THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

$2.52—the radio told the story of the 4^th Grader who sent his lunch money to Congresswoman Giffords in Tucson. He had heard how so many others were doing something to help. He wanted to be just one more among the others.

The radio story reminded us of this week’s gospel. It tells 3 big things: Jesus was the One everybody else was waiting for; when he arrived, he got right to work doing the good stuff people hoped for, and his work needed others to help—nobody, not even Jesus, does this alone. When Jesus began preaching about a change of mind, heart and soul, and curing every illness that burdened the people (that’s the good stuff), he chose his helpers two by two—brother by brother. None was a hero. Like the 4^th Grader and his $2.52, just one more among the others.

KidsRelig—our challenge each week is to preach a change of mind, heart and soul (the good stuff), as each of us becomes just one more among the others.

Ask the Middlers what happened to their hats!

Grace Before Snacks

Our First Graders led the Elementaries in a “Grace Prayed With Hands.” They sat on the sanctuary steps with a small plate on each lap and prayed:

God Bless Us (hands on head)

God Bless Our Food (hands around plate)

AMEN. (hands folded in prayer)

And 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th gave these little voices a good listen!

First Communion

An email went out this week to all the parents of our Second Grade First Communion Class. It contained important information about the date and times of First Communion, and how the classes will be divided between the 9:30 and 11:30 AM Masses on May 14.

It also contains a link to the on-line form for Baptismal Information with a deadline for submitting the information.

If you did not get that email, contact me immediately at

kidsrelig@optimum.net .

First Penance

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (First Penance) will be celebrated for our Second Grade First Communion Class

Saturday

March 12^th

11:00 AM

Upper Church

Preparation for the sacrament has begun in all the classes. Parents will receive more information about preparation at home and the ceremony in the next two weeks.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

What would a “tweet” of today’s gospel look like? For the Middlers, it looked like this: “Look 4 a sign of Jesus and the Sign of Jesus will find u.”

John the Baptist was looking for Jesus, even though “he did not know him.” He believed, however, that he would recognize him by the Spirit that came upon him. That’s why John kept looking for Jesus, and why Jesus found John (remember, “Jesus was coming toward him”). And so goes our “tweet”—“Look 4 a sign of Jesus and the Sign of Jesus will find u.”

But we got to look! And sometimes in the oddest places and in the most tragic events—like a supermarket in Tucson where violence gets tackled by sacrifice and bullets are swept away by a selfless woman; like a sports arena where a divided nation stands together in its grief and holds itself united in a faith out of many faiths, and in the simple opening of an eye that sees family and friends and so many strangers waiting and praying to look back. If we keep looking for Jesus, we will recognize him by the Spirit who comes upon us.

For the Elementaries, our “Grace Before Snacks’ was a cheer:

Thank you, God, for food so good;

Help us be the best we should!

First Communion

First Communion is Saturday, May 14, 2011. Two Masses: 9:30 and 11:30 AM. Check the Annual Calendar for the rehearsal days and times. Next week, after the MLK Remembrance, there will be more First Communion News.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

The Baptism of the Lord—the last day of the Christmas Season. What’s the connection?

The Middlers went to the theater and got their playbills. Inside, there was the cast of characters and the acts of the play. And then, there was that funny word—“overture.” We realized that the Christmas Story is not just a cute little tale about the birth of a baby, but the overture to the whole Jesus Story. The Christmas characters give us hints to everything that is to come—angels (everything starts with God and returns to God, whose Word is the Son of God); Mary (her son is indeed her son—a man-child); shepherds (Jewish people to whom the Word first came); magi (gentiles to whom the Word would go out); Herod (the hand of death—there’s tragedy in this Jesus Story), and Joseph (the dreamer of Jesus’ birth, the dreamer of Jesus’ flight from Herod into Egypt, the dreamer of Jesus’ return from Egypt to Nazareth—the Jesus Story: Birth, Salvation from Death, Rebirth to New Life!)

And the Baptism of the Lord? The overture is over, and it’s curtain up! The main character is introduced center-stage: “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

The Elementaries were shown the big storage box where the Christmas Pageant is packed away each year. Candles, bells, halos, shepherd headgear, clothes for Mary and Joseph, the two little lambs, and even Baby Jesus—all packed away with a hint of sadness, but lots of hope. Because we don’t shut the lid to hide Christmas away, but only to keep it safe until we unpack it again in the new year.

And speaking of the new year, we continued our practice of saying “Grace Before Snacks” with a New Year’s Grace:

A Grace for the New Year

God, Our Father,

as we begin this new year,

we do not know what to expect,

but you always give us hope.

Fill us with your Spirit of hopefulness;

guide and protect us in all the days ahead.

We pray for good health in our families

and peace in our world.

We thank you for Mary, the Mother of your Son.

We are grateful that she taught him how to love children.

