4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME KEPT AS CANDLEMASS

With a good congregation attending, today we kept the 4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time as Candlemass with the Ceremonies. Father Martin presided and Father Mervyn preached and concelebrated. In his sermon Father Mervyn talked about how Mary and Joseph had fulfilled all the requirements of the Jewish Law regarding the birth of a first born son. He suggested that it may have been an ancient custom for parents to bring a child to the Temple for an elderly Rabbi to bless him and that it may have been the role that Simeon fulfilled. He saw that in Jesus the promised Messiah who would be a “light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of his people Israel. Anna recognised Jesus as the promised Messiah, and went about telling people about him. We too must tell people about Jesus, the light who is always with us.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop made an astounding £247 – many thanks to all our helpers and all those who came.

ADVANCED NOTICE

Monday 14^th February 7.30 p.m. The Rosary

Tuesday 8^th February 2.00 p.m.                                                            THE SHORT MAT BOWLS GROUP – everyone welcome.

Saturday 26th February  

QUIZ NIGHT 7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m.  

Bring your own refreshments

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3rd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Today’s Parish Mass, being within the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the theme for the service was Christian Unity. Father Martin presided and preached; Father Mervyn was at St. Barnabas, Woodford Green. Father Martin made the point that what hope was there for Christian Unity when one church’s had problems with unity amongst itself. At one time, the Church of England was an umbrella church which had within it, various strands of belief, which worked together, despite differences. Unfortunately that was no longer the case but we should all remember what we are there for: to preach the message of Christ. The theme of the Intercessions was Christian Unity with all the local churches being remembered. Next Sunday we keep the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemass).

Tuesday 25^th January 7.00 p.m. Mass according to the Book of Common Prayer followed by the meeting of the PCC at 7.45 p.m.

Wednesday 26^th January 7.30 p.m. Redbridge and Havering Exploratory Group Mass followed by Evangelium

SATURDAY 26^th FEBRUARY – QUIZ NIGHT

Doors open at 7.00 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. start.Bring your own refreshments. £3 per team member and up to 8 persons per team. Please let Father Martin know about potential teams.

Yesterday’s Saturday Shop took £182.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 18TH–25TH JANUARY 2011

Tomorrow the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity commences.

Lord, hear the prayers of your people and bring the hearts of believers together in your praise and in common sorrow for their sins. Heal all divisions among Christians that we may rejoice in the perfect unity of your Church and move together as one to eternal life in your kingdom. Amen

2nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

This morning Father Martin presided at the Parish Mass and Father Mervyn preached and concelebrated. Sunday School recommenced today. Father Mervyn preached on the theme that Jesus is the Lamb of God. He pointed out that the words spoken by St. John the Baptist are quoted at every Mass. Lambs were used in the Temple sacrifice with the analogy that Jesus was the spotless sacrifice who takes away the sin of the world. At the Mass we are reminded that “Happy are those who are called to His supper” and that we too needed to radiate our happiness in our faith.

At the end of Mass Father Martin read a letter from the Bishop of Chelmsford and the R. C. Bishop of Brentwood concerning the Ordinariate,

In the notices we heard that yesterday’s Saturday Shop took over £200- a truly wonderful result.

A reminder to members of the PCC that on Tuesday 25^th January there will be a Mass at 7.00 p.m. according to the Book of Common Prayer followed by the PCC meeting at 7.30 p.m.

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD

Today, Father Martin celebrated and preached on the Solemnity of The Baptism of Our Lord. Father Mervyn was officiating at St. Barnabas, Woodford Green. During the Mass there was the Rite of Asperges and the renewal of Baptismal Vows. In his sermon, Father Martin illustrated how dependent we are on water. He illustrated this by showing a bottle of flavoured water, a bottle of wine, a tin of Fosters, and half a bottle of Whisky. Water is an all important part of their production and the human body comprises of over 90% of water. Water was used in purification rites in the Old Testament. It is a crucial part of everything and without it we would quickly die. Jesus was baptised and we. On becoming a Christian, are Baptised and a crucial component of the service is the water which is blessed and used.

The Saturday Shop which re-opened on Saturday following the Christmas Break took a £192.

2nd SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

This morning we kept the 2^nd Sunday after Christmas as we will be celebrating The Epiphany on its rightful date 6^th January with a SOLEMN MASS at 7.30 p.m. Father Mervyn celebrated whilst Father Martin concelebrated, preached and led us in prayer. We remembered former PEV’s Keith, Andrew and John in the Eucharistic Prayer following their conversion yesterday to the Roman Catholic Church prior to the setting up of the Ordinariate in the UK. We also remembered Bishop Stephen our Diocesan Bishop, Bishop David our area Bishop and Bishop Lindsey Unwin who will replace +Keith on a temporary basis until another PEV is appointed.

During the sermon Kenny the turkey who pretends to be a chicken made a further appearance when Father Martin talked about love and personal sacrifice.

Tonight we hold our ANNUAL CAROL SERVICE at 6.00 p.m. preceded by Evening Prayer at 5.40 p.m.

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY

Thursday 6^th January 2011-01-02

SOLEMN MASS 7.30 p.m.

followed by a Pot-Luck Supper in the Hall.

THE SATURDAY SHOP

Reopens Saturday 8^th January from 10.00 a.m. until       12 noon with loads of post-Christmas bargains

Refreshments available including homemade cakes. Donations of items for the shop are always gratefully received