PARISH OFFICE: The Parish Office will close at noon today, Wednesday, November 23rd, and remain closed until Monday, November 28th, for the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving! – May your Thanksgiving be full of peace, love and gratitude.
THANKSGIVING DAY MASS: Thanksgiving Day Mass will be celebrated at St. Dennis Church in Galena, MD at 9 am on Thursday, November 24th. All are invited to attend this special Mass. St. Dennis is encouraging those who attend to bring canned goods and boxed cereals to donate. Please place these items in the wicker baskets in front of the St. Joseph statue in the sanctuary before Mass. Mass will not be celebrated at St. Polycarp on Thanksgiving Day, so join us at St. Dennis.
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How can you be more open to God’s ways during Advent?
~ What will you change in your way of living to take in God’s light during Advent?
~ How can you be more awake to the ways of God in your life?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112722.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.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, NOVEMBER 26/27 (& week of November 27)
Our Giving Tree Committee coordinates the Christmas gifts for needy children in our community. The Giving Tree, with the children’s requests, are set up inside the Main Entrance of the Church. Please purchase a gift for the child on the tag you choose and return it to the Parish Hall no later than Sunday, December 4th. Questions? Contact Fran Walls at (302) 653 – 1450. Thank You!
PARISHIONER COFFEE: Parishioners are welcome to share a morning of snacks, conversation and a short video after the 8:30 am Mass on Tuesday, November 29th in the parish hall.. This invitation is open to all parishioners who would like to enjoy some coffee and good company. Feel free to bring snacks or anything you would like to share. For additional information, contact Cookie Ruane, (302) 540 – 6429.
BIDS ACCEPTED UNTIL 3PM ON DECEMBER 1ST!
WHAT: Help out the church with this annual fundraiser and Parish tradition of putting up a parking spot to the highest bidder! You will have the reserved spot (with your name on it) for one year. With the winter weather coming, you will want to have that close spot for you or a loved one. Makes a perfect gift!
WHERE: Back parking lot by the brick wall around the HVAC unit, practically right under the portico!
HOW: Please submit your bid amount by December 1st at 3pm by emailing financialmanager@saintpolycarp.org with the Subject Line: “Parking Spot Bid” or dropping it in the collection basket or black drop box under the portico labeled “Parking Spot Bid” with your name & phone number on it. Besides individual bidders, Parish organizations or groups can consider putting in a collective bid for your group. All bids MUST be in writing.
SIGNAGE COORDINATOR NEEDED
Are you looking for an opportunity to serve our parish and help fellow parishioners navigate our campus? The Pastoral Council is searching for a volunteer to coordinate the Parish Signage project. This person will work with Father Jim and the Pastoral Council to assess the signage needs for our campus and to facilitate the implementation of this project. If interested, please contact Kathy Curlett at kathleencurlett19@gmail.com.
EARLY SUBMISSION DATES FOR THE WEEKLY BULLETIN: Early submission dates have been set by our bulletin publisher for the holiday season. All submissions that you would like to appear in the bulletin will need to be submitted earlier. These dates seem weeks away but they will be here before we know it. Plan now and submit early. Bulletin Date December 11, submit by noon Thursday, December 1; Bulletin Date December 18, submit by noon Monday, December 5, Bulletin Date December 25, submit by noon Friday, December 9. To view all early submission dates CLICK HERE.
NEXT WEEKEND, DECEMBER 3/4 (& week of December 4)
COME ONE – COME ALL! COLUMBIETTES COOKIE WALK 2022: Saturday, December 3rd, after the 4 pm Mass and Sunday, December 4th, after the 10:30 am Mass. Homemade cookies lovingly baked by our Columbiettes!
Many varieties to tickle your taste buds!
One dollar per bag!
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD is offered on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at the 10:30 am Mass. Next CLoW is December 4th. All children ages PreK – 4th grade are welcome to join us. Children will be called to come forward before the First Reading. They will return to you after the General Intercessions. All catechists and assistants have a cleared background check. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Erica Taylor at (302) 653-4101.
The BLESSING OF SODALISTS will take place on Sunday, December 4th at the 10:30 am Mass.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, December 4 at the 10:30 am Mass – Brink Family. Please arrive 15 minutes before your Mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
AGAPE: Come join us next Sunday, December 4th, following the 10:30am Mass for Agape. We gather together to enjoy food, fellowship and fun!
