Our Lady of Lebanon Church (Maronite Catholic Rite)

2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003

Rectory: (304) 233-1688 • Fax: (304) 233-4714

E-Mail: ololwv@comcast.net • Web Site: www.ololwv.com

Christmas 2013 Merry Christmas

With Love and Prayers

From All of Us

Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Bakhos Chidiac

Organist: Evelyn Ghaphery

Choir Members: Lou Khourey, George Thomas, Ted Olinski,

Earl Duffy, Robert Harris, Shelly Hancher

Parish Council Members: Lou Khourey, Mike Linton,

Rita Strawn, Tom George, P.J. Lenz, Carol Dougherty,

Mark McLaughlin and Mary Stees

Altar Server: Mike Linton

Altar Boys: Dalton Haas, Shaun Hancher, Luke Lenz

Members of the Women Society & President: Sandra Dusick

Members of the Cedar Club & President: Linda Duffy

Bulletin Coordinator: Thomasina Geimer

Bulletin 12.25.2012 2

Gospel Reflection: Christmas

Scripture Readings: Heb 1:1-12 and Lk 2:1-20 The story of the Three Wise Men (Lk 2: 1-20) & (Matthew 2.1-12) inspires imaginative

speculation in an Epiphany homily.

Who Were Those Wise Men?

The gorgeous story of the Wise Men is among the favorites of us Christian people. We love to

hear it. We love to see the Wise Men’s appearance at our crèches with their royal clothes, elegant

servants, and precious gifts. We love to point them out to our children and grandchildren. We love to

weave romantic stories about them. Gospel writer Matthew has indeed left us figures that inspire high

imagination. Through all the traditions, can we make any educated guesses as to who they really were?

Yes, there’s a hint. Matthew says in his gospel that when Jesus was born Wise Men came from the East

to Jerusalem asking, “Where is he who has been born the King of the Jews? We have seen his star in

the East.”

Now, although many translations are given -Magi, magicians, astrologers- it is very likely that

these so-called Wise Men were priests of the Zoroastrian religion who worshiped the god of light. The

Magi believed that every great person had a guiding light in heaven which appeared as a star, and that

the greater the person born, the brighter the star. So it’s no wonder that, when they saw this

extraordinary star, they trekked across the desert in search of one who must be great, indeed.

Over the years, the number of Magi who visited Jesus has varied with imagination. But since

there were three gifts mentioned in Scripture: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, this suggested three

Givers: Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar.

Even the gifts took on symbolism. Gold equals the virtue of these travelers. Frankincense, which

is like incense going up to heaven, says they were a people of prayer daily lifting their prayers to God.

And myrrh, which is bitter and a kind of mineral, means they were willing to take on the bitterness and

sacrifice necessary in their pursuit of the Holy One of Light.

So, truly the three Wise Men have caught our imagination, and noticeably more so than the other

group, the shepherds. In the gospels, the shepherds are told everything. They are encountered by an

extremely talkative angel who tells them every detail: where the Child is to be found, who’s there, how

to get there. When the shepherds arrive at the cave, the angel appears again to verify the place, and

when the shepherds return they’re guided by a whole heavenly choir of angels singing to them along

the way. So these shepherds have no doubts, no questions, no problems, no persecutors, no mystery.

They didn’t have to seek information. It was handed to them. They had it made.

That’s not our experience. The easy-come, easy-go shepherds are not for us. Our experience is

more like the struggling Magi. We, like them, are searchers. We have difficulty with the large

questions of life. We are harassed by our modern Herods who seek to destroy our children with

consumerism, materialism, and greed. We wonder about family life, AIDS, crime in the streets, illness,

cancer, war, recession, death. Yes, we too would like heavenly messengers and heavenly assurances

such as the shepherds got, but the fact is we experience neither. No, no doubt about it, it’s the Magi -

the struggling band crossing a hot desert with only a vision and hope to guide them- that resonates with

us. They’re our kind of people, and we’ll never tire of telling stories about them.

