This Week's News

Carols by Candlelight

This weekend we held our annual "Carols by Candlelight" service ~ a beautiful afternoon of reflection, during Advent, to prepare us for the coming season. Various musicians and singers were there to lead us in the carols (everyone was in fine voice!), including our 'Cantonese Angels' who sang some carols for us in English and Cantonese, and a group made from our various church musicians who performed a very moving rendition of 'Mary, did you know'.
Thank you to all involved with the service and with the lovely refreshments in the hall afterwards. And thanks to all who came out. The donations, craft sale and raffle for our Parish Projects raised an amazing £320! ~ we hope you enjoyed the afternoon.

Lost Property

Someone has left a red plastic bag full of Christmas cards at the back of church - they are now in the parish office in the presbytery for safe keeping, so you can come and collect them from there. Thank you.
And don't forget, any lost property is placed in the lost property cupboard as you walk into Church on the left hand side. Have a look through if you have anything missing (there is quite a collection of items!)

Celebration of Mass at St Nicholas'

Please see poster for details of St. Nicholas of Tolentino RC Church, Bristol's monthly celebration of Mass for LGBTQ+ Catholics, friends and family.

All are welcome.

Thanks, Deacon Vincent, for your Reflections for Second Sunday of Advent Year C

1st Reading from the Prophet Baruch 5: 1-9.
Baruch, the name means “Blessed”, was the secretary to Jeremiah who wrote down Jeremiah’s preaching. This book, however, was not written by Baruch, but the author used the name of a figure from the “Golden Age”, and re-interpreting Jeremiah for a new situation. Israel is still occupied by a foreign power, with the usual extortionate taxes. This book is seeking to put “hope in the Lord”, back into the people; this book is speaking to Jews who are living in the Greek-Speaking Dispersion. The writing that we are reading today is from a poem of consolation for Jerusalem. It is lifting the people who are separated from their homeland and telling them that God has not forgotten them. They are remembered and loved by God. It is worth studying and dwelling upon the fact that although things do not always go well with us, God never forgets us, but is trying to resolve our difficulties. We need to always trust God and keep our hope alive, for we are a people of Hope.

Psalm 126(125): 1-2b, 2c-3, 4-5, 6.

This is the song of the returning exiles, very appropriate, as a follow up to Baruch’s exhortation. Sing and shout for joy whenever God hears us and comforts us.

2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians 1: 3-6, 8-11.
In the Thanksgiving of Pauline letters, it is always useful to look out for themes that will re-appear later in the letter. Paul uses “all of you”, several times which might indicate that there is a problem with disunity amongst them. Notice the use of “Joy”, in the opening passage, for although Paul is in prison, whilst writing this letter it is one of his most joyful letters. Paul also emphasises partnership, which carries with it the idea of fellowship, union and communion. If you read on into this letter these themes will come to light for some expansion from Paul.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 3: 1-6.
This prolonged introduction to John the Baptist’s mission contains the only date in the whole of the New Testament (AD 28-29). He lists the important people in descending order of importance to the region. We are introduced to Pontius Pilate and Annas and Caiaphas, three people who we will find scattered throughout this Gospel. Eventually Luke arrives at the key figure that he wants to talk about, namely John the Baptist, son of Zachariah. John is in the wilderness calling the people to repentance, which fits perfectly with the Isaiah’s prophecy of a voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the Way of the Lord.” Every one of the Gospels have John preparing the people to meet their Saviour, Jesus Christ. John is the springboard for Jesus to enter his public life. He must have been a towering figure, for Jesus says of him, “There is none greater than John the Baptist born of woman.” Let us hear John’s cry today to transform our lives so that we are ready to meet the Lord, when he comes.

God forgive our foolish ways and bring us close to Jesus.
Deacon Vincent.