Last week I sat with an old Incarnation parishioner at a remembrance service. We were laughing, remembering how upset my mother would get when I used our family as source material for my homilies. The day Mrs. Arms came up to my mother and said ‘I always imagined you a much bigger woman.’ was almost more than she could take. Sorry, Mom. Let’s face it though; our families are our best entertainment value. One of my favorite movie lines is from The Lion in Winter (or the eleventh century version of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) After a vicious argument Henry II (Peter O’Toole) pushes Eleanor (Katherine Hep-burn) to the ground and she muses, “Every family has its ups and downs.” Lest I bring my mother’s ghost from the beyond I will not go into detail, but the arguments my parents had were monumental. It ran in my mother’s family. We always warned visitors at the cabin, it’s not you, it’s just the way they are - 10,000 decibels is their normal volume. Christmas at our house was always stressful. Putting up a Christmas tree was the equivalent of raising an Egyptian Obelisk. I would give you some dialogue, but sad to say not even cable TV can repeat those phrases. (The neighbor kids were always amazed Mr. DeBruycker could make whole sentences out of swear words.) Stringing lights was like stringing the trans-Atlantic cable, with consequences for disaster similar. Amazingly no one caught fire or was electrocuted. My father saw to that. The feng shui of Christmas bulbs was my mother’s hang up. In protest my sister now hangs all of her ornaments on one side of the tree and too low. There how do you like that? Oddly enough when things really went bad my parents would relax. They were made for disasters. It’s as if, finally, what they always expected would happen now has happened and they could relax. “I told you someone would get hurt, now sit still.” On the bulletin board inside the kitchen door, which ruled our lives was an old paper turned brown with age. On it was written, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” I don’t know if that’s much of an Advent message but it has some merit. Be nice to each other, Christmas time can be ….(sorry can’t use that phrase).

Presider: Fr. Jim DeBruycker At Home...when it all comes undone! Fr. Jim DeBruycker will speak on this Second Sunday of Advent as we jour-ney toward our true "home" and the peace that is Christmas.

The SJA Choir continues our Advent

theme At Home with Stephen Paulus' beautiful The Road Home. Thank you Tim Roehl, for your solo at communion.

Today, St. Nicolas, Peter Aitchison, comes to share his gifts and talk about preparing the way for the coming of God. After Mass, sign up for Family Mass roles for the New Year! Parking: Be considerate of our neigh-bors and their property. Don’t block driveways or park in their on-street handicapped areas. Thank you!

Sun, Dec. 7: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Mon, Dec. 8: Genesis 3:9-15,20; Eph 1:3-6,11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Tue, Dec. 9: Isaiah 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14 Wed, Dec. 10: Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30 Thu, Dec. 11: Isaiah 41:13-20; Matthew 11:11-15 Fri, Dec. 12: Zechariah 2:14-17; Luke 1:26-38 Sat, Dec. 13: Sirach 48:1-4,9-11; Matthew 17:9a,10-13 Sun, Dec. 14: Isa 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1Thess 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8,19-28

Tuesday and Thursday morning 8 am Mass is celebrated in the Church

9 and 11 am Gym Masses:

Sunday, December 14: Presider: Fr. Cassidy. Pre-Mass Speaker: Kate Tucker on At Home… with who we are.

Sunday, December 21: Presider: Fr. DeBruycker. Pre-Mass

Speaker: Carin Vagle on At Home… with our own YES!

FFI check the bulletin, the SJA website or call the Parish Center. The Upper Room is located in the Parish Center; Hospitality Hall is in the Church basement.

Today

ISAIAH Prophetic Voters Cake & Thanks, after Masses in the Arc Confirmation 2015, 2 pm in the Gym

Special Service of Reconciliation, 4 pm in the Church

50+ Second Sunday Supper, 5 pm in Hospitality Hall

Tuesday, December 9

Mass, 8 am in the Church

Wednesday, December 10

Quiet Prayer, 4 pm in the Church

Expectant Family Blessing, 7 pm in the Church

Thursday, December 11

Mass, 8 am in the Church

Seniors Christmas Mass and Luncheon, 11:30 am in the Church and Hospitality Hall

Choir at 7 pm in the Church

Saturday, December 13

First Reconciliation, 10 am in the Church Sunday, December 14

Concert Series, “Bright and Merry Christmas” at 7 pm in the Gym

Kevin Amundson, Bud B., Dennis Barta, Jean Besch-Patsch, Betty Bonnert, Sara Brock, Don Burke, Dorothy Casserly, Dayna Cell, Denise, John D., Megan Daoust, Kris & Larry Dease, Bob Dolan, Dale Dolata, John & Margaret Frees, George Getten, Jim Gorman, Bryen Granlund, Tom Griep,

