SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 8, 2019

PARISH ADVENT PROGRAM

WRAP YOUR GIFTS IN PRAYER

Unwrap the gift of God in Prayer. In the midst of Advent and Christmas busyness, we offer you a way to pray and to discover our God who is with us. Each season the preparation for gift giving can be a source of stress. This year can be different. Our Christmas practice of gift giving is intended to be a visible symbol of love and Christian service in action. Why not use our gift giving as a form of prayer? Wrapping your gift in prayer can add a spiritual dimension to an ordinary task.

Wrap Your Gift in Prayer As you choose your gift, ask for God’s guidance and bring a prayerful awareness to the exchange. When you actually wrap your gift, whether in wrapping paper or in a gift bag, pray for the recipient. Ask God to fill them with light, love and the peace of Christmas. Cards and electronic greetings may also be wrapped in prayer.

Prayer Method Choices

Imagine - visualize the person for whom you pray. Picture the Lord blessing them.

Speak - pray out loud, “Lord surround (name) with your light; fill him/her with your peace.”

Sing - a Christmas carol.

Gesture - dedicate the use of your hand motions in wrapping as your prayer.

Hear - simply repeat the person’s name knowing that the Lord hears our every word.

Recite - a pre-written prayer, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Rosary . . .

Act - reach out to someone in need of the gift of your care.

For difficult relationships pray: Lord bless (name) and transform me to set me free.

Sharing your Prayer with a Gift Tag After wrapping your gift in prayer attach a gift tag that will be provided for you.

Witnessing to your prayer by means of a Gift Tag is like giving an additional gift because it may lead the receiver to become more aware of God’s presence in her or his own life. This weekend Gift Prayer Tags will be available at the doors of the church. Attach the Gift Prayer Tag to a gift, group of gifts or gift bag. You may also wish to duplicate the gift tag sheets on your own computer by visiting our website www.stphilip.org.

Advent Hymn Emmanuel is a Hebrew word that means: God is With Us. Our Advent practice of wrapping our gifts in prayer may lead us into a deeper experience of how very near the Lord is to us in every moment. A new verse has been composed for the Hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and will be sung as part of the processional at the Eucharist during the Advent season.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Deep within, as gift, your Spirit dwells. With Advent’s dawning light, draw us near. Teach us to love as peacemakers here. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel May This Our Gift Of Prayer, Your Glory Tell.

You are invited to use these words and familiar tune as part of your prayer and reflection. Reflection Questions and Prayerful Activity Carefully read each line of the Hymn Text. 1. How do these words apply to your life? 2. How is God with you in this Advent moment? 3. What can you do to become a peacemaker, at home, at work, in the world?

POLISH OPLATKI

The tradition of the Oplatki originated in Poland. This Christmas custom began with a simple white wafer, baked from flour and water. The wafers are designed to display Christmas images, such as the Nativity. The Oplatki are enjoyed by families, typically right before the Christmas Eve meal. The eldest member of the family will begin the ritual by breaking off a piece of the wafer and passing it to another family member with a blessing. Packages of Polish Oplatki will be available in the vestibule of the Church this weekend.

GIVING TREE

Pope Francis challenges us to answer God’s call for us to be protectors “showing loving concern for each and every person, especially children, the elderly, those in need, who are often the last we think about.” The holidays give us the perfect opportunity to answer the call to help people in our very own community in

need of help. After Mass today, please make a stop at our Giving Tree in the vestibule. Participating is simple!

Pick a tag from the tree.

Purchase the specified gift.

Wrap the gift in prayer.

Pray for the recipient of the gift.

Attach the same gift tag to the wrapped gift.

Place your wrapped gift with the specified gift tag back under the tree.

Please return all gifts by the 12:00PM Mass on December 15.

ST. PHILIP THE APOSTLE PREPARATORY

The Student Council ran a successful Tag Day fund-raiser to raise money for Mercy House. The classroom that raised the most was 5A. We will be able to purchase all different types of goods including diapers and gift cards. The Christmas Show was a wonderful success and we thank all who attended. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Healthy & Happy New Year!

CALENDAR RAFFLE The Home and School Association (HSA) will be selling the calendar raffles after all the masses next weekend, Dec 14th and 15th. Tickets are $10 each for 90 chances to win!

WREATH SALE Boy Scout Troop 21 is having their Annual Wreath Sale after all masses on Saturday, December 7th & Sunday, December 8th. They will be selling fresh wreaths as well as grave blankets and grave pillows. Please support Boy Scout Troop 21!

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Ministry Recognition Award

Congratulations To our Youth Minister

Brian Caldwell Director

Family Life Office, Archdiocese of Newark Our Youth minister recently received the highest Award for his good work. THE SAINT JOHN PAUL II AWARD is the highest award that the Archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry bestows on the laity. It is presented to individuals who are actively involved in their parish youth ministry programs and are active on the Archdiocesan level. Recipients of this award model the characteristics of our late Holy Father that endeared him to so many - gentleness, compassion and humility.

