BULLETIN                1 DECEMBER 2019

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 1



CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 30 November   

Solemnity of Saint Andrew
Holy Mass at 10.00am for John Lafferty RD and Isabella McHugh
First Sunday of Advent
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for John Gribben senior A

Sunday 1 December  

First Sunday of Advent
Holy Mass at 10.30am for Saint Peter's congregation

Monday 2 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Mary Jane Hutson A and Margaret McCabe

Tuesday 3 December  

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Isobel Morrison MM and Emily Hackett A

Wednesday 4 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Duncan Cook MM and Alice McWhinnie A

Thursday 5 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Liz Lundie RD

Friday 6 December  

Memorial of Saint Nicholas
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Danny and Anne Marie McMail A and Maria Reid A

Saturday 7 December  

Memorial of Saint Ambrose
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Kitty Duffy RD
Second Sunday of Advent
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Anne McGill RD

  

Abbreviations - A anniversary, MM month's mind, RD recently deceased, SI special intention

The Holy Mass intention list is just over two weeks ahead. Please notify anniversaries as early as you can. Thanks.
Any changes to the above times caused, for example, by a funeral will be notified on the home page of this website.


SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saturday 30 November   
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
 
Sunday 1 December  
Sunday Mass at 10.00am

Sunday Mass at 11.30am

Monday 2 December  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Tuesday 3 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Wednesday 4 December  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Thursday 5 December  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Friday 6 December  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Saturday 7 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm Holy Mass at 10.00am
 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 1 December  

11.30am

Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass

Monday 2 December  

9.30 to 11.30am
5.30 to 6.30pm
6.30 to 7.30pm
7.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 3 December  
9.00 to 11.00am
5.00 to 8.00pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Irish Dancing

Wednesday 4 December  

9.30 to 11.30am
1.00 to 3.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Knit and Knatter Group

Thursday 5 December  
   
Friday 6 December  
9.30 to 11.30am
11.00am
Parents and Toddlers
Tea, coffee and chat in the Snug after Benediction

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Peter McCann, Liz Lundie, Kitty Duffy, Anne McGill, Ann McCauley and Ann McAuliffe who died recently;
Jack Collins 1970, Margaret Hamilton 1992, Collette McKibben 2003, John McNamara 1997, Elizabeth Theresa Walsh 1970, Jim Wallace 2014, Brian O'Hare 2009, Tom Reid 2006, Monica Tipping 2010, John Welsh 2009, Jim Delahunt 2014, Martin Lehane 2015, Mary Martin 1983, Isabella McGoogan 1998, Gordon Alexander Smith 1997, John Hughes 2010, Margaret Anne Shanks 1994, Rose Smith 1999, Anne Thompson 1986, Robert Walker 2012, Susan Connor 2009, Thomas Connor 2006, Joyce Feeney 2012, Jean Graham, Alexander Merrick 2001, May Shanks 1990, Rose Smith 1999, Sarah Braniff 1961, Katherine Fearon 1911, Janet Ferris 2013, Ann McCubbin and Robert Shanks 1996 whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
If deceased members of your family are not on our anniversary list, please tell Father Duncan
, the parish office or contact WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net. If members of your family or friends are in need of our prayers, please tell Father Duncan or the parish office. If they are in hospital, Reverend Bill Corbett on 01292 521208 - assisted each week by the priest on call - is the chaplain to Crosshouse Hospital and can be contacted through the ward. Ayr Hospital and the Ayrshire Hospice have an on-call chaplaincy.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30pm Vigil and 10.30am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is celebrated on Saturdays between 4.45 and 5.15 pm and at other times on request.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Margaret Munn at 5.30pm and Margaret Brawley at 10.30am.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musicians are the Choir at 5.30pm and Andrena Hughes at 10.30am.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY
Next week's Children's Liturgy helpers are Emma Paterson for the pre-fives, Jacqueline Smith for Primaries 1, 2 and 3 and Maria Paterson and Geraldine Butcher for Primary 4.


ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES
Our Advent Penance Services are the essential way to get ready for Christmas by confessing our sins and receiving God's love, forgiveness and mercy. They will be held on in our Church on Monday 9 December at 7.00pm, in Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats on Tuesday 10 at 2.00pm and Saint Palladius' Church, Dalry at 7.00pm and in Saint John’s Church, Stevenston on Wednesday 11 December at 7.00pm. Please choose a date that suits and make the effort to come along and 'clear out the stable' in our souls for the Birth of our Saviour.

CATHEDRAL SUNG EVENING PRAYER FOR ADVENT
Evening Prayer of the Church will be sung in Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr on Sunday 1 December at 6.00pm. All are welcome.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree - disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, a young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower and what a pitiful sight with its petals all worn - not enough rain or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away - but instead of retreating he sat next to my side and placed the flower to his nose and declared with surprise "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it. Here, it's for you." The weed before me was dying or dead - not vibrant of colours, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it or he might never leave. I reached for the flower and replied "Just what I need." Instead of placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that the weed-totting boy could not see - he was blind. I heard my voice quiver. Tears shone like the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome" he smiled and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day, I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see the problem was not with the world - the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see beauty and appreciate every second that's mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose and smiled as that young boy, another weed in his hand, about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

JUST FOR A LAUGH …
• Ken says to Hamish"Christmas is on a Friday this year." Hamish says "Let's hope it's not the 13th."
• Ken and Hamish find three grenades so they take them to a police station. Hamish says "What if one explodes before we get there?" Ken replied "We'll lie and say we only found two."
• Ken is driving home having had too much to drink. Suddenly, he has to swerve to avoid a tree, then another, then another. A police car pulled him over as he veers about all over the road. Ken tella the policeman about all the trees in the road. The policeman says "For God's sake Ken, that's your air freshener swinging about!"
• Ken spies a letter lying on his doormat. It says on the envelope Do Not Bend. Ken spends the next two hours trying to figure out how to pick it up.
• Ken's in the bathroom and Donald shouts to him "Did you find the shampoo?" Ken says "Yes, but it's for dry hair and I've just wet mine."

ADVENT REFLECTION 1 - THE MOTHER OF CHRIST
Advent is one of my favourite times of the year. It spans the spiritual life, inviting us to prayerful penitence and joyful anticipation. Advent is a time I grow in my appreciation for Mary, the Mother of Christ and motherhood in general. In the sweeping story of salvation there were many mothers that made Christ's adventus (arrival) possible for us. Matthew's genealogy highlights some of Christ's special mothers (Matthew 1:1-17). Breaking with traditional genealogies, Matthew highlights four female figures, each an ancestral mother of Christ that lead us to Mary. Instead of choosing the famous matriarchs like Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel, the Gospel writer chooses women whose lives were filled with shame and pain - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. They endured prostitution, widowhood, and even rape. There are many lessons we could draw from this genealogy. Let me propose just a couple for the Advent season. How may this season of Advent invite me to give Jesus and Mary all the 'messiness' of my personal history - all of the brokenness, pain, and shame and to trust that it can be redeemed and to find wholeness in Christ? Ask the Lord to show you the 'mothers' around you that have Christ hidden within like Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Reach out to them in concrete ways with generosity and mercy. Finally, in all the busyness that is about to come upon us, carve out some special time for Mary in your spiritual life. At the Cross, she became the Mother of all the faithful - see Evangelic Gaudium 285. Rest in her maternal arms, bring her your needs and ask her to fill you with her love, tenderness, and joy this season.

CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT
Ardrossan Churches Group has organised the annual Christmas Carol Concert in the Evangelical Union Church on Thursday 5 December at 7.00pm. Please come along and get into the festive spirit. All our local primary and secondary schools will be taking part.

