Second Sunday of Advent

December 8, 2019

Rooted in the Gospels and formed by Ignatian spirituality, the mission of

the Catholic Community of Saint Thomas More is to glorify God by our lives.

@StThomasMoreStPaul @StThomasMoreStPaul @STMstpaul www.morecommunity.org

Support Aging Religious

Our second collection this

weekend is for the Retirement

Fund for Religious. Many senior

Catholic sisters, brothers, and

religious order priests served

for little or no pay. Today,

religious communities often

do not have enough savings

to meet retirement needs. Your

gift helps provide medications,

nursing care, and more for tens

of thousands of elderly

religious. It also helps ensure

younger members can continue

the good works of their elders.

Please be generous!

Community & Opportunities

Annual STM Christmas Toy Drive

Now - December 13

The Toy Giveaway (December 14) is around the corner, so

it's time to start collecting donations! For the 13th

consecutive year, St. Thomas More is reaching out to low

income families by providing them with toys and

decorations for Christmas. Please donate new and gently

used decorations and toys for children 0-16 years old. Please

bring donations to the church, parish center, or school.

Thanks for your generosity!

Questions? Email us at womensgroup@morecommunity.org

STM Free Store Reminders

Thank you to all those who support us, whether as

donors or volunteers. We could not keep this ministry

thriving without your generosity in spirit.

A few timely reminders:

On Saturday, December 14, the Free Store will open

at 11 am to accommodate guests who are shopping

at the Toy Drive Distribution. We are expecting a

big turnout!

No donations will be received by the Free Store on

December 14.

We will need additional volunteers to work at the

store that day beginning at 10:30 am. To sign up,

visit www.morecommunity.org/free-store or

contact us directly (contact info below). We

welcome those who can only work a partial shift.

Please indicate the hours you can work in the

comment section of the sign-up. Thank you!

Questions or interested in volunteering? Email

STMfreestore@morecommunity.org or call Mary

at 612-432-2422 or Mary Beth at 708-805-0151

STM Preschool Stay & Play

December 8, after the 8 and 10:30 am Masses

This Stay & Play, specifically for parishioners and their

children, is a great opportunity to ask any questions

you may have about the Preschool or general child

development. Please stop by the Preschool after Mass

for an art activity, some fun new toys, and a chance

to play parachute! Ms. Barb will be your teacher, and

she's excited to meet you. We hope to see you there!

Fine motor experiences are an important part of our

curriculum at STM Preschool. Here, two students

practice their fine motor skills by cutting up old

Scholastic Book Order magazines. This is a sneaky

way to build those little muscles that they will need

to be able to write.

Questions? Call the school office or contact Barb

Larkin at blarkin@morecommunity.org.

Advent Vespers with St. John’s Episcopal

December 8, 3 pm, STM

Join the communities of St. Thomas More Catholic

Community and St. John's Episcopal Church to seek God

together during this Advent season for a sung Vespers

service! All are welcome to attend.

More info: www.morecommunity.org/advent-vespers

Community & Opportunities

Environmental Tip from Care for Creation

Sending out holiday cards? Consider sending e-cards.

If you still prefer print, search out companies and

organizations that offset their carbon footprint by

planting trees for each card order and/or commit to

using 100% post-consumer waste for their cards.

Grow Clean Air

Looking for a great Christmas gift idea? STM Care

for Creation has an opportunity for you to give a gift

that helps fight climate change! The Catholic

Climate Covenant has joined with The International

Small Group and Tree Planting Group (TIST) to

support tree planting in Africa, an area that is highly

impacted by deforestation and poverty. Scientists

say planting trees could be the single most effective

way to fight climate change.

A donation to TIST will help counteract the devast-

ating effects of deforestation, erosion, famine,

droughts and floods, “grow clean air”, and help

poor communities earn income and become self-

sufficient. You can plant a tree for $1 or sponsor a

grove (1000 trees) for $650. Donate in your loved

one's name for the perfect Christmas gift!

Signup at www.morecommunity.org/plant-trees

Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass

December 9, 7:15 am

We are having a special Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of

the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on

Monday the 9th (moved from the 8th due to the Sunday

Liturgy.) This feast day references Mary’s conception in her

mother’s womb without the stain of Original Sin.

Care for Creation Meeting

December 10, 7 pm, Parish Center Library

All are invited to join us for a discussion of “The Listening

Church” opportunities for climate related concerns and more.

Save the date for our upcoming MNIPL Be the Spark Training

Saturday, February 9 and 23 from 2-7 pm at St. Mary's

Episcopal Church in St. Paul. More information can be found

at www.mnipl.org/what-we-do/programs/be-the-spark.

