ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO

December 3, 2017First Sunday of Advent

“Let the man truly possessed by the love of Christ keep his commandments.

Who can express the binding power of divine love? Who can find words for the splendor of its beauty?

Beyond all description are the heights to which it lifts us. Love unites us to God.”

~ St. Clement I

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 9:00 a.m. Weekday Mass (Volume I pg. 3) James England By Michael & Lisa McKeivier

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 7:00 p.m. Weekday Mass (pg. 7) Patricia Ritchie (Anniversary) By Mary Kay Wood

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 9:00 a.m. Weekday Mass (pg. 11) Kyle M. Garrison By The Brian Corcoran Family

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 NOMASSFatherTed’sDayOff 4:30 p.m. Junior Choir 6:00 p.m. Chime Choir (H) 7:00 p.m. Adult Choir

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 – IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 9:00 a.m. Holy Day Mass (pg. 22) Sr. Ruth Schirtzinger By Mary Kay Wood

7:00 p.m. Holy Day Mass (pg. 22) Intentions of Diann Hafner By Mark & Patty Fouch

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass (pg. 24) The People of St. Joseph Parish

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass (pg. 24) William Lauper By Patricia McGinnis

11:15 a.m. Sunday Mass (pg. 24) The Unborn By Lisa McKeivier

CONDOLENCES to the family and friends of Sonja Schultz, who died on November 21, 2017. Please remember Sonja in your prayers, along with her family and all who love her.

OUR PRAYERS FOR OTHERS: Hold in your prayers Elisabeth Davis, Mary Ann Hall, Jim Leach, Pat & Bill Whittington, Larry Dietrich, and all those who are on our prayer chain. If you have permission and wish to put a friend or loved one on the email prayer chain, or are interested in praying as part of our prayer chain, please contact Jackie Rose at diggersdaughter@yahoo.com or (614) 595-7633. If you would also like to have a name listed in our church bulletin for prayers, please notify us at office@saintjosephcircleville.com or call 477-2549, ext. 300.

This Wednesday, we will meet in the Church Hall and explore the Sacrament of Baptism.

IS ADVENT THE SAME AS CHRISTMAS? Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that Advent is part of the Christmas celebration. In fact, Advent is a separate time of preparation, all its own. For the Catholic Church, Christmas doesn’t begin until the first Mass is celebrated on Christmas Eve and it continues until the Epiphany on January 6th. Advent is given to us as a time to prepare our souls for the coming of the Lord. It recalls Israel’s yearning and anticipation for the coming Messiah. This season is similar to Lent, which helps us to prepare for Easter. In modern times, we are tempted to skip over the penitential aspects of Advent and focus on the joy of Christmas. Focusing only on the joy of the Nativity denies the full truth of the Incarnation: the Christ Child is our Lord and Savior Who will suffer and die for our salvation.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2018 CATHOLIC MAN OF THE YEAR The Catholic Men’s Luncheon Club is accepting nominations for the Diocese of Columbus 2018 Catholic Man of the Year. This annual award – to be presented by Bishop Frederick Campbell on Friday, February 2, 2018, at the Men’s Luncheon – recognizes one lay man who, through his daily actions, words, and prayers, exemplifies the “good and faithful servant.” The recipient will have the opportunity to share his personal testimony during the ceremony. Nominations will be accepted through December 29th. For details, nomination instructions and the required nomination form, go to https://www.catholicmensministry.com/cmoy. Email the completed nomination form and up to five supporting testimonials to catholicmanoftheyear@gmail.com. Submit a nomination and let us know why your husband, father, son, uncle, brother or friend is the Catholic Man of the Year!

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 3, 2017

RESTORATION CORNER:

CHRISTMAS DINNER: St. Joseph will be hosting residents and visitors to Pickaway County who have special needs, senior citizens, unemployed, and those who are alone to join us for Christmas Dinner. There is no cost for this traditional meal that will be served from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. We need your help. There will be two shifts or if you have few hours in your holiday to lend a hand it would be appreciated. The shifts will be from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Please call Lisa McKeivier at 614-395-6146 to sign up.

YOUR SPOUSE WILL THANK YOU! Give thanks and plan now to attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend. The next weekend is February 16-18, 2018 in Central Ohio. Marriage Encounter is where married couples can get away from jobs, kids, chores, and phones and focus only on each other. For more information or to apply, contact Paul and Marilou Clouse at 614-834-6880, or visit our website at www.wwmecolumbus.org.

OFFERING:November 19:

$5,610.77

ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK:

1200 N. Court St. Ph. (740) 420-3784Circleville, OH 43113 www.apothecary-rx.com

Liturgical Ministers: December 8th, 9th and 10th

If you are unable to fulfill your responsibility, please be sure to find a replacement.