Tom H., Pat Haliday, Margaret Hanson, Betty Hinker, Jim and Pat Hinton, Mary Hoody, Jody Hughes, Dan Jay, Tom Jay, Paul Jonsson, Stacy Kenyon, Cole Kitchel, Leslie Knoblauch, Lynne, Kirk L, Amy Lainus, Melinda Larsen, John Lasota, Gary Lindstrom, Liz Loney, Peter Lupori, Chantilly Lynch, Dennis Mackiewicz, Tom McCarver, Rose McGonagle, Katherine & Lauren McManus, Kayla McMullan, Jackie Mead, Shell Meehl, Kelley Meyer,

Mike M., Sharon Miller, Ginny Miller, Dorothy Mongoven, Jason Monroe, Pamela Morgan, Morris Mundahl, Greg Murphy, Pat Murphy, Nick, Charlie Nelson, David Novitske, Olivia, Doris Oakes, Sr. Dolores Oaks, Matt Olk, Stacey Olk, Bill P., Rick Pattison, Joan Penrose, John Pirola,

Liz Pojar, Nikki Poynter, Tom Privette, Catherine Pususta, Herb Rorke, Sheila Rossebo, Pat Sable, Marianne Seekamp, Sam Slagerman, Emily Slotness, Philip Sosin, John Spalding, Julian Sprunck, Sandy Stroud, Irene Taddiken, Helen Tierney, Matthew Tenant, Mary Eve Thomas,

Echo Thoren, Madison Travers, Carin Vagle, Patricia Vorst, Ben Weston, Carol Whitlow, Jim and Jerry Wohnoutka, Jane Young, Kathleen Ziegler

A Book of Prayer is located in our Gym vestibule. If you have a family member or friend who is ill, or who has recently died, please write their names in our Book of Prayer before Mass so we may include them in prayers during our Sunday Masses.

Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To renew your request, please call Nancy Becker at 612.823.8205 ext. 223.

Attention 5 pm Mass Eucharistic Ministers/Sacristans: The 2015 Calendar is ready for sign-up in the Church Sacristy. SignUpGenius for Eucharistic Ministers is available on line. It's simple, user friendly and a reminder is sent 3 days before your scheduled volunteer day. FFI contact Marcia at mkurtz@stjoan.com. Gluten-free Communion is available upon request. Please see any of the Sunday sacristans in the Gym before Mass. For Family Mass please see Gabrielle.

SJA Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Schedule

Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Masses 4 pm: Fr. Cassidy: Especially for Families in the Gym 4 pm: Fr. DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Church 6 pm: Fr. Cassidy and the SJA choir in the Gym 10 pm: Fr. DeBruycker and the SJA musicians, Church

Thursday, December 25: Christmas Day Masses 7:45 am: Fr. DeBruycker (Quiet Mass, no music) Church 9 am: Fr. DeBruycker and the SJA musicians in the Gym 11 am: Fr. Cassidy and the SJA Choir in the Gym

The Parish Center Offices will be closed Dec. 24, 25 and 26, Jan. 1 and 2.

Choir will rehearse this Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 pm in the Church. Preparation for Advent and Christmas.

Advent Evensong...a Prayer Service of Reconciliation will be

offered today at 4 pm in our candle-lit Church. Through music, prayer, meditation and ritual we quiet ourselves in this sometimes hectic season and prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, again, at Christmas. Join us!

Singles 50+ Sunday Supper: Today (1st Sunday) in Hospitality Hall. 5 pm, social hour, 6 pm, lasagna dinner, 7 pm, The Some-what Dixieland Band, includes traditional Dixieland, songs from swing era and a bit of ragtime. Cost is $10. Come alone or bring a friend! FFI call Karen at 952.884.5165.

Expectant Families Blessing: Expecting the arrival of a new fam-ily member through birth or adoption? A special blessing will be offered in your support on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 pm in the Church. Join us in this time of waiting.

