first sunday of advent 28 november 2021 immaculate
TRANSCRIPT
First Sunday of Advent
28 November 2021
Immaculate Conception Parish
Fairbank, Iowa 50629
Today’s Readings Jeremiah 33:14-16 Psalm 25:4-14
1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Luke 21:25-28,34-36
PASTOR’S PARAGRAPHS First Sunday of Advent
November 28, 2021
The date was August 24, A.D. 79. The place was a small seaport town south of Rome named Pompeii. The time was twelve noon. Mount Vesuvius, a volcano in proximity to Pompeii, erupted, spewing molten lava and ash on to the city, raining death and destruction in its path. Twenty-thousand inhabitants in the city at that time were buried twenty to thirty feet under lava and cinder ash. In the 1800s, Italian archeologists began to dig in the area, discovering as they dug the ancient Italian city almost intact was it was that incredible day hundreds of years previous. Corpses of the dead were found, many apparently cut down as they vainly attempted to flee the city and the deadly fumes. The only animals found in the city were dogs and cats that were tied up and unable to flee. Bakeries were even discovered with bread still in the ovens!
I visited the city nearly twenty years ago on a pilgrimage to Italy, and it is a sight to behold! The tour guide recounted the story
of how the volcano was rumbling and spewing forth ash and dust
for four days prior to the final explosion. For whatever reason, the inhabitants refused to recognize the danger of the volcano’s imminent eruption. Their choice had deadly consequences. It was business as usual on that sunny day in A.D. 79.
The Gospel of Luke, chapter twenty one, finds Jesus sounding a warning: “The day of the Lord’s coming will come on a great cloud and glory, and will suddenly close in on you like a trap.” Advent, the season we begin this weekend, is not only about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ at the end of time. Advent is not only about the past coming of the Son of God in Bethlehem. Advent is about Christ’s coming here and now. The Lord Jesus is here! Does this have an impact on our lives? The Lord tell us to pray constantly for strength and to heed the warning that time is short. In God’s eyes, a thousand years are as a day and a day is as a thousand years. Are we heeding the warning?
Saint Paul urges us to strengthen our hearts before the holy God. We do this by praying for the Holy Spirit to come in a fresh way and to grow in virtue and discipline. We need more prayer, more discipline, more love in the Christian life.
Advent is a time to pinpoint the areas of our lives that need to be reformed, renewed, and revitalized. It is a time for serious soul-searching. One searching question you could ask yourself as Advent begins is this: “If Oelwein/Fairbank, Iowa, was suddenly buried under thirty feet of molten ash and lava, and then it was unearthed hundreds of years later, what would those who found us discover about us and our lifestyles?” They might see money scattered all around or knickknacks galore. They might find our favorite pet tied up outside or in a kennel inside. But hopefully they would discover other precious items, an open well-read Bible, a prayer card or two, saints’ pictures, a rosary, a crucifix? In virtually every home in Pompeii there was a shrine to a pagan god or the ancestors of the house. What shrines would future archeologists discover in your home and mine? Would they find a large wooden box with a glass front and dials, the TV set, which is our modern shrine? As Advent 2021 begins, let us identify areas we need to grow and make them stepping stones to a deeper and more fruitful relationship with the Savior.
God bless you. Fr. Ray Atwood [email protected] 319-283-9577
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With Waverly, IA 5
Lord, We Lift Up to You in Prayer…. Brett Delagardelle, Eric Schmidtke, Charlie Corey
Marci Willey, Ron Babinat, Lindsey Ernst, Diana Snyder
Connor Franzen, Michael McDonough, Dave Chase
Mary Ellen Youngblut , Sherry Duffy, Don Brandt,
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.
Communion To Our Sick Or Homebound Ministry: contact Michelle Weepie 319-635-2428 or Bob Byersdorfer 319-635-2330
I C Parish Prayer Chain Hotline: Please contact
Vivian Rourke at 319-238-3225 (V) or 319-238-2083 (M)
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. Please contact Deacon Jim at 319-509-1210 for scheduling details.
I C Cemetery – contact the parish office
Funeral Dinners: Group #3 Sept, Oct, Nov, & Dec
We provide desserts & serve a catered meal
I C STAFF ~ Fr. Ray Atwood, Pastor ~
IC Parish Office Wednesday Mornings after 8:30AM Mass
Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743 Sacred Heart Rectory 319-283-9577
email: [email protected]
~ Deacon Jim Patera ~ Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743
Cell phone 319-509-1210
~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: [email protected] 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: [email protected]
Lynda email: [email protected]
Jean Sauerbrei, Facility Rental Coordinator PH: 319-635-9151/ cell 319-296-8459
or email [email protected]
The Family Christmas Giving Tree We are collecting gifts for local families who could use a little assist this Christmas. Please select an ornament or two from the tree, fulfill the wish, and return the unwrapped gift along with the ornament, by Sunday, December 12. When we give with a joyful heart, the joy and goodness returns to us tenfold.
Thank you for your donations of clothes. We could not
operate without your support. It was just wonderful and very much appreciated. Atom Bombers 4-H Club Thanks for the wonderful abundance of food & personal products that were donated to the food drive last Sunday. . All the products went to the Oran Food Pantry and alot of “wows” and “thanks yous” for all the help in feeding the community. Appreciate all the prayers sent forth to my sister Sherry Corey during her time of illness. The Family of Andy & Chris Willwerth.
Our Parish Life sent poinsettias to people houses in the parish
wishing them a healthy & happy holiday season. Sincere thanks to all involved in the efforts.
