Thank you for your offering last week of £1448.83.  Mass attendances were 771. 

Sunday

6/3/16

4th Sunday of Lent

 

6.00pm Ivy Nelligan RIP (F Simon)

 

9.15am  Pam Fisher RIP (E Bryant)

 

11.00am  People of the Parish

 

4.00pm  Stations of the Cross

 

Monday

7/3/16

 

Feria

 

9.30am Margaret & Edward Cushman RIP (E Cushman)

 

Tuesday

8/3/16

Feria

 

9.30am  Ellen Melling RIP (E Melling)

 

Wednesday

9/3/16

Feria

 

9.30am Deceased Members of the Fenner Family (Foundation)

 

Thursday

10/3/16

Feria

 

9.30am  Anthony Olivelle RIP (M Olivelle)

 

Friday

11/3/16

Feria

 

9.30am  Fr Bryan Wells & Family (Howell Family)

 

Saturday

12/3/16

Vigil Mass

 

6.00pm  Edith Mary George RIP (George Family)

 

Sunday

13/3/16

5th Sunday of Lent

 

9.15am  People of the Parish

 

11.00am  Noah Mark Rothon RIP (Rothon Family)

 

4.00pm  Stations of the Cross

 

Confessions heard Saturday 5.00pm-5.45pm or by appointment.

Morning Prayers - Takes place Monday – Friday at 9.10am.  All are welcome to attend.

Pondering the Word (Lectio Divina)

A quiet reflective look at the following Sunday’s Gospel.  Mondays 11-12 noon here in the church.  All welcome. 

Fr David Writes…..

Family dynamics can be messy.  As a family, we are bonded together by blood and by a mutual history but at the same time we do experience our place within the family differently.  And this is understandable as we all live out our experience within the family through our own unique personality, expectations and needs.  Our attachment to our parents can be diverse depending on a lot of different facets.  These depend according to the circumstances which our parents would have been going through themselves as individuals and also a couple at the time of the pregnancy or upbringing.  If for example, a mother is going through the loss of an older child or her own parents at the time of the pregnancy and early childhood, this grief would have been transmitted to the child consciously or unconsciously.  The child would not understand immediately the impact on her or his psyche at the time but it would have definitely affected how they perceive themselves first and foremost and also how they would perceive life in general.  Children born in grief which their parents are experiencing do have an impact on things without any shadow of doubt.  Some children would have been fortunate enough to have had a secure attachment with their parents.  These would find it less difficult to let go of their parents and find their own place in the world.  They would find it easier to cut the “umbilical cord” from their parents psychologically and emotionally.  They know that whatever choices they make, the doors of their family home would be always opened for them.  They would not fear rejection or abandonment.  On the other hand children who would have had insecure attachments to their parents would find it difficult to let go and either go off to do their thing feeling resentful or else remain at home hoping always to feel affirmed and loved by their parents and feeling resentful just the same when the attention, according to them, is not shown to them but to their other siblings.  They feel resentful because according to them, it’s them who are doing the sacrifice of carers to their parents and they should reap the rewards whilst they feel resentful of their siblings who seem to have it all without the responsibilities of taking care of their aging parents.  These dynamics can break family relationships especially after the death of their parents.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells a story about a father who has two sons and who really loses them both.  The younger son gets lost in a far country while the elder son gets lost staying at home.  The younger son leaves home, but his journey leads him to a place of hunger, of degradation and of possible death.  He is in danger of dying far away, forgotten and forsaken.  But he comes to his senses when he realises that he doesn’t really belong there but has a home to belong to.  He chooses to leave his home to explore himself – to find himself away from his father (family unit).  Unfortunately he makes choices fuelled by instant gratification on a lot of levels which led him to experience rock bottom.  He realises that and decides to go back home.  Going back home though as an adult – he chooses to go back home.  Deep down he knows that his father will be waiting for him.  All this time, his father has not accepted the loss of his son.  The loss of his son has not nullified their relationship.  He is a father who stays on the look-out, whose eyes look at the horizon for the return of his son, whose love educates his hope that his son will one day return home.  And so when he does see his son a long way off he is moved with pity to run and meet him.  The father’s love takes the initiative.  He meets his son with love’s extravagance.  Instead of anger, he organises a celebration.  His son is found.  Mercy is given!  The elder son is different.  He is one of those children that remain home because of obligation.  The father goes out another time because his son was so angry at his brother’s return and his father’s joy, that he felt resentful and refused to go into the house.  “All these years I have slaved for you”.  That is the voice of resentfulness.  He sees loyalty as slavery.  Yeats wrote – “Too long a sacrifice – can make a stone of a heart”.  Unlike his father, he cannot surprise his brother with the quality of his mercy.  His hard work has made him hard hearted.  When we look at ourselves, we can probably see parts of each of the three characters in us.  All three characters are within us competing to shape our lives.  This Lent let’s pray that the father in us will be fit and willing to run for mercy.

Second Collection

Will take place next weekend for the Maintenance Fund.

Stations of the Cross

We are all invited to come to pray this beautiful prayer together as a community in church during Lent.  This year we will meet on Sunday evenings at 4.00pm.  Please try to join us at least once as we prayerfully follow the journey of Jesus to his death on Calvary using different meditations and reflections.

On Palm Sunday 20th March, there will be a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross at 4.00pm.  A rehearsal for this will be held on Saturday 12th March at 3.00pm here in the church.

“Drop-In” – Evening Surgery

The next Surgery will take place on Tuesday 8th March 5.00pm-7.00pm.  Please call at 281a Crescent Drive – no appointments necessary. 

2016 First Holy Communion Programme

First Reconciliation will take place this week at 6.00pm-7.00pm on the following days:
-  Group 1:  Wednesday 9th March;

-  Group 2:  Thursday 10th March.

