MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 ROSARY FOR PEACE: 1:30 p.m., in church YOUTH CHOIR PRACTICE: after school until 4:00 PW CHOIR PRACTICE: 6:00 p.m. HOLY NAME MEETING: 8:00 p.m. HOLY NAME CHOIR PRACTICE: 8:30 p.m. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 YOUTH CHOIR PRACTICE: after school until 4:00 RCIA: 7:00 p.m., in church basement WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 YAHS CHOIR PRACTICE: 8:00 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 ROSARY FOR PEACE: 1:30 p.m., in church

OFFERTORY - December 26 & 27 4:30 PM Joe & Lisa Roebke Family 8:00 AM Mike & Norma Unverferth Family 11:00 AM Mary Ann Hoersten Family

USHERS – December 26 & 27 4:30 PM Team 4 8:00 AM Team 5 11:00 AM Team 6

LECTORS – December 26 & 27 4:30 PM Erin Kerner, Katia Roehrig 8:00 AM Donna Schnipke, Beth Selhorst 11:00 AM Carl Siefker, Joyce Schnipke

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS - December 26 & 27 4:30: Phil & Sue Fuerst, Don Rall, Lisa Rampe, Glen & Annette Schroeder, Karen Schroeder, Dick & Jane Schulte 8:00: Joyce Klausing, Mike & Karen Sarka, Donna Schnipke, Mary Siefker, Tony & Sandy Vorst, Norma Un-verferth, Norma Vorst Ministers to Homebound: Joan Peck 11:00: Cassy Schulte, Stacy Schulte, Kay Unverferth, Lisa Unverferth, Diane Vorst, Renee Vorst, Duane & Barb Steffan, Deb McIntyre

SERVERS Mon, 12/21 8:00 AM Logan & Madison Langhals Tues, 12/22 8:00 AM McKayla Maag David Peck Wed, 12/23 8:00 AM Carlie Rampe Evan Roebke Thurs, 12/24 4:00 PM Makenna Hoyt Kyla Hoyt Brittany Kahle 8:00 PM Hannah Kahle Jacob & Rachel Kahle 11:00 PM Joni Kaufman Brooke Kimball Josh Klausing Fri, 12/25 9:00 AM Sarah Klausing Dana & Jeffrey Knueve Sat, 12/26 4:30 PM Connor Krouse Abby & Sam Langhals Sun, 12/27 8:00 AM Brady & Grant Laudick Elizabeth Loveland 11:00 AM Jordan Kortokrax Noah & Trevor Lambert Mon, 12/28 8:00 AM Trevor Siefker Zach von der Embse Tues, 12/29 8:00 AM Kamryn & Sydney Wurth Wed, 12/30 8:00 AM Hannah Berheide Emily Buss Taylor Lucke Danielle Maag Thurs, 12/31 4:30 PM Brooke & Taylor Lucke Danielle Maag Fri, 1/1 10:00 AM Trevor Maag Alexis & Clay Meyer Sat, 1/2 4:30 PM Nathan Meyers Carlee Miller Morgan Mock Sun, 1/3 8:00 AM Owen Niemeyer Connor & Tori Niese 11:00 AM Nathan Nordhaus Kylie Osterhage Griffin Recker

OFFERTORY - January 2 & 3 4:30 PM Barry & Beth von der Embse Family 8:00 AM Paul & Rose Recker Family 11:00 AM Joe & Linda Hovest Family

Thank You: to Joe Warnement for painting the front cover of the bulletin.

Christmas Assignments 4:00: Bob Gerdeman, Sue Gerdeman, Grace Hasel-man, Sarah Hovest, Jacob Kahle, Mark Kahle, Ryan Ker-ner, Ericka Kimball, Mandy Lambert LECTORS: Deb & Jacob Kahle USHERS: Team 9 8:00: Mel Hanneman, Mary Lou Hoffman, Becky Lucke, Brooke Lucke, Trevor Maag, Deb Miller, Joan Peck, Mary Lou Merschman, Rose Recker, Deb Remlinger LECTORS: Jennifer Erhart, Mike Kahle USHERS: Team 8 11:00: Bill Hill, Shane Hill, Stacy Knueve, Lisa Niese, Michele Niese, Morgan Niese, Mark Remlinger, Tom Roof, Allison Siebeneck, Katelyn Siebeneck LECTORS: Stacy Knueve, Tara Gerding USHERS: Team 7 Ministers to Homebound: Dick & Judy Bockrath 9:00: Dave & Jane Kahle, Dianna Kehres, Jane Kle-man, Bob & Annette Meyer, Karl & Darlene Miller, Joan Niese, Mary Plescher USHERS: Team 3 LECTORS: Mary Plescher, Wendy Schimmoeller

