Holy Family Parish

National Catholic Church

1921 Eden Park Boulevard

McKeesport. Pa. 15132

412.678.0566 Office; Auditorium 412.664.7009

www.hfpncc.org

John the Baptist

Advent 3

December 11, 2011

Change of address or phone number, for parish registration, hospital visitations and sacramental needs, baptism and wedding arrangements, please contact the Parish Office by calling 412.276.5562 or 412.678.0566.Office Hours: Tuesdays & Fridays 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Evenings by appointment. Bulletin announcements should be received by Father by Wednesday for Sunday publication either by phone or E-mail at BSleczkowski@aol.com

Parish Staff:

Fr. Bruce Sleczkowski, Pastor 412.276.5562

Ted Gibala, Committee Chairman 412.678.7347

Dr. Donald Mushalko, Chopin Choir Director 412.678.4437

Wendy Blotzer, Organist, Bell Choir 412.673.4495

Deborah Parknavy, SOCL Coordinator 412.751.0106

David Kost, Lector Coordinator 412.519.7771

Parish Custodian 412.678.7347

OPENING HYMN “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness” Bulletin

Lighting of Advent Wreath

HYMN “O Come O Come Emmanuel” Bulletin

INTRODUCTORY RITE Page 63

ENTRANCE HYMN Philippians 4:4-5; Psalm 119:151,162

P: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your

kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near.

R: You are near, O Lord; by Your edict give me life. I rejoice at Your

promise, as one who has found rich spoil.

P: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world

without end. Amen.

THE KYRIE Page 67

OPENING PRAYER

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11

Responsorial Luke 1: 46-54

L: My soul rejoices in my God.

R: My soul rejoices in my God.

Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Gospel Acclamations.

C: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

R: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

C: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News

to the poor.

R: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28

SACRAMENT OF THE WORD OF GOD

NICENE CREED Page 71

GENERAL INTERCESSION

R: We pray to the Lord in the Spirit.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

SANCTUS Page76

CANON Eucharistic Prayer 3 Page 84

THE LORD’S PRAYER Page 95

LAMB OF GOD Page 97

COMMUNION

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

BLESSING Page 100

CLOSING HYMN “God Eternal, Living Father” Bulletin

Opening Hymn: “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness”

PNCC Hymnal 24, verse 1 & 2

There’s a voice in the wilderness crying A call from the ways untrod;

Prepare in the desert a highway, A highway for our God;

The valleys shall be exalted; the lofty hills brought low,

Make straight all the crooked places; Where the Lord our God may go.

O Zion that bringest good tidings, get thee up to the heights and sing;

Proclaim to a desolate people the coming of their King;

Like the flow’rs of the field they perish, the works of men decay,

The power and pomp of nations, shall pass like a dream away.

Hymn: O Come O Come Emmanuel”

PNCC Hymnal 32: verses 1 & 7

O Come O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

O Come Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;

Bid envy, strife and envy cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel.

Closing Hymn: “God Eternal, Living Father ”

PNCC Hymnal 14, verses 1,2 & 4

God eternal living Father, Savior of mankind, Redeemer,

Hear our humble cry of sorrow, hear our humble cry of sorrow.

Thou, who lives in highest glory, come from heaven, lend Thy mercy,

Fill our souls, O Spirit Holy, Fill our souls, O Spirit Holy.

Come O Savior, Lord of mercy, Here the people now await Thee,

Ever faithful though unworthy, ever faithful though unworthy.

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: JOY

1^st Child - Last Sunday the candle of peace was lit.

We light it and the candle of hope again as we

remember that Christ will come again and bring to

the world everlasting peace.

(a child lights the candles of hope, and peace.)

2^nd Child -The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. It reminds of the joy that Mary felt when the angel Gabriel told her that a special child would be born to her - a child who would save and deliver his people.

1^st Child - God wants us all to have joy. The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born told them: "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all people - for to you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

2^nd Child - We light this candle to remember that Christ brings the promise of a new life - a life in which the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and the prisoners are set free. We light it to remember that He is the giver of true and everlasting joy.

Light the Third Candle

Congregation: - Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us. Help us prepare our hearts for this gift. Bless our worship. Help us to hear and to do your word. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

Hymn: “O Come O Come Emmanuel” PNCC Hymnal 32; 1 & 7

This Week

Sunday, December 11, 2011 Third Sunday in Advent

Advent Wreath Lighting ceremony

Holy Mass 9:00 A.M.

+Dorothy Gibala Int. Mr. & Mrs. T. Gibala; +Loretta Stahurski Int. Mr. & Mrs. M. Zurovcik; +Stella Bryla Int. Mr. & Mrs. G. Jugan.

Nursery School 9:00 A.M.

Fellowship Hour 10:15 A.M.

SOCL Classes 10:15 A.M.

Holy Mass 11:00 A.M.

+Ann Yonek Int. of family and friends.

Youth Meeting 11:00 A.M.

Wigilia Dinner 3:00 P.M.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Annunciation Bell Choir Rehearsal 7:00 P.M.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Chopin Choir Rehearsal 7:00 P.M.

