BULLETIN                     8 DECEMBER 2019

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 1



CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 7 December  

Memorial of Saint Ambrose
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Kitty Duffy RD
Second Sunday of Advent
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Anne McGill RD

Sunday 8 December  

Second Sunday of Advent
Holy Mass at 10.30am for Saint Peter's congregation

Monday 9 December  

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Jim Mathieson A and Ann McCauley RD

Tuesday 10 December  

Feast of Our Lady of Loreto
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Donald and Mary Gibson and Mary McCormick SI

Wednesday 11 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Catherine Sweeney MM and Ann McAuliffe RD

Thursday 12 December  

Memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Helen Finnegan RD and Geralyn McGarvey

Friday 13 December  

Memorial of Saint Lucy
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Laurence and Sylvia McGarvey and Lorraine Docherty

Saturday 14 December  

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Caleb Forest A
Third Sunday of Advent
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Annette and Robert Smallridge

  

Abbreviations - A anniversary, MM month's mind, RD recently deceased, SI special intention

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 7 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
Holy Mass at 10.00am
Sunday 8 December  
Sunday Mass at 10.00am

Sunday Mass at 11.30am

Monday 9 December  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Tuesday 10 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Wednesday 11 December  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Thursday 12 December  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Friday 13 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Saturday 14 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm Holy Mass at 10.00am
 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 8 December  

11.30am
1.00pm

Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass
Private Function

Monday 9 December  

9.30 to 11.30am
5.30 to 6.30pm
6.30 to 7.30pm
7.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 10 December  
9.00 to 11.00am
5.00 to 8.00pm

7.30pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Irish Dancing
Ignatian Prayer Group

Wednesday 11 December  

9.30 to 11.30am
1.00 to 3.00pm
5.00 to 8.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Knit and Knatter Group
Irish Dancing

Thursday 12 December  
   
Friday 13 December  
9.30 to 11.30am
11.00am
Parents and Toddlers
Tea, coffee and chat in the Snug after Benediction

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Kitty Duffy, Anne McGill, Ann McCauley, Helen Finnegan, Ann McAuliffe and Elsie McLaren who died recently;
Alexander Bartley 2017, 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, Agnes Martin 2007, Laurence Poland 2010, Agnes Stevenson 1992, Agnes Tomelty 2017, Maria Cunningham 1997, Alex Fitzpatrick 1991, James McGlynn 2004, Catherine McGrattan 1969, Sheila McLaughlin 2010, Danny McMail 2016, Harry Quigg 1998, Bruna Conn 2009, Mary Hall 1999, John Ireland 2017, Maria Monaghan 1998, Margaret Newall 1994, Margaret Spencer 1992, Alexander Stewart 1982, James Taylor 2002, Desmond Walsh 2007, John Welsh 2017, Mary Branchfield 2003, Kenny Brown 2015, Mary Dunn 2002, Sam Ferguson 2008, Catherine Graham 2015, George Kelly 2011, Norman Lamont 2009, James McIntosh 1998, Catherine McMahon 2005, Ina McKay 1998, John Taylor 2002, Annie Thompson 2016, Dr Matt Carty 2008 and Monsignor Peter Murphy 1999 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. If members of your family or friends are in need of our prayers, please tell Father Duncan or the parish office. If they are in hospital, Reverend Bill Corbett on 01292 521208 - assisted each week by the priest on call - is the chaplain to Crosshouse Hospital and can be contacted through the ward. Ayr Hospital and the Ayrshire Hospice have an on-call chaplaincy.

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

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

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Julie Coldwell at 5.30pm and Ami Paterson at 10.30am.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musicians are George McGrattan at 5.30pm and Catherine Boyd and Catherine Kerr at 10.30am.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY
Next week's Children's Liturgy helpers are Geraldine Butcher for the pre-fives, Jacqueline Waugh for Primaries 1, 2 and 3 and Andrena Hughes and Frances Gemmell for Primary 4.


ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES
Our Advent Penance Services are the essential way to get ready for Christmas by confessing our sins and receiving God's love, forgiveness and mercy. They will be held on in our Church on Monday 9 December at 7.00pm, in Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats on Tuesday 10 at 2.00pm and Saint Palladius' Church, Dalry at 7.00pm and in Saint John’s Church, Stevenston on Wednesday 11 December at 7.00pm. Please choose a date that suits and make the effort to come along and 'clear out the stable' in our souls for the Birth of our Saviour.

MIRACLE OF THE HOLY NIGHT
Once upon a time, many, many years ago, an old shoemaker and his wife lived in a tiny cottage. This humble shoemaker had few worldly possessions but whatever he owned he shared with others. Symbolic of his generosity and love of his neighbour was a lighted candle he placed in the window of his cottage which, every night, shone forth as a welcome sign of hospitality to any weary traveller in search of shelter. War and near destruction fell upon this little village - but never once did the little candle fail to send its beams as a message of hope and cheer to all. Somehow, the shoemaker and his wife suffered far less than the other villagers. It seemed there was a special love guarding both of them. Discouraged and weary, the village peasants gathered together one evening to discuss the shoemaker's fortune. "Surely there is something special about him. He is always spared from all misfortunes. What does he do that we do not do?" "Perhaps it is his little candle!" said one of the villagers. "Let us all put a candle in our windows too, this Christmas, and see if that is the mysterious secret!" Now, it so happened that the day of the peasant's meeting was the day before Christmas and the first night that a candle was lit in the window of every home was Christmas Eve. The candles burned all that night. When morning came, a soft mantle of snow covered all of the village and an air of hope and contentment filled the hearts of all the villagers. Before the first ray of the morning sun, a messenger rode into the village to bring the great news - the war was over, peace had come! Tiny silver church bells chimed. Never before had there been such a feeling of Christmas glory and joy as there was on that day. The peasants were awed. "It was the candles" they whispered. "It was the candles! They have guided the new-born Saviour to our very doorsteps of our homes and families and have brought an answer to all of our prayers. We must never again fail to light our candles when we celebrate the Miracle of the Holy Night!"

