Some time back a good friend of mine who skillfully pastors a vibrant parish in another part of our diocese sent me the following piece "A Short Guide to the Duties of Church Membership." The start of a New Year seems like a good time to share it with you. It is never too late to resolve to change for better.

He writes: "As Baptized and Confirmed members of the Church, we are called to play a full part in its life and witness in the world. That means we should strive to: (1) Follow the example of Christ in home and daily life, and seek to grow in our faith through prayer and study of the Gospels. (2) Celebrate God's Love for the world in Sunday and weekday Liturgy and by serving those in need. (3) Pray daily for the coming of God's Kingdom, receive the Sacraments faithfully and regularly, and give good example to those around us. (4) Express our faith in Christ: at work, or school, in the life of our neighborhood, in our political choices; in our concern for the powerless, the homeless, the aged and the unborn. (5) Offer our gifts and talents to Christ in service of the Church as well as the civic Community. (6) Give thoughtfully for the work of our Parish at home, overseas and for other charitable causes. (7) Support Christian Values, especially relating to marriage, children, family, neighbors and community."

• The Parish Center will be closed Monday, January 15th In observance of the Martin Luther King Day holiday.
• 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.
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will be held today, January 14th at 6:00 pm at the Holy Name of Jesus Church, 99 Camp St., Providence, sponsored by the Office of Black Catholic Ministry. Everyone is welcome to join in this evening of celebration, prayer and song. For information call 278-4552 or 724-5673.
• LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF SOUTH COUNTY will be holding weekly meetings at St. Bernard's Parish Center on Wednesday, from 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.
• Coming February 4 - "Souper Bowl Sunday"
  To benefit the North Kingstown Food Pantry. Support your favorite team. Watch for more details. Let's hope the Patriots keep winning!
• Knights of Columbus Basketball Free Throw Contest for boys and girls, ages 10-14, will be held Sunday, January 21 beginning at 1:00PM at the N. K. High School. Entry forms are available on the day of event. If there are any questions please call, Tom Mulligan (294-4516 / 623-7083)
• ITALIAN NIGHT
  The Knights of Columbus will have an Italian Night on Saturday, January 20th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the K of C Hall. Meatballs, Pasta, Tossed Salad, Italian Bread/ Butter, Coffee/Tea will be served. The cost is $7.00 per adult; $4.00 per child, 12 and under; children 6 and under are free. Reservations are required by July 18th. Please call 295-0507.
• MARRIED COUPLES - IT'S NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION TIME
  Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend upcoming dates are January 26-28, February 9-11 and March 2-4. For information call 1-800-710-WWME or 397-8752 or visit our webpage at www.ri-me.org.
• St. Joseph Health Services of RI has provided us with free copies of their inaugural magazine, Our Health. Copies are available in the entryway of the church.
• Msgr. Clarke School Open House will be held on Monday, January 29th from 9-11 a.m. We cannot accommodate children in the classrooms, therefore, the Open House is for adults only.
• Drive for the cure
  The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery is seeking volunteer drivers who are available between 9 am and 5 pm to assist with providing transportation to cancer patients. Hours and days are up to you. To learn more call 401-243-2632.
• 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.

There are NO CLASSES this weekend due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday. Sacramental Preparation Classes resume Sunday, January 21st. Please remember that attendance is VERY IMPORTANT!.

The next sessions of Generations of Faith begin in February. Please watch the bulletin for further information. Volunteers needed for the upcoming sessions. Please contact the Parish Center for more information.

Next full service date is Sunday, January 28th. February's full service dates are February 11th and 25th. Look for the red "OPEN" sign. Self service is available in the parish center during open hours. For help at other times call Deborah at 885-6405. In the vestibule of the Church there are second hand religious statues and other religious items that have been left at the parish center. Help yourself if you want anything there. These items are free.

The Youth Ministry is going MAD!!! If you are in middle school - Come and join us!! We are staying up till midnight (AHHHHH.....), playing games, watching movies, eating, and making wallets and bags out of duck tape. There is something for everyone to enjoy on Saturday, January 20th. Arrive at 6 pm and be picked up at 12 am (Moms and Dads stay and help or please don't be late!!). Cost is $8. So bring a friend and go MAD with us!! Please let Dawn know if you are coming by email (birondawn@yahoo.com) or by calling her at 461-3048.

February: the Senior Posse will be going to the Food Bank (2/3) and offering a Parents' Night Out (babysitting service) February 10th. During February school vacation, we are planning a Family Ice Skating Night with dinner at the Fleet Center (date TBA). So, mark your calendars and we hope to see you soon - living out your New Year's Resolution!!!

Is this you? Or somebody you know? For any number of reasons baptized Catholics do not always complete their initiation into the Church. This is done through the Sacrament of Confirmation and receiving Holy Communion. This is a simple process of preparation that results in the satisfaction of participating fully in the sacramental life that Christ has given us for our joy and support. For more information call Father Reardon.

MARCH FOR LIFE
The time for the January pro-life events in RI and Washington, D.C. has come again. You can now reserve a seat on the Catholics for Life bus going to the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 21 and 22. $50 per person. RI Motorcade for Life will be held January 22. Please call 421-0821 for more information.

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.

In today's second reading, St. Paul tells the Corinthians (and us) that all of our gifts are from God and that they are given not for ourselves alone, but for the common good. But the generosity of God knows no limits - the miracle at Cana reminds us that whenever we faithfully do as God asks, He can change our gifts of water into wine!

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.

January 6 / 7	Actual $6,796.06	Budget $8,020.96
Through 12/31/06	Actual $190,468.89	Budget $190,234.00

Flower Donations $2419.00
ACH $365.00

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.