The Countdown to our 'Countdown to Christmas' event is on!
Not long now until we can all enjoy an afternoon together as a community; shopping, eating, drinking, and getting into the festive spirit with music and games and stalls and Santa!
Saturday 18th November from 12noon until 3pm.
With only 5 weeks to go we'd love to highlight some of the brilliant and talented local traders who will be there:
We will be joined by Jen from Floral Frog who will have her handmade Christmas wreaths and table decorations for you to buy in plenty of time for the festivities.
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| Jen's stall at last years Countdown to Christmas |
Rosie Gosling Independent Flamingo Paperie Partner will be there with her Christmas cards, paper and other goodies as well running her 'Sparkle and Shine with Rosie' Body Shop stall.
Looking forward to seeing you all there.
Looking forward to seeing you all there.
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| Rosie and her cards! |
A message from Fr Barnabas:
This Saturday, at 10.15 until 1pm, you are welcome to join us in the parish hall for a parish meeting.
We will start with prayer and then the second part will ask the question: 'who is Jesus Christ for me?'
We will then have a cuppa and begin to look at:
‘what sort of parish would we like?'
We will stop at 1pm and you are either free to go, or stay for a shared lunch - bring a sandwich!
The current Conflict situation
"Our faith, which is founded on the teachings of Jesus Christ, compels us to advocate for the cessation of all violent and military activities that bring harm to both Palestinian and Israeli civilians."
Read the statement from the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem on the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales website.
Pope Francis' Prayer for Peace:
Lord Jesus, we adore your cross which frees us from sin, the origin of every division and evil;
we proclaim your resurrection, which ransoms man from the slavery of failure and death;
we await your coming in glory, which will bring to fulfilment your kingdom of justice, joy and peace.
Lord Jesus, by your glorious passion, conquer the hardness of our hearts, imprisoned by hatred and selfishness;
by the power of your resurrection, save the victims of injustice and maltreatment from their suffering;
by the fidelity of your coming, confound the culture of death and make the triumph of life shine forth.
Lord Jesus, unite to your cross the sufferings of the many innocent victims:
the children, the elderly, and the persecuted Christians;
envelop in paschal light those who are deeply wounded:
abused persons, deprived of freedom and dignity;
let those who live in uncertainty experience the enduring constancy of your kingdom: the exiles, refugees, and those who have lost the joy of living.
O Virgin Mary, Queen of peace, you who stood at the foot of the cross, obtain from your Son pardon for our sins;
you who never doubted the victory of his resurrection, sustain our faith and our hope;
you who are enthroned as Queen in glory, teach us the royal road of service and the glory of love.
Amen.
Pope Francis' Prayer for Peace:
Lord Jesus, we adore your cross which frees us from sin, the origin of every division and evil;
we proclaim your resurrection, which ransoms man from the slavery of failure and death;
we await your coming in glory, which will bring to fulfilment your kingdom of justice, joy and peace.
Lord Jesus, by your glorious passion, conquer the hardness of our hearts, imprisoned by hatred and selfishness;
by the power of your resurrection, save the victims of injustice and maltreatment from their suffering;
by the fidelity of your coming, confound the culture of death and make the triumph of life shine forth.
Lord Jesus, unite to your cross the sufferings of the many innocent victims:
the children, the elderly, and the persecuted Christians;
envelop in paschal light those who are deeply wounded:
abused persons, deprived of freedom and dignity;
let those who live in uncertainty experience the enduring constancy of your kingdom: the exiles, refugees, and those who have lost the joy of living.
O Virgin Mary, Queen of peace, you who stood at the foot of the cross, obtain from your Son pardon for our sins;
you who never doubted the victory of his resurrection, sustain our faith and our hope;
you who are enthroned as Queen in glory, teach us the royal road of service and the glory of love.
Amen.
“POP IT IN YOUR SHOP!” 
Each month we will highlight an item we need for our soup run teams to give out to those in need on the streets of Bristol and if you are able to ‘pop it in your weekly shop’ for us, we would really appreciate it!
This month the team would love to increase their stock of DISPOSABLE RAZORS
- so please donate, if you can, and bring them to the parish office.
Thank you all so much for your continued generosity.
This month the team would love to increase their stock of DISPOSABLE RAZORS
- so please donate, if you can, and bring them to the parish office.
Thank you all so much for your continued generosity.
This Prisons Week, will you help pray for all affect by prison?
...the prisoner, the families, the victims, the staff...
Look up the Catholic Bishop's Conference resources for information and prayer.
Look up the Catholic Bishop's Conference resources for information and prayer.
Thanks, Deacon Vincent, for your reflections for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah 25: 6-10.
This extract is from the first Isaiah, Isaiah ben Amoz, as last week’s reading. This is much more optimistic, even though they are suffering the terrible ordeal of captivity in Babylon. He sees the time coming when the Lord will become King over all kings. Then there will be a banquet of fine wine and good food, the Lord will wipe away every tear and forgive all our faults. We will rejoice at our salvation. For Christians this would be the celebratory Mass of our Salvation which will be accomplished in Jerusalem. He sees their captivity and exile as not the end but a time of preparation for God’s action in restoring everything. God is in charge not the Babylonians. We forget that God is always in charge even in the face of terror and disasters that man can inflict on each other, God can convert it and heal it.
Psalm 22:
This lovely poem is the favourite for many people in the Canon of Psalms. It is a work of great poetry in Hebrew, and indeed, in many English translations. The imagery of God as a shepherd guiding and watching over us, leading us to good pasture, and caring for us even in the shadow of death is breathtaking and very emotional. The preparation of the table, for Christians recalls the Holy Mass. According to our version, “Goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.” But in the one I have before me, it reads “Your mercy shall pursue me, all the days of my life.” God pursues us, it is not a passive experience; it is very active indeed. This psalm reflects God’s constant love and tender care for us; it fills us with hope that we will be with God one day through Jesus Christ’s great sacrifice, which has purchased us from slavery to evil.
