SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK

SUN Dec 15: Isa 35:1-6, 10; Ps 146:7-10; Jm 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 Third Sunday of Advent

Mon Dec 16: Num 24:2-7, 15-17; Ps 25:4-9; Mt 21:23-27 St. Ado of Vienne, Bishop

Tue Dec 17: Gen 49:8-10; Ps 72:1-8; Mt 1:1-7 St. Florian, Martyr

Wed Dec 18: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 St. Rufus, Martyr

Thr Dec 19: Jgs 13:2-7; Ps 71:3-6, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 St Anastasius I, Pope

Fri Dec 20: Isa 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 1:26-38 St. St. Silos, Abbot

Sat Dec 21: Sng 2:8-14; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church

SUN Dec 22: Isa 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rm 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Welcome Visitors! If you are new to our parish

please contact the Parish Office to register.

Reconciliation: Before each Mass or by appointment anytime.

At St. Lawrence every Saturday from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm CT

Marriage: Arrangements must be made with the Pastor at least 9 months prior

to the wedding. Baptism:

Class required for the first child. Please contact the Pastor

to schedule.

Remember in Prayer Marilyn Roth, John Clarys,

Dan Roth, Karen Reisenauer, John Schafer, Nick Reisenauer,

Eileen Paul, Ray Leingang, John Jochim, Pat Hauge,

Enid Steinkuehler, Mike Leintz, Kelly Breidenbach,

Jodi Kim , Soren Sanderson, Sheyanna Jevne, George Kraft,

Marlyn Bonogofsky, Mildred Dressler

To place a name on the Prayer List, please call Darlene Friesz at

701-390-3308 or the parish office.

Dear Padre December 15, 2019

The Church is steeped in symbolism, tradition, and “living metaphors,” but it sometimes forgets common sense. Why smell up the church with

incense? Why gussy up the Mass with horns, flutes, and guitars, at times turning holy Mass into a pseudohootenanny?

The Mass is our high point of worship. All other sacred actions and activities of the Christian life “are bound up with it, flow from it, and are ordered to it” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 16). The dignity and importance of worshiping the Father in and through Christ at Mass is expressed in communion with fellow believers, and ideally through a full sensory experience with all our heart, mind, and soul. In short, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well—especially if “doing” opens us to the mystery of God’s presence through what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. “In the liturgy the sanctification of women and men is given expression in symbols perceptible by the senses and is carried out in ways appropriate to each of them” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy [Sacrosanctum Concilium], 7). Not all Mass occasions call for “smells, bells, toots, and flutes,” but the visual beauty of the sacred surroundings, the sounds of sacred music, and the sacred words and actions that connect us to our traditions and to Christ’s memorial institution, are intended to elevate us in our collective prayer to God. At times, such a sublime experience of the transcendent may be inhibited by sheer practicality, efficiency, and mundanity! —Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR

Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2019

DROP DOWN DEW FROM ABOVE, YOU HEAVENS, AND LET THE CLOUDS RAIN DOWN THE JUST ONE; LET THE EARTH

BE OPENED AND BRING FORTH A SAVIOR. Opening Antiphon

Lectio Divina (praying with the Bible)

Isaiah 45:8

Pastor

Rev. Dennis Schafer

Cell: (701) 301-0609 Office: (701) 597-3228

Email: dschafer @bismarckdiocese.com

Tri-Parish Office

421 Court Street

Flasher ND, 58535

Phone/ Fax: (701) 597-3228

Office Hours Mon-Thurs 7:30 am-3:30 pm CT

Tri-Parish Administrative Assistant,

Director of Religious Education V. Noel Wax

Email: stlwrnce@westriv.com Sacristan Rose Hintz

Maintenance

~ St. Theresa ~

Ralph & Iola Ruscheinsky

~ St. Lawrence ~ Chris Senff

Trinity Carpentry Contact John Clarys

102 Oliver Ave

Center ND

jdclarys@westriv.com

Duric Hoff Custom Spraying Phone: 701-391-8716

EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST

Have the ability to apply: Liquid Fertilizer Pre & Post Burn down In Crop Herbicides, Fungicides & Insecticides

Rep. Brad Doll P:597-3535

F:597-3537 117 N. Main PO Box 77

Bammer’s Gutters

Allan Bahm

6502 47th Ave, SW Flasher ND 58535

(c) 701-471-3294 1-877-597-3249

(fax) 701-597-3250

When you were born, you were crying and everyone

around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying

COUNTRY EMBROIDERY

6750 43rd Ave Flasher, ND 58535

www.bulldogcountryembroidery.com

701-597-3689

Allan & Nancy Malm

Community

Elgin

601 East St. North Elgin, ND 584-3338

Clinic

Raleigh Grain Co Inc. .

