Follow Jesus’ Way

1. Follow Jesus’ Way The Pulse of L.I.F.E.

2. L.I.F.E.is… “Living in Faith Everyday” “Forming Adults to Create Households of Faith”

3. Welcome Back! December 9, 2012 2nd Sunday of Advent Cycle C Luke 3: 1-6

4. Where L.I.F.E.has taken us most recently: October… Our Saints…with humor and truth! What did you learn about these treasures of the Church? November…Year of Faith Kick-Off offered us a chance to discern & share what keeps us Catholic, what forms us as Catholics, and what challenges us as Catholics.

5. This month, did you… • Have a favorite insight from a homily? • Bring items to the food cart? • Try preparing for Mass by studying the readings in advance? • Look at one of the L.I.F.E-recommended websites? • Hear something about our faith that enlightened or challenged you?

6. Biblical thoughts we pondered…as we journeyed toward and into Advent… Mark, John and Luke all speak of the end times! November 18…”Heaven and Earth will pass away but my word will not pass away”…to listen in readiness…difficult action for us, is it not? November 25…”Everyone who listens to the truth hears my voice” but “my kingdom is not of this world”…difficult thought for us, is it not? December 2…A request to be vigilant disciples… in the days of the apostles & in these very days…difficult call for us, is it not?

7. Feast Days(Nov. 12-Dec. 8) any favorites of yours? Nov. 12 St. Josaphat Nov. 13 St. Francis X. Cabrini Nov. 15 St. Albert the Great Nov. 16 St. Gertrude Nov. 17 St. Elizabeth of Hungary Nov. 23 Sts. Clement and Columban

8. Feast Days (Nov. 12-Dec. 8) any favorites of yours? Nov. 24 St. Andrew Dung-Lac Nov. 30 St. Andrew Dec. 3 St. Francis Xavier Dec. 4 St. John Damascene Dec. 6 St. Nicholas Dec. 7 St. Ambrose Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception of Mary

9. We & the world contemplate and share this season… December is International Human Rights Month & Interfaith Month December 1 World AIDS Day December 3 Int’l. Day of Persons w/ Disabilities December 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day December 9 Hanukkah begins December 10 Human Rights Day December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe December 25 Christmas December 26 Kwanzaa

10. What is St. Augustine all about? Can you see these happening????.... • Fellowship and feeding! • Outreach within and beyond our borders! • Formation for all…ongoing, ongoing, ongoing!

11. L.I.F.E(Living in Faith Everyday)What was St. Augustine Parish doing to bring about the reign of God during the last month? • Our Food Pantry… feeding about 60-70 families this month. ***See the bulletin for special needs and requests!! Where can I find this?? ***Help the pantry: participate in Food Lion Community Rewards program • Collecting and posting names, and praying for those in our church family separated from usby military service or the Peace Corps in areas of conflict and unrest. • Offeringfuneral receptions for our bereaved. • Operating a seasonal children’s clothing closet.

12. and…“Healthy Bodies and Big Smiles” come weekly… Tuesdays in St. Augustine’s parking lot ….a wonderful sight when the Bon Secours CARE-A-VAN and the VDH Dental ”Smiles” vans pull in! So very many children and adults being given good care…and such a visible sign of our support of their work!!

13. …and now, on Care-a-van Tuesdays!!!! JAMES HOUSE is now offering, on site, their counseling services in areas of domestic violence and sexual abuse…

14. …and a new service on Mondays! Commonwealth Catholic Charities …has individual and group counseling at St. Augustine on Mondays. Contact Ms. Rodriguez Perez at 804-545-5951

15. …&…Caring for God’s Creation Improved recycling becomes a reality! It’s not easy being Green! Are you & yours part of the effort already? What happened in your life on April 22? Did Earth Day happen?

16. What can you do?????...BEGIN! • Begin…bring your own cup to L.I.F.E.! • Begin to participate in recycling at home. • Begin to buy “green” whenever possible. • Begin to think “green” in all that you do and in all that you teach your children & grandchildren.

17. and…St. Augustine continues… • Providing food for the Men’s Shelter • Serving as mentors in local schools &reading to children at the CARE-A-VAN • Buying and utilizing fair trade coffee • Adopting a highway • Caring for the homebound and hospitalized • Providing prayer shawls for so many in need of comfort • Sponsoringchildren and the aged within CFCA Please come join others in these ministries!

18. …and in the wider community… • We continue in our role as a Red Crossdisaster shelter site. • We continue our involvement with CCHASM…assisting our own parishioners as well as our neighbors. • We continue to pray for the needs of the wider Richmond community, joining many other Christian Churches and Richmond Hill. When?

19. Small Group Study • EveryWoman: Women of all ages gather prayerfully to systematically study and share insights on worldwide efforts toward a just and peaceful world. They have continued to gather since 2010 and, this Fall, are reading Abraham, A Journey into the Heart of Three Faiths by Bruce Feiler and later will enjoy Miriam’s Kitchen: A Memoir by Elizabeth Erhlich. • Ecumenical Men’s Bible Study: Men of St. Augustine and of St. John Episcopal meet 2x monthly on Saturday mornings (Deacon Eric has attended!...and breakfast is integral). Contact Darren Van Guilder here today to consider joining these men. • These men and women join others in on-going small adult communities sharing & pondering our weekly Scripture readings. **Tuesday a.m. group meets after daily Mass and is open to all! Would you like to be part of small groups like this? Men & women, call Eileen!

