St Teresa & St John Southworth Churches, Cleveleys
Fr Chris Cousens—Phone: 853340
Rev Bernard Ward (Deacon) (Tel: 858346)
Enquiries for St John Southworth: Phone: 853340
1 December 2024
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : 1st Sunday of Advent
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel : Luke 21:25-28
‘Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and the moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await the menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.’
‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness, and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.
Gospel Reflection : Another Christmas
Advent is waiting for the birth of Jesus, but it is a strange waiting. We are waiting each year for someone we know is here! We recall in Advent that Jesus has come among us, is present all the time, and will come again in glory.
He is the child who is born each year, for the world always needs its God and Saviour. He is the child awaited each year for our lives are new each year, and we need him in different ways at different stages of life, and the world has different needs of God at different times.
We need the child of peace to be born in our wars and violence; the child of wisdom in our search for truth and meaning; the child of gentleness in a world which can be harsh and greedy.
We need to know in Jesus that birth and life are the most precious gifts of God, and that in our celebration of Christmas the birth of Jesus each each year is the everlasting promise of God to be with us.
And Advent looks ahead, letting us see that the life of Jesus is never over, that the meaning of Jesus is always spoken, and that one day we will see him in glory. For we are people of Advent and Easter, of waiting and resurrection; we are people of earth and heaven, as Jesus is the Son of Mary and the Son of God, who leads us through our life on earth to the eternal glory of Heaven.
We Remember In Our Prayers Caroline Chisnall, whose Funeral was last week, and Margaret Platt whose Funeral Service is at Carleton Crematorium on Thursday 12th December, at 2.45 pm. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May God’s peace be with them all.
During Advent We Have Morning Prayer Together At 9.15 am, that is before each weekday Mass at St. Teresa’s.
You Will Be Very Welcome At St. Teresa’s Christmas Fair, 10 am – 2 pm in the Parish Hall This Sunday. Food and drink are available. As always we are so grateful to the volunteers who have been working very hard to organise and arrange this important event in our calendar, and to all those who have generously donated items which you will find at the Fair.
Carols In Cleveleys : Join with local churches to sing carols and share joy together. This is on Saturday 14th December, 11 am – 11.30 am, outside Poundland, Victoria Road,Cleveleys (weather permitting)
CAFOD World Gifts At Christmas : As in previous years, CAFOD have produced a catalogue of gifts which will help us remember not just our own families and friends at this time of year but also our brothers and sisters facing the injustice of poverty around the world.These are now in the church porch for us to take and read at home. Please take one today, and see the instructions given.
Christmas Carol Concert St. Kentigern’s Singers are presenting a Christmas Carol Concert in St. Teresa’s Church on Sunday 8th December at 2.30 pm, with guest appearances of Anne and Denise Nolan. All are very welcome. Admission Free. Refreshments will be served after the Concert in the Parish Hall.
Preparing For Christmas With The Sunday Readings : Again this year we are being given an opportunity to prepare for Christmas spiritually not just shoppingly! This will take place at English Martyrs Church, High Cross, Poulton. 7-8 pm, on Wednesday 4 December, Wednesday 11 December, and Wednesday 18 December. Why not give yourself an hour to prepare with the Advent Sunday Readings leading up to Christmas. Each week we will look at the Readings for the following Sunday. We will read, reflect and share, in a peaceful, supportive atmosphere. Come for all or just one of the Wednesday evenings.
The Food Pantry, situated at the back of church at St. Teresa’s, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10.30 am – 12 noon, and on Wednesdays, 2.30 pm – 4 pm. We are so grateful for all the volunteers who work in the Pantry, and all those who donate contributions
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel)
The new Jerusalem, the holy city, is the goal towards which all of humanity is moving. It is curious that God’s revelation tells us that the fullness of humanity and of history is realized in a city. We need to look at our cities with a contemplative gaze, a gaze of faith which sees God dwelling in their homes, in their streets and squares. God’s presence accompanies the sincere efforts of individuals and groups to find encouragement and meaning in their lives. This presence must not be contrived but found, uncovered. God does not hide himself from those who seek him with a sincere heart, even though they do so tentatively, in a vague and haphazard manner.
