The Second Sunday of Advent
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
As human beings, we can find beauty in almost anything. Every blade of grass, every snow-capped peak, every crooked smile on a child’s face bears the fingerprint of the Creator. “Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made” (Rom 1:20). And that's simply because everything which exists, exists because the Lord maintains it in existence and so everything has an echo of divine beauty in it! Even the things we ourselves make—our art, our cities, our little backyard gardens—persist only because God sustains them and, in His mercy, sustains our freedom along with them. In itself, that’s a consoling and beautiful idea.
BUT even if we come to appreciate some things and even if God sustains our free will by causing our creations to persist, not all things are SUPPOSED TO BE. Even, St John the Baptist implies, the mountains!
I LOVE mountains... I've hiked the Appalachians, the Sangre de Cristos in New Mexico, the Cantabrians in Spain, the Pyrenees in France, and the foothills of the Scottish Highlands. BUT Baruch in the Old Testament and John the Baptist in the Gospels say the mountains need to be leveled…
“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain” (Is 40:4; cf. Lk 3:5).
So where does that put us... Do we take that literally and invest in mining equipment? Do we disregard it as something meaninglessly symbolic or directed only to John's own disciples?
Do we understand it as directed toward each and every Christian in every age? What about that stuff in our world - in our lives - that we've HAD to come to love and HAD to LEARN to appreciate and to find goodness in? Are those the mountains John is speaking of? Are they the valleys?
In seminary, a classmate and I got into a debate about teaching... He argued that it would be better for the priest NOT to teach the whole gospel because it would be better for people to come to realizations on their own... I'm sure people who have come to religious realizations on their own value that experience of intuition, but given the option would they prefer to have been told directly?
In my life, I LOVE the simplicity and peaceful quiet. (Y'all, if anybody asks, I LOVE THIS PARISH!) BUT what if the Lord says that preparing the way for him in my heart means changing even that which seems unchangeable - even those things that I like and appreciate and consider to be good.
In your lives? What parts of your lives would be willing to upend for the Lord? More importantly, which would you NOT be willing to upend? I'm not talking about things which would be vaguely inconvenient - like putting aside a hobby or taking up a new spiritual discipline or program... I mean a leveling-the-mountain kind of change like becoming a missionary for a year or stepping up to volunteer at the Church or leading a bible study or book club or something that really demands from you.
Rather than worry about what they might be, the thing to ask yourself is what you're UNwilling to change for the Lord. That’s a powerful measure of your own self-honesty and of where your spiritual life is!
In many ways, Jesus comes to us as a child because He's asking us to be willing to upend our lives in the same way having a newborn in the house upends our lives - our whole lives. And just as the family and the newborn find a balance, so the Lord is flexible and understanding, but also demanding. He wants what's best for us, even if we don't. And what's best for us almost always means removing some self-destructive aspects of our lives which are not in our best interest.
Whether or not God calls us to some dramatic and life-upending change (probably not), if we call ourselves Christians, we need to be willing to hear and answer that call. Holiness and our salvation depends upon that willingness!
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Mary Agnes York and Gail Graugnar/family
- Sun 8:00a (Traditional Latin Mass) PRO POPULO for the living & deceased members of our parish
- Sun 9:30a For a special intention of the Guizerix family
- Mon 9:30a In memory of Joe Farlow/Bellard
- Mon 5:30p In memory of Kathleen Mills/Massey family
- Tues 9:30a In memory of Carol Folk LaHitte/P Lancaster
- Wed 9:30a In memory of Dale Magoun (anni death)/family
- Thu 9:30a In memory of Angela Canizaro/Boothe
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Joseph & Louise Testa (anni)/Magoun
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat & Marleigh Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva & RL Reynolds/Bullard
- Sun 9:30a In memory of deceased members of Bolton and Howington families
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Vicki Morelli
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lector(s) | EMHC(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/6 5:30p | - | A Dawson | N Ernst |
| 12/7 9:30a | Mary Katherine, Maura, Elizabeth | B Sullivan | - |
| 12/13 5:30p | - | A Farlow | A Keene |
| 12/14 9:30a | Cooper & Courtland | K Collins | - |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Morning Catechism in the Hall (with Coffee & Donuts) after the 9:00a Mass during the School Year unless otherwise indicated
- Dec 6-7 First Sunday Benediction following regular Mass
- Dec 7 Community Cantata and Fireworks display - 6p at First Baptist Church
- Dec 8 Holy Day of Obligation-Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception-Mass at 9a & 5:30p
- Dec 14 Angel Tree gifts should be delivered to Church Hall
- Dec 21 Birthday Party for Jesus following Sunday Mass in Church Hall
- Dec 21 Adult Christmas Party - 6p in Church Hall - see notes elsewhere in bulletin
For Your Information:
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Christmas is a Holy Day of Obligation. As an experiment this year and because of our increased numbers, our Christmas schedule will be a little different:
- Christmas Eve (Wed, Dec 24) 4:00p Simple Mass without Music
- Christmas Eve (Wed, Dec 24) 6:00p Main Mass with Music, Caroling beforehand, Blessing of Creche
- Christmas Day (Thu, Dec 25) 9:30a Mass (in Latin)
Note: due to single digit attendance at Mass on Christmas Morning for the past several years, there will be no English Mass on Christmas Day. All are welcome to attend the Latin Mass.
