CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN  •  A Family of Parishes  •  SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE

                                                        

BULLETIN                                          13 DECEMBER 2020

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 2

SERVICES AND GATHERINGS
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public Church services and gatherings are limited till further notice.
Father Duncan will live-stream Holy Mass every day and assures you of his prayers for you and your family.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
JOHN (John 1:6-8,19-28)
A man came, sent by God. His name was John. He came as a witness, as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light. This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him "Who are you", he not only declared, but he declared quite openly "I am not the Christ." "Well then" they asked "are you Elijah?" "I am not" he said. "Are you the Prophet?" He answered "No." So they said to him "Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?" So John said "I am, as Isaiah prophesied - a voice that cries in the wilderness. Make a straight way for the Lord." Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees and they put this further question to him "Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ and not Elijah and not the prophet?" John replied "I baptise with water but there stands among you - unknown to you - the one who is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap." This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

REFLECTION
Advent is a difficult season to celebrate. By now we are very much in the midst of the 'secular Christmas'. Trees and lights are up, parties would be happening if it were not for coronavirus restrictions and the television and radio schedules have surrendered to festive themes! Keeping Advent can make you seem a bit of a kill-joy - but did you notice that phrase in the opening prayer "O Lord, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord's Nativity." Are we waiting? Or will we be tired of Christmas by the 26 December? The priests and Levites in the Gospel seem to be a bit impatient and not inclined to wait. The way they pressure John the Baptist, constantly asking who he is, shows they have no patience. They are not going to wait for something 'still to come'. But this is precisely what John demands - that they wait for what is 'coming after'. There are no quick fixes, no short cuts. Yet the wonderful paradox is that what they are demanding, what they refuse to wait for - the Messiah - is already 'among you, unknown to you'. Their impatience is blinding them to the very thing they are after! On this 'middle' Sunday of Advent, let's just pause for a moment, to make sure that in our busyness, in our anticipation and eagerness to celebrate Christmas, we are not missing the whole point and failing to recognise the one who is already among us - Jesus Christ!

THE LORD'S DAY AT HOME
If you are housebound or self-isolating at this time, please use these prayers to unite yourself with the worship of the Universal Church, and your own parish, this Sunday. If alone, read or say these prayers quietly to yourself. If with another, or in a family, someone should read the Gospel and others respond. It might be suitable to find a special, quiet place at home for your Sunday prayers.

SAINT PETER'S AND SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saint Peter's - All Masses are live-streamed and
                          public unless otherwise stated.
Saint Bride's - All Masses are public
                          unless otherwise stated.

Saturday 12 December  
Memorial of Our Lady of  
Guadalupe  

   
 
Third Sunday of Advent  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Charlotte Hutchison who died recently and Jim Mathieson at his anniversary
  Private

Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Stephen Weideger who died recently and John Hutchison
 
Sunday 13 December  
Third Sunday of Advent  
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes Holy Mass at 12.15pm for our parishes
Monday 14 December  
Memorial of Saint John of  
the Cross  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for the McMillan family as a special intention, Cathie Slimman as a special intention, Holly and the Collins family
 
Tuesday 15 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Margaret Tracey at her month's mind, Stephen Cusack and family and Julianne and family
  Private
Holy Mass at 10.00am
Wednesday 16 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for the Ferguson family as a special intention, John Clarke who died recently and Chap McDonagh and family
 
Thursday 17 December  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am for Alison Harkness
  Private
 
Friday 18 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Elizabeth and Leo Walsh at their anniversaries, Eileen Carroll who died recently, George Poole at his anniversary and Cornelius and Denise McDonagh

Requiem Mass at 2.00pm for Matt Donnelly
  Private
Holy Mass at 12 noon

Saturday 19 December  
Our Lady's Day for Advent  

  
   
 
Fourth Sunday of Advent  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for the Sweeney family (Wexford) and Richard Haswell who died recently
  Private

Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for the Kilbane family at an anniversary and Eric and Dorothy Waters who died recently
 

SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
 

Saturday 12 December  
Memorial of Our Lady of  
Guadalupe  

   
 
Third Sunday of Advent  

Vigil Mass at 4.30pm  
Sunday 13 December  
Third Sunday of Advent  
Holy Mass at 10.00am

