St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 2414 Seventeenth Street, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501

Telephone (228) 864-2272 Fax (228) 864-2273 Email: stjohnthee@cableone.net

Staff: Rev. Joseph Uko, Pastor Deacon David Allen, Pastoral Associate Sr. Mary Kealy, PBVM, Pastoral Associate Teri Patton, Parish Secretary Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. First Saturday Devotion: 9:00 a.m. Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 a.m., 6:00 p.m. Daily Mass: Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. Spanish Mass: Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Holy Days: 6:00 p.m., Vigil, 7:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. Confession: Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. and anytime on request

The Nativity of the Lord: Christmas

GOD’S ACTION Why do we celebrate Christmas with such rejoicing? Fun as they are, it’s not the gifts, the parties, the decora-

tions, the carols and songs. What we really celebrate is the birth of our Savior, the one who came as a tiny child two thousand years ago, and will come again at the end of time to deliver us from death and sin forever.

Two actions are being celebrated today: God’s and our own. In the gift of Christ Jesus, we recognize the fulfill-ment of the promise of God. God’s faithfulness fulfills humankind’s hopes through the centuries and down to our own day. Peace is promised to us, and all our hope rests in this promise. This peace is not the peace of the world, the mere absence of war and conflict, but the deep peace that comes with the recognition that Emmanuel, God-with-us, dwells within us waiting to be discovered. This discovery takes place gradually for some, quickly for others, as we are capable. But it is gentle and full of grace for those who believe and hope, trusting in God’s promise.

OUR RESPONSE

The second action of this day is our response to God’s saving deed: our joy and gratitude. We are so weary and weighed down by the troubles in our world, in our country, in our individual lives. The coming of the Lord at the end of time is the realization of our salvation, and cause for great rejoicing for those who believe. The grace of God dwells within us, waiting to be discovered and embraced by us. Christ our King rules in our hearts, but we must quiet our souls and minds from all the noise and distractions of this season and try to hear him. Christ promises to reveal himself to those who ask, and his promises are true. We rejoice and give thanks today for God’s generous and hopeful gifts, both in the past and in the time to come. Copyright © 2006, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

The Nativity of the Lord Christmas

December 25, 2015

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. -

Psalm 96

Father Uko, Deacon Allen, Sister Mary and Teri Patton wish you a very blessed and Merry Christmas! The parish office will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of Christmas. We will reopen Monday, Dec. 28 at 10am.

Reflecting on God’s Word Quite often, when things begin to decline in a city, the owner of a business will pull up stakes, put up a “for sale” sign, and move to a city that offers more promise, that isn’t as bad off as the one left behind. Most would say it’s the wisest and most logical thing to do. God could have done likewise when it came to us. After watching creation slowly drift away, after seeing all sorts of ingratitude and lack of respect and sin, God could have turned away from us. God could have said: “These people don’t deserve me! These people aren’t worthy of me! I’m pulling up stakes and moving to another galaxy, to a better and more promising environment for my graces!” God, however, did the opposite. Seeing things on the decline, God said: “I’ll invest myself even more deeply in the world. I’ll move in with them and live with them. I’ll let them know that I’ll be at their side and I’ll love them till the end of time.” —Rev. Richard Zajac Copyright © 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Today's Readings Vigil (4pm):Isaiah 62:1-5 / Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 / Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 / Matthew 1:1-25 Mass during the Night (9pm): Isaiah 9:1-6 / Psalm 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 / Titus 2:11-14 / Luke 2:1-14 Christmas Day: Isaiah 62:11-12 / Psalm 97:1, 16, 11-12 / Titus 3:4-7 / Luke 2:15-20

Gloria in Excelsis Deo! You see it on Christmas cards and sing it in carols—Gloria in Excelsis Deo! “Glory to God in the highest!” This is the song of the angels in Luke’s story of Jesus’ birth: “And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests’ “ (Luke 2:13-14) You also know it is a song we sing at Mass. At Mass, the singing of the Gloria is the entire action taking place—no processions or anything else—because giving praise to God is what we were made for, especially when we gather for the Eucharist. The Gloria is the Church’s way of giving praise to God simply for being God. The first part of the Gloria is all about who God the Father is for us—heavenly King, the Almighty who is worshiped, blessed, thanked, and praised. We fully see God’s glory in the coming of Jesus Christ. So the second part of the Gloria gives praise to Christ who is Son of the Father, Lamb of God, and seated at the Father’s right hand. Even the two phrases that are petitions, “have mercy on us” and “receive our prayer,” are statements of praise because we trust in God’s mercy, which we receive through the Holy Spirit. The Gloria culminates in a “doxology,” an acclamation of praise to the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we sing the Gloria at Christmastime and throughout the year, we learn how to give praise to God first for who God is as well for what God does for us. In this season when the desire to “get” things can easily overshadow the need to give, the Gloria reminds us to “give”—praise to God. Gloria!

Living God's Word On Christmas Day, we celebrate the fact that God became one like us to lead us to a "warm lighted garage," that God decided not to move out but to move in. The feast of Christmas put to rest the notion that God is out to get us, that God wants to destroy the world! Copyright (c) 2012, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

Christmas Season Daily Evening Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, stay with me, for evening has come. Glory to heaven, may I rejoice with the saints at your throne. Light of the world, remain with me through the darkness. Prince of Peace, grant me a restful, restoring sleep. Amen.

Christmas Season Daily Morning Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, be with me as I begin this day. Joy of the angels, let your good news fill my every word. Bright Morningstar, shine through my thoughts and deeds. Sun of Justice, rise in my heart today and every day. Amen

A Revelation Celebration Here’s a Christmas season riddle: What happens when you put together a magi, a river, and a wedding feast? You get an Epiphany! Epiphany means a “revelation,” “manifestation,” or “appearing,” and on this great Christmas season feast we remember how God was revealed to the world as an infant in a manger. Among the first to see this were the magi, foreigners who followed a star to see the Christ Child. (Matthew 2:1-12) But the story of the magi is just one part of the “revelation celebration.” For the Eastern Orthodox churches, Epiphany is also the day to remember Christ’s revelation as God’s beloved Son at his baptism in the river Jordan. (Matthew 3:16-17)On this day they celebrate the sacrament of baptism, and in some very cold countries, cross-shaped holes will be cut in frozen rivers to immerse the new Christians! This still isn’t a complete picture of Epiphany. Christ’s divinity was also revealed at the wedding feast of Cana, where Jesus turned six jars of water into wine. (John 2:1-11) Here, Christ reveals his divine power through this first of his miracles. These three stories form a triptych. A triptych is a piece of art divided into three panels or sections showing different, yet related, scenes, and their combi-nation gives the entire work deeper meaning. So these three Gospel passages show us the deeper meaning of Christ's birth in human flesh. The Epiphany is not only about revealing Christ’s divinity but also about highlighting his humanity. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ’s body, broken and handed over, risen and glorified, transforms our human lives into divine revelation — signs — of God with us. When you celebrate Epiphany this year, remember not just the three kings but also the three ways God’s wonderous love for humanity is revealed. And the next time you see a tiny baby , dip your hand in the water of the font, or toast the bride and groom at a wedding, see if you can recognize the divine presence of God revealed in these holy, human events.