Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of our Advent preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Coming, both at the end of time and at Christmas. For several years we have joined with three other North Macomb Vicariate parishes: St Lawrence, St. Therese, and St. John Vianney, in celebrating Communal Penance Services during Advent and Lent. Communal Penance Services celebrate not only our conciliation with God, but with each other in the Christian community. We sin not only against God, but against each other. Celebrating God’s mercy, and joining with others in praising the God of Mercy, is an act of communal worship. I strongly encourage you to participate in one of these communal penance services listed elsewhere in this bulletin. Our service here at St. Isidore is next Saturday, December 14, at 1:00 PM.
We also encourage you to join us tonight, December 8, at 7:30 PM for “A Festival of Lessons and Carols.” This is a beautiful Scripture-based concert featuring outstanding choirs and chorales. It, too, is an opportunity to enter more deeply into this beautiful Advent season of joyful anticipation.
I also recommend considering taking more time in Eucharistic adoration as a way of deepening your prayer life during this Advent Season. Eucharistic Exposition is in our Resource Center on Tuesdays following 8:30 Mass until benediction at 6:00 PM, and for one hour prior to our Friday morning Mass at 8:00.
We thank the Altar Society for sponsoring “Peppermint Christmas Hospitality” after all the Masses next weekend. Please plan on staying after Mass for a few minutes to “meet and greet” fellow parishioners, especially those new to our community.
Also, we thank the Knights of Columbus and Ushers Club for setting up our beautiful outside Manger Scene. The Knights will be lighting up the scene following 4:30 Mass next Saturday. Please plan on joining us for that.
Next Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent when we wear Rose vestments. Rose is the color of the sky just before dawn! We rejoice that our Savior is near. We encourage you to wear rose or pink clothing to Mass next week and to bring the “Baby Jesus” from your home manger scene to be blessed at Mass.
Blessings