BULLETIN               15 DECEMBER 2019

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 1



CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 14 December  

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Caleb Forest A
Third Sunday of Advent
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Annette and Robert Smallridge

Sunday 15 December  

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

Monday 16 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Roisin Collins and Peter McCann MM

Tuesday 17 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Fiona and Andrew Upton and Joanne and Neil Collins

Wednesday 18 December  

Offered for Megan Sherrit C and Andrew Maakerswierd

Thursday 19 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Adam, Lucille and Ronald Maakerswierd

Friday 20 December  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Monica, Brian and Lorna Nicholson

Saturday 21 December  

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Lawrence and Theresa Tumilty A
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Maureen McGarvey

  

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 14 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
 
Sunday 15 December  
Sunday Mass at 10.00am

Sunday Mass at 11.30am

Monday 16 December  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Tuesday 17 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Wednesday 18 December  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Thursday 19 December  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Friday 20 December  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Saturday 21 December  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm Holy Mass at 10.00am
 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 15 December  

11.30am
1.00pm

Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass
Private Function

Monday 16 December  

9.30 to 11.30am
7.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 17 December  
9.00 to 11.00am

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Wednesday 18 December  

9.30 to 11.30am

Parents and Toddlers

Thursday 19 December  
   
Friday 20 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:
Elsie McLaren, Vera Brady and Father Frank McHugh who died recently;
Dr Matt Carty 2008, Monsignor Peter Murphy 1999, Mary Magee 1997, Robert McKay 1993, Denis McLaughlin 2008, Harry McNamara 2002, Sally Quigg née Gilmour 1984, Anne Warden née McNamara 2012, Chris Casey 2006, Susan Jones 1996, James Kernahan 1998, Frances Kilbane 1978, Roseanne Kirkwood 1991, Esther Madden 1981, Jimmy Robertson 2017, Mark Shanks 2008, Mary Catherine Wishart 2002, Margaret Bennie, Annie Boyle, Kitty Boyle 2007, John Campbell 1997, John Carolan 2017, John Dolan 2007, Sheila Douglas 2014, Annie Farmer 1984, Pat Haggarty 2015, Rose Leonard, William Martin 1974, Jean McCluskey 2015, George Poole 1991, Maureen Adamson 2014, Bobby Edwards 2014, Manus Gallagher junior 2016, Alice Grogan 2003, Father Peter Sweeney 2001, May Wilson 2006, Theresa McGuire 1989, Anne-Marie McMail 2018, Gwen Body 1966, Janet Chapman 2004, Charles Fisher 2014, Jane Gallagher 2011, Sister Hilda CP 2000, Edward Keogh 2007, John McCourt 2010 and Josephine McGeachy 2003 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 Liz Devine at 5.30pm and Alfie Agostini 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 Maria Paterson-Kidd for the pre-fives, Linda Martin for Primaries 1, 2 and 3 and Jacqueline Smith and Emma Paterson for Primary 4.


CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Please make sure you get the Christmas Card with the times of Masses today. You could use the card to invite a family member or a neighbour to our Christmas Celebrations. It's time 'to come home' for Christmas.

THE SHEPHERD BOY
On a high mountain, there lived an old shepherd and his young son. They longed for the coming of the Saviour and that the words of the prophets would come true. They prayed every day that He would come soon. The shepherds looked after the sheep on the mountains. They lived in a poor hut and they were poor and lonely. Sometimes the shepherd boy would play his flute. One night, as the old shepherd was fast asleep, he had a dream. He dreamt that a beautiful shining star appeared in the sky. He had never seen such a bright star before. He looked at the light of the star in the darkness and he felt that something special and good was going to happen. Then the old shepherd saw an Angel. The Angel came to him and said "Don't be afraid! I have come to bring you news of great joy! This night in the town of Bethlehem, the Saviour has been born! Awake, get up, and follow the Star to the place where you will find the Christ Child!" The old shepherd awakened quickly from this dream. He looked up into the sky and saw the beautiful star. Its light shone all around and filled the skies. The old shepherd ran quickly to his son and shook him so that he would awaken. The old shepherd said "Shepherd boy, wake up, wake up! Look at the star in the skies. Look how beautiful it shines! Something wonderful is going to happen! Come, let us follow the Star. It will take us to the place where the Saviour is going to be born! Hurry! Hurry!" They followed this beautiful light across mountains and through valleys. They came to a wonderful city. It had enormous great walls, lights were shining out of the windows. Laughter could be heard. People were making merry. The old shepherd thought this must be the place. This is where we will find the Saviour Child. However, much to his surprise the star led them further, and led them away from the beauty and wonder of the city. All of a sudden, they saw a most spectacular palace. Then again, the old shepherd thought, we have to find the Child here. But the star led them further and led them away from the palace. The light of the star seemed to be fuller and brighter. They came to a lonely field. There was a stable there. The old shepherd thought, we must have lost our way. He wanted to turn back. But then, to his surprise, the star bowed down over the stable. Surprised the old shepherd approached the hut. There was a Child lying in a manger. Mary and Joseph sat quietly in adoration. The Child turned and looked towards the shepherds. Then the shepherd boy came forward and said: "You are the Christ Child. You are the Saviour of the world. And you are so poor. Born in a stable. You don't have a cradle to lie in. You're lying here on straw in a donkey's manger!" And the Old Shepherd took off his cloak. It was rough material, but he placed it gently over the Child. Then the Shepherd Boy took out his flute and played his best tune with all his heart. And the Baby Jesus smiled and the shepherd forgot all their poverty and loneliness. Their joy was without bounds. And the star over Bethlehem shone into the darkness of the night, bringing joy and peace to the world.

