It has been several years since Clarion area residents have been encouraged to share a common experience by reading the same book. “One Book, One Community" and other community-wide reading programs were initiated by the Library of Congress’ Center for the Book in 1998. Today, based on the Pope Benedict XVI’s concern that Catholics around the world are not regularly reading the Bible, I am making a proposal for our parish and for all area Catholics:
“ONE BOOK, ONE PARISH - READ THE GOSPEL OF MARK”.
MY CHALLENGE TO 9TH GRADE - On October 12, I met with our 9th grade students and introduced reading and praying the Scriptures. I asked them to consider one question, “Why is it important for me to read and pray with the Bible?” I introduced Lectio Divina as a way to read and pray the Scriptures. I gave them an assignment to read the Gospel of Mark by early February. I told them I would visit their classroom and ask them to teach me one thing they learned from their Bible reading.
THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS YOU CAN APPROACH THE GOSPEL OF MARK - When we begin the season of Advent next Sunday, November 30 and start a new liturgical year, Mark’s gospel will dominate the Sunday Eucharist (2009 is Lectionary Cycle B or Year B). The main point of Mark’s version of the Gospel is to establish that Jesus is the Son of God. The gospel builds to Peter’s confession of faith, “You are the Christ” (8:29b). Like John the Baptist, Peter learned that to be a faithful disciple means one must decrease.

• You may want to sit down and read it straight through. With just sixteen chapters, you could just pick up your Bible and read Mark’s Gospel in less time than it takes to watch a DVD or the Steelers’ play.
• You may prefer to read the Gospel of Mark more slowly. The thirteen-week reading plan (below) if started today would take you through early February. If started on the first Sunday of Advent, the study plan would take you right up to the beginning of Lent.

A 13-WEEK STUDY PLAN FOR MARK’S GOSPEL
                    Week                                             Read:
                    1.                                                     1:1-45
                    2.                                                     2:1 – 3:6
                    3.                                                     3:7-35
                    4.                                                     4:1-41
                    5.                                                     5:1-43
                    6.                                                     6:1-29
                    7.                                                     6:30 – 7:37
                    8.                                                     8:1 – 9:13
                    9.                                                     9:14 – 10:16
                    10.                                                 10:17-34
                    11.                                                 10:35 – 11:19
                    12.                                                 11:20 – 14:42
                    13.                                                 14:33 – 16:20

• Mark: Getting to Know Jesus – A Guided Discovery for Groups and Individuals by Kevin Perrotta is available on the bookrack in the lobby. This book is part of a series called “Six Weeks With the Bible”. It features the complete text of the Gospel of Mark, essays, questions and other helps. This type of Bible study guide may appeal to you. The cost is $7.95.

WHY NOT TAKE THE CHALLENGE - Meet Jesus—“healer and miracle worker who accepts suffering as the cost for following God’s will”—in the Gospel of Mark?

BULLETIN INSERTS TODAY – Thank you John Morris and our friends at Clarion Ford Mercury, 1214 E. Main Street, Clarion for sponsoring the insert “Advent: Welcoming Christ in One Another” in today’s bulletin. Also, thank you Catholic Daughters of America – Court Immaculate Conception #2454 for your donation of “A Prayer of Thanksgiving” cards. It is a wonderful prayer to use to bless your Thanksgiving dinner.

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME – Mass in observance of Thanksgiving Day is at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 27. Coffee and doughnuts—sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of Saint George—will follow in the rectory meeting room.

ADVENT PARISH MISSION – Franciscan Father Tom Hartle will be returning to Immaculate Conception for a parish mission November 30 – December 2. Father Tom will preach at the masses Sunday morning and at three evening services. His topics will be Conversion, Spiritual Life and Prayer. He will be using the scriptures from the letters of Saint Paul used in the Advent Sunday liturgies: I Corinthians 1:3-9; I Thessalonians 5:16-24; Romans 16:25-27. Plan now to attend!

ADVENT ANGEL TREE PROJECT – Angel tags will be in place next Sunday. All that you need to do is take a tag from the tree, purchase a new gift item, wrap it, attach the angel tag to the package and return it by Sunday, December 14. The gift you purchase will give a child from our community a merrier Christmas. Your time, talent and treasure will be a blessing for them!

ON THE PARISH BOOKRACK – In addition to Kevin Perrotta’s book on Mark’s gospel, you will find eight new titles from the Living Faith series and assorted devotional booklets for the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany cycle. Living Faith topics include Care for the Caretakers: Refreshing Body and Soul…What Should I Give My Parish? A Catholic Approach to Stewardship…Prayer: God’s Gift to Us… Worried About Your Kids? 10 Ways to Reduce Parental Anxiety…Grief: A Formidable Foe, A Fierce Ally…Parenting After Divorce: Loving Without Conditions…”Do I Have to Go?” Helping Your Kids Get More Out of Mass…Marriage: 12 Ways to Strengthen a Bold Promise. Books are priced as marked; your donation of $1.00 for Living Faith pamphlets and devotional guides helps cover costs for those unable to pay.

WISH LIST – Let’s see: Green beans, a red pepper, sweet onions for Pickled Onions, carrots, golden raisins...Oops, that’s my list for Thanksgiving dinner’s side dishes!

• We need Eucharistic Ministers for all of our Sunday masses at Immaculate Conception. The greatest need is at the Saturday 5:30 p.m. Mass. Former ministers are encouraged to return and those who have never served are encouraged to volunteer. Call the parish office.
• Parishioners with a flair for sewing, decorating or fiber arts are needed for a project for Lent/Holy Week/Easter 2009 that is in the planning stages.
• Opportunities for permanent memorials—vestments, vessels, etc.—are always available.
• Donors for Sunday morning Mass broadcasts in December are needed. Your cost to honor a loved one is $45.00.
• Consider donating an insert for the Sunday bulletin to help with adult faith formation. (The average bulletin insert cost is $80.)

FALL FLOWER MEMORIALS – The floral arrangement at the altar is given to the glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King and in memory of your loved ones. Thank you for your support of the “Fall Flower Memorial” fund.

THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK - This faith-sharing question, developed using the Lectionary readings for the Sunday liturgy, offers an opportunity for reflection around the kitchen table, in religious education classes, school settings, over coffee at McDonalds, Michelle’s Café or the County Seat, at “Coffee and Contemplation” or campus ministry gatherings.

• Youth and Adult: How well do I understand the connection between praying “Thy kingdom come” and acting (“thy will be done”) in a way that brings it about?
• Children: How carefully do I think about what I am saying each day when I pray the Lord’s Prayer?

WHAT KIND OF STEWARD AM I? As we approach Thanksgiving Day, let us take a moment to consider all the blessings we receive from God and how we in turn thank God for those blessings.

THANKSGIVING COMMUNITY SERVICE to be held Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, sponsored by the Clarion Ministerium. All are invited.

CLIP THIS GIFT CERTIFICATE TO OUR ADVENT PARISH MISSION and present it to someone you know and love who may need to hear God’s word of hope, joy and love this Advent season: