BULLETIN                   7 DECEMBER 2008

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 2

CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 6 December

Mass at 10.00 am for Albertina Donnelly
Confession on request from 4.30 to 5.15 pm
Sunday Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Theresa Dorrans

Sunday 7 December
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am for the congregation
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon for Ann McCallum and the congregation  
Monday 8 December
Mass at 10.00 am for Sister Anne's intentions and Margaret Hughes and Jim Mathieson
Deanery Penance Service at 7.00 pm in Saint John's Church, Stevenston
Tuesday 9 December
Mass at 10.00 am for Jim Cairns
Wednesday 10 December
Mass at 10.00 am for Kenneth Donnelly
Deanery Penance Service at 2.00 pm in Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats
Deanery Penance Service at 7.00 pm in our Church
Thursday 11 December
No Mass today or any Thursday evening in December
Friday 12 December

Mass at 10.00 am for Jim McGlynn

Saturday 13 December
Mass at 10.00 am for Sam Ferguson
Confession on request from 4.30 to 5.15 pm
Sunday Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for John Dolan


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 7 December
11.00 am

Tea and Coffee after Mass

Monday 8 December
9.30 to 11.30 am
5.30 to 6.30 pm
6.30 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm

Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Weight Watchers
Saint Vincent de Paul Society  

Tuesday 9 December
11.00 am
1.00 to 3.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm
7.30 pm

Legion of Mary
Thursday Club

Keep Fit
Saint Anne's Guild

Ignatian Prayer Group

Wednesday 10 December
6.30 to 9.00 pm
Karate
Thursday 11 December
1.30 to 3.00 pm
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Brownies
Guides
Friday 12 December
9.30 to 11.30 am
7.00 pm

Parents and Toddlers
Private Function

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Kenneth Donnelly (son of Matt and Moira, in Ireland), Craig Monaghan (Stevenston)
   and Kathleen Harris who died recently and
   May Shanks 1990, Alexander Merrick 2001, Jean Graham, Rose Smith 1999,
   Robert Shanks 1996, Sarah Braniff 1961, Ann McCubbin, John McKay junior 1972,
   James Mathieson 1999, John Tracy 1999, Gerard McCulloch 1990, Margaret Hughes 2006,
   Teresa Dorans 2006, Agnes Martin 2007, Agnes Stevenson 1992, Maria Cunningham 1997,
   James McGlynn 2004, Catherine McGrattan 1969, Maria Monaghan 1998, Mary Hall 1999,
   James Taylor 2002, Margaret Spencer 1992, Margaret Newall 1994, Desmond Walsh 2007,
   James McIntosh 1998, Mary Dunn 2002 and Catherine McMahon 2005
   whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.

SUNDAY COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection amounted to £734.62. We are grateful for your generous support of the Parish. Banker's Orders amount to an average of £4000 per month.

BANKER'S ORDERS, GIFT AID AND WILLS
Have you thought of using a Bankers Order? It assists us with the safe handling of cash. Have you signed a Gift Aid Form? If you pay tax, then every £1 you give to the Parish is worth £1.28 to us. Would you consider remembering Saint Peter's in your will?

PARISH CENTRE COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection for the Parish Centre amounted to £320.02 - many thanks.


THURSDAY EVENING MASS
Please note that there will be no Thursday evening Mass during December.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Pauline Taylor at 5.30 pm, Sarah Guthrie at 10.00 am and Marade Griffin at 12.00 noon.

ADVENT
The season of Advent has begun. Our Advent Wreath, an evergreen circle, representing the never-ending of presence of Christ, is in place. Advent is a time of reflection and prayer in preparation for Christmas. Most of our preparation is in writing cards, buying presents, going to shows and so on but there needs to be some preparation if we are to welcome Christ our Saviour properly.

CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS
Penance services have been arranged in the Churches of the Deanery. Various nights and an afternoon have been chosen. It might mean a bit of travelling to get the date which suits you. Please make the effort. The times are:
  Monday 8 December at 7.00 pm - Saint John's, Stevenston
  Wednesday 10 December at 2.00 pm - Saint Mary's, Saltcoats
  Wednesday 10 December at 7.00 pm - Saint Peter's, Ardrossan
  Monday 15 December at 7.00 pm - Saint Bride's, West Kilbride

BURNS SUPPER
The Burns Supper will be held in the Parish Centre on Friday 13 February 2009. Tickets and details of the top table guests will be available soon. Further details of this and previous Burns Suppers are on Saint Peter's website.


SUGGESTION LEAFLET
There is a leaflet coming soon which indicates the events we will try to organise and have room for suggestions. The Parish Centre is well used for private functions but there are few Parish functions and we need to remedy that if we are to make the Centre viable. You support it well with the second collection, so how about using it a bit more? We need the support.

LEGION OF MARY
The Legion of Mary meets in the Parish Centre on Tuesday mornings at 11.00 am. If you have time for prayer and to visit the sick and housebound then the Legion would like to welcome you as a member. What about coming along to the meeting and observing? You will be very welcome.

THE STALL
A lovely selection of Christmas cards, card holders and Christmas gifts is available at the stall.

CONCERT OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC
A Christmas Concert will be held in Saint Peter's Church on Sunday 21 December at 3.00 pm. It will feature local soloists, Marie Claire Breen, Theresa Coulter, Jamie Munn and other local singers. All proceeds will go to HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust.


CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Well done to the Christmas raffle prizewinners, first - E McLaughlin, second - E Burns, third - M Harvey, fourth - M Murray.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO
North Ayrshire Schools Senior Choir, accompanied by a full professional orchestra, will perform a selection of classical works by Vivaldi , Rutter and Pergolesi on Sunday 7 December at 7.30 pm. Tickets costing £8 and £6 concession are available at the door.

ARDROSSAN IN 2007 DVD

Ardrossan in 2007 is a DVD that takes the viewer on a two and a quarter hour journey through Ardrossan to see the town as it was in the year 2007. Every month from January to December, recordings were made to capture the town's scenes for posterity. The DVD features the Clyde Marina, Harbour, Arran Ferries, Castle Hill, Highland Games, South Beach, North Shore, Holm Plantation, Three Towns Bypass, all rail stations, churches and schools and many other scenes. You can be a 'passenger' on car journeys through the main streets and see many buildings old and new. Every scene is captioned. The DVD is available for sale at £5.50. After 50p has been deducted for the disc, wallet and inlay card, the profit of £5 per DVD will be given to a community project in Ardrossan or a local charity. The DVD might make an appreciated Christmas present for current or former Ardrossan residents. If you would like to buy a DVD, please contact George McGrattan. It is also available online by clicking here.

WORK ON THE CHURCH
The new carpet is now in place. I am making an appeal for 400 donations of £20 to cover the cost. I realise it is not a good time but if everyone has a hand in paying for the work, we will do it easily. Envelopes are available and if you are a taxpayer and fill in the details on the envelope, your £20 will become more than £25 under Gift Aid. You can put whatever you want in the envelope. £20 is only a suggestion. I am very grateful to all those who have contributed. The total cost is over £8000, but we are more than half way there. Work on the Blessed Sacrament Chapel has stalled in the meantime. We need a few ideas, please. It still looks like a 'work in progress'. The total to date is £4935.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS - MISSION STATEMENT
The Catholic Church in Scotland is concerned with the lives, safety, wholeness and well-being of each individual person within God's purpose for everyone. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of people of all ages who are involved in whatever capacity with the Church and its organisations. As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us, ordained, professed, paid and voluntary members, to work together to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults.