Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Sunday 20th November, 2022, Cycle C
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka and Fr Emmanuel Chukwujekwu
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.comWebsites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com www.lpa24.org
Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, 20th November, 2022, Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE THREE CROSSES
Today’s gospel tells us that on the first Good Friday there were three crosses on Calvary. They were the cross of sin, the cross of sorrow and the cross of salvation. The one that we choose for ourselves will affect where we spend eternity.
The cross of sin belonged to the thief who was unrepentant. We don’t know what his crime was (traditionally we say he was a thief) but we do know that he was there to be executed. His life of crime had hardened him and he clearly could feel no remorse for his sin. He was so far from God that his cynicism lasted to the very end. He even mocked Jesus, suggesting that if he really were the Christ he would be able to get down from the cross and save them too. His choices in life were such that he didn’t know how far he had fallen. His sin had blinded him to reality.
The cross of sorrow was the one on which the other thief hung. Unlike his fellow criminal he recognised his own guilt and felt contrition. He knew that he deserved what he was getting while Jesus had done nothing wrong but was suffering the same fate. His act of repentance took the form of standing up for Jesus and rebuking the other thief. Although he had led a life of crime he was not proud of it and he still had respect for God, something he tried to point out to his companion. Even at this late stage there was still a chance for him to try and set things right.
Of course, the cross of salvation was reserved for Jesus of Nazareth. His crucifixion was a great paradox because although he was being executed, after being falsely accused, his death would end in victory. He had never claimed to be King of the Jews, as the inscription on his cross proclaimed, but he would end up as Christ the Universal King. His cross was the means by which he took the world’s sinfulness upon himself in a glorious act of atonement. He willingly accepted to be the sacrificial victim, loving to the very end those entrusted to him by his Father. It was this salvation that he offered to the repentant thief moments before they were both to breathe their last.
The cross of sin, the cross of sorrow and the cross of salvation: we each have a choice. Which will you choose?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: How worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honour, to him belong glory and power forever and ever.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: I rejoiced when I heard them say: “Let us go to God’s house.”
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
————————————————————————————————————————————- Please continue to support Fr Mario and Fr Emmanuel with your prayers as they use their gifts to minister to us to help to make us one big faithful, Christ centred welcoming community.
Devotions/Adoration: From now on, unless advised otherwise, Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy and Divine Praises) from 10:30am to 11:30am each Saturday morning.
Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Saturday Morning Devotions at 10.30-11.00am. All most welcome.
If you have any queries or ideas, please continue to contact Deacon Mike Daly on 07542463319 or Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 on any Parish matters, or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral.
Mike Daly has been sending out his Homilies each week to many of you since the Covid Lockdown first started. He has now stopped this and instead they will be printed on the Parish Website which everyone can access. Log in details to the Website are www,stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions please fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the presbytery letterbox. Thank you.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers.
Children's Liturgy is now taking place during the 9.30is Mass, all are welcome.
Tea and Coffee after 9.30am Mass each Sunday. To be held in the Meeting Room through the Music Store Room, but the exit will now be via the front door of the house. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £416.83p. Thank you. Please try to be as generous as you can to our parish in these difficult times. Cafod Collection: amounted to £428.82p. A cheque will be sent to Cafod on behalf of the parish. Many thanks for your continued generosity.
In Memoriam: Please pray for the repose of the souls of Mr. Geoffrey Williams and Mr. Joseph Kelly and Mrs Maureen Concannon who have recently died. Mr William’s Funeral Service will be held here at St John’s on Monday, 28th November at 10.30am followed by Landican Crematorium at 11.30am. Mr Kelly’s Funeral Service is also at St John’s on Tuesday, 29th November at 11.30am followed by Landican Crematorium at 12.30pm. Mrs Concannon’s Funeral Mass will be held at St John’s on Tuesday 22nd November at 1.00pm followed by Landican Crematorium at 2.30pm. Please pray for their families at this time. May they rest in peace.
