January 3rd, 2016—Epiphany of the Lord Welcome to St. Nicholas Catholic Church!

www.stncc.net Lord, Let it be You who lives in me today. www.facebook.com/stncc.net

This week at St. Nicholas Mon Jan 4 1 Jn 3:22--4:6/Ps 2:7-8, 10-12/Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

Adoration Chapel closed

Tue Jan 5 1 Jn 4:7-10/Ps 72:1-4, 7-8/Mk 6:34-44 No Daily Mass 8:30am Adoration Chapel opened 7:00pm Divine Mercy Cenacle

Wed Jan 6 1 Jn 4:11-18/Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13/Mk 6:45-52 8:15 am Mass at Holy Cross (our parish school) 6:30pm Religious Education Classes 7:00pm Adult Choir Practice

Thu Jan 7 1 Jn 4:19--5:4/Ps 72:1-2, 14-15, 17/Lk 4:14-22a No Daily Mass 8:30am Divine Mercy Cenacle 3:30pm Children’s Choir Practice 7:00pm RCIA Class

Fri Jan 8 1 Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147:12-15, 19-20/Lk 5:12-16 7:20am Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer) 7:35am Rosary 7:35am Confessions 8:00am Mass: Jerry Simon+

Sat

Jan 9

1 Jn 5:14-21/Ps 149:1-6, 9/Jn 3:22-30 7:35am Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer) 8:00am Mass: Chris & Deanna Loomis 8-10am All are invited to join us as we pray for the unborn at Whole Women’s abortion clinic, 825 South 8th Street in Minneapolis 8:35am Rosary 8:35am Confessions 9:00am Pro-Life Rosary in Chapel 3:30pm Confessions 4:15pm Youth Group—Lifeline Net Ministries 5:00pm Mass: Tom Ebertowski+ 5:00pm First Reconciliation Workshop after Mass

Sun Jan 10 Is 40:1-5, 9-11 or Is 42:1-4, 6-7/Ps 104:1b-4, 24-25, 27-30/Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7 or Acts 10:34-38/Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 Doughnut Sunday 7:20am Liturgy of the Hours (Morning Prayer) 7:35am Rosary 8:00am Mass: For the Parish 9:35am Rosary

10:00am Mass: Roseann Keillor+ 6:00pm Dead Theologians Society

From Liturgical Publications, Inc.

Epiphany of the Lord

"We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage." These Magi did not know the person they were seeking to honor. They had not met Jesus, but had embarked upon a long and arduous journey in order to come into his presence. Although they were not from among the Jewish people who had received the ancient promises of a Messiah, they were nonetheless anticipating his arrival. And when they found him, "they were overjoyed." Their quest had come to its moment of fulfillment when "they saw the child with Mary his mother."

For those of us who have been raised Christian since our infancy, it's important to reflect on the joy of the Magi. They found Christ as a result of great effort and expense. The very trials of their journey, and the hope that was fulfilled when it was successful, made them appreciate their encounter with Jesus in a profound way as "they prostrated themselves... and offered him gifts." Converts to the faith may have a kind of advantage in comprehending the experience of the Magi. But cradle Catholics may need to exert a bit more effort to share in the wonder. Even when Jesus has always been a part of someone's life, it is still important to stand in awe of him. On the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we meditate on what it means to "find" Jesus. For some of us, this means remembering a conversion experience, but for others it means imagining what life would be like without him, and then rejoicing in the fact that he is truly with us. No matter how we found the Lord, we too should fall down on our knees in adoration and offer him the precious treasures of our lives: our fervent devotion and our will to serve him.

Please note we are no longer using our P.O. Box address. All correspondence should be mailed to: St. Nicholas Catholic Church 51 Church Street Elko New Market, MN 55054

Here are some more ways for you to stay plugged in to the happenings of the parish!

Twitter.com/Stnccnet

Instagram.com/stnccnet

"Thank you Saint Nicholas Parishioners

for your faithfulness in 2015

and we look forward to 2016,

especially to the Jubilee of Mercy!”

~ Fr. Barnes

St. Nicholas Catholic Church Have a great week! Elko New Market, MN

www.stncc.net Jesus, I trust in You! www.facebook.com/stncc.net

We are looking for a new head coordinator(s) for our Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Please prayerfully con-sider lending your talents to this beautiful ministry. If you are interested in this volunteer position, please contact Father Barnes for more information.

