St Peter's Parish, Biggleswade

Biggleswade Chronicle Notices

2012-05-19T14:45:00.000+01:00

St.Peter’s Catholic Church.

The gospel this week John 15:9-17 refers to one of the most powerful sayings ‘A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.’

A wise person will not demand more of their friendships than the individual can bear, if the individual is prepared to give everything he has including his life then this can be deemed as perfect love; unconditional love, a voluntary surrender of one’s life for a friend. Human nature is simply incapable of a greater act of love than that of sacrificing one's life for a loved one; perfect love. This is the meaning of the cross. This is the meaning of the death of Christ as the Way to union with God. Jesus tells us that there is no other way, no door other than perfect love.. and this is what Jesus did for us.

Volunteers needed for – Churches Together Biggleswade Diamond Jubilee Fun day 5th June 2-6pm, St.Peters is organizing the BBQ, your help is needed to set up, cook, serve and clean up please see John or Sue Lang. Annual Market Stall June 9th home made cakes & plants needed. First Holy Communion will take place on 9th June please pray for the children.

Carmalite Spiritual Group 23rd May Meeting starts at 6.30 with evening prayer also June meeting on Saturday 16th ‘Carmel in Bedfordshire’ Trip to the Ware Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Nuns ( car share) Mass 11am followed by lunch please see Peter Arrowsmith. Contact email stpetersbiggleswade@gmail.com www.st-peters.eu.

Biggleswade Chronicle Notices

2012-05-12T16:10:00.000+01:00

St.Peter’s Catholic Church. Station Road.Biggleswade.

Last Sunday was 5^th Sunday of Easter the gospel from John 15:1-8 “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit. You have been made clean already by the teaching I have given you. Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine…” The image of ‘the vine’ is particularly effective because the branches cannot live without their attachment to the vine, neither can they be fruitful without the goodness provided by the vine. We were grafted onto the vine, Jesus, on the day of our baptism. We draw the sap from Jesus to give us the energy to live Christian lives, when we pray, when we gather every Sunday to celebrate the Mass, every time we receive the sacraments. This reading gives us an opportunity to see if there are some things in our lives that no longer contribute to our growth. Growth is prevented through sin, selfishness or just plain carelessness. A neglected friendship falters quickly. However, for us there is always hope, unlike the vine branches our rift from Jesus could be healed.

Volunteers needed for – Churches Together Biggleswade Diamond Jubilee Fun day 5^th June 2-6pm, St.Peters is organizing the BBQ, your help is needed to set up, cook, serve and clean up please see John or Sue Lang. Also help needed for Churches Together ‘Christian Aid Week’ collections outside Supermarkets (contact Alban) 19th May & ‘House to House’ week 13-19th May (Contact Fiona Day Neil Spencer). Market Stall June 9^th home made cakes & plants needed. Contact for all email
stpetersbiggleswade@gmail.com Our thanks go out to Chris Barker who is currently updating our website www.st-peters.eu .... Well worth a look, and contribute to our Blog.

Christian Aid Week: 13–19 May 2012

2012-05-09T13:45:00.004+01:00

Let’s give the tools to help people in poverty out of poverty during Christian Aid Week (CAW): 13–19 May 2012

Thousands of churches will stand together this Christian Aid Week to speak out for change.
It is estimated that over 100,000 committed volunteers will go out and put their faith into action, raising funds to help some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

This includes Britain’s largest house-to-house collection – an extraordinary act of witness, demonstrating to our communities that we care about poverty and justice. Last year we raised over £3000, and this year The UK government are allowing UKAid to match £1 for £1 the amounts raised up-to a maximum of an additional £5 million...

If you'd like to be involved in this in Sandy or Biggleswade please drop Alban email by clicking on his name or copying an pasting "finance@st-peters.eu". If not then consider keeping us and those in poverty in your prayers during CAW. A service to kick start the week is taking place at St Swithun's Sandy on Sunday 13th 6:00pm; 5:30pm for hymn practice. All are welcome.

This year, Christian Aid Week tells the story of remarkable change taking place in a community in rural Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is one of the hungriest countries in the world. But helped by Christian Aid partner the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL), some people there have found the tools to move beyond hunger and speak out for the changes they want to see. See more and possibly be inspired to act by watching this short 4 minute video.

Christian Aid currently works with 507 partner organisations in 47 of the poorest countries around the world. From Sierra Leone to Tajikistan, from Kenya to Bolivia, we are helping communities to make their voices heard and look towards a brighter future. Poverty is a scandal and that can be ended. Look out for local events and discover how you can get involved by contacting your Christian Aid Week representative, or by visiting www.caweek.org ‘

Christian Aid organise a one-off event each year, which involves the whole community; seeing everyone of all faiths and no faiths working together for one cause is very uplifting and raises a large amount of money at the end.’ Christian Aid Week volunteer.

Rio +20 Lobbying – 20-22 June

2012-05-09T12:44:00.000+01:00

We are all urged to support the multi-agency campaign to lobby for the principles of the Rio Conference to be sustained and built.
Progressio are asking everyone to think about the future they want. They've mailed a Rio+20 action pack to every Catholic parish in England and Wales. And they have produced a number of resources available exclusively online to go with it: (Click the Progressio link above for more details).

