Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 24, 2017

Immaculate Conception Parish

Fairbank Iowa 50629

Today’s Readings 2 Samuel 7:1-16

Psalm 89:2-29 Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

Celebrate Life!

Welcome! We are so very glad

you are here with us

“Then the angel said to her ‘Do not be afraid, Mary.” (Luke 1:30) Sometimes it can be frightening to embark upon a big change in life – a birth, a death, changing a job, retirement…Call to mind a fear from the past or a current one. Trust that sharing it with your beloved will be safe.

…. To all who provided items for the Military care packages and to all who helped divide the goods into packages. We sent out six care packages to our family members in the military and a couple packages to adopted military members through a service program for those who won’t be home for Christmas. …. To all who provided the delicious cookies for the Christmas Care bags for our shut ins, and to all who helped prepare the bags. Family taking care of family. ….To our young people who presented the Stations of the Crib so beautifully and to all who attended. …. To our children, catechists, and musicians for the wonderful Christmas pageant after Mass last Sunday. And to the helpers in the kitchen who served cookies and hot chocolate afterwards! …. To Don & Glenda Brandt, Denny & Paula Farrington, Bob & Jean Bellis, Mark & Diane Rourke, Lynn Plaster, and Benny Ruehs for decorating and preparing the church for Christmas. We especially thank Lynn Plaster her beautiful work done displaying the crib and nativity scene. Merry Christmas to all! …. To the December Guild Group Mike & Sandy Tagtow, Mark & Diane Rourke, and Glenda Kane for their hard work last Monday evening cleaning the church …. To the ‘walkers’ for their generous donation to the parish capital campaign for the use of the hall this winter. Much appreciated!

One year during Advent, our parish priest invited us to write down on a slip of paper a word that named some- thing that is keeping us from getting closer to God. He

suggested it might be a fear, a resentment, or an attitude that shuts us off from the love God so wants to give. We were to fold the paper over a few times, grasp it tightly in one hand, and make a fist around it while he began to preach on the Scripture readings. After a minute, my hand began to ache. At two minutes, my hand grew numb. At three minutes, the hand started shaking uncontrollably. He told us to open our hands. I found how hard it was to do that. After grasping the piece of paper so tightly, my hand had stiffened and seemed to have a mind of its own. I can’t remember what else he said that day, but I have never forgotten that lesson. Hold on to a resentment, fear, or bad attitude long enough and you will become paralyzed. As I begin Advent every year now, I start with the realization that I need to let go of any and all spiritual impediments I’m hanging onto. Advent is a time of receiving. It’s hard to receive if your hands are clasped shut. So I begin Advent once again with this prayer: “Holy Spirit of God, open my hands, my eyes, my ears, all my senses, and all of my heart so I will be ready to receive your Advent blessings.” And then I sit there in the Advent darkness, my hands open before me, waiting on God.

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Lord, We Lift Up to You in Prayer…. Don Reiter (Angie Auel’s father), Sr. Barbara Rastatter, LoE Miller, Carol Brandt, Mary Martins, Sherry Duffy, Jim Kaufman Sr., Kevin Coffin, Fr. Anthony Sloan, Mary Ellen Youngblut, Edith Duffy, Pat Miller, Lisa Dolan (niece of Ed &

Donna Sadler), victims of hatred, racism, violence, terrorism, natural disaster; and all in our parish, our community, and our hearts who are suffering and in need of Christ’s healing touch May they know His loving Presence in the hands and hearts of those who give them care.

May our prayers for help and healing rise like incense to our God of hope, love and mercy.

Please keep the poor, the homeless, and the hungry in your prayers, remembering that Poverty & Hunger know no season.

Contact the parish office to have a loved one here in our prayers, or to have a name removed

COMMUNION TO OUR SICK OR HOMEBOUND Ministry:

contact Diane Wenger at 319-269-2553 or Michelle Weepie 319-635-2428 I C PARISH PRAYER CHAIN HOTLINE: Please contact

Dorothy E. Duffy (Mrs. Jack) at 319-929-4788 SACRAMENT OF THE SICK ~ Anointing for the seriously ill or dyng, call the Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743,

or if having surgery speak with Father Atwood in the Sacristy before or after Mass BAPTISM CLASS FOR PARENTS: Parents of Immaculate

Conception parish who wish to have their child baptized are required to attend this baptism class to prepare them for the celebration and the living of this sacrament, even if you have taken the class previously for another child’s baptism.

