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‘To a Safer Shore?:   15^th January, from 9.45 am for 10 am to 1 pm, will now take place online.  More details and to book at To a Safer Shore? Spotlights refugees, highlighting what we can do to help. | Arundel & Brighton Catholic Diocese (abdiocese.org.uk)  or contact Tessa Ricketts at [email protected]

We are currently Crowdfunding to purchase a Community Fridge (and Freezer) which will be supplied by end of day food from local supermarkets and businesses.  This will give the opportunity to offer fresh items and help eliminate food waste locally.  We were able to secure match funding for this project but need a minimum of 30 supporters.  If you could help us reach this target we would be extremely grateful.  Even £1 could make all the difference to us receiving an extra £1000.   Thank you.   https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hailsham-community-fridge

Our collection for the “Lourdes Fund” in honour of our Hannah amounted to £140.  David and Ann, Hannah’s parents wish to thank everyone who so generously contributed. 

This year at our Christmas Party , Sunday 19th December, after our Carol Service in the Hall, we have decided not to have a large raffle, but instead a large tombola with many prizes.  So if you have a suitable prize you would like to contribute, please leave in our church porch.  Thank you.

There will also be a “Children’s Tombola”, 50p a go, prize for everyone.  Father Christmas will be far too busy to visit, so each child will take home a “Goodie Bag”, please put your name on the list on the Notice Board in the church porch.  No Name, No Goody Bag.

Don’t forget our Christmas Sales Table.  It is there all the time now because the many organisations hiring our hall have requested it and the money is flowing!  You may have noticed the chair in our porch overflowing with warm goods for “The Homeless at Christmas”.  Please bring items suitable so we can help the homeless to keep warm this winter.  We have an organisation who will collect these goods and distribute them for us.  There is also a collection pot.  Let us show them we feel for them at St Wilfrid’s

Will comment in next weeks newsletter regarding our Parish Christmas Lunch last Thursday.  Our next event is Thursday 30th December, 2pm in our Hall for Afternoon Tea, when we will have a pre New Years Eve Party.  The cost for this will be £5 each.  Anyone who would like to join us is very welcome, plus any friends who are non Catholics and St George’s friends of course.  The idea of getting together on the last Thursday of the month is to bring a little fun and happiness to anyone who would like to join us.  Please contact Joan 07873390944 as this is a party we need to know numbers please.  Thank you.

If anyone has any empty shoe boxes at home, could they please bring them into St. George’s, and we will start covering them for next year’s “Love in a Box!”  Thank you  Anne Bowe.

St Wilfrid’s Church,  Broad Road, Willingdon – A Service of Remembrance on Sunday 12 December at 4.00pm.

St Wilfrid’s would like to invite you to a special event to remember loved ones who have died.  During this event we will name each person and light a candle in their memory.   We wish also to remember those who never saw the light of day, but who died before birth.  If you would like us to name your loved one, please let us know beforehand, if possible, by contacting:  01323 482088  or email [email protected].

Advent Penitential Service and First Confession for our 7 candidates on Saturday 11th December at 5 pm.

Rehearsal for Nativity Mime at Christmas Eve Mass will be Saturday 18th December at 2pm, Children from St Wilfrid’s and

St George’s are all welcome to take part in this special part of the Mass. 

Last Sunday we lit the 2nd Advent candle. This candle can remind us that spending time in prayer is one way to prepare for Christmas. Some people find that what is known as ‘The Prayer of the Hand’ or ‘The five finger prayer’ can help us to pray.

Thumb: This is the nearest to me, and can remind me to pray for those who are closest to me, my family and friends.

Index Finger: This is used for pointing, and can remind me to pray for all teachers and those from whom I learn.

Middle Finger: This is the tallest and biggest, and can remind me to pray for those who have a special responsibility, for doctors and nurses, those in the rescue services, and anyone who has to take decisions that effect how we live our lives.

Third Finger: This is the weakest finger, as I’m told any piano player will tell you, and can remind me to pray for anyone who is ill or in trouble.

Little Finger: This is the smallest and least important, and can remind me to pray for myself, as I recall the words of Jesus who said we must love our neighbours as ourselves.

Finally, a Danish Proverb that’s worth remembering: Pray to God in the storm, but keep on rowing.

Again, thanks be to God.

We had a lovely, lovely evening which took place at St George’s church last Saturday.  The Southdown Singers presented us with very enjoyable singing, music and stories most appropriate to the Advent Season.  Also, they left us with a beautifully decorated church to enhance our worship prayer and commitment.  After the long term effects of covid, windows of opportunity for enjoyment are much appreciated.  We have a baptism here at St George’s this Saturday and for all of us this weekend the sacrament of reconciliation; an opportunity to experience one of God’s most special gifts – His forgiveness, His pardon and His peace.

Repetition has a great value in leaning,  so I return to the idea of sowing new seeds.  Please, please God, we will really sow some new seeds.  So that is why I mention “co er” groups.  I suggest that you give some thought to this and say we could form a “co er” group.  As the pandemic has had a major influence on our actions, the opportunity that this “Synod” is of the greatest importance.  A real challenge confronts us in the life of our church.

In response to this, various groups should give it the care and attention that it deserves.  Again, these two questions:-

Why do we need it?              And what is the best outcome for the future, for the life and witness for the catholic church? 

This could be a tick box exercise in futility, on a memorable opportunity in the life of our church.

When I left the seminary almost fifty years ago as a young priest, I had hopes of a new Pentecost, and while some aspired to it, the church in general allowed itself to be laden and overburdened – so no great fruits.  The challenge always goes on; and people always try to accept a challenge.  We had in our time an excellent effort from the Liverpool Diocese and with Cardinal Hume providing his authority, more was expected of it.  To outer eyes it was shelved, and here we are like St Peter; who has fished all night and caught nothing.  With the inspiration of Jesus…….  St Peter was prepared to set out once again with the message of salvation, that he had received from His master.   In keeping with what he said we set  out once more in obedience with the words “I have come to save the lost”.