Be inspired - watch this video:

2012 Olympic Games - 100 days of peace

2012-05-09T12:33:00.001+01:00

The 2012 Games are nearly here. It is great that London Citizens have chosen to mark the start of the 100 Days of Peace on 9th June 2012 with events highlighting their CitySafe Havens achievements around London, all being filmed from a helicopter! They will celebrate the initiatives of young people across the capital who have been working in their local communities to ensure that there are always safe places to go for anyone who feels threatened by violence.

An open Prayer Vigil from 11.00pm on Friday 8th June at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, will see the 100 Days of Peace begin with hourly prayers from different traditions,culminating in songs of praise and a service at 11.00am, Saturday 9th June, attended by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, and the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, and other London Church Leaders. There are so many ways we can celebrate this Olympic peace season; perhaps we could think of ways too?

Children's Good Shepherd Witness

2012-05-07T18:07:00.001+01:00

I took this on Good Shepherd Sunday of the children's efforts during Mass to depict the Good Shepherd. I do admire the work they and their leader put into these productions.

Chris

Children's Good Shepherd Witness

2012-05-07T18:07:00.000+01:00

I took this on Good Shepherd Sunday of the children's efforts during Mass to depict the Good Shepherd. I do admire the work they and their leader put into these productions.

Chris

2012-05-06T21:27:00.001+01:00

Christian Aid Week

19th May

Voulenteers are needed to collect money outside Asda supermarket

on Saturday 19th May. If you can spare some time please contact

Alban or the church office.

2012-05-05T14:36:00.000+01:00

Meditation of the Week

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Helping Others

Jesus, strengthen me in supporting those in our society who are vulnerable; help me live patiently with my own weaknesses. As I walk in your way, I extend my hands to others so that together we can form a safety net. Amen.

If you know of meditation that others may enjoy
please let us know at
Brenda brenda.green@st-peters.eu
Chris webmaster@st-peters.eu

Chronicle Church Notices 4th May 2012

2012-05-05T13:03:00.000+01:00

St.Peter’s Catholic Church. Station Road.Biggleswade.
Last Sunday was 4th Sunday of Easter also known as ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’. The gospel - John 10: 11-18 tells us that how Jesus is a good shepherd who would lay down his life for his sheep & the ‘hired’ shepherd who ran away when a wolf attacks the sheep he was watching. To understand this context in the ancient Eastern world - everyone would understand the trials & tribulations of a shepherd as most people had at least a few sheep. So they would understand that the shepherd would lead the sheep to good pastures and water often for days at a time. Wild predators roamed free and it was a hazardous task to round up wandering sheep and keep them together safely through the night. The concept of the good shepherd developed in the Old Testament where Israel's corrupt and self-serving leaders are described as bad shepherds, and the Lord promises to come and care for his sheep himself: 'I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep...! will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will watch over'.

Volunteers needed for -

1)Biggleswade Diamond Jubilee Fun day 5th June 2-6pm, St.Peters is organizing the BBQ, your help is needed to set up, cook, serve and clean up please see John or Sue Lang.

2)Churches Together ‘Christian Aid Week’

a)collections outside Supermarkets (contact Alban) 19th May

b)collections House to House’ week 13-19th May (Contact Fiona Day or Neil Spencer).

Busy Buddies (Mother & Toddler Group) meets every Friday 9.30-11.30 am (Term Time) Support and chat over coffee with other Mum’s of children under pre-school age. All welcome contact Lindsey 01767-223074 for details.

Contact above email at stpetersbiggleswade@gmail.com.

Website www.st-peters.eu

Chronicle Church Notices 27th April

2012-04-30T12:19:00.001+01:00

St.Peter’s Catholic Church. Station Road.Biggleswade.3^rd Sunday of Easter (21^stApril). This week’s gospel is from Luke 24: 35-48 gives Luke’s account of the appearances of Jesus to the eleven disciples in Jerusalem and his departure from them. Even though 2 disciples had met Jesus previously, the other disciples were slow to believe, as they were not gullible and struggled to comprehend what they saw. Jesus taught them as he had to the others previously and ate their food then he described how his life had reflected what the scriptures had written “that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Through this Jesus managed to open the minds of the disciples to overcome fear and feel joy at his presence and all the things that they had been taught since childhood made sense. Jesus knew that eating together was a special way of establishing real community. Sharing food gives us not only nourishment, but love, hope, communication and energy. That is why eating with his disciples and followers was so important to the Lord…. and something that we still celebrate today.

Again our thanks go out to Father Raphael Zernoff who has been travelling up from East London to celebrate mass over the last weekend.Cafod Boxes-please return to the church asap, for every £1 donated the Government will match! Walk for Water in aid of Cafod takes place on 28th April, see poster in porch. Website follow the News Bulletin, Parish Calendar & Blog at www.st-peters.eu.

Chronicle Church Notices

2012-04-20T10:40:00.001+01:00

Chronicle Church Notices this week

Last Sunday was the second Sunday of Easter also known as the Divine Mercy Sunday, Low Sunday, Octave day of Easter and historically St. Thomas’s Sunday.

