The Light in darkness Let us pray for the Sick The darkness is dispelled by the light which the birth of Jesus brings. In the joy of our Christmas prayers and songs we unite in the hope that the peace of which the angels sang, may be felt by our families, our friends and throughout our world. Terry McManus, Alfredo Fecci, Michael Jones, Anne Jones, Jim Hughes, Margaret Carr, Margaret Evans, Fred Battersby, Gwen Jones,Joe Goggin,, Debra Ann Roberts,Tricia Twizell, Rosa Maria, Joan Lawrence, Moira Catherall, Lea Hill, Anne Turner, Mary Rowe, Jenny Mansley, Jennifer Rowley, Nancy Wilson, Joe & Luisa Desena, Shelagh Fulham, Margaret Stubbs, Philomena Lamano, and Leo McManus. “Don’t (24th Dec) Teresa Saum, Ann Carroll, Anne Cassidy, Frances Hammersley(25th Dec) Mary McCann, John Walsh, Alice O’Neill, Mary O’Neill, Rose Dubay (26th Dec) Ann Griffiths, Winefride Duffy, Patrick Brennan, Joseph Esmon Thomas, Mgt.Williams (27th Dec) Richard Ward, Jeannie Scully, (28th Dec) Maria Brannen, Edward Stafford, William McManus, Agnes Ivy, Christopher Nicholls, Harold Jones, Henry Roden (29th Dec) Julia Fox, Minnie Mary Jones (30th Dec) James Cummins, John Wilson make the pious mistake of thinking that at that first Christmas Christ came to bring us some sort of gift. He never came to bring us anything. He came to awaken us to what we already are: children of God”. Oliver Todd DANCING IN THE PEWS Do you ever find yourself wanting to move about when singing in church? Have you ever felt the urge to sway about when singing Christmas Carols? You shouldn't be too surprised if the answer is "yes", because originally many carols were also danced as well as sung. In fact some of our carol tunes still have a dance-lilt to them, like "We three kings" or "The holly and the ivy". We know that the angels sang at the first Christmas. What we might not know is that, according to Durand (a medieval French bishop), on Christmas Day the bishop and clergy used to sing and dance Christmas carols and play games together. Not much has changed then! We remember in our prayers Eglwys Catholig Dewi Sant, Yr Wyddgrug St.David’s Catholic Church, Mold Parish Priest: Fr. Pius Mathew CMI, St.David’s Presbytery, St.David’s Lane, Mold. CH7 1LH Email: piuscmi@gmail.com Tele: 01352 752087 Deacon David Joy:01352 754722 LSUConvent:01352 700121 Website: www.stdavidsmold.org www.wrexhamdiocese.org.uk http://www.cmi.org.in 25th December 2016 Those whose anniversaries Occur this week Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas. Henry Van Dyke Because of his boundless love, Jesus became what we are, that he might make us to be what he is. (St. Irenaeus, third century) Merry Christmas The Nativity of the Lord Year A LITURGY OF THE WEEK: Psalter Week I 24th December Saturday Mass 5.30pm Int. Bea Towey Mass 9pm Pauline Carberry RIP (Peter Carberry) 25th December Sunday Mass 11am For People of the Parish Monday : 26th Dec Feast: St. Stephen, the first martyr Mass 10am Int. Sean Neeson (Michael Greaney) Tuesday: Feast: St. John, apostle & Evangelist 27th Dec Mass 9.15am Int. Rita Loftus (Win & Brian Egan) Wednesday: Feast: The Holy Innocents 28th Dec Mass 9.15am Gerry Walsh RIP (Agnes Walsh) Thursday: Fifth day: Octave of Christmas 29th Dec Mass 9.15am Int.Marie Flanagan (Shelagh Bird) Friday: Feast: The Holy Family 30th Dec Mass 9.15am Gay McCornick RIP(Bridget&Tim O’Dwyer) Eucharistic Adoration with Rosary and Benediction Every Friday following the morning Mass at 9.15am Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions) Saturdays 10.30am to 11.30am & Before the Vigil Mass 31st December Saturday 1st January Sunday (4.45-5.20pm) Mass at 5.30pm Mass 11am Sundays before Deceased Members of the the Mass McGuire&Brown Families For People of the Parish (Doreen&Vincent Brown) (10.30-10.50am) FAITH IN FOCUS: THE C MEANING OF CHRISTMAS is for Christos (Christ) which means the one anointed by God. Jesus was appointed to be prophet, priest and king of all nations. He is the one whom people were waiting for, the one sent by God as a champion for the people. H is for Hope. The birth of Jesus encourages us that we have a God who is so concerned about us that he stoops as low as he can get, to become a little baby. The birth of Christ renews our hope in the promises of God. is for Redeemer. Helpless as he was in the manger of Bethlehem, he was born to die. His life led him to an inevitable conflict with the authorities that came to its climax on Calvary. Through his death and resurrection he has bought us back from the slavery that sin and evil exercise over us. is for Immanuel. The Christmas feast cheers us with news that Jesus is Immanuel/Emmanuel, Godwith-us. We have a God R I who feels our pain, knows our struggle and shares our joys, for he is not far away in the heavens but is with us here on earth in the person and presence of Jesus. is for Son. Jesus reveals a God to us who is not a distant sovereign S M is for Mercy. The incarnation of Jesus is God's gift of mercy to us. None of us is worthy to speak to God or to claim any favours from him. Yet in Jesus God shows us mercy and forgiveness, blotting out our guilt and wiping away our sins. That same mercy is given to us on condition that we pass it on to others. is for Alleluia, a word which means Praise the Lord! Christmas and Easter are the springboards for Christians not only to rejoice and enjoy the wonders that God works for us, but also to proclaim far and wide God's marvellous intervention. is for Song. Christians cannot keep silent about the consequences of Christ's birth. Our songs and carols tell the everlasting story of our God who sets us free. Our worship recalls the events of 2000 years ago and makes them come alive once more today. Have a happy C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S! A but a parent. He referred to God as his Father and through our baptism we share the closeness and intimacy of a relationship as sons and daughters. is for Truth. Jesus took our human form as a baby in order to lead us into the truth, to provide us with a recipe for happiness and peace. He claimed that he himself was the way, the truth and the life. To follow Jesus is to have eternal life. T S Christmas Celebration Christmas is a time for celebration. How do you celebrate? Do you rush around spending more money than you can really afford in order to buy food, decorations, presents and drink? Or do you take a tipple or two at the office party and remain in a daze until sometime around New Years Day? Perhaps you’re one of those who feel that their Christmas is incomplete if you haven’t spent some time in church, listening to the readings about the birth of Christ and responding with well-loved carols and hymns? Our ways of celebrating either anaesthetise us to reality or heighten our perception of it. So how did the characters in the gospels celebrate the very first Christmas? The shepherds celebrated by spreading the gossip of the Good News everywhere they went. The angels and the wise men celebrated the birth by being amazed. Mary celebrated by storing up all these wonderful things and treasuring them in her heart. So this year why not listen to the good news of God identifying with our human condition on that first Christmas, then allow yourself to be utterly amazed by it, and finally, when you have stored it all up, ponder it seriously? If you do these three things then you really will have celebrated Christmas. Crib Offerings For Mission Together: Bishop Peter will dedicate this year’s Christmas Crib collection to MISSION TOGETHER (Holy Childhood) to support its school meals programme in Kenya, run by the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi. Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2017 22nd May Mon– 27th May Sat The Posters and Booking forms are available in the Porch. There is a £10 discount if you do the booking online: www.joewalshtours.co.uk Pilgrimage to Medjugorie 27th May to 3rd June 2017: Contact : Geraldine Downing: 01978 357367. A call for help! At the Offertory procession the “work of our hands” is brought to the altar in bread, wine, and the collection. To do this with efficiency and dignity, we are introducing extra collection points, so that we can reduce delay. Therefore we seek the help of more people to take the collection – we need five at each Mass. If enough will volunteer we can ensure a ‘rota’, so that it is shared out. Please consider offering your service to the parish in this way. There is no restriction by age or gender! Please give your name to Fr Pius, Deacon David, or to Tony Gent (Saturday) or Peter Carberry (Sunday). The collection begins immediately after the Bidding Prayers. Money Matters : Offertory Collection last weekend £762.18 of which £409.58 was Gift Aided Flowers for Christmas: £231.56 Gift Aid: If you are a Tax Payer, please consider filling out the Gift Aid form which is in the church porch to receive a box of weekly envelopes for your offertory donation or for a one-off donation then please use the Green envelopes. Please remember to write your name, address, and date the green envelope. Thank you for supporting our Parish.
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