St Chrysostom’s Church Newsletter 17th January 2012
Greetings from St Chrysostom’s Church, on a cold Manchester morning. (Still at freezing point at 11am) Miss Michael, St Chrysostom’s School head teacher was up and about before Daybreak at 4am this morning – why? Find out on the church blog, click here!
Worship this week: Monday 10am Mass at the Sisters, 5pm Vespers, Tuesday (St Anthony and Martin Luther King Day), 5pm Mass, Wednesday 5pm Mass, Fridat (St Sebastian) 5pm Vespers.
Last Sunday Fr John celebrated Mass and preached (Fr Chris was at St Luke’s, Lomgsight, and Fr Ian at St Cuthbert’s, Miles Platting). In the evening we had a lovely little baptism service as we welcomed Aham by baptism as well as Losanka his partner and Nicholas their son. (Photo here. ) Aham is a chef at Petra (Middle Eastern) restaurant, just up the road and has already promised us a special Mousaka! 79 different people attended worship on Sunday at Church.
Next Sunday at 11am Mass we are celebrating our Unity – giving thanks to God who draws us together at St Chrysostom’s from many diverse places and outlooks into the unity of our Christian family meal, the Mass. The preacher is Penny King, our parish ordinand, in training for the priesthood at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield. At 5pm on Sunday we will have a special candlelit Vespers, at which we will pray for the peace and unity of all God’s church – an act of worship for Christian Unity week. Why not make a special effort to come to Vespers as well as Mass on Sunday?
Sister Catherine CHN who lived and worked among us until the summer last year is taking life vows in the Community of the Holy Name on February 3rd. Please pray for Catherine as she prepares for this important step. Pray too for the Community of the Holy Name – both in the work of Sr Julie and Sr Lucie, here among us, and also in the whole Community.
Our Rosary group is a relaxed and welcoming group. We are guided in how to say the rosary and we pray it together. This lasts about 20 minutes then we have a time together of chat, and often food. Rosary Group next meets on Monday 23rd at 7.30pm at Church. This time it is followed by food in church together – a Vegetarian Curry. Lisa and Jack would welcome help to prepare the curry on Monday afternoon if you are free – just has a word with them. So far 10 people have said they are coming along – you’d be welcome to join, just put your name on the list in church.
Did you chalk your door with the chalk blessed at Mass at Epiphany? Our blessed chalk has travelled as far as Kensington and Knowsley. (For photographic evidence click here ). There is still time to ask for your home to be blessed – just speak to Father Ian.
Some advance dates: Sunday 29th 11am Mass of Praise on the theme ‘Our Mission.’ Thursday 2nd February (Candlemass) Church lunch at Hollings Training Restaurant (American Diner theme) – sign up for a place. 5pm Mass with Ceremonies.
Thought and Bible text to use in prayer this week: In the Gospel Andrew invites his brother Peter to meet the Lord Jesus, and Philip invites his friend Nathanael. (John 1. 40-end). Philip invites Nathanael to ‘Come and See.’ Similarly we are encouraged to be missionaries to our families and friends to share our faith and to invite them to ‘Come and See’.
