The first time of prayer was the most interesting: Vigil Prayer. It opened the new day, which began at 2 am! Like monks and nuns (cloistered sisters) have done for almost 1500 years, they rise during the night to pray and begin the day.

The word vigil means to watch and these faithful men and women rise during the night to keep watch for the return of the Lord Jesus. Making this point very clear, the monks of Our Lady of the Genesee Trappist Abbey end Vigil Prayer by saying in unison: "Come, Lord Jesus!"

The first time I heard the monks say this I was taken aback. It was said with such strength and conviction it sent shivers up and down my spine.

When I had the opportunity to talk with one of the monks, I asked him about it. His response gave me much more to reflect upon. That prayer: "Come, Lord Jesus!" was more than their reason for rising early, it was their reason for their whole way of life!

Once more we are reminded about the meaning of a life of faith. Its purpose to prepare ourselves and those around us for the coming of Christ! Like the monks of Our Lady of the Genessee, we look each day for the Lord to return…and we work each day to help bring His kingdom more fully into our world!

Using the psalms, the Scriptures, silence and prayer, Evening Prayer promises to be a gentle oasis, a resting in God for the space of 30 minutes. In the midst of the hectic pace that some experience during this season, I hope you will give yourself the chance for some peace and prayerful calm as a way to prepare for Christ!

Fr. Dave Howell

11:00 a.m. Rite of Acceptance First Eucharist

7:00 p.m. Developing Our Relationship With God

(Adult Formation Room)

7:00 p.m. Youth Group Meeting

The Church begins the Church year by asking us to take a sober look at how we are living now. We all know that it is important to be prepared: ready for that meeting, ready for that test. What could be more important than being ready for Jesus Christ when He comes again? Our classes are all talking with the children about the meaning of Advent and of ways to help them prepare the way! Make the Advent wreath, Welcome Yule prayers or calendar a part of your family time of preparation, of waiting for Jesus.

December 5 — First Penance Parent meeting

December 10—Rite of Acceptance First Eucharist

Mary Mahar

As the holidays surround us, more of our friends and relatives will be coming to Church with us. If someone you know will be attending Mass for the first time in a long time please look for the special editions of Our Sunday Visitor: Coming Home for Christmas in the gathering area. This special issue will be available in the middle of December and focus on reuniting alienated Catholics and encouraging forgiveness and harmony within families affected by conflicts and separation. It includes articles on the "Top Ten Reasons to Come Back to Church", as well as "Making this Christmas a True Family Reunion." If you would like a copy sent to someone, please leave their name and address with me, and the "E" Team will see that they receive one.

On December 12^th, the Retirees’ Lunch Bunch will have their annual Christmas Brunch with Fr. Dave at 10:00 a.m. in the Adult Formation Room. Bring a dish to pass, memories to share and join us for some holiday cheer after the Tuesday morning Liturgy.

Just a reminder for anyone planning on using the parish kitchen, please reserve Saturday, December 9^th at 9:00 a.m. for the demonstration of the new convection oven. In the past couple of months we have been blessed with a new six-burner stove and oven, a new grill (still in the crate) and a new convection oven which should serve us well for the ever-increasing number of parish functions. If you are a member of a ministry team which normally uses the kitchen or are just curious as to how a commercial convection oven works, join us in the kitchen at 9:00 on the 9^th!

Sun., Dec. 3 Tim Houran, Joan Houran, Lisa Konieczka

Tues., Dec. 5 Kathleen LaTarte, Chris Reid, Cindy

Bisoski

Wed., Dec. 6 Linda Chevalier, Lisa Allen, Cindy

McNallen

Thurs., Dec. 7 Tom Askew, Josie Doucette

Fri., Dec. 8 Jim Chevalier, Pam Hurn, Chris Kovanda

Sat., Dec. 9 Theresa Wolterman

Bake Sale - Our Bake sale is next weekend. We hope to have enough goodies to sell at all 3 Masses. Time will tell and so will the amount of baked goods that are donated. Please drop your goodies off before Mass in the social hall. Thank you in advance for your donations and support.

Monday, December 11, we will be going to Ashley Court. We help the residents play bingo and win prizes. It is a fun time. Please consider joining us if you have not in the past. Afterward we have pizza and socialize.

