish Council at 5:30 pm in the Gym

Friday, December 2

Christmas Musical at 7 pm in the Gym

Saturday, December 3

Christmas Musial at 10 am in the Gym

Sunday, December 4

Concert Series, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus: Happy Holidays at 7 pm in the Gym

Amy, Anne, Randy Adamsick, Zach Arlein, Ben, Ray B., Sally Backstrom, Louisa Bailey, Dennis Barta, Monica & Rick Becht, Dick Berggren, Maureen Black, Elaine Boehm, Pam Burd, Cali, Carroll, George C., Dayna Cell, Dolores Cufaude, Betty Culver, Barb D., Roger D.,

Megan & Nicholas Daoust, Colleen Dooley, Bob Duffy, Anne Duvalley, Jerry Eveslage, John & Margaret Frees, Greta, Peter & Kathleen Giefer, Jacqui Gardner, Ralph Gotto, Teresa Graham, Ben Green & family, Tom Griep, Tom H., Angie Hancock, Brent Harapat, Jamel Harris, Mary Havstad,

Bernhard Hering, Katie Hines, Brad Hinker, Jim Hinton, Ethan Hoeschen, Megan Hoffman, Mary Hoody, Emily Horner, Jan Horner, Kathy Horner, Kirk Ingram, Dorothy Irvin, Judy, Cecilia Jaisle, Dan & Tom Jay, Marjorie Johnson, Scott Johnson, Tony Johnson, Paul Jonsson, Kevin, Jean Karol,

Maria Karpinski, Glen Kelley, Erika Kraus, Gary Kremer, Fred Kroog, Paul L., Amy Lainus, Ivy Lang, Melva Larson, Rachel Larson, Dick Leahy, Gary Lindstrom, Don Luger, Pat Lyon, Malia, Margaret, Kyle M., Thomas Madryga, Katherine Malaga, Anthony Marino, Harvey May, Anne McCraken,

Mary Jo McMahon, Katherine & Lauren McManus, Bill McReavy, Chuck Meiers, Mike, Jerre Miller, Rita Miller, Nate, Craig Norby, Millie Nortley, Tom O’Brien, Rana Olk, Ken Olsen, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera, Pam, Judy P., Joan Penrose, Bill Peterka, Tammy Petersen, Dick Pirola, Ted Pouliot,

C. Popp, Doris Rausch, Bob Reiter, Barbara Risdall, Lynn & Natalie Roloff, Donald Roufs, Helen Russett, Sara & Brandon, Steve, Kate S., Conrad Sampair, Kay Samuelson, Kay Sanders, Lorna Schulz, Larry Seekamp, Dana Sell, Mac Shapland, Aileen Sheppard, Sam Slagerman,

Joan Spelts, Jeff Stearns, Sandy Strousd, Ted, Teddy, Tim, Trisha, Tom, Irene Taddiken, Marge Tax, Jane Tax, Matthew Tennant, Mary Eve Thomas, Echo Thoren, Tolle Family, John Trueman, Carin Vagle, Leroy Vague, Dick Voss, Clint Ward, Marlys Weber, Bennett Wentworth, Darlene Wheeler,

Ian Wiek, Will & family, Kay Winters, Phil Wixsten, Darlene Wojcik, Maureen Wolf, Patricia Wood, Ann Woolsey, Tara Zozel

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

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.

Sunday 9 and 11 am Gym Masses:

November 27: Presider: Fr. Cassidy. 1st Sunday of Advent. We will be joined by special guests Carin Vagle, Tim Frantzich and Dean McGraw, who have come together as The Sofia Project, a musical reflection on the Beatitudes. They will center us as we begin our Advent journey.

December 4: Fr. DeBruycker will preside and speak.

December 11: Fr. Cassidy will preside and speak. Solos by SJA musicians Steve Kremer and Terrie Coats.

Sunday, December 18: Presider: Fr. Jim DeBruycker. Pre-mass Speaker: Rev. Ruth Mackenzie, Minister of Worship Arts at 1st Universalist Church of Minneapolis, actor and singer, will share her Advent thoughts in word and music.

