Senior Citizens Christmas Party

All parishioners who are coming to the Christmas party are asked to arrive in the hall promptly for 6pm, where a welcome drink will be provided. To ensure all runs smoothly, it is essential that everyone is comfortably seated by 6.30pm ready for the meal to be served on time. Music will be provided by the ever popular Gerry Kelly and there will be an opportunity for some carol singing during the evening. If there are any changes to your plans please telephone Kath Penny on 020 8304 7909 as soon as possible. For any other questions, please speak to Fr. Jonathon or Tom Breen. To the confirmation candidates that are helping on the night, please ensure you arrive in the hall by 6.15pm so that you can be fully briefed on your tasks.

Ladies Club

The Ladies Wednesday Club meet on alternate Wednesdays in the Hall. The next meeting is on the 12th December for Christmas Lunch at 1pm. For more information contact Mary Kearns on 020 8304 2456.

The Co-Workers of St Teresa of Calcutta

The Co-Workers of St Teresa of Calcutta are holding their monthly coffee morning in the church hall this Sunday following the 9am mass. Please come and support them. The team would also like to thank those parishioners who so generously donated items for the homeless. Your donations and contributions created 300 parcels that will be distributed on Christmas day to those that are in need of them.

St Thomas More Social Club Bingo Night

The Social Club’s Parish Christmas Party will be held on the 15th December in the Hall from 8pm until late. Music will be provided by Gerry Kelly & tickets are only £6. Please contact Bob on 020 8304 7909 for tickets or for further information

St Thomas More Social Club Christmas Party

The Social Club’s Parish Christmas Party will be held on the 15th December in the Hall from 8pm until late. Music will be provided by Gerry Kelly & tickets are only £6. Please contact Bob on 020 8304 7909 for tickets or for further information

Missio

Thank you so much to all those parishioners who contributed to the collection this time. The amount raised this half year was £505. The total amount for the year comes to £1,011.32. The next collection will be made in May next year. For further information about Missio, please see Helen Ratcliff.

Advent Reflections

So often in our fast paced world we find ourselves run off our feet and exhausted by the frantic build up to Christmas and we completely lose this special time to take stock and renew our relationship with God. To help make some space and focus on the development of this most precious relationship, the Diocesan Stewardship Team have produced a daily email to enable reflection. The brief reflection will be sent directly to your inbox to make it as easy as possible to take a little time out each day and will focus on the readings for each Sunday in Advent. To receive your daily reflection, simply sign up at www.southwarkdsc.org.uk

Advent Crib Offerings

This year, our parish crib offering will be donated to the Catholic Children’s Society’s Southwark Crisis Fund. This fund provides emergency grants for children and families in our Archdiocese who are facing a crisis in their lives. Please see the poster in the porch for more information

advent 2019 - Prepare a way for the lord.  Christ is coming to us!

How So?

1. He is coming at Christmas. In the Church’s year, we prepare for the celebration of his coming when he was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, when God showed his love for his creatures by becoming one with us through the birth, life and death of Jesus.
    
2. He is coming at the end of the world. As the world began, so we know the world will end and we prepare for the end times by working for the Kingdom of God so that when Christ comes again, he will find faith on earth. To this end, we are bound by God as stewards of his creation to love and take care of Planet Earth for future generations and not to hasten the end ourselves.
   
   
3. He is coming to us when we die. He died for us and rose again, and when we were baptised we died with him that, with him, we too will arise again. This is the hope and promise Jesus gave us. When we come to our own end, God will be with us.
   
   
4. He is coming to us at Mass. When we offer the Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus promised us he will be with us: ‘this is my body, this is my blood’ he said, when he took the bread and the wine, ‘do this in memory of me’. Come to mass because Jesus comes to us at mass. Visit the church anytime and find some peace with Him, because He is here.
   
   
5. He is coming to us in the Word of Life. Open your bibles on this Bible Sunday. Read the Words of Jesus in the Gospels. He is speaking to you and me today and his very words are there for all to read and hear.
   
   
6. He is coming to us in our neighbour. Jesus said: ‘For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger you took me into your home, when naked you clothed me; when I was ill you came to my help, when in prison you visited me… anything you did for one of my brothers or sisters … you did it for me’. (Matthew 25:35 …)

Wishing you joy this Advent as we prepare for THE COMING OF THE LORD. Fr Jonathon