Hello Business,

We have a humble, loving God. We learned that from Jesus. In the imagination of ancient peoples, God was scary, judgmental and violent. That may be true of the belief of all peoples at any time regarding their gods. Jesus, though, said that those beliefs were untrue. He speaks to us of God as being our Father who loves his children more than anything. In fact, God loves us so much that he allows us to ignore him, find other things to do, and think that we don’t need him.

Christmas season is a time when God comes to us in our lives in the image of a newborn baby, named Jesus. Who would ignore a baby? Who would respond coldly to those little hands and soft cooing voice in the silence of a cold cave in Bethlehem? Who would feel fear in the the face of this small bundle of divine joy? Who would turn and walk away from a little baby who had been born only to save us from ourselves?

That is what Christmas is all about. In this season of the year, we are gently drawn by God into a relationship with him that is neither scary nor judgmental. God is love. If we are not drawn to the figure of Jesus dying on the cross for us, then maybe the reality of a baby coming to save us speaks to our deepest notions, away from our over analyzing, egotistical brains. We have a natural tendency as self centered people to allow the world to cut us off from God, to numb our better selves and convince us to invest our very lives in activities and notions that will not save us.

In the midst of our lives, God comes to us in a new way each year in the celebration of Christmas. Is this the year we will listen to him? Is this the year that we will place God at the very center of our lives? As we hear the carols, the bells, and see the pretty lights, the presents, the decorations, let us experience God reaching out to us in the midst of this celebration of the birth of the newborn Jesus. Let us feel him taking us quietly by the hand in the softness of the night. May we welcome this God in a new way this year through the mysteries of Christmas 2024. Maybe this is the time we wake up from our years of sleep. Maybe this is the year that we welcome Jesus into our lives in a new way.

Fr. Bill

Mass Intentions

+ Anna Mosey

+ Alec Grimmett

+ Patti Mason

+ John Paolazzi

Upcoming Events and Opportunities:

Earlier this month we had an addition to our icon collection; a new processional cross. The cross was written through the hand of Mary Katsilometes, was received, and was blessed by Fr. Bill. Please click here to watch the blessing.

Community Resources

Although we trust in our Heavenly Father to help us through hard times, we still struggle along the way. Sometimes we need outside support. Below you will find local resources:

• Domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or website
• Resource number for Clackamas county: 211
• Suicide Prevention hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or website
• St. Vincent de Paul (food and rent/utilities assistance): website or 503-235-8431

Your parish community cares for you

and we would like to say

THANK YOU

for being a part of our parish!

QCD

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) allows individuals who are 70½ years old or older to donate up to $105,000 total to one or more charities directly from a taxable IRA instead of taking their required minimum distributions.

RMD

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are the minimum amounts you must withdraw from your retirement accounts each year. You generally must start taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts when you reach age 72.

If you are over 72 years of age you qualify to take annual distributions from your retirement account to make tax free donations to charities of your choice.

Resurrection Church is a qualified public charity 501(c)(3) and can receive your QCD.

We thank you in advance for considering Resurrection Catholic Church and School as recipients of your donations.

Will, Living Trust & Estate Planning

Include Resurrection Catholic Parish or School in your will, trust or estate planning. Your gift – no matter how big or small – ensures our church and school can continue all of the incredible work we do, and you will be making an impact in the lives of others for many years to come.