Community Giving Tree

The Community Giving Tree is covered in tags

marked with needed items for five charities: St.

Thomas More Free Store (orange tags); Women’s

Advocates (blue tags); Midwest Special Services

(green tags); Listening House (red tags); and St.

Thomas More’s Toy Giveaway (yellow tags). In

years past, this parish’s generosity has provided gift

cards so mothers can share in the giving of gifts to

their children. We have also given those

thoughtfully considered wish-list items for disabled

adults, and clothing and other necessities that offer

hope and dignity to our homeless brothers and

sisters. Please note: Each charity has a different

“due date” for returning your UNWRAPPED gifts.

Due dates are as follows: STM Toy Giveaway, STM

Free Store and Women’s Advocates are due Dec.

8th, Midwest Special Services are due Dec. 15th,

and Listening House are due Dec. 22nd.

Community & Opportunities

Request from the Kohima Committee

As many of you know, we as a parish are exploring

ways to develop a relationship with our sister parish,

Saint Francis Xavier, in Umbir, India. On our website,

we plan to share with each other events in our

respective parishes – ministries, celebrations, events,

liturgies, and opportunities for communal prayer.

This is where all of you come in and where you have

an opportunity to help shape this relationship. We

need suggestions on what you think we should be

sharing with our friends in India! Email suggestions

to Dan at dans@umn.edu.

Webpage: www.morecommunity.org/sister-parish

Accompaniment Study Group

January-February 2020

After receiving some great feedback on Bill Huebsch's Art

of Accompaniment presentation, we are ready to discern

what accompaniment might look like here at St. Thomas

More, and we need input! Starting in the New Year, we are

going to begin with studying Pope Francis' apostolic

exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel. It will be a 6-week

study, with weekly meetings starting the week of January

6-10. We will have different options for meeting times to

accommodate all who are interested.

Interested? To sign up, email Carol Arend at

carend@morecommunity.org or call the parish office.

Advent Companions

Family and adult Advent prayer and activities

prayer booklets will again be available this year for

families to take advantage. The Magnificat Advent

Companion and Wonders of His Love for families

will be available to help families celebrate the

season of Advent. They are free and will be at the

entrances of church.

New Episode of AMDG

Finding God in Twitter

Colin Crowell is the head of Public

Policy, Government, & Corporate

Philanthropy for Twitter. Colin

spent 3 years in Peru as part of

a Jesuit-run mission project, which pointed him on

a career path working to make sure all people have

open access to telecom and technology services.

Hearts Aflame Adoration + Reconciliation

December 19, 7 pm, Church

We have moved this month’s Hearts Aflame and are adding

a special reconciliation service to take place the week

before Christmas! This is a time to pause in your hectic

schedule and find refreshment in the presence of the living

Christ among fellow seekers of truth, beauty and goodness,

aided by sensory experiences of music, candlelight, and

incense. Come and prepare your heart for Christmas day!

Reminder to Lock Your Vehicles

There has been a series of thefts or near-thefts in our

neighborhood over the course of this past week.

Please remember to always lock your cars and to not

leave anything valuable inside your vehicles.

Saturday, December 7 - STM Community

Sunday, December 8 8 am - Roxanne Wilcox 10:30 am - Thomas Grady

Monday, December 9 - Margaret Zabel

Tuesday, December 10 - Judith Johnson

Wednesday, December 11- Ruby Ann Bigelbach

Thursday, December 12 - Florence England Judge

Friday, December 13 - Jadviga Lobza

Saturday, December 14 - Judy Lund

Sunday, December 15 8 am - Michael Cristiani 10:30 am - STM Community

Mass Intentions

Saturday, December 7 Clean Up for Christmas 9 am - 12 pm Church Free Store Drop Off 12-1 pm School Free Store Open Hours 1-3 pm School Reconciliation 3:30-4 pm Church Mass 4:30 pm Church Bach’s Christmas Oratorio 7:30 pm Church

Sunday, December 8 Mass 8 am Church Hospitality after Mass 9 am Church Preschool Stay & Play 9 am School Mass 10:30 am Church Hospitality after Mass 11:30 am Church Preschool Stay & Play 11:30 am School Advent Vespers 3 pm Church

Monday, December 9 Immaculate Conception Mass 7:15 am Church Centering Prayer 5:30 pm Church

Tuesday, December 10 Mass 7:15 am Church Centering Prayer 5:30 pm Church Care for Creation Meeting 7 pm PC

