Today we begin the season of Advent.
Let’s make the most of it for it passes very quickly and we get caught up in the Christmas rush.
Our readings today encourage us to renew our trust in God’s providence.
We are often tempted to lose patience when our hopes and dreams are thwarted. The Jewish people, in exile in Babylon, felt like this. Jerusalem, the temple, the land and the monarchy were no more. Their past identity was obliterated and they doubted God’s promise. However the prophet Jeremiah tells them not to give up (first reading). Though David’s family tree had been cut down, a green shoot will merge from the dead stump and life will begin again. But it is still difficult to understand God’s ways.
St Paul encourages us to persevere (second reading) and Jesus tells us to “stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.”
Our world may be shaken by wars and natural disasters, by self indulgence and by addictions but with patience and prayerful watching for our coming salvation we can stand secure. May this be our experience this Advent.
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Notices for this week |
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Monday 30/11/09 |
CWL meeting at 7.30pm with a talk at 8.15pm by Sue Gilder, Chaplain to Harris HospiceCare. All parishioners welcome. Christmas choir practice at 8.00pm (NB change of night).
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Tuesday 1/12/09 |
Service of Reconciliation for Advent at 7.30pm. There will be no Mass at 7.15pm tonight. I do hope we shall have a full church. 6 priests will be available to hear confessions and you are invited to borrow “Making a Better Confession” (in porch) – we should finish by 8.30pm.
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Wednesday 2/12/09 |
Funeral service for Kevin Kennedy, RIP at Beckenham Crematorium, at 2.15pm. Kevin was a faithful home communicant for many years and was a source of inspiration to everyone. Our prayers are for him and for his wife Barbara and son Tony. Catechists’ course (5/11) at7.45pm; the last session before January. Hall Development Specification Team at 8.00pm in the meeting room in the corridor between hall and church.
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Thursday 3/12/09 |
Mission and Planning Team (MaP) at 7.45pm in the meeting room. Please contact any member of the team if you have a matter to be discussed.
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Friday 4/12/09 |
This morning the staff of St James’ school will be at Emmaus West Wickham for a period of spiritual reflection (led by Doreen Hairs).
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Saturday 5/12/09 |
Saturday 5th December – The Wave climate march in central London. Meet at Petts Wood Station at 9.15am, service in Westminster Central Hall (opposite the Abbey) at 11.00am and then march to the Thames. This will be a huge national event and CAFOD encourages all Catholic parishes to be involved. See our website for further details. Unfortunately this clashes with .... St James’ School Christmas Fair (12noon-3.00pm) – please support! |
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Notices and Items of Interest |
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Many thanks to everyone who helped yesterday (Saturday) with clearing leaves outside and cleaning the hall – greatly appreciated! Sunday 13th December – Over 60s Christmas lunch. List in porch. If you need transport please contact Frank Simon. “Make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants.” (second reading) Hoping to see you Tuesday at 7.30pm. Fr Bryan |
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Mass attendances last week – 633 |
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The Poppy Appeal raised £188.22. The retiring collection Help for Heroes raised £1,003.20, and our CWL branch thanks the parish for this magnificent response. |
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Masses during the Week of: Sunday 29th November 2009 – 1st Sunday of Advent (C) |
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Saturday |
6.00pm |
People of the Parish |
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Sunday |
10.00am |
Susan Morrison & James O’Boyle, RIP (The Prifti family) |
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11.30am |
Marie Chadwick, RIP (B Shea) |
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Monday St Andrew |
9.30am |
CWL – deceased members RIP |
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Tuesday Feria |
9.30am |
Kenneth Jackson, RIP |
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No Mass this evening due to Penitential Service at 7.30pm |
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Wednesday Feria |
9.30am |
Kitty O’Riordan, RIP (Ned O’Connor) |
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Thursday St Francis Xavier |
9.30am |
Jack Quigley, RIP (Rosemary Scott) |
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Friday Feria |
9.30am |
Eileen and Cornelius O’Shea, RIP (E Gibson) |
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Next Sunday 6th December, 2nd Sunday of Advent (C) |
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Saturday |
6.00pm |
Kenneth Jackson, RIP |
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Sunday |
10.00am |
People of the Parish |
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11.30am |
Dickie Dyckhoff, RIP (B Shea) |
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Daily Morning Prayer: Monday - Friday at 9.10am |
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Weekday Masses: Monday - Friday at 9.30am and Tuesday 7.15pm unless otherwise stated |
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Confessions are heard: Saturday at 5.00-5.30pm and Monday at 10.00-10.30am |
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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Mondays at 10.00-10.30am |
Wednesday 2nd December 2009
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Coffee |
A Scripture /B D’Arcy |
Church cleaning |
S Ingle /E Doyle / E Said |
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Sunday 6th December 2009 |
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Welcomers |
6pm |
10am |
11.30am |
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J Callinan |
P Murray J Gibson |
E Lams /S Barradell M Cooper |
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Readers |
6pm |
10am |
11.30am |
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A Fernandes C Kiely
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A O’Reilly S Howell |
R Scott M Akpata- Adesida |
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Ministers of Holy Communion |
6pm |
10 am |
11.30am |
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M Hutchinson H Rothan A Babb B Babb J Bajorek |
U Floris W David C Delf D Hairs M Howell M Morley |
L Longhurst J Longhurst S Ingle D O’Neill P Powell Z Bajorek |
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Bar |
Tellers |
Coffee 10am |
Coffee 11.30am |
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M Wright N Longhurst |
M Clark J Clark |
M Copley M Sands M Ardron |
P Flockhart A Huntington S Ingle |
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Contact us at 283 Crescent Drive, Petts Wood, BR5 1AY, on 01689 827100; or you can send email for Fr Bryan to father.bryan@stjamespettswood.org; and see our website at www.stjamespettswood.org