Christmas is coming ...

...for the children the most wonderful time of the year.  And for the children of Light it should be the most wonderful, wonderful time of the year, because to the Church it is the year's beginning.  No one but God could have made such a beginning, so full of beauty and glory and sheer magic as this.

But you cannot just walk into such a blaze of glory without preparation, to be ready for that sharp sweet moment when an Infant's cry cut the night...:  You must creep up to it, think about it, count the days, watch the signs and prepare.  A child can never know the whole ecstasy of Christmas unless he knows its meaning; unless he takes its meaning into his own two hands and examines it closely and finds its mystery for himself.  It must be made of his own experience and delight and love.

Tues., Dec 3        Catechesis of The Good Shepherd Parent Night 7p.m. 

Wed., Dec. 11      Gala Planning Meeting at the Redmoor, 10:00 a.m.

Thurs., Dec 12      Bring in a can of beans (no green beans) for IPM 

Dec. 23 - Jan. 3    Christmas Vacation (NO SCHOOL)

Mon., Jan. 6         School resumes

TONIGHT, 7:00 P.M. :  "Help Me Come Closer to God by Myself"

Encountering Jesus through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Childhood is the time for a spiritual life marked by wonder, joy, and a personal relationship with Jesus.  How does the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd respond to these capacities of the child and nurture a joyful, genuine relationship between the child and Jesus, our Good Shepherd? 

Dan Teller will present a series of beautiful atrium presentations, and offer insights as to how you can nurture your child's spiritual formation.

Advent Offerings

The Advent Wreath

 "Advent for children should rightly be a very busy time, starting with the making of the Advent wreath.  This is a sacramental in which the whole meaning of Advent is symbolized - and symbols are a language children understand very easily. 

The circle is a symbol of eternity and the never-endingness of God, and the evergreen is a symbol of eternal life and the never-changingness of God... The four candles in the wreath are for the four weeks of Advent... Purple for penance, but it is a different kind from the penance of Lent. .. The emphasis is on our longing, our need - not only for the great graces of the feast of His Nativity ... but our need to be ready for the glorious moment of His Second Coming." [from The Year and Our Children, by Mary Reed Newland]

Here are the lyrics for our Advent Wreath song for the first and second weeks of Advent.  Enjoy lighting the wreath with your children at home each night and singing this lovely song!

Light the Advent candle one

Now the waiting has begun

We have started on our way

Time to think of Christmas day.

(Refrain)

Candle, candle burning bright

Shining in the cold winter night

Candle, candle burning bright

Fill our hearts with Christ, the Light.

Light the Advent candle two

Think of all the people who

Lived in darkness, hoped for light

And it came on Christmas night.

(Refrain)

This Friday, December 6, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Nicholas.  The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in what is now Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra.   He was known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need and his love for children.

One story of St. Nicholas tells of a poor man who had no money for dowries for his three daughters. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window by Nicholas, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.

On the eve of his feast day, children still leave shoes or stockings for St. Nicholas to fill with candy or other small gifts.   You may want to incorporate this custom in your family's observance of Advent.

Advent Mediation

By St. Charles Borromeo

The Church asks us to understand that Christ, who came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again.  When we remove all obstacles to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in our hearts; bringing with him the riches of grace.

We shall share his power, if, through holy faith and the sacraments, we willingly accept the grace Christ earned for us, and live by that grace and in obedience to Christ.

Development News

GSCM Annual Fund: "Ask Our Father"

Just in Time for Year End Giving

Now that Advent is here, the Church's Liturgical Year has just begun.  The calendar year of 2013 is rapidly coming to a close and the GSCM Annual Fund is up and running.   Soon each family and staff member will receive an Annual Fund Brochure in the mail.  As you contemplate the perfect gift for your loved ones, please consider a gift to your school as well.   Donate Now! 

Useful Tax Information for Grandparents or Other GSCM Friends - "Pass It On"

Tax-Free IRA Rollover Extended

As part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, individuals aged 70 ½ or older may make tax free transfers up to $100,000 from an IRA to GSCM for the 2013 tax year.

Gifts for the 2013 tax year may be made until December 31, 2013.  These transfers would fulfill some or all of your required minimum distribution without increasing taxable income.

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Gala News

Gala Planning Meeting:  Wed., Dec. 11, 10:00 a.m.

Gala co-chairs Rachel Sabo and Susan Thomas invite anyone to join them for a Gala planning meeting at The Redmoor on Wednesday, December 11th from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. The live and silent auctions are under the direction of Karen Aust and Mary Beth Escamilla and sponsorships by Katie Kerrey, so if you have items or suggestions, please let them know. This fun event is a fantastic way to show your support for our wonderful school while visiting with other parents, so please mark your calendars ... and stay tuned for further updates on Our Backyard!