Social Justice

We will be collecting toys and gift certificates for the churches of Blessed Kateri and Holy Rosary and for our local food shelf through Salvation Army's Operation Joy.

Angels will be on the trees in St. Paul's Plaza, and gifts can be returned to The Plaza beginning this weekend through Sunday, December 14.

Gift certificates can be mailed to St. John's or returned to the Parish Office.

Please Note: December 14 is the last day  to return gifts and certificates because the agencies need time to deliver their gifts! 

Pictures with St. Nick!
Christmas Caroling!
Fun for all ages!

Council of Catholic Women

St. John's Council of Catholic Women will hold its annual Christmas Party, December 15, in St. Joseph's Hall. Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7:00 p.m. Food will be catered by Ollie's Kitchen with entertainment by the Girl Scouts of our parish. ALL ladies of the parish are invited.  Cost for the evening is $7.00, and tickets may be purchased after Mass on November 30 & December 7; no tickets will be sold after these dates. A $5.00 donation will be collected for the Our Lady of Good Council Cancer Home. Contact Theresa Cermak for  more information, (763) 786-7051. 

1.) Collecting the gifts during the weekends of November  29/30 through December 13/14.

2.) Delivering the gifts to Ralph Reeder Food Shelf on Monday mornings, December 1 through December 15,  at 9:00 a.m.

Please call Judy, 651-633-8333, ext. 1229, if you can help.

Connections: November 30, 2003    First Sunday of Advent

• "…when these things begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand."
  

STONE SOUP

In the comic strip Stone Soup by Jan Eliot, sisters Holly, who is thirteen, and Alix, six, are always at each other.  A constant state of war exists between the moody teenager and her "twirpy" little sister.
But something happens this time of year.
On Christmas Eve, Alix wakes up and rushes to the window, "Wake UP, Sister Dear!  It SNOWED last night!" 
"Oh, ALIX" Holly says with sugar in her voice.  "It's Beautiful! Thank you for waking me up and SHARING it with me."
In the next panel, Holly takes out one of her favorite, keep-your-filthy-hands-off-this sweaters.  "I  LOVE sharing with YOU, Alix!"  Holly gushes.  "Want to borrow my FAVORITE sweater?"
"Gee whiz, THANKS, Holly!"  Alix effuses.  "Care for some of my candy?"
"Your too KIND, Sister Dear!  Let's clean our room again!"
At the conclusion of the sickeningly sweet scene, the two sisters look out the window again.  Reality returns.
"Think Santa heard us?"  Alix asks.
"Talk louder," Holly urges.  "We've only got one more day to boost our ratings."

[Stone Soup by Jan Eliot, 23 December 2001]

CONNECTION:  Children are all too aware of the immediacy of these days:  Time is wasting!  There's a lot to get done!  We've got to clean up our act before the big day!  While the trappings of this season push us to the Santa deadline, the deeper, more profound meaning of this season pushes us to Christ and the end of this life and the dawning of the next.  Time is indeed limited and precious.  There is so much we want to accomplish in our lives.  Be ready, Jesus warns; not just for the magical December 25 finish line, but for the ultimate fulfillment of our lives.  God gives us this life, this Advent, in order that we might discover him and know him in the love of others and in the goodness of this world - - in anticipation of the next.