Bulletin Board

 

First SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday 1st December 2024

 

 

  Services

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.

Alleluia!

 

GOSPEL  

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke     21:25-28, 34-36  

Glory to you, O Lord

 

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony,

bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves;
men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world,

 for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

 When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high,

 because your liberation is near at hand.’

‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and

 drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day

 will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap.

 For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth.

 Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is

 going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’

 

The Gospel of the Lord. 

          Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

  All Saints, Thropton,

No weekday Word & Communion or Mass until Further Notice

 

Live Streaming of Masses

A number of parishes have set up a live stream of their Masses.

For more details of frequency and timings please go to the Diocesan website www.rcdhn.org.uk

 

Children’s Liturgy at Sunday Mass.

Children are welcome in the Parish room to listen to a child friendly Gospel, with theme related activities.

Two adults will instruct the children both will have a current DBS

  

St Paul's church is open daily for Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament each day from 5pm-6pm.

Please join us, even if it is only for a short time. 

 

Mass Times

Sat 30th 5pm Vigil Mass at Amble

Sun 1st Dec 10am Mass at St Paul’s.

Tues 3rd 6pm Mass at St Paul’s

Wed 4th    6pm Mass at St Paul’s

Thurs 5th 10.30am Mass at Amble  

Fri 6th 10am Mass at St Paul’s

Sat 7th 5pm Vigil Mass at Amble

Sun 8th 10am Mass at St Paul’s.

 

 

 Adoration and Confession Thursdays 6pm—7pm

 

Mass Intentions

Sun 1st Dec Valerie Sumner

Sun 8th Pat Burke

 

 

 

Ministers of the Word for:8th Dec (Second Sunday of Advent. Yr C)

Mark Bridgeman; Susannah Hawksley; Brendan Murray   

      

Ministers of the Eucharist for: 8th Dec

 Joanna Dassen; Louis Dassen; Yvonne Douglas

 

Counters

 1st Dec Team 6   Liz Harrison; Judith Francis

9th  Dec Team 1   Vincent and Roisin Cowley

 

 

Every Sunday we serve refreshments after Mass at the back of church

Everyone is welcome

 

Christmas Mass Times

Christmas Eve      5pm Amble  

Christmas Eve      7pm Carol's 7.30pm mass Alnwick 

Christmas Day Mass 10am Alnwick 

 

 

 

ROCK FESTIVAL CHOIR

Music for Advent

Sunday 1st December

at 3pm - £12.00  cash only..

 

 NEW SUNDAY MISSAL

 The new missal now available includes texts for all Sunday services for the

 three year cycle and a short introduction to the special character of

 each Sunday, plus the Mass text.

You can purchase one for £19.95 plus postage.

 Full details available at the back of church.

Please add your name to an order list if you would like one.

Many thanks Pam Slater

 

Prayer & Fasting for Life

 On Saturday 7th December, The Vigil of The Immaculate Conception,

 please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia.

 Your prayer and fasting is urgently needed.

Please Invite others to join the day on Facebook,

 https://www.facebook.com/events/1461899157815100/

As we ponder the hope found in the second coming of our saviour,

 we pray for all those in need of hope.

We pray especially for those contemplating having an abortion, that they would

 be reminded of the hope God brings and His fundamental desire for our good.

 We pray also that as a society we would become channels of God’s hope,

 providing support to all pregnant women.

 

 St Paul’s Facebook Page

We now have a facebook page for our parish.  Please search for St Paul’s

Catholic Church Alnwick and like/follow the page and like our posts.
We hope that Facebook will be an easy way to connect with people and

share information and advertise services and events.

 It is easy to keep Facebook up to date but we need content to make our page interesting. 

 Contact Jo on 07525 495694 or at oldmissionhall@icloud.com with any content or queries.

 

Changes To DBS online Update Service

Those of you who hold an online DBS in the parish need

 to be aware of a change in the annual e-mail you receive.

 Please see me after mass for an update about this and a

letter to explain the changes.

 Many thanks Pam Slater

 

Christians Together in Alnwick 

This year CTiA are appealing for knitters and crafters to make angels and /or stars

 to be placed around the Town in celebration of Christmas.

  Patterns are available at the back of the Church.

  Please pass your completed items to June Etterley by 10th December. 

 Thank you in advance..

 

Nativity around the World

 Nativities from around the world will be on display at

St Paul's on the 7th December from 10 am to 4 pm. 

 Do come along to see the nativity scenes and enjoy coffee and cake.

 There will be live music from The Alnwick pipers playing

 the Northumbrian pipes in the afternoon.

Any donations received will be given to Embrace the Middle East, a Christian charity

 working with all denominations in the Middle East.

 

St Michael’s Christmas Tree Festival

Fri 29 Nov—Sun 01 Dec

Christmas Trees/Festive Food/Music 

Free Entry

 

   Alnwick Food Bank

Now that the summer is over and the weather is changing, many will be

 worried about their finances, heating their homes and increase in food prices.

  The food bank at the Lindisfarne Centre helps many individuals and families when they face difficult times. 

They rely on help from the community, churches, many organisations and

individuals to donate food which can be distributed the those in need.

  There are donation points in Morrisons, Lidl and Sainsburys but we also have a box here in St Paul’s..

The Autumn requests for the food bank are:-

 tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, tinned rice, curry/pasta sauces, tinned custard,

 tinned fruit, shampoo, washing-up liquid. 

Can you help please?

The donation box will be in the porch. Thank You.

 

 Eucharistic Ministers

 The new Eucharistic Ministers list is now at the back of the church

 

New Kitchen

Finally after a long journey that started with Mary Frater & Co we are now pleased to say that

 last Monday we passed the HCC (Historic Churches Committee). 

What that means is we now have to wait 2 months for the due process of Council responses etc.

 before we receive our faculties prior to starting the fundraising.

 Many thanks to all who helped getting us (the church community) to this point.

 The design drawings that passed the HCC will be put on display ASAP.

 

 Flower Festival Photographs

Photographs of the recent flower festival are now on the parish website. 

Go to www.stpaulschurchalnwick.co.uk  then select Photo Gallery.

 

 October 100 plus winners

1st prize £50  No.149 Bretta Bland                        2nd prize £30    No.2 Roisin & Vincent Cowley

3rd prize £20  No.46 Ed Sweeney

 

 Northern Cross

 The Northern Cross is now on sale at the back of church

 

2025 MARRIAGE PREPARATION DAYS

 ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE

AND MARRIAGECARE PARTNERSHIP

IN PERSON FACE TO FACE: ‘RELATIONSHIPS’

2025

Sat 1 Feb: The Sacred Heart, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NE3 5EB

Sat 22 Feb: St Robert of Newminster, MORPETH, NE61 1QF

Sat 8 March: St Joseph’s, BLAYDON NE21 5AE

Sat 22 March: St Mary’s, BISHOP AUCKLAND, DL14 6PQ

Sat 26 April: St Hilda’s, SUNDERLAND SR5 2JD

Sat 14 June: St Thomas Aquinas, DARLINGTON, DL1 2PU

Sat 21 June: The Sacred Heart, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

 Other dates and venues will be notified to each Parish Priest and Deacon as arranged.

To register on a course, engaged couples must book via: www.marriagecare.org.uk,

 How we help, Marriage Preparation; or the phone booking service: 0800 389 3801.

 

Parish Gift Aid/Collection Counters

We need a volunteer to co-ordinate the parish Gift Aid Scheme.

We are very grateful to Kim who has undertaken this role over the past few months.

If you can help, please speak to Fr Stephen.

A Collection Counters Meeting with the Parish Administrator and Fr Stephen

 will be held in the Lindisfarne Room on Thursday 30th May at 1pm.

 

Safeguarding.

 “The Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and

 Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency( CSSA) and Diocese’s policies and procedures at all times.

 Our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Pam Slater 01665 510728 and the

Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be contacted on 0191 2433305

 or at safeguarding@diocesehn.org.uk

 

Year of Prayer 2024

“The more generous you are toward God,

the more generous you will find he is toward you”

(St Ignatius of Loyola)

In preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year 'Pilgrims of Hope',

2024 has been designated a Year of Prayer by Pope Francis.

Please visit our Diocesan Year of Prayer webpage (https://diocesehn.org.uk/ )

 for more information and regular updates.

 

PLEASE NOTE

All items for inclusion in the Parish newsletter to be sent by 9pm on Wednesday.

