Newsletter 6th January 2019.
Welcome to the first newsletter of the New Year.
Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany which commemorates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Saviour.
On a personal note, thanks for all your help and kindness over Christmas. As you will know, I was not in perfect health and certainly needed your help and understanding. It was much appreciated.
At the 9.30 Mass today the children will celebrate the third part of our cycle of mystery plays. The three kings always looked splendid in their fine robes, bringing their presents.
After the Mass the costumes will all be put away for another year. Thanks to all those who have helped to organise the plays.
Work picks up once again.
The Liturgy group meets on Monday at 8pm.
The First Communion class is next Saturday 12th starting at 10am. It is most important to come to this class as later in the morning there will be first Confessions. I will be in touch with the parents who are organising the class this time.
There is a class for the Confirmation group in the big hall at 6.30 on Thursday. I have sent them an email and I hope that it has arrived.
The Justice and Peace group meet next Sunday.
From Monday the Masses are from days in the Christmas season with the Preface of the Epiphany. Next Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
During this coming week we will be taking down the crib and putting the figures back in the loft.
Best wishes to everybody returning to school and college after the holiday. I hope that you will have a good term.
Thanks for all your gifts for the Manna Centre and for the Centre for Asylum seekers. I hope that by the time you read this they will have been delivered safely.
A bit late on but a request for the new recipe for the hot wine we served this time after the carol service. The basis mixture was equal quantities of red wine and fizzy lemonade. The fruit was two sliced oranges to one sliced lemon. A little sugar, which makes fizz up and a little cinnamon and some cloves. After a dry January you might just have time for a glass before Lent.
The boy and his sister enjoyed their holidays. The Lego Mini-Cooper was a great success. There are 1200 parts and I understand that the record for making it is five and a half hours. He did not quite achieve this, but it kept him occupied for a very long time.
A prayer for the New Year:
Light of the world, Lord Jesus Christ, shine on us so that we may walk steadfastly today in the path of life: give light to our minds and warmth to our hearts, so that your light may shine on all we do and say. Amen.
A slight parody of Kipling:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With 60 seconds’ worth of jolly fun,
Yours is the world and everything that’s in it
And – which is more – you’ll be a Sloane, my son!
(or daughter, depending on which way the genes jumped)
The new building behind the railway platform is still a mystery. The cabin seems to have been winched in and is full of cabinets for electrical systems. I think it is probably for the new signals.
Best wishes to you all,
Monsignor Nicholas Rothon