I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season and finding time to open up the story and letting it find its place in your heart. This week I want to share with you two of my favorite Christmas quotes. The first is a prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson. We know him as the author of Treasure Island. The second is a quote from Sigrid Unset. She is a Norwegian author who died in 1949.

The Prayer: Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen!

The Quote: And when we give to each other Christmas gifts in His name, let us remember that He has given us the sun and the moon and the stars, and the earth with its forests and mountains and oceans - and all that lives and moves in them. He has given us all green things and everything that blossoms and bears fruit - and all that we quarrel about and have misused - and to save us from our own foolishness, from all our sins, He came down to earth and gave us to himself.

MASS SCHEDULE FOR NEW YEARS DAY

• 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 am
  * There will be no Mass on New Year's Eve

• The Parish Center will be closed Tuesday, December 29th and Wednesday, January 1st for the New Years Holiday.
• Christmas Decorations
  Many people have commented on the beauty of the church for Christmas. This is in large part due to the efforts of Ron Lewis and the many people who donated towards the flowers in memory of their loved ones. A thank you list of those who donated will be inserted into the bulletin the first weekend in January. Thank you to all who made this Christmas special.
• Watch for our 3rd Annual "Souper Bowl Sunday" coming in January to benefit the North Kingstown Food Pantry. Who will be the competing teams this year??? More details to follow in January.
• Keep this date open: Jan. 11, 2003
  The Social Committee is sponsoring a BYOB potluck dinner for the adults of the parish. For more information call Susan Keimig, 294-1313, Joanne Feaster, 295-7173, or Joyce Zambarano, 295-0555.
• Candidates for the Daughters of Isabella will meet on Jan. 8th at 7 pm in the Parish Center to prepare for installation. If you have any additional friends who wish to join our Circle, please bring them to this meeting. Contact Vivian at 294-1034 or amafay@aol.com for information.
• Daughters of Isabella
  Installation of the new Circle of the Daughters of Isabella will take place on Jan. 26th at 1 pm in the Parish Center. If you cannot participate in the installation, please call Vivian at 294-1034 or amafay@aol.com.
• A Very Special Thank You is extended to Ryan's Market for their assistance in preparing Christmas turkey baskets for parishioners located in North Kingstown.
• 2003 St. Bernard's Calendars will be blessed at the Masses on New Year's Day and will be available in the rear of the Church. One per family please.
• Devotion to Jesus & Mary
  Please join us for the devotions on Thursday at 6:00 pm for the new mystery, "The Mystery of Life'' as recommended by Pope John Paul.

The Youth Ministry has spent the last six months being active members of St. Bernard's with our social nights, our annual party events, and our service projects. At our January 6th meeting from 7 - 8:30 pm, we will be reflecting on those activities and dreaming of being more in the new year. So, encourage all youth to attend - if there is something that interests you and you want to help make it happen - Please STAND UP and DECLARE. Take charge and be a leader in the new year, it is the only year of 2003 you will ever have. We will discuss the possibility of a new spring service team project, and our Lock-in, ski trip and more. Just a friendly reminder, your January 17th Lock-in registration is first come, first serve and only $10 till January 6th (bring it to the meeting). We have 12 youths confirmed so far.

PS. As we bring in the New Year, we have also confirmed 16 youths and 5 adults for a return trip to the Summer Group Work Camp, so stay tuned for details and ways you can help and support. Mark your calendars - Soup Night is on February 1st.

For more information on upcoming events please contact Dawn at 294-9351 or dmb9818@aol.com, or check out the St. Bernard Youth Ministry web site for details.

"This is My Body, given up for you." Lord Jesus, we hear Your words each day at Mass. You have used these words to teach us the meaning of Your love for us, a love that brought You to the cross to give Your life so we might live. You use these words also to teach us the meaning of our love for one another, a love which leads us to give ourselves away that others might live.

"This is my body." Lord, we also hear these words used by those who think they can take life, just because that life is growing within their body. We hear these words distorted by those who support abortion.

Grant that all Your people may learn that human fulfillment is never found by pushing someone else out of the way, but only and always by pushing ourselves out of the way. May all Your people live their lives according to Your most sacred words, "This is my body, given up for you!"

Priests for Life
Respect Life Committee, Jim Cafferky & Jack Fay, Chairs

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Does your will include our parish?

If not, please consider a bequest of cash, property, stocks or bonds, or a percentage of your estate. Your gift will make a difference in the lives of those served by our church. Be a good steward of your God-given gifts.

Psalm 112:5
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

For a free information kit call: Karen Cooper 943-6550.

Those who would like to bring the bread and wine to the altar, please contact Dee Scanlon at 884-0166 to arrange it.

Note: The New American Bible version of this week's readings can be found here.

Please submit bulletin materials directly to the Parish Office, or via e-mail to parishcenter@sbcwickford.org, attention to Jane Allen. The deadline for the submission is Tuesday by 5:00 pm. Please take into consideration the cutoff time and the space limit. Thank you.

"Whatever you do," says St. Paul to the Colossians, "...do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through him." And so it is that we offer our gifts in the Eucharist "through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit..."

Parish Support

December 21 / 22

Actual $5,311.00

Budget $6,055.15

Haitian Collection $3,281.50

Matching Contributions: Many companies offer matching funds for donations to non-profit organizations. If you donate weekly to St. Bernard your company might match it! Please take time to determine if your company has this policy.

Thank you for your continuous support and generosity.