Welcome!! Father Paul !! Grateful to have him here this morning!!
Giving Tree Nov 28 thru Dec 12 December 2021 Sun Dec 5 Donut Sunday (6th Graders)
Sun Dec 5 Live Nativity Scene 4:30PM (Guided Tours on the half-hour beginning at 4:30) Refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall
WANTED: PLASTIC GALLON MILK JUGS Wed Dec 8 The Immaculate Conception of
Blessed Virgin Mary 8:30AM - IC Church 5:30PM - Sacred Heart Wed Dec 8 Assisted Living Christmas Party 1:30PM Entertainment: Union Dicken’s Christmas Carolers Thurs Dec 9 KC Meeting 7PM Sat Dec 11 Bohlke/Woods Wedding 2PM Wed Dec 15 Monthly Community Potluck 11:30AM Wed Dec 15 Pastoral/Finance Council Mtg 5:30PM Thurs Dec 16 Staff Mtg Office closing early. 2:00 PM Sun Dec 19 Decorating the Church-Mark your Calendars Sun Dec 19 Donut Sunday (6th Graders) Dec 23-27 Deacon Jim on Vacation Fri Dec 24 Sacred Heart – 4PM Dec 24 IC Church – 6PM Sat Dec 25 IC Church – 8:30AM Dec 25 Sacred Heart – 10:30AM
The calendar for Mass Intentions 2022 is open. Please
call the office or stop in to schedule your Mass for your
loved ones. This usually fills up fast as we can allow
only one Sunday or major Holy Day per name(s) or family.
Sun Nov 28 8:30 AM IC Marie Allen/Francis Trebon Allen
M: Deacon Jim EM: Joe Kleitsch Lector: Kaylee Kleitsch
Sun Nov 28 10:30 AM SH For the People
Mon Nov 29 8:30 AM SH Robert & Regina Bergman Wed Dec 1 8:30 AM IC Ed Sadler Thurs Dec 2 8:30 AM SH Gene Heitz Fri Dec 3 8:30 AM SH Richard Rau
Sat Dec 4 8:30AM IC Wilma Hamberkamp Sat Dec 4 4:30 PM SH Kenneth, Grace & James West Sun Dec 5 8:30 AM IC For the People
M: Deacon Jim EM: Duane Schmidtke Lector: Kevin Bodensteiner
Sun Dec 5 10:30AM SH Florian & Katherine Koch Sunday, December 12 at 8:30 AM Mass
M: Deacon Jim EM: Janice Martins Lector: Kelly Cummings
November Ushers and Greeters Richard Rundle, Greg Beierschmitt
Adam Kaufman, Rick Woods December Ushers and Greeters
Bob Bellis, Chad VanDaele, Tom Kleitsch Mike Buenzow, John W Even, John Even
Parish Financial $upport Nov 21-24 Budget $3413 Offertory $227 Building Fund $105 Christmas $150 Easter $50 Donation/Choir $500 Donation/Garage $500
All Saints Day and throughout the month of November up to Advent, we set aside special time to honor and remember family members and friends who have gone before us. We invite you to write the names of your departed loved ones upon the pages of our parish Remembrance Book, to be
remembered in our prayers.
We Remember Them
Background on the Gospel Reading Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be
ready when the Son of Man comes in glory. Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of the new liturgical year. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. The key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice. In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Luke will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle C). Today's Gospel is taken from the last chapter before the passion narrative in which Jesus is teaching in the Temple. We hear Jesus speak to his disciples about the need for vigilance and prayer as they wait for the coming of the Son of Man in glory. This passage marks the conclusion of a lengthy dialogue in which Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, warns about the persecution and tribulations to follow, and identifies the signs that will signal the coming of the Son of Man in glory. The community for whom Luke wrote his Gospel may have believed that they were already experiencing some of the events Jesus described. Most scholars believe that Luke's Gospel was written after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. At the time, many Christians interpreted this event as an indication that Jesus' second coming was near. Though Jesus predicts a time of destruction and fear, Jesus indicates that others will be frightened; Jesus' disciples are not to fear, but are to stand tall. Yet Jesus does not promise deliverance from anxiety or tribulations. He encourages his disciples to pray for strength. The early Christian communities did not find consolation in the promise of a utopia, nor should we. Instead, we find in our Christian faith the means by which we witness to God's unfailing love for us in all circumstances. Jesus' predictions about the end times may sound dire, but in the next paragraph Luke tells us that people woke early to listen to Jesus' teaching in the Temple area. In his person and in his message, those who heard Jesus found strength and consolation. Like the first Christians, we may encounter events and circumstances that could lead us to despair. Through prayer, however, we find strength and consolation in Jesus' words and in his continuing presence with us to endure all things and to witness to the action of God in our world.
From Loyola Press Sunday Connection
Homily Notes: What did I hear that I would like to remember or think about later?
Update your information Be sure to update your address, telephone number, and email address if they have changed.
You can make changes thru the mail, collection, phone call to the office (319-635-2211).
Now Showing: The Chosen!! Showing Season One in the IC Parish Center!! Beginning at 6:30 PM each night. December 4 – Episodes 7 & 8 All attending are welcome to bring a comfy chair Snacks for yourself. Provided by Faith Formation Committee
What are the names of the candles in the Advent wreath?
Traditionally, there are three violet candles and one rose colored candle. The
first candle of the Advent Wreath, the Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope, is
purple. The second, called the Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of
Preparation, is also purple. The third candle is lit for Gaudete Sunday. Pink or
rose represents joy.
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