What is Required of the Assigned Adorer? Each assigned Adorer selects one hour during the week. They prom-ise to keep this same hour covered each week, for 52 weeks a year. Assistance is available when help is needed finding a substi-tute. In our human lives we set up a regular pattern of actions. We have certain hours for meals, housework, shopping, T.V., work, sleep, playtime, etc. It is not really difficult to set aside the “Lord’s Hours.” We all make time for someone we love and this Someone is Jesus! Which Hour Should I Choose? You should choose an hour that realistically fits into your sched-ule. The time from 12 AM to 6 AM is the greatest sacrifice for many, but the rewards are even greater. We are always looking for volun-teers and substitutes for this particular, very quiet, relaxing and pre-cious time before the Lord. If you would like to become an adorer or for more information, please contact our temporary lead coordinator, Jean Moeller at 952-461-4552 or at maulor@msn.com. You may also sign up online at http://www.stncc.net/available-adoration-hours.

Eucharistic Adoration Liturgical Stewardship

Jan 9 @ 5pm Lector: Kathy Chlan

Ministers: Dana Meyer, Gail Mathews

Ushers: Dan Heselton, Ron Chlan

Jan 10 @ 8am Lector: Matt Damiani

Ministers: Ralph Wagner, Jolene Pierson

Ushers: Scott Steele, Paul Thoresen

Jan 10 @ 10am Lector: Vicky Chlan

Ministers: Jackie Devine, Dennis Anderson

Ushers: Steve Addabbo, Pat McDonald

Measure of Our Treasure to the Lord

December 27th, Week 26 in Fiscal Year Budget Weekly Sunday Giving $6,522

Budget Year-to-Date Sunday Giving $169,572

Sunday Plate & Envelope $18,514

Bread and Wine $0

Children’s Collection $6

Fuel $45

ACH (Received monthly) $0

Grounds $0

Flowers $0

Collection Received Year-to-Date $158,770

-$10,802

Endowment: $20

Capital Improvements: $33 YTD $2,802

Collections reflect 12/24, 12/25, 12/26 & 12/27 /15

Garage Door Doctor

952-461-4427 507-291-1469

St. Nicholas Catholic Church Elko New Market, MN

www.stncc.net Jesus, I trust in You! www.facebook.com/stncc.net

LNMV Religious Education: Classes held at the Catholic Education Center (CEC) home of Holy Cross Catholic School

Classes resume Wednesday, January 6th, 2016

St. Nicholas News & Events

Youth Group: Please mark your calendars for Saturday, January 16th. We will be doing our service project by going to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan and packing meals for the hungry. Our shift runs from 4:30-6:30pm. We have 15 spots available for teens for this event, so RSVP to Megan Anderson to make sure you get in!

Dead Theologians Society: Grades 9-12 are invited to attend the meeting of the Dead Theologians Society. The next meeting is Sunday, Jan. 10th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the St. Nicholas Campus.. (Confirmation students this will count for one Faith Enrichment event.)

Volunteers NEEDED: Help out the youth by putting together a meal for the youth in February or April! Support the Youth of your parish! You can go to the “Sign Up Genius” link below to select helping with part or all of a meal served at approximately 6:45pm. Please contact Kathy Chlan at kathyc@holycrossschool.net or 952-652-6100 if you have questions. The link is: www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F45AAAF2FA5F58-dead

The Knights of Columbus will not have a January 2016 business meeting. Please plan to attend our Christmas party dinner on Sunday January 10, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at Firehouse Grille in Elko New Market. Please RSVP to Leon Meger at 952-652-2826. Thank you!

Snow removal volunteers needed.

If you are up and about and notice it has snowed, please consider stopping by St. Nicholas and helping to clear the walk ways before morning Mass.

Divine Mercy Cenacle The cenacle of Divine Mercy is a prayer study group for both men and women that studies the Diary of Saint Faustina, Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church by using a defined study guide. As a group we pray for vocations, life issues, promote the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and work to apply the message of Divine Mercy into our daily lives. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of during the “Year of Mercy”, please consider joining. We will be forming a morning and an evening group which will meet one time each month. The first meeting will be held in the Myra Room on Tuesday, Jan. 5th at 7-8:30 p.m. or on Thursday, Jan. 7th at 8:30-10 a.m. Materials needed for the study group are: A Catholic Bible, The Diary of St. Faustina, the Cate-chism of the Catholic Church, and a study guide. The study guide can be purchased through the parish when you sign up at a cost of $15.00. You may sign up and pay through the parish office or through the parish website @ http://www.stncc.net/divine-mercy-cenacle For additional information, contact Deb Streefland at 952-652-2349.

The Golden Hearts continue to collect used postage

stamps for the missions. Please place used stamps in

the container in back of church. Thank you!

Book Club: A welcome to any and all women who enjoy reading! We meet one Tuesday a month @ 7:15pm at Deb Streefland’s home.

