A SEASON OF HOPE
Today we can bask in the imagery that the Mass readings offer us. In particular, Isaiah's vision of a parched land that blooms with abundant flowers holds a message for each of us. Too often we are just like that parched land. We can allow ourselves to become absorbed in the waves of consumerism that grip so many. We look for fulfillment in the things that money can buy. Unfortunately, this leaves us like parched land, thirsting for something that money can't buy. This holy season has much to offer to quench our thirsts. In a word, this season offers hope. We are told that those who are ransomed by God will know joy and gladness. For them, sorrow and mourning will be no more. Let us place our hope in these promises.
(c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
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Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Isaiah 35:10a
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SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent;
Las Posadas begins;
Eid al-Adha (Muslim feast of the
sacrifice of Ishmael) celebrated this week
Friday: St. Peter Canisius
Saturday: Winter begins
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17
Tuesday: Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25
Wednesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25
Thursday: Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38
Friday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Lk 1:39-45
Saturday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56
Sunday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24
 
TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading -- The barren deserts will rejoice and flower. Tired bodies will receive strength. Aching hearts will be made glad (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10).
 
Psalm -- Lord, come and save us (Psalm 146).
 
Second Reading -- Be patient, for the coming of the Lord is as sure as the rain (James 5:7-10).
 
Gospel -- Tell of what you hear and see: The blind regain their vision, the crippled their movement, the deaf their hearing. The dead are raised to new life!
(Matthew 11:2-11).
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ATTENTION PARISHIONERS
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 2008 OUR
9:15 SUNDAY MASS WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 A.M.
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Immaculate Conception Parish presents Lessons and Carols 
Sunday, December 9th at 7:00 p.m. 
Please join us in the church for this wonderful seasonal tradition. You will enjoy an inspirational performance by the Adult Choir, Bell Choir and Children's Choir delivering a spiritual and joyful evening of music and song in collaboration with the scripture readings. .
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May the special graces of baptism, through water and the Holy Spirit lead you to everlasting life. Our parish community rejoices with you and gives praise to God for this new gift of life. God bless…
Catherine Linn Carroll
Daughter of Jessica and Matthew
Congratulations and may our Lord continue to bless you, guide you and keep you in His loving care!
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Sacrificial giving nurtures the spirit of the giver and helps to build a better world.
Thank you for your support and generosity for last week's collection.
Last Sunday's Collection: $4,482
Feast of Immaculate Conception: $1072
Retired Religious Fund: $2626
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Santa's Ice Cream Parlor
December 16, 1:30-3:30
St. Joseph Community Center,
Halsted Street, Newton, NJ Sponsored by
Don Bosco Columbiettes #7784
Visit with Santa, Take a Photo (bring your camera), and eat all the ice-cream you can! Free Will offering including an unwrapped toy for a needy child. All monies and gifts will go to “Life Choices, Inc.”
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The Giving Tree !
The giving tree on the altar offers our parishioners an opportunity to share the joy of Christmas through gift-giving to needy adults and children.
We invite you to take an ornament from the tree. Tape the ornament on top of your wrapped donated gift and place it under the giving tree.
All gift donations need to be returned to the church by Sunday, December 16 in order to have them distributed in time for Christmas. Thank you and God bless you for your continuous support to this wonderful program.