JUST FOR A LAUGH …
George, from Ardrossan, appeared on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and towards the end of the programme, had already won £500000. "You've done very well so far" said Chris Tarrant, "but for a million pounds you've only got one life-line left - phone a friend. Everything is riding on this question. Will you go for it?" "Sure" said George, "I'll have a go!" "Which of the following birds does not build its own nest? a) Sparrow, b) Thrush c) Magpie, d) Cuckoo?" "I haven't got a clue" said George 'so I'll use my last lifeline and phone my friend Jimmy in Glasgow." Jimmy answers. "Now, that's simple it's a cuckoo." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure." George hung up the phone and told Chris, "I'll go with cuckoo as my answer." "Is that your final answer?" asked Chris. "That it is." "George, you've won a million pounds!" The next night, George invited Jimmy to their local pub to buy him a drink. "Tell me, Jimmy? How in Heaven's name did you know it was the cuckoo that doesn't build its own nest?" "Why because he lives in a clock!"

THE MESSAGE OF THE MANGER
I grew up hearing the Nativity story and the words of the angels "And this will be a sign for you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger" (Lk. 2:12). I had seen countless 'manger' scenes with a small painted figurine of the Holy Child resting in a little wooden box filled with straw. But it wasn't until I was a grown man that I learned the manger where Jesus was placed was, in fact, a feeding stone trough = they have found several of these in the Holy Land. In fact, our English word, manger comes from mangier meaning 'to eat'. Luke doesn't want to miss this seemingly ordinary detail. In fact, he uses the term three times in the story (Lk. 2:7,12,16). Why? One of the most obvious reasons is that Jesus will become the Bread of Life (John 6:25), food for the whole world. It's doubly significant that it happens in the little town of Bethlehem which can be translated 'house of bread'. It's also a sign of God's great love and humility to be born in such poor circumstances, rather than in a palace fit for the King of Kings. But, for our purposes, I want to propose a different reflection on the manger. The manger as us. Here are three ways we can 'model' that holy manger this Advent. Firstly - making space for Jesus. Ancient mangers were created by hollowing out a space in a large stone. What needs to be carved out of your heart, schedule, time, energy, attention and affection to make space for Jesus? Secondly - showing hospitality for others. In its own way, that dirty little stone manger showed hospitality to Jesus. Christian hospitality has very little to do with setting a stunning table and everything to do with simply 'making room' for another. And thirdly - feeding the hungry. I just read a statistic that one in four children in Scotland regularly go hungry. That is unacceptable. Food is only one kind of hunger. People hunger for acceptance, kindness, meaning, joy and peace. What are some practical ways you can meet those deeper needs by sharing with another the Bread of Life who alone can satisfy?

SAINT PETER'S CHRISTMAS SHOW
Saint Peter's Primary School will be performing their Christmas Show on Thursday 19 December at 11.00am. Please come along and support the children as we all get our hearts and minds ready for the 'reason for the season' - the Birth of Jesus Christ.

SLEEPING SAINT JOSEPH
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. We also have Sleeping Saint Joseph statues available to buy. You could put this in your home as a small reminder through the four weeks of Advent.

PIZZA AND PANTO
The Youth Ministry Office is inviting young people from across the Diocese to join them for a bite to eat, some Panto Fun and a wee prayer to end the night together. This event is free and taking place at 6.00pm on Sunday 29 December in the Parish Hall of Saint Margaret's Cathedral, John Street, Ayr. For more information, see the poster at the back of the Church, phone 01387 252603 or contact Father Jim at Youth@GallowayDiocese.org.uk.

THE MESSAGE OF THE ANGELS
This week I want to focus on some other 'supporting actors' in the saving story of this season - the Angels. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce the coming of John the Baptist (Luke 1:11-19) and brings Mary the amazing news of the conception and coming of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). Her husband Joseph will receive three visits from angels (Matthew 1:20-24; 2:13,19). My favourite angelic event is the visit to the shepherds (Luke 2:9-15). Shepherds were among the poorest and marginalised classes of people in the first century. That's not insignificant. The angels didn't appear to King Herod, a Roman official or a Temple leader. They went to the fringes and announced the greatest message of human history to God's little ones. There are three ways we can model the angels that surround the Advent of Jesus. Firstly - Worship. When the angels announce the Good News of Jesus to the shepherds, it seems the whole of heaven breaks out in response "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased" (Luke 2:14). We say the same words every time we pray the Gloria in the Mass. We are taking up the song of the angels and echoing the praise of the poor shepherds. Secondly - Witness. Angels almost always bring a message. We continue the work of the angels when we become faithful and fearless witnesses of this same Good News to our generation. Advent is a perfect time to share the Good News about Jesus. Thirdly - Works of Mercy. The angelic hosts appeared to the poor shepherds first, a beautiful prefigurement of the Church's preferential love for the poor. I often think that Mary very likely showed them hospitality when they came to worship her Son, sharing the little bit of food the Holy Family may have had with them.


SAINT PETER'S RAINBOWS AND BROWNIES - NOTICE FOR PARENTS
There will be a Christmas outing to the cinema in Saltcoats for Frozen 2. Girls please meet at the cinema for 4.30pm till 6.20pm approximately. Our last meeting is on Monday 16 December at the usual time in the Parish Centre. This is a Christmas Party night and we expect a special visitor. Thanks to parents for their support in 2019 from all Leaders.

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 Chaplain 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 Sadie, Marie and Phyllis.

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 pre-school 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.