The Third Sunday of Advent, 11th December, 2022 Cycle A
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
The Third Sunday of Advent, 11th December, 2022. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE RIGHT ONE?
John the Baptist has some second thoughts about Jesus in today’s gospel. After preaching about the coming of the Messiah for so long, John now finds himself in prison and things don’t seem to be working out as he had expected. So he asks, “Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?”
It seems that John thought the Messiah would be much more militant and political than Jesus. It’s quite comforting that John can have his ideas on the Messiah turned upside down; if he needs to take a second look then so do we. His ideas of what Jesus was about proved to be out of synch with reality. And ours often are equally wide of the mark.
In fact, John even wondered whether his cousin Jesus was the right one. Yet Jesus replies that John should open his eyes and look around: those who are blind, deaf, lame and lepers are being cured and the Good News is being preached to the poor. All of these things were known to be signs that the Messiah had arrived.
What about us? Are we sure we’ve got the right idea about Jesus? When he comes again ought we to be worried or should we be joyfully expecting him? Is he coming to bring vengeance or is he “on our side”. Will he condemn or save?
Having second thoughts about Jesus allows us to get things in perspective. It allows us to see Advent as a joyful season of expectation. It lets us realise that fear is out of place for those who await Christ’s coming. It encourages us to actively look forward to the promises that God has made to us through his Son. It permits us to sing “Come, Lord Jesus” and really mean it. And so Advent invites us to yearn for the coming of that joyful day when our salvation will be fully revealed.
John the Baptist had to have a rethink about Jesus. Advent summons us to do the same. Is Christ’s coming something we look forward to or something we secretly dread?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Come Lord and save us
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us.
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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.
ADVENT SERVICES: There will be Holy Hour each Sunday during Advent at 3pm in the Main Church.
RECONCILIATION SERVICE will be held at St John’s on Friday, 16th December at 7.00pm.There will be priests available to hear confession.
Christmas Mass Times at
ST ANNES:
Christmas Eve -5.00pm - Children’s Mass
9.00pm – Vigil – All Parishioners
Christmas Day - 11.15am
ST. JOHN’S/ST. LUKES
Christmas Eve - 3.00pm – Crib Service
7.00pm - Vigil
Christmas Day - 9.30am. & 11.00am.
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’s Homilies are now available on the Parish Website. 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.
In Memoriam Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mary Beard who died recently. Mary’s Funeral Mass will be held at St John’s on Tuesday 13th December at 9.15am followed at 10.30am by burial at Bebington Cemetery. Please keep her family in your prayer at this sad time. May she rest in peace.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers.
Children's Liturgy is now taking place during the 9.30am 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 £373.59p. Thank you. Please try to be as generous as you can to our parish in these difficult times.
The Collection for Church Flowers amounted to £438.28p. A big thank you from Kath and Jane for your kindness.
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.
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.
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. stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
SING ALONG CAROL SERVICE will be held here at St John’s on Friday, 23rd December at 7.00pm. Come along and join in the singing. Stay behind for refreshments and the opportunity to have a chat with your fellow parishioners. See Poster on the notice board at the back of church.
Partnering Nigeria: Fr. Mario and Fr. Emmanuel are going to connect our church with a catholic church in Nigeria. The idea is to share, care and show God’s love to one another. We are starting at Christmas. If you would like to write a card or letter and enclose a donation, they will be collected by Maria Fryer and forwarded to Nigeria by Fr. Mario. See Poster on the notice board at the back of church.
An Exhibition of Christian Icons will be held at St Teresa’s in Wilmslow from 11th-18th December. For details please see the poster on the notice board at the back of church.
Wirral Foodbank Christmas Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds this Christmas. In the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas the Foodbank will provide over 800 food parcels for local individuals and families in crisis. 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 and thank you for your continued generosity.
THE BIG CARD will be at the back of church from Saturday 10th December. Please write your Christmas message at a suggested minimum donation of £1. All proceeds will go towards the work of The Ark. Please support this very good cause and thank you for your generosity over the years.
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The Third Sunday in Advent,
Cycle A
Sunday 11th
5.00pm Fr Frank Rice RIP
9.30am Oliver Newnes 18th Birthday RIP
11.00am Monica Astu
3.00pm Holy Hour
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 12th
9.15am George Elliott
Tuesday 13th
9.15am Funeral Mass - Mary Beard
Wednesday 14th
9.15am Intentions Philomena Fletcher
Thursday 15th
7.00pm St John’s & St Luke’s Parishes
Friday 16th
9.15am John O’Shea RIP
7.00pm Reconciliation Service
Saturday 17th
10.00am Carmelite Mass - All Welcome
10:30am Devotions - Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
The Fourth Sunday in Advent,
Cycle A
Sunday 18th
5.00pm Ted Corrigan RIP
9.30am Patricia Blondin RIP (USA)
11.00am Tim Davies RIP
3.00pm Holy Hour
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
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Advent Prayer:
In this Season of Advent, inspire us to be a people of HOPE.
Encourage us not to be greedy for material possessions, but for justice
and truth,
Enflame us with a love for others, which crosses boundaries of race, religion and nationality.
Stir within us an appreciation of the immense beauty of the earth.
Be with us, Lord, at this time, that we may be a people of HOPE.
Amen.
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.
Traidcraft will be on sale THIS WEEKEND. It is an opportunity to stock up on Christmas cards and maybe a gift or two.
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