BULLETIN                 3 DECEMBER 2017

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 2


CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 2 December  

Our Lady's Day
Holy Mass at 10.00 am for Rose McCann
Vigil Mass of Sunday at 5.30 pm for a special intention

Sunday 3 December  

Sunday Mass at 10.30 am for the congregation

Monday 4 December  

Memorial of Saint John Damascene
Holy Mass at 10.00 pm for a special intention

Tuesday 5 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00 am for Tony Gower

Wednesday 6 December  

Memorial of Saint Nicholas
Holy Mass at 10.00 am for David McGarrity

Thursday 7 December  

Memorial of Saint Ambrose
Holy Mass at 10.00 am for Christine Deeth

Friday 8 December  

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Mass at 10.00 am for Jim Mathieson

Saturday 9 December  

Our Lady's Day
Holy Mass at 10.00 am for Stephen Neill
Vigil Mass of Sunday at 5.30 pm for Margaret McIntee

The Holy 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
 
Saturday 2 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30 pm

Holy Mass at 10.00 am

Sunday 3 December  
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am

Sunday Mass at 11.30 am

Monday 4 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00 am Service at 10.00 am
Tuesday 5 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00 am Service at 10.00 am
Wednesday 6 December  
  Holy Mass at 10.00 am
Thursday 7 December  
Service at 10.00 am Holy Mass at 10.00 am
Friday 8 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00 am Service at 10.00 am
Saturday 9 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30 pm

Holy Mass at 10.00 am

 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 3 December  

11.30 am
2.00 pm

Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass
Training

Monday 4 December  
9.30 to 11.30 am
5.30 to 6.30 pm
6.30 to 8.00 pm
7.30 pm

Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 5 December  
9.00 to 11.00 am
11.30 am
3.45 pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Private Function
Irish Dancing

Wednesday 6 December  
3.45 pm
7.30 pm
Irish Dancing
Ignatian Prayer Group
Thursday 7 December  
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm

Brownies
Guides

Friday 8 December  
9.30 to 11.30 am Parents and Toddlers
Saturday 9 December  
6.30 pm Private Function

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
David Bonnar and Liz Wilson (Canada) who died recently;
Brian O'Hare 2009, Tom Reid 2006, Monica Tipping 2010, John Welsh 2009, Jim Delahunt 2014, Martin Lehane 2015, Mary Martin 1983, Isabella McGoogan 1998, Gordon Alexander Smith 1997, John Hughes 2010, Margaret Anne Shanks 1994, Rose Smith 1999, Anne Thompson 1986, Robert Walker 2012, Susan Connor 2009, Thomas Connor 2006, Joyce Feeney 2012, Jean Graham, Alexander Merrick 2001, May Shanks 1990, Rose Smith 1999, Sarah Braniff 1961, Katherine Fearon 1911, Janet Ferris 2013, Ann McCubbin, Robert Shanks 1996, Teresa Dorans 2006, Philip Gargan 2012, Margaret Hughes 2006, James Mathieson 1999, Gerard McCulloch 1990, Anthony McGarvey 1996, John McKay junior 1972, James McSorley 2010, Cassie Millen 2011, May O'Farrell 2013, Father Alec Smith SDB 2008, John Tracy 1999, George Forbes 2014 and Agnes Martin 2007 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 Father Duncan
, 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 Holy Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.

SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is celebrated on Saturdays between 4.45 and 5.15 pm and at other times on request.

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.

FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the Parish and Parish Centre amount to £3500 per month. 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.

COLLECTIONS
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £576.61 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £217.70 - 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.

BAPTISM
Last weekend, we celebrated the Sacrament of Baptism of Natalia Carroll, Luka Mark Carroll and Sophie Carroll and we welcome them into the family of the Church. Congratulations go to their parents and Godparents.

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

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30 pm and Group 2 at 10.30 am.


MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musician at the Vigil Mass is George McGrattan.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Next week's Children's Liturgy helpers are Emma Paterson for the pre-fives, Geraldine Butcher and Andrena Hughes for Primaries 1, 2 and 3 and Jacqueline Smith and Maria Paterson-Kidd for Primary 4.

SUNDAY TEAS

Tea and coffee will be served after the 10.30 am Mass in the Parish Centre next Sunday.

ADVENT - A TIME OF PREPARATION
Advent is the start of the liturgical year in the Roman Catholic Church. This year, in the Liturgical cycle, is Year B, in which we read the Gospel of Mark. Advent is a period of preparation, extending over four Sundays before Christmas. The Latin word adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. The season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from two different perspectives. First of all, it is our celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas but second, it directs the mind and heart to His Second Coming at the end of time. It is also a season to be aware of the coming of Christ in our daily lives through grace. In the Roman Catholic Church, the official liturgical colour for most of the season of Advent is violet.

THE FOUR WEEKS OF ADVENT
During the first two weeks of Advent, we light the first two purple candles. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day, we celebrate that our waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day is almost over. Rose is a liturgical colour that is used to signify joy, so we light the single pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent. Then on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the final purple candle is lit to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait expectantly for the soon-coming birth of the King of Kings.

SUNG EVENING PRAYER FOR ADVENT
Evening Prayer of the Church will be sung to mark the beginning of Advent at Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr, on Sunday 3 December at 6.00 pm. All are welcome.

FOLLOW THE STAR
Seasonal Carols will be sung by The Harmonica Singers in the Church on Friday 8 December 2017 at 7.30 pm. There will be a donation programme and all are welcome.

MEETING OF CHILDREN'S LITURGY VOLUNTEERS
There will be a meeting of the Children's Liturgy Volunteers on Wednesday 6 December at 7.00 pm in the Presbytery Conference Room.