Our meetings will be held on the following Tuesdays: Jan. 12, Feb. 16, Mar. 15, Apr. 12 & May 10. Anyone interested in joining us, please contact Deb at 952-652-2349.

Cana Dinner - Saturday, February 20th A wonderful evening to honor the Sacrament of Marriage and enjoy the fellowship of other married couples.

St. Nicholas Catholic Church Elko New Market, MN

www.stncc.net Jesus, I trust in You! www.facebook.com/stncc.net

St. Nicholas News & Events Continued

Bulletin deadline: Please submit bulletin announcements

by 4 p.m. on Wednesdays to kjohnson@stncc.net

Thank you!

Q & A How are the feast of the baptism of Jesus and the account of the wedding feast of Cana related to the Epiphany celebration? The Epiphany season focuses on revealing Jesus to the world. Following the Christmas celebration, the liturgical year lays out a series of manifestations in which Jesus is made publicly known. From its very beginning, the Christian community highlighted three events in the life of Jesus. These are the Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast at Cana. The Epiphany discloses Jesus to the world of the Gentiles, represented by the Magi from the East. The accounts of Je-sus' baptism reveal his identity and mission, along with ex-posing him to those to whom he was sent to minister. The miracle of turning water to wine at Cana, unique to John's Gospel, is the first public sign Jesus performs, thus mani-festing his identity and his powers. Today in the Roman Church, these are usually celebrated on three successive Sundays: Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord, which is usually the next Sunday, and the wedding feast of Cana, which is only proclaimed on the Second Sunday of Ordi-nary Time in Year C. These feasts connect around the concept of epiphany, public manifestation of Jesus to the world. They help us get to know more intimately who Jesus is. Spend some time delving more deeply into your understanding of who Jesus is and continue to cultivate "epiphany" moments. Liturgical Publications, Inc.

What Is Stewardship?

Part 5 of 5

As we strive to live as faithful and generous stewards, it is

important that we understand all of the facets of steward-

ship. Here are just a few key aspects of stewardship. Stew-

ardship is:

Thankfulness - Stewardship calls us to be ever grateful

for the gifts that God has given. Not only are we called to be

grateful to God, but we also must be grateful to one another.

Just as we thank God every day, a stewardship parish must

also show gratitude, recognition and appreciation to those

who have given generously to the support of the parish.

Counter-Cultural - Stewardship is counter-cultural.

While society encourages us to continually strive for more

and more, stewardship helps us to recognize that we already

have more than enough. In fact, we have enough to share.

Discipleship - Stewardship is discipleship. We strive to

put God first in all things and to follow where Our Lord

might lead.

Everyday Stewardship As I get older, gifts on birthdays or at Christmas just don't seem that important to me. I love giving gifts, especially to my wife and children. I like to find that gift that brings a tear to the eye or elicits a great surprise. But for myself, what I receive does not seem like a big deal. It was different not so long ago. As a young adult, I loved to receive cool gadgets and tech toys. However, I can say I feel pretty satisfied now that I am more mature. In fact, on Father's Day my oldest son was coming home from college and he asked what I wanted as a gift. He asked looking for a concrete gift suggestion, preferably in his col-lege student bank account range. I immediately had an an-swer for him. I told him, "As long as you get home in time to go to Mass with me and the family, that is all I want." I just wanted to witness his faith being fed along with the rest of us. For me, there could be no greater gift. We hear every year the story of the Magi bringing rich gifts to honor Jesus. They were honoring this newborn King the only way they really knew. And, yes, I believe that whatever they could have offered him would have been appreciated. But I think it was the gift of themselves that mattered the most. They didn't send the gifts to him by some form of cou-rier. They traveled a far distance to be there in person. For what else could Jesus really have asked? What gifts do you have to offer Jesus? You could offer gifts of treasure or time. He would love those. But could you offer him your presence in prayer. Just spend time giving yourself over to him, for what else could he really ask? Liturgical Publications, Inc.

All parishioners will be receiving a Stewardship

letter and commitment form. We ask you to

please take some time to reflect on the gifts

God has provided you and determine how you

can share your gifts to serve others through our

parish.

We ask you to join with other parishioners and return your com-

pleted form in the collection basket at Mass or by mail by Mon-

day, January 18th.

The Stewardship Committee is encouraging all families to partici-

pate and will be following up with those who don’t respond.

St. Nicholas Catholic Church May God bless you! Elko New Market, MN

www.stncc.net Lord, Let it be You who lives in me today. www.facebook.com/stncc.net

Area News & Events

Be among the first we tell!

