NEWSLETTER
Second Sunday of Advent (Year C)
Sunday 8th December, 2024
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Message from Canon Kristian
Dear sisters and brothers
I do hope you are surviving the high winds and rain of Storm Darragh unscathed. We are certainly experiencing extremes of weather these last few weeks!
As a result of the red weather warning, the first meeting for the First Communion Preparation was cancelled and the next meeting will now be in January. Deacon Michael will be in contact with the parents about this at the appropriate time.
A big “thank you” to the hardy band of Polish parishioners who went ahead last night and put on a Polish evening for the parish. They produced a delicious Polish meal for us and we had fun taking part in a quiz about Polish Christmas Customs. We all ate a lot and learnt a lot!! It was a pity that only a small group of parishioners came to take part, probably because those who did not come had received the red warning alert via their mobile phones at 6.45pm and decided not to venture out. The sound of the alert certainly came as a surprise to us who had gathered in St Andrew’s Hall! However, those who did come – both from Tiverton and Cullompton – had a very enjoyable time, sharing in the generous hospitality of our parishioners who originate from Poland and who put in so much work to put together the evening’s food and entertainment, notwithstanding their busy family and work commitments.
These next two Sundays of Advent introduce the important figure of St John the Baptist. John’s exhortation to prepare the way for the Lord is central to the Advent message. Amidst all the other preparations that are taking place at this time of year in view of the Christmas celebrations, giving priority to our personal and community spiritual interior preparation so that we have a sharpened vision to recognise and receive the Christ who is coming into our lives and into our world is a constant but vital challenge. John’s proclamation is a radical one and keeps us grounded and focussed on the primary purpose of the Advent Season – to celebrate that Christ HAS come, to recognise that Christ IS coming now, and to prepare for the fact that Christ WILLcome again in glory at the end of time to bring all things into the unity of God’s Reign. The willingness of every disciple to have this hope-filled and joy-filled openness to the coming of Christ at every moment of our life is core to our own on-going Christ-like transformation for, as scripture reminds us: “Beloved, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.” (1 John 3:2). What a mind-blowing prospect!
Monika Manser’s helpful guide to a prayerful reading of this Sunday’s Gospel is attached to the Newsletter as usual.
Please keep the sick and frail in your prayers, especially those who are in hospital at this time.
May the blessings of the Advent Season be yours!
Canon Kristian
Canon Kristian Paver
Parish Priest
Parish of St Boniface and St James Mid Devon
40 Old Road Tiverton EX16 4HJ
“Walk with Me” and “Day by Day” Booklets
A few copies of “Walk with Me” and “Day by Day” are still available for those who did not take them last weekend. These booklets help to ensure that we have a daily pause to pray and reflect during the Advent Season.
Advent Reflection Group
Join Monika Manser at 7 Blundell’s Avenue after 9.00am Mass each Tuesday in Advent to reflect on the daily meditations in the book “Advent and Christmas Wisdom” by Henri J.M Nouwen? The book is published by Redemptorist Publications and is readily available from various on-line bookshops.
Tree of Hope for CHAT
We are hosting a CHAT Tree of Hope in the narthex at St Andrew’s. Each tag on the tree contains the option of either making a financial donation or purchasing a specific item to be dropped off at CHAT, who will ensure it goes to people in need in the community. Choose a tag and either donate on your own behalf or perhaps as a thoughtful gift for that person who seems to have everything and then present them with the tag so that they can see the impact of the contribution made on their behalf.
Diocesan Advent Reflections
Each week there will be a reflection on the Sunday Gospel by Monsignor Robert Draper as well as some other Jubilee related content to help get us in the spirit and prepare for the Holy Year 2025, which officially begins on 24 December. The first edition of these Advent Reflections can be found at https://email.workwithgusto.co.uk/t/t-D4D745BD8B8879B72540EF23F30FEDED.
Musical Afternoon Tea
April and John Golding will be holding another Musical Afternoon Tea at their home in Bampton this Wednesday 11 December, 2.45pm for 3.00-5.00pm, to raise funds for the interior of the rebuilt St James. All places are now taken. Their address is Greenbank, Old Tiverton Road, Bampton EX16 9DP.
Christmas Draw Tickets
The tickets for the Christmas Draw are now on sale. Instead of multiple prizes, this year there are only three large hampers, filled to the brim with luxury or local products for Christmas! Tickets are £5.00 each.
