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St. John’s Church Church Phone - 845-679-7696 St. Augustine’s Chapel 12 Holly Hills Drive FAX - 845-679-8393 71 Watson Hollow Road Woodstock, N.Y. 12498 www.sjwoodstock.org West Shokan, N.Y.12494

CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS: Rectory@sjwoodstock.org

St. John’s Church Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Mass 8:00, 11:00 am Mass 9:00 am on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday (No Mass on Wed.) Eve of Holy Days 5:30 pm Holy Days 9:00 am and 7:30 pm

Penance 4:00 - 4:45 pm Saturdays

WELCOME TO NEW PARISHIONERS. TO REGISTER CALL THE RECTORY

Rev. George W. Hommel, Administrator

St. Augustine’s Chapel Sunday Mass 9:30 am Holy Days 5:30 pm Penance 9:00 am, 2nd Sunday of the month.

Religious Education—845-679-2869 Elementary: Tues….1st-6th Grade....4-5:30 pm Jr/Sr High: Mon…..9th Grade……...7-8:30 pm Tues….8th Grade……...7-8:30 pm Wed…..7th Grade….…..7-8:30 pm John A. Coleman Catholic HS ….…..845-338-2750

THANK YOU FOR GIVING SO GENEROUSLY TO SPECIAL

COLLECTION for the Retired Religious. help meet the

needs of aging members..

CHRISTMAS FLOWER

DONATION! We invite you to make a donation toward our

Christmas flowers, in memory of your loved ones.

Your intention may be placed in the flower envelope and put in the

regular collection basket at Mass until December 16th

(PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY)! Donors will be remembered in our prayers during the Christmas season and acknowl-edged in our bulletin on December 24/25. Flower

envelopes are available in the church/chapel lobby. Suggested donation is $10-$15.

Thank you for your generosity!!

St. John’s Christmas Pageant

December 24th @ 4:00 pm

We are looking for Angels, Shepherds, Mary and Joseph

Contact Mrs. Beth Anne Patterson @ 845-399-5552 if your child is interested

in being part of the Christmas Pageant. Rehearsal at St. John’s Church on

Tuesday, Dec. 18 @ 5:30 pm and Saturday, Dec. 22 @ 10:00 am.

Meet in the parish Hall at 3:15 pm on Christmas Eve prior to the

start of the Pageant.

DAILY BREAD SOUP KITCHEN

“No Body Should Go Hungry”

The Daily Bread Soup Kitchen is still very active in the town of Woodstock! While Christ’s Lu-theran Church is doing the scheduling for the soup kitchen, Saint John’s is still actively seeking volun-teers to work in the soup kitchen.

To those of you who are already volunteer-ing, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Without you, the DBSK would not be able to function.

If you would like to join the current volun-teers, please call me (Barbara Runz) at 973-222-5489 or email me at bjtr@hvc.rr.com. The DBSK is open from 4-6 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Please consider volunteering for this worthy cause. If you have a couple of hours once a month for the next several months, or even just once…please call!

Find the Peace through Forgiveness on

Reconciliation Monday Confessions will be heard in the Rectory on Dec.17th

from 4-8pm.

Added in October Dan Dulin Kate Berryan Hannah Berryan Nancy Bernard Jessica Shultis Leilani Robichaux Lemmieux Rose Barros George J. Fauci Theresa A. Fauci Donna Fauci Michael Xavier Dell Carol Young Anna & Phil Mosier Dominic Fauci, SI Nicole Chambers Frank J. Fauci Anthony F. Fauci Patti, Blind Fr. George Steve Norma Leah S.

Added in October Pam Campbell Kevin Cummings Danny Gregory Gayle Peyton Michelle Conor Harkins Judy Studt Dan Dwyer Danny Dulin Added in December Dave Quninn Sharon and Daniel Bach Karen Mel Kathryn B. Pam M. Larry Goldblatt

REJOICE! Today has traditionally been called “Gaudete Sun-day.” The Latin tag is derived from Paul’s appeal in the second reading to “rejoice always in the Lord,” and the Latin Mass text based on that reading. The irony and paradox of this Christian joy is underlined by the fact that Paul wrote those words in prison. But from there he could see the progress of God’s work. Is it obvious to us? We feel that this is not the time for joy when there is so much suffering and moral evil. It is interesting, then, that the first reading is from the prophet Zephaniah, who is almost exclusively concerned with gloomy visions of Judgment Day. Today the Church selects the only optimistic text in Zephaniah, in which the prophet has been touched by the spirit of joy. This, we are assured on all sides, is “the season of joy.” Let us recapture that feeling of joy in our lives and reflect it to those who are joyless. Yours in Christ, Fr. George

Please join us in congratulating

Carl Harris, who received a prestigious award in November for his service and commitment to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and

Historic Preservation. They honored him at a dinner and presented him with the

Distinguished Service Award for 2017-2018!

