Second Sunday of Advent

05 December 2021

Immaculate Conception Parish

Fairbank, Iowa 50629

Today’s Readings Baruch 5:1-9 Psalm 126:1-6

Philippians 1:4-11

Luke 3:1-6

PASTOR’S PARAGRAPHS Second Sunday of Advent

December 5, 2021

Across North and South America native peoples have carried out certain rituals for centuries. One of those rituals is called a “spirit quest.” A spirit quest is an individual journey taken by a boy or girl in order to gain wisdom, strength, and inspiration. The individual would go off alone to a secluded place away from the village and spend time alone. There, after days of prayer and fasting, it is thought that a “guardian-spirit” would come and give a vision to the individual. This vision would inspire and guide the course of the person’s life. Eventually, the person would return to the village and be stronger when tough times came.

You could call the beautiful four-week Advent Season a spirit quest. During these four weeks, we are invited to come away from the distractions of the world and prepare to receive the Lord in a new way. God calls us to a place of peace and seclusion (a quiet corner of our house, a chapel, an empty church), to rediscover His holy presence and listen to His voice.

Prayer and fasting are not just good practices for indigenous peoples; they are excellent Christian practices as well. Prayer is our lifeline to God. Through prayer we gain wisdom, strength, and inspiration; we grow in holiness; we imitate Jesus who spent time in quiet prayer (see Lk. 11:1); we enable God to shape our lives; we get “the world” out of us for a certain period of time; we can resist temptation more easily; we prepare our hearts to receive the Lord in new and fascinating ways, and so on. Prayer does so much for us and our personal relationship with God.

Fasting is another good practice. By denying ourselves food, certain drinks, entertainment, social media, or whatever else we choose, we discipline ourselves. Like prayer, we imitate Jesus when we fast (see Lk. 4:2); we open the way for Christ to sanctify and purify us; we grow in understanding of those who have little or nothing to eat; we gain strength to resist temptation. We are obliged to abstain from something every Friday of the year. Perhaps we could abstain from meat or something else we enjoy each Friday starting this Advent. Fasting, like prayer, is part of our spirit quest.

Unlike the native peoples of North and South America, our spirit quest is a communal one. We began the season by lighting one candle of the Advent Wreath. This light represents the first stage of our Advent journey to Christmas. The violet reminds us of Christ the King for whom we wait to come in a new way; the rose reminds us of the joy of the season, and the garland reminds us of hope and growth this time of year. We listen to God’s Word in the prophets and psalms. We are traveling companions on the Advent journey. We begin together and end together. We are in the company of fellow travelers whose wisdom and experience can assist us in making this the best Advent ever.

Saint Luke shares his version of the life of John the Baptist. The Spirit led John into the desert near the Jordan River. There, in prayer and fasting, he remembered the visions of the prophets and invited those who came out to share that vision and to repent of sin. John is our inspiration this Advent. Do your part to make this the best Advent ever. Pray. Fast. Read. Reflect. Make a good Confession. Don’t let Advent fly by and realize you haven’t prepared your heart for the Lord. He’s waiting. Come to Him!

God bless you. Fr. Ray Atwood dbq151@dbqarch.org 319-283-9577

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With Waverly, IA 5

Lord, We Lift Up to You in Prayer…. Brett Delagardelle, Eric Schmidtke, Charlie Corey

Marci Willey, Ron Babinat, Lindsey Ernst, Diana Snyder

Connor Franzen, Michael McDonough, Dave Chase

Mary Ellen Youngblut , Sherry Duffy, Don Brandt,

victims of hatred, racism, violence, natural disaster; terrorism,

and all in our parish, our community, and our hearts who are

suffering and in need of Christ’s healing touch May they

know His loving Presence in the eyes, hands and hearts of those

who give them care. May our prayers for help and healing rise like incense

to our God of hope, love and mercy.

