Blessing and Procession of Candles and Sung Mass at 7.30pm. 

This feast celebrates that Christ is for all the peoples of the world.  Our carrying of lighted candles symbolises the light of Christ illuminating the Jewish Temple and shining forth for all people on earth.

Priests of the Parish Canon Stephen Jones     Tel. 732948 email: stephenjones17@hotmail.com

Fr Christopher Holden    Tel. 730760 email: wilfridcgh@hotmail.com

Hon. Assistant Priests Canon Brian Oddy    Tel. 732048 Canon Brian Pithers   Tel. 424786

29th  January 2012

FOURTH ORDINARY SUNDAY

Today, we celebrate Christ, who teaches with authority.  May we seek to recognise his voice and heed his message.

• Toilets are to the left out of the main door. • Please let young children explore. • Collection during the second hymn. • Large print hymn books available on request.

MASS THIS WEEK AND INTENTIONS

Monday 7.00pm  The bereaved

Tuesday 12noon Christian youth work           St John Bosco

Wednesday 9.15am    The lapsed

Thursday* 7.30pm Effective witness             PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (Candlemas)

Friday  9.15am               Local surgeries

Saturday 9.15am  Health visitors  Of Our Lady 

DIVINE OFFICE (The Prayer of the Church)

Morning Prayer: Sun 7.30am; Mon – Sat 8.55am

Evening Prayer: Sun 5.30pm; Mon, Wed – Fri 5.00pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION By appointment only this week.

TODAY’S ORGAN MUSIC Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (Dearest Jesu, we are here) (BWV 731)

Prelude in G major (BWV 541)

J.S. Bach

NO PUBLIC EVENING PRAYER on Tuesday.  Fr Chris and Fr Stephen are on a diocesan study day.  We are grateful to Fr Brian (P) for agreeing to cover the 12noon Mass.

THE NORTH WEST EARLY MUSIC FORUM is to visit us again on Saturday.  After the usual day of preparation and study, there will be an act of worship at 6.00pm.  The theme this time is music in the German Lutheran liturgy.  Do come.

EPIPHANY GIFTS  – an opportunity to donate towards the costs of the consumables we use during the year (e.g. candles, wine, altar bread etc. etc.).  Please see the display on the south wall of the church, and follow the instructions there.  This is going very well again this year, but the opportunity remains to contribute if you wish!

READERS Please collect your readings from the sacristy.  Thank you. THERE ARE TWO VACANCIES for school foundation governors.  Please see Fr Stephen for details.  There’s no denying that it can be a trial at times, but it is important work. DRAFT PARISH MISSION STATEMENT: The love of the Risen Christ draws us to discipleship, so that all may have life. This has appeared in the Parish Magazine already.  Please let Fr Stephen have any thoughts on this.  Thank you to those who have already responded. FINANCIAL GIVING If you are in a position to be able to increase your giving, please do so, making sure that you use GIFT AID.  Thank you. PATÉ AND PUDDINGS Shrove Tuesday 21st February.  Tickets from Fr Chris.

*THURSDAY IS THE  FEAST OF CANDLEMAS – THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD Blessing and Procession of Candles and Sung Mass at 7.30pm.  This feast celebrates that Christ is for all the peoples of the world.  Our carrying of lighted candles symbolises the light of Christ illuminating the Jewish Temple and shining forth for all people on earth.

FOOTSTEPS resumes next Sunday at 9.45pm.  There is a meeting for all interested parties after the 10.00am Mass next Sunday

Please stay for coffee after the 10.00am Mass. Please take this bulletin home with you.

The Epiphany of the Lord – Sunday 8th January

8am      Said Mass

10am    Solemn Mass

Baptism of the Lord – Monday 9th January

7pm     Said Mass

Priests of the Parish Canon Stephen Jones     Tel. 732948 email: stephenjones17@hotmail.com

Fr Christopher Holden    Tel. 730760 email: wilfridcgh@hotmail.com

Hon. Assistant Priests Canon Brian Oddy   Tel. 732048

Canon Brian Pithers   Tel. 424786

1st January 2012 MARY, MOTHER OF GOD A Happy New Year to everyone!

Today, the Octave Day, we continue our celebration of Christmas by thanking God for Mary, who bore for us the Child she named Jesus, the Saviour.  Like Mary, we are called to bear Christ to the world.

• Toilets are to the left out of the main door. • Please let young children explore. • Collection during the second hymn. • Large print hymn books available on request.

