First reading:
One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. (Is. 2:4b)
Psalm:
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. (Ps. 122)
Second reading:
You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. (Rom. 13:11)
Gospel:
“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Mt. 24:42)
Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week:
Stay awake! With so many things competing for our attention and so many details to attend to, it is very easy to fall into a slumber. We can find ourselves simply going through the motions of life and losing a sense of purpose and direction. Busy with many things, we lose touch with the things of God, especially the gentle stirrings of His presence. Advent calls us to the challenge of living a wakeful life. Awake from the sleep that life’s demands can put on us, and allow God’s word to transform our hearts. Being ready for the coming of the Lord is life’s priority for the Christian. Let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Catholic Quotes—Words to Inspire the Faithful:
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
Events:
- Food Pantries:
- Ovid Federated church: Mondays, 10:00 a.m. Food truck is every other Tuesday, 3:00 p.m. (December 10)
- Interlaken Reformed church: Fridays, 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Trumansburg Food Pantry: Methodist church every other Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. and 5:30-6:00 p.m. (December 2)
- Confirmation Candidates Classes: Sundays, 4:00 p.m., St. James
- Catholicism Classes: Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., St. Francis
- Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
- Fr. Bernard is Available: Fridays, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis
- Trumansburg Robotics: Mondays 5:00–8:00 p.m. and Tuesdays 3:00–6:00 p.m., St. James
- Second Collection for Catholic University: November 30 and December 1, all churches
- Christmas Flowers Offering: Next weekend, all churches
- Sweet Sunday Social: After Mass, December 1, St. James
- Food Pantry Donations: December 8, St. James
- Angel Tree Gifts Due: December 8, St. Francis and Holy Cross
- TAC Advent Concert: December 8, 4:00 p.m., Presbyterian church, Trumansburg
- Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: December 9, 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
- Religious Education Monthly Gathering: December 15, after 9:00 a.m. Mass, St. James
- Trumansburg Food Pantry Breads Needed: Pine Room, St. James, December 15
- Daily Mass Schedule Changes: January 2, St. Francis, at 8:30 a.m.
The Season of Advent:
This Sunday, December 1, is the beginning of the Advent season. “Advent has a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and like wise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight” (from #39 of the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar).
The Catholic University of America Collection:
There is a second collection today is in support of The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C. CUA is the national university for the Catholic Church in America.
Christmas Flower Offering:
In the boxes of offertory envelopes there is an envelope titled the “Christmas Flower Offering” and it is dated for November 30 and December 1. The Christmas flower offering collection will not be taken up this weekend. Instead there will be a second collection next weekend, December 7 and 8, for this purpose.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception:
This feast day traditionally occurs on December 8 and is the patronal feast day for the United States. Because it falls on a Sunday this year it has been transferred to Monday, December 9, and it will not be a holy day of obligation. There will be a 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. James the Apostle in celebration of our country’s feast day.
Advent Concert:
The annual Advent concert, sponsored by the Trumansburg Area Churches (TAC), will take place next Sunday, December 8, at 4:00 p.m. in the Presbyterian church on Main Street, Trumansburg. Participating will be a number of our parish’s musicians, choir members, and song leaders who have prepared a selection of music for the concert.
Food Pantry Collection:
Next weekend, December 8, as we do on the second Sunday of every month, parishioners are invited to contribute non-perishable food on the table placed in front of the Blessed Mother statue at St. James. The items will be donated to the Trumansburg Food Pantry. Monetary donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to Mary, Mother of Mercy, with food pantry in the memo line. Thank you to all who contribute!
Bakers Needed:
The Trumansburg Food Pantry needs over a dozen loaves of breads (banana, pumpkin, cranberry, etc.) for the Christmas distribution on December 16. Breads may be left in the St. James Pine Room after Mass on December 15. A sign-up list will be posted in the foyer. Thank you for all you do in support of the Food Pantry’s mission.
Thank You:
Thank you to all who purchased a pie from the recent sale at St. James. Your support has made it possible for the parish to sponsor three children from the Ulysses Christmas Bureau who will now have a brighter Christmas because of your thoughtfulness. God bless you!