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Immaculate Conception Regional School announces
Pancake Sunday
Sunday, December 16th
7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Lyceum
after each Mass—$5 per person
This fund raiser is hosted by the students of I.C.R.S. Your support to this and future endeavors in their aspirations to purchase lockers for the school is very much appreciated.
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Advent—Prepare the Way of the Lord
Reconciliation Services
Tuesday, Dec. 18 Communal Service 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
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The Most Reverend Arthur J. Serratelli, Bishop of Paterson, warmly invites the faithful of the Church of Paterson and people of good will of all faiths to join him for Christmas at the Cathedral.
Robert Long and the Ars Musica Chorale, the Straight and Narrow Gospel Choir, the Children's Choir of St. Anthony Church, Butler and special Guest, Patricia Dean. Sunday, December 16, at 4:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist located at the corner of Main and Grand Streets in Paterson, New Jersey.
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Please be advised of a change in times
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Exposition 7:30 AM—Benediction 7:30 PM 
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2007 Bishop's Annual Appeal
In Giving...We Receive
Please take advantage of the remaining weeks of 2007 to make a gift to our Bishop's Annual Appeal. We need the support of every parishioner to strengthen the vital ministries and programs that help so many people throughout Morris, Passaic and Sussex County. In addition, all parishes receive a 50% rebate of all funds that are received over their parish goal, so your generous response helps both our Diocese and our Parish.
Thank you for your support!
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Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program—LIHEAP
LIHEAP provides grants to eligible households that pay for home heat directly or have it included in rent. Application period is from November 1 through March 31, eligible Food Stamp households are automatically enrolled.
Universal Service Fund—Applicants for LIHEAP are automatically screened for this program. Households that spend more than 3% of gross income on natural gas or electric are eligible to qualify. Call 1-888-454-4778.
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New Orleans
Father Carroll from Highlands Lakes plans to go to New Orleans to work on houses. He seeks volunteers 18 years and older to accompany him. The dates are December 26 through 31, 2007. Please contact him at 973-764-4457 or email: olfatima@warwick.net.
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Handel's 'Messiah'
On Sunday , December 16, 2007 at 4:00 PM, Edwin Foster will conduct the Christmas portion of Handel's “Messiah' presented by Morris Conservatory's Symphonic Chorus and Baroque Orchestra. This popular annual performance will take place at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 246 Woodport Road, Sparta, NJ. Tickets $30 preferred, $25 general admission, with 30% discount to students.
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The Irish American Assn. of NW Jersey offers Irish Language classes on Monday evenings. For info call 862-266-3563 
Traditional Celtic Art classes 
For info email pgallagher45@optonline.net 
Frequent traditional Irish music concerts and sessions.
Check the website for dates: iaanj.com . 
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Prayer Shawl Ministry 
Prayer Shawl Ministry Meetings are held in the Ministry House once a month.
THE PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY MEETING IS CANCELED FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. Continue your knitting! Items can be dropped off at the rectory at any time remember to put your name with it. New members are always welcome to join our ministry. No knitting/ crochet experience necessary. Come enjoy knitting and praying together as we create mantles of caring for the person who will receive the shawl.
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Help reduce poverty in the United States
“Poverty Around Us”
It's a fact of life that people with health insurance have a better chance to be healthy. The number of Children in New Jersey without Health insurance rose by 37% between 2000 and 2005 while the national rate dropped by 9%. To learn more about poverty visit

