St. Thomas Aquinas & St. Mary Cluster

St. Thomas Aquinas & St. Mary ClusterPastor’s CornerAnother liturgical year has ebbedaway; a new one is upon us … likeit or not. “Time, like an ever-rollingstream” is carrying us forward.Having come full circle to a newbeginning, things nevertheless lookquite familiar. When we read thescriptural selections for yet anotherAdvent, we wonder if there isanything new under the sun. We’veheard the texts before, we know some of the hymns byheart. We’ve met all the protagonists of this season and cananticipate what John the Baptizer, Paul, Matthew, Isaiah andthe other prophets are going to say even before their wordsare proclaimed in our midst.As we make our way from the church to the mall andmarketplace, to work and to play, we quickly realize that wehave become veterans of this season. We’ll make the lists anddo the shopping; we’ll wrap the presents and decorate thetree. We’ll write the cards and bake the cookies. We’ll attendthe pageants and parties and when the Christmas story is read,we’ll recall the words that have become so indelibly engravedupon our memories: “… the Word became flesh and made hisdwelling among us, and we have seen his glory: the glory of anonly Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love”.In that moment and by God’s grace the words we have spokenand heard for decades will challenge us to shake off what mayhave become rote and routine and awaken to the ever-startlingand fresh newness of God, present and alive among us!The difference between the passing of yet another year, likeso many other years, and the promise of a new day dawningis Jesus Christ. From the moment the Word became fleshand blood, the course of human history was forever altered.God’s gift of Jesus has communicated new meaning and newdirection to every individual human story. History, becauseof God’s Word to us in Jesus, is no longer a cyclic repetitionof similar events but a linear movement with a beginning, apurpose and a goal, all of which originate and are fulfilled inGod.Therefore, each Advent signals a return to the beginning butit is always a new beginning. Communities of faith start allover again each Advent. In the midst of a world where God isseldom felt, we yearn to experience God again, for the firsttime. As we read and listen to our ancestors in the faith, wetrust that memory and hope will come alive. The Word of God,as it is proclaimed this 1st Sunday of Advent, is a living entity,speaking a new message, in a new manner, in a new year, to apeople who long to be new again.Stewardship MeditationA profound stewardship blessing is offered by St. Paul to theThessalonians (1 Thes 3:12-4:2). He encourages the community tocontinue to show loving concern for its members and to care forthe needs of others. We witness for the first time the spiritualityof stewardship at work in a New Testament community that isputting the Eucharist into action. An Advent spirit prevails thatis transforming and filled with hope for the coming of the LordJesus. What are we doing to promote this spirit of stewardship inour personal lives and in our community of faith?Religious EducationYouth Group - Christmas Ornaments SaleChristmas Ornaments for Sale - After Masses starting November 27All proceeds go to STA Youth Group.NCYC 2011 - Deposit due December 1st !High School Students interested in National Catholic YouthConference - November 2011- Indianapolis, IN., must have initialdeposit of $50 to Lynn by December 1st. PLEASE NOTE we will bedoing fund-raisers to help pay for this trip. For more informationcontact Lynn Houdeshell 832-1190.Confirmation Retreat - RescheduledNew Date TBA . More information at a later date.December Topic: Rights & Responsibilities-Dignity of WorkGuest Speakers: Joanne DalhoffMeal: 6:00pm Program: 7:00 pm EVERYONE WELCOME!Church HappeningsAll Invited to Help - December 4thThe STA Social Justice Committee will be putting together thebags & food lists for our annual December food collection.We will start at 9 am. This is open to anyone who wouldlike to help (confirmation students, families, ANYONE! )We will also need volunteers on Wednesday, December 22 tohelp deliver the bags of food to UDMO at 3:30 pm. Pleasecall the office if you are able to help with this.Holy Day - December 8thFeast of the Immaculate Conception and a holyday of obligation. We praise God, who kept Marysinless from the first moment of her life. Masses are:December 7 - 6:00 p.m. - St. MaryDecember 8 - 8:30 a.m. - St. Thomas Aquinas6:00 p.m. - St. Thomas AquinasSt. Thomas Aquinas 1000 Des Moines Street Webster City IA 50595