Dear Friends,
Today, the fourth Sunday of Advent, brings us close to the feast of Christmas. The opening lines of today’s Gospel sound ordinary enough: ‘This is how Jesus Christ came to be born’. But they describe an extraordinary event that goes far beyond folksy sentimentality. The Gospel stories of the birth of Jesus are full of language and images that reflect the faith of the early church and the proclamation of this faith.
Matthew is telling us that it is God who is at work in all that is about to happen: Mary has conceived ‘by the Holy Spirit’. God has formed a plan long ago and has chosen humans to bring it to reality.
Matthew is also stressing the name and the future mission of the child. God chooses the child’s name and this tells us about the child’s identity and role. The name Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew) means ‘God saves’. This is what the angel explains: ‘he is the one who is to save his people from their sins’. When the child grows into an adult all who encounter him will experience the reconciling love of God. All that he will do and say will be about saving us.
God bless
Father James
As the Advent Carol Service at the Sacred Heart last Sunday had to be postponed it will now be held this afternoon at 3.00pm: refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies will be served after the service.
The Collection taken at any of the Christmas Masses is the traditional Christmas gift to your priest. Any regular Sunday collection envelopes for the Parish should be held until the following weekend (Sat 28th /Sun 29th). Visitors may like to use the gift aid envelopes for the collection, available at the back of the church.
Christmas Eve
6.00pm Children’s Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, North Walsham.
9.00pm Midnight Mass at St John of the Cross, White4 Hart street, Aylsham.
Christmas Day
9.00am Sung Christmas Mass at St Helen’s Church, Horning Road West, Hoveton.
11.00am Sung Christmas Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, North Walsham.
Mass on St Stephen’s Day (26th) at the Sacred Heart is a 10.00 am
There will be a meeting of the PPC on Tuesday 14th January and on the previous Sunday (12th), following the 11.00am Mass at the Sacred Heart, a Forum will be held in the parish hall. We would ask parishioners to come along to the Forum meeting and take part in the discussions.
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 all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Bertha (Teddy) Palmer, Alice Taylor, Richard Barrett, Doreen Clark, Juliette (Nan) Davies, Nora Slater, Francesco Carlucca, Agnes Webster, John Hall, Patricia Coles, Thomas Proud, June Cole and George Mousley.
May they rest in peace.
Next Family Mass: Tuesday 24th December
(Christmas Eve at 6.00 pm.)
Christmas Eve
6.00pm Children’s Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, North Walsham.
9.00pm Midnight Mass at St John of the Cross, White4 Hart street, Aylsham.
Mass on St Stephen’s Day (26th) at the Sacred Heart is at 10.00 am
Christmas Day
9.00am Sung Christmas Mass at St Helen’s Church, Horning Road West, Hoveton.
11.00am Sung Christmas Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, North Walsham.
There will be a meeting of the PPC on Tuesday 14th January and on the previous Sunday (12th), following the 11.00am Mass at the Sacred Heart, a Forum will be held in the parish hall. We would ask parishioners to come along to the Forum meeting and take part in the discussions.
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 all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Bertha (Teddy) Palmer, Alice Taylor, Richard Barrett, Doreen Clark, Juliette (Nan) Davies, Nora Slater, Francesco Carlucca, Agnes Webster, John Hall, Patricia Coles, Thomas Proud, June Cole and George Mousley.
May they rest in peace.
Next Family Mass: Tuesday 24th December
(Christmas Eve at 6.00 pm.)
