BULLETIN               13 DECEMBER 2015

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR
3

CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 12 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Christmas intentions
Sunday Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Leo and Elizabeth Walsh

Sunday 13 December  

Sunday Mass at 10.30 am for the congregation

Monday 14 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Alex Fitzpatrick and Margaret Spencer

Tuesday 15 December  

No Mass in Saint Peter's
Penance Service in Saint John’s Church, Stevenston at 7.00 pm

Wednesday 16 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Janet Chapman, Gwen Body and Christmas intentions

Thursday 17 December  

Penance Service in Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats at 2.00 pm
Penance Service at 7.00 pm

Friday 18 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Anthony McGarvey and K McCabe

Saturday 19 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Christmas intentions
Sunday Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Rita Nash

The Mass intention list is just over two weeks ahead. Please notify anniversaries as early as you can. Thanks.
Any changes to the above times caused, for example, by a funeral will be notified on the home page of this website.


SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES

  Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats Saint John’s Church, Stevenston
Saturday 12 December  
Sunday Vigil Mass at 4.30 pm

Mass at 10.00 am

Sunday 13 December  
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am

Sunday Mass at 11.30 am

Monday 14 December  
Service at 10.00 am

Mass at 10.00 am

Tuesday 15 December  
Mass at 10.00 am

Service at 10.00 am

Wednesday 16 December  
 

Service at 10.00 am

Thursday 17 December  
Service at 10.00 am

Mass at 10.00 am

Friday 18 December  
Mass at 10.00 am

Service at 10.00 am

Saturday 19 December  
Sunday Vigil Mass at 4.30 pm

Mass at 10.00 am

 

PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 13 December  

11.30 am
7.00 pm

Tea and Coffee after Mass
Private Function

Monday 14 December  
9.30 to 11.30 am
5,30 to 6.30 pm
6,30 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm

Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 15 December  
9.00 to 11.00 am
11.00 am
5.00 to 8.00 pm
7.30 to 8.30 pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Legion of Mary
Irish Dancing
Cardio 40

Wednesday 16 December  
5.45 to 6.45 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
8.00 to 9.00 pm

Irish Dancing Class
Zumba

Retrobics

Thursday 17 December  
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm

Brownies
Guides

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Rita Nash (Ireland) who died recently;
Mary Branchfield 2003, Mary Dunn 2002, Sam Ferguson 2008, George Kelly 2011, Norman Lamont 2009, James McIntosh 1998, Catherine McMahon 2005, Ina McKay 1998, John Taylor 2002, Dr Matt Carty 2008, Monsignor Peter Murphy 1999, Mary Magee 1997, Robert McKay 1993, Denis McLaughlin 2008, Harry McNamara 2002, Sally Quigg neé Gilmour 1984, Anne Warden neé McNamara 2012, Kitty Boyle 2007, Chris Casey 2006, Susan Jones 1996, James Kernahan 1998, Frances Kilbane 1978, Roseanne Kirkwood 1991, Mark Shanks 2008, Mary Catherine Wishart 2002, Margaret Bennie, Annie Boyle, John Campbell 1997, John Dolan 2007, Sheila Douglas 2014, Annie Farmer 1984, Rose Leonard, William Martin 1974, George Poole 1991, Maureen Adamson 2014, Bobby Edwards 2014, Alice Grogan 2003, Father Peter Sweeney 2001 and May Wilson 2006 whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
If deceased members of your family are not on our anniversary list, please tell Canon Matt
, the parish office or contact WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30 pm Vigil and 10.30 am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.

SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is available at any suitable time as well as from 4.30 pm before the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings.

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY
If a member of your family or a friend is sick, please let us know and give us the details. Deacon Bill Corbett (01292 521208, 07904 248948, Rev.BillCorbett@btinternet.com) is the chaplain to Crosshouse Hospital and is assisted by the priest on call each week. Canon Pat Keegans (01292 263488) is the chaplain to Ayr Hospital and the Ayrshire Hospice.

FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the Parish and Parish Centre amount to £3800 per month. Every month, we pay a levy of £1450 to the Diocese. We are grateful for your generous support in collections. If you can manage a little more from time to time, it would be a great help. A Standing Order would make the handling of money so much easier. Have you signed a Gift Aid form? If you are a taxpayer the Church would get 25p added to every £1 you donate.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £742.31 - many thanks.

MAINTENANCE FUND COLLECTION
Last weekend's Maintenance Fund collection amounted to £282.62 - many thanks.

GIFT AID
The Inland Revenue now requires us to use a new style of Gift Aid form. These are available at the back of the Church and on the parish website. If you pay tax, please complete the new form and return it to the box provided. This allows us to provide the additional information required on the Gift Aid claim. Gift Aid is a vital source of income. All that is needed is that you pay tax. You simply declare that you give funds to the Church. We do the rest. Why not sign a form today? We get back an extra 25p for every £1 you give the Church in your weekly collection or by way of a donation. There is no need to cancel or renew it. We simply claim in the income we receive.


