THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

November 29^th, 2009

Special Prayer Requests: Please pray for the repose of the soul of parishioner Lee Neubauer.

Parish Office Hours: Weekdays 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, but closed on Thursday afternoons from 12 to 4:30 PM for staff development, training and administrative meetings.

Last Week’s Collection: Regular Collection: $9,450.01, Building Fund: $1,664.00, Human Development: $430.00, Religious Retirement: $10.00, All Saints: $10.00, Candles: $109.71. Total: $10,009.72.

Mass Attendance: 5:00 PM: 299, 8:00 AM: 251, 10:30 AM: 418. Total: 968

Christmas flower envelopes are now available in the gathering space for any flower intentions for this holiday season.

Safe Environment Program at PBOC

Precious Blood is committed to ensuring a safe environment for our children and for upholding the “National Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People” as established by the

U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

All adults who work with children must:

¨ Attend the “Protecting God’s Children Program

¨ Be screened by Law Enforcement

¨ Adhere to the DOC Code of Conduct (copy available in the

Gathering Space)

¨ Read and sign the DOC Sexual Abuse Policy and Procedures

For more information on how to report an allegation of abuse,

go to www.catholic-doc.org and click on “Sexual Abuse Policies and Procedures” on the left side bar. Then click on “How to

Report an Allegation of Sexual Misconduct by Church Personnel.”

Safe Environment Coordinator: Renee Faiella, 843- 485-3515

Diocesan Office of Child Protection Services:

843-853-2130, Ext. 209

Diocesan Victim Assistance: 1-800-921-8122.

SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS: November 22 – 29

Happy Birthday To: Ian Aiesi, Rosemarie Bridgeman, Melissa Chermak, Janet Frieden, Richard Hull, Judy Mort, Helen Profota, Stephen Allan, Barbara Belfatto, Hampton Eirvin, Michael Mayeaux, Andrew Menard, Ellen Ronan, John Sullivan, Gus Brame, Karen Colburn, Daniel Dancu, Michael Mushock, Walt Peterson, Angela Salamon, Frank Schappach, Lauren Kuenzle, Olivia Lombard, Dave Mason, Dorothy Smith, Terri Triana, Arthur Brooks, John Crotts, Debra Ellerbe, Maura Kenny, Frank Branca, Patricia David, William Gibney, Connie Morgan-Gilroy, Philip Ribaudo, Eileen Schneider, Dennis Smith, Anna Marie Zambriczki.

To: Janette & Ronald Brugge, Madeleine & Chris Fischer, Christabel & Lionel Painchaud.

Articles for the Precious Word are due by Dec. 8

NEW! CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS

Need a Christmas gift for the person who has everything? Or want to give a gift that keeps on giving? Our new gift cards are the answer!

This year send gift cards to your friends notifying them that you are giving a Christmas dinner in their honor through our Outreach Ministries or Father Pat’s Lunch Kitchen. Each gift card costs $10, and the money raised will supplement the holiday baskets we deliver to needy families in our community or for the special meals we’ll be serving in the Lunch Kitchen.

Gift cards are also available for contributions to the Columbarium Fund, Outreach Ministries or the Building Fund

in honor of friends on your Christmas list.

The gift cards, which come with envelopes suitable for mailing, are printed in Christmas colors and can be purchased from the church office.

Spread the spirit of Christmas with gift cards from PBOC.

The Marine Corps is collecting new toys for children up to 12 years of age. The mission of the Foundation is to assist the U.S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. The focus of this assistance is supporting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Please bring your unwrapped gifts to the church and deposit them in the box provided in the gathering space. Pickup will be early December.

Service Men and Women are always in need of mail from home. Please drop a line to the following:

* Pv2 Jarrod Berger, ACO 1-12 CAV/TF 2-82 FA,

FOB Diamondback, APO AE 09334

* LCPL Thomas J. Maloney, VMM 263,

22d MEU Det A, Unit 74040, FPO AE 09502-4040.

* TSgt. Justin Campbell, CATT/ITAM-A Box 70022,

FOB Warrior K1, APO AE 09338

* PFC Anthony Spagnuolo, Unit 3 GSB, APO AE 09354

If you would like to add someone to this list, call Phyllis Bieger at 237-3444. *Please Note: These addresses could change.

Also, please call Phyllis or the parish office to let us know when any of these servicepersons have returned home.