Ring In Christmas! SAGES invites SJA seniors to a gathering of

prayer, food and song on Thursday, Dec. 11. Celebra-tion begins with Mass in the Church at 11:30, followed by lunch in Hospitality Hall. Entertainment provided by our own JP Fitzgibbons and Dan Chouinard. Suggest-

ed $10 free will donation; no one will be turned away for inability to pay. Space is limited; reservations required. RSVP to the Parish Center by noon on Dec. 8.

Merry and Bright, a Christmas Concert featuring Minnesota Orchestra trumpeter Chuck Lazarus and his all-star big band with Tommy Barbarella will be held in the SJA Gym on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 7 pm. Bring the whole family! Tickets are on sale today and at www.stjoan.com.

Save the Date: Valentine's Day Breakfast: On Saturday, Feb. 14, 8 - 11 am, Mobile Loaves and Fishes food outreach ministry (and SJA Sustaining Partner) invites you to a pancake breakfast and silent auction here at SJA in Hospitality Hall. To volunteer, donate items or rsvp for the event, email MLF.mpls@gmail.com.

Baptism: To have your child baptized at St. Joan’s you must be a registered member and participate in a 90-minute Baptism prepa-ration class. FFI and to register call JP at the Parish Center. Food Shelf Donations Are Needed: You are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items with you when you come to Mass on Sunday and place them in our food shelf bins, located in the en-trances to our Church and Parish Center. Your food offerings are donated to Sabathani Community Center Food Shelf each week. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need. Mobile Loaves and Fishes needs toiletry size soap, toothpaste

toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion, socks, hats and mit-tens for the winter. Please place your donations in the collection hamper next to the food shelf bin. FFI contact mlf.mpls@gmail.com or 612.615.4348.

Get Connected! To take advantage of new social media options, log on to Facebook and “Like” our page at Saint Joan of Arc Cath-olic Community. You can also follow us on Twitter at @sjampls.

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities:

Wreath of Love: If you selected a tag from the wreath please bring your wrapped gift to the Parish Center or Church sacristy today.

Christmas With Dignity (recipient of a SJA Justice Fund grant) seeks volunteers for day of sale (Dec. 12) and/or sorting and pric-ing of gifts. This program makes it possible for low-income parents to purchase gifts at a reduced cost. FFI/to volunteer, contact Paula at 763.228.2493 or PaulaLarsen@outlook.com.

Native American Ministry Holiday Program: Drop off gifts in the Egan Room for families with Native American Ministry and Blessed Kateri Church today and next Sunday.

The Aliveness Project, serving those living with HIV/AIDS in our community, needs volunteers to adopt families for the holidays, bake cookies and deliver baskets on Christmas Eve. FFI contact Tim at 612.824.5433x204 or tim@aliveness.org.

Summary of contributions for the week and fiscal year. Includes plate, envelopes and estimated Sustaining Member payments.

Nov. 23 - Nov. 30: Actual $33,657 Budget $34,650 Prior Year Actual $33,469

YTD (July 1 - Nov. 30): Actual $704,931 Budget $712,785 Prior Year Actual $700,978

The Bottom Line: Contributions last week were $993 below budget. Year-to-date contributions were $7,854 or less than 1% below budget. If you wish to make a stock, or one time gift, before the end of the year please contact the finance office. Thank your for gifts, they support our ministries. ~Steve Meyer, Finance Director

FFI on Pastoral Ministries contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at 612.823.8205 ext 231 or via email: mkelly@stjoan.com.

Mental Health Ministry: Monday, Dec. 8 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 41st & Lyndale. Join us for our Joyful Holiday Celebration; an evening of good food, good company and the sounds of the season. Light supper 5:45 pm; program 6:30 - 8:15 pm. All are welcome. (No CEU's for this event.) FFI

contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center. Recommended Reading: The Different Drum, Community Mak-ing and Peace by M.Scott Peck. “A spiritual journey toward self-acceptance, true belonging, and new hope for the world.” One copy available in the Parish Resource Library.

BeFriender Ministry: SJA BeFrienders can be a caring source of support through presence and prayer during difficult times. Call Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center to have a confidential conversation.