The next session will take place on Saturday 12th March 4.30pm-5.45pm. 

Traidcraft Stall

Will take place this weekend and orders will be taken for The Real Easter Egg, the only one which is Fairtrade and has the Easter story in the box.

2016 Confirmation Programme

The next meeting will take place on Monday 7th March 7.00pm-8.30pm in the Community Centre.

Baptism Preparation Sessions

Will take place this Monday 7th March at 8.15pm in the Parish Meeting Room, 281a Crescent Drive for those parents that have been invited.

St James’ Social Club AGM

This will be held on Sunday 13th March at 12.30pm in the Community Centre.

Items on the agenda will be as follows:-

1.      Minutes of last AGM;

2.      Election of Committee for 2016/2017;

3.      Financial Report;

4.      Amendment to the Club Rules;

5.      Any other business.

All are welcome to attend.

Service for Bereaved Parents

Will take place on Sunday 17th April at 3.00pm in the St James’ Community Centre.

St Patrick’s Social Evening

The Knights are holding a St Patrick’s social evening on March 19th at 7.00pm in the St James’ Community Centre.  A light Buffet will be served.  Tickets will be on sale after all masses for £8 per head or £25 Family ticket.  Or please call Frank or terry.connolly@stjamespettswood.org.  All profits are going to the Parish Maintenance Fund. 

Bromley Foodbank

We now receive a weekly update from the Foodbank of what they are currently short of.  This week they need Toilet Rolls, Pasta Sauce, Coffee, Potatoes (tinned), Milk and Sugar.  Please leave donations in or on the box in the passage at the back of church.  St James' parishioners have been very generous since we started collecting.  The total donated is just over 3½ tons of food which has provided an estimated 5,000 meals.  There will be a general collection of food during the weekend of 12-13 March so if you can support that as well it would be much appreciated.  J&P Group.

Church Cleaning

Just a reminder to all those people on the church cleaning rotas that cleaning takes place on Saturday morning at 10.00am.  If you are unable to attend on your specified date, please arrange for another person to attend in your place.  Thank you.

SVP Race Night with a difference

Family fun filled race night.  Saturday 9th April from 7pm in the community centre with all proceeds to support the work of the SVP in the Parish.  Tickets available from Peter Benson, Graham Price or Chris Delf.  Email svp@stjamespettswood.org.  Family ticket £20, Adults £8,Children £3.  Book early to avoid disappointment for this very popular event.  Pizza for all the children.

Youth Retreat 30th September-2nd October 16

The Parish Youth Team are organising a retreat on the above dates at St Vincent’s Centre Whitstable.  All young adults that have been confirmed are invited to attend this retreat.  The cost will be £75.00.

If you could confirm your interest to the Parish Office via email parish.office@stjamespettswood.org or telephone 01689 827100. 

St James' Pre-school is recruiting!

For more information about positions available please email Grainne MacManus at stjamespreschool@live.co.uk for more information.

Lent & Easter 2016 at St James’

These two great seasons of the Liturgical year are an opportunity for every person to experience a closer journey alongside Jesus.  There are many activities and services available to nourish and enrich your journey.

 

Stations of the Cross (4.00pm, every Sunday) 

This is a procession telling the story of Jesus' Passion.  We will have different readings and reflections each week to remember the story through different perspectives.

 

Petts Wood Churches Together Talks (Tuesdays 8 & 15 March)

1.30pm – 3.00pm at Christ Church URC

8.00pm-9.30pm at Methodist Church, Queensway.

Please see poster at back of church.

 

Discussion Group (Tuesday 8 March)

8 - 9.30pm, a group of catechists will lead a discussion to reflect on Pope Francis' sermons around the Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Everyone is most welcome to come along.  Tea and Coffee will also be provided!

Please sign up on the sheet at the back of the church so we have some idea of numbers.

 

Lenten Reconciliation for children and young people (Wednesday 16 March from 3.30pm)

Fr David will be available to hear Confessions from 3.30pm, particularly for any children or young people who would like Reconciliation before Easter.

 

Lenten Service (Wednesday 16 March, 8pm)

This service is an opportunity to reflect on the mercy and love of God.  Individual Confessions will be available after the service for anyone who wishes.

 

Palm Sunday (Sunday 20 March)

4.00 Experience the Stations of the Cross in a different way, as the stations are re-enacted with readings, reflections and music

 

Maundy Thursday (Thursday 24 March)

8pm Mass of the Last Supper. 

After Mass, we are invited to spend some time 'watching and praying' with Jesus.  Music will be available throughout this time, and the watching will end with Night Prayer at 11.50pm.  To make sure that there is always someone in the Church with Jesus, please sign your name against the time slots in the porch if you know what time you are planning to be present.

 

Good Friday (Friday 25 March)

9.30am Morning Prayer

10.30am Children’s Stations of the Cross

10.30am Petts Wood Churches Together Service

3.00pm Good Friday Service

8.00pm Taizé Prayer around the Cross

 

Easter Vigil (Saturday 26 March)

9.30am – Morning Prayer

11.30am - Święconka – Polish traditional blessing of Easter Baskets; all welcome.

8.00pm Vigil Mass

 

Readers, Welcomers and Eucharistic Ministers

These vital ministries are especially important during these seasons.  If you are able to minister during the Holy Week Masses and special services, please sign your names on the sheets in the porch.

Easter Music

 

Every parishioner is invited to join our music ministry for the Holy Week and Easter masses.  We welcome

all people whatever you play or sing!  You don't need to commit to every Mass - just whatever you are able to make.  If you would like to join us, you are welcome to come to our rehearsals:

Saturday 5 March 9.30 - 11.30

Saturday 12 March 9.30 - 11.30

Saturday 19 March 9.30 - 11.30