SignUpGenius for Eucharistic Ministers is available online. It is 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.

Choir rehearses on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 pm in the church. Preparation for Christmas.

An Expectant Family Blessing will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 7 for all those awaiting the arrival of a new family member through childbirth or adoption. Come and receive the blessing and support of our community in this time of heightened expecta-tion!

Advent Reconciliation will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4 pm

in our church. Join our Pastors, Prayer Partners and the SJA Schola for this beautiful service of forgiveness in the style of Evensong as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

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.

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

Week of November 20, 2016 Actual $42,800 Budget $45,863 Prior Year Actual $33,140

YTD (July 1 – November 20) Actual $709,367 Budget $796,836 Prior Year Actual $637,539

Thank You!

2016-2017 SJA Concert Series! Sunday, December 4: Don't miss the Twin Cities Gay Men's

Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Ben Riggs, in concert right here in the SJA gym next Sunday! This very spe-cial Christmas concert will cheer the whole family! The

doors will open at 6:45 pm and the music begins at 7 pm. Get your tickets after mass or at www.stjoan.com. Sunday, January 15: MLK Holiday Concert 2017: When I Think of Home. Music and stories about the African American experience with Yolanda Bruce, TMychael Rambo, Robert Robinson, Bruce Henry, the combined choruses of St. Joan of Arc and Mayflower Church all hosted by Dan Chouinard. Special $10 student price! Sunday, April 30: Collective Unconscious: Deja Vu. With preci-sion and soul, CU plays Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's 1970 album front to back right in front of our eyes. Come and experience this album in an exciting new way!! All concerts at 7 pm and all tickets $20. Early Bird Special: all three concerts for $50. Tickets are on sale after Sunday services or at www.stjoan.com. Risen Christ School News: Risen Christ, the only dual immersion Catholic school in MN (also a recipient of Justice Grants) is hosting a K-3 info session on Wednesday, Nov. 30 in the Risen Christ school library, 6 - 7 pm. FFI, go to www.risenchristschool.org.

Parking: Be considerate of our neighbors and their property. Please don’t block driveways or park in their on-street handicapped areas. Thank you!

Consider Carpooling or Riding the City Bus to Church: Go to metrotransit.org for more information. Thank you Wills: Every adult should have a will, whatever the size of your estate. In addition to being a legal document, a will is an ethical document that conveys your values and priorities as well as leaving a legacy for organizations and causes important to you. We hope that when you write or review your will you might consider including St. Joan of Arc. If you have included SJA as a beneficiary, please let us know so we can thank you. Our legal title is Church of Saint Joan of Arc, Minneapolis.

Holiday Giving Opportunities:

Native American Ministry: If you, your family or work group would like to receive a list of gifts to purchase for a family from the Church of Gichitwaa Kateri, please contact Mary Ellen at 763.535.7241 or Ruth and Gary at 612.922.1539. Wrapped gifts will be collected in the Egan Room (area at the south side of the gym) before masses on Dec. 4 and 11.

Aliveness Project: This neighborhood service provider for people living with HIV/AIDS (and a partner through our SJA Justice Grants) seeks donors for their Holiday Basket program - a great way to serve our neighbors! Call 612.824.5433 or go to aliveness.org.

Hospitality House: Another partner through our SJA Justice Grants, Hospitality House seeks volunteers for the Christmas with Dignity program, in which low-income parents purchase gifts for their children at greatly

reduced prices. It is a favorite with many SJAers and volunteers are needed with preparation, sorting and help on the day of sale on Friday, Dec. 16. FFI/to volunteer contact Paula Larsen at info@changeisachoice.com or

763.228.2493. Jesse Tree gift collection for Cabrini Partnership, People Serving People, and the Mpls. American Indian Center Golden Eagles has begun with gift request ornaments on trees in the Church and Gym vestibules. Thank you for your generosity! Wreath of Love: If you took a card off of the Wreath of

Love, please return your wrapped gifts to the Parish Center by December 11.

