The Gartland Awards are being presented this weekend by Bishop Hartmayer at the 11:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral.  The Recipients from our parish are Mike Beytagh and Ginny Murphy.  I was so very pleased last week when Fr. Tom Peyton affirmed these two as excellent choices.  As pastor I am blessed by their friendship and the wonderful energy they bring to our faith community.  They both have a great love for the Lord and for their fellow parishioners.  Their service to our parish over the years has been outstanding.
 
Mike has been an active parishioner at St. Michael Catholic Church Tybee Island, GA since 2007. He has served in several positions: Parish Council (8 years, 4 as council Co -President), Buildings and Grounds Committee (10 years, 4 years as Chairman), past President and member of the Holy Name Society, volunteer for the Family Promise Program, member of the 125th Anniversary Committee, member of the Stained-Glass Restoration Committee. In addition, he is still and altar server and is always the first call for substitution when others cannot serve.
 
Ginny served as PTO President for several years. It was a labor of love, hosting Spaghetti Dinners for the Tybee Marathon, keeping the teachers feeling appreciated, improving playground safety, and fund raising. When the school closed, St Michael’s Youth Group was formed. Ginny now serves as a Youth Coordinator, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister. She visits the Tybee Nursing Home and Shut ins. Bringing Jesus to someone longing for Him has been a blessing to her life and enriched her faith.
 
Please offer them your congratulations when next you see them and thank them for all they do for our faith community.
 
This is a giving time of year.  As good stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us there are so many ways that we can return the blessing.  I am always grateful for those parishioners who make a special end of year contribution to the parish. You help our faith community catch up to a balanced budget.  Beyond the good you do for your faith community, there are so many other worthy causes that need our assistance.  As you prayerfully consider your charitable giving, please remember the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.
 
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by funding community programs that encourage independence. Your donations will give those in poverty the support they need to make lasting changes.  The CCHD handout in the bulletin gives you a sense of what the Church is doing for those on the margins.  Take an envelope home and place it in next weeks regular offertory.  Checks can be made to St. Michael Church with CCHD in the memo line.
 
And here is a thank you for the good that you’ve already done.
 
Dear St. Michael Parishioners,
We wanted to say, “Thank you” for all your kindness and support you all provided for the Box of Joy 2019 campaign.  We collected enough donations, boxes and items for182 shoeboxes and the entire shipping costs!  So many deserving children will enjoy your little box of love during this Christmas Season.
 
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.  – Proverbs 19:17       God Bless,   Joanne Naylor
 
You’ll also find a thank you from Gayle Valbuena on behalf of the Deanery CCW for the contributions that our parish made to the Box of Joy Campaign.  We put together 182 boxes which represents 21% of the entire Deanery effort.  Not bad for our little Church!
 
Finally, in this season of Thanksgiving, I want to offer a special thanks to Fr. David Arnoldt.  He is the best of friends and will be filling in for me this week as I head up to Philly to have Thanksgiving with my family.  Y’all behave for him.  And have a super Thanksgiving.  I’ll remember you with a grateful heart as I celebrate Mass on Thursday morning.  I hope many of you will able to join Fr. Dave for a 9am Mass on Thursday.  It’s the best way to begin Thanksgiving!!!
 
Sunday, November 24 at 6pm – Ecumenical Prayer Service
Followed by food and fellowship at All Saints Episcopal
 
Thursday, November 28 at 9am – Thanksgiving Day Mass
 
Monday, December 2 beginning at 5:30pm – Advent Adoration and Penance Service