3rd Sunday of Advent

16 December, 2018

Immaculate Conception Parish

Fairbank Iowa 50629

Today’s Readings Zephaniah 3:14-18

Isaiah 12:2-6

Phillippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:10-18

Marriage Building Blocks “He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.” (Is

61:1) Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent,

reminds us of God’s gift of joy (“gaudium” in Latin) no

matter what trials we are experiencing in our family.

Thank you ….to all the generous souls who took an

ornament (or two) from The Family Christmas Giving Tree

and went shopping to help fulfill the wishes

and needs of children of local families who

could use a little assistance this Christmas.

Blessings on you.

Next Sunday after mass we are decorating the church and

getting it ready for the upcoming Christmas festivities.

We encourage everyone who can, to stay and help.

The 2018 Financial Books will be closed by end of day, December 31, 2018. End of year or last minute donations

must be postmarked no later than Dec 31, 2018, or received in the Sunday Collection Dec 31, 2018. Any donations postmarked later or received later will be posted to 2019 contributions. Thank

you for helping preserve the integrity of your parish.

New Year’s Eve Retreat

December 31, 2018 – January 1, 2019 Join us, December 31-January 1 at the AMRH to celebrate New

Year’s Eve in a sacred way. People of all ages, single, dating

and couples are invited.

Retreat Director: Deacon Len Froyen

Theme: Making Gratitude an Intention of the Heart

The fee for the retreat is $65.00 per person. As a “thank you” to

the DREAMERS, they may deduct $5.00 if they worked on the

DREAM weekend! Arrival is at 5:00 p.m. New Year’s Eve and

departure at 11:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

To register or with further questions, contact the American

Martyrs Retreat House 319-266-3543 or email

DBQAMRHsec@DBQArch.org

.

I C STAFF ~ Fr. Ray Atwood, Pastor ~

IC Parish Office Wednesday Mornings after 8AM Mass Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743

Sacred Heart Rectory 319-283-9577 email: dbq151@dbqarch.org

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

~Glenda Kleitsch IC Secretary/Bookkeeper~

I C Parish Office PH: 319-635-2211 located at 405 Fairbank St I C Parish Office hours:

Mon-Thurs 8AM – 3PM Closed Friday Mailing address: P O BOX 505 Fairbank IA 50629

email: icfairbank@gmail.com website: http://icfairbank.weebly.com/

Archdiocesan website: www.dbqarch.org

~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

Lord, We Lift Up to You in Prayer…. Joe Bovy, Leo Wickman, Leo Beierschmitt, Lindsey Ernst,

Fr.Anthony Sloan, Mary Ellen Youngblut .Pat Miller,Don

Reiter (Angie Auel’s father), , Sr. Barbara Rastatter, Jim

Kaufman Sr., , Sherry Duffy, Don Brandt, Mary Ann Ryan,

Ellie Shimp, Lisa (Sadler) Dolan, Melvin Sadler, Lisa Koile

Schares, victims of hatred, racism, violence, natural disaster;

terrorism, 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 eyes, 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. 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: All parents who wish to

have their child baptized at Immaculate Conception parish are required to attend a baptism class prior to scheduling the baptism.

I C Cemetery – contact the parish office

Funeral Dinners: Group #2: May, June, July, Aug.

We provide desserts & serve a catered meal

For Rental Of The Parish Center : contact Tammy

Kaufman to inquire about renting the parish center.

Stewardship in His Name…. Today’s Gospel provides a blueprint for good

stewardship: “Let the man who has two coats give to him

who has none. The man who has food should do the

same.”

December Calendar Sun Dec 16 Christmas program (after Mass) Sun Dec 16 9th Grade Hosts (Donut Sunday) Sun Dec 16 Parish Guild Meeting (after Mass) Mon Dec 17 Office closed (Staff mtg) 9AM to 11AM Wed Dec 19 Volunteer Hall clean/maintenance 9:30 AM Wed Dec 19 NCYC Fundraiser Soup Supper 5:30-7:00 PM Sun Dec 23 Decorating Church/Cleaning Church after Mass

Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve – Monday December 24th 4:00PM at Sacred Heart (the only eve Mass at SH) 6:00PM at I C (the only eve Mass at IC) Christmas Day – Tuesday December 25th 8:30AM at Immaculate Conception 10:30AM at Sacred Heart December 26 – Wed No Mass Mon Dec 31 New Years Mass SH 4:00 PM IC 6:00 PM

Our children in the religious education classes will present their Christmas Program after Mass today retelling that

wonderful story of long ago of the humble birth of a baby who would save us from our sins. Listen and let your hearts be filled with the peace, love, and joy of the Christ child’s birth. Coffee and donuts will be served in the hall after Mass. A balanced diet is a donut in each hand.

January Calendar Sat Jan 5 First Saturday 8:00 AM Sun Jan 6 Peanut Butter Sunday Wed Jan 9 Pastoral/Financial Meeting 5:30 PM Wed Jan 16 NCYC Fundraiser Spaghetti Supper 5:30 – 7 PM Sun Jan 20 10th Graders class hosts/ Donut Sunday

~MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS~ Sun Dec 16 8:30 AM IC Marie Allen Sun Dec 16 10:30AM SH For The People

Mon Dec 17 8:00AM SH Robert Bergman

Wed Dec 19 8:00 AM IC Tami Kleitsch (Jim) Thurs Dec 20 8:00 AM SH Marilyn Ralls Fri Dec 21 8:45 AM SH Bernard Vela Sat Dec 22 4:30 PM SH Gerald Lamphere & Lucille Keppler Sun Dec 23 8:30 AM IC Don & Thomas Even Sun Dec 23 10:30 AM SH For the People