Wednesday, December 11 Mass 7:15 am Church School Mass 8:30 am Church

Thursday, December 12 Mass 7:15 am Church

Friday, December 13 Mass 7:15 am Church

Saturday, December 14 Christmas Toy Giveaway 11 am - 1:30 pm School Reconciliation 3:30-4 pm Church Mass 4:30 pm Church

Sunday, December 15 Mass 8 am Church Mass 10:30 am Church

Quick Contacts

General Questions - parish@morecommunity.org

Sacraments - bhefer@morecommunity.org

Bulletin/Website - aharmon@morecommunity.org

Calendar - njohnson@morecommunity.org

Free Store - stmfreestore@morecommunity.org

Liturgy Schedule - liturgyschedule@morecommunity.org

Prayers/Pastoral Care - carend@morecommunity.org

STM School - info@morecommunity.org

Weddings - carend@morecommunity.org

Young Adults - youngadults@morecommunity.org

Offices

Parish Center & Church 1079 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105-3004

8 am-4 pm, Monday & Friday

TEL 651-227-7669 (Nicole Johnson)

parish@morecommunity.org

www.morecommunity.org

Saint Thomas More School 1065 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105-3004

7:30 am-3:30 pm, Monday-Friday

TEL 651-224-4836 (Carol Ney)

info@morecommunity.org

www.school.morecommunity.org

Calendar

Mass: Saturday, 4:30 pm, Sunday, 8 & 10:30 am.

Tuesday-Friday, 7:15 am; during the school year, an 8:30 am

Mass is also celebrated on most Wednesdays.

Reconciliation: Saturday, 3:30-4 pm or by appointment.

Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday of the Month, flowing

from 7:15 am Mass, concluding at noon with Midday

Prayer and Benediction.

Centering Prayer: Tuesday, 5:30-6:15 pm.

Baptisms: First Sundays of the month during 10:30 am

Mass or at 9 am by appointment (no baptisms offered

during Lent or Advent).

Liturgy Schedule

American & Foreign Cars • Towing • Complete Auto Care651-698-5632

1341 St. Clair Ave. • St. Paul, MN 55105

Doran-KingComplete Repairing • Domestic &

Import Cars • Light Trucks & Vans

1521 Randolph 651-690-2050

For ad info. call 1-800-950-9952 • www.4lpi.com St. Thomas More, St. Paul, MN A 4C 02-0448

SKALLY’S TAX SERVICE

651-298-1188On the corner of Grand and Dale

John Griep, CLU Agent

651-698-0703Snelling & Randolph Parish Member

“Neighborhood Agent”

General dental care for the entire family. Early morning and evening hours.

Certified Invisalign® provider.

651-221-1902 | parkdental.com

Thomas Finn Co.Commercial/Industrial Roofing

Architectural Sheetmetal

Established 1898

626 Armstrong Ave., St. Paul 651.227.6536 tfinn86@aol.com www.thomasfinnroofing.com

STEPHEN E. OTTO Attorney-At-LAw

Wills, Trusts & Business Law651-636-1414

Chalet Dental Care Personal Care for Quality Smiles

Dr. Brent Fredrickson, DDS

651-488-58881651 Dale St. N.

www.chaletdental.com

Handy Dan, LLC Home Repair Services

Dan Kelly, Owner/ParishionerQuality | Reliability

ServiceLICENSED & INSURED

612-889-2698MN License#BC-20517134

1696 Grand Ave. St. Paul, MN 55105 • 651-699-2013

Tammy L. Meister, D.D.S., M.S. , P.A.

Dr. Tammy Meister, Parishionerwww.meisterorthodontics.com

Hours: M-F 9-8, Sat. 9-5

651-228-14931106 W. 7th ST., ST. PAUL, MN 55102

Contact Steve Swenson to place an ad today! sswenson@4LPi.com or (800) 950-9952 x5815

Ran Ham Bowling Center 490-1/2 Hamline Ave S. in St. Paul

Randolph & Hamline • 651.698.0252

Banquet Rooms -No Fees-

see website

995 7th St. • 651.228.9925crshamrocks.com for more info

651.698.4347492 S. Hamline

We’re the only Jesuit high school in Minnesota

that integrates college-prep academics with

professional work experience.

Hire a team today!

612-545-9700 www.cristoreytc.org/cwsp/

Center for Therapeutic MassageRon Plante CMT, NCTMBParishioner4860 Banning Ave.White Bear Lake651-334-1058 rplante612@gmail.com plante.massagetherapy.com

Remember

St. Thomas More

in Your Last Will

and Testament Mary Hardy

Finding & Selling Your Castle651-225-3903 | 700 Grand Ave.

maryhardy@edinarealty.com www.maryhardyonline.com