We don’t know who. We don’t know when. But we do know who we’ll tell first… You! Follow The Catholic Spirit for the best coverage when our new archbishop is named. Go to www.TheCatholicSpirit.com/NewAbp and sign up to choose how you want to hear the news.

Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy

(Dec. 8, 2015 – Nov. 20, 2016)

Pope Francis asks us to “live this Year in the light of the Lord’s words: ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (cf. Lk 6:36)’” Participate throughout the year by making a pilgrimage to a Holy Door at the Cathe-dral of Saint Paul or Basilica of Saint Mary, regularly receiving the sacra-ment of Reconciliation, performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and participating in the #MercyWorks video challenge. Find additional ways to pray, learn and act at www.archspm.org/Mercy.

9 Days for Life - US Bishops Annual Novena

The U.S. bishops annual novena 9 Days for Life takes place Saturday, January 16 – Sunday, January 24. Pray for the respect and protection of all human life with new intentions, brief reflections, and more each day. Download the novena online, or participate through Facebook, email, text message or an app. Join at www.9daysforlife.com!

Catholic Youth Camp is looking for board members - are you interested in helping change lives?

Catholic Youth Camp is Minnesota's only Catholic resident camp. Serving youth 7-17 since 1947, CYC gives kids the opportunity to experience their faith, while making friends and doing activities in the outdoors.

If you are passionate about the Catholic faith, youth, and or the out-doors, you should join our team! The CYC board meets monthly and helps to guide the mission, as well as fundraising, long term planning and organizational operations.

For more information, contact Executive Director Natalie King at 651-636-1645 or natalie@cycamp.org. Catholic Youth Camp changes lives. Be part of our team!

Cathedral Young Adults Theology on Tap

All young adults ages 18-39 are invited to come to the next Theology on Tap series, presented by the Cathedral of Saint Paul Young Adults. Con-nect with others for an evening of food, fellowship, and faith. The series will be held on Wednesday evenings from January 6 – February 3 at O’Gara’s, 164 Snelling Ave N, Saint Paul. Social hour is 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. and the speaker begins at 7:30 p.m. Topics focus on faith and contempo-rary issues that directly affect the lives of young adults. All evenings are free of charge.

Speaker schedule

January 6: Grill the Bishop, Bishop Cozzens; January 13: New Feminism, Leah Jacobson; January 20: The Freedom of Surrender, Deacon Joseph Michalak; January 27: Living 100% of Your Life, Jeff Cavin;s February 3: Called to Witness, Ken Fitzgerald.

For more information, visit www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/cya or our Face-book page www.facebook.com/groups/19770161424.

Prayer Vigil for Hope, Healing and Mercy

For over forty years, legalized abortion has left many men and women empty, confused and longing to be whole again. This vigil is open to all and is a special invitation to those who have been hurt by abortion. Please join us Thursday, January 21, 2016, 7– 11 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel at the Saint Paul Seminary.

Annual Prayer Service for Life

Please join us at the Cathedral of Saint Paul at 10:30 AM on Friday, Janu-ary 22, 2016 for the Annual Prayer Service for Life, followed by MCCL’s March for Life at the State Capitol. This prayer service commemorates the millions of lives lost to abortion and the many women and men wounded by abortion’s aftermath. All are invited and welcome. For more information, please contact the Office for Marriage, Family & Life at 651-291-4488 or visit www.archspm.org.

WINE: Catholic Women’s Conference

WINE: Women in the New Evangelization, in partnership with the archdi-ocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, invites women of all ages to the 2016 WINE: Catholic Women’s Conference, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 at Mary, Mother of the Church, Burnsville. Our theme, Mercy: Encountering Boundless Love, is inspired by Pope Francis’ invita-tion to enter into an extraordinary jubilee, a holy Year of Mercy. The day includes inspirational talks, music, lunch, prayer, confessions, shopping, chocolate, and more. It is the perfect way to prepare for Lent. Registra-tion: $55 before Jan. 6, $65 afterward. For more information and to reg-ister, visit www.archspm.org/WINE

2016 Archdiocesan Men’s Conference

Saturday, February 27

8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7 a.m. for Adoration and Confession)

Anderson Fieldhouse, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul

Men of all ages and walks of life are invited to a morning filled with faith and fellowship. Bishop Cozzens will lead men to a new mission: The Cath-olic Watchmen - Calling men to be protectors, providers and leaders of their families. The conference includes: Mass, breakfast, dynamic speak-ers, and more! $20 per adult; $10 per student (up to high school senior). Find more details, including ways to register, at www.archspm.org/Events. Questions? Contact Susanna Bolle at bolles@archspm.org or 651-291-4411.