Fourth Sunday of Advent
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/12192021.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays. Please bear with us as we work through the challenges with our live streaming. If you are interested in being involved in this ministry, please email Lisa at lisa.titus@saintpolycarp.org or Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/. Don’t forget to checkout our BULLETIN OVERFLOW for information that doesn’t fit in our weekly Bulletin! Bulletin Overflow – Saint Polycarp Church
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24th at 4 pm and 9 pm,
Christmas Day – Saturday, December 25th at 10 am.
LIVE STREAM: Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24th at 4 pm, (Can also be viewed at a later time.) https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY, Sunday, December 26th: Mass at 10:30 am only on Sunday the 26th. There is no Saturday, 4 pm Vigil Mass on December 25th.
THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD (New Year’s): Masses will be celebrated on Friday, December 31st at 4pm and Saturday, January 1st at 10am. Our Church calendars will be blessed and available at these Masses.
THIS WEEKEND, DECEMBER 18/19
BLESSED STRAW: This weekend, bags of Blessed Straw will be available for parishioners to take home for their Nativities.
PSR GRADES P/K – 8: In person classes – Sunday, December 19th for Grades P/K – 4 and Tuesday, December 21st for Grades 5-8.
PSR GRADE 4 families attend 10:30 am Mass this Sunday, December 19th.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD will take place during the 10:30 am Mass this Sunday, December 19th. All children ages PreK-4th grade are welcome to attend.
CHRISTMAS NOVENA REMEMBRANCE AND CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERING: Christmas is a time to reflect on the blessings of family and shared togetherness. We exchange gifts as an act of love and appreciation. Find the peace that only God can provide by enrolling all your loved loves, living and deceased, in the most powerful of all prayers, the gift of Holy Mass, or through a contribution towards the beautiful Christmas flowers. Please use the Christmas Novena Remembrance and Christmas Flower Offering envelopes as gifts to show your loved ones they have not been forgotten. Envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church.
WEEK of DECEMBER 19TH
THE DEANERY PENANCE SERVICE will be held at Holy Cross, Dover on Monday, December 20th, at 7 pm.
Various priests will be available to hear confessions.
Need a refresher? See the insert in this weekend’s Bulletin or visit https://saintpolycarp.org/reconciliation-refresher/
ST. POLYCARP 2021 CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SALE: Don’t miss out. We have five – 2021 ornaments left! If you are interested in purchasing an ornament, email Mrs. Taylor at dre@saintpolycarp.org or call (302)653-4101.
MEMORIAL BRICKS: Do You Have Someone on Your Gift List Who Has Everything? Give the gift of a memorial brick as a Christmas gift. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved except in memory. Order forms can be found at the doors of the Church or order through Faith Direct at https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/5644, (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct). You can also CLICK HERE FOR ORDER FORM
THE PARISH OFFICE will close at noon on Wednesday, December 22nd and remain closed until 9 am on Tuesday, December 28th. The office will also be closed on Friday, December 31st.
DIVINE MERCY: We will not gather to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Friday, December 24th or Friday, December 31st.
RECONCILIATION: Confessions will not take place here at St. Polycarp on Saturday, December 25th.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! If you know someone who is looking for a new beginning and wants to learn more about the Catholic Church, “personally invite” them to our RCIA sessions, taking place at the Parish campus on Monday evenings at 6:30pm. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for individuals who are unbaptized, baptized in other faith traditions or Catholic adults wishing to receive Confirmation and Holy Eucharist and seeking full membership in the Catholic Church. We are all called to share the “Good News” and you can make a difference by simply asking! Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information at DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653-8279.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Each week a family will receive the Vocation Chalice at Mass and take it home with the promise to “pray for vocations” during that week. The family should place the chalice in a prominent place in their home and gather together each day to pray for the awareness of vocations. At the end of the week, the family will bring the chalice back to church so the next family can take it home. A booklet will accompany the chalice that has prayers and instructions. We need your prayers and for you to sign up. Call or text Alice Gaston 302-670-7924 to sign up. See the Bulletin for schedule. This weekend, December 19th – the Taylor Family. January 2nd – The Ruane Family
LONG TERM PLANNING: The Finance Council here at Saint Polycarp Parish is looking towards the future with the development of a long-range plan. While we have always had an annual plan, the long-range plan will help steer and direct the parish for the next 3 – 5 years and longer. To help make this endeavor a success, we want to have several parishioners who would bring different viewpoints and perspectives and would be willing to actively participate in the 3 sessions we are anticipating. The sessions would take place on weekends for 2 – 3 hours. There will also be some prayer, reading and thinking to take place in between sessions. If you would like to participate or to learn more, please reach out to John Fcasni. He can be reached at john.fcasni@gmail.com or call or text him at (609) 529-1986.
DECEMBER 26TH: Don’t put those decorations away yet!
The joy and wonder of Christmas is not limited to just Christmas Day but lasts for a period of time. The Christmas Season begins with the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas – December 25th) and ends with the Baptism of the Lord, this year, January 9th. Celebrate the true Christmas Season!
REDNER’S MARKETS 1% SAVE-A-TAPE FUNDRAISER: Turn your food shopping into cash for our parish. Simply be sure to obtain and scan your Redner’s Rewards Card each time you shop. Save your whole receipt. Bring your receipts to the Parish Office or put them into the collection basket. There is no expiration date – you can turn receipts months old in!
Thank you to our Bulletin advertisers! We appreciate your support!
USEFUL LINKS:
WEBSITE: www.saintpolycarp.org.
BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SaintPolycarpCatholicChurch/
ONLINE GIVING: Please consider becoming an e-giver. It is easy to make your weekly or one time contributions in support of the Parish. For more information and to sign up for online giving, visit faith.direct/DE831
ST DENNIS: http://www.stdennischurch.org
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. On tomorrow’s episode, December 18, 2021, tune-in to hear Bishop William Koenig’s first Christmas message as Bishop of Wilmington and greetings from priests and deacons from across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts.
THE DIALOG: Don’t miss the Christmas edition of The Dialog that will be available at the door this weekend. The first Dialog edition in the new year will be Jan. 14. The newspaper will not have a print edition on Friday, Dec. 31.
LET US PRAY: AN ADVENT WREATH BLESSING
Dear Jesus, as we light the candle on this Advent wreath, may the light of your presence bring joy to our hearts. Bless our family and our friends, and be with all those who are in need this holiday season. Amen.
Scripture Reflection: “And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, 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.” Luke 2:10-11
*pause for reflection
Advent Wreath Prayer Dear Jesus, may the light of your love always shine in our hearts. As Christmas draws closer, we marvel at your great love for us. Let your love transform every aspect of our lives and touch everyone we encounter. Our hearts are open to you, Jesus. Amen.