Dear Friends,
The readings this weekend focus on the Incarnation. In today’s Gospel John the Baptist appears as a witness to what has been revealed to him about Jesus. ‘He is the Chosen One of God’. Our faith tells us that God has come among us in Jesus who is truly human as well as truly divine. We speak of it as a ‘mystery’ not because it is incomprehensible or a puzzle that needs to be worked out. A mystery is a saving truth revealed by God that we need to ponder and reflect upon.
This weekend we welcome Father Denys Lloyd who will be celebrating the Masses in all three communities in my absence. I am sure you will make him welcome.
God bless,
Father James
The next session of Journey in Faith will be next Sunday, 26th January, at 5pm in the presbytery.
The ‘Year of the Word’ is an invitation to increase our love and know- ledge of the Bible. Would you like to take part in a Bible reading/study group, meeting fortnightly? We’ll have an introductory meeting on Saturday 25th January at 12.00 in the Sacred Heart church hall meeting room. Any queries/comments to John Bolger, please go to bolger@waitrose.com or 01692 581516. Let John know if you might be interested but can’t come then.
There will be no Coffee Drop-In at St Helen’s in January. The next time will be on Wednesday, 5th February.
There will be a Eucharistic service at St Helen’s on Monday 20th January at 7.00pm. All are welcome.
As the Catholic community’s contribution to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there will be Sung Evening Prayer at St John of the Cross on Tuesday 21st January at 7.00pm to which all the Aylsham churches have been invited. Everyone is welcome to this short service of prayer, readings and music followed by refreshments. For details please ring 01263 577784.
St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club next meets 22nd January. This will be our New Year celebration. Coffee at 11.30am, lunch at 12.30pm, followed by home-spun entertainment, quizzes, poems, sing-a-long. We finish at 4pm with tea and cake.
This year we have been able to give donations of £50 each (from the sale of our home-grown plants & fruit and books) – to the following: N.N. St Vincent de Paul Society, Support Cambodia, The BIG C, Equal Brewkery (Independence Matters), St Helen’s Church Funds. New members always welcome. Come along and see if you would enjoy what we have on offer.
A reminder: items for the newsletter need to be, ideally, sent on email by Tuesday, or if urgent, at the very latest by Wednesday, no later than 12noon. Email: sacredheart@computer-assist.net
Would anyone have a projector they could lend to Elaine Haughton to use with a laptop for various events at St Helen’s? Contact nos. 07880 586482 or 01603 936641.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Joe Seely, Maria Wilby, Matt Butler, John Gowing, Teresa Farrow, Tom Ender, Derek Palman, Kevin Fitzmaurice and Mary Carr.
We remember Pamela Corbould who died recently and pray for her family and friends. We pray also for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Henry Newsham, Grace Wood, Annunziata (Joyce) Cockrill, Dorothy Pearce, Gregory Noble and Jacqueline Beardshaw.
May they rest in peace.
Next Family Mass: Sunday 2nd February
(11.00 am Mass at the Sacred Heart)