AID TO OUR MILITARY: We request for our troops donations of such items as sandwich crackers, cheezits, trail mix, pop tarts, ramen noodles, chips, etc. Our knights continue to mail these care packages we put together. Your prayers are also requested for their safe return. – John Glinka

“Be on guard,” Jesus warns in today’s Gospel, “lest your spirits become bloated with indulgence.” Let us heed His warning and follow the advice of St. Paul, conducting ourselves in a way pleasing to God, overflowing with love for one another. (See Luke 21:34)

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Church Debt 10/31/09 $254,381.00

PLC Debt 10/31/09 $1,362,963.02

Average weekly Collections for October

2008 2009

1^st Collection $11,028.44 $10,269.97

2^nd Collection $2,629.74 $2,201.34

SPECIAL COLLECTION: The Retirement Fund for Religious Collection will be taken up on December 5-6. Please be as generous as possible. (See insert in today’s bulletin.)

Prayer & worship

ATTENTION LITURGICAL MINISTERS – Chairpersons of ministries must complete and turn in First Quarter schedules to the Church office by November 30^th.

MINISTRY OF CARE

Let us know of your loved one confined to home, in the hospital or recovering from surgery and now home. Our ministry is to unite the sick and recovering followers of Christ with the Body of Christ, they are not ALONE. Please call the parish office at 237-3428, Christine at 237-2096, or Anne at 237-0401.

OUTREACH

CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE

Bags for our Christmas Food Drive will be passed out the weekend of December 5^th and 6^th, after each Mass

- Pat and Jim Richardson, Food Drive Coordinators

ANGEL TREE – The Angel Tree, part of our Outreach Program, has been set up in the gathering space of the church. We ask that you do not take an angel unless you plan to return it with an appropriate gift. We must purchase a gift for any child whose angel is not returned. The angels indicate clothing sizes or toy gift. The ages of the children range from infant through 18 years. Gift suggestions for older children could be handbags, wallets, jewelry, sports watches, perfume or cologne or books. All gifts should be wrapped, and the angel attached, with the code number clearly visible. The gifts must be returned to the Parish Life Center by December 12^th to allow for sorting and timely delivery on December 19^th. With your help we will make this a happy holiday season for the kids!

Fr. Pat’s Lunch Kitchen continues to serve on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with people coming together to enjoy sharing meals and friendship. The kitchen was closed last Wednesday, and on Thursday we served a Thanksgiving Feast. (Attendance numbers will be reported next week due to the early bulletin deadline.)

Saturday breakfast is served every Saturday morning, 9:00 to 11:00 AM. Last weekend we served 66 people French Toast, Bacon, Sausage, Fruit Cocktail, Cereal, and OJ/Coffee/Milk. We thank everyone who helps to make these meals a pleasure for all who come!

Respect life

Please return your Birthright Baby Bottles (piggy banks) to the container at the entrance to the Church. These will be reused by Birthright for fundraisers at two area churches in January (Duncan Memorial UMC and St. Michaels). Many thanks to all of you for helping Birthright.

The Rosary for the Unborn will be prayed next Sunday (and every first Sunday of the month) in the chapel after the 10:30 AM Mass.

HEALTH CARE REFORM - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement:

"On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed major health care reform that reaffirms the essential, longstanding and widely supported policy against using federal funds for elective abortion coverage. It is critical that the Senate adopt the House-approved Stupak Amendment language on this issue. This Amendment ensures that Americans are not forced to pay for the destruction of unborn children as part of needed health care reform. The Senate must address other essential moral priorities: protecting conscience rights; making health coverage more affordable and accessible for those in need; and ensuring that immigrants do not lose or will not be denied health care coverage needed for the good of their families and the health of society."

"Contact Senate and House Members through e-mail, phone calls or FAX letters. To send a pre-written, instant e-mail to Congress go to www.usccb.org/action, or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121. Full contact information for representatives and senators can be found on web sites at www.house.gov & www.senate.gov."

(Copies of the statement can be found at the back of church.)

FELLOWSHIP

Parish Christmas Party!

Saturday, December 12, 6:00 PM

Live Music by “Karen & Carl”

Come join us to celebrate Christmas! Dinner includes Beef Tenderloin, salad, red potatoes, green beans, rolls, dessert, coffee/tea. (Catered by Richard Duff). Cash Bar. Tickets $20 per person, see Patty at the parish office. Table reservations for paid groups of 10.

