~Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.~

Our weekly on-line newsletter keeping you updated on the latest news at St. Mary Parish.

If you have information or photos to be published in The Bells of St. Mary, please send your submissions to stmaryelyria@aol.com by noon on Wednesdays.

ST. MARY PARISH

In the Heart of the City since 1845 320 Middle Avenue—Elyria, Ohio 44035

440.323.5539 www.stmaryelyria.org

December 19, 2014

UPCOMING EVENTS

Free Christmas Dinner Thursday, December 25

Parish Hall 12pm-3pm

Attention Teens in 8th through 12th grade! Make plans to join us for the following TEEN JaM events: “Teen Choir Mass at St. Mary on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 4:30pm.

After Mass, we’ll be going to St. Jude for our Christmas Movie Night at 6pm.

Christmas Movie Night at St. Jude Rectory (basement) on Satur-day, Dec. 20 from 6-8pm. Join us for our 1st annual Christmas Movie Night. We’ll be watching “Elf”, snacking on some food, and just hanging out.

“SNOWFALL OF CASH” CALENDARS! SELL, SELL, SELL Calendars sell for $10 each and offer 31 chances to win cash prizes throughout January. If you sell all 10 calendars your name will be en-tered into a drawing for $1000 at the end of January. Additional calen-dars are available in the Parish Office and all returns must be received by December 31st to be eligible for the daily drawings. Good luck!

Please keep the following in your prayers This week please remember the intentions in our intention book, our family and friends in need, those who have fallen away from the Church, and those going through difficult times: Ann Lou, Betty, Carmen, Eli, Jim, LaVera, Maggie, Sharon, Tim, Todd, Tom and all who have asked for our prayers.

Free Christmas Dinner We still need volunteers for the 11:30 a.m.-1p.m. and 1 p.m. -2 p.m. time slots for our Christmas dinner. If you would be willing to help, you may contact the parish center or email stmaryelyria@aol.com. Thank you.

Dinner for St. Joseph Shelter And Jesus said……FEED THE HUNGRY This is our 12th year for taking dinner once a month to St. Joseph Catholic Overnight Shelter in Lorain. We serve pasta, any kind with meat, salad, bread or rolls and dessert. You are welcome to purchase or make any of those items. This note is always in the bulletin also. We serve the third Saturday of each month, December 20, 2014, January 17, February 21 and March 21st 2015. Thank you so very much. Call Maryann Ketchesin 440-458-6159.

Thank you! Thank you for all those who took part in our annual Christmas Giving Tree. Your generosity was much appreciated by the Genesis House, the Elyria Health Department, the Blessing House, Catholic Charities, and Birth Right.

1. Market Day ......................... Monthly

2. Hot Meals ......... 2nd, 3rd, 4th Tuesday

3. Christmas Dinner…........Dec.. 25

4. Hot Meals ...... 2nd Sunday of the Month

Volunteers are needed for the following activities during the months noted. If you are interested in sharing your talents, for these particular events please contact stmaryelyria@aol and your name will be given to the various committee chairs.

If there is a need for volunteers for your group or committee, please contact Angie Pluta at 323.5539 ext. 224 and that information will be added to the Volunteer Corner.

Your commitment to volunteer this year is essential in helping all at St. Mary Parish.

THE BELLS OF ST. MARY

Hats, Mittens, Scarves Thank you for donating to the Hat, Mittens, and Scarf Drive. We received two full baskets of items that Student Council took to the Hospitality House. Many people will now be warm this winter because of your generosity.

Christmas Programs Thursday, December 11 Mrs. McDonald and the students treated everyone to the Christmas music extravaganza “How to Build a Snowman”. The seventh grade boys were the hit of the night showing off their dance moves! Tuesday, December 16 Mrs. Ramsey and the band students played Christmas carols for all to enjoy.

Preschool and

Kindergarten

Preschool Christmas Program The preschoolers all dressed up to sing about the birth of Jesus. Mrs. Babb and Mrs. Plas prepared the preschool students well.

What do you like best about St. Mary School?

“St. Mary School provides a good education.”

“I like my friends and teachers.” “I like gym class.” “The spirit rallies are fun.” “Camp Chris was amazing!” “The holiday parties are good.” “Recess is fun.” “I enjoy the group projects we

do.”

