St Bernadette’s Church

120 Bowerham Road, Lancaster, LA1 4HT

                                         Telephone: 01524-63000           www.st-bernadettes.org.uk        st.bernadettes@talktalk.net

  1st Sunday of Advent (A)                                28th November    2010

   Parish Mass Book: page 26           Preface: Advent 1 page 8           Eucharistic Prayer: 2, page 17 

   Response:                   For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits; truly my hope is in you

   Gospel Acclamation:     Alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help

                                        Alleluia!

Advent Reflection - Counting the days

It is a delight to find Advent calendars in the shops at this time of the year. They encourage us to count off the days as we wait and pray for Jesus’ coming – which is what Advent means.

In most of the West, every evening television reminds us how many shopping days are left before Christmas. Suppose we take these advertisements as a call to pray rather than to purchase.

I’ll put myself in mind of Mary and Joseph, focused on the expected baby, wondering what he will be like and how he will affect my life. Try to imagine the preparation that Mary made. She spent three months helping her cousin Elizabeth with an unexpected pregnancy. Then she had to face the awful crisis with Joseph, who could not understand how his fiancée could be pregnant (Matthew 1:19). Then when things seemed to on an even course for the birth, she found they had to pull up roots, harness the donkey, and trek to Bethlehem, where they could find no room in the inn.

Mary’s main preparation was adjusting to the unexpected and the unwished-for. The best patron for Christmas is the quiet and imperturbable Joseph.

Sacred Space, the Irish Jesuits p.4

Did you know… CAFOD, in a year of economic uncertainty worldwide, has made shielding the most vulnerable communities it works with, a priority? During a recession, the poor are hardest hit. We are now at the start of a new liturgical year and about to begin our journey through Advent. As we wait in hope for the coming of Christ, we can share that hope with others around the world by working together in solidarity, so that all people may flourish and live well.

There is also Mass in St Peter’s, Cathedral at 12.15 pm Monday – Saturday.

Please remember in your prayers:

Fr John Hawkins,  Fr John Marsh, Betty Matthews, Marie Derby, Margaret Sullivan, Hazel Fullerton, Frances Hopwood, Eric Blamire, Sylvia Hargreaves, Robert Jackson, Katie Buckley, Joe Speight, John English, Rose Rowe and for all who are sick.

For Thomas & Ethel Hayton, Jackie McConvey and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:    Saturday 5.45 - 6.15 pm

Morning Prayer of the Church:            8:45 am before daily Mass

The next Baptism preparation meeting will be on Wednesday 26 January at 7.00 pm in the parish house

• Special Collection this weekend for Diocesan Poor Missions Fund.
• Also, donations to the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Appeal taken this week and next.
• Advent Sacred Silence: please accept an Advent ‘pack’ which includes a candle, prayer booklet, and an Advent Wreath to colour. If possible let us all try to keep a ‘6 o’clock moment’ at home, lighting the candle, pause in stillness and silence and pray an Advent prayer. There is an opportunity for Advent reflection on Wednesdays at 10 am in the parish house. There are a few copies of Sacred Space available, please ask.
• A Churches Together Advent Service will be held this coming Thursday at 7.30 pm in the Lancaster Methodist Church, Scotforth Road. It is an Advent moment to pray together; please give it your support.
• Christmas Quiz on Sale £1, organised by Ss Thomas & Elizabeth, Thurnham, to raise funds to buy a Cafod World Gift of a clean water supply. Closing date: Monday 10^th January.
• Tanzania Concert - Stefan and family would like say a big thank you to the parishioners of both St Bernadette’s and Thurnham for the tremendous support for his forthcoming volunteer project in Tanzania. The concert, together with donations from near and far, raised about £1,100!   He is now in London helping out in the Jesuit Volunteer Missionary Centre for a few weeks.
• There is a Partners Relief & Development fund and awareness raising night, for displaced ethnic people of Burma in The Storey Institute, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster Monday 6th December, 7:30pm. FREE EVENT. The newly refurbished bar will be open for refreshments.   
• On Tuesday 30^th November at 2 pm the Flower Arrangers are meeting in the Social Area to discuss/plan how best to decorate our Church this Christmas. 
• 5th Lancaster Scouts (Cathedral and St Bernadette’s) are again taking part in the Christmas post scheme which sells Christmas stamps for local delivery (ie the Lancaster District) as a fundraiser for the group. Scouts will sell stamps at the back of Church on the 4th and 5th December, to be collected on the following weekend. The stamps will cost 20p each and will be delivered, by scouts, during the week beginning 15th December..
• If you are able to receive the Bulletin on-line, please email paul.wyre@fsmail.net and he will make the necessary arrangements.