. 701-597-3571

360 Railway St Raleigh, ND

Elgin Dental

Clinic

Dr. John Sanderson DDS

306 N. Main St. Elgin ND 58580

1-701-584-2580

For all your

SEED CORN SOYBEANS

& ALFALFA contact:

Florian Zins

597-3661

PJ Deichert-Owner 211 MAIN ST. N

Flasher ND 58535 (701) 597-3694

Your local Auto Parts Deal-

PJ’S FARM SUPPLY INC.

T R U C K I N G

rcvolk@westriv.com

3 Saints Gift Shop is open.

St. Lawrence Catholic Church 421 Court Street Flasher, ND

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church

Carson, ND

St Gertrude Catholic Church Raleigh, ND

Mass Schedule

St. Lawrence T 5:30 pm CT W, Th, F 7:00 am CT Sun 9:00 am CT

St. Theresa Wednesday 5:30 pm MT Sunday 10:30 am MT

St. Gertrude Thursday 5:30 pm CT Saturday 7:30 pm CT

Eucharistic Adoration St. Lawrence -Tues 4:30 pm CT

St. Theresa - Wed 4:30 pm MT

St. Gertrude - Thur 4:30 pm CT

Reconciliation: Before each Mass or by Appointment anytime.

At St. Lawrence every Saturday from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm CT

Christ Jesus,

If you have too much to do, with God's help you will find time to do it all. ~St. Peter Canisius

You must transmit your joy in being adopted sons and daughters of God through the creative power of the Holy Spirit. Do this with the

help of Mary, Mother of Jesus. Cling to her Rosary, and you will never

wander far from her side. ~St. John Paul II

Fill us with joy.

Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2019

A number of years ago, a young college student was working as an intern at his college’s Museum of Natural History. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, he saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair. As he looked more closely at this girl, he saw that she was kind of perched on her chair. The student realized that she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and torso. She was wearing a little white dress with red polka dots. As the couple wheeled her up to the checkout counter, he turned his head toward the girl and gave her a wink. Meanwhile, he took the money from her grandparents and looked back at the girl, who was giving him the cutest and the largest smile he had ever seen. All of a sudden, her handicap was gone, and all that the college student saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted him and almost instantly gave him a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took him from being an unhappy college student and brought him into her world - a world of smiles, love and warmth. With the lighting of the rose candle, the third of the Advent Wreath, among the purple candles, and the priest’s wearing the rose vestments, we are reminded that we are called to live with joy in our world of sorrows and pain.

Waiting and watching with hope,

A Tweet from Our Bishop David D. Kagan

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!

Deadline for Bulletin Items is Tuesday at 3 pm.

Complete ministry schedules and bulletins are on our website: www.catholic3nd.com

Paper copies of the ministry schedule for liturgical ministers are available at the front of the church

starting the second Sunday of the month.

Liturgical Ministries December 22, 2019

Readers: Robert Bohl EME: V. Noel Wax Shelly Meyhoff

Servers: Aaron Fitterer Darron Frank

Gifts: Devin Frank Family

Ushers: Mike Fleck John Hoff

Music: BLCJ & Guitar

Rosary: Shelly Meyhoff

Counters: Jody Stegmiller Kristin Schafer

Mass Intentions

Sun {Dec 15} For the People

Wed {Dec 18} +Helen LeBeau

by Bruce LeBeau

Sun {Dec 22} +Lloyd LeBeau

by Bruce LeBeau

Liturgical Ministries December 22, 2019

Reader: Sharon Klein EME: Jennifer Hauge Mary Nehl

Servers: Sophia Hertz Eva Petrick

Gifts: Peter Reis Family

Ushers: Barb Hintz Ray Hintz

Rosary: Joanie Bahm

Counters: Clair Hauge Ann Hertz

Week of 12-08-19 $ 3,810.81 Fiscal Year 2019-2020 $ 13,702.30

Children’s Offering $ 0.00

Children’s Charity $ 5.00

Weekly Budget Goal $ 463.50

Participation Rate 14/32 (43.75%)

Week of 12-08-19 $1,372.23

Fiscal Year 2019-2020 $30,340.77

Children’s Offering $ 5.00

Children’s Charity $ 10.23

Weekly Budget Goal $ 1,345.65

Participation Rate 27/98 (28%)

Week of 12-08-19 $855.00

Fiscal Year 2019-2020 $ 15,589.00

Children’s Offering $ 6.00

Children’s Charity $ 20.00

Weekly Budget Goal $ 806.85

Participation Rate 20/79 (25.3%)