The next scheduled class is Saturday, February 17 in the

Sacred Heart Parish Center, Oelwein, at 8:30 with Deacon Jim. Contact your parish office to sign up for the next class. I C CEMETERY – contact the parish office FUNERAL DINNERS: Group #1: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

We provide desserts & serve a catered meal FOR RENTAL OF THE PARISH CENTER Please contact Tammy Kaufman to inquire about renting the parish center. She will be happy to help you! Normal parish

use of the center will still run through the parish office. Phone 319-404-9071 or email her at tammy.kaufmanic@gmail.com

I C Staff

~ Fr. Ray Atwood, Pastor ~ Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743

IC Parish Office on Wednesday Mornings after 8AM Mass Rectory 319-283-9577

email: dbq151@dbqarch.org

~ Deacon Jim Patera ~ Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743

~Jennifer Ciesielski, IC Secretary/Bookkeeper~ I C PARISH OFFICE PH: 319-635-2211

I C Parish Office hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00AM–1:00PM located at 405 Fairbank St

Mailing address: P O BOX 505 FAIRBANK IA 50629 email: icfairbank@gmail.com

website/bulletin: http://icfairbank.weebly.com/

~Dan & Lynda Cutsforth, DRE & Youth Ministry~ DRE OFFICE PH :319-635-2211

located in the Parish Center at 405 Faribank St Mailing address: P O Box 505, Fairbank IA 50629

Dan email: dcutsforth@dunkerton.k12.ia.us Lynda email: cutsforthlynda@yahoo.com

~Tammy Kaufman, Facility Rental Coordinator~ PH: 319-404-9071

or email tammy.kaufmanic@gmail.com

HOMILY NOTES: What did I hear that I would like to

remember or ponder later?

The 2017 Financial Books will be closed by end of day, December 31, 2017. End of year or last minute

donations must be postmarked no later than Dec 31, 2017, or received in the Sunday Collection Dec 31, 2017. Any donations postmarked later or received later will be posted to 2018 contributions. Thank you for helping preserve the integrity of your parish.

$The end of tax year 2017 is approaching sooner than we

realize! Just like looking in your rear view mirror – everything is closer than it appears! You may want to consider making the most of 2017’s tax deduction credits! Sounds like they are going the way of the dinosaur! Please consider giving to the parish center capital campaign to help lessen the debt. We have all benefited and have enjoyed the use of the new building, so maybe now some of the previous reluctant or skeptical parishioners would like to reconsider helping pay for the building.

Attn: NCYC Stock Holders! Please RSVP for the Share-holders Appreciation Dinner set for January 3rd at 6:30PM in the parish hall. 319-635-2211

May the Wonder of that first Christmas,

the Joy of God’s abundant blessings,

and the Peace of Jesus’ presence

be with you always.

Stewardship in His Name….

In the first reading, God promises King David that his house and his kingdom will endure forever. It is through Mary’s “Yes” — “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” — that the promise finds fulfillment. See Luke 1:38

Parish Financial $upport December 17-22 Budget $ 3037.00 Offertory 162.00 Youth 11.00 Capital Campaign 2862.50 Regular Building Fund 235.00 Christmas 360.00 IC Holy Day 10.00 Memorials to Parish Center Debt 2000.00

Thank You!

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS Sun Dec 24 8:30AM I C Al Matthews

Sun Dec 24 NO 10:30AM at SH Christmas Eve – Sunday December 24th 4:00PM at Sacred Heart Deceased Stasi/Troupe 6:30PM at I C Orville Kleitsch Christmas Day – Monday December 25th 8:30AM at I C Johnny Wenger 10:30AM at Sacred Heart Carissa Smith

NO Masses Tuesday or Wednesday this week Thur Dec 28 8:00AM SH Kimberly Ann Gibney Fri Dec 29 8:00AM SH For the People Sat Dec 30 4:30PM SH Russo/Frazer Families

Sun Dec 31 8:30AM I C Wally & Milly Kaufman Sun Dec 31 10:30AM SH

Solemnity of Mary Sunday December 31 4:00PM Sacred Heart Sunday December 31 6:00PM I C Shirley Buzynski

Monday January 01 9:00AM Sacred Heart

~MINISTRY SCHEDULES~ SUNDAY, December 24 at 8:30AM Lector: Kevin Bodensteiner EMHC 2 bread & 2 cup : Deacon Jim, Brennah Weepie

Anita Destival, Duane Schmidtke Servers: Kaylie Curley & Blayde Bellis Cantor: Tony Salisbury Organist: --- Gifts: Maury & Diane Shields Money Counters: Mitch & Jean Sauerbrei, Randy & Glenda Kleitsch