So, we’ll stick with them because the bottom line is that they are searchers and so are we. But

they are searchers who have taught us something, and here is their ultimate legacy: they searched

together and so have left us the clear message that we must always do the same. We can’t search, we

can’t travel, and we can’t find alone. We need one another, alone, we tend to become idiosyncratic,

distorted and lost. We need the collective wisdom of the community. We need the collective support

Bulletin 12.25.2012 3

and prayers of our fellow pilgrims. There’s more than the sum total of people here when all of us

chorus together, “Lord, have mercy on us!” and, like the Magi, search the ancient scriptures together.

We are a caravan. We are a Church. We listen together. We pray together. We cry out together.

We are strengthened and comforted by each other. There’s no other way to travel. So, the bottom line is

this: the Magi didn’t have all the answers. Neither do we. They had a wicked King after them. In many

ways, so do we. But on their life’s travels what they did have was fellowship and the light of Christ to

guide them. And so do we.

But the best part of the wondrous Magi story comes at the end: they left us a promise. For at last

they found what they were looking for. And so will we.

2013 Christmas & New Year Mass Schedule

Monday, December 23: No Mass. Pastor’s day off

Tuesday, December 24th: Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m.: Christmas Eve Mass. (Choir will sing)

10:00 p.m.: Christmas Midnight Mass. (Choir will sing)

Wednesday, December 25th: Christmas Day (Day of Obligation)

10:30 a.m.: Christmas Day Morning Mass. (No Choir)

Tuesday, December 31st: New Year’s Eve

4:00 p.m.: New Year’s Eve Mass (No Midnight Mass)

Wednesday, January 1st, 2014: New Year’s Day (Day of Obligation)

10:30 a.m.: New Year’s Day Morning Mass.

Mass Intentions Christmas Masses

Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Masses

at 4:00 p.m.: Christmas Children Mass (Choir will sing)

Steve & Margaret Schlog (Anniversary) and Deceased of the Saseen Family by Bob & Fran

Saseen

at 10:00 p.m.: Christmas Midnight Mass (Choir will sing)

Joseph Linton (on his 2nd

Anniversary) by sons Steve & Mike

Wednesday, December 25 at 10:30 a.m.: Christmas Day Mass (No Choir)

Rosella Saseen, parents Nancepe & Helen, grandparents Shikrey & Helen Saseen by her Last

Will

Helen Fielding by her husband Don Fielding (FL) & his special intentions

Thursday, December 26 at noon:

Louis & Josephine Joseph by Dolores & Al Cinque

Laura Biega Wellman by Jean Fisher

Friday, December 27 at noon:

Janet Weidman & Jean Lovell by Al & Josephine Weidman

Margaret E. Defibaugh by Dr. MaryAnn Cater

Next Weekend December 28-29: First Sunday after Christmas

Saturday, December 28 at 4:00 p.m.:

Rosella Saseen, parents Nancepe & Helen, grandparents Shikrey & Helen by her Last Will

Laura Biega Wellman by Sister Jeanne Vidonic

Sunday, December 29, at 10:30 a.m.:

Margaret E. Defibaugh by Dr. MaryAnn Cater

Bulletin 12.25.2012 4

Christmas Invitation You are cordially invited to

A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!!

Guest of Honor: Jesus Christ

Date: Every day. Traditionally, December 25

but He's always around, so the date is flexible...

Time: Whenever you're ready.

(Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart.... He'll meet you there.

(You'll hear Him knock.)

Attire: Come as you are... grubbies are okay.

He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said something about

new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.

Tickets: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone...

(He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway...

it cost Him everything He had.

But you do need to accept the ticket!!

Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink He calls "Living Water,"

followed by a supper that promises to be out of this world!

Gift Suggestions: Your life. He's one of those people who already has everything else.

(He's very generous in return though. Just wait until you see what He has for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness,

Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power,

Eternity in Paradise, Contentment, and much more!

(All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.)

R.S.V.P. Very Important!

He must know ahead so He can

reserve a spot for you at the table.

Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference.

He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

Party being given by His Kids (that's us!!)

Hope to see you there! For those of you whom

I will see at the party, share this with someone today!

Christmas Prayer It’s Christmas

O God, your caressing hand filled with crystalline intensity offers us in your greatness the gift

and joy of Christmas. Now we are prisoners no more: Your Son Jesus Christ calls us and leads us to

make our lives a continuous ‘yes’ to you, Father! O Savior, Baby Jesus, teach us to love as you love us,

to build on you, the “cornerstone”, our faith followed by Mary Most Holy.

