FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR B):
22nd March 2009
Laetare Sunday & Mothering Sunday
Fr Frank writes:
Lent is a time of repentance and an essential part of our Lenten observance is making use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To make this easier, our Deanery puts on special Reconciliation services during Lent. Please take this wonderful opportunity to approach Easter with a clean heart.
Reconciliation services in our Deanery are as follows:
- 30th March: Blessed Sacrament, Melbourne at 7.30pm
- 1st April: St Augustine, Springfield at 8pm
- 2nd April: Holy Name, Moulsham Lodge at 7.30pm
- 2nd April: English Martyrs, Danbury at 8pm
- 6th April: Holy Family and All Saints, Witham at 7.30pm
- 6th April: Our Lady Immaculate, Chelmsford at 8pm
May the God of Love and Forgiveness bless you always.
Fr Frank
Parish News:
- British Summer Time begins from next Sunday. Clocks go forward one hour!
- Tuesday Mass: the Mass on Tuesday will be at 10.15am. This is not a 'first Tuesday Mass'. The change of time (a one-off) arises because Fr Frank has a Reconciliation Service at New Hall School at 8.20am.
- Holy Week at Our Saviour (6th - 10th April): The church will be set up with displays and prayer stations again this year and we hope to have the church open form 10am to 12 noon, 2 - 4pm and 7 - 9pm each day. In order to do this we need two people to cover each slot. If you can help please let Fr Frank know.
- Easter Lilies: Each year we ask for special donations for Easter Lilies to decorate St Augustine's for our celebrations. If you would like to make a donation (a suggested donation of £3) in memory of a deceased loved one, please place your offering in an envelope marked 'for Easter Lilies' and pass it to Cath Lyons. Many thanks for your generosity.
- Sr Mary Stephen's Stations of the Cross and Resurrection will be at:
Brentwood Cathedral 31st March - 1st April. On 31st March from 3pm - 7.30pm followed by a Reflective Evening Service and on 1st April from 10am - 3pm. - Quiz Night in aid of the SVP: Saturday 28th March at 7pm in St Augustine's Church Hall. Tickets £6 including fish and chip supper. Please contact James McEvoy for tickets on 256754.
From the Deanery:
- St John Payne 50th Anniversary: St John Payne School are planning to celebrate their Golden Jubilee in 2009/2010 and hope to produce a book to mark the anniversary. In this respect there will be a meeting at St John Payne Upper School in the Chaplaincy at 8pm on Wednesday 25th March - all are welcome.
From the Diocese:
- Fr John Glynn & Aquila In Concert At Upminster Sunday 29th March: Aquila Music Trust & St Joseph's RC Church, by arrangement with Fr John Taylor, present John Glynn & Aquila's Let Me be your home Tour 2009, supported by the Brentwood Commission for Evangelisation and Formation. The concert will feature psalms and songs of hope and trust from the new CD plus favourites from Open The Door and May the Lord Bless You, including the world famous I Watch the Sunrise. Admission is free. There will be an interval collection. Concert starts at 7.30pm in St Joseph's Church, Champion Road, Upminster RM14 2SY.
- Triumph & Passion 3rd - 5th April: a Lent Retreat for Young People at Walsingham House. Come and join other young people from around the Diocese for a Lent Retreat where we will explore together what it means to be passionate and the Passion of Jesus. Time for fun, good food, prayer and to join with the Brentwood All-Night Vigil. Only £35. For info and booking form see www.walsinghamhouse.org or click here to email.
- BRES Spring Lecture 26th March 7.30pm: 'The Formation of Young People in Faith: What Schools can do' at Cathedral House, Brentwood, with speaker Rev. Michael Holman SJ (Provincial of the Jesuit Order and former Headteacher). Cost £5 waged, £3 unwaged. Tel 01277 265285
- Raise £400 and jump for free: Childcare - Brentwood Catholic Children's Society are looking to recruit 25 skydivers to take part in our Anniversary Skydive on Saturday 16th May at Maidstone in Kent. Please contact Claire Matthews on 01268 784544 or by email for a Sky Diver's pack.
Advertisements:
- Need help with your garden? Call Joe on 01245 461203. Grass cutting, pruning, hedge trimming, tree lopping and felling etc. Reasonable rates.
- Cleaner wanted in Springfield area from Easter: 5 hours per week 9.30 - 12.00 over 2 days. £6 per hour. Duties to include hoovering, dusting, cleaning bathroom, washing kitchen floor etc. Please contact Don Cruickshank on 01245 267741 if you can help.
Sunday Smile:
Taken from church notice boards and newsletters (honest):
The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.
The sermon this morning: Jesus Walks on the Water. The sermon tonight: Searching for
Jesus.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say
Hell to someone who doesn't care much about you.
Parish Weekly Income:
Grateful thanks for your continued generosity.