This week's news

Deacon Mike is very grateful for the help given at the time and the concern shown since Saturday evening's fall. He says he is fine and doing well and Mike & Mary thank you all.

MORE SOUP IS NEEDED!

Can you make some soup for us to increase the very low stock?

We are running low for the fortnightly soup run so if you can help please let us know so we can put you in touch with Maeve who stores it for us.

Please put it into milk containers & label with type of soup & date made - Not too think/’hearty’ please as can be difficult to pour when out on the soup run. Thank you in advance!

Bereavement support group

For those affected by bereavement, we have started a friendship and support group, meeting monthly for tea, cake & a chat.
The group will next meet on 27th January at 2pm in the parish hall. All welcome to join - no need to register beforehand, please just come along. * Please note this date has been changed for the planned Jan meeting * Usually they will be held on 3rd Monday of the month. *

‘POP & DROP’

~ Highlighting things the Soup Run Team are short of & if you can POP one in your shopping & DROP it to the back of church in their box, it will really help those in need on the streets of Bristol.

This month it’s toothpaste or small packs of tissues.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
Let's start the year with another lovely evening together, getting to know each other a little more, with our 'Mixer & Mash' night! Tickets will be on sale from this weekend so you can buy yours after Masses or contact the parish office for details.
*Please let us know of any dietary requirements when buying your tickets.*
We will need to plan for the catering so get your tickets soon.
See you there!

Reflections for the Baptism of the Lord Year C from Deacon Vincent.

1st Reading from the prophet Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11.
We are reading the opening passage of the Second Isaiah (Deutero-Isaiah). We do not know his name, as a disciple of the First Isaiah, he is happy to write under his teacher’s name. This is about the year 539 BC, when Cyrus, King of Persia had just taken Babylon, with the result that the exiles can return home. However, this was not universally greeted with enthusiasm by the exiles. His writing is to encourage a second Exodus; God wants them to return, they have paid for their iniquity in following other gods. The true Shepherd of Israel is calling them home again. It is a very gentle invitation that God announces. The voice crying n the wilderness was always seen as a vision of John the Baptist by the earliest Christians. We have a beautiful vision of God shepherding his people home, caring for the people not driving them home, but helping them make their way under his strong protection.

Psalm 104(103): 1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30.
A song in praise of God’s creation, it complements our first reading by illustrating that God is control. God is the creator God; all living things owe their existence to his loving them into being. This is why he cares for his people, because God loves them and wants them home to prepare for the arrival of his Son. It concludes with that magnificent phrase; “You send forth your spirit, and they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.” What a wonderful description of God’s creative Spirit.

2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to Titus. 2: 11-14, 3: 4-7.
Church leaders need to have a firm control of the patterns of peoples’ behaviour, making sure there are no signs of ungodliness or worldly behaviour. The people should display every indication of being a chosen people steeped in good works. This is not for our justification, but simply a response to the fact that “Jesus gave himself for us in order to ransom us.” This did not happen because of our good works but through God’s loving mercy in sending Jesus amongst us. We have the vision of the washing of baptism and renewal in the Holy Spirit, which enables us to respond positively to God’s prompting.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22.
Luke has John proclaiming that he is not the Christ, but he is among you, and his sandal I am not worthy to untie. John tells us that he is not worthy to even be his servant, then John points out the Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire is the fire burning within his followers to proclaim the Good News, which comes about through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. John’s washing is symbolic of turning away from sin and keeping the commandments. Jesus’ mission will be a complete renewal of heart and soul and lead to a conversion of the world. Then Luke gives us a wonderful vision of Jesus’ anointing by the Holy Spirit and the affirmation of the Father, “You are my Son, the Beloved – with you I am well pleased.” Luke envisages Jesus as the one who unleashes the Holy Spirit upon the world, so that the face of the earth can be renewed. We have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, let us be reborn again with the fire of the Holy Spirit burning bright within us and renew this broken and injured world for God our Father.

May the light of the Holy Spirit renew each one of us.
Deacon Vincent.