We thank you for all your blessings,

and especially for the food we are about to eat.

Amen.

ANNUAL CALENDAR

The Annual Calendar with all of the Session Days and regularly scheduled Closings is posted on the Religious Education Page of the Parish Website. Go to: Homepage of the Parish Website www.sjsmrcc.com ; click on Religious Education on the left, and on the Religious Education Page, click on Annual Calendar on the right.

First Communion

First Communion is Saturday, May 14, 2011. Two Masses: 9:30 and 11:30 AM. Check the Annual Calendar for the rehearsal days and times. Watch the KidsRelig column in the Weekly Bulletin, the Religious Education Page of the Parish Website and the KidsRelig Blog in the next two weeks for First Communion News.

SNOW!!!

KidsRelig follows the Chappaqua School District protocols for snow closings. If Chappaqua is closed or dismissed early for snow, or if Chaqppaqua cancels afternoon activities, there is no KidsRelig. We will do our best to blast an email as soon as we know what Chappaqua is doing.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A KidsRelig Blessing for the New Year

God, our Father,

source of light in every age,

the virgin conceived and bore your Son

who is called Wonderful God,

Prince of Peace.

As we begin this New Year,

we pray that you fill us with your Spirit,

who filled the heart of Mary

with humble obedience to your will

joyful hope in the Savior’s coming

and abundant love for the One given into her care.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Christmas Pageant and Christmas Choirs News

The Christmas Pageant at St. John and St. Mary—it all began in 1987 with about a dozen kids and a few parents, a couple of guitars, carols by the choir, two little lambs and some shepherds’ crooks made in parish workshops. On Christmas Eve, we all watched and listened as our kids became the first to proclaim the Good News of Christmas. Over the years, there have been more kids and more beautiful music, but one thing has remained the same—at the first Mass of Christmas (Christmas Eve at 4 PM), we watch and listen as our kids become the first to proclaim the Good News of Christmas.

There could be no better reason for the Christmas Pageant. And yet, there is another reason, which is equally as good. On the days before Christmas, where can we find our kids? In church! What better place to prepare for Christmas!!!

Preparing for the Christmas Pageant

· FIRST AND SECOND GRADERS are our Pageant Kids. No sign up; just show up for rehearsals.

· Boys are Shepherds; costume is an Arab-like headpiece (white cloth and dark headband), SUPPLIED BY PARENTS

· Girls are Angels; costume is a garland halo, which the church will provide on Christmas Eve; each girl carries a battery operated candle, SUPPLIED BY PARENTS. Nothing more, except that each girl will wear her special Christmas dress.

· Mary and Joseph: we will draw the names of two SECOND GRADERS. Calls will be made to see if the kids are willing and able (sometimes, they can’t or just don’t want to). Will keep calling until we get Mary and Joseph. Costumes: the church has the costumes.

· Costumes do NOT come to rehearsals; come with your costume on CHRISTMAS EVE only.

Christmas Pageant Rehearsals for First & Second Graders

(All Rehearsals in Upper Church)

· Wednesday, December 22, 4:00 to 4:45 PM

· Thursday, December 23, 4:00 to 4:45 PM

Music for the Christmas Pageant--Choirs & Youth Ensemble

The Christmas Pageant at St. John and St. Mary would not be the celebration that it is without the beautiful voices and music of our kids. This has always been true and is especially true this year.

Ken Corneille, our Music Director, has formed two children’s choirs: the Regular Children’s Choir (Grades 1-5), which has been rehearsing and performing all year, and a Special Children’s Christmas Choir (Grades 3-8) which is open to all students in those grades who would like to sing for the Christmas Pageant Mass at 4 PM on Christmas Eve. Ken has also formed a Youth Ensemble of Instrumentalists (Grades 5-8).

Rehearsal Schedule for Choirs & Youth Ensemble

(All Rehearsals in Upper Church)

• Special Children’s Christmas Choir (Grades 3-8): Monday, 12/20, 4:00 - 4:45 PM
• Youth Ensemble of Instrumentalists (Grades 5-8): Tuesday, 12/21, 3:45 -4:30 PM
• Regular Children’s Choir (Grades 1-5): Tuesday, 12/21, 5:00 PM

Choirs & Youth Ensemble Join Pageant Kids for Christmas Pageant Rehearsals

BOTH CHOIRS & THE YOUTH ENSEMBLE WILL REHEARSE WITH THE PAGEANT KIDS AT THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSALS:

· Wednesday, 12/22, 4:00 – 4:45 PM

· Thursday, 12/23, 4:00 – 4:45 PM

Christmas Eve

· Upper church OPENS at 3:00 PM. Church and Parish Office Closed until then.

· Choirs & Youth Ensemble should arrive at 3:00 PM sharp.

· Pageant Kids should arrive no later than 3:15 PM.

· Pageant Girls: report to Community Room A.