ASSIGNMENTS – December 31 at 4:30 Euch. Min: Casey Wehri, Allison Wurth, Greg & Jill Zeller, Jade Zeller, Alice Adams, Marilyn Becker, Anna Berheide, Bev Berheide, Brian Berheide Ushers: Team 4 Lectors: Barb Unverferth, Renee Vorst

ASSIGNEMENTS—January 1, at 10:00 a.m. Euch. Min.: Sandy Westrick, Don Wehri, Amy Brinkman, Matt Bockrath, Joyce Bonifas, Tom & Judy Bonifas, Gus & Judy Brinkman, Janet Burgei USHERS: Team 6 Lectors: Don Wehri, Sandy Westrick

Assignments: January 2 at 4:30 p.m. Euch. Min: Mary Lou Hoffman, Grace Haselman, Katey Buss, Kelly Buss, Dave & Cindy Erhart, Brandon & Lori Erhart, Bob & Sue Gerdeman Lectors: Brenda Averesch, Shelly Burkhart Ushers: YOUTH 10

Assignments: January 3 at 8:00 a.m. Euch. Min: Ed & Tammy Schroeder, Ruth Foppe, Mary Grote, Mel Hanneman, Dave Buss, Bob Buss, Dave & Jane Kahle, Ryan Kerner Ushers: YOUTH 11 Lectors: Dennis Turnwald, Paul Bonifas Ministers to Homebound: Ed & Tammy Schroeder

Assignments: January 3 at 11:00 a.m. Euch. Min: Eric Fischnich, Regina Fischnich, Keith & Ann Rea Fortman, Phil & Sue Fuerst, Lynda Fortman, Eileen Decker, Bill Hill, Shane Hill Ushers: Team 12 Lectors: Ed & Tammy Schroeder

Pastor: Fr. Mark Hoying, C.PP.S. Parochial Vicar: Fr. Rick Friebel, C.PP.S. In Residence: Fr. Elmer Wurth, M.M.

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And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. Luke 2:12

Merry Christmas to all of you. In this season of hopes and joys, of childlike faith and love, I'd like to send my best to all of you. Christmas in my home was always an adven-ture. With seventeen children living on a small farm in Ohio, we felt blessed to receive pencils, underwear and socks. We opened our presents after we milked the cows and made sure all the animals had fresh beds of straw and the best of feed. Dad made sure that Christmas was always about Je-sus. If the savior was born in a stable, our stables and ani-mals on the farm should be treated with the best of care on Christmas night. A story from one Christmas night comes to mind that I'd like to share with all of you. The weather was brisk, as the temperature was -10 degrees. As a ten-year-old boy, I walked to the milk house to begin milking our herd of Guern-sey cows. There in the barnyard was a rabbit. I called my brother over to see if we could catch the nearly frozen bunny. Too our surprise the rabbit was so cold it didn't move. We picked up the nearly frozen rabbit and put it in a box. It was decided to wrap the box, put my sister's name on the wrapping and put the present under the Christmas tree. After we finished milking, bedding the stables and praying as a family, it was time to open presents. It seemed like forever until my sister got to her special present. She was so excited to get more than socks and underwear. As the lid came off the box, the warmed up rabbit nearly hit the ceil-ing as it jumped out to the surprise of everyone except two ornery boys. The family spent the next half hour chasing a rabbit around the house. We got scolded for the stunt, but it was done with a smile on Dad's face. In many churches around the country, Christmas is a time when many people come back to the warmth of faith and love. Like the rabbit, the world had left them cold and nearly frozen. Some people wander in while others may need to be carried in. Whatever the circumstances, with the warmth of the Lord's love, new life can happen. People can jump and dance with new vitality. God's love is real and was seen in the birth of Jesus in that first stable in Bethlehem. God's love is real as we welcome people in our daily lives and, especially, into our worship services at Christmas-time. The world can be cold out there. With the Lord's love, the frozen can come back to life. A blessed Christmas to everyone. Fr. Mark

Choir Assignments Christmas: 4:00: Youth 8:00: PW 11:00: YA 9:00: HN

DEC. 26 & 27: 4:30: PW 8:00: HN 11:00: Youth DEC. 31 & JAN. 1: 4:30: YAHS 10:00: HN

JANUARY 2 & 3: 4:30: PW 8:00: HN 11:00: YAHS

Caroling Before the Christmas Masses Caroling will begin at 3:30 p.m. before the 4:00 p.m. Mass, 10:30 p.m. before the 11:00 p.m. Mass, 7:30 p.m. before the 8:00 p.m. Mass and 8:40 a.m. before the 9:00 a.m. Mass.

