FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

PEACEFUL AND STILL

Several years ago I had the opportunity to spend a night at the Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Oregon’s Mount Hood. Peering out the window of my room in the early morning, I saw the snow-covered slope of the top of the mountain appear as the sun began to rise. I quickly got out of bed, got dressed, and walked through the lodge to the front door. Opening the door, I was stunned by the fact that the cloud line was only a few feet below me. Only the lodge and the top of the mountain itself were above the clouds. As I climbed up the face of the mountain, the sun began to rise, piercing the clouds with shafts of pink, orange, and yellow light. When I climbed higher and higher, the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding mountains began to pierce the clouds. All was still and peaceful, like the world proclaimed in today’s passage from Isaiah.

THE MOUNTAIN OF PEACE

Isaiah describes the mountain of the Lord’s house as a place where we receive instruction from God. In prophetic exhortation we are reminded that we are to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks. We are not to raise a sword against another nation or train for war again. We can choose to throw our hands in the air and give up hoping that this could ever become a reality. Or we can choose to heed the call of Saint Paul, issued in today’s second reading: “Let us throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). Preparing ourselves for the coming of the Lord means much more than putting our own spiritual house in order. It means that in our everyday life we dedicate ourselves to being peacemakers: at home, at work, and in our relationships. The stunning prophecies we hear during this holy season remind us that, like a peaceful mountaintop high above the clouds, our world can become a place of peace, tranquility, and light.

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 2:1–5; Psalm 122:1–9; Romans 13:11–14; Matthew 24:37–44 Copyright © 2007, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Parish contact information Bulletin Information: Elva Weber– stmaryslamarnews@gmail.com or 417-296-2725

Information should be submitted by Wednesday of each week. DRE – Director of Religious Education: Elva Weber -417–296-2725 or elvadweber@gmail.com

PSR Coordinator: Annastasia Morris – 417-214-2312 or annastasiaforst@yahoo.com Small Group Sessions: Jessica Miller- 417-540-3514 or jmiller_teach@yahoo.com

Confirmation Class: Jason Banta – 417-214-5651 or jasonbanta2@gmail.com Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): Fr. Patrick Teter – 417-682-2492

VIRTUS: Jason Banta – 417-214-5651 Liturgical Assignments: Diana Forst – 417-682-6703 and Marjorie Hargis – 417-262-2379

Ladies of St. Mary’s: Dixie Johnson – 417-682-5432 or jrj8@sbcglobal.net Knights of Columbus: Jim Dill – 417-279-2553 or jimdill40@gmail.com

Church Directory: Jessica Miller – 417-540-3514

https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Marys-Catholic-church/371488209847

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019

Parish established 1869 Church dedicated 1904

St. Mary 2019

CELEBRATING 150 YEARS

200 East 17th Street, Lamar, Missouri 64759

Rev. Patrick Teter, Pastor Rectory Phone: 417-682-2492

Diocese of Springfield/Cape Girardeau: http://dioscg.org

“In spite of all our defects, God is in love with us and keeps using us to light the light of love and compassion in the world.” Mother Teresa

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

MASS SCHEDULE RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION MASSES Fri. Nov 29… For the People (Missa Pro Populo) Every Sat. at 3:30 Saturday: 4 p.m. Sat. Nov 30… Leonard Westhoff or by appointment Sunday: 11 a.m. Sun. Dec 1 … Pat and Banita McGinn Mon & Fri: 6 p.m.

FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION following the 6 p.m. Mass, next –

December 6

ROSARY First Sunday in the quiet room

adjacent to the entrance. December 1

Knights of Columbus Second Sundays at 7 p.m. at the Parish

Hall– next meeting is December 15

MASS OFFERINGS: Canon 946 states:”The Christian faithful who make an offering so the Mass may be applied for their intention contribute to the good of the Church and by their offering take part in the concern of the Church for

the support of its ministers and works.” We ask for the standard Mass offering of $10 per Mass.