Mark your calendars and sign up soon for our community service project to the Mary Lou Brown Mission on December 28 from 8:30am to noon.

There will be a Children’s Nativity Pantomime as a prelude to the 6:00pm Christmas Eve Mass. Children in grades K through 8 are welcome to participate. We will have at least four rehearsals beforehand. If you are interested in having your children participate, or in helping out in any way (costumes, crowd control, etc.!), please call or leave a message for Erin Wolfe (517-546-0417) or Ann Kehn (810-231-4343). In order to get an accurate idea of how many costumes will be needed, please call by December 4.

A big thank you to Maureen Ostrom for coordinating our Sunday nursery for the last four years and to her family for supporting her and for volunteering their time! Maureen has turned this over to me, and I am looking forward to it. Our parent-run nursery welcomes children from toddlerhood to pre-kindergarten at the 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday Masses. Thank you for your support!

Jamie Colgin

Twenty-five percent of the November alms box collection resulted in a check for $65 being sent to the Charity of the Month, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

The December Charity of the Month will be the St. Louis Center. The St. Louis Center is a caring, residential, family living and learning environment providing for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of boys and men with developmental disabilities. Remember that 25% of the Alms monies collected this month will be sent to the St. Louis Center in Chelsea, Michigan.

This is the last weekend to take a tag from the Christmas Giving Tree. There are seven charities that our St. Mary Magdalen Community will be providing gifts to. If you would like to help with this worthwhile holiday project, please take a tag(s) from the tree. Gifts should be wrapped and back under the tree by Dec. 10 (no bows please). Also, please make sure the tag is securely fastened on the gift.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY for Christmas! Each year the Salvation Army works to provide Christmas gifts and food certificates for families that are unable to meet the extra financial stress of the Christmas season. Consider adopting an entire family (small, medium, or large) and providing gifts for each member (about $75 each) and a gift certificate to a local grocery store for food. If the total expense is more than your family can afford, you might consider adopting a family with other friends or a group. Please contact the Salvation Army directly at 517-546-4750. They will share the sizes and genders of the family members that you adopt.

CLOTHING DRIVE BLESSINGS: In case you were wondering, that barn full of donations turned into 450 boxes of clothing, shoes, bedding were sorted and packed! Many groups pulled together to make this happen, including the Knights of Columbus, Youth Group, M.U.D., Family Religious Ed., and Charity and Justice Ministries. Two parishioner-owned companies provided trucks for transportation to Detroit Rescue Mission and Mary Lou Brown Ministries. They were Weingartz Equipment and SunGlo Restoration Services. A separate delivery of children's clothes went to Pregnancy Helpline. Mail Boxes Etc. and Farmer Jacks generously provided us with boxes.

This year, in addition to collecting clothing, 175 personal hygiene bags were assembled and given to the two missions. Several community businesses also donated to this project. They included V.G.'s, Skrown and Hamway D.D.S., Holiday Inn Express, and Staples. Barb Toth and Lillie Chont not only organized this clothing drive and spent endless hours sorting and packing, but they also donated many items needed for the personal hygiene bags. Thank you to all of you who played a role in this outreach. May your gifts be a wonderful blessing to those who receive them!

This year’s annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious again asks parishioners to share in the care of religious women and men who dedicated their lives to education, health care and social service ministry. Income and Social Security benefits of religious are only one-third of those of the average American and provide only 15 percent of costs of living and health care. Please give generously. The Fund has averaged a 98 percent return of donations to religious institutes.

MEN’S RETREAT - St. Mary Magdalen has obtained a retreat date for the men of the parish. Our Men’s Retreat is scheduled for the weekend of January 12-14, 2001. The theme for the retreat is "Packing for the Journey". This weekend retreat will look at some necessities for our suitcase on our faith journey, and suggest ways for us to continue the journey with vitality and dedication as Christian persons. Please contact Deacon Dave at the parish office, (810) 229-8624, if you are interested.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

PRECIOUS TIME ERRAND SERVICE

Walkers/Joggers join us December 9 at 10:00am at Kensington Park’s East Boat Launch!

This month we honor the Sanctity of Life. Please visit our display of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). FAS is the number one preventable cause of mental retardation in the United States. (Learn about the Michigan 7; one need not be an alcoholic to cause your fetus irreversible organic brain damage.)