Mass Intentions for the Week

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 8:00 AM Theresa Erhart TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 8:00 AM Loretta Miller WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 8:00 AM L/D Joseph & Henrietta Wannemacher Fam. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 4:00 PM Helen Korte, L/D Brickner & Korte Families Jim Knueven, Wilbur Remlinger, Larry Klaus Leanne Goedde Pardo, Mel Unverferth Don & Joyce Jerwers, Rob Kortokrax Melissa Schulte 8:00 PM Deb Grote, Armella Fortman, Arnold & Clara Kahle, Tony, Marie & Mike Langhals Oscar, Julitta, Danny & Mike Rampe Jim & Angie Erhart 11:00 PM Carl Webken, Bernard Averesch, Norm Kahle Gina Ellerbrock, Florence Otto, Jerome & Ethel Bendele, Bob Schimmoeller, Dick, Gladys & Mark Unverferth, Alfred & Marcella Ellerbrock, Gene Stechschulte Robert Kortokrax FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25 9:00 AM Adrian Birkemeier, Ralph Honigfort Connie Miller, Lee Warnement, Bill Cleemput Gary Bockrath, Don Laudick, Mathilda Cleemput, Pete & Alice Gerding, Maddielyn Metzger, L/D Alphonse & Frances Schulte Family, L/D Tony & Bernadine Hoersten Fam Vic & Andy Merschman SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 1:30 PM NM Jessica Dunham & Jordan Brinkman 4:30 PM Helen & Jiggs Unverferth, Deacon Frank Knueve, Norbert Vennekotter, Kristen Vennekotter, Dolores & Carl Remlinger Len & Anna Rose Kahle, Emily Kahle L/D Oscar & Evangeline Kerner Family Paul & Hilda Fortman, Agatha Unverferth L/D Virgil & Clara Horstman Family SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 Holy Family 8:00 AM Edna Kruse 11:00 AM Bill & Alice Kahle, Eugene Hoersten Walter & Mary Vennekotter, Vince Erhart Harold & Imelda Stechschulte, Jim Kahle Hilary & Marie Burgei, Reese Burgei MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 8:00 AM Hugo & Frances Hoffman TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 8:00 AM Helen Korte, L/D Korte & Brickner Fam. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 8:00 AM Leona Verhoff THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 4:30 PM Mike Rampe FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 Solemnity of Mary 10:00 AM Jeanette Borgelt SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 4:30 PM Leanne Goedde Pardo, Andy Merschman Don & Joyce Jerwers SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 8:00 AM Alvin & Mary Hoffman 11:00 AM Connie Miller (A)

High School CCD Will Resume... January 6, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., in St. Michael’s Gym.

From Fr. Elmer

As in past years, many of you kind people have sent Christ-mas Greetings. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. My custom is to respond to everyone who writes, but it will take a long time, as I’ve been blessed with many friends who write to me from all over the world. As soon as Leslie takes a couple of church pictures for me, I’ll start writing, so I beg for your patience. In the meantime, I’ll be happy to include you all in my Christmas Masses and other prayers. Have a joyful and holy holiday season! Fr. Elmer

High School Winter Fun Day Tuesday, December 29, at Sports Center Lanes, Pandora, from Noon - 2:30 p.m. An “After Party” will be held at Sts. Peter & Paul Youth room, Ottawa, from 2:30-5:00 p.m. for all who want to continue celebrating with teens from around the St. George Deanery. Cost is $10. Registration forms at stmichaelskalida.org, under the Youth Group Tab!

Get Ready for the New Year! PCYMCA Aerobics, beginning January 4 (Mondays/Wednesdays from 6:15 -7:15 p.m.) at the Kalida Grade School cafeteria. Cost is $20 (runs monthly) or FREE for YMCA members. To register or for questions, call Lisa (419-532-2339).

Cancer Benefit for Suzanne (Ricker) Tate

Saturday, December 26, from 2:00 - 11:00 p.m., at the Miller City Sportsmen Club. Suzanne was diagnosed with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer in November 2015, at the age of 48. She is the daughter of the late Thomas Ricker (Kalida) and also Steve and the late Gerri (Schmersal) Stechschulte, also of Kalida. Suzanne has three children. There will be 50/50 drawing, gun raffles & specialties raffle. Need not be present to win. Food available by donation. All money raised is going toward the family’s medical expenses. There is a “gofundme” page on facebook and an account at the Union Bank for dona-tions. Contact Mindi Maag (419-532-3733 or mindi.maag@yahoo.com) with questions or for raffle tickets.

