OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING (YEAR B):
22nd November 2009
National Youth Day
Fr Frank writes:
Next week we begin the season of Advent. The readings will be taken from Year C in your Sunday Missal. Year C is the Year of Luke.
Please note the changes to Mass times from next Sunday.
Advent is a time of preparation - and not just buying food, presents and sending cards - it is a time of spiritual preparation too. Part of this preparation involves the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Confession as it is sometimes known). In order to help you in this, there will be a number of special Advent Reconciliation Services in our Deanery:
- 14th December: Blessed Sacrament, Melbourne: 7.30pm
- 16th December St Augustine, Springfield: 8.00pm
- 17th Holy Name, Mousham Lodge: 7.30pm
- 21st Holy Family and All Saints, Witham: 7.30pm
- 21st Our Lady Immaculate, Chelmsford: 8.00pm
- 22nd Holy Trinity, South Woodham Ferrers: 8.00pm
Please do come along to one of these, and prepare yourself to welcome Christ.
May God richly bless you.
Father Frank
Parish News:
- New Mass Times: from next weekend the Mass at The Church of Christ Our Saviour, Chelmer Village will be a (Saturday) Vigil Mass beginning at 5.00pm. Attendance at this Mass fulfils Sunday obligation. Please come along early and help to prepare the church for our celebration.
- World Challenge Madagascar Quiz Night: Andrew Webb is organizing a quiz to be held at St Augustine's on Saturday 30th January to raise funds for his expedition to Madagascar. Please put the date in your diary!
- Saint John Payne Road Show: As part of a tour of eleven church primary schools in mid Essex in celebration of the school's 50th anniversary, Saint John Payne will be bringing a Road Show of Witness, involving 20 pupils (including several from our Parish), to The Bishops' School on Friday, 4th December. This uplifting and joyous event will be taking place in St Augustine's Church at 9.00 am and, whilst targeted at the children from Bishops', is open to all parishioners and everyone is warmly invited.
- Church of Our Saviour seeks Church Cleaner and Bookings Secretary: This is a paid post which could be taken over by one person or shared between a team of 2 or 3 people. If you would be interested please contact Fr Frank.
- World Gifts: some of you may have already 'received' a goat, or chickens, or a latrine, or some such for Christmas. These gifts, and many more similar ones, will not be delivered to your door. Rather they will go to hard-pressed communities in one of the under-developed countries of the world. If you haven't sent a World Gift before, why not try it this year? Booklets advertising these are available from the back of church.
- Vandalism and Damage at St Augustine's: There have been a number of small fires at St Augustine's over the past couple of months, and after the rain on Sunday 1st November, we noticed some leaks. On investigation it was discovered that lead had been stripped from the roof. If you are out and about in the evening, perhaps you could have a quick look at the church to see if anything is amiss. Please do not confront anyone, but if there are signs of 'criminal damage' taking place (fires, people on the roof etc) please ring 999 and let me know. Many thanks, Fr Frank.
From the Deanery:
- Diocesan Deaf Service Signed Mass: at 5.30pm on Sunday 13th December at the Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers CM3 5FG. Rev Paul Fox will be the celebrant and people who are deaf will sign the readings. All are welcome, hearing, hard of hearing and deaf. More info from Sister Margaret Duffy on 0208 504 0406 or by Email
From the Diocese:
- Ecumenical Study Day on the Gospel of St Luke: at Brentwood Cathedral Hall on Saturday 12th December from 10.30am to 3pm, led by Mr Ian Boxall, Senior Tutor in New Testament at St Stephen's House at the University of Oxford. Buffet lunch provided. Please book your place on 01277 265289 or by Email
- Special Youth Mass and Gathering at The Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay: at 8pm on Friday 8th January in the Parish Pastoral Centre, Laindon Road, Billericay. The Mass is being said to mark the start of the Parish's Centenary celebrations for 2010. All the Youth of the Brentwood Diocese in Year 8 and above are invited. If you are planning to attend please click here to Email for calculation of catering numbers. Thank you.
-
Advent 2009: (info from 01277 265219 or by
Email)
Listen! Preparing spiritually for Christmas: 3 sessions offering the opportunity to prepare spiritually for the celebration of Christmas at the Cathedral Conference Centre:- Monday 30th November with Bishop John Crowley
- Monday 7th December with Fr David Clemens
- Monday 14th December with Sister Magdalen Lawler, SND.
Other:
- 'The Sermon on the Mount and the Ethic of becoming Christ's Disciple': A talk for the Vocations Discernment Group by Dr Anna Abram - lecturer and researcher at Heythrop University. 13 November 2009, 7.00 - 9.00pm at The Hinsley Room (next to Westminster Cathedral), Morpeth Terrace, London, SW1. More details from www.free2become.org, 01277 373848, 07931 795769 or by Email
- Oxfam Sunday Opening Hours: From Sunday 25th Oct until Christmas, The Oxfam Book and Music shop in the High Street will be opening from 10.30 am - 3.30 pm on Sundays in addition to their normal Monday to Saturday 9am - 5pm working hours.
Sunday Smile:
Angels as experienced by children:
I only know of two angels, Hark and Harold.(Gregory, age 5)
It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven. Then there's the flight training. And then
you have to agree to wear those angel clothes. (Matthew, age 9)