Christmas Eve ~ SUNDAY, December 24 at 6:30PM Lector: Don Brandt EMHC 2 bread & 2 cup : Deacon Jim, Jean Bellis

Michelle Weepie, Lori Beierschmitt Servers: Max Kayser & Melody Kayser Cantor: Kim Weepie Organist: Roxanne/CHOIR Gifts: Zimmerman Family

Christmas Day ~ MONDAY, December 25 at 8:30AM Lector: Jean Bellis EMHC 2 bread & 2 cup : Diane Wenger & 3 Volunteers! Servers: Emma Cutsforth, Mary Bodensteiner Cantor: Bob Byersdorfer Organist: Roxanne Gifts: Gary & Irene Peyton Money Counters will count offerings from Christmas Eve & Christmas Day: Tom Kleitsch, Susan Shannon, Mary Ann Kleitsch

SUNDAY, December 31 at 8:30AM Lector: Dan Cutsforth EMHC 2 bread & 2 cup: Kevin Bodensteiner, Diane Rourke

Gary & Irene Peyton Servers: Dallas Wittenburg & Preston Weepie Cantor: Kim Weepie Organist: Roxanne/CHOIR Gifts: Don & Glenda Brandt Money Counters: Tom Kleitsch, Susan S. & Mary Ann K.

Solemnity of Mary ~ SUNDAY December 31 at 6:00PM Lector: Kelly Cummings EMHC: Jean Bellis & Elaine Zimmerman Servers: Ella Weepie & Kaylee Kleitsch HOSPITALITY PEOPLE FOR DECEMBER

Rick Woods, Carson Woods, Joe & Dianne Rubino, Adam Kaufman,

PLEASE VOLUNTEER YOUR HOSPITALITY MINISTRY FOR THE CHRISTMAS MASSES IF YOU SEE THAT WE NEED ASSISTANCE!!! We want everyone to feel welcome!

Please notify the office of dates you will not be available for ministry for January.

Our Deepest Sympathy & Prayers to….. William & Lori Smith for the loss of their son

Alex Smith Those we love remain with us,

for love itself lives on.

Cherished memories never

fade because one loved is gone.

Those we love can never be

more than a thought apart,

for as long as there’s a memory

they live on in our hearts We believe that all the ties of

Background on today’s Gospel This Sunday we read the story of the

angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus. This story is found only in Luke’s Gospel. We reflect upon Mary’s example of faith and obedience to God, traits which permitted her to receive the angel’s message that God’s Son would be born as a human person, as one of us.

We are familiar with the story of the Annunciation. The angel Gabriel visited Mary, a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph. Mary greeted the angel’s news with awe and wonder and asked how it could be possible that she could give birth to a child. In his reply, the angel Gabriel announced the seemingly impossible reality: the child to be born would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and would be God’s own Son. The angel reported to Mary another miracle; her relative Elizabeth was also pregnant despite having been thought to be unable to have a child. Mary’s response to the angel, which is called her fiat, is an example of complete faith and obedience to God.

God chose a human person to give birth to his Son so that all humanity would know God’s salvation. Mary, already full of God’s grace, was able to cooperate in this great plan for our salvation. Thus Jesus was born as one of us, fully human and also fully divine. This is the mystery we prepare to celebrate at Christmas, the mystery of the Incarnation. In the model of Mary, we pray that we will be people of faith who recognize God’s saving plan for us and are able respond with obedience.

Dear Padre

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as a Freshman at www.mtmercy.edu/apply There is no application fee. File the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov no later than June 30, 2018. Students who are admitted to Mount Mercy University and meet the income limits automatically qualify for the scholarship. Play 500 & Euchre Tues & Thurs at 6:30PM at Parkview Assisted Living January 14 Sunday Breakfast of pancakes, biscuits & gravy, sausage, ham, and scrambled eggs at the Aurora Legion Hall Adult Renewal Opportunity: Giving up chocolate for Lent? How

about a weekend of renewal instead that will do so much more than that chocolate and will help you experience the fullness of life that Christianity has to offer? Treat yourself to the CEW (Christian Experience Weekend) at the American Martyrs Retreat Center in Cedar Falls this February 2 -4. You won’t regret giving up the weekend away from the daily struggles. A CEW includes inspirational talks, discussions, various prayer services, as well as your own personal time. This particular CEW will include both men and women, and private rooms. Registration brochures are available on the vestibule table.