Eight days after the Resurrection Jesus miraculously entered a locked room, and showed His wounds to the disciples. Then He ate and drank with them, to prove that He was not a ghost or a phantom, but that He was really Jesus Christ, in the flesh. He breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit”. One of the disciples Thomas, was absent from this meeting and he said that he would need physical proof as he mistrust the claim. So Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to put his fingers in his side and touch the wounds. Thomas did and after seeing and feeling for himself he finally believed in saying “My Lord and my God”. Thomas’s initial refusal to believe in the Resurrection is still remembered outside of the church today in the saying ‘doubting Thomas’ used when someone disbelieves what another is saying.

The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it. The devotion is due to Sister Mary Faustina Kowalska (b.1905-d.1938) a Polish Nun whom reported visions and visitations from Jesus. Beatification of Sr.Faustina was carried out by Pope John Paul II on April 18th 1993 and she was canonized on April 30 2000 becoming the 1st Saint of the 21st Century.

Our thanks go out to Father Raphael Zernoff who has been travelling up from East London to celebrate mass over the last weekend. Friday 20th 7.30pm is the Annual Quiz Night + Fish’n’Chips. Walk for Water in aid of Cafod takes place on 28th April, see poster in porch. Please remember in your prayers the Children preparing for First Holy Communion on 9th June.

Be a Fool for Christ

2012-04-19T06:21:00.000+01:00

Today's reading, Acts 5: 27-33, shows us the Apostles witnessing in the Temple to Jesus Christ, before the High Priest and elders after having been released miraculously from prison. They had been put into prison by the order of the same people before whom they are now bearing witness, loudly and passionately.

And today's Reflection in Bible Alive talks about their being "fools for Christ", that they were ready to endure ridicule for their devotion to Christ and for their telling about him out loud, in public. As I was reading the passage I was struck by the fact of their speaking out publicly about Christ. I find it difficult to do so, but this reading gives me a greater urge to do so . . .

Chris

No sin too great . . .

2012-04-07T17:37:00.000+01:00

This is a bit late, I know, but I meant to put this on the Blog a few days ago. For reference, see the Bible Alive Reflections from Wednesday.

At this time of the Church's calendar we are supposed to go to confession, to cap off the 40 days of abstinence and prayer in Lent. But sometimes it seems that we have been so sinful, or so repeatedly sinful indeed, that we feel that we can't go and confess our sins AGAIN. How can we really be repenting if we keep repeating the sins?

But the daily reflection from Wednesday says it all, really. First, that Jesus loved Judas Iscariot until the end, so he must continue to love us, surely. Secondly, that there is no sin so bad (or repeatedly bad) that Jesus will not forgive us.

And the prayer from Wednesday's reflection is,

Lord, no sin is beyond your mercy; no offence so grave that you will not forgive. But you need our sorrow, our contrition, our repentance and our resolve to live a new life.

And I always feel much, much better for having said my confession . . .

Chris

Mass & Service Times in Holy week starting 1st April 2012

2012-03-31T21:25:00.006+01:00

Holy Week begins this Sunday; Palm Sunday 1st April.
The Mass & Service times during Holy week are as follows
Palm Sunday Mass 8.30 & 10 am (Sat Vigil Mass 6.30 pm)
Monday 2nd April Mass at 7pm followed by confession.
Tuesday 3rd April Mass at 9.30am followed by confession.
Wednesday 4th NO Mass.
Maundy Thursday Mass 7pm.
Good Friday    1) 10.45am Silent Walk of Witness leaves the Pentelcosat Church Crab Lane (by the
                Library Car Park)
                       2) 3 pm Celebration of Christ’s Passion (in St. Peter’s).
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 8pm
Easter Sunday 1) Mass   8.30 am.
    2) Mass 10.00 am.

5th Sunday of Lent 25th March 2012

2012-03-31T21:14:00.001+01:00

St.Peter’s Catholic Church. Station Road.Biggleswade

Last Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent the gospel reading is John 12:20-33 this passage comes at the end of the public ministry of Jesus when the great travellers of the time the Greeks, came for an audience with him. During which, Jesus gave the reason for his visit to Jerusalem this being the time of fulfilment when he would be glorified through his suffering and death on the cross. Jesus also told his disciples a short parable about the nature of seeds to explain the spiritual significance of death and rebirth. Today as then, in Nature, death and life are a natural cycle through which the propagation of species occurs. Seeds need to be planted in earth so that they can grow to bare harvest. This can be seen as a metaphor of Jesus’ own death, burial in the tomb and resurrection. Jesus’ death on the cross obtained for us freedom and new life in the Holy Spirit.

Updated Minister Lists

2012-03-07T06:33:00.000Z

Dear All

I have updated the Minister lists; sorry for the delay.

Chris

Reminder – Carmelite Spirituality Group

2012-02-17T22:09:00.000Z

This is a reminder that the meeting of the Carmelite Spirituality Group will take place on Ash Wednesday after the 7pm Mass.

Chris

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