THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

13TH DECEMBER 2009:

MASS TIMES: INTENTIONS:

Saturday Vigil: 7.15 p.m. Joan Woods

Sunday: 9.15 a.m. The Parish

11:00 a.m. Rebecca Teresa Humphreys

Monday: 9:15 a.m. Joseph Ferri

1.30 p.m. REQUIEM John Haligan

Tuesday: 9.15 a.m. Florence Irene Atkinson

Wednesday: 9.15 a.m. Vincent Balfe

Thursday: 9.15 a.m. Bill Reid

Friday: 9.15 a.m. George Seale

Saturday: 9. 15 a.m. Robert Brophy

Saturday Vigil Mass 7.15 p.m. The Parish

Sunday: 9.15 a.m. Pat Howe

11.00 a.m. Denise Miller

MORNING PRAYER:

9.00 a.m. in the Sacristy Office, on weekdays excepting Wednesday.

CONFESSIONS:

Confessions are heard on Saturday evening from 6:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.

LATELY DEAD:

Please remember in your prayers John Haligan who died recently.

BAPTISMS:

By arrangement with Fr. Cooke. After speaking to Fr. Cooke, it is important that families contact our Baptism Co-ordinator, Ann Siddall, 01244 371787, who will arrange for members of our Baptism Team to discuss Baptism and the practical details.

THE SICK:

Please keep in your prayers all the sick and housebound of the Parish and those who care for them. If you know of anyone who can no longer come to Mass and would like to receive Holy Communion please let Fr. Cooke or a Eucharistic Minister know.

ANNIVERSARIES:

We remember Fred Fazey, Richard Mitchell, James Francis Galvin, Lily Collins, Michael Whitehouse, Margaret Howcroft, Henrietta Whitehead, Kathleen Elizabeth Delaney, Rebecca Teresa Humphreys, Delia Rooks, Eileen Jones, Ellen Veronica Croft, Margaret Upton, Celine Cawley, Michael Anthony (Tony) Keating, Elizabeth Maud Rodgers, Joe Corrigan, Adles Bronislaw, Vera Mary Michalak, Winifred Roberts, John Joyce, Catherine Barford, Mary Foley, Michael Francis Sharkey, Michael Hayes, Robert Smith-White, Patricia Ann Rose Howe, Nora Kinder, James Judge, Muriel Hoole, Gerard Monroe Gibbons, Sue McGann, Ann O’Loughlin, Frances Williams, Samuel Joseph Kenyon, Margaret Hill, John Joseph Cox and John Thomas Williams

OFFERTORY:

Loose Plate: £550. 62p

Planned Giving: £585. 40p

Average Weekly SOs: £568. 01p

Hire of Hall; £180. 00p

UPTON CHURCHES PRAYER DIARY:

This week we pray for:

The residents of Gatesheath Drive, Alpraham Crescent and St. James Avenue.

For those who prepare couples for marriage

For those couples married in our churches this year and those who are about to be married.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON – CHRISTMAS CARDS:

The Churches Together Christmas cards set out the details of all the services over the Christmas period, and are delivered to all households in the Upton area. Can you please help to deliver some of these cards? The remaining bundles are set out in both Porches, labelled with the respective road names. Your help with delivery will be very much appreciated.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON – CAROL SINGING:

As part of our outreach into the local community Upton Churches Together organise carol singing in local residential homes. The ones last week were well supported. Please come and join in our remaining outings on Monday evening this week:

Monday 14th December: 6.30 p.m. Wealstone, and 8.00 p.m. Mallard Court.

On Thursday 17th December there will be carol-singing around the wards at the Countess of Chester Hospital. We meet at 6.30 p.m. in the Chapel. This is an ecumenical group and new singers (and instruments) are always welcome. Refreshments afterwards.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER COLLECTION:

There will be a collection for Christmas flowers after all Masses next week-end 19th/20th December. Thank you in advance for your continued generosity and support.

CHRISTINGLE CAROL AT 11.00 a.m. MASS:

1.O sing about Christingle, your voices loud employ,

Your praises bring to God our King, for Jesus and His joy.

2.The orange of Christingle, the world reminds us of,

And how our God created us, and on us shed His love.

3.The candle of Christingle, with shining flame so bright,

Reminds us of our loving Lord, who is the world's true light.

4.The red band of Christingle, which plainly we can see,

Reminds us of how Jesus Christ was killed upon that tree.

5.The four sticks of Christingle, with which the orb we spear,

Remind us how God cares for us, through seasons of the year.

6.The fruits of the Christingle, they have a special worth,

Reminding of the Spirit's fruits as well as fruits of earth.

7.The whole of the Christingle, it is a joy to see,

It shines to show how God our Father loves both you and me.

CHRISTINGLE APPEAL:

As in recent years, we would again like to help the children of Bo, Sierra Leone as our Christingle Appeal by supporting the OAKS charity – Overseas Aid for the Kids of Sierra Leone. The school is now providing education for 250 children aged 4-13 years, funded by the charity. The current needs include constructing an on-site water supply, equipment for the school agriculture project and ongoing classroom expenses. Any parishioners who would like to help are asked to collect an envelope from either Porch this week and return it in the normal offertory baskets this week or next. Thank you very much for your continued support of the Bo project. If anyone would like to borrow a DVD about the Bo project please ring Pauline Payne on 01244 350323.

ADVENT HOLY HOURS:

This Advent, the Pastoral Area Team for Chester & District has arranged a series of Holy Hours in different churches around the area. The remaining services are:

Sunday 13th December 3.00 p.m. at St. Clare’s, Lache, arranged jointly by St. Clare’s and St. Francis’.

Wednesday 16th December 7.30 p.m. at St. Thomas Becket’s, Tarporley.

Sunday 20th December 3.00 p.m. at St. Werburgh’s, Chester.

You are urged to attend these services if you can, which, as well as reminding us of Jesus’ imminent coming, provide an opportunity of meeting people from the other Chester parishes.

RED MISSIONARY BOXES

Thank you for leaving your red Missionary Boxes for me to empty, they are now ready for you to collect from the Sacristy. Thank you very much for your kind donations.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to the members of St. Columba’s SVP for organising the outing to the Grosvenor Garden Centre. It was very enjoyable and much appreciated.

CHESTER CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CAROL CONCERT

You are invited to join the Catholic High School at its Christmas Celebration to be held at the school on Wednesday 16th December 2009 at 7.30 pm. Adult tickets £3 (including glass of wine and mince pie) available from the school office.

Tickets for the school’s annual fundraising draw are available now from school.

CHESTER HOMELESS:

Thank you so much for your donations which have all been delivered. The knitted hats were wonderful and have been very well received. Thank you also for the socks. deodorants, soaps etc. Mens warm clothing is very much needed - shoes, jackets, pullovers, hats, scarves and gloves - also blankets (if there are any left after previous requests!) and duvets etc.

Any dried or tinned goods that can be used in the kitchens are also well received. I will be away from Saturday 7th November until Saturday 5th December - if there are any donations during this time, please leave them in the cupboard under the stairs ready for collection.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

This will be compiled by Bernard Payne

Tel: 01244 350323

E-mail: Bernard.payneYOUKNOWWHATtiscali.co.uk

Items for inclusion can also be left in the blue folder in the Sacristy. Please ensure that all items are in place by 9.00 a.m. on Thursday. Please include a phone number in case of queries.

Please take your Newsletter home with you to use during the coming week.