Church of Saint Lawrence 345 Elmwood Lane

Riegelsville, Pa 18077

Reverend Gavin W. Muir, Pastor

Reverend Robert H. Breen, Pastor Emeritus

Parish Registration We welcome all new members to our Parish family. Please register when you move into the parish. Please notify us if you are moving. Weddings Couples are asked to contact the Rectory and make arrangements at least six months prior to their intended wedding date. They are required to attend Pre-Cana sessions. Catholic Elementary School Children may attend Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist School, Ottsville; for further information call: 610-847-5523. Parish CCD Classes Parish children attending public or private school, may receive Catholic Faith instructions on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall from October to May. Registration is published in the Parish Bulletin. Rectory Office Hours Monday—Friday 9:30 a.m. to Noon

Mass Schedule Saturday Evenings at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Morning at 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Holy Days at 9:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. Mon., Tues., Thurs., & first Sat. of each month at 9:00 a.m. Wed., at 7:30 p.m. & Fri. at 6:30 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday evenings from 6-7:30 Confessions Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at 7:10 p.m. St. Lawrence Men’s Club Meets on the second Monday at 7:00 p.m. Altar & Rosary Society Meets second Thursday of the month (Sept-May) 7:00p.m. Lay Carmelite Community of St. Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes Meets First Saturday of each month after the 9:00 a.m. Mass.

Rectory: 610-749-2684 Rectory Fax: 610-749-2695

Email: saintlawrence@verizon.net Website: saint-Lawrence-

church.org

COLLECTIONS: January 7th & 14th will report on Jan 21st, Thank you. Special Collection: Catholic Relief Service, Jan. 21-22 Charites Appeal: We remain at 66% of our goal of $10, 144 as of 12/15/17 with 51 folks donating which began, Sunday, February 5th. Consider taking action now if you have not done so already. This is the largest appeal of the calendar year with a Diocesan goal of $12.5 M . There are several ways in which to donate. In pew envelopes, direct mailing, which you will receive from the Archdiocese at your home, or e-giving. Checks are payable to: Catholic Charities Appeal. Please be as generous as possible and help St Lawrence reach our Parish goal. You may make one lump sum payment or schedule payments throughout the year if donating directly to the Archdiocese. Additional info on: catholiccharitiesappeal.org Appeal beneficiaries are: Education, Social Services, Evangelization, Clergy and local Mission Activities. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION "Ordinary Time" began for us this week. On the old calendar, the feast of the Presentation, still more than two weeks away, was the last day of the Christmas season. Sadly, Bethlehem is hardly a place of peace on earth these days. The ancient Christian community has been largely uprooted by political strife. The Church of the Nativity stands (barely) in remarkable disrepair and disorder in Manger Square. The roof is crumbling, the major doorways are blocked, the wiring is faulty, and the worship life is disrupted by quarrels among Eastern Christians. The church was founded by the Emperor Constantine in 325, destroyed in a Samaritan revolt in 539, and rebuilt by the Emperor Justinian. When the area came under Muslim control in 638, the holiness of the church was respected, and in return Christians allowed Muslims to pray in the south aisle, a right still upheld. Earlier in that century, invading Persians were ordered to destroy all churches, but when they saw the magi carved over the doorway of the Church of the Nativity, they spared it out of respect for their ancestors who bore gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the same city. The Crusaders restored and redecorated the church by the twelfth century, and it is their plan that survives. Down a few stone steps is a stone grotto with a silver star marking the place of Christ's birth: when the star was stolen in 1847 it triggered an international crisis that exploded into the Crimean War. Since 1852, the church has been shared by the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Churches. The Greeks are in charge of the grotto, but don't enjoy the best of friendships with the Armenians. Catholics have the care of the Chapel of the Manger, and avoid the squabbles by a separate entrance to the Franciscan monastery church of St. Catherine. Pray for peace in Bethlehem! --Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co. CHAINS OF GRACE The chains of grace are so powerful, and yet so sweet, that though they attract our heart, they do not shackle our freedoms. --St. Francis de Sales

January 14, 2018 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Saturday - Jan 13th - 4:30PM: Confessions 5PM: Sunday - Jan. 14th - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 8AM: 10AM: Susan Mihalik Altemier (Holmes & Quinlan Families) Monday - Jan. 15th - Weekday: 9AM: Tuesday - Jan. 16th - Weekday: 9AM: Wednesday - Jan. 17th – St. Anthony, Abbot Weekday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – 6-7:30 PM Confessions 7:10 PM 7:30PM: Living & Deceased Members of St. Lawrence Thursday - Jan. 18th - Weekday: 9AM: Friday - Jan. 19th - Weekday: 6:30PM: Saturday - Jan. 20th - St. Fabian, Pope & Martyr; St. Sebastian, Martyr, BVM Weekday: 9AM: NO Mass:

