Christmastide Greetings from St Chrysostom’s, Manchester
29th December 2011
We hope you are enjoying a few days of peace and rest in these Christmas holidays. Please remember in your prayers at this time Christians in the north of Nigeria who have been suffering attacks from muslim fundamentalists.
We’ve enjoyed worship at Church this Christmas. Our Posada figures of Mary, Joseph and the donkey arrived safely in Church on Christmas Eve for the Crib Service. You can read about their journey and all the places they have visited by visiting here: www.posada2011.wordpress.com
At the Christmas Eve Mass Fr Ian read the ‘Nativity Sermon of St John Chrysostom.’ It was a splendid piece for Christmas, allowing the voice of our patron saint to be heard. It is well worth reading and you will find it on our church blog: www.stchrysostoms.wordpress.com
There is no weekday worship at Church this week. Weekday worship resumes on January 3rd.
This coming Sunday, January 1st is the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.
This is a feast at Christmastime which helps us recall the human and divine nature of Our Lord. For more information on the feast here: http://www.churchyear.net/motherofgod.html
On Sunday, New Year’s Day, we will also pray for ourselves at the beginning of the New Year. At the Angelus after Mass we will use the following prayer, which you may like to us privately also:
God of all times and places, in your love you have brought us safely to the beginning of another year: Accept our thanks for the blessings of the past, renew our strength and courage in the present, and direct all our ways in the future. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord for ever and ever. Amen.
Two thoughts to reflect upon:
What good is it to me if Mary gave birth to the Son of God fourteen hundred years ago and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and in my culture? We are all meant to be Mothers of God. – Meister Eckhart (15th Century German mystic).
If you ever feel distressed during your day – call upon our Lady – just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus please be a mother to me now.’ I must admit this prayer has never failed me – Blessed Mother Teresa
Looking ahead: The Feast of the Epiphany is on Sunday January 8th. Worship as follows:
Saturday 7th January 5.30pm Vigil Mass of the Epiphany (LGBT Communion)
Sunday 8th January: 11am High Mass of the Epiphany 5pm Benediction