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

Mental Health Ministry: Join us in Hospitality Hall on Monday, December 12 for our annual Joyful Holiday Celebration, a relaxing evening of good food, easy conversation, and the sounds of the season. Light supper 5:45, evening program 6:30 - 8 pm. Family and friends are welcome. Free will offering accepted.

FFI contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center.

Did You Know? The Our Hopes Campaign is holding their Kickoff Event to educate and advocate for ways of eliminating stigma about mental illness on Thursday, Dec. 1, 6:15 - 8:15 pm, at St. Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 3450 Irving Av. S. Sponsored by Vail Place and Hennepin Co. Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council. FFI search OurHopesCampaignKickoff. The BeFriender Ministry offers confidential listening and support in times of life challenges or transitions. FFI contact Carolyn at 651.485.2868 or Mary Ann at the Parish Center.

The Parish Visitor Ministry is available to parishioners who cannot join us for worship or would like an additional long or short term parish connection in the home, hospital, rehab or care center. FFI contact Mary Ann at the Parish Center. Anyone interested in serving in the BeFriender or Parish Visitor ministry may contact Mary Ann at the Parish Center.

Trust, Inc. Grief Support: Please join us Thursday, Dec. 1 at Our Lade of Peace Church, 5426 -12th Ave. S. for our prayerful Service of Remembrance. This last session of our Fall series is a time set aside to honor our deceased loved ones. All family and friends are welcome and invited (not re-quired) to bring a picture or other memento of your loved one. Gathering, 6:15 pm; Service, 6:30 pm, followed by refreshments and social time. FFI contact Norine Larson, 952.925.2437.

Sister Parish Card and Craft Sale Today! Plan to do your holi-day shopping after mass for exquisite craft items handmade by members of our Sister Parish. Sales support community projects in Guatemala as well as the cost of bringing our next

delegation from TNII to us in August of 2017. Checks and cash accepted. Thank you for your support of this ministry and our 22 year relationship of deep friendship and faith together. SJA EcoSpirits Ministry Welcomes You: Tomorrow, Nov. 27 at 7 pm, you are welcome to the monthly EcoSpirits meeting. We will reflect on our mission in light of the recent election and catch up on the water protectors gathered at Standing Rock and other campaigns currently underway. Our Thanks and Blessings to SJAers Witnessing for Justice: Mindy Ahler, parishioner, coordinator for the Citizens' Climate

Lobby, and co-director of Cool Planet, just completed an in-credible journey - a cross-country bike tour to engage and inspire "ordinary" people to take action on climate solutions. We will be hearing more from Mindy in the days ahead, and we thank her for her efforts to save our planet.

Rose Grengs, parishioner and co-chair of our Welcome the Stranger Ministry, will join a delegation to the U.S./Mexico border at Nogales this week. Rose is tireless in her work for immigrants and for an immigration system that truly honors human dignity, and we are blessed by her presence.

SJA Housing Ministry Volunteer Date: Next Saturday, Dec. 3 is our next volunteer date with Urban Homeworks, in which a team of SJA volunteers help to rehab a home or apartment that will become beautiful and affordable housing for a low-income family. We have 2 openings on our team! FFI/to volunteer, contact Julie Madden by Tuesday, Nov. 29. No experience necessary.

Home for the Holidays: Hard Conversations on Racial Justice. On Dec. 5, join our Becoming an Anti-Racist Church core team for a conversation in Hospitality Hall at 6:30 pm. We will discuss the conversations we have every day - encounters with strangers or with our loved ones - on hard topics. How we talk to one another is the beginning of lasting change!

No More Moments of Silence: On Wednesday, Dec. 14, Protect MN (a recipient of SJA Justice Grants) invites you to an interfaith candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook. This will be hosted by Mount Zion Temple at 1300 Summit Ave. in St. Paul. The upcoming legislative session will likely in-clude gun-related proposals that will demand our attention - let us resolve to help end gun violence together.

