FATHER JIM'S JOTS - First Sunday of Advent - December 3, 2023

First Sunday of Advent

St. Elizabeth Church

December 3, 2023

FATHER JIM'S JOTS

Greetings!!

This Sunday marks the First Sunday in Advent and the first day of the new liturgical year.  "Advent (from, 'ad-venire' in Latin or 'to come to') is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ's second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord's birth on Christmas.  Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple, since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days.  Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas."

Please consider joining us on December 16th for a parish retreat, led by Sr. Anns, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.. We will have a Communal Reconciliation Service afterwards.  You do not need to attend the retreat to attend reconciliation.  We will have several priests here to hear confessions.  All are welcome!  For more information, please click here.

Last week, our annual Christmas Ask Letter was sent out.  I ask that you consider giving a donation, as this is our biggest annual fundraiser.

If you are interested in helping with our giving tree by purchasing gifts, please make sure that all donations are brought to the Parish Office unwrapped by December 12th.

Prayer for Advent

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.  Increase our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.  Amen.

Blessings,

Fr. Jim

~ Advent info from usccb.org

~ Image Source