Lord, help us to overcome our weaknesses and often difficult moments; watch over us lost ones,

pour out your Spirit and give us courage.

O Divine Child, to know you is to know the face of the Father. We feel inflamed, enamored of

you, Your saving coming, Your Nativity.

As we listen to your voice we know the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen!

Bulletin 12.25.2012 5

Please Pray for Those on Our Prayer List Please Remember Those Hospitalized Recently in Your Prayers:

Joe Bauduin, Dennis Fahey, Sylvia Long, Gloria Sterling, Larry Breiding, John Shiben, Jasmine

Peluchetti, Bob Sengewalt,

Also Please Pray for Those Who Asked Us to Pray for Them

Sandra Dusick, Jim George Sr., Dolores Fahey, Jill Magers, Mike McCutcheon, Dottie & Bobby

Kupchak, Jim Dellget, Bill Stees, Mary Margaret Blum, Jamie Hilligas, Susie Saseen, JoAnne Reed

(sister of Sue Brubach & Roberta Henning), James Partridge (cousin of Jim Brubach), Julia Tappe,

Barb Sobota, Mary Ryncarz, Bob Saseen, Charles & Robert Gibbons,

Remember Your Church in Your Will Please build treasures for yourselves in heaven by remembering your miraculous church in your

will. You worked for your money all your life and your soul deserve to benefit from your labor. After

your death, those who will happily inherit your assets will surely enjoy spending them on their

pleasure. They may remember you in one or two Masses at most and then you will end up as a

“forgotten soul” waiting for the Mercy of God at the end of time. Leave part of your money to the

church so your donation will become like incense pleasing to God. You will become a “benefactor

shining like the sun in the kingdom of heaven” and remembered in the offerings of the Body and Blood

at the altar in case you soul ends up in need of redemption or in a place of suffering. Write this

sentence in your will, “I hereby give, and bequeath to Our Lady of Lebanon Church, a non-profit

organization located at 2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003, __% of the residue of my estate (or the

sum of $__). I request that part of this donation be used for the general purpose of the church and the

interest or other part be used for Masses on a monthly basis for the salvation of my soul.”

Lower your 2013 Income Tax Bill One way to lower your income tax bill for this year is to make charitable contributions, which can be

deducted from your income if you are planning to itemize your deductions when you file your 2013

income tax.

Gifts you make to charities, such as Our Lady of Lebanon Church, are tax deductible. But in

order for you to claim the deduction on your tax return for 2013, you must make the gift this year. That

is important to keep in mind if you are planning on making a year-end gift. For example, if you are

going to give money using a check, be sure the date on the check is on or before December 31st.

Also, be sure to give the check to the church on or before that date.

If your gift is $250 or more, and you plan to claim the gift as a deduction on your tax return, the

IRS requires that you have a letter or receipt from the church that received the gift. By the end of

January 2014 all donors –who donated $250 or more– will receive a statement from the Church

stating their names and the amount of gift received –through checks or weekly offering envelopes-

from January 1st, 2013 until December 31

st, 2013. It is wise to keep the church statement with your

tax records, in case the IRS questions your itemized deductions. Statements will be mailed from Our

Lady of Lebanon before January 31, 2014.

Donate to the Poor

Your generous offerings placed in the Poor Box mounted at the back of the church are helping

many poor and homeless families through Our Parish Families Assistance Fund. When you give, the

Lord sees what you have done for his brothers and sisters and will repay you manifold in your time of

need. Much of the poor box money is sent to the Catholic Charity in Wheeling that feed the poor and

the homeless of our community.

Bulletin 12.25.2012 6

Christmas Story My husband and I had been happily (most of the time) married for five years but hadn’t been

blessed with a baby. I decided to do some serious praying and promised God that if He would give us a

child, I would be a perfect mother, love it with all my heart and raise it with His Word as my guide.

God answered my prayers and blessed us with a son. The next year God blessed us with another son.

The following year, He blessed us with yet another son. The year after that we were blessed with a

daughter. My husband thought we’d been blessed right into poverty. We now had four children, and the

oldest was only four years old. I learned never to ask God for anything unless I meant it. As a priest

once told me, “If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella.”

