Feast of Christ the King 20th.November 2011.Year A

*St John the Evangelist *

New Ferry, in the Diocese of Shrewsbury,Reg. Charity 234025

Fr. Frank Rice;

Revd. Philip White; Revd. Michael Daly/phone/: 0151 645 3314

/email/: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com

/websites/:www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org

Feast of Christ the King 20^th .November 2011.Year A

FAITH IN FOCUS: FINAL TALLY

Peggy Jones was a local woman who had lived in the village all her life. She kept herself to herself, rarely joined in with any community activities and was a member of no club or society. When she died people were at a loss to know what to put on her tombstone since she’d done nothing of any significance. Eventually the stonemason carved the following epitaph: Here lie the bones of Peggy Jones, Whose life never knew any terrors. She lived an old maid, And she died an old maid: No hits, no runs and no errors.

Was Peggy a good woman or a bad one? It’s hard to say. She never did any harm to anyone but at the same time she never put herself out to do anyone any good. And if she didn’t do anyone any good then you could argue that she wasn’t a particularly good person.

Many people think that they are good people because they don’t steal, cheat, lie or murder. They pay their taxes and keep themselves to themselves. And many Christians think that they never sin because they too never do anyone any harm.

The parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew’s gospel today should put us on our guard against this attitude. Jesus tells us that we will be judged just as much for what we failed to do as for what we actually did.

Most of us are not headline sinners. But when we face the judgement that Christ is speaking about at the end of our life we will be measured by the way we responded to those in need, to the hungry, the thirsty, those in prison etc. He reminds us that we can commit wrong and this is a sin. But we can also omit to do good. Both commission and omission are equally guaranteed to alienate us from God.

So as we look around at our world today, what are the situations we’re closing our eyes and ears to? And are we aware that we’re doing it?

_WORD OF GOD _

I shall look for the lost sheep, bring back the stray, bandage the wounded and make the weak strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them. (Ezekiel 34:16)

_WORD FOR TODAY_

The Church’s liturgical year ends with the promise that no matter how far we may wander from God he will never abandon us. Like a shepherd he is able to tend to our needs, to bind us up and to restore us to health, feeding us on the pasture of his word and sacraments. There is nothing we shall want.

_PATRON SAINT OF MUSIC (November 22nd) _

Cecilia, born in Rome, vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. She told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised. Returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favour. So the new convert asked that his brother be baptised.

During the persecutions, the two brothers gave proper burial to martyrs. In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa in 117AD on the Appian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she too was martyred by being suffocated and then beheaded.

The Acts of Cecilia has the following: “While the secular music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse.” It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers and musicians.

Her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the present church of Saint Cecilia in Rome. Her tomb was opened in 1599, and her body found to be incorrupt.

_*Happy feast day to at least one Cecilia we know and love!*_

The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another. (Thomas Merton)

The omission of good is no less reprehensible than the commission of evil.

(Plutarch)

Feast of Christ the King

20^th .

5.30

10 am

11am

8pm

Deceased members of Hickman & Sweeney families

Parishioners

Mass of election

(St Anne’s)

Prayer Meeting

Mon

21^st .

9.15

Sr. Mary McDonough

Tues

22^nd .

9.15

Vincent Sarson

Wed

23^rd .

9.15

Nov. List

Thu

24^th .

9.15

Nov. List

1^st Sunday of Advent

27^th .

5.30

10am

8 pm

Nov. List

Parishioners

Prayer Meeting

_Please pray for our sick and those who care for them_Frances Heslin, Liam Halpen, Philomena Moore, Margaret Randles, Michael Collins, Teresa McLean, Denis Welch, Josie Cohen, Peter Williamson, Kathy Smith, Marjorie Hoey, Mrs H McCormack, Esther Roche, Fay Challoner, Sheila Stockley, Joan & Charles Reynolds, Kath Holland, Mary Bryden, Owen & Josie Toohey, Betty Kennedy, Helen Worth, Christopher Hadfield, Ivan Gregory, Christopher & Raymond McNally, Mark Harrison, Genevieve Foster, Aileen McGuigan.& Chris Foster. Remember also those in theparish who do not wish their illness to be made public but who also need our prayers.

_*Money*_

Offertory last week: £697 62 p

Boiler £18 80p

120 Club Winners No. 23 P. Dobbie £20

Vera has just presented a cheque for £1500 from the 120 club which will help to swell parish funds. Many thanks to her for gathering the money week in and week out. There are currently six numbers available if anyone would like one at 50p per week. If you are interested please phone Vera on 645 6140 or see her in church.

*Thanks to all those who gift aid their donations to the parish, the sum of**£5,428.96 has been added to the parish central account. This is a much needed boost to our funds.*

*I hope you have 10*^*th* *December highlighted in your diaries- the date for our Christmas Fair. Now that you have seen what Gerry and team have done in the Centre, you realize what else can be done if we have more funding at our *

*disposal. This is what this effort is all about. Please support the event in every way possible.*

In the parable of the sheep and the goats, Christ issues a warning in love. It is not a prescription but a description. A prescription is something that we must do if we are to achieve a desired end. A description is a picture of the ways things are, or will be. Sheep and goats are not made sheep and goats by the judgement; they are only identified for what they are. Therefore, judgement reveals what has long been true. The deeds of mercy which the sheep performed were not works of merit, but examples and evidences of the fact they were sheep and not goats. Therefore, judgement is not a threat of something to be feared in the future, but a warning that one day all people will be revealed for what they are now. (Richard Hoefler)

If you would like to support the Sue Saul appeal, you can sponsor a young man who is to take 2 weeks to walk the Pennine Way (270miles). You will find a form at the back of the church. Just a penny a mile would help, but all contributions, however small, will be gratefully received on behalf of Sue. The fund to send her abroad for treatment of osteosarcoma has now

passed the halfway mark. Many thanks.

Don’t forget we want your recipes for meatless meals! They don’t have to be complicated with dozens of ingredients, but if you have used them successfully, then they are the ones for our collection. Place yours in the box at the back of the church.

*As the nights get longer and the cold penetrates the bones, the parish team have arranged a January treat for us to look forward during these long winter months. On 20*^*th* *, we are to have a barn dance in the parish centre, so hunt out the elderly denims and the check shirt and pull on those boots and prepare for the doe c doe.*

Catholic Singles is an organisation which helps single adult Catholics of all ages meet, either one to one or through social events. Please tel. 0161 941 3498, visit the website *www.catholicsingles.org.uk* or email info@catholicsingles.org.uk

*In a couple of weeks, Bishop Mark will be coming to the parish to confirm the young people of our LPA who have been preparing for this sacrament over the past few months. Please remember them in your prayers- it is not easy to be young these days.*

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