Emmanuel – A Parish Listening Session
St. Michael’s Church
Sunday, December 5th at 5pm

As a Faith Community what would you like to see us accomplish within the next 3-5 years? I hope you are able to attend and participate as we prayerfully try to answer that question this Sunday evening. If an hour is not enough time for everyone (given 3 minutes to speak) to give voice to their hopes and dreams, we can adjust, either with small group sharing or an additional session after Christmas.

The vocation of all the People of God, the community of believers in Jesus Christ, is to bring about the Kingdom of God. I often say, “Our Mission is to Love because God is Love.”  How do we do this on Tybee? I’ve more than enough ideas to keep me busy for the next few years, but I along with the animating groups need to hear from you. We are so blessed to have such a great parish; how can we make it even better?

Adsumus (We Stand Before You)
The Adsumus prayer calls upon the Holy Spirit to guide a Church gathering. Every session of the Second Vatican Council began with the bishops and Holy Father praying this prayer. This prayer is attributed to St. Isidore of Seville (c.560- April 4, 636). For the 2021-2023 Synod, the Holy Father is proposing that the entire People of God pray this simplified version of the Adsumus:

We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
            nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

I also hope you can be present next Friday night when Bishop Parkes dedicates our new Franciscan Plaza named in honor of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Tickets are on sale for the meal following in our parish gym. And don’t forget that the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation. Before the 6pm Vigil Mass on Tuesday we’ll close out the Holy Year of St. Joseph at 5:30pm with a Josary. So, come early. I respect that people are busy, so I try to keep Holy Day Masses short and sweet.
 

• Gospel Reflection…………………………………………December 5th at 10am

5. Emmanuel -- Parish Listening……………………….December 5th at 5pm

• Advent Open House (Rectory)……………………….December 5th at 6pm
• Gospel Reflection…………………………………………December 6th at 8:30am
• TICWC Advent Dinner (Pier 16)……………………..December 6th at 6:30pm
• HNS Advent “Meeting” (Huc-a-Poos)……………..December 6th at 7pm

5. Immaculate Conception Vigil Mass……………….December 7th at 6pm
5. Immaculate Conception Mass………………………December 8th at 8am
5. Mass for Dedication of the Plaza………………….December 10th at 6pm

• St. Michael’s Night Out (Gym)……………………….December 10th at 7pm
• Gospel Reflection…………………………………………December 12th at 10am

5. Advent R and R…………………………………………….December 12th at 5pm

Taking the readings home:  John the Baptist quotes Isaiah that we are called to prepare the way of the Lord. What are some of the ways God comes to you every day?