I began reading a few verses of the Bible to the children each day as they lay in their cribs. I was

off to a good start. God had entrusted me with four children and I didn’t want to disappoint Him. I tried

to be patient the day the children smashed two dozen eggs on the kitchen floor searching for baby

chicks. I tried to be understanding when they started a hotel for homeless frogs in the spare bedroom,

although took me nearly two hours to catch all twenty-three frogs. When my daughter poured ketchup

all over herself and rolled up in a blanket to see how it felt to be a hot dog, I tried to see the humor

rather than the mess. In spite of changing over twenty-five thousand diapers, never eating a hot meal

and never sleeping for more than thirty minutes at a time, I still thank God daily for my children. While

I couldn’t keep my promise to be a perfect mother -I didn’t even come close- I did keep my promise to

raise them in the Word of God. I knew I was missing the mark just a little when I told my daughter we

were going to church to worship God, and she wanted to bring a bar of soap along to “wash up” Jesus,

too. Something was lost in the translation when I explained that God gave us everlasting life, and my

son thought it was generous of God to give us His “Last wife.” My proudest moment came during the

children’s Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my

youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had

practiced his line, “We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.” But he was nervous and said,

“The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes.” My four-year-old “Mary” said, “That’s not wrinkled

clothes, silly. That’s dirty, rotten clothes.” A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the

shepherd and was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little

lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle

crying. “Mama-Mama.” Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men

arrived.

My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and

announced, “We are the Three Wise Men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense, and fur.”

The congregation dissolved into laughter, and the pageant got a standing ovation. “I’ve never enjoyed a

Christmas program as much this one,” the priest laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. “For the rest of

my life, I’ll never hear the Christmas story without thinking of “gold, common sense, and fur.” “My

children are my pride and my joy and my greatest blessing,” I said as I dug through my purse looking

for an aspirin. My wish is that you too will be blessed with gold, common sense, and fur this Christmas

season. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Christmas Time to Laugh

Florida Court Sets Atheist Holy Day. In Florida, an atheist created a case against the Easter & Passover holy days. He hired an

attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians, Jews & observances of their holy days.

Bulletin 12.25.2012 7

The argument was it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized day. The case was brought before

a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel

declaring, "Case dismissed." The lawyer immediately stood objecting to the ruling saying, "Your

honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter & others.

The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur & Hanukkah. Yet my client & all other atheists have no

such holidays." The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Counsel, your client is

woefully ignorant." The lawyer said, "Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or

holiday for atheists." The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is 'April Fools’ Day.' Psalm 14:1

states 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that if your

client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day. Court is adjourned."

Merry Christmas. I hope you have a great 2013

Christmas Jokes Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man.

Christmas cord from a mortgage lender: “Merry Christmas from our house to our house.”

I don’t want to say that Christmas trees are expensive, but I bought one for 25 dollars. My wife is

wearing it for a corsage.

Some people call running a marathon good exercise. Others call it Christmas shopping.

Jingle bells/Spending swells/Charge cards all the way.

Oh, what fun/ it is to shop/Until you have to pay.

“For Christmas,” a woman remarked to her friend, “I was visited by a jolly, bearded fellow with a big

bag over his shoulder. It was my son coming home from college with his laundry.”

There’s nothing like the Christmas season to put a little bounce in your checkbook.

During a Christmas play: “Not a preacher was stirring, not even a mouse.”

First it’s December with Ho! Ho! Ho!

Then it’s January with Owe! Owe! Owe!

Did you hear about the department store that had two Santas? One was an express line for kids who

asked for nine toys or less.

A man goes through four stages:

1- First, he believes in Santa.

2- Later, he doesn’t believe in Santa.

3- Then, he is Santa.

4- Finally, he looks like Santa.

Christmas Shopping A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after

row of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything

they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so

many of us feel during the holiday season, overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming,

taste all he holiday food and treats, get that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, make sure

we don't forget anyone on our card list, and he pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a

card.

Finally the elevator doors opened, and there was already a crowd in the elevator. She pushed her way in

and dragged her two kids in with her and the shopping bags. When the doors closed, she couldn't take it

anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up, and shot."

From the back, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, "Don't worry. We already crucified him." For the

rest of the trip down the elevator, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

Don't forget this year to keep the one who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought,

deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it, just think how different this whole world would be.

Jesus is the reason for the season!!!