ALL SET FOR SUNDAY

This weekend we are invited to set and reinforce the road for Jesus to travel to us.  The ancient Romans did this by first laying large stones filled in with sand, and then more layers of medium stones and sand before setting the top, smoother road.  We do this through our regular routine of prayer (the largest stones) and our regular acts of service (the medium stones).  The sand is the little sacrifices we make each day.  The prayer, charitable works and sacrifices all lay the road for Jesus to come to us.  

In our readings this weekend, John the Baptist shows us what the daily sacrifices look like: "we must decrease so that He may increase."  During this third (and final) week of Advent, ask Jesus to help you to sacrifice for Him.

NEWS FROM THE PEWS

• OUR PASTORAL COUNCIL met this past week.  We spent the majority of the meeting trying to better understand what our small group experience will look like.  We are going to invite the coordinators from Ut Fidem to help train small group leaders for us in January so that we can start meeting during Lent.
• OUR MINISTRY TEAM will be gathering for an Advent Day of Reflection this Tuesday morning.  Our Parish Offices will be closed to allow our ministers to quiet themselves as they assist all of us to prepare the way for Jesus.  Please consider praying for Father Daniel, Alex, Beth, Cathy, Cheryl, Dean, Dorothy, Jill, Jordan, Mary Sue, Mary, Sharon, Sherri and me.  Perhaps you could offer a little sacrifice of time in added prayer or fast for us.
• MUSIC MINISTER POSITION IS STILL OPEN.  If you know someone who you think might be the right fit for us, please encourage him or her to apply for the full-time position.  Please add this position to your prayers.
• PLEASE CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE AND BULLETIN FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE.  With the Fourth week of Advent being a day, our schedule next weekend has changed.  Please check it out.  Also, remember that Sunday until 4 is your sabbath while Sunday after 4 celebrates the Nativity of Jesus.