Angel Tree Tags:
The angel trees are up at both St. Francis and Holy Cross churches! If you take a child’s tag, the gifts must be returned no later than Sunday, December 8. All presents will be picked up Monday morning, December 9. Please do not wrap the gifts—parents need to see what has been given for their children, though wrapping paper, ribbons, or bows would be appreciated. You need to include the tag information where it can easily be seen. Distribution for gifts will be on Wednesday, December 11. If you have helped in the past you will be contacted for your assistance again. If you would like to volunteer for the first time please contact Gerry Frank at 869 5009.
Hat, Scarf, and Mitten Tree:
The annual hat, scarf, and mitten tree has been set up in the foyer at St. James church. Please consider making a donation of new items, for all ages. These much needed winter items will be taken to Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga Counties for distribution before Christmas.
Ring Those Bells:
The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to ring the bell near the red bucket at the Shur-Save from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas, any time between 7:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Most shifts are an hour in length; though feel free to stay longer. It is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors while helping those in need. The money raised will mainly be used in our local community. If you are interested in bell ringing, please call Judy at 387-6488. Thank you!
Share the Warmth:
The Trumansburg Rotary Club is sponsoring a collection bin on the front porch of the St. James rectory as part of their Share the Warmth campaign that runs through early December. Share the Warmth accepts all winter clothing in good repair: coats, snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, etc. Blankets also are welcome. All donations should be new or gently used, and clean for future recipients. Thank you to all who participate in sharing the warmth this winter.
Sunday Collection Counters Needed:
St. Francis Solanus church is in urgent need of two volunteers who are able and willing to count the weekend collection once a month at St. Francis. Please notify Fr. Bernard for more information.
Catholicism Classes:
The Catholicism Adult Formation Program was created by Bishop Robert Barron. Our parish classes are held on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and again at 7:00 p.m., both at the St. Francis church annex in Interlaken. This Wednesday, December 4, the lesson is titled “Mary, the Mother of God.” Topics will include: the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, Mary as the mother of the Church and mother of the new Covenant, and the “Magnificat.” There will be a half-hour presentation by Bishop Barron followed by a half-hour discussion. If you can’t make all the classes—come when you are able and when there is a topic of interest to you.
Daily Meditations for Advent:
The Word Among Us booklets are available in the foyer of each church. The booklet contains, among other things, meditations and Mass prayers and readings for each day of Advent. The booklets are costly, so whatever donations you can make toward the expense would be appreciated.
Changes in the Daily Mass Schedule:
Our parish presently has daily morning Mass on Tuesday through Friday, in different places and without a consistent time. The parish boundary from north to south is forty miles long. Parishioners in the north are hesitant to travel to our to attend daily Mass in Trumansburg and parishioners in the south are hesitant to travel to our parish church in Ovid. Therefore, some parishioners desiring to attend daily Mass do not do so because of the travelling distance. Added to this is the confusion that daily Mass is celebrated in three different churches in our parish and one church has a different time than the other two. To provide an equal opportunity for all parishioners and to eliminate the confusion regarding the place and time, and after consultation with the Worship Committee and the Parish Council, beginning January 2, 2020, the daily Mass (Tuesday through Friday) will be centrally located at St. Francis Solanus church, Interlaken, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The communion service will continue on Mondays at 9:00 a.m. at St. James. Please spread the word. Thank you.
Parish Christmas Mass Schedule:
Christmas is on a Wednesday this year. Our schedule of Masses for the holiday begins on Christmas Eve with Mass at 4:30 p.m. at St. James, Trumansburg, and a 8:00 p.m. Mass at Holy Cross, Ovid. On Christmas Day, December 25, there will be one Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Solanus, Interlaken. We hope to see you at one of these Masses.
CMA Allocations:
In anticipation of a challenging fiscal and fundraising environment in the coming year, the Diocese of Rochester is not increasing the Catholic Ministries Appeal (CMA) 2019–2020 parish goals. While holding the overall CMA goal flat this year, the diocese is still committed to maintaining the usual level of services to the parishes. These include Catholic Charities, ministries to youth and young adults (faith formation, Catholic schools, campus ministry, CYO, etc.), seminarian and deacon education, and other CMA funded programs. It is important to remember that the CMA covers about 57% of the diocesan budget, not the entire diocesan budget.