Homeless Memorial March and Service: On Thursday, Dec. 15, we will remember those who have died while experiencing home-lessness in Minnesota this past year. There is a 5 pm march and silent vigil from the Hennepin County Government Center at 5 pm to Simpson United Methodist Church, where there will be a service of remembrance and a community meal. FFI on shuttles, go to www.simpsonhousing.org (recipient of SJA Justice Grant funding).

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

The MLF Truck Is Here! The Mobile Loaves & Fishes Truck is on site today. Stop by and learn more about our mobile food outreach ministry. This is a collaboration of members of SJA and Knox Presbyterian Church and has served hundreds of thousands of meals

to people in need in our community. A note from MLF: Many changes are underway as we separate from the MLF parent or-ganization. Most importantly, thanks to many of you, our truck is paid for! We are now hoping to upgrade the truck to make it safer and more secure and accessible. Learn more about us today!

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

Christmas Musical: Dude, You Hear What I Hear? Everyone is invited to attend and see our shining stars in this fun-filled show to celebrate the season. Performances are on Friday Dec. 2 at 7 pm and Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 am.

Children’s Choir Concert: On Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2 pm, join the SJA Children’s choir for our first off-site Christmas concert at the Walker Methodist chapel, 3737 Bryant Ave S, Mpls. The children will perform songs from their repertoire, carols and sing-alongs. Come share in the fun!

Shoes for the Homeless: Calvary Church in Minneapolis has a foot ministry, in which volunteers wash and groom the feet of homeless guests and give them a fresh pair of shoes. We are accepting donations of gently used shoes for this ministry. Only sturdy shoes and winter boots in good condition please. Questions? Contact Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com.

New to SJA? Meet a Mentor Family! Do you love SJA but find it hard to connect with other parish families? Would you like to be part of the many exciting SJA ministries, but don’t know how to get started? Sign up with a mentor family! 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.

: FFI contact Michelle Dehn, Nursery Director at

mdehn@stjoan.com or 612.823.8205 ext. 240.

Our Nursery, located in the lower level of the Parish Center, is open for the 9 & 11 am Sunday Masses. The Nursery is a wonderful community of families and volunteers that allows parents to enjoy Mass and meet other families in the Parish. Drop-ins 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: First Reconciliation preparation is under-way. Anyone not registered should contact Marie ASAP.

Schedule: No classes Nov. 27, Regular class Dec. 4, 11 and 18. No Classes Dec. 25, or Jan. 1.

: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Donelle

Poling at 612.823.8205 ext. 241 or dpoling@stjoan.com or Kelley Deshler at kdeshler@stjoan.com.

: FFI contact Cynthia Bailey Manns at

612.823.8205 ext. 226 or cmanns@stjoan.com.

Parish Book Club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of a month at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center to discuss our experiences with great stories. Everyone is welcome anytime! Here’s what to read next: December 14: A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor January 11: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

SAGES Annual Christmas Luncheon for Seniors: Join us on Tuesday, Dec. 6 for Mass in the church at 11:30 am followed by lunch, entertainment and prizes in Hospitality Hall. Reservations are required as seating is limited. RSVP to the Parish Center by noon on Monday, Dec. 5.

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 entrances to our Church and Parish Center. Your food offerings are donated to the Foodshelf at Sabathani Community Center each week. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need.

SJA Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Schedule

Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve Masses

4 pm: Fr. James Cassidy: Especially for families in the Gym

4 pm: Fr. Jim DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Church

6 pm: Fr. James Cassidy and the SJA Choir in the Gym 10 pm: Fr. Jim DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Gym

Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day Masses

7:45 am: Fr. Jim DeBruycker (quiet mass, no music) in the Church

9 am: Fr. Jim DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Gym

11 am: Fr. James Cassidy and the SJA Choir in the Gym

The Nursery will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Family Mass/Faith Formation: No Family Mass or Faith Formation classes Sundays, Nov. 27, Dec. 25, Jan. 1, Jan. 15 and Feb. 19.

The Parish Center Offices will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, Monday, Dec. 26, Saturday, Dec. 31 and Monday, Jan. 2.

Click Here for more information on our supporters