 Items to be sent to Tim Sewell. 07484611265 or newsletter.stpaul.alnwick@diocesehn.org.uk

Thank You

 

Used Postage Stamps

Please continue to save your used stamps and leave them at the back of church.

 Thank You.

 

St Paul’s Choir

New members of the choir at St Paul’s are welcome.

 Please join the choir practice at 7.30pm every Thursday in the Lindisfarne Room.

 

Summary of Listening Exercises, Result of Questionnaire and Bishop Stephen’s Response

On our diocesan website https://diocesehn.org.uk/ you will find all the summaries from the various

listening exercises that have been running since the summer of 2023, and the

 results of the Questionnaire for the Dicastery of Bishops Report from March 2023.

These are together with Bishop Stephen’s response to what has been presented to him.

 He reflects on the past, present and our future together. The documentation is necessarily lengthy.

 Too lengthy for a pastoral letter. If you wish to have hard copies of all or

 parts of the suite of documents, then please contact the parish office.

 

Missio:

We need a new Missio (Red Boxes) representative to take over responsibility.

 Please contact Louis 07765 432392.

 

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW PARISH E-MAIL ADDRESSES.

For the Parish Priest/Enquiries :- stpaul.alnwick@diocesehn.org.uk

Parish Newsletter Team :-newsletter.stpaul.alnwick@diocesehn.org.uk                               

The old Parish e-mail, stpaulschurchalnwick@gmail.com, is no longer MONITORED.

 

“CAFOD Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal”

Donate to CAFOD’s Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal at cafod.org.uk/ipc or call 0303 303 3030 to support those

affected and get funds to local trusted experts in Gaza and southern Israel

 who have been working alongside communities helping those most in need. 

 Your donation will help support aid workers providing urgent humanitarian aid including food,

 water and emergency shelter to those in need. Thank you for your prayers.”

 

The Lindisfarne Room.

 Until future notice, weekday Mass,

 Adoration, & meetings will take place in The Lindisfarne Room.

Please use the side sacristy door for access. 

 

Being Admitted to Hospital

If you, a friend or relative are admitted to hospital, a visit/Holy Communion/the

Sacraments can be arranged by the chaplaincy team.

  You can contact the chaplaincy via the hospital switchboard on 03448118111 and ask to be put

through to the chaplaincy department.

If the call is urgent, please ask the nurse to contact the Roman Catholic Priest on call.

 

Rainbows Bereavement Support Great Britain (GB)

is a well-respected National Charity which supports Children and Young People who have experienced a significant

 loss through death, relationship break[1]down or any other Adverse Childhood Experience.

Volunteers are needed to join the North East Team.

 If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Ruth Higginbottom,

Rainbows North East Secretary, on 01670 518546 or rainbows.northeast@btconnect.com

 

Safeguarding Changes  

There are some changes to safeguarding, which as a Parish we need to implement.

Those working with children and vulnerable adults will continue to need a DBS, renewed every 3 years.

DBS paperwork has changed slightly.

Every leader of a group will need a DBS and if possible a deputy with a DBS should be appointed.

Parishioners may take Holy communion to their immediate family if they are unable to attend church.

 But other than this a Eucharistic Minister will require a DBS to undertake this ministry.

Every volunteer for every position in the Parish will need to fill in a volunteer registration form and

 will require 2 #references before they start volunteering.

This does not affect existing volunteers. But takes immediate effect for any new volunteers.

Many thanks Pam Slater

 

Knit and Natter Group

Next meeting is on Thursday 5th December at Gill Lyons' House.  

All Welcome

 

  Donations

Donations, to parishes or featured projects, can now be made by clicking the ‘Donate’ tab

 at the top of the Diocesan website homepage www.diocesehn.org.uk. From this Donations page, donors can

choose to donate to one of the featured Projects, or can scroll down to find the parish they’d like to donate to.

They can also search for their parish using the ‘Search for a location’ field at the top of the list of parishes.

When they find their chosen parish, they just need to click on the ‘Donate’ button and then choose

one of the suggested amounts or enter the amount they would like to donate. They can choose to make a single donation,

 but can also set up a weekly or monthly donation if they’d like to, and can Gift Aid their donations simply

 by turning on the ‘I would like to Gift Aid this donation’ button.

