Bulletin - 4th December 2016

Post date: Dec 02, 2016 10:32:48 AM

PARISH REGISTER – If you have changed or have a new mobile telephone number or email address please complete a Parish Register Form available at the back of church and hand to Fr. Harriott. Thank You

NEW PARISHIONERS - If you are a new member of the parish, would you please make yourself known to Fr. Harriott or a member of the Parish Council and complete a form available at the back of church.

OFFERTORIES -

Sunday 4^th Dec. Readers – C. Gibbs & M. Cowan EM's – V. Rooker, S. Harnwell & J. Coulson

Hall Teas – Margaret & Pat

Sunday 11^th Dec. Readers – C. Dobson & J. Craigie EM's – s. Muir, T. Robson & A. Hall

Hall Teas – Susan & Sian

PARISH COUNCIL – The next Parish Council Meeting will be held today Sunday 4^th December 2016 following the 9.30am Mass. This meeting will be an OPEN meeting, ALL PARISHIONERS please feel free to attend. Depending on numbers attending, the location will be decided on the day of the meeting. The minutes of the last meeting are displayed on the notice board.

ADVENT WALK WITH ME BOOKLETS – There are a limited number of these booklets on sale at the back of church, Limited quantity, price £1, first come, first served.

REFUGEES IN CRAMLINGTON – Can you help with baby clothes, toys etc. Also, are you available to befriend and support them. Please contact Fr. Barrett or Terry Robson 07837 455327 for more information.

YEAR OF MERCY – HELPING PRISONERS – St. Paul's have a small group providing toiletries for Christmas.

Can you help NO AEROSOLS. Please contact Fr. Barrett or Terry Robson 07837 455327 for more information.

ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL CLOSURE – Final Day Mass 16^th December 2016 at 14.30 before the keys are handed over. All ex staff, pupils and parents are invited to attend, please contact Tony Turner t.turner1070@gmail.com

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY – Sunday 18^th December 2016 at Seghill Comrades Club. Adult ticket £3, Children ticket £1. Total number restricted to 100. Tickets from Jerry Laidler or Kathryn Maggs.

FIRST COMMUNION CHILDREN – and their parents will be having a Reconciliation Service at St Paul's on the 8^th Dec. at 6pm. Confessions will be available to St. John's & St. Paul's parishioners following this at 7pm.

EVENING CHRONICLE “WISH TOKENS FOR CHARITY” - Janet Memola will be collecting these over the next few months for the Air Ambulance.

COFFEE AFTERNOONS – The next two Coffee Afternoons will be this Thursday 8^th December 2016 and 12^th January 2017 at 1.30pm. These are open to ALL, not just parishioners, Please come along.

ADDITIONAL NOTICES – Please see the back of this Newsletter. See the Notice Board for “Diocesan E-Newsletter Nov”. and “The Weavings”, both are available electronically via the Parish Website.

ADDITIONAL PARISH & DIOCESAN INFORMATION- can be obtained from the Parish website https://sites.google.com/site/stjohnsannitsford. Anyone experiencing problems accessing the site, please contact Jerry Laidler on 07801 452372

FTiH – Partnership Proposal Summary …

The proposal is on display at the back of church in the FTiH book and it has also been emailed to those on the distribution list as well as being available on St. John’s website & social media.

The main points are below but please refer to the original text of the proposal for full details.

• 1. It is based on the parishioner’s acceptance of the Northumberland deanery clergy option of a ‘hub system’

  2. It is a blueprint for the partnership that allows for growth, development and discussion across the partnership

  3. Reflects parishioners input from across the parishes of the partnership

  4. Provides a foundation of equality, inclusion and outreach between the parishes of the partnership with no ‘poor relations’ or ‘dominate parties’

  5. Identifies areas of commonality and joint working together for short, medium & long term

  6. Allows exploration of what each parish needs/wants from the Partnership and what each parish can contribute.

  7. Provides setting up a partnership council by holding elections as soon as possible

     1. To be made up of priests, deacons and 2 elected representatives from each parish

     2. Perform Open Partnership Meetings

  8. If deemed necessary by the partnership, employ a Partnership Administrator

  9. Set up a Partnership Office for (the administrator supplemented by) volunteers with designated phone line and web site (If deemed necessary by the partnership a Paid Administrator will be employed with guidance from the diocese)

  10. The creation of a monthly printed Newsletter and the exploitation of IT services (website/social media etc)

  11. Identify and share and promote best practices within parishes

  12. Agree a yearly planner and promote so as not to duplicate what we do

  13. Rotate Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Services in churches when there is no Sunday Mass and celebrate Mass in those churches during the week.

  14. Proposes in the medium term, to bring together closer links by merging of more local, neighbouring parishes, namely:

• • 1. St. John’s & St. Paul’s

    2. New Hartley, Blyth & Cowpen

• 15. In the long term the establishment of a single parish with a single Parish Pastoral Council; one Finance Committee; one bank account.

Events for You … Please get involved if you have time

Friday 9th December - Torchlight Procession at 7pm - St. Mary's Church, Hexham

In honour of Our Blessed Lady Immaculate and thanksgiving for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, this popular event will be led by Bishop Seamus Cunningham. We will meet at the bandstand in the park adjacent to Hexham Abbey which will be decorated with festive lights to pray the Rosary and sing hymns in honour of Our Lady.

We will then process with candles to St. Mary’s for a homily and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

A Collection will be taken in aid of the Diocesan Hospitalité of Our Lady of Lourdes. Refreshments will be provided.

Saturday 10th December - Hope on the Horizon – An Advent Day of Reflection between 10am-4pm - The Sacred Heart and St. Cuthbert, Amble - Led by the spirituality department it will be ‘… a place to pray, and space to be …’

Sunday 18th December - St. John’s Family Christmas Party 7.30pm - 11pm - Seghill Club

Shared Table (so bring something small) + Disco + karaoke + Raffle + and lots of fun

Santa and his elves will also be there– miss it, miss out J

Adult ticket £3, Children ticket £1. Total number restricted to 100

This is a StJohn YPC initiative so your support would be greatly appreciated

If you have or know of an event/activity, please let us know so we can publicise.

Confirmation of Emily Maggs - Please have in your prayers Emily who will be confirmed on Monday – May God bless and guide her with love from all at St. John’s