Bulletin for December 16, 2007

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY-THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6
Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

7:00 For Our Ascension Family
9:00 Al Lee Schroeder (Family)
10:30 Vernon Klosterman (Family)
12:00 Al Dexter (Wife)

MONDAY-LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Henry DiLorita (Michalo)

TUESDAY-LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Frank Petrie Jr. (family)

WEDNESDAY-LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Julia Catan (Carmona)

THURSDAY-LATER ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Bill Riggs (Dabbelt)

FRIDAY-LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Natividad Rosal (Wee)

SATURDAY-LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Jim McCarthy (Wife)
5:00 Tom Gregory (Wife)

SUNDAY-FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
7:00 Natividad Gerdenia (Wee)
9:00 Daniel Mulligan (Wife)
10:30 Ed Redden (Family)
12:00 Mary Dryden (Kramer)

PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office will be closed for the Christmas holidays on December 24th & 25th and January 1st & 2nd. There will be no evening hours December 26th, 27th and 28th. Regular office hours resume January 2nd.

HIPPA
The HIPPA federal law has an impact on communications between hospitals, clergy and congregation. To be proactive, please inform the parish prior to going to the hospital or indicate on your admission papers that you would like the parish staff to know that you were admitted.

ASCENSION SYMPATHY
Our loving prayers and deepest sympathy are extended to the family of MARCELLA LINDBLOM who was called to her eternal rest in recent days. Please pray for her and all our faithful departed friends and relatives.

NURSING HOME OR HOMEBOUND PARISHIONERS
If you know of any parishioners who are homebound or in a nursing home that are not being visited by a Eucharistic Minister please let Sr. Agnes know. We do want to keep in touch.

POSITION AVAILABLE
Cleaning Ascension’s Parish Office Building. For more information contact Tom Platfoot at 253-5171.

ALTAR SERVERS FOR CHRISTMAS
Altar servers who would like to serve on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day are invited to volunteer by signing the Christmas sign-up sheet in the sacristy. Or Contact Deacon Vic at 253-5171 ext. 19 or email him at vhildebrand@ascensionkettering.org.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Early Childhood Advent Celebration: TODAY. Parents, bring the children to the classroom as usual. After Mass, please pick them up in the PAC.

Classes will not meet on December 23-24 and 30-31. Classes will resume on January 6.

Volunteers needed: Would you be willing to discuss the Sunday gospel with students on Sunday mornings, or sub on Monday afternoons in the Elementary program? Please call the RE Office at 254-0622.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! If you have a child not currently attending Ascension School or in the Religious Education program Grades 1-8, please contact Sue Graham in the RE Office to register.

YOUTH MINISTRY
HS Dodgeball Tourney – start the New year off with some fun. Saturday, January 5, 7:00-10:00 p.m. PAC. $2.00 per person.

LIFE Group Vocation Event – ALL LIFE Groups will join together Sunday, January 6, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Witzman Center for a special session on vocation awareness. Open to all parish HS youth.

HS Retreat Team forming – 9-12th grade teens are invited to assist in planning and leading our winter retreat on President’s Day weekend. Team meetings Sundays, 4:00-6:00 p.m. January/February. Contact the Youth Office for details, 253-1997 or jmurray@ascensionkettering.org.

Family Ski Trip – Sunday, January 27 at Perfect North Slopes. Overnight retreat option Saturday at YMCA with games, swimming and retreat activities. Open to JH & HS youth and family members. Flyers at church doors.

MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS
A treasured tradition at Ascension is the memorial poinsettia at the holidays. Remember a loved one with a beautiful flower around the altar at Christmas. The cost is $15.00. Call the Parish Office 253-5171 M-F 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. to place your order.

CHRISTMS MASS SCHEDULE
The Christmas Eve Masses are: 3:00, 5:00 and 10:00 p.m., with Lessons and Carols beginning at 9:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day Masses are 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Again this year we will set up the Witzman Center so that the over flow crowds at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve can participate at Mass in a prayerful atmosphere via closed circuit TV. Children will be invited to participate in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day.

KNOLLWOOD GIFT CARDS
Carroll High School Band is selling gift cards good for $20.00 at Knollwood Garden Center. These make great Christmas gifts or they can be used to purchase poinsettias, Christmas decorations or any other items at the store. These cards do not expire. Please contact any band member or Myrna Gazzerro at 427-3743 to place your order. Thanks for your support.

ANOINTING OF THE SCIK
We will have the Anointing of the Sick at the Noon Mass on Sunday, December 30 for those suffering from chronic illness or facing surgery in the near future. Please call the Parish Office if you or a family member wishes to receive the Anointing.

