Objections Of Tithing

From the Pastor’s Desk My Dear People: Very early Wednesday morning, leaving the chapel and office, I passed by the beautiful, well-lighted nativity scene in front of the church. There welled up in me these thoughts about God sending His Son: “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!” Today, as I place my own tithing card in the basket which will go to the altar of God, I will be saying again, thinking of all the blessings I have received, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! “ The reasons for tithing are simple; but most convincing are: 1. It is a way of thanking God for His many blessings. 2. It is the will of God! His plan to support His Church. 3. It militates against greed more than anything else. 4. It makes us decide if God is first or if He is second, third, or fourth in our lives. 5. It wonderfully shows our faith, trust and love of God. If you have not turned in your pledge card today, please do it as soon as possible. We are enjoying the Family Life Center (FLC) and the parking deck but we still owe $1.8 million on it. The parish has always been generous to God. We cannot stop now. We have asked the contractor for the Columbarium to postpone the excavation date till after the Christmas holidays. He has agreed to start January 6th. This way with the Christmas traffic we won’t have mud on the walkways and the unpleasant excavation site on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. .

This year there was added another religious float in the Homewood Christmas parade. However, OLS School still took top prize. Our parents and children suffered the cold that Saturday for Jesus but the OLS float was so attractive and spiritual that we were awarded BEST OF THE WHOLE SHOW again for the sixth time in a row! Congratulations, OLS School! With our annual tithing drive, I have this cardinal principle. WE don’t need appeals overlapping appeals. So we have cancelled the flower envelope appeal. If you have any objections, please call the office. It is still Advent which means all Christmas celebrations should somehow include a thought about the birth of the Savior of the World. With prayers and blessings, Father Muller

MASS INTENTIONS Monday, December 15th

Alan Bruno Dub Scott Perry Tuesday, December 16th Joseph J. Latsis Anthony Phillip Mangina Wednesday, December 17th Mimi Norwood Lee Saia Thursday, December 18th Special Intention Lee John Saia Friday, December 19th Donors to the OLS School Foundation Charles Woods Saturday, December 20th Mimi Norwood Joe Rumore Sunday, December 21st People of the Parish Anthony Smeraglia

Baptism Class will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. Please call the Church Office to register at 871-8121. We thank all of the children in grades K5- 4 who made posters for the Birthday Party for Jesus. We also would like to thank the children and parents who brought gifts for Her Choice and the First Light Shelter. Gifts may still be brought to the Birthday Party for Jesus next Sunday. Christmas Party for Baby Jesus-Sunday, December 21st, after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, in the Parish Hall for all children up to the fourth grade. This is the last Sunday for PSR and Growing with God for the 2008 year. Classes will resume on January 4th.

High School Youth last class before the Christmas Holidays will be on Wednesday, December 17th. We will resume on Sunday, January 11th. Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School cordially invites you to our OPEN HOUSE for prospective students and their families to be held Sunday, January 25, 2009, between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Join us any time during these hours, meet our teachers and staff, tour our school and discover our faithenriched community for learning. Applications will be available in the school foyer and on the school website at olsschool.com. Applications do not roll over from year to year. If you were on a waiting

list for 2008, you must re-apply for 2009. Please call 879-3237 for more information. Soup Kitchen Volunteers Needed: We need a few volunteers to help prepare/serve lunch with a team from OLS at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn for one or more of the following dates: 1/24, 2/7, 3/21, 5/16 and 9/5. Please contact Susie Ceyte at 979-3216. Chapel of our Savior The Chapel needs permanent Committed Adorers for: Monday at Midnight – 1:00 a.m. (to share hour) Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each hour. Please call Ida Wilker at 933-2281 or Mary Claire Brouillette at 871-2909 “O, outstanding miracle! O, marvelous and most divine Sacrament!...What the priest takes up is not what he replaces on the altar. Common bread is lifted up from the altar; the immortal Flesh of Christ is set down upon it. What was natural food has become spiritual food. Stephen, Bishop of Autun (1139)

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS Lasting joy is a hallmark of a Christian. Where can you bring joy this week? Find your strength in God’s promise. (Isaiah 35:16, 10) Please pray that those among us who may have a call to priesthood or the consecrated life may be encouraged. This ad is sponsored by the Serra Club.