Service times & Mass Intentions SATURDAY 20th December: (4.45 – 5.15pm Confessions at Christ the King) 5.30pm (Mass at Christ the King) This week... SUNDAY 21st December: 4th Sunday of Advent 9.30am Mass: People of the Parish 11.00am (Mass at Christ the King) Reader: Denis Heaney MONDAY 22nd December: Advent Feria 9.30am Mass: Sean Goodliffe, RIP TUESDAY 23rd December: Advent Feria 9.30am (Mass at Christ the King) WEDNESDAY 24th December: 9.30am Mass: Private Intention 6.00pm First Mass of Christmas: People of the Parish THURSDAY 25th December: The Nativity of Our Lord 9.30am Mass: Peter Mullen FRIDAY 26th December: St Stephen, the First Martyr 11.00am (Mass at Christ the King) SATURDAY 27th December: (4.45 – 5.15pm Confessions at Christ the King) 5.30pm (Mass at Christ the King) SUNDAY 28th December: The Holy Family, Mary & Joseph 9.30am Mass: Private intention 11.00am (Mass at Christ the King) Altar Server Will Offertory Procession: Val Littlehales & Veronica Mosley Ministers for Holy Communion: Eunice and Bill Coffee Morning Deidre O’Ryan & Hilary Bradley Offertory Envelopes: £ 182.50 Loose: £ 72.30 Total: £ 254.80 Poor Parishes £117.79 Thank you Tellers: Kevin & Shirley Hurst Christ the King: Telephone no. 01332 340161 Nottingham R C Diocesan Trustees (Company Number 7151646 Charity Number 1134449) Church of All Saints Belle Vue Road, Ashbourne Derby DE6 1AT Parish Priest: Fr John Guest T: 01335 342 236 E:johnguest@allsaintsashbourne.org.uk Assistant Priest: Fr. John Martin T: 07714460526 Deacon: Keith Bunyan T: 01335 360350 Website: www.allsaintsashbourne.org.uk Sunday 21st December 2014 4th Sunday of Advent 1st Reading: Samuel 7:1-5.8-12.14.16 Psalm: Psalm 88 R: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord. 2nd Reading: Romans 16:25-27 Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Communion antiphon: Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel. A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE! My Dear Friends, Some of the stories in the gospels remain more vividly in the mind and heart than others. Today’s account of the encounter between the angel Gabriel and the virgin Mary is one such. Gabriel is absolutely full of the message he has to bring, and he couches it in references to the prophets, believing that this will convince Mary of the truth of what he is saying. She in turn is naturally cautious, even deeply disturbed, and questions him carefully. The exchange is quite electric, which is understandable when we reflect that the outcome of the exchange is the destiny of the human race. Angels don’t seem to have what we might call human reservations. He brings in the Holy Spirit, the title of her son as “Son of God” and rounds off his argument with a nod to Elizabeth’s pregnancy, a sure fire clincher from biblical roots… for, he adds, nothing is impossible to God. And Mary says “Yes”, changing not just her life but the life of all humankind forever. And we, in our less documented conversations with angels, are given the same challenge. Mary’s “yes” is intended to support ours. Fr. John National Catholic EvangelisationConference – 11th July 2015: The rotas for 2015 are being prepared. Please let Denis & Sally or Fr John know if you would be able to join in helping with the flowers, the cleaning, the counting, the readings at Mass or the Offertory Procession. Many thanks in advance. All help appreciated. The Joy of the Gospel– Building a Missionary Parish is the theme of the National Catholic Evangelisation Conference to be held in Birmingham on Saturday 11th July 2015. Cardinal Vincent Nichols says: ‘This pioneering day conference, inspired by Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium, is for all clergy, religious and lay people. Why? Because we all share the One mission – to proclaim the joy of the Gospel. The wide range of practical ideas offered for Planning and carrying out fruitful parish evangelisation will help us all to be better missionary disciples. Please put the date in your diary. I look forward to seeing you there.” For further information, please visit www.catholicnews.org.uk/ gospeljoy. The Diocesan Education Service is looking for people willing to become a Foundation Governor in one of our schools/ academies. Further info: visit www.nottingham-des.org.uk call 01332 293833. Nottingham Justice and Peace: Sonia Aslam works for the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace in Pakistan. She does exactly the same as us- she supports and fights for human rights. By doing this she has put her and her family’s lives in danger, as she has been threatened for working against Islam. She has fled to the UK, but has been refused Asylum. A Christian country, that promotes the same values that she fights for in Pakistan, will not allow her to stay here. An appeal is due and she needs all the support she can get. Please sign this petition to plead the Home Office to allow Sonia to stay. Share this with everyone you know, spread the word and help Sonia! https://www.change.org/p/ukvisas-and-immigration-homeoffice-grant-sonia-aslam-asylum y Service times for Christmas: Christ the King: Christmas Eve: First Mass of Christmas and Carols: 6.00pm Christmas Day: Mass of the Day; 10.30am. All Saints: Christmas Eve: Carols: 5.30pm First Mass of Christmas 6.00pm Christmas Day: Mass of Dawn 9.30am Ashbourne Churches Together: Our next united service will be held in the Methodist Church on Sunday, 25th January during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Further details from Mary Sharpe 01335 370 636 This week there is a retiring collection for the Christmas Flowers. Advent Reconciliation Services in the city:Monday 22nd December St. Mary’s 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph’s will have extended Saturday morning confessions this weekend before Christmas. Joan Shaw is now in Ivy House, 1 The Green, Mickleover. Please speak to Fr. John before visiting. The latest issue of Just Now from the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission is available online at www.nottinghamjp.org Please remember in your prayers the following people who are sick or housebound: Kath Armstrong, Irene Bolton, Giovanni Caruso, Fr Tony Colebrook, Hubert Connell, Fr Peter Coyle, Erika Cundy, Robert Cundy, Fr Hugh Doherty, Tom Donnelly, Roger Finch, Veronica Gadsby, Bob Ginns, Jim Hannigan, Monica Hoptroff, Louise Levison, Fr. John Joe Maloney, Mgr. Jonathan Moore, Mgr Joe Phelan, Pat and Pam O’Donnell, Fr. Eamonn O’Hara, Joan Shaw, Peter & Yvette Smith, Fr Peter Wade, Bernie Walker, Mgr. Edward Walker and Ellen Williamson. May they be comforted and healed. We remember in prayer our departed brothers and sisters, especially Olga McGuiness, Bernard Byrne James Cunningham and all whose anniversaries occur at this time. May the Lord welcome them with gladness.