Sacramental Preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
The meeting for the parents of our young people who will be preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation next year will be held in St Andrew’s Church Hall, Blundell’s Avenue, Tiverton EX16 4DL next Saturday 14 December at 11.00am.
Parish Youth Club
The Parish Youth Club meets next Saturday between 11.00am and 12.30pm in St Boniface’s Hall in Cullompton. Recently, as part of their time together, our youngsters were invited to choose some CAFOD world gifts to send to those in need. These gifts included chickens, bees and learning to read.
Friends of St James and St Boniface
The Friends of St James and St Boniface is an open group of parishioners which takes special interest in the social aspect of our parish community life as well as fundraising, primarily for the interior refit after St James is rebuilt. The Friends meet next Saturday 14 December at 9.30am in St Andrew’s Hall. Keeping our community life strong and cohesive is an important part of our parish life, so please come along and take part if you can.
St John’s School Carol Service
This year we are delighted to welcome our children from St John’s School to St Andrew’s for their Carol Service on Thursday 19 December at 6.00pm. Do come along and give them your support.
Parish Carol Service
Our Carol Service involving the communities of St James, St Boniface and St Andrew will take place at 7.30pm on Saturday 21 December at St Andrew’s. Please put the date in your diary!
Christmas Get-Together at St Boniface
The annual Christmas Get-Together at St Boniface Hall will take place on 21 December. Finger food will be on offer and some desserts too. If they can, people are asked to bring a plate of food along to share. Carols will be sung, and “Goody bags” and selection boxes will be given to the children.
200 Club
Canon Kristian will make the draw for December after the 6.00pm Mass on Saturday. If you would like to join this parish fund raiser for as little as £1 a month, please let Simon Coombs or Sheelagh Bourdon know at St Andrews or Siobhan Gilroy at St Boniface.
October Parish Giving
Loose: £1027.57 Contactless: £260.00 Standing Order: £3165.00
Raffle for CHAT
Raffle tickets are still on sale for £1 each. These can be bought via Ewelina Zychlinska’s Justgiving page. Just email her via the page and she will reply with your ticket numbers. At St Boniface, tickets can be bought with cash. The draw will take place on 22 December. You can also continue to make donations via her fundraising page https://www.justgiving.com/page/ewelina-ych-1731777385365?newPage=true .
Heating, Repairs and Redecoration of St Boniface
Following the installation of the new heating system in St Boniface, the whole interior is now being redecorated. As a result, there will only be Mass celebrated on Sunday at 9.30am from now until the week before Christmas to enable the work to be carried out throughout the week. There will not be any Mass on a Wednesday until further notice.
Masses and Events this week
Sunday 8th December – Second Sunday of Advent
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Saturday 7 December – St Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor
- Parish Property and Finance Committee at 9.30am in St Andrew’s Hall
- Laudato Si’ Group at 4.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
- Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm
Sunday 8 December – Second Sunday of Advent (C)
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) Pro Populo
- Holy Mass at 11.30am
Monday 9 December – Immaculate Conception of Our Lady
- Singing to Remember at 2.00pm in St Andrew’s Hall
Tuesday 10 December – Advent Weekday
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
- Advent Prayer Group at 9.45am at 7 Blundell’s Avenue
Wednesday 11 December – Advent Weekday
- No Mass at St Boniface
- Musical Afternoon Tea at the Goldings’, 3.00-5.00pm
Thursday 12 December – Advent Weekday
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
Friday 13 December – St Lucy
- Holy Mass at 9.00am
Saturday 14 December – St John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor
- Friends of St James and St Boniface at 9.30am in St Andrew’s Hall
- Meeting of Confirmation Parents at 11.00am in St Andrew’s Hall
- Youth Club, 11.00am-12.30pm in St Boniface’s Hall
- Vigil Mass of Sunday at 6.00pm
Sunday 15 December – Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday (C)
- Holy Mass at 9.30am (St Boniface) David Perkins RIP and Family
- Holy Mass at 11.30am Pro Populo
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Christmas Eve 5.00pm Vigil Mass of Christmas (St James at St Andrew)
9.00pm Mass during the Night (St James at St Andrew)
Christmas Day 9.30am Christmas Day Mass (St Boniface)
11.00am Christmas Day Mass (St James at St Andrew)