Communion To Our Sick Or Homebound Ministry: contact Michelle Weepie 319-635-2428 or Bob Byersdorfer 319-635-2330

I C Parish Prayer Chain Hotline: Please contact

Vivian Rourke at 319-238-3225 (V) or 319-238-2083 (M)

Sacrament Of The Sick ~ Anointing for the seriously ill

or dyng, call the Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743, or if having surgery speak with Father Atwood in the Sacristy before or after Mass

Baptism Class For Parents: All parents who wish to

have their child baptized at Immaculate Conception parish are required to attend a baptism class prior to scheduling the baptism. Please contact Deacon Jim at 319-509-1210 for scheduling details.

I C Cemetery – contact the parish office

Funeral Dinners: Group #1 Jan, Feb, March, April

We provide desserts & serve a catered meal

I C STAFF ~ Fr. Ray Atwood, Pastor ~

IC Parish Office Wednesday Mornings after 8:30AM Mass

Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743 Sacred Heart Rectory 319-283-9577

email: dbq151@dbqarch.org

~ Deacon Jim Patera ~ Office at Sacred Heart Parish Center 319-283-3743

Cell phone 319-509-1210

~Glenda Kleitsch IC Secretary/Bookkeeper~

I C Parish Office PH: 319-635-2211 located at 405 Fairbank St I C Parish Office hours:

Mon-Thurs 8AM – 3PM Closed Friday Mailing address: P O BOX 505 Fairbank IA 50629

email: icfairbank@gmail.com website: http://icfairbank.weebly.com/

Archdiocesan website: www.dbqarch.org

~Dan & Lynda Cutsforth, DRE & Youth Ministry~ DRE Office PH :319-635-2211

located in the Parish Center at 405 Faribank St Mailing address: P O Box 505, Fairbank IA 50629

Dan email: dancutsforth@yahoo.com

Lynda email: cutsforthlynda@yahoo.com

Jean Sauerbrei, Facility Rental Coordinator PH: 319-635-9151/ cell 319-296-8459

or email jmsauerbrei@yahoo.com

Decorating the Church December 19!!

Giving Tree Nov 28 thru Dec 12 December 2021 Donut Sunday (6th Graders)

Live Nativity Scene 4:30PM (Guided Tours on the half-hour beginning at 4:30) We would like all participants for the Live Nativity to arrive at the Parish Center Sunday between 3:30 and 3:45. That should allow plenty of time to get everyone into costume and into their place. Anyone donating cookies may drop them off after Mass or bring them with you when you arrive.

Wed Dec 8 The Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary

8:30AM - IC Church 5:30PM - Sacred Heart Wed Dec 8 Assisted Living Christmas Party 1:30PM Thurs Dec 9 KC Meeting 7PM Sat Dec 11 Bohlke/Woods Wedding 2PM Wed Dec 15 Monthly Community Potluck 11:30AM Wed Dec 15 Pastoral/Finance Council Mtg 5:30PM Thurs Dec 16 Staff Mtg Office closing early. 2:00 PM Sun Dec 19 Decorating the Church-Mark your Calendars Sun Dec 19 Donut Sunday (6th Graders) Dec 23-27 Deacon Jim - Vacation Fri Dec 24 Sacred Heart – 4PM Dec 24 IC Church – 6PM Sat Dec 25 IC Church – 8:30AM Dec 25 Sacred Heart – 10:30AM New Years Eve Solemnity of Mary Dec 31 Sacred Heart – 5:30PM Jan 1 IC Church – 8:30AM

Sun Dec 5 8:30 AM IC For the People

M: Deacon Jim EM: Duane Schmidtke Lector: Kelly Cummings

Sun Dec 5 10:30 AM SH Florian & Katherine Koch

Mon Dec 6 8:30 AM SH Tim & Julie Harmon

The Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary Wed Dec 8 8:30 AM IC Sister Diane

Wed Dec 8 5:30 PM SH Deacon Richard Gehrke Thurs Dec 9 8:30 AM SH Myrtle Fitzpatrick Fri Dec 10 8:30 AM SH Leo & Mary Napoli

Sat Dec 11 4:30 PM SH Jack Smith Sun Dec 12 8:30 AM IC Zachary Rundle

M: Deacon Jim EM: Janice Martins Lector: Kevin Bodensteiner

Sun Dec 12 10:30AM SH For the People Sunday, December 19 at 8:30 AM Mass

M: Deacon Jim EM: Diane Rourke Lector: Dan Cutsforth

December Ushers and Greeters Bob Bellis, Chad VanDaele, Tom Kleitsch Mike Buenzow, John W Even, John Even

December Congratulatory Celebrations Celebrating 50+ Anniversaries Dec 18th Mike & Vivian Rourke

Be sure to let the parish office know when you celebrate one of these milestones so that we too may share your joy!

