Author: Jacky

Many thanks to everyone who donated to the Golden Ticket appeal to send homeless children to a pantomime this Christmas. We have been overwhelmed by your generosity. In total we raised £760, which means that 76 children can look forward to a festive treat this year. The distribution centre was also very grateful to receive your donations of clothing and winter essentials. Big thank you to all those who have contributed.

Our focus now moves on to how we can warm up the homeless to help them survive the harsh winter months ahead. Our efforts will now be concentrated on our Epiphany masses (4th and 5th January). In the same way that the Three Wise Men provided gifts to the newborn king we would like to present our offerings as an act of love to vulnerable people in our community. In particular we are looking for donations for their satellite food banks which feed around 800 people a week. Wanted items are; UHT Milk (Not Skimmed), Sugar, Coffee, Tea, Cereal, Tin Meats, Rice, Pasta, Soup, Baked Beans, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables and Treats. Many of these people do not have cooking facilities so they are also looking for Kettles, Toasters, Microwaves. Air Fryers, and Thermos Flasks. In addition we will also be collecting good quality second hand clothing and gifts for their charity shops. There will be a collection box for these items at the back of church and in St Wilfrid’s Hall for the Epiphany party on 4th January.

St Wilfrid’s, 15th Dec at 3pm:  Thank you to everyone who helped in anyway to make our Special Carol Service such a success.  Short, simple and enjoyable. It is a shame more of you didn’t attend, you surely missed a “Christmas Special”.  Then it was into our hall for mulled wine, mince pies and special biscuits.  Then the “Gift Bag Sale”, my goodness there were some very good prizes hidden in the bags!!. 

May we take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who helps us in anyway to make these special occasions so special and successful.  In the New Year we would be very happy if more of you would volunteer to help us in someway.  Many of us are too old now to be of much help, we need more young people to help please.   “God loves a willing helper” and we all agree that we get a lot of fun helping out on the various events.  If you would like to help, please get in touch with Joan on 07873390944 or see me in the hall after Mass.  The proceeds of the bags will be equally divided between the children’s liturgy and the parish project, taking homeless children to the pantomime + treat.

There will be an Epiphany Party at St Wilfrid’s at 3pm on 4th January followed by a vigil mass at 5pm.  Tickets are now available at the back of church. They are free but we ask you to only take one if are definitely able to attend as numbers are   limited in the hall. Thank you.

Please wear a warm winter coat to church as we have a heating problem and not sure when it will be fixed.
 

St George’s had a weekend of wonderful preparation for Christmas.   The South Downs Singers performed a sell out concert on Saturday. The church was beautifully decorated and the singing was a fabulous range of sacred and seasonal music. Reviews were highly complimentary with Deacon John requesting a reprise of “Christmas Sanctus” to be incorporated into his homily on Christmas morning. Shirley and Marylou are happy to oblige!  On Monday evening we were honoured to host a Civic Carol Service on behalf of Polegate Town Council.  The Lord Lieutenant, High Sherriff, County and District Council Chairs, plus five Mayors and other dignitaries were in attendance and a warm welcome was extended to all. There was a beautifully prepared service of readings and favourite carols, Two local charities, First Responders and Linking Lives benefitted to donations amounting to £400.  In the hall a splendid buffet prepared by Sandra and her team awaited; table beautifully  decorated, candles glowing adding to a cosy and friendly ambience. The evening is best summed up by an email sent to thank us from Mayor Dan Dunbar. “Sincere thanks for making my vision of the carol service a reality. Without St George’s this would not have been possible.  People were blown away with the refreshments, the Lord Lieutenant saying it was one of the best he has seen.” 

Saturday 7th Dec, 5pm.  When our nine first holy communion candidates made their first confession.  It was such an informative little service taken by Fr Rory assisted by Teresa and Annette, giving us plenty to think about and examine our consciences, with quiet music in the background.  What a shame more of our parishioners did not attend and support our children.
 

There will be a collection at St Wilfrid’s on Sunday 15th December for the   charity Warming Up The Homeless.  Parishioners have decided not to send each other Christmas Cards this year but instead will be donating to the charity’s  Golden Ticket appeal to give children in temporary accommodation some festive cheer.  For every £10 raised they will be able to take a child to a pantomime and provide them with some treats.
 

As I am sure many of you are aware, Catholic Priests do not receive a salary and rely on your generosity at Christmas and Easter as a thank you for all they do for us. It is also possible to claim gift aid on your donation if you are a UK taxpayer and that extra 25% will go directly to Father Rory. If you aren’t part of a planned giving scheme then please use the “one off” gift aid envelopes located in the porch. You can also contribute via the digital collection plate at St Wilfrid’s or via the QR code or donations  website link  (https://donate.mydona.com/st-wilfrids-church-hailsham )  using the “Christmas Collections” tab. 

Safeguarding for Children’s Liturgy and Altar Servers:  As the new year approaches it is time to renew consent forms.  These are an essential part of our safeguarding procedures.  I will be in the hall after Mass for the next two Sundays to facilitate this.  If forms are not completed, children will still be very welcome to join these groups but they must then be accompanied by a    responsible adult.  Maria Hills (Safeguarding Rep).