Dear Friends,
One of the features of Luke’s Gospel is his locating of important events to specific places and people. He does this in today’s Gospel reading when he introduces John the Baptist – as he does the birth of Jesus. His is not just a vague prophetic voice but one that is set in time and space. The 1st reading from Baruch uses vivid imagery to reveal the glory and wonder of God’s great act of deliverance towards his dispirited people. In the 2nd reading Paul tells the Philippians to prepare for the final coming of the Lord by leading lives of ’perfect goodness’. We can make his message our own as we prepare for the first coming of Christ at Christmas.
Today there is a Journey in Faith session at 6 pm in the presbytery.
Father James
Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve – 6 pm at North Walsham. 9 pm at Aylsham
Christmas Day – 9 am at Hoveton. 11 am at North Walsham
Sunday, 26th December – 9 am at Hoveton. 11 am at North Walsham
Christmas Eve Mass at Aylsham (9.00pm) As numbers will be limited St John’s will be putting out a booking list; 60 maximum. If anyone from N. Walsham or Hoveton would like to attend please contact Fran Ludden on 01263 734445 or Fran.ludden@btinternet.com
There will be a children’s Christmas Party on Sunday 19th December in the parish hall. Please add your child’s name to the list in the church porch.
World Gifts for Christmas Let’s spread the joy of Christmas around the world. Buy a CAFOD World Gift for family and friends and help transform the lives of people living in poverty – go to Cafod.org.uk/worldgifts Alternative Gifts (SVP) www.svp.org.uk/shop and Aid to the Church in need www.acnuk.org
Bible Study at the Sacred Heart will be on Friday 17th December in the Committee Room at 2.30pm.
Holy Hour & Eucharistic Adoration is on Thursdays at St Helen’s, at 3pm starting with the Prayer & Chaplet of Divine Mercy. A time for quiet reflection, meditation and contemplation. We pray the Holy Rosary after 3.30pm.
A Parish Service of Reconciliation will be held on Saturday 18th December at 11.30am at the Sacred Heart Church.
Would you like to help the homeless? St Martins Trust is looking for street collectors in Norwich in December. For more information you can contact Gill Williams on 01603 438766 or by email: Gillianswilliams@aol.com
Our free Diocesan Newspaper ‘Catholic East Anglia’ for December/January is now available at the back of the church.
Flowers in our church at Christmas. At North Walsham we would be very grateful for any donations you might care to make towards the cost of flower decorations. Someone will be taking a collection this Sunday and next. Thank you.
Advent Collections (North Norfolk & Norwich Food Banks). Your donations of Advent boxes will be most gratefully received Lists of the items needed are displayed at the back of our churches. Boxes must be in by the beginning of December so the donated items can be distributed in time for Christmas.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Derek and Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Monica Hawley, Mary Carr, John Bradley and Paul Watson.
We pray for Kathleen Hartree who died recently and those whose anniversaries occur this week: George Pearson, Wallace Harmer, John Wills, David McGee, Priscilla Jarrad, Pearl Byrne, Joseph (Joe) Rose, Jean Gawthorpe and Mary Fogarty.
May they rest in peace