Servers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers – Please check your name off the list at the back of

the church when you arrive each week.Friday, December 8th, 9:00 a.m., Immaculate ConceptionServer: Michael MatthiassEucharistic Ministers: Mary Lundberg*, John Raterman, Wayne Fontaine, Joan Fontaine, Anne StrawserLectors: MaryAnn Raterman (1), Ron Kazmierczak (2)Ushers: Mary Kay Wood, Russell Kamler, Vanessa Butterbaugh, Dexter HillGreeters: Alice & Don DennisFriday, December 8th, 7:00 p.m., Immaculate ConceptionServers: Andy Vance, Carson Forquer, Eucharistic Ministers: Steve Ford*, Amanda Forquer, Matt Forquer, Beth Ford, Michelle EstelLectors: Amy Vance (1), Brian Neff (2)Ushers: Chuck Estel, Krista Valentine, Merle Valentine, John StolarzGreeters: Andy & Amy Vance, Amanda & Matt ForquerSaturday, December 9th, 5:00 p.m.Servers: Simon Cameron, Dylan CameronEucharistic Ministers: Michelle Estel*, Darwin Whitehead, John Raterman, Shirley Lake, Sr. Monica JustingerLectors: Peg Burton (1), Grace Elliott (2)Ushers: David M. Crawford, Charles Estel, Phil VogelGreeters: Sr. Monica Justinger, Teri MoganSunday, December 10th, 8:00 a.m. Servers: Emma Butterbaugh, Audrey MeyerEucharistic Ministers: Steve Ford*, Amy Goode, Betsy Hupp, Gretchen Kleman, Mary Kay WoodLectors: Judy Dossman (1), Amy Rhymer (2) Ushers: Vanessa Butterbaugh, Ron Butterbaugh, Merle Valentine, Krista Valentine, Kevin CollisGreeters: Darren & Susan Metzger, Steve & Beth FordSunday, December 10th, 11:15 a.m.Servers: Zach Martin, Christian CoulibalyEucharistic Ministers: Michael Logan*, Matt Forquer, Daniel Huggett, Rachel Martin, Stephanie MorrisLectors: Kathryn Blake (1), Joe Blake (2) Ushers: David Corbett, John Stolarz, Michael D. Williams, Eric TheisGreeters: John & Marcele Bowen, Amanda & Matt Forquer

Vanessa Butterbaugh,

PSR Coordinator/

Youth Minister

vbutterbaugh@saintjosephcir

cleville.com

Dates To Remember:

First Reconciliation—

Dec. 10 @ 4 p.m.

Advent boxes due Dec.

24.

YM Christmas Social—

Dec. 17.

Parish School of Religion & Youth Ministry December 3, 2017

First Reconciliation Preparations

First Reconciliation will be Sunday, December 10 at 4 p.m.

Parents: LOVE BAGS due to Vanessa by December 8th along with

head count for the reception.

PRAYER CORNER

1st Sunday of Advent

Let us pray:

Lord God, only you can see into

my heart and know that under

all the busyness of my life,

there is a deep longing

to make this Advent one that

welcomes you

more deeply into my own life.

My heart desires the warmth

of your love

and my mind searches for your

Light in the midst of the dark-

ness.

Help me to be a peacemaker

this Advent

and to give special love to

those who disagree with me.

Give me the strength and

courage to forgive those who

have hurt me. Help me to free

my heart from the prison of

my anger and hurt.

Amen

Onlineministries.com/Advent

Advent is an exciting but busy season. It would

be nice to be able to slow down and devote more

time to prayer and traditions. However, most of

us are busy people – we have work, school, or chil-

dren with their own busy schedules. It’s hard to

find the time to enjoy and celebrate the coming

of Jesus.

What is Advent really all about?

It is very easy to feel out of sync with Advent. Slow down? Don’t set up and light

the tree? Don’t sing Christmas carols until Christmas? How can one avoid all the

shopping and gift-buying? It seems totally unrealistic, even Grinch-like.

But the Church is right – Advent is about slowing down. It’s about a world in dark-

ness yearning for light and warmth. It’s about stepping back from the frantic pace

of our lives – even if it is just for a few minutes – to think of how the world is and

how we dream it could be as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, wait for his

coming again in glory, and, in between, remember all the ways we encounter him

everyday.

If we lived in a monastery, we might be able to devote every waking moment to

prayer and ritual. But Advent is for busy people with work and school schedules, too.

There are many small ways to enter into Advent and to let it grow in our hearts and

enrich whatever else we do in this season.

Advent is for you!

The important thing is to catch a sense of how Advent can enrich your life, faith,

and spirituality, and then find ways to celebrate that work for you. Advent, like all

of Catholic life, is meant to slowly change and transform us, so that, more and more,

we not only recognize Christ, but become the Body of Christ, living and active in our

world.

“Advent: Reconnect with Family and your Faith this Holiday Season” by Catholic Digest

National Catholic Youth Conference

Thank you for supporting our youth that attend-

ed the National Catholic Youth Conference the

weekend of November 16-19. We had an Amaz-

ing trip! The theme for the weekend was

“Called”. Some of the highlights were Thursday

night’s opening keynote speaker, Chris Stefan-

ick. He spoke about being “Called to Love”. An-

other highlight was Friday morning’s keynote,

Sister Miriam James Heidland. She spoke about

being “Called to More”. Other highlights that

the youth enjoyed were the workshops. One in

particular was on “Real Love is for Real” given by

Pam Heil from our own Diocese, TobyMac and

Matt Maher concerts and of course the best

was the closing Mass. I though it was amazing-

ly cool to see the Arch Bishop of Los Angeles,

CA, Bishop Jose Gomez, hold up his cell phone

with the light on and start waving it during the

closing song. The whole stadium erupted and

cell phones came out waving with the flashlight

on. The Closing song was “ I Send You Out” by

John Angotti. Patty Immell I think we should

play this song sometime for Mass!

Picture from TobyMac concert!

Bishop Gomez with his cell phone out and

waving it! Sorry not a great picture.

Zach Martin, Angela (from Pope John XXIII parish), Emma

Butterbaugh, Hannah Mogan, and Ellie Sahr.

Youth News Continued...........................page 2