WE ARE A TITHING PARISH

Weekly Offering

Immaculate Conception

The Retired Religious

Our Cardinal’s Appeal Goal for 2018 $30,000.00

52 donors—$14,215.00 Pledged—47% of Goal

Renew + Rebuild Goal is $413,000.00 47 Parishioners contributed $341,910.00 (83% of goal)

(Only 10% of our parish has participated thus far.)

Thank you for your generosity!

Saturday, December 15th 5:00 PM GEORGE HASS, Anne Hass Sunday, December 16th 8:00 AM OPEN INTENTION 9:30 AM LUISA TINTI, The Keplinger Family 11 AM LEONA SCHUELER, The Family Monday, December 17th 9:00 AM TOM MORRIS, His Family 4:00 PM—8:00 PM Confessions in the rectory Tuesday, December 18th 9:00 AM OPEN INTENTION Wednesday, December 19th 9:00 AM NO MASS Thursday, December 20th 9:00 AM OPEN INTENTION Friday, December 21st 9:00 AM OPEN INTENTION Saturday, December 22nd 5:00 PM DOUGLAS RENAUD, Jr. 15th Anniversary of his passing, His Parents, Douglas & Kathy Renaud Sunday, December 23rd 8:00 AM JOE BATISTA, The Fauci Family 9:30 AM LUISA TINTI, Anne Hass 11 AM JAMES D. MOONEY, Michelle & Jim Moran

Our Military, especially for Joseph Turck, James Mault, Johnathan Schwab and Danny Brennan (Navy), Justine Lamoreux Repose of the Soul

12/10/17 $2,598.00

12/09/18 $3,610.50

12/08/17 $554.00

12/08/18 $447.00

12/10/17 $811.00

12/9/18 $1,164.00

PARISH ORGANIZATIONS & CONTACT PERSONS Altar Servers ................................. Cindy Frisbie 246-1819 Altar Society ................................. Christine Molinelli, 679-5332 Baptismal Committee................... Francine Carmody 679-7205 and ........................................................ Bernadette Poremba, 679-7643 Beautification Church ........................................... Brian and Joan Hagedorn, 679-7622 Grotto and Outdoor Stations ...... Bob and Lori Biamonte, 679-2239 Bereavement Committee ............. Francine Carmody 679-7205 Bulletin .......................................... Jeanine Meisler, 679-7696 Eucharist Ministers/Lectors ........ Bob Dietrich, 657-8556 Food Pantry .................................. Guy Oddo, 338-0624 Holiday Food Baskets .................. Harold & Cindy Frisbie 246-1819 Liturgy Committee ........................ Sue Curran, 679-8617 Maintenance Committee .............. David Sudlik, 657-6782 Music Group ................................. Dave Christi, 430-8040 Newsletter ..................................... Colleen Mountford, 679-8546 OutReach ...................................... Jeanine Meisler, 679-7696 Parish Council .............................. Jennie Konior 336-8059 Parish Nurse ................................. Colleen Short, 417-4522 Pins and Needles .......................... Pat Lindtveit, 338- 1720 ........................................................ Helen DeVoe, 679-5947 Religious Education 1 - 6 ........... Cindy Frisbie, W 679-2869 Religious Education 7 - 9 ........... Alice Haberski, W 679-2869 and H 679-6791 Respect Life .................................. Rosemary Cyr 679-6872 Secular Franciscan Order ........... Lorraine Pioli Sciarrino 626-7000 Soup Kitchen ................................ Barbara Runz 845-657-4022 Tree of Life .................................... Dolores Hagedorn 845-679-7607 …………………………………… Jeanine Meisler 845-853-3042 Ushers ........................................... Guy Oddo, 338-0624 Wedding Committee ..................... Alice Haberski, 679-6791 ........................................................ Sandi Armstrong, 679-1098

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17 Tuesday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 Wednesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Thursday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 Saturday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent; Las Posadas begins Tuesday: International Migrants Day Friday: St. Peter Canisius; Winter begins