 If you need any further information, please contact Michelle Alsop at

 michelle.alsop@diocesehn.org.uk who will be able to help.

 

DIOCESAN PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

Heavenly Father,

in Baptism you called us by name and made us members of your family, the Church.

Help all your people to know their vocation in life,  and to respond by living a life of holiness.

 For your greater glory and for the service of your people, raise up dedicated and generous men

who will serve as priests for the Church of Hexham and Newcastle.

Send your Spirit to guide and strengthen our communities, our seminarians

 and all who are discerning their vocation.

Amen.

 

Please remember

St Paul’s Church, Alnwick in your will.

 Thank You.

 

Coping with Cancer North East.

 We are a charity that offers support to those affected by cancer, this includes counselling, coaching and complementary therapies.

 Our services are free to anyone who is or has been affected by a cancer diagnosis, including family, friends, and carers.

 We offer our services across the whole of the North East.

  Please find our website below for further information on the help that we provide:

https://copingwithcancer.org.uk/

 

Alnwick District Food Bank

SHORT OF FOOD ??                         HOW ??

 Email: alnwickdistrictfoodbank@gmail.com or

 www: alnwickdistrictfoodbank.co.uk

or tel: 07498 488797 (Tue or Thur only; 9.00—11.00)

· Confidentially, tell them your circumstances

· They will then arrange a delivery for you, if you qualify

That's all there is to it !!

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

 

 Gift Aid Appeal

The Gift Aid Donation Scheme is a government sponsored device whereby registered charities can receive

a ‘cashback’ of 25% of all the donations made by UK taxpayers.  The diocese of Hexham and Newcastle

 is registered to take advantage of this scheme and we benefit greatly from it.

If you are a UK taxpayer and are not already a member of the Gift Aid Donation Scheme we would be most grateful

 if you would consider joining it.  If you are interested, please speak to Roisin at the back of church

 or give her a ring on 01665 798945.

 

 BAPTISM

 Enfant Baptism is the door to the other Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.

Baptism at St Paul's Alnwick is open to all babies who have at least one parent who is Roman Catholic themselves.

Please telephone Father Stephen at the Parish House for further information.

 


Diocese Information

Please use the RCDHN link on the top right of the page.

 

Peoples Kitchen and Alnwick Food Bank

 -please could all food donations for People's Kitchen and

Alnwick Food Bank have lids on where necessary.

 Thank You.

 

Feasts of the Week

 Tues 3rd       St Francis Xavier, Priest

Sat 7th       St Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church

  

 

Nights of Light –October

Sat 7th Arthur Carroll—In Thanksgiving

Tues 10th  Noreen Byrne—In Memory of. RIP

   

 If you would like the Church to be lit up for a special occasion or

 remembrance of a loved one, download the form on the

 Nights of Light page on the parish website.

 Minimum donation £1 per date!     

Thank You.

 

   USED POSTAGE STAMPS

Please continue to save your used stamps.

 Thank You

 

DRIVEWAY

 When driving within the church grounds PLEASE keep to the 5mph speed limit. 

Expensive gravel is being displaced by overzealous drivers.

  Thank You.

 

   Offertory Collection

Did you know you can pay your weekly offertory donation

 via standing order or direct debit.

 In these days of internet banking it is so easy to make

 a regular payment to St Paul’s RC Church, Alnwick.

 You can still gift aid your donation by filling in the form at the back of church.

 

Memoriam Book

The Memoriam Book placed on the Sanctuary and

contains the names of family and friends of parishioners,

 each written under the date of their death.

 If you would like the names of your loved ones included,

 please fill in the form at the back of Church

and place it in the box provided.

 Fill in a separate form for each name, please.

 

Security

Please be vigilant when you are in and about the Church.

Do not leave your valuables unattended in the church.

 

Nights of Light

Our Church looks particularly attractive at present with the flood lighting.

We depend on the Nights of Lights scheme to fund the lighting of the church.

If you would like to celebrate a important occasion,

please consider lighting up our church

If you would like the Church to be lit up for a special occasion,

please obtain a form from the back of the Church and hand it with your donation

to Tim Sewell, any of the Parish Council,

drop it through the letterbox at the Parish House

or download the form on the Nights of Light page

Minimum donation £1 per date!

 

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