2015 Mass in the Barn This Sunday This Sunday, December 20, at 6:00 p.m., in Mark & Marlene Kahle’s Barn (15711 Rd. 18, Ft. Jennings). All are invited.

Offices Will Be Closed...

Thursday, December 24 - January 3, 2015. The next bulletin will be published on January 3, 2016.

Penance Service at Ottawa S.PP. Monday, December 21, at 4:00 & 7:00 p.m., at Ottawa

Last Week’s Collection: $ 10,068.25

2016 Offertory Envelopes After this Sunday, they can be found in the church offices.

Extra Prayer Opportunities in Church Everyone is welcome to join in prayer on Mondays, at 1:30 p.m., as we say a Rosary for Peace, or on Fridays, at 3:00 p.m., when we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

March For Life 2016 in Washington, D.C. The dates are January 21-23. Anyone interested in joining us should contact Don Rall (532-2565 or drall323@gmail.com).

Coffee and Donuts Will Be Served...

after the 8:00 a.m. Mass, on Sunday, January 3, 2016.

CYO Games This Sunday, December 20

Crusader CYO Basketball this weekend is a great alternative to sitting on a too-soft couch watching football. Why not sit on a hard bleacher?! Our girls lost a wild one last week. Will they and the Boys B follow the Boys A team and break through to victory this week? Girls play at 2:15 p.m., at Leipsic St. Mary Boys A team plays at 1:00 p.m., at Glandorf, vs. the Dragons Boys B team plays at 2:15 p.m. vs. Ottawa at 4th St. Gym

Women’s CRHP is February 6 & 7, 2016

To register contact Katy Potts (302-2745) or Amanda Recker (796-0386).

Sophomore Retreat Sunday, January 17, 2016 to Monday, January 18, 2016

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

December 24: 4:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.

December 25: 9:00 a.m. at Kalida and

10:30 a.m. at Continental

CHRISTMAS FLOWER INTENTIONS CONTINUED...

In loving memory of George Grone from Mike & Janet Burgei and In loving memory of Mike Feldman from His Family L/D Walter Becker, Stephan Wehri & Ben Becker Families from Marie & Family In loving memory of George Maag and Alaina & Mia Landwehr from Ken & Cindy Landwehr & Family In loving memory of Olivia Schnipke from Grandma & Grandpa In loving memory of Norm, Dorothy, Ken & Jan Knott and Wilfrid & Rosalia Schnipke from Norm & Sandy For memory and good health for the Kahle & Recker Families from Jim & Diane Recker In loving memory of Vic & Andy Merschman from Mike & Jane & Family In loving memory of Tony, Bernadine, Bob & Dan Hoersten and Emily Kahle from Mike & Jane & Family In loving memory of Leonard, Anna Rose & Emily Kahle, Virgil & Virginia Unverferth, Chris Potts and for service men and women home and abroad from Roger & Lisa Unverferth Family In loving memory of Hubert Warnecke, Cornelius & Elizabeth Meyer and Len & Agnes Warnecke from Marilyn & Family In loving memory of Matthew Fortman, Maddielyn Metzger, Pete & Alice Gerding and Paul & Hilda Fortman from Mike &

Jane & Family In loving memory of Alma & Charlie Roy and L/D Carl Plescher Family L/D McElwain, Halker, Moening & Honigfort Families from Brenda & Jim McElwain Family Intentions of M/M Robert Warnecke In loving memory of Mike Verhoff, Arnold Verhoff, Mary Verhoff & Cecilia Verhoff – forever loved and always missed,

Love Dot, Ashley, Alan & Michelle L/D Bob Schimmoeller Family and Bendele Families from Joan Schimmoeller In loving memory of Gary Stechschulte from Evan, Drew, and Kris In loving memory of Robert Siefker and Dee Wueller from the family of Joe & Diane (Siefker) Wueller In loving memory of Irma Krouse and Shawn Bailey from Steve & Sheryl Krouse & Family L/D Lawrence & Loretta Unverferth Family and Cy & Frances Kahle Family from Ron & Irma Kahle

Solemnity of Mary Mass Schedule

December 31: 4:30 p.m. (Kalida) 6:00 p.m. (Continental) January 1: 10:00 a.m. (Kalida)