BULLETIN                                                     7 AUGUST 2005                    

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR 1


CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 6 August
Confession on request from 4.45 to 5.15 pm
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm
Sunday 7 August
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon
Monday 8 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Agnes Kennedy
Tuesday 9 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Mrs McPhee
Wednesday 10 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Joseph Shearer
Thursday 11 August
Mass at 7.00 pm for Julie Kelley-Holland
Friday 12 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Patrick Doherty
Saturday 13 August
Mass at 10.00 am for Margaret Boyd


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 7 August
11.00 am Tea and Coffee after Mass
Monday 8 August
7.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Weight Watchers
Tuesday 9 August
7.30 pm Keep Fit
Wednesday 10 August
5.00 to 6.00 pm
6.30 to 8.30 pm
Street Dance for 13 to 18 year olds
The Best of Health
Thursday 11 August
   
Friday 12 August
   
Saturday 13 August
   

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Alison Cook 1999, James Gorman 1997, William McGillvary 2001,
   Hugh McCluskey 1992, Edward Burns 1998, James Taylor 1997,
   Maria Mathieson 1975, Karen Fitzpatrick 1981, Rose Wardrope and Mick Smith
   whose anniversaries occur at this time;

   Connor Robert Macrae and Liam Smith who were baptised recently
   and those who are sick.

SUNDAY COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection amounted to £615.84 - 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 £220.98 - 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.

CAR BOOT SALE
There will be a Car Boot Sale in the car park on Saturday 27 August at 12.00 noon. The cost is £5 per car and £10 per van.

GALLOWAY MUSIC FESTIVAL MASS
The Galloway Music Festival Mass will be held on Sunday 14 August at 2.30 pm at Smithstone House, Kilwinning. Further details are on the notice board.

PILGRIMAGE TO SAINT NINIAN'S' CAVE
The annual pilgrimage to Saint Ninian's Cave will take place on Sunday 28 August. Bishop John Cunningham will celebrate Mass at 4.00 pm. Mass will also be celebrated in the Church of Saint Martin and Saint Ninian, Whithorn at 4.45 pm for those who cannot make the journey to the cave.

BARONY SAINT JOHN'S SUMMER CRUISE
Barony Saint John's Church is organising a summer cruise on Saturday 20 August, sailing from Largs at 10.30 am to Lochranza, Arran. There will be two hours ashore before returning to Largs at 6.00 pm via the Kyles of Bute. Parishioners of Saint Peter's are invited to join the cruise. The MV Cruiser is not suited to people with limited mobility as there is a flight of about fifteen steps to reach the inside deck. Tea, coffees, light snacks and a licensed bar are available on board. Tickets costing £20 for an adult and £8 for a child and are available from Stuart McMahon or Phyllis Armstrong. Contact details are on the notice board.

SAFE FROM HARM - THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S POLICY FOR KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE
Everyone who works for the parish in any capacity which brings them into contact with children or vulnerable adults requires to fulfil certain conditions. These are:
  - You must have filled in a Diocesan Child Protection Form. These are available
    and will be given to those who have not already completed one.
  - You must have a 'Disclosure Scotland' form in place. Again, these are available
    for anyone who still requires one.
  - You require to agree to take part in a training evening in the parish and some
    Diocesan training. Dates will be offered for small groups and the training is about
    good practice and how to react to various situations which might arise.
The Church is committed to the principles of keeping children safe and without the basic conditions listed above it is not possible to permit anyone to work with children. We are beginning the process of updating the forms and arranging the training evenings.

Bear Snack
An atheist was walking through the woods, admiring the majestic trees, the powerful rivers and the beautiful animals. As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a seven foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking back he saw that the bear was getting closer. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his paw to take a swipe at him. At that instant the atheist cried out: "Oh my God". Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. It was then that a bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying: "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?" The atheist looked into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the bear a Christian?" "Very well", said the voice. The light went out and the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke, "Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful."



  Correction does much, but encouragement does more.  

  Success is getting what you want.  
Happiness is liking what you get.



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           Kings 19:9.11-13
Elijah went into the cave and spent the night in it. Then he was told, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Then the Lord himself went by. There came a mighty wind, so strong it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Second Reading           Romans 9:1-5
What I want to say is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ - it is the truth - my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.

Gospel Matthew           14:22-33
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. "It is a ghost" they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, "Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid." It was Peter who answered. "Lord," he said "if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water." "Come" said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. "Lord! Save me!" he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. "Man of little faith," he said "why did you doubt?" And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, "Truly, you are the Son of God."