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Attendance last week was 633. Thank you for your offering of £1,877 (including gift aid) for CAFOD Lent Fast Day.
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Sunday 23/3/14 |
Third Sunday of Lent 6pm (Sat) – Mary Chang, RIP (Mary Sands and family) 9.15am – Kenneth Jackson, RIP (M. Jackson) 11am – Christopher Walsh, RIP (Benson family)
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Monday 24/3/14 |
Feria of Lent 9.30am – Victor & Francis Lobo, RIP (Rebello family)
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Tuesday 25/3/14 |
The Annunciation of the Lord 9.30am – Melvyn Haynes, RIP (Maureen Haynes)
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Wednesday 26/3/14 |
Feria of Lent 9.30am – REQUIEM Mass for Zita Rossin
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Thursday 27/3/14 |
Feria of Lent 9.30am – Frank Dawson, RIP (Eileen Dawson)
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Friday 28/3/14 |
Feria of Lent 9.30am – Margaret Edwards, RIP (Deirdre Marshall)
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Saturday 29/3/14 |
Feria of Lent 9.30am – Kenneth Thomas (Llew Thomas)
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Sunday 30/3/14 |
Fourth Sunday of Lent 6pm (Sat) – Michael Loh, RIP (Mary Sands & family) 9.15am – People of the Parish 11am – In Thanksgiving (Keen and Teare family)
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This week - Lent 3 – the liturgy is dominated by two women. The first appears in today’s gospel and is the ‘woman at the well’ – a Samaritan woman of doubtful virtue who offers the thirsty Jesus’ a drink of water. This is a rich and fascinating piece of St. John’s gospel. It is quite long, and the dialogue leads the woman from doubt, through curiosity, and, hesitantly, towards faith in Jesus. It is (in narrative form) a kind of ‘model catechesis’ – leading a person from initial enquiry, to faith in Jesus and commitment to him within the community of the church. And finally the woman witnesses to her new found faith, telling her neighbours,...’Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did.’ This should be the pattern of our own Christian lives, as we seek to learn more about Jesus, and also as we seek to witness to him by the quality of our lives, and (maybe) sometimes, by our words. The second woman is the Blessed Virgin Mary because on Tuesday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation. Almighty God asks a young woman to be his mother, to bear him into this world as a human being. (Mary is ’theotokos =’God-bearer.’) Note he asks, not forces. Graciousness, self-effacement are marks of true love. And Mary responds:’ Be it done to me according to your word.’ Incredible, the depth of these words! A ‘blind date’ with God! And of course we know the rest of the story (I hope.) A story of pain, hope, faith, ambiguity and finally- glory. Very often it is artists, composers or poets who are able to plumb the spiritual depths, and express those mysteries in ways which are accessible to us. I will close with the end of Gerard Manley Hopkins’ strange poem, ‘The Blessed Virgin Mary Compared to the Air We Breathe.’ Merely a woman, yet Whose presence, power is Great as no goddess’s Was deemed, dreamed; who This one work has to do- Let all God’s glory through, God’s glory which would go Through her and from her flow Off, and no way but so. It would be great to see a full church at Mass on Tuesday at 9.30am. Fr Bryan.
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This evening (Sunday) we have the Petts Wood Festival Chorus concert at 7.30pm. Beautiful choral music for the season, including Schubert’s Mass in G, motets by Bruckner and other pieces. It should end by 9.0.pm. The choir will be singing part of the programme from our excellent choir gallery. Tickets: £5 -supporting Bromley and Lewisham ‘Mind.’ |
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THIS WEEK |
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Monday: Pondering the Word at 11am Craft and Games at 1.30pm. The Cross and Suffering led by Rev. Simon Cragg at the Methodist Church (1.30pm and 8.00pm)
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Tuesday: Finance Committee at 10.30am (mtg. rm.)
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Wednesday: Requiem Mass for Zita Rossin (late of 32, St. George’s Rd.) Parishioners please support. Zita was a faithful home communicant for many years. Our prayers are with Margaret at this time. Holy Week Choir Practice – 8pm-9.30pm in choir gallery. All singers welcome but commitment essential – only four weeks! (See last week’s ‘Briefly’ for dates and times.)
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Friday: Stations of the Cross at 7pm
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Saturday: Quiet Day – here at St. James’. This is a good Lenten opportunity to give some time to God. The church will be open at 9am with Mass at 9.30.am. Coffee at 10 am, followed by talks and quiet times. Shared lunch from 12.30-1.30pm. Followed by a further talk and quiet time. No need to book - try to come for all or part of the day. Flyers in the porch.
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Next Sunday -mid-Lent - is Mothering Sunday., Traidcraft Easter Eggs available (and today 23rd).
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Next week on Wednesday April 2nd: PASSOVER SUPPER CELEBRATION (7.30pm, Social Centre.) An opportunity to be taken through the rituals of the Jewish Passover Meal. No charge- but a collection will be taken to cover expenses. Flyers in porch. All welcome inc. families. This is the last opportunity to reserve your place(s) on the sign-up sheet (in porch) |
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On Friday March 14th there was a beautiful Lenten Taize service in our cathedral (St. George’s, Southwark.) The cathedral was almost full, and many of our confirmation group attended. Would you like a Taize service ‘Round the Cross’, here in St. James on Good Friday evening at 8pm? This would be another time for reflection and prayer, with the beautiful Taize chants. If so would you please email : taize@stjamespettswood.org so that we have some idea of interest. |
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Swieconka - (pronounced ‘shvyehn-tson-kah). It has been suggested by Polish members of our congregation that we have this traditional blessing of baskets of Easter food on Holy Saturday morning (April 19th) time probably 11.30am. Originating in the 15th century, most Polish families maintain this tradition- it would be great for all of us to learn about this! It marks the end of a rigorous Lenten Fast (!) and foods were blessed to mark the end of Lent. Prayers will be in Polish AND English and ALL are warmly welcome. (Details of foods next week.) |
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Knights of St. Columba say a big ‘thank you’ to all who attended the St. Patrick’s night event. A key highlight was the McSloy School of Irish Dancing, and music from Iron Mountain band. A cheque for £425 has been presented to the parish for youth activities. Many thanks to KSC for this event. |
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Church Cleaning is flagging. We all have a duty to take our turn (list in porch) Last week (15th) the church was cleaned by one (teenage, male) member of the congregation because no-one ion the designated group turned up. A poor show and not very Lenten . Would everyone please not carefully (and put in your diaries) your date (s). It is very little to ask – just an hour, two or three times a year.......We are a voluntary co-operative and we must all be responsible for our Catholic community. We trust everyone to co-operate.
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As we have the Quiet Day next Saturday could the year 9 parents please clean on Friday – 4pm-5pm? thank you. It would be helpful if you would sign the list on the porch table.
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ADDENDUM
Thanks for your Foodbank items.....(see your CAFOD total on board- fantastic!....if you missed this, spare envelopes on table....please GIFT AID!!)
Concert this evening (Sunday) – please support !
Quiet Day next Saturday- just drop in as/ when you can.........
Gaudium Evangelii (£5) by Pope Francis – highly recommended (on table) ALL other booklets just 50p- please move them today......
Gift Aid- new boxes- please TAKE !! (Also see back of this sheet.)
Service of Reconciliation – Sunday April 6th- for all the family (3.30pm). A short penitential service (30 mins) followed by the opportunity to make your confession (but NO obligation to do so.) (Fr.Bryan plus three visiting priests.) Let’s have a full church.
Guides LiveSimply Lenten Lunch – Sunday April 13th- please support by signing list.