Holy Mass at 11.30am
Monday 14 December  
Memorial of Saint John of  
the Cross  
   
Tuesday 15 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Requiem Mass
  Private
Wednesday 16 December  
  Holy Mass at 10.00am
Thursday 17 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am  
Friday 18 December  
  Holy Mass at 10.00am

Saturday 19 December  
Fourth Sunday of Advent  

Vigil Mass at 4.30pm  

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Anthony Brennan, Cathie Currie, Maria Hilferty and Cathie Slimman;
Matt Donnelly, Alison Harkness, John Clarke, Eileen Carroll, Richard Haswell and Eric and Dorothy Waters who died recently;
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, Monsignor Peter Murphy 1999, Mary Magee 1997, Robert McKay 1993, Denis McLaughlin 2008, Harry McNamara 2002, Sally Quigg née Gilmour 1984, Anne Warden née McNamara 2012, Chris Casey 2006, Susan Jones 1996, James Kernahan 1998, Frances Kilbane 1978, Roseanne Kirkwood 1991, Esther Madden 1981, Jimmy Robertson 2017, Mark Shanks 2008, Mary Catherine Wishart 2002, Margaret Bennie, Annie Boyle, Kitty Boyle 2007, John Campbell 1997, John Carolan 2017, John Dolan 2007, Sheila Douglas 2014, Annie Farmer 1984, Pat Haggarty 2015, Rose Leonard, William Martin 1974, Jean McCluskey 2015, George Poole 1991, Maureen Adamson 2014, Bobby Edwards 2014, Manus Gallagher junior 2016, 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 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.

SAINT PETER'S NOTICES

MASS BOOKINGS
To book for Mass, please call the Parish Office on 01294 464063 between 9.00 and 11.00am on Mondays to Fridays. Booking for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Mass will be available from Wednesday 16 December.

REQUIEM MASS FOR ALISON HARKNESS
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Alison Harkness who died on Wednesday 2 December 2020 aged forty-five years. Her Requiem Mass on Thursday 17 December at 10.00am will be followed by her cremation at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn. May she rest in peace and rise in glory!

REQUIEM MASS FOR MATT DONNELLY
Please also pray for the Repose of the Soul of Matt Donnelly who died on Wednesday 2 December 2020 aged eighty-three years. His Requiem Mass on Friday 18 December at 2.00pm will be followed by his cremation at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
The Offertory collection last weekend amounted to £540.56 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £260.00 - many thanks. It is now possible to make online donations to Saint Peter's. Details are on the Donations page and this News page. Thanks for your generosity.

CHURCH PIETY STALL
We now have lovely Christmas cards in stock at the stall.

LIVE-STREAMING OF MASS
All our Celebrations of Mass and other services are live-streamed, starting five minutes beforehand. You can access them every day by going to our websites. On SaintPeterInChains.net, in the top right corner, click on Live Streaming at Mass Times. On SaintPeterInChains.co.uk, click Services in the red menu bar, select Mass Times then scroll down to Click here to view Mass.

IN AND AROUND THE CHURCH
A lot of intricate work will be going on, hopefully before Christmas: The lights in the Church tower have to be replaced with adapted fittings, the sound system needs an improvement and the microphones changed and a section of the wiring for the live-streaming has to be replaced and moved in a part of the Church as it is affecting the loop system for hearing aids which is now working again. One of the altar spotlights has failed and will be replaced. A set of doors in the Parish Centre will have to be repaired because of wear and tear. If any parishioner would like to make a contribution to any of these repairs and maintenance issues, it would be a great help. I would be very grateful for any support offered. Thank you!


SAINT BRIDE'S NOTICES

CHRISTMAS MASS BOOKINGS
We have to limit the numbers for Mass in line with Covid-19. To enable us to do this as best we can over Christmas, we have set up a telephone booking service. Please call Phyllis Howie on 01294 822320 on Wednesday 16 between 7.00 and 9.00pm, confirm how many adults and children and which Mass you would prefer - Christmas Eve at 7.00pm or Christmas Day at 9.30am. A seat number will be allocated based on the number in your party. Thank you for your cooperation.

IN AND AROUND THE CHURCH
The heating system seems to be working fine now and the timer settings are kicking in as planned. After changing some of the pictures on the wall in the Church Meeting Room, we will have to repaint the walls. That should be happening this week. If any parishioner would like to make a contribution to any of these repairs and maintenance issues, it would be a great help. I would be very grateful for any support offered. Thank you


OFFERTORY COLLECTION
The Offertory Collection last weekend amounted to £165.00 - many thanks.

