Attendance last week was 679.

 

Sunday 

12/1/14

Baptism of the Lord

6pm (Sat) – Elisabeth Potttier, RIP (Family members)

9.15am – People of the Parish

11am – Mary Hooper. RIP (Bunnage family)

 

Monday

13/1/14

Feria

9.30am – Mrs and Mrs Patrick & Nora Lorigan, RIP (M. O’Leary)

 

Tuesday

14/1/14

Feria

9.30am – Mark O’Neill (Baz), RIP (H. and T. Forde)

 

Wednesday

15/1/14

Feria

9.30am – Private Intention (Teresa West)

 

Thursday

16/1/14

Feria

9.30am – Eileen, Patrick and William Keane, RIP (P. Earrant)

 

Friday

17/1/14

St Anthony, abbott

9.30am – Joyce Tuckfield, RIP (M. Stanley)

 

Saturday

18/1/14

Feria

9.30am – People of the Parish

 

Sunday 

19/1/14

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

6pm (Sat) – Joan Hansford, RIP (Hansford family)

9.15am – Welfare of Sr Avril Foster (Mary Hutchinson)

11am – Margaret Walsh (Benson family)

 

 

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Christ - the start of his public ministry, empowered with the Spirit of God.

 

Baptism is the fundamental sacrament of the church the start of our Christian lives. It marks our entry into the Christian community, (which is why we administer baptism at Mass, when the community is assembled).

 

We too, through our baptism/confirmation, have been empowered with the same Spirit of God i.e. given the necessary spiritual resources to live our lives as God would have us live them, modelled on the life, teaching and example of Jesus. Like Jesus, we too are beloved daughters and sons of God (he by nature, we through baptism).

 

Baptism frees us from ‘original sin’ (our radical dislocation from God and from other people) – it imparts a ‘mark’ on our souls and sets us on the Christian trajectory towards God and eternal life. But we know only too well (as did Christ) that we continue to sin after baptism- which is why he instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the forgiveness of sins- to be administered by those who have his authority (bishops and priests).

 

Last Summer the Pastoral and Advisory Team discussed the Sacrament of Reconciliation and what it meant to each of us. We shared our own experiences: some good, and some not so good. We wondered how this sacrament might best be celebrated here at St. James’ and to that end we have produced a short questionnaire asking ‘when’ ‘how’ and ‘why’ you want to celebrate the sacrament.

 

This invitation to express your views is open to everyone aged 14+ whether or not the Sacrament of Reconciliation features in your life. Your answers are to be completely anonymous and we really do want to know what you think. We plan to send the results of the survey to the Archbishop, and, of course to let you know the findings.

 

The idea is that we shall complete the survey during all Sunday Masses next weekend (18th/19th Jan.) but copies are available from both entrances to the church should you wish to take one in advance. If you do take a copy this week please do bring it with you next week!

 

‘Turn Us Around’

a poem by Ruth Burgess.

 

Turn us around, God,

around into your way of thinking,

around into your way of  loving.

 

Turn us around, God,

and confront us with Jesus.

Baptise our fears with your joy.

 

Today (Sunday) – Traidcraft Goods on sale after all Masses. Please support in the usual way!  We welcome our uniformed groups to Mass at 11 am.

 

Monday:

Mass at 9.30am and each Monday from today. (Morning Prayer at 9.10am).

 

Monday Club (hall- 1.30pm-3.30.pm). Table tennis, cards, craft work- everyone warmly welcome! Do come along if you are around.

 

Tuesday:

Project Board (development of our property), 8pm, meeting room.

 

Petts Wood Churches Together meeting – Quaker Hall at 7.30pm.

 

Wednesday:

Petts Wood Festival Chorus, (church-7.45pm-9.30pm).  A very good first rehearsal last week.  If you would like to sing in the concert (March 23rd) please come along on Wednesday evening (final chance to register).  Music- and especially singing- is deeply spiritual- and also great fun!

 

Friday:

Parents and toddlers (hall, 1.30pm-3pm) – all welcome.

 

Saturday:

1st Day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

 

Church cleaning, 10am-11 am (yr 5 parents please).

 

Sunday (19th):

2nd collection for our Maintenance Fund.  (Please Gift Aid).   As you know we are planning refurbishment of the hall next summer.  The church wiring and lighting also needs to be renewed. 

The new church sound system should be installed this week - many thanks to the four parishioners who have generously funded this.

Thanks also to the generous donor of our new statue of St. Anthony near the smaller entrance. The former statue is now housed in the choir room, off the gallery.

 

7’s and 8’s at 5pm. 

Confirmation Group at 6.30.pm. (Apologies for the cancellation of both groups last Sunday due to illness of leaders.)

 

Also next Sunday (19th) we have been invited to the Quaker Meeting (Ladywood Road) at 3pm - as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I hope as many of you as possible will make the effort to go.

 

‘Dad and Me.’  

A keen group of Dads in our congregation would like to start up a group for Dads and their children- perhaps monthly. Initial planning meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 8.30pm in the meeting room.  All Dads most welcome.