The Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30th October, 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
The Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30th October 2022. Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: MAKING THE FIRST MOVE
There was a sign outside a church that read, “Don’t let your funeral be the next time you come and visit us!” We can understand what it meant; it was encouraging people to think about the place of God in their lives and their response to God’s workings.
But, actually, the sign is fundamentally flawed. Why? Because it encourages people to think that they are the ones who must make the first move. It gives the impression that God is sitting back waiting for them to decide to start doing something about their lives. And that simply isn’t true!
The amazing thing about God’s dealings with us is that he always makes the first move. Think of Zacchaeus in today’s gospel. He’d heard all the rumours about Jesus and wanted to see for himself. Being a small man he climbed up a sycamore tree to get a good view. But before he could say anything, before he could make his mind up, it was Jesus who made the first move and told him he was coming home with him to stay for a while. When Zacchaeus heard what Jesus had to say he was immediately moved to repent and give half his property to the poor. (He’d cheated people by charging them too much tax and then keeping most of the money himself.)
God never ceases reaching out to us. We find this hard to cope with because we think that God is so concerned with weighty global problems that he has no time for us and our particular situations. Yet the opposite is true.
When we feel drawn to God it is only because God’s grace has been offered us in the first place. Our lives are a response to Christ’s example of sacrifice and love; our response comes from hearing God’s word; our actions are inspired by God’s Spirit working in us, if only we take the time to discern it.
At the eucharist we thank God for never abandoning us and for continually offering us the chance to enjoy the life that Christ promised. Amazingly, God never stops leading us on to deeper trust and love. And all he asks in return is that we respond.
————————————————————————————————————————————-ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Forsake me not, O Lord, my God: be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: I will bless your name for ever, O God my king.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens! Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
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A warm welcome - Finally Fr Emmanuel has arrived safely to join Fr Mario in the service of our parishes. We are sure he will be made welcome and enjoy his ministry with us. As Fr Mario reminded us, Emmanuel means God is with us. We do feel blessed to have Fr Emmanuel and Fr Mario with us.
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.
Fr Mario will be saying 3 Masses on 2nd November, The Feast of All Souls. They are all being held at St John's at 9.15am, 12 noon and 3pm.
The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated in Church on Thursday at 7.00pm with a particular focus given to those parishioners and friends who have died this year. Everyone is welcome to come along and reflect on the members of their families who have died.
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 from 1st November. We will publish log in details in the coming weeks.
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 9.30am 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 £584.72p, thank you. Please try to be as generous as you can to our parish in these difficult times.
Fr Paschal’s – special collection for Haiti, amount to follow shortly.
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
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 - Pease 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 16th November then 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, please leave a donation in the Books Box by the card table.
Traidcraft Stall- the stall will be open on Saturday after Mass and then again on Sunday after Mass. Please try to support this if you can.
Saint Bernadette-Many have said how moving it was to venerate the relics of Saint Bernadette. Next year, will be the 90th anniversary of her Canonisation, on Dec 8th, 1933. To commemorate this, the Department for Evangelisation is planning a Conference and preparing a booklet, and would like to hear from anyone with a story to tell. It could be about the visit of the relics, or a pilgrimage to Lourdes; the cure of a friend, or a family member; or simply what Bernadette means to them. No story is too small - yours could be a source of great encouragement to others. So don’t hesitate to get in touch, either by calling Barbara Davies on 07730 526 821 or by emailing: StBernadette2033@gmail.com.
Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour this Tuesday at 7pm. All welcome.
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The Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 30th
5.00pm Ints of Maeve Dana
9.30am Vera Brockway RIP
11.00am Mary Devery RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 31st
9.15am Baby Francis Fryer RIP
Tuesday 31st
Feast of All Saints
1st Nov
9.15am For All our Saints
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 2nd
Feast of All Souls
9.15am For All the Faithful Departed
12.00pm
3.00pm
Thursday 3rd
7.00pm Annual Mass of Remembrance
John Shoer RIP
Friday 4th
9.15am Deceased relatives & friends of the Duckworth Family
Saturday 5th
10:30am Devotions - Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
The Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
6th
5.00pm Bernard McGuigan RIP (KSC)
9.30am Gerard Elliott
11.00am Ellen Kettle RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
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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.
WORD FOR TODAY
In so many different ways God reaches out to us daily. In the ordinariness of our lives God offers us the change to repent, to grow and to be happier. It’s always God who takes the initiative, never us. Are we listening for God’s invitation to come and spend time with us?
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
May God the Father make you worthy of his call and fulfil all your desires for goodness. Amen. May Jesus Christ complete all that you have been doing through faith and lead you to the glory of heaven. Amen. May the Holy Spirit inspire your every action that you may be gathered by him on the Day of the Lord. Amen. And may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