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER ~ Planning Meeting – December 7: Mark your calendars! We have been waiting several years, but the Parish Appreciation Dinner is back. The Pastoral Council is planning a celebration for Saturday, February 18, 2023, after the 4 pm Mass. Check the bulletin and weekly updates for more information. Our first planning meeting is on Wednesday, December 7th, at 5 pm, in the library. Please contact Kathy Curlett (kathleencurlett19@gmail.com), if interested in attending this first meeting. We are looking forward to honoring our parishioners who volunteer in the many ministries here at Saint Polycarp Parish.
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION – A Holy Day of Obligation. Thursday, December 8th, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
MASSES FOR THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
St. Polycarp: Wednesday, December 7 at 6:30 pm & Thursday, December 8 at 8:30 am
St. Dennis: Thursday, December 8 at 8:30 am & 6:30 pm
THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY – 2022 ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GIFT PROGRAM: Our St. Vincent de Paul Society members are asking Parishioners, if they are able, to please
donate a turkey or ham. Gift cards are also greatly appreciated; however, the maximum dollar amount is $30.00. On Thursday evening, December 8th, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, kindly bring your frozen turkey, ham or gift card to St. Polycarp’s Church Parking Lot. If anyone knows of anybody who would like to have a turkey, ham and/or gift card please call Saint Vincent de Paul at (302) 264 – 6630. Saint Vincent de Paul members will deliver the turkeys and gift cards to children and families on Saturday, December 10th, between 9 am and 12 noon. You must be home to receive these gifts.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
DEANERY ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE will be held on Thursday, December 15th at 7 pm, at Holy Cross Church in Dover. Several priests will be available to hear confessions.
COME TO THE BROTHER VINCENT CHUCK WAGON! Tickets for the January 14th Dinner and Show, sponsored by the Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes, are on sale this weekend after Masses at the Church exits. The show features The Legends of Country Music – Sean Jamison and Jenna Young with Country Music. Tickets are $40.00 each. Tickets may be purchased by check (made payable to Brother Vincent Council), by credit card through Faith Direct CLICK HERE, or by using this QR code. 
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! Is there someone you would like to invite to explore the Catholic faith – someone unbaptized, or baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition? Do you know someone who needs Confirmation and/or First Eucharist? Perhaps, the Catholic faith can fulfill their desires for a closer relationship with Our Lord. Then, the RCIA process is for them. Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information. DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653-8279.
CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday at 9:30 AM in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at 302-540-6429.
GLUTEN FREE? Do you have an intolerance to gluten? If so, our parish offers gluten-free wafers to be consecrated for you. Please see our Sacristan 10 – 15 minutes before Mass and let them know that you need a gluten-free wafer put in the pyx. At Communion, please proceed down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/ December 4 at the 10:30 Mass – Brink, December 18 at the 10:30 Mass – Bobeck
IS THAT YOU, FR. JIM? If you receive emails or texts from Fr. Jim asking for favors or gifts or stating something similar to “I am currently busy in a meeting now, no calls so just reply to my email.”, please ignore and delete. If an email looks suspicious and you’re not sure, give the office a call.
Have you had the opportunity to dive into FORMED? To sign up visit www.formed.org. Type in our Parish zip code (19977) and follow the steps to sign up or you can use the QR code below. Take advantage of your free subscription to FORMED! Enjoy thousands of hours of quality Catholic content! 
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 in receipts months old!
BULLETIN SPONSORS: Thank you to all of our weekly bulletin sponsors for your support during the year! Your support has not gone unnoticed by our parish community and is so appreciated!
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
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHILDREN: https://www.cdow.org/giving/fsgc/
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
EWTN: ewtn.com
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. Learn about the Delaware Faith & Housing Justice Weekend on the Nov. 26th episode of Catholic Forum. CLICK HERE You can listen online at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts. “Like” Catholic Forum on Facebook at facebook.com/CatholicForum @CatholicForum.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” (Mt. 24:42) This scripture alludes to end times. We don’t know for sure when we or our beloved will die but try not to end any day with anger against your spouse. Forgive before you sleep.
LET US PRAY:
The symbolism of the Advent wreath is quite beautiful. The circle of the wreath, with no beginning or end and made with evergreens, represents eternity and the everlasting life found in Christ.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent whose progressive lighting expresses the expectation and hope surrounding the coming of the Messiah. There are different systems of considering the four weeks. For example, Week 1 evokes the patriarchs and the virtue of hope. Week 2 recalls the prophets and peace. Week 3 recalls John the Baptist and joy while Week 4 presents the figure of Mary and the virtue of love. 
Week 1. Light the first purple candle.
Scripture Reflection: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” Isaiah 9:2
*pause for reflection
Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.
https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/advent/advent-wreath-prayers.html