To a Suffering Church:
Bishop Robert Barron has written a letter to Catholics who feel demoralized, scandalized, angry beyond words, and ready to quit because of the sexual abuse scandal in the Church. Many are asking “Why stay Catholic with so much scandal?” It is a compelling letter encouraging Catholics to stay and fight—and to do so on behalf of themselves, and their families, but especially on behalf of those who have suffered so grievously at the hands of wicked men. Copies of the letter (contained in a small booklet format) are located in the foyer of each church in our parish. Please take a copy and, after reading the letter, pass it on to other Catholics. For an interview with author go here.
Snow Days:
A reminder that if during the week a “snow day” for the local schools has been declared there will be no morning Mass or communion service that day.
Habitat House for Sale:
There is a Habitat for Humanity home available for sale in Trumansburg. The home has three bedrooms and one bath and is located at 19 Salo Drive on .36 acres. Habitat for Humanity of Tompkins and Cortland Counties provides an affordable home ownership opportunity by offering a “hand up, not a hand out” and evaluate applications based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to partner. The total gross household income should be at least $28,000. Other details about partnering with Habituate in owning your own home are available on their website: https://tchabitat.com/homeownership. Applications for the Salo Drive home will be accepted until November 30. If interested in the home call 607-844-3529 or email Liz Warner at [email protected]. We want to help you purchase your own home!
Employment Opportunity:
Could you use a little extra income? The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting thousands of people to collect important information for the 2020 census in their own communities. These are temporary, part-time, or full-time positions with flexible hours. The hourly wages are $17 an hour for an enumerator/lister and $18.50 for a census field supervisor. Mileage is reimbursed at $0.58 per mile. No experience or educational requirement is necessary. If you are interested or have questions go to https://2020census.gov/en/jobs. This is your chance to be a part of history!
Prayers from the Sisters of St. Joseph:
The Sisters of St. Joseph have a prayer ministry and Sr. Dolores Bachman and Sr. Anne Marie Burns will be praying for our parish throughout 2019. Let us keep the sisters in our prayers as well.
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes:
Pregnancy Care Center of the Finger Lakes, located at 551 Exchange St. in Geneva, is offering a “Forgiven and Set Free” post abortive ten-week session beginning October 4 until December 13. There is no cost involved. “If you regret your abortion, you are not alone. Let us help you learn to forgive yourself. Pleased join us for this healing ministry program.” For more information phone 315 789 0708.
Cancer Services Program (CSP):
Cortland and Tompkins Counties offer free cancer screenings to those who are uninsured or have health insurance that does not cover these screenings. The screening services are provided in local health centers, doctors’ offices, and hospitals. For more information, contact CSP at 866 442 2262.
Toiletries and Hygiene Products:
There is a basket in the vestibule of St. James church for donations of toiletries. The request comes from Catholic Charities which is in need of items like shampoo, toothpaste, diapers etc. The items will be transferred to the Catholic Charities office in Ithaca.
Ministry Schedule for St. Francis Solanus Church, Interlaken
November 30, at 5:00 p.m. (This is considered a first weekend as Sunday is 12/1):
Lectors: Gerry Messmer (for Karl Messmer), Scott Hamula
EMs: Kathleen Rourke, Millie Messmer, Robin Hamula
December 7, at 5:00 p.m. (second weekend):
Lectors: Kathleen Rourke, Barbara Willers
EMs: Lee and Mary Davidson, Robin Hamula
Ministry Schedule for St. James the Apostle, Trumansburg
December 1, at 9:00 a.m. (first Sunday):
Lectors: Donna Ryan (for Lynne Stager) and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Mark Scibilia-Carver, Beth Koeng
December 8, at 9:00 a.m. (second Sunday):
Lectors: Mark Scibilia-Carver and Barbara Willers
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Lynne Stager, Beth Koeng, Mary Szymanski
Ministry Schedule for Holy Cross, Ovid
Not available at this time