SJA/TRUST Grief Support: Thank you to the participants and volunteers that made the Fall series a place of support and care. The next support series begins Thursday, Jan. 22, hosted by Church of St. Thomas the Apostle. Watch for more details or call Norine Larson at 952.925.2437.

New for Advent: Take a quiet break from the hustle and bustle

of the season, come and rest with God in our beautiful Church, Wednesday, Dec. 10 and 17, 4 pm until 7 pm. The Church will be open for quiet prayer, no programs, no demands, just quiet. A staff member will be quietly praying there each

evening. Join us! Enter Door #1 off the parking lot.

The Gathering is a program in partnership with Lyngblomstem senior services, SJA, TRUST, Inc, and 6 other area churches. Held 4 Thursdays a month at Bethlehem Lutheran Church 10 am – 3 pm, it is a safe and enjoyable place for individuals experienc-ing early-to-mid stage memory loss to gather for fellowship, food and stimulating, fun activities while providing some respite time for caregivers. Volunteers are essential to provide kitchen (lunch and snack) support, plan activities and serve as companions to the participants. Cost is $45 per Thursday. Training and mentor-ing of volunteers is provided through Lyngblomstem. If you know of someone who might benefit from this program, or to volunteer, contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center, Julie McChesney at Bethlehem, 612.312.3366 or go to www.lyngblomstem.org/thegathering.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers are needed to deliver hot meals and warm smiles to elderly or disabled homebound people. Driv-ers are always needed to help with this valuable program. Time commitment is approximately one hour during the noon hour when called to help. FFI call 612.822.6040.

FFI on Peace & Justice programs contact Julie Madden at 612.823.8205 ext 228 or jmadden@stjoan.com.

Let Us Eat Cake: We Celebrate Our Prophetic Vote! Today, following both Masses, all who committed to being Prophetic Voters are invited to stop by the Arc (formerly Grace House, directly across 45th St. from the parking lot) for cake and thanks. Your commitment to voting your values in the midterm election made a difference in the future of Minnesota, and we are grateful. More than 1000 SJAers signed up to be Prophetic Voters, and 80 SJAers reached out to more than 500 neighbors, too. Please stop by (and if you didn't sign up to be a Prophetic Voter, come over anyway!) We look forward to seeing you today. Peacemakers at SJA Today: Stop by the table in the vestibule

for information from Women Against Military Madness on Int'l Human Rights Day (Dec. 10) and WAMM's continuing work to end violence and mili-tarism. WAMM is a Sustaining Partner of St. Joan of Arc. We thank them for their tireless witness.

SJA EcoSpirits Retreat Day: Join our EcoSpirits for a day of reflection and planning on Saturday, Jan. 10 at beautiful Wood-lake Nature Center, followed by a potluck dinner. EcoSpirits leads our congregation in caring for all of God's creation. FFI please contact Julie Madden at the Parish Center.

SJA Justice Grants Awarded! This week, our Justice Fund Committee awarded $33,000 in grants to 9 incredible organiza-tions in which our parishioners are involved as committed volun-teers and leaders. Go to www.stjoan.com for the complete list, and thanks to all who support our Outreach Fund, which makes this work possible.

Thank You: Last Sunday, we collected 300 Christmas cards to be delivered to 1700 undocumented women and children being held in an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. We thank the Advocates for Human Rights for bringing this project to us. Please pray for these families as they await hearings to determine their fate, and plan on joining us on Sunday, Feb. 1, when we will host a vigil at the detention facility in St. Paul for those awaiting deportation. Contact Julie Madden for more info on our work for comprehensive, humane immigration reform that honors the dignity of all people. 30th Annual Minnesota Homeless Memorial March and

Service: On Thursday, Dec. 18, a march, silent vigil and service of remembrance will honor those who died while homeless in our community this year. FFI please go to www.simpsonhousing.org.

Items Needed: The Harbor Lights shelter in downtown Minneap-olis needs new or used blankets, linens, towels and winter wear. Drop off items at 1010 No. Currie Ave. in Minneapolis (front door security staff can assist you) or call Liza at 612.767.3108 if you have questions. Thank you for your help!

We form the faith of our community through participation in prayer, liturgy, sacraments, education, community and works of justice.