Our youth group is thriving under his guidance. Over 30 youths gathered to make sandwiches for the needy in our newly opened Youth Room in the Jubilee Wing. Please keep Brian and our youth in your prayer.

INVITATION TO HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH Youth Ministry Bowling Night

(St. Philip’s Bowling Alley) Friday, December 13

7 to 9 PM Gather in the School Lobby

Refreshments ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUTH GROUP DATES Sunday, December 15th, January 26th at 11 am in the Youth Room

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Schedule: Sunday, December 8 Grades 9 & 10 (Christmas Pageant) Sunday, December 15 Grades 1 – 8

MINISTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

LEGION OF MARY

Weekly meetings at 9:45 am on Mondays in the Molloy Center. For information call Veni Evangelista at 973-393-5120 BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study meetings on Monday at 11 am in the Molloy Center Youth Room. We are studying St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians. It explains God's saving power of Jesus in our lives and the peace and love which our faith brings us. SPOUSAL BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT & MINISTRY

Next meeting Tuesday, December 10th at 7:00 pm in the Russo Room. Please contact Erica Kunzig at 201-452-7972. WIDOW/WIDOWERS

Monday, December 16th at 6:00 pm in Cerullo Hall in the Molloy Center. Come for prayer, socialization and meeting new friends. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Upcoming December meetings will be held in Marian Hall: December 18 will be the Members Christmas party. All meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month and begin at 8 pm.

Advent Prayer Opportunities Christmas Pageant December 8 9 am

Lessons and Carols December 8 3 pm

Meditation Hour December 12 7 pm

Christmas Concert December 15 3 pm

Sunday, December 8 Following the 8 am mass all are invited to join us for our annual Christmas Pageant in our school auditorium. The Christmas Story will come to life as it

will be performed by our First Year Confirmation students. Join us to celebrate and sing. Light refreshments will follow.

ANNUAL SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS

Please join us Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 3:00 pm for a Service of Lessons and Carols. Hear readings and beautiful music provided by our Adult and Youth Choirs and Handbells. Come meditate on the spirit of Christmas with us!

MEDITATION HOUR

Thursday, December 12th at 7:00 PM in Church Please join us for prayer, guided meditation and reflection.

ADVENT - The Joy of New Beginnings

St. Philip the Apostle Parish presents

2019 Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 pm Featuring internationally acclaimed solo artist

Anthony Nunziata Anthony will be singing Christmas classics along with some

old standards and music from Broadway. Tickets: $20.00/adults $18.00/seniors $10.00/children

A light reception will follow in the auditorium.

Please join us for some holiday fun! Tickets & information visit stphilip.org or 973-779-6200

TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER ALL MASSES DECEMBER 7 & 8

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PRAY FOR THE NEWLY MARRIED:

Kyle Michael Fitzpatrick & Megan Amanda Lill

THE SICK: Maya Hilario

DECEASED: Frederick VanDuyne, William J. Grunstra,

Norman Charles Pfister

PARISH GIVING Sunday Collection: December 2, 2018 $21,919.00 Sunday Collection: December 1, 2019 Envelopes $12,724.00 Cash $ 1,387.00 Online giving donation $ 5,209.00 TOTAL $19,320.00

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT IS 11:1-10; ROM 15:4-9; MT 3:1-12

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 8:00 All the People of the Parish 10:00 Mary Wilson Deceased members of the Kerner Family Deceased members of the Azario Family Monique Tommaro 12:00 Robert Quinn Fred Siewic

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 7:00 Henry McNamara 9:00 F. Paul Marschalk Jerry Jaucian – 6th Anniversary

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 7:00 Russ Corona 9:00 Ted Stefaniszyn Gauditta Nastasi

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 7:00 Kathy Guiney 9:00 Catherine L. McClane

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019 7:00 Clay McLnnis 9:00 Monique Tommaro

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 7:00 Joyce Cawis 9:00 Fred Anthony

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 9:00 Carmine & Elena Monzo 5:30 Henry F. Marrocco, Jr. Elena Parillo Bridi – 17th Anniversary Luis Baez

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 8:00 Vincent Salvemini Hugh & Eleanor DeGhetto 10:00 Danilo V. Caparaz Vincent Salvemini Gertrude Kovach Monique Tommaro 12:00 All the People of the Parish The Sanctuary Candle: In Memory of Russ Corona From Angelo & Lois Masino

PRIESTS’ SCHEDULE: DECEMBER 14 & 15, 2019

5:30 PM Fr. Kevin 8:00 AM Fr. Matt 10:00 AM Fr. Joe 12:00 N Fr. Matt

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE

CHRISTMAS EVE: 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM AND 10:00 PM (PRECEDED BY CAROLS AT 9:30 PM)

CHRISTMAS DAY: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM AND 12:00 NOON