We mark and measure out our lives
along earth’s orbit round the sun:
this many moons, that many days,
and one full year begins again.
We count up centuries and seasons,
calling years by numbered names:

1776
     1492
          4 BCE.

And annually we welcome back
spring flowers in the greening woods,
mid-summer’s long, gold days,
the smell of autumn leaves at dusk,
and soft new snowflakes on our outstretched hands.
Years come, years go:

1999
     2000
          2006.

Our span of life under the sun
can be counted only when it is done.
Till then, between the bells and stars
it finds its length of time:
longer than vanishing tones of struck brass,
shorter than vast light years of galaxies and space.
Yet, life’s length is not its measure or its hope.
Such things come from God alone.

My letter to Santa this year begins with a litany of thanksgiving. At Christmas it is most apparent how much we are blessed by God. Those blessings are generously shared here at St. Edward’s by our parishioners and staff. Special thanks are due for the support and participation of our parish community. It really shows in the beautiful worship of Advent and Christmas.

As you know, Santa, this past week before Christmas the weather has turned cold. You wonder how people survive this weather! It makes life difficult, in particular, for the poor. We can all be thankful for the generous response to the VEAP toy drive. We surely must have depleted your workshop! And thanks for all who continue to bring food donations. Such generosity adds a little more “warmth” to the season. In a few weeks we will have some homeless families again staying with us in our parish through the Families Moving Forward (FMF) program. Thanks to all who make this possible. And thank you to all the staff and literally hundreds of volunteers involved in pastoral and social justice ministries. Wow, Santa, can you believe what you could accomplish with these giving people? (Not to take anything away from your overworked elves.)

Santa, the cold weather does make me thankful for our heating system. It warms the cockles of this pastor’s heart to see how well our plant functions thanks to our great maintenance staff. And thanks also to the volunteer security crew who faithfully lock and secure our facility at the end of the day.

Many of the staff and volunteers who work in faith formation and religious education are taking a well-deserved break for the holidays. We can all learn a lesson from that. It’s a blessing to have a little more time with family and friends.

But, this is a very busy time not just at the North Pole. Those staff and volunteers who work on our liturgies and worship are putting in overtime in so many ways. Their efforts really bring us together in worship and praise for what this time is all about, God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ. And thanks to our administrative ministries who are busy printing up worship aids, giving our Mass times, assisting with year-end donation concerns, getting us ready for the coming year, and countless other concerns well beyond the knowledge of pastor (or probably, even Santa.)

And Santa, as we bring in the New Year, we celebrate the gifts of our community on Epiphany Sunday, January 8th, when we return our stewardship intention cards. It would be wonderful to receive back 2400 of them. But I don’t want to sound like Ebenezer Scrooge!

Let me end with a deeply felt MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A PASTOR'S CHRISTMAS WISH

During these last days of Advent as we prepare for Christmas, we have much to be thankful for. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son. And as we gather these Holy Days, we give thanks to so many who add to the joy of the Season. Even before the celebrations begin, many parishioners have given their time and talent to make them special including our maintenance and liturgical staffs, the multitude of musicians and the arts and environment volunteers.

This Fourth Sunday of Advent we remember the annunciation to Mary in the gospel reading. She said yes to God. It is obvious that many say yes to God at St. Ed's. In particular, I am thankful for the wonderful ways that parishioners reach out to those in need. That is certainly the main message of Christmas.

And for us as Christians, this is a season of peace and good will to all. May peace come to so many troubled areas of our global village, especially in Iraq. And may all those serving our country overseas be safe.

Thank you all for your generous support and stewardship. God bless you and your loved ones.

SOLAR OVEN UPDATE

It was a year ago, during last Advent, that parishioners purchased over 300 solar ovens to send to people in our sister parish community of Jinotega, Nicaragua. Sue Kellett and other parishioners made a mission trip last Spring to teach the volunteers who would be training people in the use of the ovens. Maureen McGeehin, the local Peace Corp worker, also participated in the effort. After much effort to get the ovens through customs, the ovens were delivered. Being a new technology people were skeptical and some turned down the opportunity to get an oven. Maureen recently sent Sue an update that she is getting more and more requests for solar ovens. "Many people who where doubting toms now are regretting their decisions. Someone also reported to me a new use for the oven, to toast coffee! Toasting coffee is a smoky and tough job, which I don't like at all, but it is a lot cooler in the solar oven!"

On her last trip to Jinotega this October, Sue interviewed people who have solar ovens and they are still enthusiastic about using them when the rainy season is over. They have experienced the benefits and are interested in testing new recipes and continuing to save money on wood. You can go to the Solar Oven website and look at the article they wrote about our project: http://www.solarovens.org/ (right hand column).

The rainy season does limit the use of the solar ovens. Our Sister Parish Committee is hoping to do another project in the Spring to help provide efficient and healthier wood stoves. Much of the cooking is done on an open fire in a corner of the house. The women in particular are breathing this smoke. A locally produced stove can be vented and it is much more efficient in the use of wood. This might be a great project for some new people to get involved with the Sister Parish Committee. Please contact me or Sue (surfinsioux2@cs.com).

SUPPORT A STUDENT

Dear Parishioners:

Among other things, Christmas is a time of gift-giving - a time to share with others and to remind ourselves of the many gifts we have received. One that comes to mind for me (and I know for many of you) is a gift my parents gave me many years ago - the gift of a Catholic elementary education. They and my teachers sacrificed to make it happen and I am the beneficiary. That is why I accepted an opportunity to help others get a Catholic school education. Let me tell you about it.

We have a number of families that want to have their child or children educated at Nativity of Mary Catholic School. They (and others like them throughout Bloomington) are making sacrifices to do so, but are struggling financially to make ends meet and pay the tuition. Nativity has a program - Support-A-Student - that we can support in order to help these families financially through scholarships. I invite you to join me in contributing to this important program.

You can make your gift by filling out the bottom portion of this page and sending it to our church office. As I mentioned this is the time of gift-giving and I know that many of you give generously to deserving organizations during the holidays. I hope that you will consider the Support-A-Student at Nativity as one of those organizations.

Thank you for your consideration of this opportunity and thank you for your continued support and willingness to share the gifts God has provided you.

Yours in Christ, Father Mike