January 3 2010 Feast of the Epiphany
THE FAMILY OF HOLY CROSS
3 CARRINGTON AVE, COTTINGHAM, EAST YORKSHIRE HU16 4DU
Twinned with Star of the Sea Parish Juba Freetown Sierra Leone
Tel: 01482 847763 Fax: 01482
845225
e-mail: Website: holycrosscottingham.org.uk
Parish Priest: Father Pat Day BA, BD
Masses: Vigil Mass Sat: 6.30 pm; Sun: 10 am; Communion Services: Mon to Sat 9 am, except Tues: 7 pm
Holy Cross is
open all day from dawn till dusk. Tea & coffee are served in the
Garden Room after the 10 am Mass on Sunday.
January 3rd
2010 Feast of the Epiphany
First Reading:
The New Jerusalem becomes a light for all nations and this sets before
us a challenge as a Church. We have to become a beacon of light
to those who live in darkness and the shadows of death. This is
only possible through reflecting the radiance of God's glory in our
lives. This is our hope, the restoration of all nations and people,
which comes about through Christ.
Second Reading:
The divine mystery is revealed and entrusted to the Church. It
is a mystery revealed through the Holy Spirit and granted to those who
become co-heirs with Christ through the gift of baptism. Through
this promise all people share in the same inheritance offered through
the gospel. It is the mystery of salvation which unites Jews as
well as pagans in the one body of Christ.
The Gospel: Matthew draws on the traditions of the Old Testament Messianic expectations and shapes the passage to reveal Jesus'
identity as the promised kingly Messiah. The story is constructed to enlighten us about the true nature of Jesus. God reveals his son to the nations through the rising of a star. The evangelist wishes to point to the universal kingship of Christ and highlight how the events portrayed act as an epiphany, revealing the glory of God as reflected in the life of Christ. God's beloved son entered the world to gather the nations into the unity of his Church. As the Magi travelled a long distance from the East and came to kneel before the infant king and pay him homage by offering him gifts, we are challenged to draw near and offer our gifts to God. Today God still raises a star to offer us guidance through the trials and struggles of life. Will we recognise his light or do we prefer to hide in the darkness.
We welcome again Father Peter Corcoran, who will be saying the masses this Saturday evening and Sunday morning and we thank Father Bill Steele for saying Mass for us during the past week.
Please note that there will be a Service of the Word and Holy Communion at 9 am this coming week from Monday to Saturday, except on Tuesday, when it will be at 7 pm.
Anniversaries: Sun 3rd: John Culkin, John James Maguire, Paddy Radley; Mon: Stuart Buchan; Tues: Mary Margarite Avery; Wed: Madge Drew; Thurs: Annie Wood, Rosa Ann Hartigan, Frank Udall; Fri: William Prissick, George Mason: Sat: Dorothy McGirr, Annie McMahon; Sun: David Eric Ledger; Ruth Mary Woodmansey, Gerald Boyle.
Counters this weekend: Barbara Marshall and David Cook; and next: Anne and Geoff Land
Eucharistic Ministers' rotas for weekend Masses from January to June 2010 are available for collection. They are in named brown envelopes on the window table in the porch. Please take your copy.
Would any Minister who is unable to be at the Mass indicated for them on the rota please try to arrange a substitute.
Some questions to think about:
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated and not murdered?
Once you're in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
What disease did cured ham actually have?
How is it that we put man on the moon before we worked out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake up every two hours?
Why are you IN a film but you're ON TV?
If corn oil is made from corn and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
The first Parish Lunch of the new year will be this coming Wednesday, the 6th, at midday in the Garden Room. All are welcome.
Congratulations to Leo and Joan Murphy, who celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary on December 27th and to Carol and Jeff Hookem, who also celebrated their wedding anniversary recently.
Many thanks to the four parishioners who so promptly volunteered for the vacancy on the counting rota.
RIP Mary Tomlinson, a former parishioner at Holy Cross, died in Morley, near Leeds, on Christmas Day. The funeral will be there on Tuesday, January 5th. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.
Please pray for Winifred Day, Father Pat's mother, who is not at all well after a fall some weeks ago and for Father Pat's complete recovery; also for Leo Murphy, due for some further hospital treatment soon, for Annie Everitt, Polly Burton, Michael Atkin, Sheila Levett, Molly McNicholas, Betty Eagan, Ken McKeown, Paul Wiles, John Garbera, Dorothy Foy, Margaret Price, Pat Chafer, Pam Lawrence, Mary Johnson, Mr Moore, Norah Ledger, David Hoy, Anita Marshall and for all in the parish or their relations and friends who are not well.
(from Adrienne) "Twelve days of Christmas There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
I found the following explanation: From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practise their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code for a religious reality which the children could remember.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens were Faith, Hope and Charity.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John..
The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
The nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness and Self-control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
The eleven pipers piping were the eleven faithful Apostles
The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed."
The twelve days run from Christmas Day until January 5th.
Finally, from an anonymous lady-parishioner: What Religion is your Bra? A man went to the ladies' department in Marks, shyly walked up to a counter and said to an assistant "I'd like to buy a bra for my wife." "What type of bra?" he was asked. "Type!" said the man in a panic. "Is there more than one type?" "Look round" said the sales-lady, pointing to a sea of bras in every shape, size, colour and material. "Actually though" she said, taking pity on him " there are only four types of bra to choose from. There's the Catholic, the Salvation Army, the Presbyterian and the Baptist types. Which one would you like?" Now totally confused, the man asked about the difference between them. Well" she said "it's simple. The Catholic type supports the masses. The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen. The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright. The Baptist type makes mountains out of mole-hills."
Contributions for next weekend to me by Thursday please, preferably by
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