Christmas Eve Memories

Thank you to all the students and parents who helped to make the Christmas Eve Liturgy so memorable. And a very special thank you to Lindsey Murphy and Stephen Bobick for their work with the Children’s Choir!!

Check out this albulm of pictures taken by the Parsons Family. Feel free to share photos that can be added to this album by sending them to Brunetstm@comcast.net.

Christmas Eve 2009

Children’s Christmas Eve Liturgy

Angel and Shepherd Costumes are available in the Church Hall beginning Sunday, December 13th.   Please check off on the sign out sheet that you have taken a costume.

Angels should take a white gown, wings, and a piece of garland to use as a halo.

Shepherds should take a cloak, head piece, and band for head piece

Angel and Shepherd Rehearsal is Sunday, 12/20, at 1:30pm.

Choir Practice is this Saturday and next, 12/12 and 12/19, 6:15pm – 7:30pm.   Choir members will wear their Christmas Best instead of robes this year.

All other roles – Kathy will be in touch individually about the other roles.

Giving Opportunities

STM GIVING TREE
Give a gift…..make a WISH come true! These “WISHES” that adorn our Christmas Giving Tree come from local organizations.  Please take an ornament from the tree and purchase the item that is requested on the back of the ornament.  Be sure to attach the ornament to each package when you return the gift under the tree!
Also note if the organization wants it wrapped or unwrapped.  Any gift certificates or monetary donations may be left in the basket under the tree with ornament attached to the envelope.

ALL DONATIONS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE TREE OR PARISH OFFICE NO LATER THAN SUN., DEC. 13TH! (organizations will pick up on Wed., Dec. 16th!)

CHRISTMAS DINNER BASKETS
Want to help a family in need? Sign up to make a complete Christmas Basket.   The sign up list is at the church entrance.  You will be contacted with the number of people in the family for whom you are providing dinner.
Some ideas:  Team up with another family and make a basket together!   Team up with your neighbors!

The deadline for bringing the completed baskets in is: Sunday, December 20th by 1:00pm!!

GOODIES AND CARDS FOR SOLDIERS
See the article on this site about making a contribution through the Pease Greeters  for soldiers away from home.   The collection box is in the Church Hall.

STM FDOD PANTRY
Here is how you can help:    1) When you go grocery shopping each week, pick up two cans of non-perishable food and donate it to the Food Pantry   2) Instead of buying that cup of coffee in the morning, buy a canned good instead  3) Encourage your children to “share” with others by helping to donate food to the food pantry (ie: via fewer gifts at their birthday, or holidays, instead, buy some food for the pantry).

The following is a list of the most needed items however all food items are greatly appreciated:  Fruit Juices, Mac&Cheese, Chili, Beef Stew, Pancake Mix, Syrup, Stuffing, Hamburger Helper, Instant Potatoes, Jelly/Jam, Mustard, Paper Towels and Coffee/Tea.

You may drop off the items at the back of the church before any weekend mass or you may leave donations at the parish office during regular office hours. Thank you for your wonderful support.

DENIM COLLECTION
Brownie Troop #12503 [Moharimet Elementary] of The Girls Scouts of the Green & White Mountains are collecting unwanted & used denim. The Daisy, Brownie, & Girl scout troops are attempting to create the world record of ‘largest donated clothing pile and then donating the denim to be recycled into insulation for housing in areas affected by natural disaster. A collection box is located in the Church Hall.

Thanksgiving Bread Baking

STM 6th,7th, and 8th Graders recently had the opportunity to bake breads at UNH’s Thompson School Kitchens.   The breads were blessed and distributed at the Thanksgiving Day Mass.     Other students helped with the wrapping and decorating.   Check out the slideshow above to see the baking in progress!

Children’s Christmas Eve Liturgy

The 4:00PM Christmas Eve Liturgy with a children’s dramatization of the Gospel story is a special St. Thomas More tradition. We invite children in the Christian Formation Program or children in the parish attending parochial school to sign up for one of the special roles listed below OR for the special Children’s Choir.

We are grateful to Lindsey Murphy for directing the choir and to Stephen Bobick for providing piano accompaniment this year

Please respond by E-mail to Brunetstm@comcast.net   Note:  December 4^th deadline for the Choir and December 13^th for all other roles.

 Angels and Shepherds: Grades KN – 3rd
Rehearsal – Sun., 12/20, at 1:30PM
Please indicate if your  angel has a costume (white gown, wings, and halo) or if he/she needs one.

