FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

20th DECEMBER 2009:

MASS TIMES: INTENTIONS:

Saturday Vigil: 7.15 p.m. The Parish

Sunday: 9.15 a.m. Pat Howe

11:00 a.m. Denise Miller

Monday: 9:15 a.m. David Cross and Sean Backhouse

1.30 p.m. REQUIEM John Haligan

Tuesday: 9.15 a.m. Jim and Mary Heffernan

Wednesday: 10.30 a.m. Doris Garrett Requiem

Thursday: 9.15 a.m. Private Intention

CHRISTMAS EVE: 6.00 p.m. Kevin Connolly

9.00 p.m. Sally Brennan

CHRISTMAS DAY: 9.15 a.m. Frank Dean

11.00 a.m. Bernard Wilkinson

Saturday: 12.00 noon Fred Fazey

Saturday Vigil Mass 7.15 p.m. Trevor

Sunday: 9.15 a.m. Karen Hughes

11.00 a.m. Paul Murphy

LATELY DEAD:

Please remember in your prayers Doris Garrett. We pray for her and her family. Her Funeral Mass is next Wednesday at 10.30 a.m.

MORNING PRAYER:

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

CONFESSIONS:

Confessions are heard on Saturday evening from 6:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m., and on Christmas Eve from 9.45 – 10.45 a.m.

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 inform Fr. Cooke or a Eucharistic Minister.

ANNIVERSARIES:

Please remember in your prayers James Judge, Muriel Hoole, Gerard Monroe Gibbons, Sue McGann, Anne O’Loughlin, Frances Williams, Samuel Joseph Kenyon, Margaret Hill, John Joseph Cox, John Thomas Williams, John Carney, Sean Backhouse, David Thomas Cross, John Ignatius Mitchell, Connie Barlow, Maria Galvin, Nora Garry, Patrick Joseph Burke, John McLoughlin, Brigid Lynch, John Galvin, Eileen Burden, Florence Toop, Nellie Lennon, Elizabeth Mary Teresa Rimmer, Gerry Hickey, Rachel Gibson, Mike Ayland, Carol Finan, Michael Grisdale, James Edward Price, George John, William John, Edward John, Doris McCleary, Ann Chesters, Thomas McGuiness, Frederick Nixon Francis Wilkinson, Richard Bird, Paul Murphy, Marjorie Houlbrook, Elvet Roy Eaton, Mary Mitchell, Catherine Sheridan, Fred Beswick, Harry O’Koru

OFFERTORY:

Loose Plate: £528. 46

Planned Giving: £566. 75

Average Weekly SOs: £568. 00

Coffee Morning: £84.49

Hire of Hall: £30. 00

Thank you very much for your generous offerings.

A.P.F. RED MISSION BOXES:

Thank you for leaving your red Missionary Boxes to be emptied and counted. The boxes are now ready to collect from the Sacristy. Thank you very much for your kind donations.

Please note that John Bond is no longer the A.P.F. Secretary/ Treasurer for St. Columba’s. Margaret Curtis (01244 318424) has very kindly agreed to take over this role. Many thanks to John for all the work he has done in the parish over many years on behalf of A.P.F.

“TOMORROW I WILL BE THERE”:

Our Service of readings, prayers and carols for the closing days of Advent takes place at 3 p.m. this Sunday. The Service will also include the blessing of the Christmas Tree, and will be followed by

mince pies and mulled wine in the Hall.

UPTON CHURCHES PRAYER DIARY:

This week we pray for:

The residents of Glastonbury Avenue, Tewkesbury Close and Marlowe Avenue.

For the Bereavement Care schemes.

For all those who are bereaved and those who provide support.

ADVENT HOLY HOURS:

The final service in this year’s series of Advent Holy Hours, arranged by the Pastoral Area Team for Chester & District, is this Sunday afternoon, 3 p.m. at St Werburgh’s.

St. columba's guild of st. stephen For Altar servers:

Bishop Brian recently gave permission for a branch (Guild) of the Archconfraternity of St. Stephen to be establshed in the parish. The branch is now affiliated to the Archconfraternity at Westminster Cathedral and this will be certified by Archbishop Vincent Nichols in due course.

Members of our parish group will be enrolled in the Guild at a short ceremony during the midday Mass on the Feast of St. Stephen.

Our Altar Servers are an essential and valued element of parish liturgy, the aims of The Guild are to nurture their skill and knowledge of serving and foster relations with other Servers' groups.

NOTICE FOR ALTAR SERVERS:

Please will all Servers collect an envelope from the Servers' Sacristy. Thank you.

PARISH BUILDINGS COMMITTEE:

Following discussions with the parish Pastoral Council and Diocese the remit of the Buildings Committee has been agreed. At the meeting on 11th December a number of key tasks were identified. These include developing a list of suitable maintenance contractors, monitoring energy consumption and addressing fire safety.

If you have any comments on the church and hall they would be welcome.

The committee is at present very small – so it offers a very warm welcome to any parishioners with any relevant expertise. We would especially welcome anyone with any expertise in the field of Health and Safety. Please contact Pauline Rourke – pauline.rourkeEVENRUDOLPHKNOWSTHESYMBOLbtinternet.com for further information.

The next meeting will take place on Monday 25th January at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Office.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER COLLECTION:

There will be a collection for Christmas flowers after all Masses this weekend. Thank you in advance for your continued generosity and support.

CHRISTINGLE APPEAL:

Please place the white envelopes for the OAKS Appeal (Bo, Sierra Leone) in the normal collection baskets. Thank you very much for your support of the Bo project – you can see pictures from the school on the display boards in the rear Porch.

NEWS FROM TESSA ADAMS:

Judith O’Neill, Tessa’s daughter, has written to say her mother is now doing well, although she has had a couple of difficult patches since leaving Upton. She is now living very close to her daughter in Wilmslow. Tessa wishes to thank everyone at St. Columba’s who have been so good to her over the years – CWL, SVP and others, all helping her into her 91st year!

LADIES’ BADMINTON:

Please note there will be no badminton this coming Wednesday. We meet up again in the New Year, on Wednesday 6th January.

CHESTER HOMELESS:

Thank you so much for the donations for the Homeless. I have managed to get them all delivered. A very big thank you to you all. The warm clothing and boots and the new garments were much appreciated. Also a big thank you to the ladies at Newton House who knit all those blankets and hats! Christmas is coming and meals and warm surroundings will be available to all who need it. Your continued support makes this possible. Thank you also for the cash donations which have been delivered to the Centre. All warm clothing, non-perishable goods, etc are always on the wish list. For any queries please ring Maggie on 01244 341509 after 7 p.m.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

This will be compiled by Brian Webster

Tel: 01244 851026, email

brianrobertEVENRUDOLPHKNOWSTHESYMBOLjoycewebster.freeserve.co.uk

Items for inclusion can also be left in the blue folder in the Sacristy.

Please note this week’s earlier deadline, and ensure that all items are in place by 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday. Thank you.