Dates for your Diary

Sunday 21st Dec - Crib and decorations to be put up in Church after

Mass. Could we have helpers, please?
Monday 22nd Dec - Christmas Flowers for Christmas - Val Dickens and
Vicki Heath will be preparing the Christmas flowers for Church in the Hall
from 1.00pm until about 4.00pm. If anyone can help with making garlands
(instructions given), please come to the Hall on Monday afternoon for any
time you can spare. Greenery (evergreens) from your garden would be
very welcome. It's easy and fun.
Tuesday 23rd Dec Final rehearsal for Christmas Eve Nativity Mass
10.30am till noon.
Wednesday 24th Dec - Christmas Nativity Mass with the Children at 6pm.
______________________
Today's Gospel reading is the Annunciation to Mary, by the Angel Gabriel,
that she is to become the mother of God's Son by the power of the Holy
Spirit. This text from St Luke's Gospel is perhaps one of the most beautiful
texts in the whole Bible, and it is the most quoted scripture text in the
Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The greeting that the Angel makes to Mary is the basis for our second best
known prayer - the Hail Mary. Although the Angel's very first word is often
translated "Hail" - a simple salutation or greeting - in fact, a better
translation would be "Rejoice". The same word in greek is found a number
of times in the Old Testament where Israel is exhorted to rejoice. It is
always in the context of God about to do something in their lives. The
same is true for Mary. Mary had always been "full of grace", but now God
was about to do something wonderful and amazing - something which
would transform the lives of countless millions of people in the times
ahead. God's Son was going to enter into human history, in order to take
on our human condition, in order to take human sin upon himself and to
sacrifice his life for our salvation and reconcile us to God. And God's Son
was going to take a human nature in the womb of Mary, who would nurture
him and bring him to birth. There can be no greater source of Joy!

We extend a warm welcome to everyone worshipping here this

weekend, refreshments are served in the Church Hall after 9.30am
Mass, please come and join us, ALL ARE WELCOME.

ST. BENEDICTS R. C. CHURCH

OWEN STREET, ATHERSTONE,
WARWICKSHIRE, CV9 1DG
Tel: 01827 713177,
Website: st-benedicts-atherstone.org
Parish Priest: Mgr. Paul Watson

The Second Collection this week is for the Restoration Fund.

Finance Secretary: Jo Howe 01827 750214
Newsletter: Jenni Taylor 01827 718213
email: taylor.jenni@btinternet.com
Items for inclusion in the Newsletter by Thursday Noon

Fourth Sunday of Advent (B) 2014

Sat 20th Dec

4:00pm

For the Parishioners

Sun 21st Dec

9:30am

Bride O'Hare

Mon 22nd Dec

Tue 23rd Dec

7:00pm

Wed 24th Dec

6.00pm

Fourth Sunday of Advent

No Mass
Private Intention (MRW)

Advent Feria

Stanley Fernandez (OF)

9.00pm
Thu 25th Dec

9.30am

Fri 26th Dec

10:00am

Jane Power
Dec'd of the Clewes

Christmas Day
St Stephen

Family
Sat 27th Dec

4:00pm

Patricia Morris

Sun 28th Dec

9:30am

For the Parishioners

Feast of the Holy Family

The Liturgy & the Care of the Church

Readers this week:
R.Machin
Des Furlong
Readers Next week:
M. Henney N. Osborne
Offertory Procession this week: M. Warren & Co

Readers for Christmas Masses - volunteers please!

Church Cleaning - none this week
Altar Society - See "Dates for Diary" section

The Sick and their Carers

Please pray for Father Andrew, Pat & Maureen Burke, Noel OBrien,
Bridie Symmons, Ada Russell, Winifred Jones, Charlotte Smith, Kath
Ford, Christina Chetwynd, , and Fr Paul. Please remember our
housebound parishioners in your prayers:
Mary Thacker, Marion
Burrows and Marie Aherne .

Anniversaries
We pray for all our deceased relatives and friends, especially the
members of this Parish whose anniversaries occur about this time
Win Furlong, Zelie Jones, Jim Turner, Bridie O'Hare, Canon Flint
Eleanor /francis, Dorothy Shorthouse, Barbara Baines. May they rest
in peace.

Money Matters
Last week 1st Collection - 278.85
Thank you!

2nd Collection - 138.92

Tote: Winning numbers - 29/35 12.12 - no winners, (Rollover)

Snowball 4

News
At the end of Mass on Sunday Mike Heath will be presenting a
cheque to Erin Strugnell. Erin is spending a few weeks in Tanzania in
the summer as a volunteer. The Catenian Association has agreed to
award Erin a bursary towards her trip.
The Catenians administer a registered charity - a Bursary Fund which
makes a contribution towards the personal expenses of any young
Catholic, between the ages of 16 and 24 years, who is willing to work,
unpaid, helping under-privileged people anywhere in the world.

"That in all things God may be glorified St. Benedict

News (Continued)
Christmas Raffle - the Draw for the Raffle will take place in the Hall after
Mass on Sunday. Do come and join us. There are more than 20 prizes to
be won. Enjoy some refreshments at the same time.
A big thank you to all those who donated prizes for the Raffle and to all
who have sold (and bought) tickets.
Rotas for next year for Readers, Church Cleaners and the Altar Society
(Flowers) have been drawn up. They are available in the Sacristy or next
week at the back of the Church. If you are involved, please take a copy. If
there are dates that are not possible for you, it would be very helpful if you
could arrange to swap with someone.
St Benedict's School is anxious to find two new Foundation Governors.
Please consider taking on this role as a way of supporting and ensuring
the Catholicity of the School. One of these two may be a parent of a child
currently in the School.
Crib Offerings - Fr Hudson's Society have asked if we would have a Crib
Offering to help to bring peace and comfort to some of the most vulnerable
and marginalised people within the Diocese. Their collaborative
Community Projects and their School Based Family Support Project help
some of the poorest, isolated and deprived families within the Diocese. As
we gaze in wonder at the generosity of God in sending His Son to enter
our world - at first as a vulnerable child in a stable, let's, in our turn,
remember the poor and vulnerable today.
Looking to the New Year, is there anyone who has keyboard (piano/organ)
skills would be interested in helping with music in the liturgy especially on
Sundays? Perhaps also we could think about establishing a choir so that
we could begin singing other parts of the Mass, such as the Responsorial
Psalm, Gloria, and plan some extra music for Holy Week.
St John Wall Catholic School Governors are inviting applications for the
post of Headteacher following the retirement of the current Headteacher.
The Governors are also hoping to interest committed and practicing
Catholics who may be presently employed outside the Catholic sector.
If anyone is interested contact details can be found on the noticeboard at
the back of Church. The School is in Handsworth, Birmingham.