NORTH AYRSHIRE SCHOOLS CHRISTMAS CONCERT
We welcome the very talent musicians and singers of North Ayrshire Schools to Saint Peter's on Sunday 8 December at 1.00pm. Please come along and support the true message of Christmas and the efforts and hard work of our young people.

ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS FOODBANK APPEAL
Winton Rovers are 'more than a football club' and are happy to engage in community events. At their next home game on Saturday 16 December, there will be an opportunity to contribute to the Ardrossan Foodbank - whether of not you are going to the match. Donations will be grateful accepted between 1.30 and 3.00pm.

ELECT INDIVIDUALS WHO REFLECT OUR CATHOLIC BELIEFS
Scotland's Catholic Bishops will urge parishioners to participate in the 2019 General Election and to 'elect an individual representative who reflects as closely as possible our beliefs'. Scotland's Catholic Bishops warn that 'a creeping intolerance towards religious belief' has become 'a part of life'.


HCPT LOURDES GROUP 376 CHRISTMAS FAYRE
The HCPT Lourdes Group' Christmas Fayre will be on Saturday 30 November in the Parish Centre from 10.30am to 1.00pm. There will be various stalls, tombola, home baking, children's choir and tea room. Entry is free. The contacts are Esther and Josephine Coulter.

SAINT PETER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAYRE
Saint Peter's Primary School will be holding their Christmas Fayre on Thursday 5 December between 3.30 and 5.30pm. If you wish to have a stall, they are priced at £15 each. Please contact the school for further information on 01294 462554.

POST OF PART TIME DIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
For details on the post of Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, please see the advert on the www.GallowayDiocese.org.uk . A job description and application form are available from the Diocesan Office on 01292 266750 and Administration@GallowayDiocese.org,uk

SLEEPING SAINT JOSEPH CARDS
Beautiful cards with the picture of the Sleeping Saint Joseph are available at the stall. On the reverse side are a few thoughts from Pope Francis. You could put this in our home as a small reminder through the four weeks of Advent.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £588.56 and the Catholic Education collection to £230.82 - thanks very much. The Organ Fund stands at £7311.13 - many thanks for all your support and generosity!

ORGAN APPEAL
The organ appeal has raised a fantastic amount of over £7300 for the repair and refurbishment of our Church organ. The appeal has now closed. A special word of thanks goes to everyone who has contributed to this appeal over the past months. Thank you for your support and your generosity!


CHURCHES' HOMELESS ACTION NORTH AYRSHIRE (CHANA)
CHANA would like to provide Christmas presents for those in the hostels and supported accommodation this year. We are appealing for gift sets of toiletries, new pyjamas, hats and gloves, mostly for men. Please use the CHANA box provided or hand them in to the Ardrossan Hostel in Princes Street. Thanks once again for your continued generosity.

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY
If a member of your family or a friend is sick, please let us know and give us the details. Deacon Bill Corbett (01292 521208, 07904 248948, Rev.BillCorbett@btinternet.com) is the haplain to Crosshouse Hospital and is assisted by the priest on call each week.

SUNDAY TEAS
Tea and coffee will be served after the 10.30am Mass next Sunday in the Parish Centre by Jennifer's and Niamh's team.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Holy Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Holy Mass outwith holidays, there is a Children’s Liturgy provided for preschool children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.30am Holy Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Holy Masses, we have a second collection for Church maintenance.


ADVERTISER SUPPORT
Our advertisers would welcome your support. We are grateful for their continuing sponsorship. We are grateful for the support of Mr and Mrs Sohal, Nisa Stores, Glasgow Street for the weekly donation of tea, coffee and milk for the Sunday teas.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS - MISSION STATEMENT
The Catholic Church in Scotland is concerned with the lives, safety, wholeness and well-being of each individual person within God's purpose for everyone. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of people of all ages who are involved in whatever capacity
with the Church and its organisations. As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us, ordained, professed, paid and voluntary members, to work together to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults.