100 South 8th Street Arma, KS 66712 Tel.

(620)347-4525
Mailing Address: PO Box 948 Arma, KS 66712

Weekly Bulletin Saint Joseph Church, Arma www.stjosepharma.com

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GIRARD Sat. 5:30pm Sun. 10:00 am Sat. 2:00-2:45pm

ARMA 4:00pm 8:00 am 3:15-3:45pm

The faith-filled parishioners of Saint Joseph Catholic Church of Arma, built in the trinity of Jesus Christ, value tradition and prayer. We are committed to strong leadership, responsive community service, and forming caring, welcoming, intimate relationships with our fellow brothers and sisters. We seek to become a more diverse, vibrant, active church family. Notes from the Pastor: Happy Thanksgiving Day for this Thursday to all of you! We know, for all who believe in God every day, every moment is a moment to give thanks! To God especially! Especially for us Catholics every time we gather at mass is thanksgiving, thats the meaning of the Eucharist! We should also be thankful that this Thanksgiving Day tradition still continues up to this day, although for some it is already devoid of the original meaning it was intended. Some families have established a ritual before they start their thanksgiving dinner: as they gather around the table before saying their grace before meals, they take turns in sharing what they are most thankful about throughout the year. As for me, I wanted to tell everyone what I am especially thankful about throughout this year. First I thank God for the gift of the priesthood and the grace and strength to be given this honor and privilege to continue to serve as your pastor for the second year in this parish. I am also thankful to God for the grace to grow in charity, patience and forgiveness. Every now and then things may happen which give us opportunities to be more patient, to understand, and most of all to forgive. Thats a blessing! I thank God for my family and friends far and near for being there always at least in spirit! I thank God for all of you, especially for all our volunteers in the councils and in different committees, ministries and activities! I thank God for all the trials and difficulties in life, for in them we will always feel the need of God in our lives! In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) May God be forever blessed! This is also the time for us to be reminded that although our thanksgiving is not needed by God, we have to give it to Him as God return them to us as its beneficiary. It is truly right and just, Next Sunday(11/25/2012) 8:00 AM Joseph Polhlopek Dave & Dustin Ashmore Cindy Ashmore Joe Broyles Tom & Debbie Amershek our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord Holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For, although you have no need of our praise, yet our thanksgiving is itself your gift, since our praises add nothing to your greatness but profit us for salvation (from the Common Preface IV, said by the priest before we sing Holy, Holy, Holy at mass) Let us also thank God for the grace of conversion He has given to our brothers and sisters who have expressed their intention to embrace our Catholic faith and to follow Christ more closely in our catholic tradition: Jessica Pope, Lindsay Waterman and Buel Pool have been attending our RCIA classes and expressed their desire to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and communion this Easter! Added to them is Megan Weir who was baptized Methodist but desires to embrace our catholic faith. Her husband John Weir has been baptized catholic but have not received the sacrament of confirmation in his teenage years and so join his wife and our RCIA class with the hope of receiving the fullness of Christian initiation with the sacrament of confirmation. They will be formally accepted and welcomed in the Rite of Acceptance at our 10AM Mass this Sunday in Girard. I also thank our RCIA sponsors who accompany and support them in their journey: Tamara Born, Chris and Connie Sponsel, Rick and Barb Duling, and, Faith Paoni. As we thank God for this blessing, let us include them in our prayers that they will grow in the grace of God to follow Him more closely in their lives! God bless you all! Fr. Roger

Saint Joseph Parish Mission Statement:

Weekdays before Mass; anytime by appointment.

STAFF Fr. Roger Lumbre Pastor Janel Scales/Marcel Normand Bookkeeper/Bulletin Editor Judy Smerchek Secretary Rectory Office Hours Wednesdays 9AM-Noon Tel. (620) 347-4525

Next Saturday (11/24/2012) Altar Servers: Ushers E. M. E. Lectors: Gift Bearers 4:00 PM Grant Waterman Frank Esposito & Wally Rons Terry Cleland Pat Westhoff Margaret Setina & Gay Kranker

Mass Schedules & Intentions for November 17th-25th:

Nov 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Saturday Sunday 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 7:00 AM Monday 5:30 PM Tuesday Wednesday 6:30 PM 8:00 AM Thursday 8:30AM-3PM 7:00 AM Friday 8AM-6PM 4:00 PM Saturday 5:30 PM 8:00 AM Sunday 10:00 AM St. Joseph/Blake & Lindsay VanLeeuwen Verl Diskin Paul Westhoff Pro Populo Gilpin Family Intentions St. Joseph Vera Diskin Elizabeth Parolo NO Eucharistic Adoration Jack McClaskey Eucharistic Adoration Mike & Frances Gallagher Kay Arthur Ray Wagner Pro Populo Arma Girard Arma Girard Girard Arma Girard Arma Arma Girard Girard Arma Girard Arma Girard