The Loop System in the church is now fully operational. To benefit, please set your hearing aid to the "T" setting and adjust your volume as appropriate.
There is a Prayer Intention Book on the table at the back of the church. Please enter your intentions and the Book will be brought to the altar on the First Sunday of each month.
Mother’s Prayers - Please see the poster about this group of mothers from our parish who meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, to pray for their children and grandchildren and offer each other support. The next meeting is Tuesday 20th December. All most welcome.
Advent Day by Day booklets containing daily readings throughout Advent are on the table at the back of church. They are £1 but free to take a copy and if you are able to, please leave a donation in the Books and Cards Box by the card table.
Advent Reflection – 10am– 1pm, Saturday 26th November in Saint Paul’s church, Farmfield Drive, Birkenhead. The reflection consists of two talks with space for personal quiet reflection & group discussion, Mass at 12pm with adoration until 1pm and the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Our Advent Reflection will be led by Canon Niall Mullaley the Parish Priest of Saint Philip Neri parish here in Birkenhead. For more information contact Fr Michael Coughlan Parish Priest – Holy Cross, Our Lady & Saint Paul, Our Lady’s presbytery, Cavendish Street, Birkenhead Tel. 652 1074.
‘Discernment of Gifts and Service – “Your Role and Mission in the Church” A day of reflection, prayer, fellowship, teaching and workshops to help you know how you can best use your gifts in the service of God and neighbour. Run by the diocesan Mission for Catechesis team and Dominican Sisters of St Joseph at St Alban’s Parish Hall, Macclesfield, Saturday 26th November, 10am-5pm. Please bring a packed lunch. To book contact lisa.martinez@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
FRIENDS OF BEBINGTON CEMETERY: has been set up by Mark Baylis. It aims to help, maintain and restore the cemetery since the Council staff that looks after it has been cut from 6 to 1. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Mark 0151 645 4620. Bebington Cemetery Website www.fobc1868.uk
If you know of any St John's parishioners, who would welcome a home visit by members of the S.V.P, please email St John's with details and we will pass on the information, which is treated confidentially, to Steve Bell, President of St John's SVP. Please ask the person or persons involved if they would like a visit before passing on their details. Many thanks stjohntheevabgelist@gmail.com
Collection for Flowers for the Church: There will be a retiring collection over the weekend of the 26th/27th November. A BIG THANK YOU to our team of flower arrangers for the displays over the past 12 months.
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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Sunday 20th
5.00pm Joe Moore Annv RIP
9.30am Ints Jess Glover
11.00am Peter Thomas
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 21st
9.15am Kate & Ted Wooton
Tuesday 22nd
9.15am Decd Rels/Fnds McGree Family
1.00pm Funeral Mass-Maureen Colcannon
Wednesday 23rd
9.15am Ints Fr Bernard Forshaw
Thursday 24th
7.00pm St John’s & St Luke’s Parishes
Friday 25th
9.15am John Rafferty RIP
Saturday 26th
10:30am Devotions - Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
The First Sunday in Advent, Cycle A
Sunday 27th
5.00pm Sylvia Nugent B.day Remembrance
9.30am Rev Philip White RIP
11.00am Richard Phillips
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
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Safeguarding Sunday Prayer 2022
Dear God,
Help us to be a church that:
Loves, welcomes, protects.
Listens, learns, serves.
Repents, restores, transforms.
Values, cares, believes.
God of Justice and compassion, hear our prayer.
Help us, heal us, guide us, we pray.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
———————————————————————————————————————————— Wirral Foodbank: All donations need to be non-perishable, please refer to the list on the notice board of items urgently needed. Please continue to support this as much as you can in these difficult times.
Please take a copy of the Parish Newsletter for anyone else who would appreciate receiving a copy. Also, there is a selection of cards in the Card Rack; please put money in the box provided.
If you have a notice for the bulletin, please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Wednesdays. Many thanks.
AT LAST WE ARE LIVE!! AND HOW TO ACCESS:
St John’s Website is live from 1st November. It is still in the early stages. Access to the website is www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
