WE WISH EVERYONE WHO VISITS St. Augustine's BLOG EVERY BLESSING IN 2014 AND A
For your diary
1st January Mary, Mother of God Mass 10.30 a.m.
Monday 13th January 7.00 p.m. Mass followed by PCC at 7.45 p.m.
Monday 20th January Deanery Synod: Bishop David’s farewell address.
Wednesday 22nd January 7.30 p.m. The Rosary
Father Martin presided at the Parish Mass and Father Mervyn read the Gospel, preached and concelebrated. Ann led our Intercessions. In his sermon Father Mervyn drew attention to the fact that the Holy Family were refugees seeking safety in Egypt. The fact was that they stayed in a part of Egypt which the Coptic Church describes as a slum. It should makes us very sympathetic to the plight of those who are refugees today. Only today, the Leader of UKIP Nigel Farage had reminded us that to take in refugees was not the same as having open borders to the UK. He had suggested that we should take 500 initially. We should keep refugees in our prayers always reminding ourselves that the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and the Infant Jesus were themselves, for a number of years refugees.
NEW YEARS EVE Church Party in the Hall – ALL WELCOME (no charge - bring food and your own drink)
We started our celebrations with our Christingle Service. During the service the children were asked to bring the Nativity figures to the crib. In the talk Father Mervyn asked Father Martin where Mister Monkey was (he is the mascot of our Sunday School – sometimes he’s very good and sometimes not) He had been left in the Sacristy so the servers went to fetch him. He came into church, complaining that he hadn’t been invited to the service so he had made his own Christingle. He used as the base a potato instead of an orange, a discarded post office red rubber band instead of a ribbon, he had five sticks: one with a brussel sprout, one with a baby sweet corn, one with a wiggly worm, one with a mushroom and one with a piece of broccoli. He had an electric tea light instead of a candle.Father Martin explained how a proper Christingle was made and explained the significance of each part. Mister Monkey was then given a proper Christingle and then every member of the congregation came to collect theirs. We sang the new Children Society’s hymn.
At the Midnight Mass, Father Mervyn presided and Father Martin concelebrated, preached and led our Intercessions. At the end of Mass the Crib was blessed and the Bambino placed in it. After Mass sherry, sausage rolls, mince pies and fruit juice were served in the hall.
Father Martin presided at Mass and Father Mervyn concelebrated, preached the homily, and led our Intercessions.
Father Mervyn presided at today’s Parish Mass and Father Martin concelebrated, read the Gospel, preached and led our Intercessions. In his sermon Father Martin invited a teenager, one of our teenage Christians in the congregation to do an interview with him. He pointed out that “L” was slightly older than Mary would have been when the events recorded in the Gospel had taken place. In the interview amongst the questions Father Martin asked “L” how she would have felt if an angel appeared to her: “Scared “ she replied. “L” acted the part brilliantly and gave us much food for thought.
Christmas Services 2013
Christmas Eve
Christingle Service with Carols – at 4.30 pm.
Vigil Mass – at 6.00 pm.
Midnight
SOLEMN MASS with Carols at 11.30 pm.
Mince Pies & Drinks in the Hall afterwards.
Christmas Day
Sung Mass with Carols for all the family at 10.00 am.
December 26th — St. Stephen’s Day
Said Mass at 10.00 am
Today Father Martin presided at the Parish Mass whilst Father Mervyn concelebrated, read the Gospel and preached. Our Intercessions were led by Ann. In his sermon Father Mervyn pointed out that the colour of the day was pink or rose. He talked about how pink was a colour of Joy, a joy shared by all little girls who loved pink especially his 3 granddaughters. For Christians we were now half way through the Advent Season and this Sunday we lit the pink candle of the Advent wreath. We need to remember that the word JOY reminded us that we should put Jesus first, others next and yourself last. John the Baptist put Jesus first as he proclaimed that we should repent and that he was sent to prepare the way. This was our task; to prepare our contacts, the people we mix with day by day, so they, and we, would be ready when Jesus comes again. In the meanwhile we have opportunity to meet him every time we come to Mass for he is present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
YESTERDAY’S SATURDAY SHOP TOOK £210
On Friday many of the congregation went to the YMCA for our annual Christmas Meal. We started by congratulating Betty who was celebrating her 80th Birthday, we sang “Happy Birthday” and enjoyed toasting her with Buck’s Fizz.
The meal was very good – three courses – with vegetarian options.
Today Father Mervyn presided at the Parish Mass in a church which was very nearly full. Father Martin read the Gospel, preached and led our Intercessions during which we remembered Nelson Mandela and his family and South Africa. In his sermon Father Martin spoke about “I’m a Celebrity – Get me out of Here” which is currently on ITV and which finishes tonight. He talked about locusts and honey and reminded us of how the Israeli’s had diverted a small part of the River Jordan so it is on Israeli territory rather than Jordan and Lebanon. He reminded those who recently visited the area that it was in the River Jordan that John the Baptist carried out his ministry of calling people to repent very much in accord with the ministry of the Old Testament prophets looking forward to the appearance of the
Messiah.
Yesterday’s Saturday shop took £132 plus the proceeds of a raffle which finished today.
Tonight Ann and I went to our Annual Advent Carol Service and 9 Lessons. We both read Lessons and I gave the Bidding Prayer and led the prayers at the end of the service. Father Martin gave a brief introduction to each reading and carol and gave the blessing. The church looked quite lovely in candlelight. Amongst the various choir solos I particularly enjoyed the choir’s rendering of Adam lay ybounden.
Today Father Martin presided at the Parish Mass on this Advent Sunday. Father Mervyn read the Gospel, preached and led our intercessions. When the children from Sunday School came to join us Father Martin blessed the Advent Wreath and the first candle was lit by Ann who is celebrating her birthday today.
In his sermon Father Mervyn remind us that the Advent message is “keep awake – you don’t know the time or day” He quoted C S Lewis’ Screwtape Letters and talked about the bombing of the New York Trade Centre with the very sad loss of life and the tragic helicopter crash on to the roof of a Glasgow pub which had killed 8 people and injured many. in instances like these the people had no time to prepare and so it was apposite that we keep in a constant state of readiness. We should forget all the tinsel, twinkling lights, decorations, cards and other unnecessary trappings etc. evidenced in Advent (well before the event they are supposed to celebrate) and instead concentrate on what is essential: that we should be being ready to greet Jesus at Christmas and when ever he come again.
During our Intercessions we prayed for those injured in the helicopter crash in Glasgow and those who lost their lives.
ADVENT BOOKLETS “WALK WITH ME” WERE PRESENTED TO THE ADULTS AND ADVENT CALENDARS TO THE CHILDREN
YESTERDAYS SATURDAY SHOP TOOK £192
