Warming Up For Christmas

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.
 

Christmas Collection

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. 

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Safeguarding Children’s Liturgy & Altar Servers

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).
 

15th December 2024

“Gaudete Sunday; Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say Rejoice”

Often much easier said than done, so we constantly return to the First Advent Candle; the Candle of Hope, it gives great purpose to our Sunday liturgy.  Now the work that is being put into our communities is beginning to bear fruit, so the more we rejoice is essential.  This world will constantly bombard us with evidence that there is a Kingdom of darkness, so it is so important to give expression to the Kingdom of Light.

As you would expect in the natural order, we find greatest expression of this.  Evidence and examples of this great importance; the Aurora Borealis gives great expression of this.  We are provided with great evidence from their           experience, because there is so much evidence recorded.  Now in the light of God’s Holy Spirit at work in us, when from our parishes a joint meeting took place at OLR for a meeting with people in different ministries, sharing their experience and trying to establish a plan and a pattern for us to work together.  In my heart I could only say this is what we should have been doing 30 year ago.

Parishioners at St Wilfrid’s

Parishioners at St Wilfrid’s have decided not to send each other Christmas cards this year but instead will donate the money to a local charity, “Warming Up The Homeless”. There will be a collection of these donations on Sunday 15th December toward their Golden Ticket Christmas Appeal, which asks for           donations of £10 to take a child living in temporary accommodation to a pantomime and to give them some festive treats. With winter upon us they are also asking for items such as Tents, Metal Thermos Flasks, Men’s socks and underpants, Sleeping Bags, Roll Mats, Wet wipes, Roll on deodorant, Shower gel/shampoo/conditioner. We are also collecting good quality second hand toys and clothes for their charity shop.  If you are able to donate any of these items then please bring them to St Wilfrid’s next Sunday and we will pass them on to the charity.
 

A Big Thank You

A Big Thank You to everyone who contributed in    anyway to make this annual event so successful.  Our hall was buzzing with activities and people from both parishes making items for Christmas.  Then into our church for a  “Children’s Mime” to prepare us for the “coming of our Saviour” this Christmas.  Whilst we were there a team were working very hard to prepare a “banquet” for us jacket potato with all the trimmings and delicious puddings.  Pots were available to collect offerings  towards the charity “Warming Up the Homeless” a very good and worthwhile charity.
 

Tuesday 17th December

Tuesday 17th Dec in the Parish Hall at Our Lady of Ransom, Eastbourne:  An invitation to all parishioners to join us in a talk given recently by Fr Tony Milner on the New Lectionary, followed by sharing and discussions.  6.30-7.30pm (Refreshments from 6.15pm).  All will be most welcome as we start to forge new relationships within our new Parish.