The Fourth Week of Advent this year lasts precisely twenty-four hours! It starts on Saturday with the 5:00 PM Mass and ends when we gather for the First Mass of Christmas on Sunday evening at 5:00 PM. If this year's three weeks and one day of Advent have permitted us to order our lives in a way that has guided us through the path of preparation for a wonderful Christmas season we are truly blessed. If the chaos and hectic atmosphere of these pre-holiday weeks have left us frazzled and glad to think it will soon be all over, it is not too late to enter into the spirit of the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

A good friend of mine is fond of saying that it is important to keep in mind that we are celebrating a mystery and not simply commemorating an historical event. In 1978 an American scripture scholar, Raymond Brown, wrote a book titled "An Adult Christ at Christmas." Brown spoke of the infancy narratives as "the gospel in miniature." Within some of the loveliest stories ever told, the gospel characters of the infancy narratives prefigure the people who make up the cast of Christ's passion: lowly shepherds, curious Gentiles, nervous authorities, and always the Virgin Mother, model of the perfect disciple "who pondered all these things in her heart."

Brown says: "The infancy narrative contains both the cross and the God-given triumph. Herod stalks the trail of the Magi, a menacing reminder that, while the star of the newborn King has shone forth in purity and simplicity, there are those who will seek to blot out that light. If the infancy narrative is an attractive drama that catches the imagination, it also is a substantial proclamation of the coming of the kingdom and its possible rejection."

So, Advent or no Advent, calm or frazzled, come to meet the Christ who has not been overcome and who, we believe has overcome all. It is for us to maintain the faith, accept him into our hearts anew and continue on life's journey guided by his light.

• MASS SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR'S

  Christmas Eve	5:00 pm Family Mass 7:00 pm Candlelight Mass 11:00 pm Solemn Mass
  Christmas Day	7:00, 8:30 & 10:30 am
  New Year's Day	8:30 & 10:30 am

  Reminders:
  
  • Both the 5:00 pm Mass and the 11:00 pm Mass are preceded by half-hour musical programs.
  • Only those who are able to be seated will be admitted to the 5:00 pm Family Mass on Christmas Eve. No one will be allowed to stand in the aisles or along the walls. This is a safety compliance regulation.
  Please make alternative plans to participate in a liturgy other than the 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass unless you plan to arrive early.
  Incense will be used at the 11:00 pm Mass and the 8:30 am Masses.
• The Parish Center will be closed Monday, Christmas Day
• Sparkling memory for your tree
  Sparkling St Bernard signature ornaments are now available after all Masses and in the Parish Center during normal business hours. Each 24K gold plated ornament comes in an attractive gift box with a brief history card. They are $17 each (including tax) and all proceeds will benefit the building fund. There are a limited number available so don't miss out on this opportunity for buy a gift for yourself or especially for anyone who received the sacrament of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation or Matrimony here at St Bernard.
• WINNER'S CHOICE
  Tickets for the 2007 Chrysler vehicle raffle will be available after all Masses or call 295-5235 to order. Drawing will be held May 30, 2007. 2 Early bird drawings for $500 will be held on Dec. 24th and Mary 17th, 2007. All proceeds to benefit St. Bernard Church Capital Campaign. Tickets may also be purchased via the SBC web site, at http://www.sbcwickford.org/ec/winnerschoice/.
• LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF SOUTH COUNTY will begin holding weekly meetings at St. Bernard's Parish Center on Wednesday, January 10th, 9:30-11:00 a.m. Please come and join others who want to improve their conversational skills. If you would like more information on attending these sessions or would like to volunteer to assist, contact Iona Gardiner, Literacy Volunteers of South County, at lvsouthcounty@yahoo.com or 225-1068.
• STARS Speakers, Tutor, Achievement, Retention Success: The Exeter Job Corps Academy is looking for positive role models interested in mentoring, tutoring and/or speaking to students at the Academy. Students at the Academy range in age from 16-24 and are working on obtaining their GED along with vocational training. Mentors will meet with students on a weekly basis to encourage healthy behavior, provide support, and develop a meaningful relationship. Tutors will encourage and support students academically and speakers will provide motivational and inspiring messages to students. Please volunteer your time to encourage and support a young person and make a real difference in their life! For more information contact: Ashley Laferriere, STARS Coordinator, 268-6062 or alaferrier@wics.org.
• Festival of Carols featuring traditional and contemporary carols will be presented by the parish choir and instrumentalists of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 141 State St., Bristol, on the Feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, January 7th at 4:00 pm. Free will donation. For more information call Stephen Romano, 433-5338.
• A Recovering American Soldier
  If you are currently writing cards to friends and family please send an extra one (or 10, or 20) to our American military heroes who are recuperating from wounds this Christmas Season. Please enclose a short note thanking them for their service and personal sacrifice and letting them know we appreciate them. Your small act of kindness will be greatly appreciated. The address is:
  A Recovering American Soldier
  c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
  6900 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20307-5001
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend
  "And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more... said that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ...." (Second Reading) Come to a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and recharge your marriage. Upcoming dates are February 9-11, and March 2-4. For more information call 1-800-710-WWME or (401) 397-8752 or visit our webpage at www.ri-me.org.
• ANNUAL COAT DRIVE
  Please drop off your GOOD USED COATS at the Parish Center. We distribute to local agencies. For more information call the Parish Center at 295-0387 or e-mail us at parishcenter@sbcwickford.org.