COLLECTIONS Last Week Contributions Expenses Over/ (Under)

Saint Josephs Upcoming Events Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays from 8:30am to 3:00pm Finance Council Next Meeting, TBA 6:00pm St. Ann Altar Society Next meeting, TBA Parish Council Next Meeting, Dec. 3rd After 5:30pm Mass Knights of Columbus 1st Tuesday of Month, 7pm St. Michael Parish Hall

July 2012 to date $27,786.27 $21,245.35 $6,540.92

$1,440.00

1621 and, according to journal-keeper Wm. Bradford, they were healthy, strong, with plenty of food. Only four adult married women survived and they were probably in charge of preparing the food. Records show that they served fish, duck, turkey, and deer. They did not serve sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, celery, apples, or coffee, as we are accustomed to having on this day. They simply gave thanks for making it through the year, which is really what we should do. A great way to give thanks that day is to attend Mass. One last thought: To give thanks reminds us that we do not own all that we have. We are stewards of what God has given to us. We would not need to give thanks IF WE WERE THE OWNERS. All that we have, we will have to leave behind someday, so another great way to give thanks is to SHARE with others. November: A Time For Stewardship Each November, priests throughout the diocese give talks on stewardship. Im sure its not their favorite topic, but they feel they must present this opportunity to us, perhaps to nudge us toward better stewardship. They break it down into, time, talent and treasure, emphasizing that all three are urgent. They are Gods and are on loan to us while were on earth. Our free will determines what we do with them. Colonel Sanders showed the world something more than merely how to turn 11 herbs and spices and some hard work into a bucketful of money. His guiding rule was Youve got to give some of it back or there isnt much reason to have it. Where Im going, I wont be needing it! Whether you can tithe has little to do with what your income it or what you owe. The person who says, After I pay all my bills, I cant afford to tithe. is telling the truth. He just has the cart before the horse. None of us would be able to tithe with whats left. Tithing is putting first things first, and then managing the rest of our income so we can still pay our bills. The decision to tithe is seldom made by sitting down with paper and pencil. We decide usually when were kneeling at prayer with an open heart. It has little to do with math and numbers. It has everything to do with a right relationship with God. Most who tithe regularly have come to realize that what they have, including their lives, were not their own, but Gods. No one can talk you into believing this. When you see God as the center of your life, you will be willing to tithe. Youll see it as a trust from God. We learned tithing (and by that, I dont necessarily mean 10%) in 1964 when we took instructions from Fr. John Reinkemeyer. His words: Its really quite simple. When you receive your check each month, get your box of envelopes out and decide what you can give. If its $10 weekly, place a check (or cash) in each of that months envelopes. Use the remainder for living and in that way, you gave to God first. If you did it the other way, pay all your bills, budget out for recreation, clothing, etc. thered be little for Him at months end. Thats the way weve done it since that advice was given and it has worked well. You adjust your weekly amounts as you see income rising and vice versa. What you decide to give is based on your personal relationships to God. I hope this might help some who wonder how to figure the amounts. The answer Ive found is to give what you can, but more importantly, to give consistently each week. The rewards will come, according to St. Matthew: The measure you give will be the measure you will be given. Note: Measure doesnt mean HOW MUCH, but THE RULE OR YARDSTICK to determine your amount. Good luck. Articles by Marcel Normand

Christmas Cantata: December 2nd, 6:00pm, St. Josephs Church Parish Pastoral Council Officers: Pat Westhoff Betty Rons, Dustin Ashmore, Joe Broyles, Debbie Amershek Secretary Karen Pryer Worship Committee: Chair Karen Pryer Lectors Marcel Normand E.M.Es Joann Black Music Jan Harman Ushers/Greeters Bill Harman Altar Society: Judy Smerchek Chair Members at Large Chair Members Parish Finance Council: Fred Bogina Bill Harman, Judy Wingebach, Linda Broyles

Whats Happening to Thanksgiving? Have you noticed that the true enjoyment and tradition of Thanksgiving is fast shrinking? More and more, this American Holiday is being thrust into the background by the mad rush to prepare for Christmas. Some homes already have holiday lights lit at night. Whoa! Were still two weeks away from Advent!! Ive heard it from some young people, who supposedly scorn tradition-theyve noticed this slighting of Thanksgiving. Now, Black Friday isnt soon enough. Some merchants will open on Thanksgiving evening! Never mind that their employees will be forced to shorten their own Thanksgiving reunions to return to work. How much farther back must we go to begin the Christmas rush? Maybe next year, on Veterans Day? Sounds ridiculous, but just watch. Catholics should work to return Thanksgiving to its proper place. I recall Fr. McElwee saying, Everyday should be Thanksgiving Day, for we have the Mass with all of its graces. Remember the Pilgrims? Those 50 brave souls made it that first winter of

ST. JOSEPH, PRAY FOR US

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