Sunday 12 January 2014

THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST

bap[tism of Jesus
At today’s Solemn Parish Mass, Father Mervyn was the principal celebrant and led our Intercessions and Father Martin concelebrated, read the Gospel and preached. As part of the penitential rite, we had Aspeges to remind us of our own Baptism, which Father Martin took up in his sermon. He reminded us that we had visited the River Jordan in our pilgrimage in October: the Israelis had diverted part of the river into something the size of a large ditch filled with very muddy water taken from the Jordan River. Presumably this was to allow pilgrims to say they had visited the River Jordan even though in actual fact they hadn’t because most of it lies in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. (It doesn’t help that the place is very run down, the toilets unusable and it is surrounded by mine fields) Father Martin pointed out that ritual bathing had been part of the Jewish tradition for many years before John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus reminded us that this was the bridge between the Old and the New Testament. At the end of the Flood in the OT a dove was a sign and in this event a dove is a sign from God.
YESTERDAY’S SATURDAY SHOP TOOK £247
For your Diary
Saturday 22nd February

QUIZ NIGHT

Teams of up to 8 are invited to test their wits against our Quiz. Entry is £3 per person
Bring your own refreshments & snacks

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