Scripture (Isaiah 30:18-21)
The Lord is waiting to be gracious to you, the Exalted One to take pity on you, for the Lord is a God of fair judgement; blessed are all who hope in him. Yes, people of Zion living in Jerusalem will weep no more. He will be gracious to you when your cry for help rings out; as soon as he hears it, he will answer you. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes. Your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, keep to it,’ whether you turn to right or left.
Tuesday (Albert Schweitzer)
He comes to us as he came to those by the lakeside. He speaks the same words, “Follow me”, and sets us to the same tasks which he has to fulfil for our time. He commands. And to those who obey him, whether they be wise or simple, he will reveal himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings through which they shall pass. They will learn in their own experience who he is.
Scripture (Psalm 118:5,13-21)
In my distress I called to the Lord, he heard me and brought me relief. I was pushed hard, to make me fall, but God came to my help. The Lord is my strength and my song, he has been my Saviour. Shouts of joy and salvation in the tents of the upright, ‘The Lord’s right hand is triumphant, his right hand is victorious!’ I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of the Lord. Though the Lord pushed me sternly, he has not abandoned me to death.
Wednesday (Thomas Merton)
We live in a society whose whole policy is to excite every nerve in the human body and keep it at the highest pitch of artificial tension, to strain every desire to the limit and to create as many new desires and synthetic passions as possible, in order to cater for them with the products of our
factories and printing presses and all the rest. All who live only according to their five senses and seek only to satisfy their natural appetites for pleasure and reputation and power, cut themselves off from the love which is the principle of all spiritual vitality and happiness because it alone saves us from the barren wilderness of our own selfishness.
Scripture (Luke 21:25-27,34)
‘There will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; on earth, nations in agony, bewildered by the turmoil of the ocean and its waves; people falling away with terror and fear at what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud and with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is close at hand. Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and the day will come upon you unexpectedly.
Thursday (Cardinal Basil Hume)
The eyes of faith enable us to see in our pagan and secular world the striving of many good people to bring the values of the Kingdom of God into the city of man, so often cruel and unthinking. Those eyes of faith can also see in the agony of the world the possibility of achieving God’s purpose which is the best interest of us all. We have to turn the vision that was Christ’s into at least partial reality in our situation and in our own time.
Scripture (Jeremiah 33:10-11,15-16)
‘The Lord says this “In this place of which you now say: It is a ruin, without human or animal, in the towns of Judah and desolate streets of Jerusalem where there is neither human nor animal, once more will be heard shouts of rejoicing and mirth. In those days and at that time, I shall make an upright branch grow for David, who will do what is just and upright in the country. In those days Judah will triumph and Israel live in safety. And this is the name the city will be called: Yahweh-is-our-saving-justice.”
Friday (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
God’s beloved people had been ill-treated and laid low. There were no longer any shepherds in Israel. No one led the flock to fresh water; no one protected them from the wolf. They were harassed, wounded and distraught. Such was the condition of the people when Jesus came. From the human point of view, everything looks hopeless, but Jesus sees things with different eyes. The hour has come for those poor and wretched folk to be fetched home to the kingdom of God. Jesus beholds the promise of God descending on the multitude. It is hardly surprising that so few are granted to see things with the eyes of Jesus, for only those who share the love of his heart have been given eyes to see.
Scripture (Romans 8:18-21)
In my estimation, all that we suffer in the present time is nothing in comparison with the glory which is destined to be disclosed to us, for the whole creation is waiting with eagerness for the children of God to be revealed. It was not for its own purpose that creation had frustration imposed upon it, but for the purposes of him who imposed it – with the intention that the whole of creation itself might be freed from its slavery to corruption and brought into the same glorious freedom as the children of God.
Martin Bennett