Parish Financial $upport Nov 28-Dec 2 Budget $2128 Offertory $301 Building Fund $30 Retirement for Religious Fund $350

Food Drive 434 LBS

Taken to Oran Food Pantry

November 2021 Online Giving

Budget $1565 Building Fund $70 Pledge Install $83 Retirement funds $25 Total $1743

Fol Christmas Flowers for Immaculate Conception Church – 2021 Advent once again and the Church will soon be decorated for the Christmas Season. If you would like to make a donation toward the cost of the poinsettias in memory or honor of someone, please complete this form and turn in to the office via the collection (marked Christmas Flowers), drop box, or mail, along with your donation. Suggested donation is a minimum of $5 per name or family. Deadline for requests is Wednesday, December 22nd for publication in the Christmas bulletin. Please indicate ‘memory’ or ‘honor’ In Memory or Honor of:___________________________________________________________________________ In Memory or Honor of:___________________________________________________________________________ Donor Contact Name & Phone #___________________________________________________________________

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Background on the Gospel Reading Luke 3:1-6

John preaches repentance and baptizes in the region of the Jordan.

This week and next, our Gospel readings invite us to consider John the Baptist and his

relationship to Jesus. John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets,

preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. To affirm this, Luke quotes at

length from the prophet Isaiah. John baptizes for repentance and for forgiveness of sins,

preparing the way for God's salvation.

The three Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke—attest to the importance of

the baptism of John in preparing for Jesus. Only the Gospel of Luke, however, extends

the connection between these two men to their birth. The first two chapters of Luke's

Gospel contain the Infancy Narrative, which tells about the births of John the Baptist

and Jesus. These stories set the stage for the beginning of Jesus' public ministry in

chapter 3.

The evangelist Luke is the author of the Gospel that bears his name, and he also wrote

the Acts of the Apostles as a continuation of the story of Jesus and the Church. In these

two works, Luke's sense of time and history emerges. He identifies three epochs of

salvation history: the time before Christ, the time of Christ, and the time of the Church

and the Holy Spirit. In today's Gospel reading, as elsewhere, John the Baptist is

presented as the figure who bridges the time before Christ and prepares the way for

Christ's own ministry.

In today's Gospel we also note Luke's attention to political and historical detail. Luke

shows that salvation is for all people and situated in world events. Therefore, Luke lists

the political and religious leaders at the time of John's appearance in the desert.

Salvation is understood as God's breaking into this political and social history.

John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As

John's message prepared the way for Jesus, we too are called to prepare ourselves for

Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by repentance and reform of our lives.

We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives the coming of

the Lord, as John did. From Loyola Press Sunday Connection

Homily Notes: What did I hear that I would like to remember or think about later?

There are still more ornaments to take care of!! The Family Christmas Giving Tree

We are collecting gifts for local families who could use a little assist this Christmas. Please select an

ornament or two from the tree, fulfill the wish, and return the unwrapped gift along with the

ornament, by Sunday, December 12. When we give with a joyful heart, the joy and

goodness returns to us tenfold.

Why a Christmas Wreath Circular? The circular shape of the wreath is

symbolic as it represents the ‘eternal cycle of the seasons’, the evergreen of the wreath and the lighting of the candles the persistence of life. As a Christian symbol it is unclear of its origins. Some scholars believe it could be from the Middles Ages, others a German custom from the 16th Century or possibly an invention in the 19th Century. The modern Advent wreath is credited to Johann Hinrich Wichern. In 1839 he built for the children of his mission school a large wooden ring (an old cartwheel) and placed on it 4 large white and 19 smaller red candles so to help the children count down the days til Christmas. On each Sunday of Advent one of the white candles was lit. In the 1920’s German Catholics had adopted the wreath and in the 1930’s it had gained popularity in the United States.