St Peter's Parish, Biggleswade

Today's Reflections in Bible Alive

2012-02-04T07:51:00.000Z

Today's reflection is one which hits home for me. It's mainly about prayer, but it's pointing out that Jesus felt the need to retire and pray, that he wanted his disciples to do the same and of course that we should try to do so when we can.

I liked reading that: it's a simple task for me to perform every day, pray . . .

Chris

Extract from today's Daily Reflections from Bible Alive

2012-01-29T16:05:00.000Z

I thought that today's Daily Reflection was apt, as often it is. On Jesus's power to drive out evil spirits (today's Gospel, Mark 1:21-28):

"Try this today: whatever circumstances or problems you face, whatever trials or trauma you are going through, praise God for his love and mercy. ‘The power of praise releases the power of God into a set of circumstances and enables God to change them if this is his design’ (Merlin Carothers).

‘Lord Jesus, you came with authority and power. Teach me to avail myself of your grace so I may praise your name and know your power.’"

Chris

Father Raphael

2012-01-29T16:02:00.000Z

Here's a typical photo of our visiting priest Father Raphael chatting outside St Peter's after Mass today.

Chris

Contact with webmaster

2012-01-18T18:27:00.002Z

Do note that you can send a direct comment to me by clicking on the "© threeshoes design" at the bottom of the page (scroll right to the bottom).

Chris

Daily relationship with God

2012-01-18T06:27:00.000Z

I read yesterday's (Tuesday's) Daily Reflection in Bible Alive and it makes clearer, to me at least, what I should be doing every day, throughout the day: maintain a relationship with God. I can't pretend that I am very good at making this happen during my day, but I do try. The thought is based on Bible Alive's reflection on Mark 2:23-28, Jesus's telling the Pharisees that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

It is particularly comforting if things are going wrong, to have a chat with God, perhaps in the person of Jesus. And it is gratifying to express your gratitude when things are going right, or if something wonderful happens. If only I could remember more often . . .

This is the paragraph that got me thinking:

"Perhaps today we can simply take up the thought that our own time – each hour of the day – is a way of being in relationship with God. We can view our day today as one which is lived in God’s presence. If we have work that we do, we can see it as sharing in God’s creative work. If we have a family to care for and nurture, we can view our day as fulfilling our vocation to parenthood – a vocation given by God. Let us ask God to bless our day and let us dedicate our day to him."

But the whole of yesterday's Daily Reflection is worth reading, in my view.

Chris

Ease of reading the website

2012-01-09T20:40:00.000Z

Someone has commented that the typeface on the website was too difficult to read. I've increased the size as a temporary measure, but I shall research other ways of improving the accessibility of the website.

Do let me know what you think.

Chris

p.s. I have changed the colour of the text (the links) in the sidebar of the Blog (this page), but I'll also look at a facility to increase the size of any text by the reader. The BBC's website has such a facility. I want to avoid making the text any larger as it would take up rather too much room.

Thanks for your comments.

Chris

The Wisdom of John Henry Newman

2012-01-08T07:15:00.000Z

This quote from John Henry Newman is in today's Reflections from Bible Alive; I found it quite inspiring.

‘God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work for me which he has not committed to another. 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 and serve him in my calling. Therefore I will trust him.’

Chris

Improving the Website

2012-01-07T08:22:00.000Z

Do let me know if you want to put something on the website, or if you would like to see an addition to the information displayed (or, indeed, how it is displayed). The website is a resource for the Parish, for all of us, so use it if you wish.

God bless

Chris

Prayer for today — St Anselm

2012-01-07T07:58:00.000Z

O Lord my God,
Teach my heart this day where and
how to see you,
Where and how to find you.
You have made me and remade me,
And you have bestowed on me
All the good things I possess,
And still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that
For which I was made.
Teach me to seek you,
For I cannot seek you
Unless you teach me,
Or find you
Unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
Let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
Let me love you when I find you.

(St Anselm)

Help needed with Christmas Bazaar

2011-11-18T17:02:00.000Z

Here's a message from the Entertainments Committee:

I am sure that you have noticed the sheets of paper spread about the Church, asking for help with the Christmas Bazaar, but perhaps you feel that you wanted more details before volunteering to help.
Let me give you some dates and times, and then perhaps, you can allocate some of your time.

On the evening of Wednesday, 23rd November, at 7pm, people will be in the “Basilica” (the long hut beside the car park), to sort out donations.

On Thursday, l 1st December, after the 9.30am Mass, we will move the chairs and kneelers, and bring in the big tables, and that evening at about 7pm, we will be filling the tables.

