Lent begins On Wednesday (Ash Wednesday).  This is an 11^th century hymn:

“Now is the healing time decreed, for sins of heart, of word, or deed,

When we in humble fear record the wrong that we have done the Lord;

Who alway merciful and good, has borne so long our wayward mood

Nor cut us off unsparingly in our so god in our so great iniquity.

Therefore with fasting and with prayer, our secret sorrow we declare;

With all good striving seek his face, and lowly hearted plead his grace.

Cleanse us, O Lord, from every stain, help us the meed of praise to gain

Till with the angels linked in love, joyful we tread thy courts above.”

What can we do for Lent this year so that we grow more and more into the love of God, and then celebrate Easter true joy?  A few suggestions:

· A Mass during the week?

· Coming to the Lent course?

· Making our confession? (NB Penitential service Thursday March 18^th)

· Daily scripture reading? ( NB My Day by Day or Walk with Me)

· Coming to the Lenten Taize service? (Feb 28^th 5pm)

· Coming to the Justice and Peace meeting? (Tuesday March 9^th 8pm)

· Think about the priesthood, permanent diaconate or Religious Life?

· Forgive someone?

· Giving everything to the poor and follow Christ?

Happy Valentine’s Day! – the history of Valentine is vague but it’s probable that he was a priest who was executed in the reign of the Emperor Claudius II

(end of the third century) for refusing to deny Christ. 

A bit different from red hearts, flowers and romance! (not that there is anything wrong with these!).  Indeed let us celebrate today God’s gift of married love, whether we are married or not.

Notices and Items of interest
Today we welcome (Sat 4.30pm) through Holy Baptism Junior Mwansa, his auntie Rachel and godparents Sheila, Frank and Moji. There will be a second collection today for the Cabrini Children’s Society. Their work includes e.g. providing subsidised Breakfast and Homework Clubs; Pre-school counselling; residential care and catechetical programmes CAFOD Spring raffle – please buy your tickets today after Mass
Monday 15/2/10	Evangelium 8.30pm: the Life Of Christ
Tuesday 16/2/10	Mass at 7.15pm Petts Wood Festival Chorus 8pm
Ash Wednesday 17/2/10	Masses will be at 9.30am and 8pm.
Saturday 20/2/2010	Baptism of Lucas Valentine Simpson at 3.45pm
A number of changes have been made to the information in the Parish Booklet - an amendment sheet is available in the porch.  Copies of the main booklet are in the carousel (one copy per family please, if you haven’t had one already). Lent course – this inter church course is for the five weeks of Lent and starts on Tuesday Feb 23^rd(Christ Church Willett Way) or Wednesday Feb 24^th(Friends Meeting House, Ladywood Road). It is very disappointing that no one from St James has yet signed up, and yet this is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other Christians and explore the central mystery of our faith together – the Cross of Christ.  We really must put effort into our faith and into our church life if we claim to be followers of Christ and this involves a degree of real commitment. I shall be leading sessions 2,3,4 myself on the Wednesday course. So please....(you can just turn up on the night....)_
Wednesday 24^th Feb Deanery Pastoral Council at St Joseph’s Bromley. The meeting last month was dynamic and upbeat and we have high hopes of this Deanery Team.  Our reps are Zosia Bajorek and Nick Babb.
Thursday 25^th Feb Requiem Mass for Bill Gudge at 11am.  Our prayers and sympathy to his family. Bill worshipped at St Mary Cray but is known to many parishioners here.  There will be no 9.30am Mass on this date. Baptismal Preparation Evening for parents who have been invited – 8.15pm in the meeting room

Ashes

-powdery-grey

from keep on trying

to get a spark from two stones

-streaky black

from relighting a candle

that keeps going out

-soft white

from a fire that burned down to its heart

and kept everyone warm

-these are ashes worth wearing

a poem by Kathy Galloway

Happy are like the people who delight in God’s law....

They like a tree planted beside flowing waters who yield their fruit in due season.....( from today’s responsorial psalm)

Every blessing. Fr. Bryan

Mass attendances last week were 700.

Mass Intentions for the week of Sunday,  14^th February 2010  Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
Sunday	6pm	Bill Collins RIP (Catherine Slattery)
	10am	Teresa & John Lynch RIP (M Jackson)
	11.30am	People of the Parish
Monday   Feria	9.30am	Private Intention
Tuesday Feria	9.30am	Mrs Betty Nally RIP (Mrs O’ Leary)
	7.15pm	Peter Stanley RIP (M Stanley)
Ash Wednesday	9.30am	Sheila Simon (Wellbeing) (the Howell family)
Thursday Feria	9.30am	William Nally Welf (Mrs O’Leary)
Friday Feria	9.30am	Peter Reilly RIP (F Redmond)
Mass Intentions for Sunday  21^st February 2010 First Sunday of Lent
Sunday	6pm	People of the Parish
	10am	Andy & Mita D’Souza (the Howell Family)
	11.30am	In thanksgiving for favours received (M Akpata)

Morning Prayer:- Monday - Friday at 9.10am

Weekday Masses:- Monday- Friday at 9.30am and Tuesday 7.15pm  

Confessions are heard:- Saturday at 5.30-6pm and Monday at 10-10.30am

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:- Mondays at 10-10.30am

Don’t forget to visit our parish website:  www. stjamespettswood.org