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.


THE SHEPHERD BOY
On a high mountain, there lived an old shepherd and his young son. They longed for the coming of the Saviour and that the words of the prophets would come true. They prayed every day that he would come soon. The shepherds looked after the sheep on the mountains. They lived in a poor hut and they were poor and lonely. Sometimes the shepherd boy would play his flute. One night, as the old shepherd was fast asleep, he had a dream. He dreamt that a beautiful shining star appeared in the sky. He had never seen such a bright star before. He looked at the light of the star in the darkness and he felt that something special and good was going to happen. Then the old shepherd saw an Angel. The Angel came to him and said "Don't be afraid! I have come to bring you news of great joy! This night in the town of Bethlehem, the Saviour has been born! Awake, get up and follow the star to the place where you will find the Christ Child!" The old shepherd awakened quickly from this dream. He looked up into the sky and saw the beautiful star. Its light shone all around and filled the skies. The old shepherd ran quickly to his son and shook him so that he would awaken. The old shepherd said "Shepherd Boy, wake up, wake up! Look at the star in the skies. Look how beautiful it shines! Something wonderful is going to happen! Come, let us follow the star. It will take us to the place where the Saviour is going to be born! Hurry! Hurry!" They followed this beautiful light across mountains and through valleys. They came to a wonderful city. It had enormous great walls and lights were shining out of the windows. Laughter could be heard. People were making merry. The old shepherd though this must be the place. This is where we will find the saviour child. However, much to his surprise, the star led them further and led them away from the beauty and wonder of the city. All of a sudden, they saw a most spectacular palace. Then again, the old shepherd thought, we have to find the Child here. But the star led them further and led them away from the palace. The light of the star seemed to be fuller and brighter. They came to a lonely field. There was a stable there. The old shepherd thought, we must have lost our way. He wanted to turn back. But then, to his surprise, the star bowed down over the stable. Surprised, the old shepherd approached the hut. There was a child lying in a manger. Mary and Joseph sat quietly in adoration. The child turned and looked towards the shepherds. Then the shepherd boy came forward and said "You are the Christ Child. You are the saviour of the world and you are so poor - born in a stable. You don't have a cradle to lie in. You're lying here on straw in a donkey's manger!" The old shepherd took off his cloak. It was made of rough material, but he placed it gently over the child. Then the Shepherd Boy took out his flute and played his best tune with all his heart - and the Baby Jesus smiled and the Shepherd forgot all their poverty and loneliness. Their joy was without bounds. And the star over Bethlehem shone into the darkness of the night, bringing joy and peace to the world.

JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
Hamish, from Ardrossan, appeared on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and towards the end of the programme had already won £500000. "You've done very well so far" said Jeremy Clarkson "but, for a million pounds, you've only got one lifeline left - phone a friend. Everything is riding on this question. Will you go for it?" "Sure" said Hamish. "I'll have a go!" "Which of the following birds does not build its own nest? - A sparrow, B thrush, C magpie, D cuckoo?" "I haven't got a clue." said Hamish ''so I'll use my last lifeline and phone my friend Ken in Saltcoats" Ken answers. "That's simple - it's a cuckoo." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure." Hamish hung up the phone and told Jeremy "I'll go with cuckoo as my answer." "Is that your final answer?" asked Jeremy. "That it is." "Hamish, you've won one million pounds!" The next night, Hamish invited Ken to their local pub to buy him a drink. "Tell me, Ken? How in Heaven's name did you know it was a cuckoo that doesn't build its own nest?" "Why - because he lives in a clock!"

SUNDAY OBLIGATION
Sunday obligation to attend Holy Mass remains suspended for the time being and availability is restricted for those wishing to attend. Some of our parishioners are working during the week and can only attend at the weekend. Therefore, to make Holy Mass available to everyone we would be grateful if you wish to attend Mass and are able to attend on a weekday please do so, leaving seats for those parishioners working during the week. Thank you.

STANDING ORDERS - PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT
The parishes have taken quite a 'knock' through lockdown when public Mass was not available for sixteen weeks. This has had a huge impact on our parishes' finances. Could you consider taking out a Standing Order? It would be of great benefit to our parish. Forms are available from the Parish Office and here. Thank you

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.


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.