MASS THIS WEEK AND INTENTIONS

Monday 7.00pm              God’s blessing on 2012    SS. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

Tuesday 12noon              Home Communicants      of Christmastide

Wednesday 9.15am         Thanks for blessings of 2011     of Christmastide

Thursday 7.15pm             Newly-confirmed                         of  Christmastide

Friday  9.15am               Parliament                                     of Christmastide             *2.45pm Funeral Mass (Lesley Benson RIP)

Saturday 9.15am                Dominicans                                St Raymund of Penyafort

DIVINE OFFICE (The Prayer of the Church) Morning Prayer: Sun 7.30am; Mon – Sat 8.55am Evening Prayer: Sun 5.30pm; Mon – Fri 5.00pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION By appointment only this week.

ROSARY tomorrow at 7.30pm.  Please make any requests for prayer on the prayer board.  All welcome.

*LESLEY BENSON RIP Lesley’s Funeral Mass is on Friday at 2.45pm, before cremation at 4.15pm.  Please keep Richard and the family in your prayers.

CHRISTMAS CONTINUES throughout the coming week, right up to and including Monday 9th January.  Accordingly, the Christmas Crib remains, so do please make use of it as a focus for prayer.  Next Sunday, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.

HELP NEEDED next Sunday, after the 10.00am Mass, to take down the Christmas tree, to vacuum and to saw the tree into smaller pieces.  Thank you in anticipation.

PLEASE PRAY for all our regular home communicants, including those in our local residential and nursing homes, who will receive the Sacrament this week.

READERS Please collect your readings from the sacristy.  Thank you.

WOULD YOU LIKE 2 sets of garden furniture (one green, one white)?  Also available are a fully-working gas barbecue and a rabbit hutch.  All free to anyone who can use them.  Please contact Rebecca Riley.

THERE IS A VACANCY for a school foundation governor.  Please see Fr Stephen for details.

FORWARD!plus, the free paper of Forward in Faith, is available in church today.  Please take a copy.

FINANCIAL GIVING If you are in a position to be able to increase your giving, please do so.  We were way short on the Parish Share again last year, and it’s important that we address this for the sake of the future independence of the parish.  Thank you.

Please stay for coffee after the 10.00am Mass.

Crib Service

Music and Readings for  Children and their Families gathered around the Crib   4pm

• Masses for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord

24th   Solemn Midnight Mass 11.30pm

25th   Said Mass                          8am

Sung Mass                        10 am

Masses During the Octave

26th 7pm, 27th 12noon, 28th 9.15am,

29th 7.15pm, 30th 9.15am, 31st 9.15am

• Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (Octave Day)

Masses at 8am and 1oam

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Christmas

from Fr Stephen, Fr Chris and all at Christ Church

Please support them if you can and invite friends and family along with you

CHRISTMAS FAIR –

Saturday 10th, 11 – 2

Sandwich/soup
lunches, stalls, Big Prize Draw (£100 cash to be won).

Don’t forget to buy and sell raffle tickets.

SUNDAY 11th at
6.30pm

A CEREMONY OF CAROLS

by
Benjamin Britten

sung by
the RSCM Lancashire Area Choir

Refreshments

Tickets from Elizabeth Battersby-Hill @ £5.00 (children free)

All proceeds to church

Advent Extra – A booklet of prayers and meditations for Advent, available at the back of church

Daily Mass – see bulletin for times

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament – Thursdays from 6.45pm until Mass at 7.45pm

Solemn Mass

This Friday at 7.30pm,

with the Bishop of Burnley.

Please pray for Dylan Battersby-Hill, Lorna Carr and Marionne Fenol, and the other candidates form Warton, Bolton le Sands and  one from the Cathedral, and resolve to come along to support them with your presence.

Refreshments to follow.

Tue. 1st November – ALL SAINTS DAY -  Vigil Mass(Monday Evening) 7pm and on the day at 12noon and 7.30pm

Wed 2nd November – All Souls – Masses at 9.15am and 7.30pm

Sun 6th at the 10am Mass – visit of Fr Darren Smith of ACS, to preach

Friday 18th November – Confirmation Mass 7.30pm

Sunday 20th November – Fr Stephen to be Installed as Honorary Canon of Blackburn Cathedral, 4.00pm at the Cathedral

Sunday 27th – Advent Carol Service, a service of Readings and Music in preparation for the feast of Christmas, 6.00pm

Thursday 1st December – SSWSH Inaugural Mass, Preston Minster at 7.30pm

Sunday 11th December, 6.30pm, Royal School of Church Music (Lancashire Area) Choir here to sing Britten’s Ceremony of Carols by candlelight.

For the latest details of these and other events  please see the latest Weekly Bulletin or contact Fr Stephen (o1254 732948) or Fr Chris (01254 730760)

Next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

- Mass 8am

- Solemn Mass 10am

A warm welcome awaits you at all our worship