JUST FOR A LAUGH …
The local news station was interviewing an eighty-year-old lady because she had just married for the fourth time. The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at eighty and then about her new husband's occupation. "He's a funeral director" she answered. "Interesting" the newsman thought. He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living. She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she had first married a banker when she was in her twenties, then a circus ringmaster when in her forties and a clergyman when in her sixties, and now - in her eighties - a funeral director. The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers. Wait for it! She smiled and explained "I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go."

THE MESSAGE OF THE ANGELS
This week I want to focus on some other 'supporting actors' in the saving story of this season - the Angels. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce the coming of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-19) and brings Mary the amazing news of the conception and coming of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). Her husband Joseph will receive three visits from angels (Matthew 1:20-24; 2:13,19). My favourite angelic event is the visit to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-15). Shepherds were among the poorest and marginalised classes of people in the first century. That's not insignificant. The angels didn't appear to King Herod, a Roman official or a Temple leader. They went to the fringes and announced the greatest message of human history to God's little ones. There are three ways we can model the angels that surround the Advent of Jesus. Firstly - Worship. When the angels announce the Good News of Jesus to the shepherds, it seems the whole of heaven breaks out in response "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased" (Luke 2:14). We say the same words every time we pray the Gloria in the Mass. We are taking up the song of the angels and echoing the praise of the poor shepherds. Secondly - Witness. Angels almost always bring a message. We continue the work of the angels when we become faithful and fearless witnesses of this same Good News to our generation. Advent is a perfect time to share the Good News about Jesus. Thirdly - Works of Mercy. The angelic hosts appeared to the poor shepherds first, a beautiful prefigurement of the Church's preferential love for the poor. I often think that Mary very likely showed them hospitality when they came to worship her Son, sharing the little bit of food the Holy Family may have had with them.

50/50 CLUB WINNERS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
Congratulations to THE 50/50 Club winners who receive £25 each.
   November - 47 L Boyle, 21 M Swiercz, 177 M McIvor, 82 M. Mathieson
   December 239 B and A McGrath, 267 B McEvoy, 67 A Milani, 81 D Munn
The £100 bonus prize winner for December is 24 H Walsh. Thanks to all members for their continued support over the years. We will start the New Year in January and will have two sign-up weekends for 2020. New members are welcome. Please contact the Promoter at any time on 469006.

NORTH AYRSHIRE SCHOOLS CHRISTMAS CONCERT
We welcome the very talent musicians and singers of North Ayrshire Schools to Saint Peter's on Sunday 8 December at 1.00pm. Please come along and support the true message of Christmas and the efforts and hard work of our young people.

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS FOODBANK APPEAL
Winton Rovers are 'more than a football club' and are happy to engage in community events. At their next home game on Saturday 16 December, there will be an opportunity to contribute to the Ardrossan Foodbank - whether of not you are going to the match. Donations will be grateful accepted between 1.30 and 3.00pm.

ELECT INDIVIDUALS WHO REFLECT OUR CATHOLIC BELIEFS
Scotland's Catholic Bishops will urge parishioners to participate in the 2019 General Election and to 'elect an individual representative who reflects as closely as possible our beliefs'. Scotland's Catholic Bishops warn that 'a creeping intolerance towards religious belief' has become 'a part of life'.


SAINT PETER'S RAINBOWS AND BROWNIES - NOTICE FOR PARENTS
There will be a Christmas outing to the cinema in Saltcoats for Frozen 2. Girls please meet at the cinema for 4.30pm till 6.20pm approximately. Our last meeting is on Monday 16 December at the usual time in the Parish Centre. This is a Christmas Party night and we expect a special visitor. Thanks to parents for their support in 2019 from all Leaders.

SLEEPING SAINT JOSEPH CARDS
Beautiful cards with the picture of the Sleeping Saint Joseph are available at the stall. On the reverse side are a few thoughts from Pope Francis. You could put this in our home as a small reminder through the weeks of Advent.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £606.63 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £251.17 - thanks very much.

ORGAN APPEAL
The organ appeal has raised a fantastic amount of over £7300 for the repair and refurbishment of our Church organ. The appeal has now closed. A special word of thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to this appeal over the past months. Thank you for your support and your generosity!


CHURCHES' HOMELESS ACTION NORTH AYRSHIRE (CHANA)
CHANA would like to provide Christmas presents for those in the hostels and supported accommodation this year. We are appealing for gift sets of toiletries, new pyjamas, hats and gloves, mostly for men. Please use the CHANA box provided or hand them in to the Ardrossan Hostel in Princes Street. Thanks once again for your continued generosity.

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.

SUNDAY TEAS
Tea and coffee will be served after the 10.30am Mass next Sunday in the Parish Centre by Maria's team.

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 pre-school children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.30am 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.