THE LAMB OF GOD "Behold the Lamb of God!" We hear this phrase every Sunday at Mass, but there's a good chance that many

Roman Catholics do not know who in the Bible original-ly spoke it. The phrase appears only in the Gospel of

John, on the lips of John the Baptist, who utters it twice. In today's Gospel reading, John proclaims Jesus as the

Lamb of God, and two of John's own disciples then fol-low Christ. A little bit later Andrew, who heard John

and then followed Jesus, brings his brother Simon to be re-named Cephas, or Peter. A careful look at these Bible verses shows us the mission of everyone baptized into the Body of Christ: we must always proclaim our faith in Christ, so that others will follow him. We may not

know how the will of God might work through those we bring to Christ; that is not the point. The point is that our ongoing mission as a church is to bring others to Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc

Coffee & Donuts: Sunday, Jan. 14th following the 10AM Mass. All are welcome. 2018 March for Life: bus departs St. John’s, Ottsville @ 7:30 AM on Friday, Jan. 19 and departs Washington, D.C @ 4 PM. Return trip stop for fast food dinner will be made. Arrive St. John’s ~ 9 PM. Info @ km.nasius1@gmail.com or 610-847-5521 Parish Office. Altar Servers Needed we are running thin on the availability of servers. Anyone interested is welcome. Advise Fr. Muir. Encourage and support your child in this service. They can do it. Sometimes they just need a little push in the right direction:>

FREE THROW COMPETITION @ ST. JOHN’S Open to all boys & girls, ages 10 to 14 years old. Saturday, January 20 @ Regina Academy SJB school gym. Registration @ 4PM. Sponsored by KOC #4545, $50 gift certificate to the highest scoring boy & girl. Were you born at Misericordia Hospital?? Known today as Mercy Philadelphia Hospital celebrating 100 years of service. Join the festivities on Sunday, January 28 @ 2PM - 4PM for an “Open House” tour & reception of your place of birth. RSVP required @ 215-748-9300. Prayers for Our Sick : any updates needed?? Please inform Parish office via email preferred or phone. Thank you.

New Parishioners –WELCOME!! No need to feel shy. We are happy you are here. To register see an usher, or just fill out form in vestibule of church, or call 610-749-2684 or email: saintlawrence@verizon.net We are ready to welcome you. ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE: Lectors for: 1/20 5 PM: Jane Burger 1/21 8 AM: Martin Piccinich 10 AM: Alvin LaBar, OFS Altar Servers for: 1/20 5 PM: Francis Reinhart, Peter Shea 1/21 8 AM: Anna Holmgaard, Anthony DeArmas 10 AM: Dadafin & Shane Twomey Extraordinary Ministers: 1/20 5 PM: Frank Hyland, Kathy Weiss 1/21 8 AM: Jackie Crocetti, Mariann Helfant 10 AM: Alvin LaBar, OFS; Bernie Boylan Please Pray for Our Sick and housebound, deceased members, and for an end to abortion and a respect for all life! Dave Blessing, Harry Cathers, Fran Reavey, Wendy Snyder, Linda Accatatta, Abbie Musto, Joan McArdle, Molly Worner, Liz Casterline, Julie Petry, Lucy Herman, John Gibson, Steve Ombalski, Mary Grube Fritchman, Joan Sheeran, Jay Johnson, Irene Peiffer, special intention, Susan Wires, David Grasso, Joseph Jones, Gus Trincheria, Elizabeth Ann Schlotter, Daniel Steinberg, Jack Latorre, Joann Thaler, Amy Hessenthaler, Calvin, Wilson & Frank Ryan, Eve Zelle, Roger & MaryAnn Brahler, Gavin (age 3), Bill Miller, Caitlin, Steven Fusco, Charles More, Jeff & Bonnie, Baby Matthew Royer, baby Ely, Max Ours, Father Breen, Paul Beach, Anthony Bonnano, Barbara and Ells Cheeseman, Summer Heddleston, Maria Steinberg, Elwood Ditmer, Special Intention, Carol Stahley, Maria King, Irene & Al Breiner, Jeremy Hewens, MD

INFORMATION SHEET CHURCH NAME: St. Lawrence BULLETIN NUMBER: 497325.1 Date of publication: (Sunday’s date) Number of pages transmitted: 4 including cover Special instructions: Please call Tom @ 610-749-2684 Or email saintlawremce@verizon.net