|
DECEMBER 19, 2023
Please select "display/load images" to see photos/artwork
| |
|
In This Issue!*
Pastor's Letter/Weekly Reflections:
- Jesus comes to practice kindness, care, and unconditional love...bringing us peace
- Holiday Bulletin Schedule; Holiday Mass Schedule; Sorrows and Joys
Spotlight News:
- Jennifer House "Salon Day" on Channel 13
Other News & Events:
- Lydia's Closet; Homeless Resources; Recyling During the Holidays; Green Friendly Holiday Ideas; Unified Mindfulness
- PHOTO FEATURE! Refugee & Asylum Seekers Christmas Feast
- Finding Home Committees; Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Trauma
-
ONGOING: Special Intentions; Collection; Pastor's Update; Last Week's Homily; Communications; Church Calendar;
| *NOTE! We work hard to bring you all the news, but many browsers cut off half the bulletin, or have blank spots where content should be. Please be sure to select "view entire message" if you don't see all the items listed above, OR, please view the bulletin in its entirety on our website HERE. Thank you! | |
|
Dear Friends:
We are less than a week from Christmas, where we embrace the challenges of living in the joyful expectation of the Christ child, amid many difficulties we face. Yet, the voice of Isaiah the prophet continues to call to us when he says in Isaiah 9:6,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
| |
|
Jesus comes in all these roles to practice kindness, care, and unconditional love with all of humanity bringing us peace. As advent comes to a close, keep creating space for him, remember that care is compassion, and we have a savior who cries out with us, suffers with us, and feels with us with deep love.
As we welcome Jesus the Christ child, know that his love, kindness, forgiveness, and healing is always in abundance for you! Thank you for creating such a beautiful parish and being a refuge for so many! “Unto us a child is born, a son is given.”
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and care throughout the year for those who relied so heavily on our support. Jesus emerged from each of you so strong and beautiful. You truly are bearers of the light.
| |
|
HOLIDAY BULLETIN SCHEDULE
Next week you won’t receive a mailed bulletin. Our bulletin service Mailstar will be closed for the holidays (those who receive e-bulletins, however, will receive it as normal). Due to the closing, when you do receive your bulletins, you will receive two envelopes, including Dec. 31st & Jan. 7th. However, the missing bulletin will be available for view online on our website. We apologize if this causes any inconvenience, but is the only way Mailstar is able to make up for the mailings. Thanks in advance for your grace and generosity.
| |
|
HOLIDAY MASS SCHEDULE
Christmas Eve as well as New Year’s Eve are on Sundays this year. Here is a reminder of our special mass schedule:
Saturday, December 23rd:
- 5 pm: Mass in the Spiritus Sanctuary
Sunday, December 24th:
- There will be NO 7:30 am OR 9:30 am Sunday Mass
- 4 pm: Children’s Mass and Nativity Play at Hochstein
- 9 pm: Christmas Eve Mass at Hochstein
- 11 pm: Christmas Eve Mass at Hochstein
Monday, December 25th:
- 10 am: Christmas Day Mass in the Spiritus Sanctuary
| |
Saturday, December 30th:
- 5 pm: New Year’s Eve Reflection Mass in the Spiritus Sanctuary
Sunday, December 31st:
- 7:30 am: New Year’s Eve Reflection Mass @ the Spiritus Sanctuary
- 9:30 am: New Year’s Eve Reflection Mass @ Hochstein
Office will be closed on Monday, New Year’s Day
| |
SORROWS & JOYS
We send our heartfelt condolence to Kay Quinlan and Jan Mines,
on the death of their great nephew, Charlie, who was 18 months old.
We send our prayers to Jen Lessard and family, on the death of her father,
Gene Crandall.
| |
Merry Christmas everyone!
With love, Rev. Myra
| | |
|
SPECIAL INTENTIONS
Special Mass Intentions: please email the CHURCH OFFICE, or call (585) 325-1180 by Tuesdays at 1 pm
Prayer Line: please email LAUREN BAER, or call (585) 500-2862
| |
Photos courtesy: Lisa Buscemi | |
JENNIFER HOUSE's free "SALON DAY" featured on Channel 13 News!
