St. Augustine of Canterbury, Springfield

THE TENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C:
8th/9th June 2013

Father Nick writes:

Today is "Stewardship Sunday", when members of the Finance Committee will be speaking at the end of Mass about our Church Finances. So what should I be giving to enable our church to run effectively and efficiently?

Giving to God is a fundamental part of our Christian discipleship, and what God requires of us is clearly laid out in the Bible. The basic principle of Christian giving is the "tithe" - giving to God a tenth of our income. It means that God has the first claim on our income and not the remains of what we can afford when we have spent what we want on ourselves. The practical steps of putting the actual cash aside each week or month, means that you start by thinking of living on the other nine tenths. Everything we have and all we receive is given to us by the Lord to hold in trust. All he requires of us is 10% of our income in trusting love he leaves 90% with us. Now this 10% does not all need to go to the local church; we may wish to support missions and charities as well.

To those who don't yet tithe, the amount can seem "astronomical", "impossible", "unrealistic". To those who have discovered the principle of tithing there does not seem to be a problem at all. So where is the problem? Simply and solely in our own reluctance. Give it away; give yourself away; and - surprise, surprise - you find that He gives you so much more, full measure, pressed down and running over. If this is something new to you, then maybe it is a standard you can gradually work up to over the next year.

Another thought: If God gave back to you 10 times as much as you give to him, could you live on it?

With my best wishes and prayers

Father Nick

From the Parish:

Quiz night at St Augustine's Saturday 20th July 7.30pm: Tickets available soon.
St John Payne School fete, Sunday 23rd June 12noon - 4pm: Many thanks to all who generously donated bottles and prizes in support of one of our parish's secondary schools. Every item is very much appreciated. Do come along and help to make the day a successful social and fundraising event.
200 Club: Congratulations to Louise Geddes, winner of this month's prize.
SVP Special Collection next week: The insert circulated with your Newsletter a couple of weeks ago gave a powerful testimony to the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society. Next weekend there will be a retiring collection in support of their valuable work after all Masses.
First Holy Communion Programme 2013/2014: If your child is eligible for receiving First Holy Communion next year, please arrange for an interview with Father Nick and pick up an enrolment form from the Presbytery. Please return all forms by 5th July 2013. For your child to enrol in the programme the Diocesan guidelines are:
1. That you are a practising Catholic (attending Mass on a weekly basis)
2. That your child has been attending the Springfield Parish for at least the past year.
3. That your child is eligible (8 years of age by 31st August 2014)
4. That you obtain a letter of reference from the Parish Priest if you have been attending another Parish
Chelmsford Procession for Corpus Christi: on the Sunday following the feast of Corpus Christi - June 9th at 3 p.m. It begins at Our Lady Immaculate School, New London Road. The Tilbury Marching Band will lead the procession along Moulsham Street and then back to Our Lady Immaculate Church for Benediction. Please come along and join in this celebration to mark the Year of Faith. Everybody is welcome.

From the Diocese:

Who is God calling you to be? What is God calling you to do?: If you are aged 17-35 and have been asking yourself these questions, then you would be very welcome at the next Brentwood Vocations Discernment Group, on Friday 28th June, when our speaker is Sr Josephine Canny OA, a Religious Sister with over forty years' experience of religious life. We meet in Brentwood, and the group is both welcoming and informal. For more details, or to ask any questions, please call Fr Dominic, Vocations Director, on 01268 281732 or click here to Email.
WYD@Home Brightlights 26-29th July, Aylesford Priory, Kent: A weekend festival for young adults aged 16-30 offering a great programme of prayer, speakers, bands and workshops. Experience the Spirit of World Youth Day in Rio. For more info visit: brightlights.org.uk, click here to Email or call 0845 805 7010. This is a project supported by, but not organised by Brentwood Catholic Youth Service. Fr James Mackay, our Diocesan Youth Chaplain, will be in Aylesford for the weekend supporting young people from our Diocese.

Sophia Hubs Project Coordinator and Developer required: Sophia Hubs are local centres which foster new social enterprises and businesses, harnessing the ageless principles of wisdom. We are seeking a talented Project Coordinator and Developer to set up and deliver a pilot Sophia Hub in Seven Kings and Newbury Park, thereby helping to take the Sophia Hubs project into its next phase of development and growth. For more information and an application form please contact the Rev. Jonathan Evens - click here to Email - or Davina Bolt - click here to Email

THE TENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C:
8th/9th June 2013

Father Nick writes:

From the Parish:

From the Diocese:

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Previous Year's Weekly News Letters:

THE TENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C: 8th/9th June 2013

Father Nick writes:

From the Parish:

From the Diocese:

Advertisements:

Previous Year's Weekly News Letters:

THE TENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C:
8th/9th June 2013