First Sunday of Advent
To You, oh Lord, I lift my soul.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112821.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.
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
THIS WEEKEND, NOVEMBER 27/28
ANNUAL FALL CLEANUP – TOMORROW, SATURDAY November 27th, 9 am – 1 pm. Are you ready to work off that Thanksgiving meal? Come join us for the Annual Fall Cleanup. Please bring a rake, blowers, gloves and your friends. Riding mowers that can vacuum up the leaves are needed. We need to clear the ground of leaves, branches, and debris. We appreciate any amount of time you are able to give. Great opportunity for Confirmandi volunteer hours. Light refreshments will be available. Please text or call Michael Pyle at (302) 423 – 9732 or email him at mjpyle58@msn.com so we can know how many folks to expect.
THE GIVING TREE is now set up inside the main entrance of the Church. Help a child in need by choosing one of the tags and purchasing the requested gift. Gifts should be returned to the Parish Hall no later than next Sunday, December 5th.
PSR REMINDER: NO CLASS this Sunday, November 28. (No in-person class, no PSRonline assignment.)
WEEK of NOVEMBER 28
PSR REMINDER – GRADES 5-8: IN PERSON CLASS this coming Tuesday, November 30.
RESERVED PARKING SPOT: Help out the church with this annual fundraiser and Parish tradition of putting up a parking spot to the highest bidder! PRIME PARKING SPOT! You will have the reserved spot in the back parking lot by the brick wall around the HVAC unit, practically right under the portico, with your name on it, for one year. With the winter weather coming, you will want to have that close spot for you or loved one (maybe as an early Christmas gift.) Please submit your bid amount by December 1st at 3pm by emailing lisa.titus@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.
Please do not park in front of the dumpsters on Monday through Friday. This prevents the Waste Management Collection and the Recycling Collection from being picked up. Thank you for your cooperation
PARISH OFFICE – HELP NEEDED: With the holidays quickly approaching, the parish office is looking for a few extra hands to help us out as a Front Desk Receptionist. Could you possibly consider helping us one morning (9 am to 12 noon) or afternoon (12 noon to 3 pm) a week or fill in as a substitute receptionist when needed? If you are interested, or would like more information, please call Kathy in the Parish Office at (302) 653–8279 or send an email to office@saintpolycarp.org.
WE NEED YOUR TIME AND TALENT ! We are also looking for someone to help with the three bulletin boards outside of the church doors including the one under the portico. Do you have time to create a background for Advent or stop by once a week to post flyers? Do you have time to do just one of the boards? If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org or call the Parish Office at (302) 653-8279
NEXT WEEKEND, DECEMBER 4/5
BREAKFAST WITH JESUS: Please join us for a very special Agape ON Sunday, December 5th following the 10:30 am Mass. Come enjoy “Breakfast with Jesus” and share the blessings of the season with each other as we await the coming of our Lord! A pancake breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus will be served. There will be photo opportunities for the children. Hope to see you there!
COOKIES!! Please stop by the portico after Mass on Saturday, December 4th or at the Agape on Sunday, the 5th and pickup some homemade cookies from Brother Vincent Columbiettes. The funds raised are returned to St. Polycarp over the year as our Columbiettes support various parish projects.
WEEK of DECMBER 5
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TURKEY/HAM/GIFT CARD DROP-OFF AT ST. POLYCARP: Once again, it’s time for SVDP’s annual Christmas “Turkey Drive” to benefit our neighbors in need. Can you donate a turkey or ham? Gift cards are also greatly appreciated. ($30 maximum).DONATIONS – Drop off your donation at the St. Polycarp parking lot on Thursday, December 9th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. If you know of anyone who would like to have a turkey, ham, or gift card please call the Saint Vincent de Paul Society at 302-264-6630. Saint Vincent de Paul members will deliver the turkeys and gift cards to peoples’ homes on Saturday, December 11, between 9 am and Noon. (Weather permitting.)
SODALITY ADVENT RETREAT: Saturday December 11, 2021 Mother Drexel Hall – 9:00 am -1:00 pm. Deacon Frank will be our Retreat Master. Open to our Parish. See upcoming bulletins for details.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! Earlier this month, we celebrated All Saints Day, as we recalled those “living witnesses” who with joy and peace, show us what living the Catholic life can bring. As witnesses to Christ’s love ourselves, we pray to the saints, asking for their intercession for those who are discerning the call to join in full union with the Catholic Church. 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.
SMYRNA-CLAYTON MINISTERIUM FOOD PANTRY: We are once again collecting food items for the Smyrna-Clayton Ministerium Food Pantry. Bins for your non-perishable food donations are in the hallway outside of the Mother Drexel Hall. The pantry is in need of canned beef stew, canned chili, canned pasta, canned soup, and hot and cold cereal. Pop- top lids, if available. The pantry is no longer accepting coupons. Please no expired food. The pantry is now located at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Smyrna. The pantry is also looking for volunteers to help serve the community by helping at the food pantry. If you are interested, please contact St. Peter’s Church at (302)653-9691 and leave a message for Doris Wheeler.
MEMORIAL BRICKS: Now is a perfect time to add your Memorial Brick to the walkway of our outdoor Blessed Mother Shrine. We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to have our Blessed Mother looking down upon a memory of our loved one, a special occasion or just your family name. You can order through Faith Direct at https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/5644, (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct), or return your form (forms may be found at the Church doors) with payment to St. Polycarp Church in an envelope labeled “Memorial Brick”. You can also CLICK HERE FOR ORDER FORM
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, November 27, 2021, tune in to hear an interview with father/son deacons, Walt and Brennan Ferris. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts. (Due to unforeseen circumstances, the guest line up was changed and is no longer going to be Fr. James Herring).
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: “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
Advent Wreath Prayer: 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.