BULLETIN                                                          31 JULY 2005                    

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR 1


CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 30 July
Confession on request from 4.45 to 5.15 pm
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm
Sunday 31 July
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon
Monday 1 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Denis Long
Tuesday 2 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Margaret Boyd
Wednesday 3 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Cynthia McDonald
Thursday 4 August
Mass at 7.00 pm for Fred Derrick
Friday 5 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Margaret Fisher
Saturday 6 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Kathleen Robertson


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 31 July
11.00 am Tea and Coffee after Mass
Monday 1 August
7.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Weight Watchers
Tuesday 2 August
7.30 pm Keep Fit
Wednesday 3 August
5.00 to 6.00 pm
6.30 to 8.30 pm
7.30 pm
Street Dance for 13 to 18 year olds
The Best of Health
Ignatian Prayer Group
Thursday 4 August
   
Friday 5 August
   
Saturday 6 August
7.00 pm Private Party

IF YOU ARE HERE ON HOLIDAY, YOU ARE VERY WELCOME; IF YOU ARE GOING ON HOLIDAY, ENJOY YOUR BREAK.

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Margaret Fisher, Joseph Shearer and Mrs McPhee who died recently;
   George Tonner 1931, Isabelle Rennie 2004, Robert Tumilty 1981, Laurence Hamilton 1998,
   Margaret McGuinness 2004, William Tumilty 1980, Lawrence Tumilty 1993, Father Jack Kerr 2001,
   Lauretta Salotti 1981, Elizabeth Taylor 1951, Samuel Taylor 1969 and Mary McCann 1987
   whose anniversaries occur at this time;

   Chad Duncan and Kerry Louise Shiells who were baptised recently
   and those who are sick.

SUNDAY COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection amounted to £629.84 - many thanks.
Banker's Orders amount to an average of £4000 per month. Each month £4000 is repaid to the Diocese for the building loan and levy.

PARISH CENTRE COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection for the Parish Centre amounted to £234.08 - many thanks.

BANKER'S ORDERS
Paying your collection by monthly or quarterly banker's order makes money handling much safer. Banker's Order forms are available in the porch.

SAINT PETER IN CHAINS WEBSITE
Thanks to those who tested and made helpful comments on the new Saint Peter's website. It is now 'live'. The address is www.SaintPeterInChains.net.

THURSDAY CLUB
Many thanks to the Thursday Club for their half-yearly donation of £150 for the use of the Parish Centre.

PARISH MINISTRIES
If we are to follow 'Embracing the Future', our Diocesan Plan for the years to come, we have a responsibility to ensure that the next two generations are involved fully in the life of our parish. This means we need to encourage our young people to take on responsibilities at Mass and in the wider life of the parish.

Readers
We have a team of very good readers - but what about encouraging a younger member of the family to share the duty: one of the Readings or the Bidding Prayers. It would enable them to take over eventually.

Eucharistic Ministers
Again, we are very well served but the same principle applies. Invite a younger family member or friend to fill in for you occasionally and they will eventually take the responsibility themselves.

Passkeepers
Passkeeping is usually left the members of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society but they have their own ministry - so what about volunteering for a Mass, say once a month. It is no great hardship: helping people to find a seat, taking up the collection, ensuring that people have leaflets and that visitors feel welcome.

Presenting the Offertory Gifts
Just say yes when you are asked.

Musicians, Children's Liturgy Leaders, Servers And Sacristans
If shyness means your talent is still hidden, grit your teeth and go for it. We are all in this together. Talk to Father Matt about it.

Priest
The one you have sometimes feels his age and would willingly give way to someone younger. There is no time like present to start preparing.


Don't worry about anything. Pray about everything.
Don't forget to thank God for the answers.

A person who is always finding fault seldom finds anything else.

Life is short, but there is always time for courtesy.



READINGS
The readings for this weekend's Masses are shown below in English. They are available in eleven other languages
including French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish by clicking on this link.


First
Reading
          Isaiah 55:1-3
Thus says the Lord: Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. Why spend money on what is not bread, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen, listen to me and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and your soul will live. With you I will make an everlasting covenant out of the favours promised to David.

Second Reading           Romans 8:35.37-39
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Matthew           14:13-21
When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist's death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food." Jesus replied, "There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves." But they answered, "All we have with us is five loaves and two fish." "Bring them here to me," he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining, twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.