2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20.
Paul is thanking the Philippians for helping him out financially. His other foundations had not been so helpful to his Ministry, so he is explaining how he is very grateful, for he knows how to be poor and to have surplus. His experiences have prepared him for anything. As always, he reverts to his Lord Jesus Christ, who will reward them for their kindness with lavish giving as only God can. Then he signs off with “Glory to God, our Father, for ever and ever. Paul is completely enwrapped with Jesus the only Son of God our Father. Everything begins and ends with Jesus, who has sacrificed himself for Paul. Paul never fails to thank him: There is a strong lesson for us to always be grateful to Jesus for our salvation.
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 22: 1-14.
We continue this week with the controversy started by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, concerning Jesus’ authority for preaching and performing miracles. This parable is supposed to give us glimpse as to what the kingdom of heaven is really like. The King is giving a wedding feast for his son and sends out the invites to those whom he expects to want to be involved with this feast. It is a vision of the invitation of God to the people of Israel, his chosen ones. They don’t bother to listen they have more important things to do. It is an obvious reference to the prophets God has sent to them. The way his servants are treated by the guests is abysmal and draws punishment. The King (God) then extends the invitation to the less worthy, namely the Gentiles, who rush to take up the invite. One is expected to be dressed in righteousness to be at the feast. When it is found that one has found his way in, not wearing the right clothes, he is silent before the King (God). The King (God) has him ejected. We are invited to the feast of the Kingdom of Heaven, but we are expected to wear the right clothes of righteousness. We have been called but we need to respond to that call to follow the Gospel life to enter the Glory of God’s Kingdom, otherwise we face ejection. This story is meant to shock and make us ponder over what Jesus is saying. Yes, his response is to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but it is extended to us through the call to the Gentiles to come into the Kingdom. We are required to have the right clothes to be accepted. Remember that we can always seek out Jesus’ “Divine Mercy” to assist us. Never despair.
May God help us all to find the right clothes.
Deacon Vincent.
1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah 25: 6-10.
This extract is from the first Isaiah, Isaiah ben Amoz, as last week’s reading. This is much more optimistic, even though they are suffering the terrible ordeal of captivity in Babylon. He sees the time coming when the Lord will become King over all kings. Then there will be a banquet of fine wine and good food, the Lord will wipe away every tear and forgive all our faults. We will rejoice at our salvation. For Christians this would be the celebratory Mass of our Salvation which will be accomplished in Jerusalem. He sees their captivity and exile as not the end but a time of preparation for God’s action in restoring everything. God is in charge not the Babylonians. We forget that God is always in charge even in the face of terror and disasters that man can inflict on each other, God can convert it and heal it.
Psalm 22:
This lovely poem is the favourite for many people in the Canon of Psalms. It is a work of great poetry in Hebrew, and indeed, in many English translations. The imagery of God as a shepherd guiding and watching over us, leading us to good pasture, and caring for us even in the shadow of death is breathtaking and very emotional. The preparation of the table, for Christians recalls the Holy Mass. According to our version, “Goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life.” But in the one I have before me, it reads “Your mercy shall pursue me, all the days of my life.” God pursues us, it is not a passive experience; it is very active indeed. This psalm reflects God’s constant love and tender care for us; it fills us with hope that we will be with God one day through Jesus Christ’s great sacrifice, which has purchased us from slavery to evil.
2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20.
Paul is thanking the Philippians for helping him out financially. His other foundations had not been so helpful to his Ministry, so he is explaining how he is very grateful, for he knows how to be poor and to have surplus. His experiences have prepared him for anything. As always, he reverts to his Lord Jesus Christ, who will reward them for their kindness with lavish giving as only God can. Then he signs off with “Glory to God, our Father, for ever and ever. Paul is completely enwrapped with Jesus the only Son of God our Father. Everything begins and ends with Jesus, who has sacrificed himself for Paul. Paul never fails to thank him: There is a strong lesson for us to always be grateful to Jesus for our salvation.
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 22: 1-14.
We continue this week with the controversy started by the Pharisees and the Sadducees, concerning Jesus’ authority for preaching and performing miracles. This parable is supposed to give us glimpse as to what the kingdom of heaven is really like. The King is giving a wedding feast for his son and sends out the invites to those whom he expects to want to be involved with this feast. It is a vision of the invitation of God to the people of Israel, his chosen ones. They don’t bother to listen they have more important things to do. It is an obvious reference to the prophets God has sent to them. The way his servants are treated by the guests is abysmal and draws punishment. The King (God) then extends the invitation to the less worthy, namely the Gentiles, who rush to take up the invite. One is expected to be dressed in righteousness to be at the feast. When it is found that one has found his way in, not wearing the right clothes, he is silent before the King (God). The King (God) has him ejected. We are invited to the feast of the Kingdom of Heaven, but we are expected to wear the right clothes of righteousness. We have been called but we need to respond to that call to follow the Gospel life to enter the Glory of God’s Kingdom, otherwise we face ejection. This story is meant to shock and make us ponder over what Jesus is saying. Yes, his response is to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but it is extended to us through the call to the Gentiles to come into the Kingdom. We are required to have the right clothes to be accepted. Remember that we can always seek out Jesus’ “Divine Mercy” to assist us. Never despair.
May God help us all to find the right clothes.
Deacon Vincent.
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