CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN  •  A Family of Parishes  •  SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE

                                                        

Meeting people where they are - leading them to where God calls them to be!


BULLETIN                                          10 JANUARY 2021

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD IN YEAR 2

SERVICES AND GATHERINGS
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public Church services and gatherings are limited till further notice.
Father Duncan will live-stream Holy Mass every day and assures you of his prayers for you and your family.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (Mark 1:7-11)
In the course of his preaching, John the Baptist said "Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit." It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. No sooner had he come up out of the water than he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him - and a voice came from heaven "You are my Son, the Beloved. My favour rests on you."

REFLECTION
This is a powerful reading, describing a moment when God's plan is revealed in the most dramatic way - 'the heavens are torn apart' - the Spirit is revealed as a dove and the Father's voice thunders from the opened heavens! Our own baptism was probably less dramatic! And yet, it was the same divine power poured from heaven to touch you. The Spirit of God descended and the voice of the Father spoke in that moment to say of you "You are my daughter, my son, the beloved." How do we live up to the gift God has given us in baptism?

THE LORD'S DAY AT HOME
If you are housebound or self-isolating at this time, please use these prayers to unite yourself with the worship of the Universal Church, and your own parish, this Sunday. If alone, read or say these prayers quietly to yourself. If with another, or in a family, someone should read the Gospel and others respond. It might be suitable to find a special, quiet place at home for your Sunday prayers.

SAINT PETER'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
All Masses are live-streamed and private unless otherwise stated.

Saturday 9 January  
Feast of the Baptism of the  
Lord  

Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for John and Ann Taggart, the McDermott family as a special intention, Kathleen Fraser who died recently and Patrick and Sarah Braniff at their anniversaries
Sunday 10 January  
Feast of the Baptism of the  
Lord  
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes
Monday 11 January  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Maretta Main, Peter Devine who died recently and Andrew, Fiona, Euan, Emma and Alese Upton
Tuesday 12 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for John Butcher at his anniversary, Pauline MacMillan's intentions and Winifred Lawrence intentions

Wednesday 13 January  
Feast of Saint Kentigern 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for the McEvoy family, the Murphy family, Pauline MacMillans inentions and Matt Donnelly who died recently
Thursday 14 January 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Ann O'Brien, Martin and Liz McGarvey and Lucille and Ronald Moarkersweird
Friday 15 January  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for the Templeton family, the McHugh Family, Ann McEwan who died recently and Lewis McLaughlin of Stevenston who died recently

Saturday 16 January  
Second Sunday in Ordinary  Time  

Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for the Gough family, Mary McSpurran who died recently, John and Ann Taggart and Patrick and Sarah Braniff at their anniversaries

SAINT BRIDE'S, SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
Please visit StBridesChurch.co.uk, RCSaltcoats.com and StevenstonStJohns.com for Mass times and information on live-streaming.

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Anthony Brennan, Jim Boyle and Teresa McCormick;
Harry McKechan, Matt Donnelly, Lewis McLaughlin, Mary McSpurran, Peter Devine, Kathleen Fraser and Ann McEwan who died recently;
Joan McCallum 2001, William McLaughlin 2018, Rosina McPeake, Terry Murphy 1989, Mario Marchetti 2013, Kathleen McSkimming 2019, Hugh Adams 2019, John Aitken 2001, Anne Bowles 2017, John Butcher 2017, Kathleen Brown 2012, Christine Cassidy 1998, Mary Donnelly 2006, Eamon Lennon 2009, Kathleen Tritschler 2006, Roy White 1993, Cecilia McCurdie 2005, James McNamara 1982, Mary Guilfoyle 2005, Ishbel McCarroll 1983, Monica McDonald 1997, David Stirling 2004, Mary Coulter 1978, Tony Khan 1982, David Magee 2014, Peter McCarroll 1940, Isabella McHugh 2019, Elizabeth Walsh 2005, David Gallagher 2011, Mary Boyce Gillies 2012 and Theresa McDermott 2000 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.