Mary and Joseph: Grades 6 -12
Rehearsal:  Sun., 12/20, at 1:00PM

 Candle Bearers, Gospel Book Bearers: Grades 4 – 12
Rehearsal:  Sun., 12/20, at 1:00PM
Note: $10 robe fee required for Candle Bearers

 Readers (First, Second, and Petitions): Grades 6-12
Rehearsal: Sun., 12/20, at 1:00PM

 Offertory Gift Bearers: Grades 4 and up
Rehearsal: Sun., 12/20, at 1:00PM

Choir: Grades 4 and up
Choir Rehearsals   Each Saturday in December from 6:15- 7:30pm and a final rehearsal on 12/22 or 12/23.
No robes this year.

Please provide  this information when registering:

Family Name: _____________________________

Phone Number(s): _________________________

E-mail Address(s):____________________________________

We need parents to help with costumes and rehearsals!  Please indicate if you can help.

Any questions, contact Kathy Brunet @ 868-2666 or brunetstm@comcast.net

 

6th, 7th, and 8th Graders Learn About Pease Greeters

In connection with Veteran’s Day, STM Parishioners, Kathy Casey and Jeff Kimball, recently met with the Sunday and Monday night 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to share their experiences as Pease Greeters and to talk about what a difference a letter, care package, or welcoming can have on soldier.     Like the soldiers that come through Pease, each student received a star from an American flag that is no longer able to fly.   Several students brought in items for the care package project run by the Pease Greeters.     The students will be collecting more items for care packages over the next month.

Here’s some ways that our students and all in the parish can help support our soldiers:

**Donate Care Package items. A collection box is located in the Church Hall.   Here are some items soldiers request:

Toiletry Items, 8 ox or travel size, no aresols, chapstiks, Conditioner, Shampoo, Sanitary Items, Deoderant, Handi wipes, Tylenol, Asprin, Shave Gel, Cotton balls, Cotton mid calf white socks, Flip Flops, Air Fresheners, Foot powder, Handwarmers. Toothbrushes, Inner soles, QTips, eye drops, Bug spray – non-aerosol.
Food items, individaully packed to share: Cookies. Nuts, Dried Fruit, Hard Candy, Pop tarts. Granola bars, Coffee 1lb size, drink mixes to add to water, Gum, Mints, Microwave popcorn, Trail mix, etc.
Fun Stuff: Frisbees, small games, UNO, Dice, cards, etc. Volleyballs, soccer balls, etc.

** Donate used American Flags with embroidered stars

** Send a letter to a note or Christmas Card to a soldier overseas  – These can be placed in the collection box in the Church Hall.   A representative from the Pease Greeters will be sure that your card is delivered.

** Greet some troops by showing up at an arrival or depature. The dates and times are listed at www.peasegreeters.org.

November is Religious Ed Month – Thank you to all our teachers!

The month of November is Religious Education Month in the New Hampshire Diocese. Check out the diocese website for interesting articles about approaches to Religious Education in the state by going to http://catholicnh.org

We are so very blessed to have talented and generous teachers in our Christian Formation program. Please take a moment to pray for and thank the following teachers of our children:

PreK
Megan Boyle
Connor Grove

Kindergarten
Libby DeAmicis
Heather DeMello
and
Gabriella Vergara-Reyes
Megan Houstle

First Grade
Andrea Tran
Seth Fiermonti
And
Eileen Clifford-Boulanger
Megan Turnbull

Second Grade
Carol Prescott
Deborah Jarvis
And
Lindsey Murphy
Marina Slavin

Third Grade
Fran Mandeville
Zack Caldicott
And
Kirsten Desrochers
Elizabeth Attisano

Fourth Grade
Maura Slavin
Darlene Capalbo

Fifth Grade
Susan Mattioni
Felicia Sperry
Kathy Brunet

^{6th, 7th, and 8th Grade}
Janet Bianchi
Kathy Brunet
John Halstead
Cindy Imbro
Fran Mandeville
Mary Moynihan
Christine Murphy
Mary Nazarro

Children’s Dismissal For Liturgy of the Word at the 9AM Mass: Janet Bonnell

Snack Coordinator – 10:00 classes: Nicole Benoit and Robert Concannon

Welcome to the Christian Formation Blog for the Church of St. Thomas More

Keep in touch with what’s happening with the St. Thomas More Christian Formation program. We’ll be using this blog to showcase some of the work the students have been doing and to post information about any special events! Stay tuned!