VISIT FROM THE COMBONI SISTERS
The Missionary Sisters are here this weekend in Saint Peter's to sell their special calendars for the New Year in support of their mission. Please bring along some 'extra pennies' and give the Sisters your generous support. God bless!

APPEAL FOR TOYS AND GIFTS AT CHRISTMAS
The group looking at homelessness in North Ayrshire is appealing for toys and gifts for needy children aged between birth and eighteen years. There is a greater need for gifts for teenagers. The toys and gifts will be distributed by Social Work. They should be unwrapped as they will be wrapped centrally. The toys and gifts should be brought to the Church by Sunday 10 December for distribution in time for Christmas. We had an amazing response to this appeal last year. Thank you.

THE STORY OF BEFANA
Befana was an old woman who lived in a small village in Italy. She was known throughout the village for her wonderful baking and the cleanliness of her kitchen and many had heard her say that she was so busy baking and cleaning that she rarely had time to do anything else. One winter day, while Befana was sweeping in front of her home, three travellers stopped to ask her for a drink of water. They told Befana that they were astrologers - they were often called the three wise men - who were following a star to the birth place of the Christ Child. She kindly gave them water and then invited them to dinner. After dinner, the astrologers prepared to continue their journey and asked her if she would like to come with them to see the Christ Child. Befana shook her head saying that she could not possibly take the time needed for such a journey. She was secretly itching to get back to her cleaning and cooking. Befana started being busy again but hours later she began to feel that she had made a mistake. Befana decided to follow them. She quickly grabbed a basket and filled it with gifts of all kinds. Befana travelled all through the night but never caught up with the wise men and she never found the Christ Child. Ever since that night, Befana stops at the home of every child at Christmastime, leaving them gifts in their stockings. She hopes that one of the children she visits will be the Christ Child at last.
        Befana the Housewife, scrubbing her pane
        Saw three old sages ride down the lane
        Saw three grey travellers pass her door
        Casper, Balthazar, Melchior
"Where journey you, sirs?" she asked of them
Balthazar answered "To Bethlehem
For we have news of a marvellous thing
Born in a stable is Christ the King"
        "Give Him my welcome!" then Caspar smiled,
        "Come with us, mistress, to greet the Child"
        "Oh, happily, happily would I fare
        Were my dusting through and I'd polished the stair"
Old Melchior leaned on his saddle horn
"Then send but a gift to the small Newborn"
"Oh, gladly, gladly I'd send Him one
Were the hearthstone swept and my weaving done"
        "As soon as ever I've baked my bread
        I'll fetch Him a pillow for His head
        And a coverlet too" Befana said
        "When the rooms are aired and the linen dry
        I'll look at the Babe" but the Three rode by
She worked for a day and a night and a day
Then, gifts in her hands, took up her way
But she never could find where the Christ Child lay
         And still she wanders at Christmastide
        Houseless, whose house was all her pride
        Whose heart was tardy, whose gifts were late
        Wanders and knocks at every gate
        Crying"Good people, the bells begin!
        Put off your toiling and let love in"

MARRIAGE MATTERS
Listening is a way of loving.
David, Paul and Mary listened to God and changed their plans and way of life. Before marrying, we listened intently and consequently felt loved and cherished. Today, with the pressures of everyday living, our listening can be impaired. We need constantly to overcome the temptation to just 'hear' what's said and work on listening with our hearts, eyes and full attention.                                                2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11, 16 Romans 16: 25-27 Luke 1:26-38


AND JUST FOR A LAUGH …
It was coming up to Christmas and Sammy asked his mum if he could have a new bike. So she told him that the best idea would be to write to Santa Claus. But Sam, having just played a vital role in the school nativity play, said he would prefer to write to the baby Jesus. So his mum told him that would be fine. Sam went to his room and wrote 'Dear Jesus, I have been a very good boy and would like to have a bike for Christmas'. But he wasn't very happy when he read it over. So he decided to try again and this time he wrote 'Dear Jesus, I'm a good boy most of the time and would like a bike for Christmas'. He read it back and wasn't happy with that one either. He tried a third version - 'Dear Jesus, I could be a good boy if I tried hard and especially if I had a new bike'. He read that one too but he still wasn't satisfied. So he decided to go out for a walk while he thought about a better approach. After a short time he passed a house with a small statue of the Virgin Mary in the front garden. He crept in, stuffed the statue under his coat, hurried home and hid it under the bed. Then he wrote this letter - 'Dear Jesus, If you ever want to see your mother again, you'd better send me a new bike'.


SAINT PETER'S BURNS SUPPER
The 2018 Burns Supper will take place in the Parish Centre on Saturday 3 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 Drew Cochrane, for forty years the Editor of the Largs and Millport Weekly News. Former parishioner, Martin Cosgrove, will propose the Toast to the Lassies and our parishioner, Julie Coldwell, will reply. Other participants are Father Duncan, Bill Andrew, 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.

CHRISTMAS QUIET TIME
You are invited at this busy time of year to take some time out and enjoy the peace and quiet being offered in
Saint John’s Church, Stevenston. The church will be available with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday 16 December from 12 noon till 4.00 pm. Reconciliation will also be available between 12 noon and 2.00 pm for those wishing to receive this beautiful, healing sacrament in preparation for Christmas arranged by Embracing Change Spirituality Group.

COME AND JOIN ME
Every Sunday after 10.30 am Mass there is tea, coffee, juice and home baking served for a small donation in the Parish Centre. I would like to invite you to join me for a cuppa and a chat as I get to know the parish of Saint Peter's.                       Father Duncan

INFORMATION SHEET
A small information sheet with useful contact telephone numbers and email addresses for the Parish is available in Church.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Holy Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Holy 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 Holy Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Holy 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.