NEW LOCKDOWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHURCHES
Dear Parishioners
We are entering a new national lockdown in Scotland and public Mass and Church services from and including Friday 8 January will no longer be possible for at least the rest of January. A Requiem Mass for the deceased can still go ahead with a maximum of twenty mourners. Small weddings can still go ahead with a maximum of five people participating including the priest and two witnesses. Our Primary School of Saint Peter's will remain closed until further notice as will Saint Matthew's Academy, Saltcoats. Please keep yourselves informed by going to our parish websites. The latest updates and information can be found there. We will do our best to make sure you have the latest information. The addresses are StBridesChurch.co.uk, SaintPeterInChains.co.uk and SaintPeterInChains.net. Holy Mass is live-streamed every day from Saint Peter's with the Prayer of the Rosary thirty minutes before the beginning of Mass. The times are
        • Mondays to Fridays - Rosary at 9.30am and Holy Mass at 10.00am
        • Saturdays - Rosary at 5.00pm and Vigil Mass at 5.30pm
        • Sundays - Rosary at 10.00am and Holy Mass at 10.30am.
Changes may come about through the scheduling of a Requiem Mass. Let's pray at home together every day that God will bless our parish families and that he will keep us and all our families and loved ones safe.
God bless
Father Duncan


SAINT PETER'S NOTICES

REQUIEM MASS FOR MARY McSPURREN
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Mary McSpurren who died on Thursday 24 December 2020 aged eighty-nine years. Her funeral service will be at the Garnock Valley and Clyde Coast Crematorium, Dalry on Tuesday 12 January 2021 at 11.00am. May she rest in peace and rise in glory!

LIVE-STREAMING OF MASS
All our Celebrations of Mass and other services are live-streamed, starting five minutes beforehand. You can access them every day by going to our websites. On SaintPeterInChains.net, in the top right corner, click on Live Streaming at Mass Times. On SaintPeterInChains.co.uk, click Services in the red menu bar, select Mass Times then scroll down to Click here to view Mass.


SAINT BRIDE'S NOTICES

LIVE-STREAMED MASS
Please see New Lockdown Arrangement for Churches notice.

CONTACT DETAILS
Should you require to contact Father Duncan or the Parish Office, contact details are on the front of the bulletin and parish websites.

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.

MASKS
Don't be fooled by the face I wear for I wear a thousand masks and none of them is me. Don't be fooled, for goodness sake, don't be fooled. I give you the impression that I'm secure, that confidence is my name and coolness is my game and that I need no one - but don't believe me. Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in aloneness, in fear. That's why I create a mask to hide behind, to shield me from the glance that knows but such a glance is precisely my salvation. That is, if it's followed by acceptance, if it's followed by love. It's the only thing that can liberate me from my own self-built prison walls. I'm afraid that deep down I'm nothing and that I'm just no good and that you will reject me - and so begins the parade of masks. I idly chatter to you. I tell you everything that's really nothing and nothing of what's everything, of what's crying within me. Please listen carefully and try to hear what I'm not saying. I'd really like to be genuine and spontaneous and me = but you've got to help me. You've got to hold out your hand. Each time you're kind and gentle and encouraging, each time you try to understand because you really care, my heart begins to grow wings, feeble wings, but wings. With your sensitivity and sympathy and your power of understanding, you alone can release me from my shallow world of uncertainty. It will not be easy for you. The nearer you approach me, the blinder I may strike back - but I'm told that love is stronger than strong walls and in this lies my only hope. Please try to beat down these walls with firm hands, but gentle hands, for a child is very sensitive. Who am I, you wonder. I am every man you meet and every woman that you meet - and I am you, also.


JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
The parish priest asked the children at school "If I sold my house and my car, had a big car-boot-sale and gave all my money to the Church, would I get into heaven?" "No!" the children all answered. "If I cleaned the Church every day, mowed the lawn and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into heaven?" Again, the answer was "No!" "Well," he continued, "then how can I get to heaven?" In the back of the room, a five-year-old boy shouted "You've got to be dead!"

SUNDAY OBLIGATION
Sunday obligation to attend Holy Mass remains suspended for the time being and availability is restricted for those wishing to attend. Some of our parishioners are working during the week and can only attend at the weekend. Therefore, to make Holy Mass available to everyone we would be grateful if you wish to attend Mass and are able to attend on a weekday please do so, leaving seats for those parishioners working during the week. Thank you.

STANDING ORDERS - PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT
The parishes have taken quite a 'knock' through lockdown when public Mass was not available for sixteen weeks. This has had a huge impact on our parishes' finances. Could you consider taking out a Standing Order? It would be of great benefit to our parish. Forms are available from the Parish Office and here. Thank you

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.


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.