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Christmas Message

12/25/2018

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On the evening of 24 December the Church’s celebration of Christmas begins.  We have Midnight Mass at St Andrew’s at 11.30 pm and the following morning the Christmas Day Mass at St Peter’s at 10 am.  For the Church, the season of Christmastide continues up to 13 January this year and ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  The most special days of this time are from Christmas Eve through to New Year’s Day, also called the Octave (eighth) day of Christmas.  Just as with Easter, there are eight special days, simply because these times of year are so meaningful in the Church’s calendar.
Christmas celebrates the human birth of the Son of God, who was named Jesus.  This fulfils God’s promise to be with his people and not to be distant from them or indifferent to their needs.  God is with us and cares for us.  For this reason the Christian faith always holds out hope for a new and better future.  Even in our struggles we can become aware of the ways in which God is with us to inspire us and strengthen us and to fill our lives with his love.  This does not bring the promise of an easy life, but it does hold out the prospect of countless blessings and the living hope of eternal life.
 We hope that you will have a joyful and peaceful Christmas and find time to be with family and friends as well as to get some well-earned rest.  You are invited to come and join us too as we worship the God who is always with us.


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Advent Update

12/16/2018

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An Advent Message from Fr Richard
Not long to Christmas now!  We are currently around the mid-point of Advent.  There is much more to this time of year than just a countdown to Christmas.  Advent is a season of its own in the Church’s year and is symbolised by the colour purple and by the coloured candles which are used for each Sunday during this time (three purple, one rose and a central white one for the coming of Christmas).
During this time we can think about what it means to live in the expectation, not only of Christmas, but of the coming of Jesus Christ whose birth we are preparing to celebrate.  The Advent candles represent: the Patriarchs who first led the people of Israel; the Prophets, who announced the coming of a Saviour; John the Baptist, who pointed Jesus out for other people and called them to prepare a way for him; and the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the Son of God.
So we can see that the birth of a Messiah was expected long before Jesus was born.  When he came, not everyone was prepared for him and many did not accept him.  Yet his life, death and resurrection brought change to the lives of so many and still does today.  Those who live in the hope and expectation of knowing Jesus and the life he brings will not be disappointed.  We need to prepare a way for him in our own lives though.  This means turning away from the darkness of selfishness and cynicism.  It means being prepared to grow in faith and in love for others.
Christmas is an exciting time of year, but it can be a sad time also for many people.  The Advent hope is that even in our sadness we can find our lives lit up by the presence of the Christ who was born in Bethlehem and who promised to be with us now and always.  It is my own hope that many more people will find this special joy and the peace of knowing that we are loved unconditionally by the God who is always with us.

Calendar for remainder of December
Coffee Mornings: 
From 10.00am every Tuesday throughout December (except Christmas Day!) 

Services: 
Wed 19th Dec 12.00 noon Feria 
Thur 20th Dec 12.00 noon Feria
Sun 23rd Dec 9.30am Parish Mass
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass 11.30pm
The Christmas Day Benefice Mass will be at St Peters at 10.00am
Benefice Mass on 30th December will be at St Andrews at 10.00am. 
Social Activities: 
The Christmas Dinner was held this year at the Crown Inn on Monday 10th December. It included a raffle and quiz - great meal and great company. Thanks to Cath, Michael and the team for their hard work in helping make this an enjoyable evening.
​Worsbrough Brass once again gave a super performance in church on Thursday 13th December. The programme really put us in the Christmas spirit - thanks to all who supported this event. We look forward to our next concert hopefully in September next year.


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Advent Newsletter

12/2/2018

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A thought for Advent 
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The prophet Jeremiah speaks about honesty and integrity. In a world which is flooded with misleading and biased information, Christians are called to witness to the truth and to live lives of integrity. The life of Jesus is a model of integrity, as there was nothing in the way that he acted that clashed with the beliefs and values he proclaimed. It is so easy to fall into the ways of speaking and acting that we see in the world around us and for our thoughts to wander away from the faith we have received. So the call for us in the gospel is to “stay awake”; to be spiritually attuned to God’s will and to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Let us pray that Holy Spirit will guide our thoughts and actions as we enter into the joyful season of Advent.
 
​December Calendar
Coffee Mornings: 
From 10.00am every Tuesday throughout December (except Christmas Day!)

Christmas Meal:
Monday 10th December.- all places now taken.
Christmas Concert:
Worsbrough Brass will perform a selection of carols and contemporary festive music on Thursday 13th December (doors open at 7.00pm for 7.30pm start). Tickets costs £6.00 or you can pay on the door. The price includes refreshments. The will also be raffle for our famous Christmas Hamper and other prizes.
Services: 
Wed 5th Dec 9.30am Feria
Thur 6th Dec 9.30am St Nicholas

Sun 9th Dec 9.30am Parish Mass
Sun 9th Dec 4.00pm Christingle
Thur 13th Dec 9.30am Feria
Sun 16th Dec 9.30am Parish Mass
Sun 16th Dec 4.00pm Readings & Carols (at St Peters).

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    Saint Andrew

    I am a rather old Saint.

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