Dear Friends,
Today’s Gospel focuses on John the Baptist. He tells the people that God is about to break into their lives. At a particular moment in the world’s history, while civil and religious powers ruled in their own worlds of influence, God stepped in to change the course of events, to introduce the world to a new way of living. God spoke the word to John in the desert and from that barren place the word was heard and passed on.
Next weekend there will be a retiring collection for the Dependent Priests Fund. Please give your support to the priests who have worked in our parishes over the years and are now retired
Father James
This week in Advent:
On Tuesday at Hoveton there is an Advent Carol Service at 7pm.
Stalham Area House Mass is at 7 pm on Friday 14th at the home of Mary & Duncan Edmonds: Leo House, The Green, Stalham, NR12 9PU. Tel. no. 01692 580712.
On Saturday (15th) there will be a Service of Reconciliation at the Sacred Heart Church at 11.30 am. There will be four priests available for individual confessions. What better way to prepare for Christmas?
The Carol Service at the Sacred Heart Church is on Sunday 16th at 3 pm. There will be some festive refreshments following the service.
Christmas Timetable:
Christmas Eve: 6 pm. Family Mass at North Walsham
9 pm. Midnight Mass at Aylsham
Christmas Day: 9 am. Mass at Hoveton
11 am Mass at North Walsham
The Children’s Christmas Party is also on Sunday 16th, in the parish hall from 4.00 – 6.00pm. This is for children whose names were entered on the lists, so please sign up today!
The Bible Group will resume their meetings in the New Year.
A Christmas Celebration at St John’s Cathedral, an evening of Christmas Carols and music from the Cathedral choir & Brass ensemble is on Wednesday 19th December at 7.30pm . Tickets £10, under 16s free – this includes a glass of mulled wine. Tickets are available from the Cathedral shop and website -www.sjbcathedral.org.uk
CAFOD – “World Gifts 2018” catalogue is now available enabling us to give in a way that will help people break free from poverty. Please pick up one of these booklets for, maybe, some Christmas Gift ideas. Please order by 14th December.
Charity Christmas Cards – are available until 15th December at the Original Norwich Charity Christmas Card shop, St Stephens St. Norwich (next to Sainsbury’s) Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm.
Flowers in our church at Christmas. At North Walsham we would be very grateful for any donations you might care to make towards the cost of flower decorations. Someone will be taking a collection this Sunday and next. Thank you.
We pray for all our sick parishioners, including Deacon Ron O’Toole, Mary Johnson, Joe Seely, Tony Seaborne and Maria Wilby.
We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Joseph (Joe) Rose, Jean Gawthorpe, Mary Fogarty, Effie Krzyszton, Angela Holmes, Mildred Parker and Ivan Fisher.
May they rest in peace.
