Tag Archives: Christmas

Christmas Giving Tree Update

News,

Our Christmas Giving Tree will look a little different this year due to COVID. We will not have our traditional tree in the Gathering Area with ornaments for people to take.

For this year’s Giving Tree, we are asking all who are able and interested in participating, to purchase $20-$25 gift cards to any of the following stores:

Walmart
Target
Hannaford
Price Chopper

These gift cards will be due back to church by Sunday, December 6, 2020 to be delivered to the organizations the following day. You can get these gift cards to us by placing them in the newly set up box in the Gathering Area (where the Christmas Tree typically sits behind the baptismal font), bringing them into the office Monday through Thursday between 9am and 4pm or mailing them to us at:

St. Mary’s Church, Crescent
86 Church Hill Road
Waterford, NY 12188

Thank you in advance for your caring and sharing as we look
forward to the holiday season!

Christmas Giving Tree is in the Gathering Area

News,

The Christmas Giving Tree will be in the Gathering Area of the Church beginning at the Thanksgiving Vigil Mass, November 21, 2018 and ending on Sunday, December 16, 2018 (11/21/18 – 12/16/18).

Please take an ornament from the Giving Tree, purchase the gift and place your ornament on the wrapped gift.  We ask that you return all gifts to the church no later than Sunday, 12/16/18 as gifts will be delivered on Monday, 12/17/18.

If you have any questions, please call MaryBeth McMahon 518-369-4995.

Thanks to all for your caring and generosity!!

Dec. 16 & 17: Last weekend to bring Giving Tree Gifts!

News,

The Christmas Giving Tree has been in the Gathering Area of the Church since the weekend after Thanksgiving.

If you took an ornament from the Giving Tree or purchased/made additional gifts, this is the last weekend to bring your wrapped and labeled gift back to church.  Gifts will be delivered on Monday, 12/18/17.

If you have any questions, please call Carol Smith at 518-371-4336.

Thanks to all for your caring and generosity!!

Christmas 2016

Homilies,

I would guess that one of the lines from the Gospel that is very familiar to all of us is, “There was no room for them in the Inn.”  That line, I am sure, was the basis of a one frame cartoon that a friend recently shared with me.  The caption of the cartoon was: “The Real Reason it was a Silent Night.”

The cartoon shows Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus surrounded by the animals with Joseph saying, “How many times do I have to say I am sorry?!  I forgot to make reservations at the Inn, okay?”

CHRISTMAS is about God making room in His heart and in His life, for you and me and all people every day and for all eternity.

CHRISTMAS is also meant to be about us making room for our God, for Jesus and His message of life, love, joy, mercy and so much more today and for all eternity.

CHRISTMAS is that reminder that we need to make room for other people in our lives every day.  Seizing the moment before us to offer God’s gifts of:

  • Life and Love
  • Time and Assistance
  • Encouragement and Hope
  • Mercy and Forgiveness
  • Time and Understanding
  • Peace and Justice
  • And so much more…

Unlike the cartoon – may we remember to make a reservation, to make a place for God in our lives and for others each day.  It will change us and others and our world for the better… And in the process we give flesh to the word of God spoken and revealed in Jesus to the expectant people and world of today.

The more we get to know God, Jesus…  The more we get to share God, Jesus with one another and others.

Finally, on The Tonight Show Friday night, Jimmy Fallon wrote a Thank You note to Jesus.  It said: “Thank you Jesus for not complaining that your birthday is on Christmas.”

A Blessed and Merry Christmas to You & Your Family & Friends!

Christmas

Homilies,

Readings:      Isaiah 9:1-6;     Titus 2:11-14;     Luke 2:1-14

A T.V. host shared this week that attending Christmas Mass, “always brings her to tears.” Not that we need to be overly emotional about Christmas, but if you think about… God becoming man is pretty amazing.

And why does God come to us?  Yes to save us, to gift us with life and eternal life.  God in the person of Jesus, comes to our world to remind us, “you shall never be alone again; God’s presence will be with you always.”

On this Christmas, as we do every weekend, we come to Jesus like the shepherds, like the three kings, like people of faith of the past… Today we come to Jesus.

And then we return to our families and friends, hopefully to tell of Jesus.  Jesus, our brother, our Savior…  Jesus, the way, the truth and the light…  Jesus who offers us life, mercy, love, peace and justice….

As a Homilist, one of the things I always look for is some thought or inspiration for my Homilies that we might take home with us, as we leave church.  Today’s thought comes from a friend, an Evangelical Pastor, who in his Christmas card wrote:

“My hope is that God might inspire some of your faithful to truly pray for one (or more) who have let their devotion drift or who have never trusted in Christ at all – to consider his Lordship.”

Great words for us to act upon this Christmas season and into the New Year:  Pray for one!

As the Angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid!”

As St. Paul reminds Titus and us, “God is with us; be eager to share the Good News with all. Be eager to do good always and everywhere.”

Christmas Mass

Homilies, ,

Scripture Readings:   Isaiah 9:1-6;     Titus 2:11-14;     Luke 2:1-14

“Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.” – Says humorist: Dave Barry.

Obviously, Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts to the greatest gift:  Jesus.

Christmas is about God’s love for all people; Christmas is about the Word of God coming to life in Jesus.

Someone shared in recent days, that we need to celebrate Christmas every year, lest we forget our need for God in our lives, lest we forget that God does come into our lives every day – not just at Christmas.

Pope Francis in recent days shared that, “God passes into our lives often, God sends angels to us, yet often we miss the opportunity for grace because we are too preoccupied, immersed in our thoughts, in our affairs and so much more, to realize that Jesus knocks at the door of our heart, asking for welcome.

How do we know Lord wants to come into our lives as a person, family and parish?

When we feel or say to ourselves:  I want to be a better person;  I am sorry for what I said or did; I want to be closer to others; I want to be closer to God… This is the Lord wanting to come into our lives.

Says Pope Francis, “please do not let the Lord pass by;   welcome him into your life.  Make room for the Lord in your life every day.”

Deep within everyone is the desire to share gifts with others and whether your shopping is done or you are waiting for the after Christmas sales to buy your gifts, let me end with some Christmas gift suggestions:

  • To your enemy – give forgiveness
  • To an opponent – give tolerance
  • To a friend – give your heart
  • To a customer – give service
  • To all – give charity
  • To every child – give a good example
  • To yourself – give respect

May we open the doors of our hearts and lives to Christ, this Christmas and every day of our graced lives!