St.

Augustine Church
C H R I ST M A S N EWS L E T T E R
Dear Parishioners, Another wonderful year is coming to a close! As always, there is never a time when the opportunity to get together and share the Christmas spirit is more present than at the end of the year. From spiritual opportunities, like Advent Communal Reconciliation, to volunteer opportunities, like the Annual Christmas Day Dinner, St. Augustine is so excited for the Christmas season because it is a time when our entire Parish Community can come together and celebrate the wonderful spirit of our Faith with our community and with each other. Please take a look through this newsletter and see what exciting things we have planned. And make sure to keep an eye on the Parish Bulletin and our Parish Website, as they are always up-to-date with what is going on in our Parish. Many Blessings to you and your families during this Season

2012

Christmas Mass Schedule. St. Augustine Schedule Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 4PM, 6PM, 10PM Christmas Day, Dec. 25 8AM, & 10:30AM December 31 4PM January 1 9AM
Immaculate Conception Schedule

Christmas Walk: November 24

The Barberton Christmas Walk is this Saturday, November 24. Saint Augustine will be sponsoring its annual Cookie & Chili Booth and we are looking for volunteers. If you would like to spread some Christmas Cheer, we are in need of Christmas Cookie donations as well as volunteers to help serve the donated goodies, please contact Mary King at the Rectory. Also, please join us for our Annual Christmas Concert in the Church at 7PM staring the St. Augustine Childrens Choir & the K-3 St. Augustine School Students as they sing wonderful songs to put us in the Christmas mood. Make sure to stop by and visit our Cookie Booth after visiting our Christmas Concert! This event is in conjunction with the Downtown Barberton Christmas Walk. Join us as the City of Barberton lights up Lake Anna.

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 5:30PM & 10PM Christmas Day, Dec. 25 10AM December 31 5:30PM January 1 10AM

Around the Parish

The Advent season is upon us. Let us prepare to rejoice and be glad! There are many opportunities to incorporate prayer into Christmas preparation and celebration. If you do not already do it, this is a good Year of Faith to turn your eyes to Jesus by: Blessing an Advent Wreath, Christmas tree, and Creche. Handouts with the prayers are available on the bookrack in the church vestibule, as are Little Blue Books, Sacred Space for Advent and many other materials for Advent reflection. will be the primary time for folks to receive this sacrament in preparation for Christmas. If youve never been to a reconciliation service at St. Augustine, now is the time to try it youll like it!

PASS IT ON!

Spend an enjoyable evening learning how to simply and casually share your faith with others. Terrie Baldwin from the Evangelization Office will share ideas that will empower listeners to witness to their faith in everyday encounters. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 7-9:00 PM, SCHOOL CAFETERIA. Please join your fellow parishioners as we learn how to let Jesus light shine through us!

Once again, St. Augustine Church is hosting our annual free CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER. The full meal is served from 1:00-3:00 pm on Christmas Day. Anyone who would like to celebrate with others is invited. As always, volunteers and donations are needed. Share the joy of the Lord through your involvement!

Prepare your heart to celebrate Jesus presence with us here and now, His birth 2000+ years ago, and His anticipated coming again in glory An ADVENT COMMUNAL RECONCILIATION SERVICE will be held in the church on Monday, December 10, beginning at 7:00 pm. Numerous priests will be available for confession. This evening

For more information about any of the above or to volunteer, please call Karen at 745-0011, x 18. Thank you!

St Augustine School News

Monday, November 19, is Eucharistic Adoration day. All classes will make a holy hour on this day. The first quarter academic awards assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20, at 8:30 AM, in the SAC.

new Christmas carols and songs in St. Augustine Church at 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 24. The St. Augustine Children's Choir will also perform.

Mark your calendars for a Christmas concert performed by fourth through eighth grade on Wednesday, December 12, at 7:00 PM in the SAC. Basketball uniform pick-up is on Wednesday, November 28, in the school basement. Basketball and cheerleading pictures are scheduled for Monday, December 3, in the SAC. The last day of school before Christmas vacation is Friday, December 21. School resumes on January 3, 2013

First grade will participate in the Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 22. Kindergarten through third grade will par ticipate in the Barberton Christmas Walk. They will be singing traditional and

Youth News & Events

Start the holiday season off right. Join 1st graders of our parish school and PSR as they celebrate Mass Thanksgiving morning at 9:00AM. Bring a canned good to go to the St. Vincent DePaul program for Christmas Baskets. The Youth Group will be making tie blankets during the end of November and the month of December to donate to the Elizabeth Ministry for the children who will be baptized in the parish. If you would like to donate two different one yard piece of fleece fabric. You may drop it off at the rectory or contact Renee Barker at 330-7451080. Thank you for your support of this effort. The best way to spread holiday cheer is to sing loud for all to hear Buddy the Elf. The youth group will be spreading holiday cheer at area nursing homes this season. This is a yearly event that is loved by all. What a better way to end the holiday season then to join the Kindergarten class of St. Augustine School at the Christmas Eve 4:00PM Mass where they will be presenting baby Jesus with gifts that will be donated to the Elizabeth Ministry for children being baptized in the coming year.

Christmas Reconciliation Schedule.

St. Augustine Reconciliation Schedule Monday, December 10 Advent Communal Reconciliation Service, 7PM

Tuesday, December 11 Wednesday, December 19 Reconciliation, 6PM

School Reconciliation , 1PM

Immaculate Conception Reconciliation Schedule

Saturday, December 8, 4PM Saturday, December 15, 9Am & 4PM Saturday, December 22, 9AM & 4PM

Whats Been Happening at St. Augustine Preschool?

November has been a busy month at the preschool. Conferences were offered during the month as a way to communicate the students progress to parents and we had a wonderful turn out. Our Food Drive was a great success due to the generosity and support of our families and the children earned a Pizza Party for their efforts. The children will also enjoy their own Thanksgiving Feast together as they learn about giving thanks. We have many events planned for December as we all prepare for Jesus birthday. Our Christmas Program is December 6th at 7:00pm and the children and teachers have been practicing many traditional Christmas songs together. As a center we will be celebrating and learning about St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucia Day, Polar Express Day and of course Christmas Day. Many Blessings for the Holidays, Kathleen Bogdan, Director

St. Augustine Church

6th St, NW & Lake Ave. Rectory Office: 204 6th St, NW Barberton, OH 44203

Phone: 330-745-0011 Fax: 330-745-0012

Email: augustine1898@rrbiznet.com Website: www.staugustinebarberton.org

You don't have to be a brilliant writer to create a note that will make someone smile. You No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a don't have to be a marvelous singer to join with vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it friends for a nursing home serenade. You don't on a lamp stands that those who enter may see have to be a gourmet chef to help at a food the light. (Luke 8:16) kitchen.

STEWARDSHIP

What we do with our gifts can be obvious. Thats the thing about gifts: God makes them Have a way with words? Write devotions. Have great. All we have to do is offer them up. a beautiful voice? Join the choir. Have a knack for cooking for a crowd? Head up the kitchen Lord, let me use the gifts you so graciously procrew at a Parish event. vide to shine a light on your greatness But God did not say our lamps have to be Tiffany caliber, only that we need to light them. Melanie Rigney