BENEDICTION of the Most Blessed Sacrament will conclude all Masses this weekend.
MONDAY, DEC 8 is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is the national feast day of the United States of America. Masses will be offered at 9a and 5:30p.
CHRISTMAS CANTATA & FIREWORKS DISPLAY will begin at 6p this Sunday evening at the First Baptist Church of Tallulah on Hwy 80. Several members of our congregation, including the vocal stylings of Messrs. Mike Rome and Michael Lancaster and Mrs. Mary Kathryn Book. There is no cost for the performance.
ANGEL TREE items should be returned to the Church Hall by Sunday, December 14. If you were unable to take a gift tag, you can make a monetary gift to be used for personal care items, a religious book, and food items for family food baskets. (Cash gifts may be put in the collection basket, given to Father Ryan, or left at the church office.) Special thanks to our coordinators, Dana Hamilton and Dana Dukes, for their hard work!
THE CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR JESUS will be Sunday, December 21 in the Church Hall after Mass and in place of Sunday Catechism. Thanks to Kendra Collins for her hard work again this year. If you would like to help out, please contact Kendra, Father Ryan, or the Church Office.
OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY (for adult parishioners and their guests) will be on Sunday, December 21 beginning around 6p in the Parish Hall. Stephenie Marsh and Shannon Woods will give leadership to the event if you have questions. Participants may bring chips, dips, and other finger food.Thanks in advance to all those helping out!
VOLUNTEER NEEDED Fr Ryan is looking for a volunteer to head up the Parish Community working group for our pastoral council. The position is all about checking in via email/phone/text with those leading projects like the Angel Tree, Birthday Cards, and Quarterly Socials to make sure everything is on track and on time. It requires minimal work or time, but does need someone who is organized. This person would be welcome but certainly not required to attend Pastoral Council meetings. If you’re interested, please let Fr Ryan know.
ENVELOPES for CHRISTMAS FLOWERS AND PONSETTIAS can be found at the entrance to the church. You can make donations “In Memory of” (deceased) or “In Honor of” (living) if you would like to do so. Please place envelopes in the collection or return them to Fr Ryan or the church office.
Stewardship We must be good stewards of God’s gifts to us, receiving them gratefully and cultivating them with care lest we be the ones about whom John the Baptist speaks today: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for our once monthly Building Fund.
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2025-2026 | $ 2,500 |
| October Budget | $ 10,000 |
| October Collections | $ 12,517 |
| October Expenses | $ 11,629 |
| November Budget | $ 12,500 |
| November 30 Collection | $ 2,944 |
| Collections To Date | $ 19,910 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Nick & Chris Hall (Dec 7), Norman Ernst (Dec 12), Ashlyn Naya (Dec 12), Katherine Ernst Bedgood (Dec 14)
Happy Anniversary Nap & MaryKathryn Book (Dec 14)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
For our Pope, Leo XIV, our Bishop, Robert Marshall; and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, under full-time care and for those who care for them, and for those otherwise in need of our prayers: MaryKathryn & Nap Book, Chris, Susan, and David Cagnolatti, Connie & Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan & Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret & Pat Gilfoil,Terry Farlow Hall, Sidney & Mary Jane Johnson, Frances & Bill Kennedy, Ed Mills, Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Mike & Sue Rome, Lori Sullivan
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Marie Farlow Bellard, Martha Book, Kay Boolos (S Gilfoil), Dick & Sue Boyd (S Gilfoil), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Gayle Brown (Dukes and Oliver), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Caroline and Albert Christman, Jeannie & Donald Collins, Teresa Carney Condra, Jami Cook (Wilks), Craig Cox, Gene Cox, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Fred and Cathy Fulton, Morgan, Alex, and Palmer Gilfoil, Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), LaVonne Givens, Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Patricia Lively (Wilks), Lonnie Hollowell (Naya), Charles Howington, Callie Halbach Hyams, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Diane Johnson, Carla Leese (S Gilfoil), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Boyce Miller,Cole Norris, Randy Parker, Russell and Betty Petersen, David Peterson, Quintin Purvis, John Neill, Bailey, Scott, and Tiffney Rome, Sara and Jess Shields (Keene), Debbie Kedrick Sims, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Randy Watts, Jr.
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Henry Ellerbee, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, EmmyLu Marsh, Charlize Richardson, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Chandler Wood, Marsh Wood