• www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/poverty


• www.actnow.org/docs/07/First-Things-First-New-Jersey.pdf


• www.lsnj.org/PDFs/budget/FinalBenchmarksReport012507.pdf


• www.njpp.org/rpt_fallingshort.html


• Catholic Charities USA

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Grief Support Group
On the first Wednesday of each month Immaculate Conception Parish offers an ongoing Grief Support Group. If you or someone you know has suffered a loss, please join us for the next meeting this Wednesday, Jan. 2nd from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Ministry House. 
“Communicate. Appreciate. Validate” J. Edward
It is a good message. Take time for the people who are still with us. What greater gift can we give to our loved ones who have died than to even more deeply value those who are living.
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CHRISTMAS TREE SALE AT THE SCHOOL
SAT. DEC. 8 12:00 - 8:00 PM 
SUN. DEC. 9 7:45 AM - 2:00 PM 
FRI. DEC. 14 4:00 - 8:00 PM 
SAT. DEC. 15 12:00 - 8:00 PM 
SUN. DEC. 16 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
MON. DEC. 17—THUR. DEC. 20 4:00 PM - CLOSE 
PRICES ARE: 5 - 6 FT $38, 6 - 8 FT $45, 8 - 10 FT $50, 10 FT $85
TREE BAGS, LIGHTS AND TREE STANDS TOO! 
JOIN US FOR CAROLING, HOT CHOCOLATE AND COOKIES WHILE YOU PICK OUT YOUR TREE! 
HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER . 
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Advent Wreath Lighting
During the Advent Season, we are asking for families or individuals to participate in the Advent Wreath Lighting for all the Masses during the Advent Season. Participants would carry in the Advent candle and light it for the particular Mass that they signed up for and would also bring up the gifts of Bread and Wine.
Please click here, print the page, complete it and give it to Father Bogey or drop it in the collection basket.
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Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill: 
In Nursing Homes: Ceil Williams, Pauline Trofimuk, Anna Elekes, Betty Swetz, and Frank Kalafut. 
At Home: Loraine Schenker, Maria Woppel, Diane Sidoli, Robert Zeuner, Evelyn Caljean, Danielle Dionisio, Thomas Dionisio, Jr., Steven “Itchy” Novak, Flo Yurchak, Ethel Segarra, Mary Carmody and Lisa Stine. .  
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Please continue to keep all those serving in the military in your thoughts and prayers especially:
Jamison Micke, Stephen Saski, Jr., Christopher Faber, SFC Morgan McHose, LCPL William Mathes, LCPL Ernest Mathes, Karen Hassler, Tom Oroho and CPL Matt Lindquist.
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MARCH FOR LIFE—WASHINGTON DC—1/22/08 
Sussex County Right to Life busses will be sponsoring buses to The March for Life in Washington DC on January 22, 2008. The buses will leave from Our Lady of the Lake church in Sparta at 6:00 a.m. and leave Washington DC at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets are $35.00 per person. Payment must be received no later than January 15, 2008 to reserve your seat. Sussex County Right to Life, P.O. Box 141, Augusta, N.J. 07822, 973-948-5989. 
For those who cannot make the trip to Washington for the March for Life, a prolife rally is being held at the State House in Trenton. If you are interested in going please call the Sussex County Right to Life at 973-948-5989.
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Christmas Flower Memorials Remember a loved one in a special way with Christmas Flowers and by including their name in our parish memorial listing in the Christmas bulletin. Return your Flower Offering Envelope to the rectory in time to have your loved one included in the bulletin. PLEASE PRINT THE NAMES. Thank you .  
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This Christmas Give the Gift of LIFE
Blood Drive
December 28th, 2007
3-8pm in the Lyceum
Call the Rectory for more information: 973-827-9575
.
· Every three seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion
· 20% of recipients are children – many are cancer patients
· One pint of blood from one donor can save 3 lives
· Your donation will go to someone in your community
· About 60% of the population are eligible to donate blood, yet less than 5% do
· Your body will replenish the fluid lost during the donation within 24 hours
· We will provide juice, donuts and cookies
It's a GOOD THING to do!
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WHEN DREAMS GROW REAL
Daydreams are good things. They are where the future begins and where limitations are shed and where the impossible dares to step out of the shadows and into the possible. Daydreams are Advent sorts of times.
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INSIDE THE READINGS
John the Baptist is an impressive figure in the liturgy of Advent. For the Jewish people of his time the Baptist was extremely important. They recognized him as a prophet. There had been no prophet in their midst for some four hundred years. Despite his popularity with the people he suffered persecution at the hands of Herod Antipas. Today's Gospel reminds us of his imprisonment (Matthew 11:2).
Jesus himself identifies John as a prophet, but also as God's messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah (11:9-10). He insists, "Among those born of women, there has been none greater than John the Baptist" (11:11). However, Jesus reminds his followers that the least in the kingdom of heaven has an advantage over the Baptist because of the greatness of Jesus and the kingdom he will establish by his death and resurrection (11:11).
From his prison the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?" (11:3). Matthew is a skillful writer and uses that question to recall the miracles of chapters 8 and 9. Jesus' response points out that he is "the one who is to come," the Messiah. He makes it clear that he is not the political, military messiah expected by some, but a loving, merciful messiah who would heal, who would also make sure that "the poor have the good news proclaimed to them" (11:5).
Jesus adds a beatitude, "Blessed is the one who takes no offense at me" (11:6). Matthew is preparing the reader for the many who will take offense in the chapters to follow. In chapter 12, for example, the Pharisees protest to Jesus about his disciples eating grain on the Sabbath; they object to his healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath; they even make the incredible charge, "This man [Jesus] drives out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons" (12:24). John is already in prison; Jesus, too, will be imprisoned.
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THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
Dreamers do unsettle us. They refuse to go into battle and insist we could have a world without violence if only we wanted it badly enough. They share bread with the hungry and call the prisoner a sister or a brother. And though we admonish them and urge them to be patient, they refuse to relent or surrender the dream.
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Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD for the Third Sunday of Advent commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, ©2007 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 12/16/07
 

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