GIVING TREE THANK YOU
Thank you for again making our Giving Tree a tremendous success. Your generosity will enable hundreds of individuals to enjoy Christmas blessings. A big thank you to all of those who gave of their time to make ornaments and carry, sort, bag and deliver gifts. This could not happen without all your efforts. May God bless you all this Christmas.

BINGO WORKERS NEEDED
Interested in meeting new people? Interested in raising money for Education Ascension? Education Ascension provides needed tuition assistance to Ascension families with children attending Ascension School or Religious Education programs. Scholarships to catholic high schools are also available. The proceeds from Ascension Bingo go directly to Education Ascension. Join the hard working, fun loving Bingo crew. Volunteer one Thursday a month. For more info call Ralph Hinders (299-2416) or Paul Nozar (426-7593).

MENTORS
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a positive difference in the life of someone else? The Life Resource Centre at the Dayton Right to Life Offices invites you to share your parenting experiences with a young mom. Mentors are needed to support young parents 16-21 years who have a toddler. The next training session is January 5, from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at One Elizabeth Place. If interested call 223-9227 for more information/registration.

ADVENT IS A TIME OF WAITING
But you don’t have to wait to schedule some time to get away together and make your good marriage GREAT with a Marriage Encounter Weekend! It makes the perfect Christmas gift to each other! The next Marriage Encounter weekends in this area are February 15-17 and March 28-30. Weekends fill up quickly, so a prompt response is encouraged to avoid the waiting list. For more details or reservations call: Chuck & Carolyn Destefani at 1-800-547-1251 Code 00 or on the web at www.esharing.org.

SUPPORT GROUPS
The Dayton Separated, Widowed and Divorced Support Groups meet the First and Third Sunday’s of each month. The South group at Incarnation’s Parish Center is located behind the church. The North group meets at St. Rita’s. All are welcome. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. (Incarnation) and 7:00 (St. Rita’s). For more information call Roger Bardsley (South Group) at 291-2040, Marty (South Group) at 293-4006, Frank (North Group) at 256-0527 or Jan (North Group) at 236-0030. The South group will have their Holiday celebration during the December 16 meeting.

WOMEN’S GUILD SCRIP PROGRAM
The Scrip program is still active. What is scrip? Think of it as “substitute money.” It is used just like cash and costs you nothing more, however Women’s Guild earns a profit from each sale. You use it to make purchases you would make anyway.
We are now able to order other cards from a variety of restaurants, gas stations and other retailers from Great Lakes Scrip Co. A flyer listing some of what is available will be on the table in the narthex along with an order form. For more information call Judy McManus (299-0997), Joanne Prinz (439-5753) or Phyllis Hildebrand (435-7114).

PARENTING POINTERS
(Solstice) As we approach the Winter Solstice, let it be a day of balance between meeting one’s personal needs and those of others. Since our own family’s needs are usually quite obvious, take a moment to balance it with listening for the needs of the world at large. Ask your child who he or she would like to pray for or give a gift to who is not a family member, friend, or classmate?

MARRIAGE MOMENTS
By: Susan Vogt www.SusanVogt.net
“A husband always prefers his wife’s mother-in-law to his own.” (Anonymous) Think of one trait or talent that your mother-in-law or father-in-law passed on to your spouse for which you are grateful.

TREES! TREES! TREES!
They’re here and waiting to be chosen. Please support “St. Albert the Great School” and buy your Christmas tree from them. Open weekdays: 6:00-8:30 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00-6:00 p.m.

ICE CREAM COUPONS
On the back of UD basketball tickets is a coupon for a free half gallon of ice cream with additional purchase of $5.00 at Meijers. If you do not plan on using the coupons, please place them in the collection basket and we will see that they are turned over to the food pantry.

ASCENSION’S ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK
Complete calendar online: www.ascensionkettering.org/calendar.htm

SUNDAY
9:00 Contemporary Choir
10:15 RE Middle School
10:30 Early Childhood Advent Celebration-PAC
10:30 Traditional Choir
11:45 HSYM LIFE Groups-YMR
1:00 Baptism
5:00 HSYM LIFE Groups-YMR
7:00 HSYM LIFE Groups-YMR

MONDAY
4:15 RE Elementary
6:30 RE Middle School

TUESDAY
7:00 RCIA-WC
7:00 Buildings & Groups-POB
7:30 Contemporary Choir Practice

WEDNESDAY
7:00 Longest Night Prayer Service-Chapel
7:15 Pastoral Council Meeting-WC

THURSDAY
6:30 Bingo-PAC
7:00 Traditional Choir Practice

SATURDAY
4:00 Confessions
5:00 Mass

SUNDAY
10:30 Traditional Choir
12:00 Baptism