Third Sunday of Advent, 15th December, 2024. Cycle C
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road,
New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Third Sunday of Advent, 15th December, 2024. Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: All-Singing, All-Dancing God
The only way we can talk about God is by treating him as if he were like us. This isn’t as stupid as it sounds, since if we are made in the image and likeness of God then all good things about us must reflect something of the nature of God. Yet we tend to think of God as ever so serious. Surely God would never be caught having a belly-laugh, enjoying a good party, singing or dancing? Well, the answer, of course, is yes he would. Our Advent God is a God of joy. Jesus said he wanted us to know all about the Father so that we could share in his joy. And time and time again during Advent the keyword of our songs, psalms and prayers is joy. So it comes as no surprise today when we hear from Zephaniah that God is quite capable of letting his hair down. Zephaniah has been prophesying doom for a people who have given in to moral decline and decay. But God knows that there is a small minority, a “remnant” that is trying to remain faithful to the agreement between God and Israel. And this alone makes him want to celebrate. In fact Zephaniah tells us that God breaks out into song and dance at the thought of his faithful people: “He will sing with joy over you…he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.” When during Advent we pray and sing, “Come, Emmanuel” we run the risk of calling upon a rather boring and predictable God to show himself. For we tend to put God into a category where we worship him but do not find him very exciting company. This is because we don’t really know him. How many times have you heard someone say that they’ve just seen another (more human) side to Mr or Mrs So-and-So? Maybe this Advent will really come alive when we recognise that God is bigger than our view of him. And when that happens, there’s sure to be a song and dance!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Sing and shout for joy as great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Sing and shout for joy as great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. Alleluia!
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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Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely the memory of God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.
Advent Penitential Service will be held at St John’s at 7:00pm on17th December. All most welcome.
Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 11.00am- 11.30am.
From now on all morning services will take place in St Anne’s house and from Monday 28th October at St John’s Monday and Friday Masses will be held in the Day Chapel, Tuesday and Wednesday Masses will remain in the main Church.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £451.80p. Many thanks for your continued support.
SVP Sudan Appeal Collection amounted to £284.24p. Many thanks to parishioners for such generosity.
Mary’s Meals amounted to £80. Many thanks for your generosity.
Bookings for the reception & Celebration of Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation & Wedding, Please enquire & arrange for these through the parish emails / Secretaries of St. Anne’s & St. John’s. Also contact the Parish Priest/ Administrator through 0151-645-3314 You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 7808975011 or Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
SJE’s Parish Safeguarding Officer is Celia Daly, who can be contacted on 0151-645 9256 on all safeguarding matters.
Notice to Parishioners: This is to notify all that Deacon Michael Daly will be away for a “Sabbatical Time” due to health concerns, and will hope to be back in the not too distant future.
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions , fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the Presbytery letterbox. Please give at least three weeks’ notice as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates and days.
In Memoriam: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mary Fitzgerald who died recently. Funeral Mass will be held at St John’s on Wednesday, 18th December at 11.30am followed by Landican at 1.00pm. Please also pray for the repose of the soul of Kenny Daly (Deacon Mike’s brother) who died last weekend. Please keep Mary and Kenny’s families in your prayers. May Mary, Kenny, and all the faithful departed, rest in the peace of Christ.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. The next date is SUNDAY 5th January 2025.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church. Please also take a copy of the Advent Reverse Calendar on the table at the back of church..
THE BIG CARD is on the table at the back of church. 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 support over the years.
CHRISTMAS MASS/SERVICES AT ST JOHN’S:
Tuesday, 17th December - Advent Service of Reconciliation 7pm
Saturday 21st December - Christmas Crib Service at 2.00pm. All welcome
Tuesday 24th December at 8.00pm Vigil Mass of Christmas AT ST JOHN’S for the 3 parishes. There will be a retiring collection for CARITAS
Wednesday 25th December Christmas Day – Mass 9.30am
Thursday 26th December – NO MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Friday 27th December - Feast of St John – MASS AT ST JOHN’S at 10.00am for all 3 Parishes
Saturday 28th December – Mass at 5.00pm
Sunday 29th December - Mass at 9.30am
MASS TIMES FOR THE NEW YEAR AT ST ANNE’S AND ST JOHN’S
New Years Day Wednesday
1st January MASS AT ST JOHN’S 10.00am
Holy Hour at St Anne’s 11.30am – 12 Noon
Followed by Mass at 12 Noon Thursday
2nd January NO MASS IN ST JOHN’S OR ST ANNE’S
Friday 3rd January MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY 12 Noon
Saturday 4th January MASS AT ST JOHN’S 5.00pm
MASS AT ST ANNE’S 6.30pm
Sunday 5th January MASS AT ST JOHN’S 9.30am
MASS AT ST ANNE’S 11.00am
SEE FULL LISTS ON THE BOARD BY THE BAPTISMAL FONT
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Saturday 14th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Decd Rels/Fnds Sue & Roger Davies
Third Sunday of Advent Cycle C 15th 9.30am Oliver Newnes 20th B.day Rem.
7.30pm NO Prayer Meeting tonight
Monday 16th 9.15am Joan Turner (Recovery)
Tuesday 17th 9.15am Decd Rels/Fnds McCormick & Dunnion Families
7.00pm Advent Reconciliation Service
Wednesday 18th 11.30am Funeral Mass – Mary Fitzgerald
NO EVENING MASS
Thursday 19th NO MASS
Friday 20th 9.15am Baby Ella White RIP
Saturday 21st 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Decd Rels/Fnds Corrigan Family
Fourth Sunday of Advent Cycle C 22nd 9 .30am McCaffery Family
7.30pm No Prayer Meeting tonight
Weekend Masses - Please note that the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed immediately before each Mass. Please use this as a time for prayer & quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly & remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 14th 6.30pm Jean Murray Healing
Third Sunday of Advent Cycle C 15th 11.00am Lewis & Christopher Doyle B.day Rem
Monday 16th 12 Noon Lill Bailey Blessings for Christmas, New Year & Good Health
Tuesday 17th 12 Noon For the Sick, Health
7.00pm Advent Reconciliation at St John’s
Wednesday 18th 5.30pm St. Anne’s School Christmas Carols
Thursday 19th 7.00pm NO MASS
Plessington School Christmas Carols
Friday 20th 12 Noon For the Children of Prisoners
Saturday 21st 6.30pm Margret Langley
Fourth Sunday of Advent Cycle C 22nd 11.00am Anne McGrory 1st Anni. & George &
Catherine Rem.
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Further to the recent appeal, a separate bank account has now been set up Specifically to ‘ring fence’ contributions to the new boiler fund. Please make cheques payable to St John’s New Ferry and write 29001/NFJ/DU on the reverse. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope with 29001/BNFJ/DU written on the outside.
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