What we are learning: Religion - Eucharist, Advent calendar Science - Biome Research Projects

English - Jingle Bell Journal - different types of writing

Literature - reading stories which include Native Americans culture

Math - long division

Social Studies - different cultures dioramas

Upcoming Class Events Jan. 5 Classes Resume Jan. 9 Mass Jan. 16 Spirit Day Jan. 19 No School Jan. 23 Report Cards

There are seven short verses sung before the Magnificat during the Evening Prayer of the Church on the seven days before the vigil of Christmas. They each begin with the exclamation “O”. Each of them ends with a plea for the Messiah to come. As Christmas approaches the cry becomes more urgent. The antiphons were composed in the seventh or eighth century when monks put together texts from the Old Testa-ment which looked forward to the coming of our salvation. They form a rich mosaic of scriptural images. These seven verses, or antiphons as they are called, appear to be the originals although from time to time other texts were used. They became very popular in the Middle Ages. While the monastic choirs sang the antiphons the great bells of the church were rung. A curious feature of these antiphons is that the first letter of each invocation may be taken from the Latin to form an acrostic in reverse. So the first letter of Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel, provide the Latin words: ERO CRAS. The phrase spells out the response of Christ himself to the heartfelt prayer of his people: “Tomorrow I will be there.” Why not join with the Prayer of the Church each evening and reflect on these words preparing for Christmas day by day:

O Sapientia - December 17 O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High. You fill the universe and hold all things together in a strong yet gentle manner. O come to teach us the way of truth.

O Adonai - December 18 O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.

O Radix Jesse - December 19 O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples ac-claim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay.

O Clavis David - December 20 O key of David and scepter of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close no one can open. O come to lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O Oriens - December 21 O Rising Sun, you are the splendor of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O Rex Gentium - December 22 O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man whom you make from clay.

O Emmanuel - December 23 O Emmanuel, you are our king and judge, the One whom the peoples await and their Savior. O come and save us, Lord, our God.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6

PSR 6:30-7:45 Sr. Luncheon 12-4 WR Advent Family Night 5-9pm WR

RCIA 7-9pm CR Choir 7-9pm UC

Eucharistic Adora-tion 8:30am-5pm LC Picture Retake Day Brownies 2:30-3:45 AR Daisy Scouts 6-7 GR Bible Study 7-9 L

Progress Reports go home

200 Club Dinner/Dance 5:30-11:30 PH

7 8 Immaculate Conception 9 10 11 12 13

Breakfast with Santa 7-1 PH Liturgy of the Word 9:30-10:30 GR Preschool PSR 10:30-12:15

All School Mass 8:30 UC PSR 6:30-7:45

Hot Meals 5-6 SC Cub Scouts 6:30-8 GR

RCIA 7-9pm CR Choir 7-9pm UC

Eucharistic Adora-tion 8:30am-5pm LC Christmas Program 7-9 PH

SMS Spirit Day

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Liturgy of the Word 9:30-10:30 GR Preschool PSR 10:30–12:15 4th Grade Class Mass 11:00 Hot Meals 5-6pm SC

Reconciliation Gr. 6 12:30 UC PSR 6:30-7:45pm

Preschool Christ-mas Program 10-12 LC Hot Meals 5-6 SC Band Concert 7-9 PH Revisiting Our Faith Traditions 7-9 CR

Advent Prayer Service 1-2 UC RCIA 7-9pm CR Choir 7-9pm UC

Eucharistic Adora-tion 8:30am-5pm LC A&R Christmas Tureen 10:30 WR Brownies 2:30-3:45 AR Daisy Scouts 6-7 GR

Blood Pressures Fairtrade 4:30-5:30 WR

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

BP Fairtrade 8:30-12:30 WR Liturgy of the Word 9:30-10:30 Preschool PSR

NO SCHOOL Hot Meals 5-6 SC NO SCHOOL

NO SCHOOL Set up for Christ-mas Dinner 9-11 PH

Christmas Dinner 12-3 NO SCHOOL

NO SCHOOL

28 29 30 31

NO SCHOOL Hot Meals 5-6 SC NO SCHOOL

NO SCHOOL

Legend: UC= Upper Church; LC=Lower Church; GR= Green Room; WR= Weigand Room; CR= Conference Room; SR=Staff Room; PH= Parish Hall; SC= School Cafeteria; L=Library; AR= Art Room; SJB= St. Joseph Building CL= Cahill Library Blue text are events involving the school.