Mass Intentions

Sat {Dec 14} +JoAnn Bachmeier

by Verna Bachmeier

Thurs {Dec 19} +Brad Schell

by Mike & Sharon Leintz

Sat {Dec 21} In thanksgiving

by Gene & Jackie Miller

Liturgical Ministries December 21, 2019

Reader: Gerard Kraft EME: Judy Zins Florian Zins

Servers: Cyndi Deichert Braeden Fergel . . Gifts: Gerard & Tess Kraft . Ushers: Miles Miller * PJ Deichert . Rosary: Max Deichert

Music: V. Noel Wax

Mary, Ark of the Covenant, pray for us.

Lord God, may we, Your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ,

experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast

with love and thanksgiving. Amen.

Marci Schorsch 12-18

. Taylyn Meyer (4) 12-16

Marilyn & Roland Roth 12-16

Mass Intentions Sun {Dec 15}

+Peter & +Mary Deichert by Their Family

Tue {Dec 17} +Linda Ternes

by David Ternes

Wed {Dec 18) +Eileen Friesz

by Ted & Rose Riehl

Thurs {Dec 19} In Honor of Louie Kraft,

Will Adkins, Kenton Keller by Marian Kraft

Fri {Dec 20} +karen Bachmeier

by Jim Gerhardt

Sun {Dec 22} for The People

Let us pray that God will fill us with joy at the coming of Christ.

eSt. Lawrence Christmas Choir final practice and Mass

Choir members should be at the church by 2:45 pm so we can warm-up and practice one more time before the Rosary starts at 3:40.

Mass is at 4:00 pm CT

{Christmas Program} TODAY!

Potluck following the Program

Those Who Have Gone Before Us Please pray for our Beloved Dead and

those who have no one to pray for them.

+Zachius Hintz 12-02-08 +Ray Wolf 12-03-01

+Shane Bahm 12-03-12 +Linda Ternes 12-05-05

+Tyler Jake Loeb 12-06-03 +Anastasia Miller 12-08-03

+Mary Ann Deichert 12-08-18 +Ronald Frank 12-12-08

+James Hoff 12-12-10 +Jack Doll 12-12-16

+Markus Klein 12-12-12 +John A. Nagel 12-14-01

+Theresa Hersch 12-14-05 +Joseph Seilr 12-15-06

+Laura Deichert 12-16-03 +Inga Marie Banning 12-28-00

The third candle of the Advent wreath is the Candle of Joy.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people…”

Luke 2:10

Prayer is a time of joy.

Christmas Mass Schedule

December 24, 2019 St. Lawrence 4:00 pm CT

December 25, 2019 St. Gertrude 9:00 am CT St. Theresa 10:30 am MT

DECK the HALLS!

St. Gertrude Parish will be decorating the church after

Mass on December 21. All available help will make

for a good time by all and short work for the

decorating. Cookies and hot cider will be served after we finish.

Mary Mother of God Mass Schedule

December 31 St. Gertrude 7:30 pm CT January 1

St. Lawrence 9:00 am CT St. Theresa

10:30 pm MT

A Holy Day of Obligation

St. Gertrude Liturgical Ministries

9:00 am CT December 25, 2019

Reader: Jerred Fergel EME: Tess Kraft Gerard Kraft

Servers: Cyndi Deichert Braeden Fergel . . Gifts: Kelly Hetzel Family . Ushers: Richard Fergel * Miles Miller . Rosary: Gerard Kraft

Music: Leona Koch

St. Theresa Liturgical Ministries

10:30 am MT December 25, 2019

Reader: Bailey Stewart EME: Ann Hertz Reed Hertz

Servers: Paige Zenker Anna Hauge . . Gifts: Ty Zingg Family . Ushers: Allan Bahm * Ray Hintz . Rosary: Joanie Bahm

St. Lawrence Liturgical Ministries

4:00 pm CT December 24, 2019

Reader: Shelly Meyhoff EME: Jackie Becker Hilda Hinderer

Servers: Olivia Erhardt *New* Sophia Jochim . . Gifts: Mike Jochim Family . Ushers: Lee Fitterer * Mark Hintz . Rosary: Jeannie Fitterer

Music: Christmas Choir

There will be NO MASS on December 26 at St. Gertrude

Donations for 2019 If you wish to make a

donation for the 2019 tax year please make your donation in the next two weeks. We cannot credit checks for 2019 that are deposited

after December 31, 2019.

Today is Gaudete Sunday. “Rejoice!”