Questions for reflection on the Scriptures for the First Sunday of Advent

1) Questions on the Reading from Isaiah: For what is Isaiah begging God? Why does he pray for God to come? How does the prophet describe our relationship to God?

2) Questions on the Reading from Mark: What is “the time”? How is this Gospel similar to the passage from Matthew about the talents? What is Jesus’ basic message here?

3) Questions on the Reading from First Corinthians: How does St. Paul greet the people of Corinth? Why does he thank God? What does he say to encourage them?

DAYTIME BIBLE STUDY: The noon Bible Study will meet this Tuesday. We will be reading the Prophets Zechariah and Malachi, which brings us to the end of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Bring your bible and join us.

EVENING BIBLE STUDY: The evening Bible Study will meet this Tuesday at 7 PM in the Rectory. We will discuss the Song of Songs (chapters 1-8). We suggest that you read the selection ahead of time, and come prepared to share in the discussion.

NEW PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS: We congratulate the new members of the Parish Pastoral Council: Beatrice Blackshear, Shay Chillers and Kim James. We also thank Pat Hughes, Lillian Summers and Dolores Williams for your willingness to serve in this ministry. Please keep them in your prayers.

TODAY IS STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY, Part B: Congratulations to the many parishioners who signed up last week for the various ministries and activities that will fulfill our Vision of who we are and where we want to go as a parish. The sign up sheets are still available in the back of church. The goal is to have every person sign up for something, and everyone who signs up to be contacted by the end of December. That way we can hit the ground running in January.

THANKSGIVING DAY MASS: We will have a special Mass here this Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, at 9:30 AM. Eucharist is the perfect way to begin this national day set aside to thank God for all the blessings we have received.

CATHOLIC CHATTER: (This article will appear in the bulletin each week. If you have questions you would like answered here, put them in the blue “Suggestions Box” in the church lobby.)

o How are the Sunday Scripture Readings chosen? In the first document from Vatican Council II in 1963, the one on the Sacred Liturgy, our Bishops decreed that “the treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly so that a richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s word.” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, #51) To accomplish this, the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship devised a three year cycle of readings. The first year (Cycle A), we read from Matthew’s Gospel; the second year (Cycle B), we read from Mark’s Gospel, and the third year (Cycle C) we read from Luke’s Gospel. The “year” begins with the First Sunday of Advent and goes through the Feast of Christ the King.

o So today we end Cycle A – this is the last time we read from the Gospel according to Matthew for two more years. Next week we begin Cycle B, where most of the readings are from the Gospel according to Mark.

o The first readings are selected from the Old Testament to match or fill out the theme of the Gospel passage for that day. These readings are also chosen so in the course of three years we get a thorough sampling of the Hebrew Scriptures. During the Easter Season, the first readings are taken sequentially from the Acts of the Apostles.

o The Psalms and their responses are chosen to reinforce the theme of the Gospel and the first reading.

o The second readings are taken from the Letters (Epistles) of St. Paul. We read through an entire Epistle over several Sundays in a row, until each one is read completely.

o An excellent way to prepare for Mass each weekend is to read through the Scriptures sometime during the preceding week. What would you preach about?.

THE RITE OF ACCEPTANCE: Today we officially welcome John Wade and Josh Brinkley into our faith community as candidates for full initiation into the Catholic Church.

NOVEMBER MOVIE NIGHT THIS FRIDAY: Walt Disney’s National Treasure II, Book of Secrets will be shown on Friday Night, November 28. Doors open and pot-luck begins at 6:00; movie begins at 6:30. Join Nicolas Cage on a heart-pounding adventure that will have you on the edge of your seat in a race to find the Lost City of Gold. Grounded in history, imbued with myth and mystery, Disney’s National Treasure: Book Of Secrets takes you on a globe-trotting quest full of adrenaline-pumping twists and turns-all leading to the final clued in a mysterious and highly guarded book containing centuries of secrets. But there’s only one way to find it – Ben Gates must kidnap the President. Packed with fast-paced action and crackling humor; National Treasure: Book of Secrets is a movie your entire family will want to rediscover again and again.

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) helps the working poor and others who are trying to keep their heads above these turbulent waters. In the name of all of the Catholics in the United States, CCHD fights poverty and challenges injustice. Since 1970, CCHD has supported more than 4,000 small self-help projects initiated and led by poor people throughout the United States. Funds raised during the annual collection have been used in dioceses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Our tithe today will go to this worthy cause. If you would like to contribute an additional amount yourself, there are envelopes available in the back of church. If you read this after the Sunday collection, you can put in an envelope next Sunday and we will make sure CCHD gets the money.

DAILY READINGS, November 24-29:

Monday: Revelation 14:1-5; Psalm 24; Luke 21:1-4

Tuesday: Revelation 14:14-19; Psalm 96; Luke 21:5-11

Wednesday: Revelation 15:1-4; Psalm 98; Luke 21:12-19

Thursday: Thanksgiving Day: Sirach 50:22-24; Psalm 145; Mark 5:18-20

Friday: Revelation 20:1-4, 11-11-21:2; Psalm 84; Luke 21:29-33

Saturday: Revelation 21:1-7; Psalm 95; Luke 21:34-36