Christ the King, Year A

The final judgment

Reading 1: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 (parable of the shepherds)
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 (Christ, the first fruits)
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 (the last judgment)

Key Passage: [The Son of Man] will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:45)

Adult: Who are the least of your sisters and brothers for whom you do care? Who are those whom you ignore?
Child: To which person did you especially try to show the love and care of Jesus?
(From PastoralPlanning.com)

8th Annual Saint Nicholas Feast

St. Nicholas Party for children 2yrs old to 1st grade December 3rd ~ 6:15 to 7:30 PM St. Olaf Fr. Agnew Parish Center.

On December 3rd, Saint Nicholas will stop at St Olaf’s weather permitting. He was sorry to have had to cancel his visit last year but is hoping for better weather this year. He is looking forward to visiting with the younger children. The Outreach Council hopes that
you will join with them to welcome St. Nicholas to our community. The evening will start with music at 6:15, prior to the arrival of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas will spend time with the children as his story is read. Craft activities will be set up to round out the evening along with a snack.

To those of you who have joined us in the past, we hope to see you & your children again. To those who are new to this event, we look forward to seeing you & your children & hope that this becomes an Advent tradition for your family. In order to plan for the event, the Outreach Council would appreciate RSVP’s to be called into the Parish Office by November 26th, (while this would be nice it isn’t
necessary). We are always are in need of parent helpers, so if you would like to help please leave this information at the Parish Office with your RSVP’s.

In the event of bad weather notice will be posted on the St Olaf’s Facebook page by 4:00. Kathy Pichler’s voicemail at St Olaf’s (ext 103) would also have this message along with WAXX105 radio station.

St. Olaf Outreach Council

Martinmas

Snow and frost on St. Martin’s Day, November 11, were once welcomed as Martin’s own blessing. His feast day comes about the time of the year that winter announces itself. So Martin is sometimes depicted as “Old Man Winter,” or “Furry Martin.” Martin most often though is depicted as a soldier.

Legend tells us that Martin was a Roman centurion and when he was riding his horse one snowy day and he met a beggar. Martin didn’t have anything to give the beggar so he cut his cloak (coat) in half and gave have to the beggar. The story goes on to tell us that Martin had a dream that night and in the dream Christ appeared to him and he was wearing the half cloak Martin had given the beggar.

That revelation led to Martin’s becoming a Christian. He went through a lot of red tape to then leave the army as a “conscientious objector.” To be a “conscientious objector” means that a person is listening to his or her conscience telling them it is wrong to fight in wars. Martin felt that since he was a Christian it was not lawful for him to fight. He would from now forward be a soldier for Christ.

There are many traditions associated with St. Martin’s Day. The day is celebrated on the evening of November 11 in a small part of Belgium (mainly in the east of Flanders and around Ypres). Children go through the streets with paper lanterns and candles, and sing songs about St. Martin. In Germany there are widespread bonfires and the children here too go through the streets carrying paper lanterns and candles. In the Netherlands the children go door to door with the paper lanterns singing songs hoping to receive candy in return, similar to trick or treating in the United States. In Sweden St. Martin's Day is a celebration of the goose. In early November, geese are ready for slaughter, and on St. Martin's Eve, November 10, it is time for the traditional dinner of roast goose.

One way to celebrate St. Martin’s Day is to make horse-shoe shaped cookies. Roll the cookie dough to a ¼” thick and cut it into strips ½” x 6”. Then on a cookie sheets curve the strips into horseshoe shapes (like the letter U). Press sliced almonds into the dough and bake for 15 minutes at 325°.
(from Take Me Home, LTP 1991)

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Reading 1: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Reading 2: 1 Corinthians 3:9C-11, 16-17; Gospel: John 2:13-22

“According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.”

Are you helping to build the Church or do you view that as someone else’s responsibility?

Are your words and actions grounded in your faith so that they continue to build on Jesus’ foundation, or do they come from a different foundation?
(from NCCL's CL weekly)

Pope’s November Intentions

Every month, the Pope asks Christians all around the world to pray together for two specific intentions.

Pope Francis asks Christians to pray in November so that “all who suffer loneliness may experience the closeness of God and the support of others.”

His missionary intention for the month is “that young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.”