Holy Mass for Sunday at St. Peter & St. Paul’s, Mawdesley – Saturday at 5.00pm, Sunday at 11.15am

PARISH OFFERTORY COLLECTION: £246.36 Thank you

COLLECTION NEXT WEEK: Animate Youth. Please collect an information leaflet and Gift Aid envelope – if you pay tax – from the porch.

SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS TO OUR LINKED PARISH IN PALESTINE: The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has twinned parishes in the Archdiocese with Christian parishes in Jordan and Palestine. Our Lady’s has been twinned with St Joseph’s in Jifna. Their parish priest is Fr Johny Bahbah. The parishioners really welcome greetings and good wishes from parishes in Britain. Please write out a card to a family at St Joseph’s, saying who you are and which parish you’re from. Please use small cards, then leave in the marked box on the table in the porch. They will be collected and posted on 28 November, as they can take up to a month to arrive. Thank you!

STORYTELLERS ARE COMING TO OUR LADY’S: Storytellers are presenting performances of the Christmas panto, ‘The Elves’ at Our Lady’s church hall on Sunday 1 December. Times will be published soon, but please note the date in your diaries for children.

NEWS FROM ST STEPHEN’S, BANKS, LADIES’ GROUP: 1. Christmas Carol Service – Friday 6 December. Please contact David Yardley, 01704 231327 for times and further details. 2. Banks Ladies’ Group are holding a Devotional Hour on the theme of ‘Let’s Get Ready, Spiritually, for Christmas’ – Thursday 12 December, 2pm to 3pm in St Stephen’s church. All (men and ladies) are welcome to spend time in prayer, sing some carols and reflect on a Bible passage. There will be a chance for tea, mince pies and a chat afterwards. Please contact Rev. Rebecca for more details: 01704 233738.

ENTRY TO BISHOP RAWSTORNE C of E ACADEMY: Please be aware that, like a number of Anglican schools, faith commitment of the parent/guardian of the children is part of the criteria for acceptance. It is expected that the parent/guardian has been frequently attending worship. For those children who hope to enter in Sept. 2021, the period of assessment of commitment has already begun (Sept. 2019-Sept.2020). For those children due to enter next Sept. 2020, the period of assessment for faith commitment has already passed (Sept. 2018-Sept.2019).

CHRISTMAS BINGO & CAROL SERVICE DRAW The Christmas Bingo will take place on Tuesday 3^rd December, doors open at 7 pm, eyes down at 8pm. The Carol Service is in church at 6pm on Sunday 15 December followed by the Christmas Draw in the hall. Tickets for the draw are now available from the back of the church. Donations for prizes for both events would be greatly appreciated and should be left in the sacristy.  It would be helpful if you could enter details of your donation to the list on the notice board in the porch.  If you require further information, please speak with Paul Allison (Saturday evening) or John / Emma O’Hare (Sunday morning). Thank you for your support.

REFLECTION – Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-90) God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.” “I sought to hear the voice of God and climbed the topmost steeple, but God declared: “Go down again –      I dwell among the people.”