Spirit of the Eagle – December 2014

Spiritual Tidbits for December from Father Tim
December has arrived! Tis the season to be jolly! The Christ child comes and there is no better time for us to be children as well. As Christians we need to slow down and enjoy this time of hope, love, joy, and peace. Worldly people will join the Xmas rush of the noisy flight; Christians will experience a breathtaking hush of the silent night. Please take time during this holy season and draw closer to family and friends. This is a wonderful time of the year to bring them into your heart, bring them closer to the Christ Child, and bring them to Holy Church.

“He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness.” — Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Let’s share the happiness of this special season with all we come together with.

Merry Christmas. ~ Father Tim

December Spirituality Classes
Please join us in December after each Mass on Sunday as we continue to watch, read, and discuss Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. In this five-session, video based study, Ann encourages participants to take on the life-changing discipline of journaling God’s gifts — to really look at life and find the good in it. It’s only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have that we discover the life we’ve always wanted … A life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. And only then can we come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved — by God. We recently used this material in the September one day Women’s Retreat, but did not have near enough time to do it justice. You can preview Ann’s material at www.aholyexperience.com and explore her web page. Be sure to play the beautiful music at the top of the page while you browse. ~ Father Tim

A Wonderful Christmas Present!
Judie Boughner is very proud to announce her son, Dustin Meadows, will be discharged from the Army on December 9, just in time for Christmas! She would like to thank everyone for their prayers and asks that you pray for NO SNOW for his safe trip home!

December Birthdays & Anniversaries
Helen Foster – Birthday – December 1
Jim Barnett – Birthday – December 3
+ Fr. Tim Butler – Birthday – December 4
Lori & Rich Seyberth – Anniversary – December 9
Claudia Anspaugh – Birthday – December 11
Paige Smith – Birthday – December 17
Sally & John Whalen – Anniversary – December 21
Michael T. Whalen – Birthday – December 22
Joan & Gary Blade – Anniversary – December 22

Giving Tree and Food Donations for Christmas Community Outreach
Please remember to show your true holiday spirit by participating in our annual Giving Tree and Food Donations Community Outreach effort, where we partner with Lincoln Elementary School to assist some families for Christmas. With Christmas fast approaching, you will have just 2 weeks to pick a name from the tree and purchase, wrap and return it to the parish hall by December 21 for distribution.

Christmas Services Schedule
Christmas Eve Mass:
Choir begins at 5:30 with Christmas Mass beginning at 6 p.m.
Fr. Butler, Celebrant

Christmas Morning Mass
10:30 a.m.
Fr. Neuroth, Celebrant