Bible & Apologetic Class 7:00 P.M.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Monthly Council Meeting 7:30 P.M.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Church Christmas Decorating 9:00 A.M.

Diocesan Convo Meeting 1:00 P.M.

Youth Association Lock-In 4:00 P.M.

Sunday, December 18, 2011 Fourth Sunday in Advent

Advent Wreath Lighting ceremony

Holy Mass 9:00 A.M.

+Tom Tondera Int. wife Kay; +Alfred Piekielek Int. Mrs. Rose Marie Korch +Helen Taimuty Int. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Hutsko

Nursery School 9:00 A.M.

Fellowship Hour 10:15 A.M.

SOCL Classes 10:15 A.M.

Holy Mass 11:00 A.M.

+John Waskowicz (1^st Ann.) Int. of Family and friends.

Sunday Ministry Schedules

This Week 9:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M.

Greeter M. Sleczkowski A. Fioravanti

Lectors Youth Association/SOCL Team B. Zaucha

Ushers Parish Youth J. Wagner

Next Week 9:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M.

Greeter B. Kijowski A. Fioravanti

Lectors Yellow Team B. Zaucha

Ushers T. Gibala & N. Rushnock J. Wagner

Christmas Flower Envelopes are available in the Church Vestibule. Please fill out and return as soon as possible.

Advent Meditation Booklets can be found in the vestibule book rack. Take one home as you prepare for the coming of our Lord.

Christmas Wafers (Oplatki) is available in the Church Vestibule.

Keep this special tradition alive in our homes this Christmas!

Stewardship

The 2012 Parish Envelopes are in the Church Vestibule. Please take your envelopes. In a cost saving effort, we eliminated the children envelopes. Please read the important information inserted with the envelopes concerning adult and children stewardship. Also, if you can deliver any envelopes to family and friends, it would be greatly appreciated and will save mailing costs to the parish.

Diocesan Youth Convo Meeting & Lock In

The Buffalo-Pittsburgh Diocesan Youth Association will meet next Saturday, Dec, 17th here in Holy Family to make plans for the National Youth Convocation to be held Niagara University in July 2012. Following the meeting, a holiday party and overnight lock in is scheduled in the parish hall. All parish youth (age 8 and up) are invited to attend the meeting and participate in the holiday party and lock in. All Night Cosmic Bowling is schedules. Cost $10. The meeting will conclude with Sunday Mass.

Parish Christmas Church Decorating is scheduled for Saturday, December 17^th beginning at 9:00 A.M. Come & help. Floral decorating is scheduled for Thursday, Dec 22^nd at 10:00 A.M. and don’t forget to bring a family ornament for the parish family tree!

Weather Watch

Now that the winter weather is upon us, watch the

local TV stations for any cancellation

announcements or time changes of parish liturgies,

check the parish Website or call 412.276.5562.

Looking for a special lasting Christmas Gift this year?

Remember the PNU when considering life insurance or a savings program. Besides offering a wide variety of whole life based products, the PNU offers a hard to find product with the 20 year endowment life insurance certificates. A great program for young children and for all ages. Contact Henrietta Kleckner, Branch 132 secretary @724.863.6715 for additional information or check out the PNU brochures in the vestibule literature rack.

Parish Shut In Addresses

A list of addresses of our parish shut-ins will be available in the Church vestibule for your convenience as you send Christmas Greetings to family and friends. They will greatly appreciate you remembering them during this holiday season.

School of Christian Living Classes

Being that the hall is set up for the Wigilia Dinner this afternoon, SOCL classes will be held in the parish sacristies today. A reminder to parents concerning Christmas Eve Shepherd’s Mass, participants who will be carrying in procession the Nativity Statues are to assemble in the parish hall at 10:45 P.M.

The Hungarian Reform Church has asked if we could help with their Raffle for a Secret Santa benefitting several families during this Christmas Season. Tickets are $10.00 and can be obtained through Father Bruce. You can win $500.00 and also help someone in need.

Third Sunday in Advent

Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11

Responsorial: Luke 1: 46-54

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8; 19-28

KEY VERSE: "I am a voice in the desert, crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!”

READINGS: Our first reading tells us to exalt for joy in the Lord. Paul reminds us that we should be kept blameless in our spirit, soul and body as we wait for the coming of our Lord this Advent. The Gospel for today continues with John the Baptist identifying himself as the forerunner of the promised Messiah. But what must be done is to follow the message of the Baptist, to repent from our sins because the kingdom of heaven is truly close at hand.

REFLECTING: For the most part, our lives are pretty ordinary. It's hard for us to see how we can make a difference. However, Jesus shines his light in the ordinariness of our lives. Maybe we don't have a Habitat for Humanity project in our community where we can volunteer work, and maybe foreign adoption is totally impractical for our family, but what ordinary ways of service can we find this Advent season? Listen to the voices of our parish, our community, the media, and our families. Someone is asking for something. Not all captives are behind bars. Not all sick and wounded people are in hospitals. Not all hungry people live in developing countries. There might be some people right in your own back yards that need your help. Can you make an Advent promise to seek them out, to help them, and to do all this joyfully?

PRAYING: Lord Jesus, I know that you are coming. Help me to prepare myself to receive You as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Prepare Your Way!