Although we are at the fifth Sunday of Easter, our Gospel reading today takes us back to the Last Supper, and Jesus’ “farewell discourse”. Surely we should be reading about the resurrection?

The reason for this is that for St John (writer of today’s gospel), Jesus’ glorification (i.e. his resurrection and ascension) is shown forth in his death on the cross - they are all aspects of one reality.

So for St John, the cross is the “cross of glory”, and hopefully, with the eyes of faith, we can “see” that.  It is in St John’s gospel alone that, from the crucified side of Jesus, there flows water and blood (Baptism and Eucharist), the two fundamental sacraments which the church is based.  So, a lot of symbolism in this gospel, written about AD 90.

As members of Christ’s Body, we too, are called to share in that glory, that cross, by giving up our lives to God and to other people. Indeed, Jesus reminds us that people will only recognise us as his disciples if we love one another as he loved us.

And there’s the rub.....

....because we can only love one another if we know one another! We are essentially a community of Christ’s disciples, not a crowd of isolated and anonymous individuals. We need to meet together, to come together, to really get to know and love one another and we do attempt this in all kinds of ways in the parish community. Perhaps try giving the sign of peace to someone you do not know?

What about coffee after Mass even if you never usually do?

Welcome to Mass. Please make sure you take (one per family): Choosing the Common Good; Faith Today; Bishop’s Statement; Gift Aid It!; and summary of Parish Forum ( five items in all- we ran out last Sunday!). We especially welcome newcomers to our community – do come into the adjoining hall (through car park) after Mass for refreshments! Also please fill in a Registration Form if you have changed any of your details – thank you.  

We welcome through Holy Baptism (Sat 4.30pm) Darcie (3yrs) and Leo (8mths) Humberstone, their parents Jonathon and Louise and godparents Patricia, Dominic and Claire. 

Care of the Sick – please remember Elena Lams and Mary Peachey in your prayers, and please let me know of anyone in the parish who is ill – thank you.

Notices
Today	3pm Petts Wood Festival Chorus rehearsal
Monday 3/5/10	Bank Holiday- no Exposition after Mass, no Confirmation or Evangelium.
Tuesday 4/5/10	Mass at 7.15pm.
Wednesday 5/5/10	Mass at 9am in St James School (Year 5) – all parishioners most welcome – followed by coffee in school. 8pm – Meeting for all Welcomers in the social centre to discuss arrangements for the newcomers evening on June 19^th.
Thursday 6/5/10	7.45pm Pastoral and Advisory Team (PAT) - presbytery
Saturday  8/5/10	Sowing Good Seeds – seven of our catechists will be attending this course at St Joseph’s Bromley. 7.30 - 11.00 pm – All leaders (past and present) of the Guides and Scouts are very welcome to come and celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the 3rd Petts Wood Guides and Scouts in the social centre.  Buffet and bar.  RSVP to Teresa Troy at: ttroy18@yahoo.co.uk .
Monday 10/5/10	Requiem Mass for Kevin Brady RIP at 10am. Kevin was organist here for many years. I do hope that as many parishioners as possible will come. (No confess/exposition today.) Our sympathy to his sister Frederica.
Tuesday 11/5/10	7pm – Meeting for all parents of First Communion children (ending by 8pm.)
Sunday 16/5/2010	Petts Wood Festival Chorus – both concerts on Sunday May 16^th. (See poster.) Please support one of these performances – and support also members of the congregation who are singing. Tickets (£7.00) from repository or Rainbow Christian Centre in Queensway. It is usually a sell-out – so don’t miss out!
Saturday 22/5/10	Return visit of LYRA – the vocal ensemble of four young professional singers from St Petersburg, Russia – at 7.30pm in church.  Last year they gave us a wonderful evening of Russian music – much of it in national costume! This concert is free and there is a retiring collection....

25 of our young people will be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit on May 18^th when Bishop Pat will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Please remember them all in your prayers.

Jeu d’Esprit

Flame –dancing Spirit, come,

Sweep us off our feet and

Dance us through our days.

Surprise us with your rhythms,

Dare us to try new steps, explore

New patterns and new partnerships.

Release us from old routines,

To swing in abandoned joy

And fearful adventure.

And in the intervals,

Rest us,

In your still centre.    ....A poem by Ann Lewin

Thanks to Nick Babb who took seven of our servers to Westminster Cathedral last week for a wonderful Guild of St Stephen Mass with Archbishop Vincent Nichols; and also to Zosia Bajorek and Ann Jackson for the wonderful Taize service here last Sunday

Every blessing. Fr Bryan

Mass attendances on Sunday were 693.
Mass Intentions for Sunday  2^nd May 2010
Sunday	6pm	In loving memory of Maria Junghans RIP (the Lyons family)
	10am	People of the Parish
	11.30am	Private Intention (the Bridle family)
Monday   Sts Philip and James	9.30am	Julie Devlin RIP (E Gibson)
Tuesday The English Martyrs	9.30am	Kitty O’Riordan RIP (Ned)
	7.15pm	Mrs Shirley Singleton RIP (Graham Price)
Wednesday Feria	9.30am	Recovery of Greg Butler (Patrick Driscoll)
Thursday Feria	9.30am	Kevin Kennedy RIP (Madeleine Howell)
Friday Feria	9.30am	Mr Clarke RIP (A Wheeler)
Mass Intentions for Sunday  9^th May 2010
Sunday	6pm	Ellen & Frederick Durden RIP (MV Colman)
	10am	Kathleen Jeeves WELF (the Bridle family)
	11.30am	People of the Parish