~MINISTRY SCHEDULES~ SUNDAY, Dec 16 at 8:30 AM Lector: 9th Graders EM 2 Hosts & 2 Cup: Deacon Jim, Lori Beierschmitt

Diane Rourke, Michelle Weepie Servers: 9th Graders Cantor: Kim Weepie Organist: Roxanne Woods Gifts: 9th Graders Money Counters: Rex & Glenda Kane, Duane & Renae Fenske

SUNDAY, Dec 23 at 8:30 AM Lector: Kelly Cummings EM 2 Hosts & 2 Cup: Deacon Jim, Paula Schares

Joe & Dianne Rubino Servers: Mary Bodensteiner, Wally Kaufman Cantor: Kim Weepie Organist: Roxanne Woods Gifts: Curt & Kay Vorwald Money Counters: Mitch & Jean Sauerbrei, Susi LaRue& Julia

Monday, Dec 24 (Christmas Eve) at 6:00 PM Lector: Dan Cutsforth EM 2 Hosts & 2 Cup: Jean Bellis,

Joe & Cheryl Kleitsch Servers: Brock Kleitsch, Ella Weepie Cantor: Kim Weepie Organist: Roxanne Woods Gifts: Curt & Kay Vorwald Money Counters:

Tuesday, Dec 25 (Christmas Day) at 8:30 AM Lector: Jean Bellis EM 2 Hosts & 2 Cup: Paula Schares, Lori Beierschmitt

Janice Martins, Duane Schmidtke Servers: Krayton Zimmerman & Preston Weepie Cantor: Kim Weepie Organist: Roxanne Woods Gifts: Randy & Jody Woods Money Counters: Mary Ann Kleitsch, Tom Kleitsch

HOSPITALITY PEOPLE FOR DECEMBER

Bob Bellis, Mitch Sauerbrei, John Even John W Even, Mike Buenzow, Brody Stark

Dallas Wittenburg December 16 – 9th Graders

Thank you to Bonnie Duffy family for the two wheelchairs to use in the hall and church donated in memory of Galen Duffy

Parish Financial $upport Dec 9- Dec 13 Budget $7282 Offertory $246 Youth $6 Building Fund $218 Christmas $925 Pledge Installments $300 Donations $70

Fol Christmas Flowers for Immaculate Conception Church – 2018 Advent once again and the Church will soon be decorated for the Christmas Season. If you would like to make a donation toward the cost of the poinsettias in memory or honor of someone, please complete this form and turn in to the office via the collection, drop box, or mail, along with your donation. Suggested donation is a minimum of $5 per name or family. Deadline for requests is Wednesday, December 18th for publication in the Christmas bulletin. Please indicate ‘memory’ or ‘honor’ In Memory or Honor of:___________________________________________________________________________ In Memory or Honor of:___________________________________________________________________________ Donor Contact Name & Phone #_____________________________________________________________________

Background on the Gospel Reading Luke 3: 10-8 This Sunday's Gospel continues last week's focus on

John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for

Christ. Recall that last week's reading described John's

appearance in the desert and established his connection

with the prophetic tradition of Israel. If we were to read

Luke's Gospel continuously, we would learn about

John the Baptist challenging the crowds who came to

him and calling upon them to show evidence of their

repentance. John tells his listeners that they cannot rely

on their lineage as Israelites because children of

Abraham can be raised up from stones. Repentance,

rather, must be observable in one's actions. Here, Luke

is continuing to set up two important themes of his

Gospel message: the Christian faith is expressed in

one's actions, and the call to salvation is extended to

everyone, Jews and Gentiles.

In today's Gospel reading, the crowds ask John the

Baptist for specifics. What evidence of repentance is

required? John replies by naming concrete actions:

crowds should share their food and cloaks; tax

collectors should be just; soldiers should act fairly. The

concern for justice is a hallmark of Luke's Gospel.

When the crowd begins to wonder if John the Baptist

might be the Messiah, John interprets his baptism and

makes it clear that his ministry is in preparation for the

Messiah. John the Baptist knows his place and role in

God's plan of salvation. By encouraging the crowd to

act similarly in accordance with their stations in life,

John's teaching suggests that each person has a role to

play in God's salvation. It is the great mystery of our

salvation that God permits and even asks for human

cooperation in his divine plans.

The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete

Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word that means “rejoice.”

This name is taken from the entrance antiphon for

Sunday's Mass, which is also echoed in today's second

reading from the Paul's letter to the Philippians. Some

people mark this Sunday by lighting a pink candle

instead of a purple one on their Advent wreath. It is a

reminder that the Advent season is a season of joy

because our salvation is already at hand. Taken from Loyola Press Sunday Connection

Homily Notes: What did I hear that I would like to remember or think about later??

Lost in the Parish Hall: Battery for Camera, please contact the office if you happen to see it in the hall. Thanks

Dear Padre

Play 500 & Euchre Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30PM @ Parkview

Helping Hands Clothing Closet in Buck Creek 2029 Viking Ave/ V56,

Sumner…. Thank you to everyone for donations of clothing and to those who

have given us monetary donations. Monetary donations are used to purchase items not donated and keep a supply of new underwear and socks for our clients. Helping Hands Clothing Closet will be closed Tuesday, December 25 and Wednesday, December 26th .

Sunday Breakfast – Sunday, December 9, 8:00 -12:00;

Aurora Legion & Auxiliary; serving pancakes, biscuits & gravy, sausage, ham & scrambled eggs

Lights in the Park; Sumner City Park; Free fun for the whole family;

Daily 5- 9PM November 18 – January 2

Blue Christmas Service; Fairbank Methodist Church; Friday, Dec 21, 2018

at 5:00 PM Open to everyone. Bring your grief, tears, losses, and fears that you may find some comfort, peace, and solace.