Dear Friends,
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”
The readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A remind us that God’s wisdom is not the same as our own wisdom. We might call this Sunday “Power Sunday” because the main theme of all three readings is that God is the Source of all authority. God shares His authority with civil rulers elected to serve the people and with the Pope and the other Church leaders for the material and spiritual welfare of His children. In the first reading we hear that God has the power to remove the mighty from their positions of leadership. In the second reading Paul tells us that we cannot know the mind of God, as his wisdom and knowledge are beyond us. And in the gospel is that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus declares that this is a revelation from the Father.
I thank all the parishioners for celebrating the Feast of St Helen on the 19th August 2023 at Hoveton with great devotion and piety.
Father Peter
A Mass with Anointing will take place at the Sacred Heart Church for the parish on Friday 1st September at 6pm. This is not only for the seriously ill but for those who feel in any way unwell or are about to undergo major surgery. Parishioners are also warmly invited to come and pray for those from our community who will be anointed.
Children are invited to attend Faithful Flames on Sunday from 10.30am now in the presbytery conservatory after first all meeting up with Kerry outside the church.
A Forum meeting is to be held at the Sacred Heart Church following the Mass on Sunday 3rd September. We would urge as many of our parishioners as possible to stay for that meeting, to get an up-date on parish matters and a chance to have your say!
There will also be a Forum meeting at St Helen’s immediately after Mass on Saturday 2nd September. Again, please try to attend.
A meeting of the PPC (Parish Pastoral Council) will be held on Tuesday 5th September at St Helen, Hoveton, to start at 7.30pm. Any points parishioners would like to be raised please speak to one of your representatives – names are on notice boards in each church.
Choir Practices at St John of the Cross resume at the end of the month with a short ‘pre-season’ warm up on Wed 30th August at 6.30pm. For anyone interested in joining this choir, it would be a good time and place to start. No previous choir experience needed. More information from Katie Maidment on 01263 577784.
Items for the newsletter. It would be helpful to receive news items ideally by Tuesday, or, at the latest by Thursday – please email: rcnwalsham@gmail.com or ‘phone 01692 403258.
Knit and Natter, the monthly meeting held at St John of the Cross, Aylsham, will not take place in August as advertised in last week’s newsletter. Apologies for the error. Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month, from 10.00am until 12noon, when people can get together, bringing any craft, or none, to have coffee & cake enjoying the companionship of others. Forthcoming meetings: Monday 25th September; 30th October & 27th November: no meeting in December. Folk from North Walsham & Hoveton are most welcome to join them.
Annual Shoebox Appeal. Seems a long time and well before Christmas but preparation leading up to the actual ‘filling’ of the boxes needs to start early. Shoeboxes, please! Just bring them to your church and they will be collected.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Mary Carr, Paul Watson, Cyril Shenton, Patricia Newton, Celia Cooper, Michael Haughton, Marie Barton, Gerry Francis, Robert Buhagiar, Margaret Larkins, Daphne Necchi, Bert Pooler, Maria Halsey, Shirley Teague and Joan Macnamara.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Audrey Barnes, George Mayer and Irene Harrison.
May they rest in peace.
