BULLETIN                                                    5 JANUARY 2020

SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD IN YEAR 1



CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 4 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Roseleen Laverty and Alisa Upton
Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Vera Brady RD

Sunday 5 January  

Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord
Holy Mass at 10.30am for Saint Peter's congregation

Monday 6 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Patrick and Sarah Braniff, Elsie McLaren RD and Maretta Main

Tuesday 7 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Joanne Collins, Neil Kirk and Mary Paton A

Wednesday 8 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Andrew Upton, Fiona Upton, Jimmy Crichton and Elizabeth Aitken A

Thursday 9 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Euan Upton, Emma Upton Jennifer Partridge SI and Jim McIntosh MM

Friday 10 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Mary Madden, Esther Madden A and James McSorley SI

Saturday 11 January  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Margaret Swiercz SI and Esther Tumilty SI
Solemnity of The Baptism of the Lord
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for John Butcher A and Rosemary Sellar 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 4 January  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
 
Sunday 5 January  
Sunday Mass at 10.00am

Sunday Mass at 11.30am

Monday 6 January  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Tuesday 7 January  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am
Service of the Word at 10.00am
Wednesday 8 January  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Thursday 9 January  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Requiem Mass at 10.00am
Friday 10 January  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Funeral Service at 12.30am
Saturday 11 January  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm Holy Mass at 10.00am
 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 5 January  

11.30am

Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass

Monday 6 January  

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 7 January  
9.00 to 11.00am
5.00 to 8.00pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Irish Dancing

Wednesday 8 January  

8.30 to 11.30am
9.30 to 11.30am
1.00 to 3.00pm
5.00 to 8.00pm

Slimming World
Parents and Toddlers
Knit and Knatter Group
Irish Dancing

Thursday 9 January  
   
Friday 10 January  
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:
Jim McIntosh, Elsie McLaren, Vera Brady and Rosemary Sellar who died recently;
Patrick Braniff 1991, Gary Cahill 2012, Margaret Griffin 1997, Isabella Keenan 1939, James Monan 1969, Celia Ralston 2007, Leda Biagioni 2007, James Burns 1955, Patrick Cawley 2001, Canon Peter Fitzpatrick 1952, Helen McCluskey 2004, John Cahill 1989, Danny Higgins 2009, Frank Kelly 2013, Patricia Brennan 2005, Robert Colvin 1998, Jimmy Crichton 2019, Gerard Fairhurst 2003, Bernard McLaughlan 1984, Derek Tomelty 2003, Joseph Gibbons 1973, Hugh Henry 2008, Jean Lamont 2016, Jennifer McGregor 2014, Joan McCallum 2001, William McLaughlin 2018, Rosina McPeake, Terence Murphy 1989, Mario Marchetti 2013 and Kathleen McSkimming 2019 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 George McGrattan at 5.30pm and Andrena Hughes at 10.30am.

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


SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY
This Sunday is the Solemnity of the Epiphany. The Three Kings will be placed in our Nativity. Also chalk will be blessed and distributed for the traditional House Blessing.



TRADITIONAL HOUSE BLESSING
Today at all Masses, chalk will be blessed and distributed for the traditional House Blessing. The Latin Blessing is 20 + C + M + B + 20 - Christus mansionem benedicat, which means Christ bless our House.