Sacramental Preparation Classes start in January. Families will be notified of class assignments within the next two weeks. Would you like to help out with a class? It is just a commitment of 7 classes. All materials are provided. Think about sharing your faith. Call the Parish Center for more information.

Confirmation pictures are available on the St. Bernard website. Go to www.sbcwickford.org and click on"Events," or select this link to go there directly.

If you did not pick up your "Home Kit", check the entry of the Church and take one home. There are some great things in the "Home Kit" for getting ready for Christmas and making this Advent special.

Did you know? There are some great pictures from our recent gatherings on the St. Bernard website. Just visit our website at www.sbcwickford.org and click on "Events," or select this link to go there directly.

We will not be open this weekend. If you would like some assistance or help with orders when we are not open, please call Deborah (885-6405) for availability. Self service is available when ever the parish center building is open.

Hugs and Kisses to all and Happy Christmas from the Youth Ministry. We pray that this season will remind each of us in a real way that Jesus is presenting himself to us and knocking at the doors of our hearts, in order to make his dwelling within us. And my special prayer of gratitude this day to all of you who do for the St. Bernard's Church Youth Ministry and the young people it serves.

Christmas: A Gift of Life
"The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as "good news" to the people of every age and culture. At the dawn of salvation, it is the Birth of a Child which is proclaimed as joyful news: "I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11). The source of this "great joy" is the Birth of the Saviour; but Christmas also reveals the full meaning of every human birth, and the joy which accompanies the Birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the foundation and fulfilment of joy at every child born into the world (cf. Jn 16:21)"

Pope John Paul II, "The Gospel of Life," n.1

Those who would like to bring the bread and wine to the altar, please call the Parish Center at 295-0387 to arrange.

Click Here for Today's Reading

For prayerful preparation during the week before Sunday Mass, please visit http://liturgy.slu.edu. Reflecting on the spirituality of the scriptures before Mass can have a great impact on hearing the Word proclaimed on Sunday.

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.

Rejoice! The word became flesh and dwells among us! Oh, Come, Let us adore Him!

St. Bernard's now offers parishioners the opportunity to make their budget contributions by Direct Debit. Call the Parish Center, 295-0387 for further information.

December 16 / 17	Actual $6,569.25	Budget $7,043.17
Through 11/30/06	Actual $145,187.00	Budget $145,975.00

ACH $365.00
Keep The Heat On Campaign $1,799.00

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

Thank you for your continuous support and generosity.