On Friday 2nd December, Mass will be celebrated in the Sanctuary behind the folding doors. After Mass is finished, we will continue to sort, separate and prepare for the next day as well as decorating everything, while the Market Square lights are being switched on.

On Saturday, 3rd December, about 9am, we will tie the Bazaar notices to the railings nearby, prepare the potatoes and other food in the clubroom and wait for the fresh cakes to be brought in.

At 11am our local MP, Alistair Burt, will open the Bazaar, which is when we will need help behind the stalls.

At the end of it all, some unsold items will be put back in the “Basilica” prior to recycling. The floor has to be swept, the money counted, and all the furniture replaced ready for the 6.30pm Mass. We would be very grateful if you would talk to us about helping, even If it is something you have never done before!

Chris

New Roof, looking good!

2011-10-15T11:44:00.000+01:00

Here is my first photograph of the front of St Peter's with its new signs and roof. It looks great, in time to welcome Father Eamon to his new parish.

Chris

New lists of ministers.

2011-09-18T14:46:00.000+01:00

I've updated the lists of Eucharistic Ministers and Readers for this period. The ones there seemed to be quite out-of-date, but so I must have forgotten to insert the newest ones for a while.

Sorry.

Chris

Farewell Fr Tad

2011-08-06T07:16:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Fr Tad for again visiting us and giving us a different view of the world and of witness from a different perspective. Fr Tad left a couple of documents on the Parish noticeboard, documents relating his work in Russia. He sent them to me a few days ago to put on the website and this seemed to be the best place for them.

I hope that you enjoy reading them, but let me know if the format is difficult, or if the documents won't open on your computer.

God bless

Chris

Brief history of Russia – Fr Tad

Fr Tad's memories

Christian Aid

2011-05-05T10:04:00.016+01:00

Another way to help put an end poverty and injustice in the world is by supporting the efforts to raise funds for Christian Aid. For more info click here for fundraising ideas or the parish notice board.
Or listen to the following video:

And if you would like to get involved in the week of activities in Sandy or Biggleswade then please contact Alban on: 681537 or e-mail him on olly1bin@btinternet.com.

Finally I hope the following reflection may help us consider those experiencing severe poverty and injustice in our prayers especially during this week.

Today's reading

2011-04-11T06:32:00.000+01:00

Today's reading, John 8:1-11, is one of the most applicable to today's world, I think. Jesus gives us the stricture that only someone without sin should judge sinners. The woman caught in adultery is accused by many, but none will admit to being sinless and all leave her alone with Jesus:

"Has no one condemned you . . .? Then neither do I."

I think of "road rage" an example of judging others; I see someone else on the road who has done something inappropriate while driving and I judge them immediately; I have to work hard to remember that I too might have been guilty of such a manoeuvre not to long before, and calm down. Jesus does not condemn them and nor should I.

Chris

Jesus's promise

2011-03-21T06:58:00.000Z

Part of today's reading, Luke 6:36 – 38 is a wonderful passage. It's amazing to think of Jesus saying this all those years ago. To do with how the Father will treat you if you treat others well,

6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”

Chris

St Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T06:16:00.000Z

Today, Thursday, is St Patrick's day. He was kidnapped by pirates and taken to Ireland where he spent 6 years of hard labour. Later, when back in England, he heard a call to return to Ireland and he did so as a priest – to bring people to Christ.

In the Confession and Letter to Coroticus, his intimate relationship with his Lord and Saviour is revealed.
‘Keep me as the apple of your eye;
Hide me in the shadow of your
wings.
I sing as I arise today!
I call on my Creator’s might;
The will of God to be my guide,
The eye of God to be my sight,
The word of God to be my speech,
The hand of God to be my stay,
The shield of God to be my strength,
The path of God to be my way.’
(St Patrick)
Bible Alive® 17 March 2011.

Tsunami and nuclear worries

2011-03-12T12:38:00.000Z

I reckon that there are a load of people in Japan who need our prayers; just a thought . . .

Chris

Ash Wednesday

2011-03-09T06:21:00.000Z

Today is Ash Wednesday. We have until Easter Sunday, on 24 April, to do our spiritual "spring cleaning". May each of us be able to pray and improve during this wonderful period of repentance and renewal. May we all make contact with God and experience his mercy.

Chris

Updated pages

2011-02-12T13:57:00.000Z

Rather belatedly I have updated the pages for Readers and Eucharistic Ministers. I'm sorry to have taken so long about it, but do have a look and see if it works for you.