20. WINGS arrived on Sept. 12! “Women in God’s Spirit” …a ministry of encouragement & enrichment for women of all ages who seek to deepen their faith and grow in their relationship with God and one another …groups will meet weekly during the school year & have 3 different seasons, focusing on three areas of spiritual growth: 1) Catholic teachings; 2) Scripture; 3) Spiritual witness talks.

21. St. Augustine Formation Events Summary… • Daytime Learning Opportunities Tuesday: Bible study after daily Mass in Room PC 1-2 Wednesday: WINGS 9:45a.m.-11:30 a.m. in Room PC 1-2 (in the Fall) Thursday: Women’s Scripture Group in individual homes Saturday: Men’s Breakfast Study Group (every other week) • Evening Learning Opportunities Tuesdays (2nd and 4th): “EveryWoman”…for every woman and about every woman! (reading/issues study group resuming the Fall in PC 1-2) Outreach activities are a part of this group’s focus!

22. Upcoming St. A’s Events **(October 11, 2012, YEAR of FAITH began) Dec. 9 Giving Tree Gift Sorting 6p.m. Dec. 11 Mananitas/Vigil for Our Lady of Guadalupe Overnite Dec. 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 7:30p.m. Dec. 13, 14, 15 Giving Tree gift distribution Dec. 16 Welcoming & Orientation for New 10a.m. Parishioners (NO Poor Box Breakfast) Dec. 16 (-23rd) Posadas begin…meet at Church at… 6:30p.m. Dec. 17 Parish Reconciliation Service 7p.m. “O” Antiphons begin! Dec. 18 Holy Hour 7p.m. Dec. 23 Men’s Shelter 6p.m. Church Decorating…after the 6p.m. Mass Dec. 24-25 Christmas Masses January 1 Solemnity of Mary

23. Great Area-wide Opportunities • Dec. 16 Candlelight Carol Sing 7p.m. St. Edward the Confessor Church • Dec. 16 Choir Advent Celebration 3p.m. of Music & Readings/St. Ann Church/Colonial Heights • Dec. 16 Advent Taize-style Prayer 7p.m. Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville • Dec. 21 Advent Speaker and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament/St. Joseph Church 7p.m. • Jan. 5 Retreat for Women 9a.m.-12:30p.m. “How to Be Happy Today While on the Road to Where You Are Going”/St. Mary Church

24. Website of the Month www.vatican.va (official website for the Vatican)

25. AND WHERE WILL L.I.F.E. TAKE US THIS MONTH?

26. We are now in Year C/Luke’s Gospel What do we see in the gospel of LUKE? • The “historical context” was highlighted: it confirms dates of the events of the time. • Worship and Prayer were central: Jesus was at prayer before, during, and after each significant event. • A “Theology of Glory” was presented: The disciples suffer…but joyfully. • Food was prominent: Jesus revises table etiquette!

27. Father Mike and Mark Hoggard always ask of us… • Remember that the Lectionary has a specific purpose in its arrangement of readings. BUT,…this often causes readings to be heard “out of context.” • During this “Year of Luke” (Year C), we are challenged to gradually read Luke …chapter by chapter, verse by verse, immersing ourselves in its revelation of Jesus’ character & mission.

28. …and today???? Mark Hoggard returns… But,…with a new topic: “Vatican II”

29. Words of the Month “windows thrown open…”

30. A Warm WELCOME! To everyone newly registered in L.I.F.E. and to all guests today

31. …and, today, for whom shall we pray?

32. …and, always, prayer for those journeying toward full initiation into the Catholic Faith! • RebekahGugamuck Catechumen • Allie Dicken Inquirer

33. An invitation… If you, or someone you know, has questions about becoming Catholic, please consider a time of thoughtful inquiry, of welcomed questions, of discerning conversation… Call Eileen Brown 275-7962, ext. 1113

34. …need Adult Confirmation? If you are a Catholic adult who has never been confirmed and would like to prepare for this sacrament of initiation, please contact: Eileen Brown at the Parish Office 275-7962, Ext. 1113 Call Eileen also if you are in need of a CATHOLIC BIBLE!

35. Where will L.I.F.E. take us in January? We continue exploring our faith in the Year of Faith… with a Guest speaker and priest from Catholic Relief Services **Bring a friend to a “Slice of L.I.F.E.”

36. To Adults with Youth in L.I.F.E. • A reminder : the handout “Disciples at Home” is to be used in the coming week to be a source of good “faith-dialoguing” with your children in grades 7 through 12. • A reminder : youth/children/adults are not to be texting or using cell phones during L.I.F.E. Do have that discussion!!

37. Reminder for all in L.I.F.E. Each July: Remember to assist the staff by returning your yearly invoices for L.I.F.E. promptly!! Postcard reminders sent…children will get books after fees are paid!