PARISH MEMBERSHIP – COMMUNICATION - The parish family of St. Mary Catholic Church welcomes you; we are blessed and honored you are here, and we look forward to your registration as one of our

parishioners. Fill out a form located over the table at the right of the entrance. Place the registration slip in the basket at the offering and we will take care of the rest; you may also visit with Father Teter

next door at the rectory, or send us an e-mail to stmaryslamarnews@gmail.com

Save your ink cartridges for recycling, and bring them to the Parish Hall along with your Best Choice UPC labels for the Ladies PCCW group. We no longer accept newspapers for recycling. There is a wire basket on the side of

the shed in the parking lot to receive your aluminum cans.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS December 1, 2019

Thank you to each and everyone who have placed their donation for the 150th

Anniversary celebration; we have

received $1,284. We are $216 away from our goal of $1,500 to cover costs. There are envelopes on the table for

your contribution. The invitations are ready at the entrance of the church following all the Masses; please call

and let us know the number of people who will attend the dinner, in order to have a correct count.

The Ladies of St. Mary’s and the PSR children are collecting non-perishables during the months of December to

donate to the Good Samaritan food pantry. When you go shopping, add an extra item to your basket and bring to

the church to add to the donations already collected. Thank you for your generosity.

There will be a special collection this Sunday December 1, for Christmas flowers. You may write the names of

your loved ones on the envelope to be remembered during Mass. We will decorate the church following Mass on

Sunday, December 22; you may stay a few minutes longer to give a hand as some of the manger figures are

heavy. Thank you for all you do for our church community.

There is a sign-up sheet on the cork board to volunteer to bring side dishes for the 150th

Anniversary celebration

and dinner. Thank you for your commitment to our very special celebration.

PSR – Parish School of Religion classes meet every Sunday at the Parish Hall at 9:30 am – classes are from 9:45

– 10:50 am – The children receive a snack prior to classes thanks to our parishioner’s donations of coins. Ms.

Elsie James bakes wonderful treats for the children every Sunday and we are very thankful for her. Again, thank

you for your donations of coins to purchase milk and orange juice every Sunday.

Position Open at The Catholic Center - The Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau has an opening for Diocesan Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2020. The diocesan school system includes 23 elementary and 3 high schools. Requirements: Practicing Catholic, advanced degree in Educational

Administration, certifiable in State of Missouri and experience in Catholic school administration, preferably on a diocesan level. Send cover letter and resume to Janet L. Smith, Chancellor, 601 S. Jefferson, Springfield,

MO, 65806. You may also call 417-866-0841 or email jansmith@dioscg.org to request an application packet.

Liturgical Assignments

Bulletin smiles:

F.R.O.G. = Fully Rely On God or

C.O.F.F.E.E. = Christ Offers Forgiveness For Everyone Everyday

Donations for 150th Celebration 9/22 $ 100.00 9/29 $ 232.00 10/6 $ 212.00 10/13 $ 200.00 Wyatt Earp $ 95.00 10/20 $ 25.00 10/27 $ 175.00 11/17 $ 5.00 11/24 $ 240.00 Total $ 1,284.00

Birthdays Nov 30- Dec 6 Anniversaries Nov 30- Dec 6

Donna Oswald Dec 2

Coby Fullerton 5 Natalie Pommier 5

Saturday December 7 Sunday December 8

Extraordinary Minister Theresa Davis Jason Banta Extraordinary Minister Marge Hargis Kaitlyn Davis

Extraordinary Minister Bill Forst Lector Dixie Johnson Ryan Davis

Altar Servers Roni Ogden/Madison Caruthers Ushers Sylvia Sanders/Jim Dill Landry Morris/Kian Rogers

PRAYER LIST - We pray for those who are sick or in the hospital: Erlinda Roe Carl Jungmann Kip Jackson Rhonda Yates John Strong Carolyn Isaac Joleen Buffington Reed Davis Louis Diebold Lea Ann Gibson Elsie Anderson Troy Onstott Martha Timmerman Myrna Ladwig Lorraine Ladwig Christie Moody Patricia Howe

Pray for Alexander Sutachan, while he is studying in the Seminary. We pray for our military, especially Jacob Boyer, Wyatt Davis, Derek Forst, Seth Fullerton and Josh Purinton.

Every Pastor offers Mass for his parishioners called the “Misa Pro Populo”, Mass for the people of the parish. It includes the intentions of all the people of the Parish, including those who are facing chronic

health challenges and those who are homebound and cannot be present at Mass.

COLLECTION November 24 29 Envelopes out of 90 $ 1,229.00 14 Loose collection $ 107.35 Votive candles $ 2.25 Catholic Charities $ 311.05 TOTAL $ 1,649.65