All posts by 3 churches

A little child and I

newsletter,

The Fourth Sunday of Advent in the Year of Matthew – Year A in the lectionary – gives prominence to St Joseph’s role in the Christmas story. This is a poem written from his point of view, that I found – a little sentimental but charming. Let’s not forget St Joseph!

“We walked through the field of wheat
– a little Child and I.
His face was as fair as the dawn,
his eyes as bright as the sky.
O’er hillside and valley we went,
through blossom strewn meadow and glade. He held my hand as I told him the names
of all the flowers he made.

We worked at the carpenter’s bench
a beautiful Child and l.
The air was still as the star light,
and the Mother of Grace was nigh.
The burden of labour and toil
were sweet, though hard was my trade,
for I taught the heavenly Child to use
the tools which he had made.

We gathered for even tide prayer
– a Child, the Mother and I.
The only sound was the vesper song
of the birds that were flying by.
We gazed at the sinking sun
As the light began to fade
and saw a flame from
the heart of the Child
by whose power all things were made”

Fr Matthew

Christmas at our 3 churches

advent, Christmas

At the beginning of Advent we published our special information sheet for Advent and Christmas. In case you missed the times and places of Christmas Masses, here are those details again.

First however, a change of time for our Carol Service on Tuesday 20 December. Rather than a separate parishes service at 7pm, we are now invited to join our Primary school for a beautiful carol service at the earlier time of 6pm on the same day, Tuesday 20 December at St Brigid’s Church.

Masses for Christmas

Christmas Eve

Vigil Masses: 6pm St Paul’s,  6pm Christ the King,  8pm St Brigid’s

Christmas Day

 Morning Masses:  9am St Paul’s 9am Christ the King 10.30am St Brigid’s

(no evening Mass)

We always welcome people at Christmas that we perhaps do not see on other occasions. Some, especially family, may be visiting for Christmas, others may be “resting” Catholics. Either way, let’s remember to let that welcome be both real and warm. We do not want to be like those people in Bethlehem who could not find room for the Holy Family. We do not want people to feel that they are not welcome in our churches. However small the stable may have been, the miracle is that there is room for all!

Fr Matthew.