Advent 4: Thoughts for the Week

Christmas is at the door; which is to say – “Emmanuel” – God-is-with-us!

Our human family has suffered because of the failure of Adam and Eve to obey God’s will. For aeons of time the promised Saviour was ‘in the future’. But now, at Christmas, we celebrate that Mary gave birth to the One who untied the knot of our despair and dissolved our fear of death – both were the consequence of sin.

God’s Christmas gift to us is Jesus – his name means ‘the one who saves’. He will ‘take away the sins of the world’. So, no longer do I need to carry the ball and chain of my sin. This week I can confess my sins and know they are truly forgiven. When that truth enters my heart, I am like a convict, emancipated and freed beyond my prison walls.  ‘My prison walls’? Yes, my sin is my prison. “Sin pays its wage – death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rm6.23).

So this Christmas ‘Let the Lord enter; He is the King of glory’. Welcome God, the Lord Jesus, into your life and your family this Christmas. Recall the words of today’s Responsorial Psalm: “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? The man with clean hands and pure heart. …He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him” (Ps.23). That is what God longs for; what do you long for this Christmas?

Presents for Jesus from you and your family

Family:

ü  As a family attend a Reconciliation service and ask God’s loving forgiveness.

Prayers & Reflections:                                             Thank God for those whom you have known who have died in 2013, and pray for the happy repose of their souls.

Promises & Commitments:                        

• “Planned Giving” commitments falling behind? Put the “catch-up” amount in a Christmas card and submit it as your “Present for Jesus”.

 

Teens & Young People:

• Can you be part of the World Youth Day in Poland in 2016? …Saving enough cash begins now.

Talents & Time:

• Volunteer to help the underprivileged in Australia or abroad. Check the PALMS website www.palms.org.au/‎ [Talk to Noreen Hogan or Bernadette Ridge who have both been to East Timor with PALMS.]
• Mow the lawn for a neighbour who may not be able to do it themselves.
• Cook, or prepare a meal for someone in need. …Or buy a takeaway one for such a person.
• Volunteer for some ministry in the parish and discover that it is a present for you as well as for Jesus.

Parish Initiatives:                                       

• Organise a variation of the original “Boxing Day”. Have parishioners bring in duplicate, or otherwise unneeded, Christmas presents or gift cards for re-distribution to the needy. Arrange a ‘Vinnies’ notice in the Bulletin; have it announced.
• Volunteer to coordinate or help with a “give a lift” scheme – to drive parishioners to Mass who are unable to drive themselves.
• Celebrate your Christmas happily and in a holy manner – receiving Jesus the Saviour in the Sacraments

Parish Events Advent Week IV: 22-28 Dec

Saturday 21^st Dec

6.30pm Mass

Sunday 22^nd 4^th week of Advent

9.00am Mass (Pro populo – for all parishioners)

Monday 23^rd  

9.00am Mass

Tuesday 24^th – Christmas Eve

9.00am Mass

6.30pm Vigil Mass (No Midnight Mass)

8.30pm Vigil Mass at Mulwala

Wednesday 25^th CHRISTMAS DAY

May you and your family enjoy a truly blessed Christmas.

9.00am Mass

11.00am Communion to homes & Karinya

Thursday 26^th St Stephen 1^ST Martyr

11.30am Novena.

12.00 Mass

Friday 27^th St John Apostle

9.00am Mass

Communion to Homes

Community Prayer Spot resumes in late January.

Saturday 28^th Holy Innocents

8.45am Rosary & 9.00am Mass

6.30pm Vigil Mass

Sunday 29^th Holy Family

9.00am Mass (Pro populo – for all parishioners)

                

Remember in Prayer

Recently deceased: Suzanne Knight, Denise Conway, James Dunn, Betty Chandler, Kath Richardson, Patricia Seymour, Frances Hanrahan, Kathleen Keyes, Pauline Harris, Alma O’Brien, Bishop Brennan, Alan Whitty, and Dimpy Weston.

THANK YOU

Thank you to all who helped the Parish Raffle to be a success. The winners were:

1^st Prize:……..

2^nd Prize:……

3^rd Prize:……

 Roster 28^th  – 29^th  Dec

Gifts:

6.30pm O’Halloran Family

9.00am Svarc Family

Lectors

6.30pm E Kingston J Lowden

9.00am P Ridge B Ridge

Special Ministers:

6.30pm T Drum J Lowden

9.00am K Flower K King

Altar M Doyle

Welcomers:

6.30pm D & E Clohessy

9.00am PT Moroney Hanrahan

Altar Servers:

6.30pm Dylan Forge & Zac

9.00am Meg Rogers Jorja Kingston

Collection Matt Drum

Counters: Mick Kelly Danny Salmon