· Pageant Boys: report to Skelly Hall.

· Music begins at approximately 3:25 PM

· Pageant begins at approximately 3:45 PM (***After Pageant, parents come to sanctuary to bring kids back to their families for Mass)

· Mass begins at 4:00 PM

Third Sunday of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent! And it's all about Advent Readiness.

The Middlers heard Jesus in today's gospel ask the crowd, who had come to eavesdrop on questions from John the Baptist: "Who did you go out to the desert to see?" The possible answers were either John the Baptist or Jesus himself. But when we listened carefully to Jesus, we heard something else. And that's when the mirror came out, and the Middlers understood exactly what Jesus was trying to say. We go out to the desert to look in the mirror and see ourselves.

Ask your Middler about a good friend of mine, Mary Alice, and a friend of hers, Desda. Let him/her tell you how Mary Alice learned from a homeless woman sitting on a heating grate to look in the mirror and see herself. And when she did, her life was changed, and the lives of so many were made better for it. Let him/her tell you how Desda became Mary Alice's Angel.

I asked the Middlers to email and tell me about their own look in the mirror and if there is anything they're doing for Christmas to see a changed person. So far, I've only heard from one Middler. There's still time, and I would love to hear from others and share what they have to say with the rest of the parish.

The Elementaries gathered as usual for Grace Before Snacks. This week, we prayed a Christmas Grace:

Dear God,

on this special night

we remember how Mary and Joseph

came to Bethlehem looking for shelter,

but found no place to stay.

In our celebration of Jesus' birth,

teach us to welcome him into our homes

by being kind to each other.

Show us how to care for him

by caring for all who need our help.

And bless our Christmas meal

and all of us who share it. Amen.

Christmas Pageant

Our Annual Christmas Pageant is celebrated immediately before the 4PM Christmas Eve Mass on December 24th

• First and Second Graders are the Pageant Kids
• Rehearsals: Wednesday (12/22) & Thursday (12/23), 4:00 to 4:45 PM
• NO SIGN UP, JUST SHOW UP!!!

Christmas CHOIRS

• Ken Corneille has formed 3 choirs: Regular Children's Choir (Grades 1-5), which has been been rehearsing and performing all year; Regular Youth Choir (Grades 6-8), which has been rehearsing for the last month, and the Special Christmas Choir (Grades 3-8), which is open to all students in those grades and has not met yet

Rehearsal Schedules

• Regular Children's Choir: Tuesdays (12/14 & 21) 5PM
• Regular Youth Choir: Tuesdays (12/14 & 21) 3:45 to 4:30 PM
• Special Christmas Choir: Mondays (12/13 & 20) 4:00 to 4:45 PM, plus Wednesday (12/22) and Thursday (12/23) 4:00 to 4:45 PM

NO KIDSRELIG UNTIL AFTER THE NEW YEAR.

Love,

Deacon Charlie

Second Sunday of Advent

The Second Sunday of Advent! We are all waiting. And for the Middlers, it was a big bag of Legos that helped us understand Gospel Waiting.

Unlike what we called “waiting by killing time” at the bus stop, the train station or the doctor’s office; unlike “waiting by anticipating” your next birthday, summer vacation or Santa at Christmas; unlike “waiting with anxiety” for the game to end, for the test to begin or the marks to be posted; Gospel Waiting isn’t even waiting at all. It’s bringing the future into the now.

We looked at our bag of legos and understood that what would be was right in front of us if we just made it happen now. And we dug in and made it happen. In fact, we made a whole lot of things happen. “Prepare the way of the Lord” is not to kill time waiting or either becoming too silly or serious about it all. It is to make the Lord’s coming tomorrow happen in our lives today. We have to make it happen. In fact, we have to make a whole lot of things happen.

The Elementaries heard all about Thanksgiving with our new grandson Asher (4 weeks old), and how everyone who came to dinner, from the grumpiest old man to the cutest little kid, wanted to do one thing—hold Asher. And it was a Christmas light bulb moment. When those shepherds and magi arrived at the stable, we all bet that nobody knelt down like we usually see them depicted. We bet that everybody asked Mary, “Can we hold him?” And we told ourselves that that’s what Christmas is all about—God came as a baby because he simply wants to be held. And Raymond North taught us the last and best lesson of all—God can still be held by each and every one of us in the Eucharist.

Christmas Pageant News

Our Annual Christmas Pageant will be celebrated immediately before the 4 PM Christmas Eve Mass on December 24^th. Every year, our 1^st and 2^nd Graders become our Pageant Kids. Rehearsals for the Pageant will be on Wednesday, December 22^nd and Thursday, December 23^rd, from 4 to 4:45 PM.

Calendar Reminder

NO KidsRelig this Wednesday, December 8^th. And Tuesday, December 7^th and Thursday, December 9^th are our last classes before Christmas.

Love,

Deacon Charlie