PARISH RECORDS
Our parish records are covered by the Data Protection Act and are for parish use only. We cannot give out phone numbers or addresses. Please help us to keep our records up to date using the cards provided.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Harry Sammons at 5.30 pm and Alfie Agostini at 10.30 am.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30 pm and Group 3 at 10.30 am.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children's Liturgy is celebrated during the 10.30 am Mass each Sunday. All children are welcome. Next week's helpers are Jacqueline Waugh and Emma Paterson for the pre-fives, Claire Sweenie, Linda Martin and Michelle Morton for primaries 1, 2 and 3 and Maria Paterson-Kidd and George Kidd for primary 4. The Caritas volunteers are Sean Henry and Aidan Grant.

SUNDAY TEAS
Next Sunday's teas will be served by Loretta McLardy’s team.
Would you consider making a team or joining a team that organises the teas and coffees after Sunday 10.30 am Mass? If so, please leave your details at the Parish Office or telephone 01294 464063.

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES
Our Advent Penance Service will be held on Thursday 17 December at 7.00 pm. There will also be Penance Services in
Saint John’s, Stevenston on Tuesday 15 at 7.00 pm and Saint Mary's, Saltcoats on Thursday 17 at 2.00 pm.

CHRISTMAS MASSES
Christmas Mass in this parish will be celebrated at 5.30 pm and 8.30 pm on Christmas Eve and at 11.00 am on Christmas Day. In
Saint Mary's, Saltcoats, the Vigil Masses are at 4.30 pm and 8.30 pm with the day Mass at 11.30 pm. In Saint John’s, Stevenston, the Masses are at 6.30 pm and 9.30 am.

FORMATION FOR MINISTRY GROUP
The Formation for Ministry Group offers this thought - that the Church is changing is obvious to all who look and we all face the challenge of Embracing Change as individual parish members. In The Joy Of The Gospel, Pope Francis asks us to pray to the Lord to open our cold hearts and shake up our lukewarm and superficial existence. It is then that “we speak of what we have seen and heard” (1 John 1:3). Embracing Change gives us the opportunity to use our talents for the benefit of our brothers and sisters. We are called to serve our communities as Jesus served us. What can I do to contribute to our Catholic community? There are numerous ways in which I can serve our community - welcoming, pass-keeping, singing, cleaning, flowers, proclaiming the Word of God in Church, assisting at the Eucharist, praying for the parish, for vocations and in support of all who make up our community, visiting the sick or housebound, foodbanks, encouraging and supporting the young, Children’s Liturgy – the list is almost endless. Please don’t just think about it – do something about it. So many of us wait to be asked – what about doing the asking? Ask if there is a way in which you can help.


CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
You can send greetings to fellow parishioners via our Parish Christmas card at the stall in exchange for a donation to Church funds.

SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF) WEE BOXES
We have sent a further £328.19 to SCIAF from your Wee Boxes - many thanks.

DIOCESAN LAUNCH OF THE HOLY YEAR OF MERCY
The Diocesan Launch of the Holy Year of Mercy will be held on Sunday 13 December at 3.00 pm in Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr.

ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS
There will be a Service of Advent and Christmas Carols on Wednesday 16 December at 7.30 pm in Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr.

BURNS SUPPER
The 2016 Burns Supper will take place in the Parish Centre on Saturday 6 February at 7.00 pm. Patrons are asked to be seated by 6.50 pm for a prompt start. The Immortal Memory will be delivered by Jim Butler, former Principal Teacher of Art at Saint Andrew's Academy, Saltcoats, shown below left. John Butcher, Executive Director, Education and Youth Employment for North Ayrshire Council, shown below centre, will propose the Toast to the Lassies and Joan Sturgeon, Provost of North Ayrshire, shown below right, will reply. Other participants are Bill Andrew, Rachel Brown, Calum Coldwell, Canon Matt, Aidan and Bethany McGrath, George McGrattan and Ciaran Sinclair. Tickets cost £15 and can be booked in advance though the Parish Office on 01294 464063. Patrons can request group seating arrangements to be with friends. The meal will be prepared and served by Michael and Fiona Brown, family and friends. Vegetarian meals are available with notice as an alternative to the traditional Burns Supper main course. There are more details on the Church website. Your support is appreciated.


SANTA AND CAROL SINGING WALK
Come and join us for a walk with Santa and carol singing on Sunday 20 December at 2.00 pm at Oscar's on Saltcoats Beach walking to Saint Peter’s Parish Centre for mulled wine and mince pies, children’s disco and a visit from Santa. There is no charge for this event but donations will be gratefully received.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Mass outwith holidays, there is a Children’s Liturgy provided for preschool children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.30 am Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Masses, we have a second collection for Church maintenance.


ADVERTISER SUPPORT
Our advertisers would welcome your support. We are grateful for their continuing sponsorship. We are grateful for the support of Mr and Mrs Sohal, Nisa Stores, Glasgow Street for the weekly donation of tea, coffee and milk for the Sunday teas.

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.