The Good News
November 27, 2016 - St. John XXIII School
The Season of Advent - the Season of Waiting
The season of Advent begins today, Sunday November 27th.
Advent is a season of waiting, expecting, and hoping. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve, Advent helps us prepare for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas.
For hundreds of years, Christians have used an Advent wreath to inspire their hopes for the coming of Christ. By lighting candles and reading Bible verses, we are reminded about the meaning of Christ’s birth and become more excited about his coming in the past, in the future, and in our own lives.
The Advent wreath symbolized the accumulation of light as an expression of the growing anticipation of the birth of Jesus, who is seen as the light of the world.
The circular wreath is meant to represent God’s eternity as it has no beginning or end. The evergreens are a symbol of everlasting life.
In our Catholic tradition, each Sunday during Advent we light a candle. We light three purple candles, and one pink candle.
· First Sunday of Advent-Purple Candle (Hope):
Reminds us of the prophets hope for God’s salvation to come.
· Second Sunday of Advent-Purple Candle (Peace):
Represents the peace that God has given through his son Jesus
· Third Sunday of Advent-Pink Candle (Joy):
Represents the joy of sharing Christ; the joy of the shepherds as the hear the good news of Jesus’ arrival.
· Fourth Sunday of Advent-Purple Candle (Love):
Represents love sent from God through his son Jesus Christ.
We hope you and your family can gather around your own Advent wreath, light the Advent candle, and read a bible story in preparation for the birth of Jesus.
Please join us on Monday November 28th as we celebrate the start of the advent season together at our morning assembly, starting around 9:00 am.
Christmas Angel Tree
School Fees
Thank you to the families that have already paid their child’s school fees; all fees are now due. Payment of school fees can be made from your PowerSchool account by debit or credit card, or at the school office if paying by cash or cheque. If the paying of fees is a financial difficulty you may be eligible for the fee waiver program. The deadline for the Fee Waiver Program is December 12, 2016. Please click here to access the Fee Waiver Application.
Star Wars Marathon for Families First
Cooperative Gym Game with 2M & 2Oi
Book Fair Success!
Kindergarten Registration for 2017
KidSport Fort Saskatchewan
Looking Ahead . . .
November 28 Advent Assembly 9:00 am
November 29 Alberta Opera performs Hansel & Gretel 2:00 pm (everyone welcome)
November 30 OLA School's Musical Theatre presents Elf Jr. 6:30 pm at the Shell Theatre
December 1 PSC Meeting 9:00 am in the library
December 1 Grade 4 classes attend OLA School's Elf Jr. performance 11:30 am
December 1 Grade 4 skating 1:00 pm
December 1 OLA School's Musical Theatre presents Elf Jr. 12:00 & 6:30 pm at the Shell Theatre
December 3 Star Wars Marathon at St. John Paul II School Gym
December 8 Choir, Chimes & Handbell Christmas Concert 7:00 pm
December 11 OLA Church Children's Liturgy Christmas Pageant 11:00 am Mass
December 20 Kindergarten Christmas Potluck & Concert 6:00 pm
December 21 Grade 1 & 2 Christmas Concert 1:30 pm & 7:00 pm
December 22 Grade 3 & 4 Christmas Concert 1:30 pm & 7:00 pm
9526 - 89 St. Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Email: stj@eics.ab.ca
Website: stj.eics.ab.ca
Phone: 780-998-7777
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnXXIII/
Twitter: @St_JohnXXIII