Chris

Feast of the Presentation of our Lord

2011-02-02T06:18:00.001Z

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, when Jesus was presented in the temple by his parents. Today we hear the "Nunc Dimittis" by Simeon (Mass is at 0930 at St Peter's).

This prayer is in the Bible Alive © Reflections for today; it's rather beautiful and I thought it worth repeating here:

That true light which enlightens every man coming into his world, has come. Brethren, let us all be enlightened, let us all be filled with light…let us all go together bright with that light to welcome with old Simeon that everlasting shining light. Rejoicing with him in our souls, let us sing a hymn of thanks to the begetter and Father of the light, who has sent the true light and driven away the darkness and made us all to shine with light.’
(St Sophronius)

Chris

2011-01-12T17:20:00.003Z

"Religious Freedom – the Path to Peace"

by Fr Rob Esdaile

Our society seems uncertain how to proceed when it comes to freedom of religion. Yes, of course, people must be free to believe what they wish to believe; yet organised religion is often viewed as the root of conflict, rather than as a means to find healing for our world. The major fault-lines in global politics are conveniently attributed to the influence of different faith-traditions, rather than (for instance) competition among the major industrial nations for oil and other commodities. Within our own country, whole faith-communities are sometimes regarded with suspicion, even monitored by the security services for possible subversive activities. And there is sometimes a suggestion that it would be much easier if those who have a religious faith kept it entirely private.
On Peace Sunday this year (16 January 2011) Pope Benedict has asked us to reflect on the theme of ‘Religious Freedom – The Path to Peace’. He, of course, isn’t suggesting that believers need quietly to ignore each other or to try not to get noticed by others. His line of thought is, rather, that the spiritual dimension is an essential part of our humanity, and that, unless we attend to this, listening to the inner voice of conscience and becoming people of prayer, we cannot hope to attain peace, either personally or as societies and nation-states. Indeed, without developing our religious life we cut ourselves off from the well-springs of peace and from the possibility of being freed from the destructive patterns of past behaviour.
The Catholic approach to the matter is as follows: we believe that all are children of God, bearing the divine image and likeness (see Gen 1.26-27), whether or not they have a religious faith; and if the love of God is our origin, that same love is also our destination. So history is not simply a matter of chance. It is also the story of Salvation, the place of encounter between creatures and their Creator. Here and now the Spirit of God is at work, speaking to the heart and inviting our response.
We believe that God speaks, not just in the Church but in the whole of Creation, and that Revelation has reached its climax in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Here the Word has truly taken flesh. Here God dwells among us, transforming history from within. But, precisely because we believe this, we must be committed to dialogue, seeking the presence of God in our nonChristian neighbours and in secular culture, too; seeking the signs of the action of the Spirit in our world; looking for allies in our search for God’s Kingdom and God’s Justice in our broken world.
Of course, Christians, and Catholics in particular, have not always been champions of freedom. We still live with the scars (and the hostilities) caused by the Crusades, by the Inquisition, by ‘Christian’ AntiSemitism. Yet one of the great fruits of the Second Vatican Council has been, for Catholics, the commitment to religious freedom and to dialogue with people of other faiths and none. Today the Pope calls on us humbly to use our religious freedom, firstly to deepen our own faith; secondly, gently to witness to that faith to others while also patiently listening to their insights; and thirdly, together with them, to pursue the peace that the world so craves but which our humanity can only achieve by attentiveness to the Spirit of God.

2011-01-07T17:21:00.000Z

Over this weekend and the next, we will be conducting a parish census. It is more than four years since the last census was taken and our parish records need to be updated. Accurate and complete information about who is living in the parish and pastoral area is vital to strengthening the Catholic community.
You will find a Census card on your seat together with a pen/pencil; would one representative of each household please complete the card and hand it to an usher as you leave the Church after Mass.
The Census is collecting basic information including name, address, telephone and email. Please be assured that the Census information will be used for Church-related activities only. This includes mailings in the parish and Together in Faith, a parish and diocesan fundraising campaign.

Chris

2010-12-25T07:12:00.000Z

Lord Jesus, today I glory in a truly marvellous exchange. You, the redeemer, came to complete your wonderful work. We through our sin had broken the bond that made us children of God. We had to be reconciled with our Father. This could not be done by one who came from the old wild and diseased trunk – a new branch, healthy and noble, had to be grafted in. I rejoice and praise you for your humility and love. May my heart give you glory and honour on this most holy of days.

©Bible Alive, 25 December 2010

2010-12-17T15:58:00.000Z

The times for the services at Christmas are in the latest News Bulletin.

Chris