The women of the Prison Outreach's Jennifer House were featured on Channel 13 News' "Bright Spot!" If you missed it, please click below!
| |
| | |
|
Refugee & Asylum Seekers Ministry
"LYDIA'S CLOSET"
Donations Request
| We are looking for help in supplying our friends with gently new or used blankets, towels, sheets, kids boots, winter jackets, men and women's clothes, household items, and gift cards (to Aldis or Tops). Please drop off all donations to the church office, between 9 am-4 pm. Thank you in advance for your generousity! | If you would like a copy of a very useful "one-sheet," listing the Monroe County Code Blue Warming Center Sites that are open 24 hours/day (and have free RTS transportation available), please contact us below. | LAST WEEK'S COLLECTION: $22,043 | |
Pastor's Update:
Rev. Myra Brown
| |  |
|
Helpful news alert! On our Mother Earth page on the church website, we have posted a dynamite slideshow (thanks to some content we gathered from the City of Rochester) about Holiday Recycling:
| We hope you will also check out our Blog on Green Friendly Holiday Ideas! | |
UNIFIED MINDFULNESS
Every Friday, 10-11:30 am
Nielsen Room
| Our Unified Mindfulness class has moved to our winter/virus season format of meeting on Zoom. You are invited to join us! | | |
|
Saturday, December 16th, 2023
REFUGEE & ASYLUM SEEKERS
CHRISTMAS FEAST!
| |
Photos courtesy: Ruth Cowing, John DeMaria, Barb Diehl, Sr. Margie Henninger, Barb Simmons | |
|
FINDING OUR OWN HOME
Step 1: Forming Committees
Now that we have voted to shift to an ownership model,
it is time to form the following volunteer committees
which will start meeting in 2024 to help us find our own home!
-
Homecoming Board: will oversee and lead working subgroups
-
Future Facility Team: will work with staff to identify needs for prospective sites
-
Budget and Finance Team: will work closely with our Stewardship Committee in determining phases for renovation work needed, as well as presenting fundraising opportunities
-
Holy Helpers Team: will help with renovations, decorations, and updates
-
Renovations Team: a group of NYS licensed professionals to work with contractors and the Holy Helpers to oversee renovations needed
If you are interested, please email
Hospitality Minister & Operations Manager LAUREN URZETTA to sign up!
| | | |
|
|
NEW GROUP: Adult Survivors
of Childhood Sexual Trauma
January 22nd through week of February 12th
FREE
This four-session group is a safe place to learn about how you've been impacted by what happened to you, to learn ways to cope with the effects, and to gain solid footing for healing and growth. Meetings will be offered in the mid-afternoon.
Participants must commit to all four (90-minute) sessions, as consistent attendance is important to creating a safe group. As with all our offerings, there is no cost to participants.
| | | |
|
Does your Spiritus group have an event you would like to promote,
or information you would like to share with the rest of the parish?
Please reach out to Director of Communications RUTH COWING,
for ideas and/or details re: spreading the word!
| |
|
BULLETIN ITEMS
Deadline:
TUESDAYS at 1 pm
Contact: Ruth Cowing
Please email
a short write-up,
along with your
contact information.
PHOTOS are especially great for the e-bulletin -- please feel
encouraged to send!
| |
|
POST-MASS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Deadline:
THURSDAYS at 1 pm
Contact: Lauren Urzetta
Many of our musicians have to leave right after Sunday, 9:30 am Mass! Please submit items in advance so we can help you craft a ~1 minute message!
| |
|
SLIDES before Mass
Deadline:
THURSDAYS at 1 pm
Contact: Ruth Cowing
If you have a special request and/or photos, please let us know!
| |
WEBSITE SUBMISSIONS
Deadline: ONGOING
Contact: Ruth Cowing
| | | | |