New to SJA? Meet a Mentor Family! Sign up with a mentor fami-ly! Your mentor family will join you for coffee and cookies after a Family Mass to share with you the ways their family found a home at SJA. FFI contact Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com.

Adoptive Families Book Club: Join us on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 10 am to discuss the novel, Orfan by Corie Skolnick. We’ll meet at Turtle Bread on Chicago Avenue. Questions? email Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com.

: FFI contact Jennifer Gessner, at 612.823.8205 ext.

240, or jgessner@stjoan.com.

Our Nursery, located in the lower level of the Parish Center, is open for the 9 and 11 am Sunday Masses. The Nursery Cooperative is a wonderful community of families and volunteers that allows parents to enjoy Mass and meet other young families in the Parish. Drop-ins welcome!

: (Ages 4-Kindergarten) FFI contact Therese

Pendleton at 612.823.8205 ext. 230 or tpendleton@stjoan.com.

: (Grades 1-6) FFI contact Marie Bissonnette

at 612.823.8205 ext. 229 or mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

First Reconciliation: Please submit your chosen date if you haven't already. Services will be Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 at 10 am in the Church. FFI contact Marie Bissonnette.

Grades 1-6 Schedule Today: Regular Class and Family Mass Dec. 21: No Class, Special Family Mass: We begin at 9 & 11 am with an Advent play including SJA actors, musicians & Children’s Choir. Family Masses follow. Dec. 28 and Jan. 4: No Class or Family Mass Jan. 11: Classes and Family Masses resume

Jesse Tree gifts need to be in today, in order to be distributed by Christmas. Place unwrapped gifts, with ornament attached, under the tree inside the Church. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Donelle

Poling at 612.823.8205 ext. 241 or dpoling@stjoan.com.

YM Schedule: Today: Confirmation 2015 Retreat with sponsors 2 - 6 pm MICAH service Dec. 14: CLUB/Small Groups Dec. 19: Cookie Decorating/Movie Night Dec. 21: CLUB/Small Groups

Youth Ministry Movie and Cookie Decorating! Come celebrate the Christmas season with your friends! Join us on Friday, Dec. 19, for a Christmas movie and cookie decorating at 6:30 pm in Hospitality Hall. $20 grades 7-12. Dinner included. Permission slip/Code of Conduct can be found online. Deadline for registration is Dec. 18. FFI contact Donelle at the Parish Center.

Slopefest (grades 7-12): Join us for a weekend full of fun, faith,

friends, skiing and snowboarding. Friday, Feb. 13 - 16. $250 for skiers/snowboarders, + $10/day to rent skis, $20/day to rent snowboards. We will be hitting the slopes of Spirit Mountain in Duluth, staying at YMCA Camp Miller. Pick up permission slip in Parish Center.

FFI, Donelle at dpoling@stjoan.com. Must register by Feb. 6.

: FFI contact Julie McConaha at

612.823.8205 ext 226 or jmcconaha@stjoan.com.

Introduction to Centering Prayer: SAGES workshops are for everyone! Explore meditative prayer based on the work of Fr. Thomas Keating with parishioner and facilitator Ray Spack. You can still join us! Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 20, 9 – 10:30 am in the Parish Center Upper Room. Free-will offering; RSVP to the Parish Center. FFI contact jmcconaha@stjoan.com.

SJA Book Club: Everyone is welcome, anytime. 6:30 pm on Wednesdays in the Parish Center. FFI contact jmcco-naha@stjoan.com: Dec. 10: A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote Jan. 14: Ordinary People by Judith Guest Feb. 11: Until They Bring the Streetcars Back by Stanley Gordon West Mar. 11: The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorean

#SJA<40 December Fun! Everyone in their 20’s and 30’s are most welcome! FFI at SJAUnderForty@stjoan.com. Today: Brunch at Turtle Bread Co after the 11 am Mass Dec. 19: Cookie Exchange & Game Night, 7 pm, Upper Room

RCIA and All! Everyone is welcome to hear Fr. Jim DeBruycker teach about the Catholic Mass. Take a tour of the sacristy and have all your questions answered. Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 7 pm in the Church.

Open Knit & Craft: Bring your current project and meet others! RSVP, get info and volunteer to host at jmcconaha@stjoan.com. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1 pm - 3:30 pm Monday, Dec. 15, 6 pm - 8:30 pm Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6 pm - 8:30 pm