In Prayer We Will Always Be Together

O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord. Mabel will present her LUKE AND CAROLS program at our Christmas party on Tuesday, December 15 at 1:00 PM in Room 2 of the PLC. Bring some finger foods to share (little sandwiches, dip and veggies, cheese/crackers, cut up fruits, cookies, etc.) A festive glass of wine and dessert will be provided. Use your imagination to make a glorious $2.00 gift for our grab bag at the door! We hope to see many of you ladies join us. Bring a friend or neighbor along. Call Mabel at 235-0080 or Betty at 237-9298 for any questions.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Sr. Youth Group (SYG)

· No SYG Class Sunday November 29^th.

· SYG Next Sunday, December 6^th in Classroom 1. 6 – 7:30 PM. Special guest speaker – Brother Fred Buerman.

· Help needed for Parish Christmas Party. December 12^th 5:15 – 9:00. Setting tables, serving food, washing dishes, clearing tables, serving cake, etc. Please contact Renee Faiella ASAP.

· Wednesday morning coffee meetings: 6:45 AM at Starbucks in Litchfield.

Confirmation Class (7^th, 8^th & 9^th Grades)

· RETREAT!! Next Friday, December 4^th, 6 – 8:00 in PLC Classroom 1. Special guest speaker – Brother Fred Buerman.

· Community Service Opportunity!! Need help emptying and sorting thru Aluminum Can Dumpster in Church Parking Lot. Contact Renee Faiella.

Youth Music

· Jr. & Sr. Youth Group Choir Rehearsals Tuesdays, 5:30-7:00 PM in church.

· Children’s Choir: Tuesdays 4:00-4:30 PM. We sing at one children’s 10:30 Mass monthly.

Any K – 6^th Graders interested in Children’s Choir, please contact Renee Faiella in the parish office.

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Small Christian Communities

The Georgetown County Hispanic Community will have Our Lady of Guadalupe here on December 7^th after the Vigil Mass for a Rosary. All are welcomed to stay after Mass and pray the Rosary. This statue travels from house to house within the Hispanic Community throughout the year, and SCC has asked for this night during our Novena to pray the rosary for all our intentions for this community. Copies of the Novena are available in the back of the church.

Women’s club

** Last call for the ALABAMA THEATER

CHRISTMAS SHOW, DINNER, BUS **
December 9, 2009

Meet at PLC Parking Lot @ 4:00 pm

The cost is $61.50 per person. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your check made out to PBOC Women's Club, to Marcia Boyer, P.O. Box 1459, PI,SC 29585. Questions - call 979-0116.

Last call for the December 3rd Christmas Luncheon... at Webster's Restaurant at Litchfield by the Sea, at 12 noon. Come share the joy of Christmas with your fellow members. Entrée choices are: Chicken Marsala, Grouper Francaise, Pasta Primavera. $20, due by Nov. 30. Let Marcia know your menu choice (mombny@yahoo.com; 979-0116). Tickets are available by mail. Send a stamped, self addressed envelope to Marcia Boyer, P.O. Box 1459, PI, SC 29585.

To submit information in the bulletin for the Women's Club, contact Debbie Desh at 235-3742.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with Family and friends.

Remember our next business meeting is Thursday, December 3, at 6:15 PM in Founders Hall.  Hope to see you at the meeting.

Thanks to all who came to our Memorial Service and Social that followed with a great meal provided by Gabe Timpano, Jim McMahon and crew.

Local news

St. Cyprian Outreach Fundraiser, at St. Mary’s Parish Center

Sunday, December 6, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM. Cost $10/pp, $5 for children 4-12. Menu: Shrimp & Grits, Pulled Pork, Purlieu, Green Beans, Dessert, Beverage. If interested, call Jo Timpano – 235-2867.

Gospel Sing at the Beach – December 4, 7:00 PM at Myrtle Beach High School. Performing will be the award-winning Southern Gospel singing group The McKameys, the McDonald Sisters from Fayetteville, NC, and the Rabon Sisters from Conway. Advance tickets: $20, At door: $25, VIP $35. For tickets call 843-385-1523 or 843-450-3091.

November 30 – December 5

Monday Romans 10:9-18 / Matthew 4:18-22

Tuesday Isaiah 11:1-10 / Luke 10:21-24

Wednesday Isaiah 25:6-10a / Matthew 15:29-37

Thursday Isaiah 26:1-6 / Matthew 7:21,24-27

Friday Isaiah 29:17-24/ Matthew 9:27-31

Saturday Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26 / Matthew 9:35-10:1,5a,6-8