CHRIST ON THE STAGE
The main theatre in Moscow was getting ready for the opening night of an anti-religious play called Christ in Top Hat and Tails. Schools, youth organisations and youth workers were required to include the piece in their programme for the year. The main part, portraying Jesus Christ, was played by the famous actor and committed communist, Alexander Rostowzew. The theatre was full and every ticket had been sold months before. The curtain opened to a scene with an altar in the middle, covered with empty beer bottles. Around the altar were drunken priests and monks. At the second act, Rostowzew came onto the stage. In his hands he held a copy of the Holy Bible and wore a top hat and tails. The audience laughed and clapped, waiting for his humorous lines and superb acting. He opened the Bible and started to read "Blessed are those who are poor before God, then theirs is the Kingdom of heaven; Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted..." The Director stood at the side of the stage. He knew that soon Rostowzew would break into dancing and the whole theatre would erupt with cascades of laughter - but nothing happened. Rostowzew continued reading "Blessed are those who are peacemakers, for they will inherit the land..." The audience didn't move. They realised that something was happening in the heart of the actor. The theatre was completely silent. Only the firm voice of Rostowzew could be heard. He continued reading. In fact, in read the complete forty-eight verses of the Fifth Chapter of Saint Matthew's Gospel. No-one interrupted him, no-one called out and everyone remained completely silent, listening to every word. He finished with the verse "You should be perfect, just as your heavenly Father in heaven is perfect!" Rostowzew closed the Bible. It seemed that a chapter in his own life was also being closed. Very slowly he made the Sign of the Cross and repeated in a firm and clear voice the words of the repentant thief at the side of Jesus on Calvary "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom". No-one protested, there were no whistles or booing. The audience slowly left the theatre in silence. The production was never repeated anywhere. After that evening, Alexander Rostowzew was never seen again.


JUST FOR A LAUGH …
Two priests were riding very fast on a motorcycle. They were promptly stopped by a policeman who said "What do you think you are doing? What if you have an accident?" The priests say "Don't worry, my son. Jesus is with us." The policeman says "In that case, I'll have to book you. Three people are not allowed to ride on a motorcycle."


YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
'You are the light for the world' (Mt. 5:14). While many around us are consumed with discussion about the prevailing darkness in the world, there is only one answer - Light. Children of God are children of light. A torch to the world is what you must be. Not like the torches we use today that we flick on and off with a switch and batteries but the torches they used in Christ's time. A piece of wood with some material wrapped around the top lit with a live flame. Whatever the flame touches - your clothes, the furniture, curtains, carpet - will be set on fire. When you become a torch set aflame with the love of Christ, wherever you go, whoever you meet, every person and every place that you come in contact with will be set on fire.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Today, we hear that when the Magi saw the star, they came into the house. Then what did they do when they saw the Christ child in the arms of his mother? They fell down and worshiped him. How often in our lives do we go about our daily business seeing Christ in other people, in his Word, in the Eucharist, but our hearts do not respond in the same manner? Especially this week as we celebrate the Epiphany, let's pray that God makes our hearts sensitive to his presence. For many of us, it's natural to go to adoration. And the moment we see Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we fall to our knees. But in daily life, do we bow when we see a manifestation of his presence in the good works of others or even in our local parish? Blessed John Paul II said that we must be careful of falling into 'practical atheism', professing to believe in God but living our lives as though he doesn't exist. Throughout the course of your day, at home, at work, and with your friends, when you hear about the good things of Jesus and his Church, don't pass by them without taking a moment to bow in your heart and worship. Faith is the natural response to God revealing himself in the world, no matter how small that revelation might be. Let faith rise up in your heart and bow down to him even in the course of the mundane. In the village of Nazareth, people went about their mundane lives, not recognising the extraordinary event that the Magi had travelled countless miles to witness - the King of Kings was in their midst. Do you recognise God in the mundane?

THANK YOU
Father Duncan would like to thank you all for your kind wishes and gifts this Christmas. He wishes you all blessings for a very happy and healthy new year.

YOUNG ADULTS
Young adults who are interested in meeting as a group are invited to pop in at 6.30pm after the Vigil Mass on Saturday 4 January.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
The Christmas collections amounted to £1991.91. Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £590.83 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £253.14 - thanks very much for your support and generosity.


JUSTICE AND PEACE SCOTLAND
There will be a special collection today for the work of Justice and Peace Scotland of which Bishop Nolan is President. Please support this vital work in any way you can. There is a newsletter from Bishop Nolan regarding Justice and Peace Scotland being distributed at Masses this weekend. Please ensure you receive a copy to take home with 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.

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

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.