COME AND REST A WHILE TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: Is your daily routine a tight schedule of getting things done ? It leaves you tired and distraught! You need to get away! Jesus knew how to go off by himself to pray and he also invited the apostles to take time away from the crowds! Spend time each day to rest a while and renew both your personal relationship with God and those in your faith community. THANKSGIVING DAY MEAL BLESSING Blessed are you, Lord, God of creation. Through your goodness we enjoy the fruits of the earth, and share the loving gifts of family and friends. We ask your blessing on our table and our home. We offer thanks for the love with which this festive meal was prepared, and for the love and joy which bring us together to partake of it. In gratitude for your continued care over us, make us mindful of the needs of others, that we may show our thanks in the way we live. May our hearts be filled with love and praise, as we pray in your holy name. AMEN GIVING TREE: Through the assistance of the Ladies of St. James the Giving Tree for Advent will be up by Saturday, November 24h. Your gifts will need to be under the Giving Tree by the end of Masses on December 16th. Tags with the first name of a child will be placed on the tree for whom you can bring a gift. Last year St. James Parishioners were VERY responsive to this act of giving to needy children MARRIAGE TIP: A man tried everything he could to eliminate the weeds in his lawn. Finally he asked the Department of Agriculture for advice. The reply? "We suggest you learn to love them!" Does your spouse have any faults that you can learn to love? CATHOLIC CALENDARS: Calendars for 2008 indicating the special holy days and saints of the Catholic Church are available for your home or workplace. This year they are on the theme of Christian stewardship. NEW BEGINNINGS: “NEW BEGINNINGS” is a group of divorced and separated people that meet every Thursday at 7:00 PM at St. Peter’s Church, Plattsburgh in the Upper Room. The first meeting will take place on Thursday, October 18th. For more information contact St. Peter’s Rectory at 563-1692. CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: The combined collection for the Campaign for Human Development and the Black and Indian Missions will take place this weekend. Life at the poverty line leaves nearly 40 million Americans hanging on for dear life—hanging on to feed their families and to keep a roof over their heads. The Catholic Campaign for Human Development supports self-help projects of people working together to break the cycle of poverty. You can make a difference. Be part of the numbers that care—give generously to CCHD in today’s Collection. THANKSGIVING DAY MASS: On Thanksgiving Day there will be a special Mass of Thanksgiving at 8:30 AM BRUNCH WITH LADIES OF ST. JAMES: The Ladies of St. James Christmas Brunch will be held on December 9th at 11:30 a.m. at Cricket's Restaurant, Bearswamp Road, Peru. Tickets are $12.75 (Seniors $10.50) gratuity included in prices. Society members are asked to please bring two "unwrapped" gifts for the Chinese Auction. All ladies of the parish are invited, with their spouses/guests. Please RSVP by November 30th. A sign-up sheet is in the vestibule. YEAR’S END: The new year according to the Catholic Church begins on December 2nd, the first Sunday of Advent. This current Church year ends with next weekend’s special day in honor of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. As this church year draws to a close, the Lord Jesus reminds us that even in times of trial and persecution, not a hair on our head will be harmed because of our faith and trust in God. For those of you who follow the Bible readings of the Church, our new church year (December 2,2007 to November 29, 2008) will be known as Year B.