Best Lent Ever

What Is BEST LENT EVER?
It’s a free email program that will guide you on an incredible 40-day journey to become the-best-version-of-yourself, making this a truly life-changing Lent     DynamicCatholic.com/40Days

Homily on Matthew 25

People’s basic material needs have to be taken care of before any kind of higher life is possible. Jesus said that his followers would be judged on their response to those needs. Most people around us have those needs more or less taken care of. But the words of Jesus are still very relevant for the bible says that human beings do not live on bread alone, that is on material things alone. We have many other needs.

Mother Teresa was always saying: ‘The biggest disease in the world today is not leprosy or TB, but the feeling of being unwanted and uncared for.’ The greatest evil in the world is lack of love, the terrible indifference towards our neighbor. What the poor and not just the poor need even more than food, clothes and shelter is to be wanted. So the words of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel are as relevant as ever. This is what it will be like when we die and go to be with Jesus.

The King will turn to those on his right hand and say: ‘Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry for a smile and you smiled at me. I was hungry for a word of encouragement and you praised me. I was hungry for a word of appreciation and you thanked me.

‘I was thirsty for a word of recognition and you took notice of me. I was thirsty for a sign of friendship and you wrote me a letter or phoned me or even sent a text. I was thirsty for a little companionship and you stopped to chat with me.

I was a stranger and you made me feel welcome. I was a young person from a bad area and you gave me a job. I felt socially inferior to you but by your acceptance you built me up.

‘I was naked for want of self worth and you covered me with esteem. I was stripped of self-confidence and you dressed me in the cloak of confidence. I was naked from the loss of my good name, through gossip that was untrue and you clothed me in the garment of truth.

‘I was sick with doubt and worry and with your cheerful attitude you lightened my burden. I was wounded by failure and disappointment and by your supportive attitude you healed me. I was in a pit of depression and by your patient attitude you gave me hope.

‘I was in a prison of nerves and through your attitude of calm you set me free. I was in a prison of loneliness and through friendship you released me. I was in a prison of guilt and through your forgiveness you broke the chains of my guilt.

‘I was homeless for want of tenderness and affection, and you hugged me. I was homeless for want of sympathy and understanding and you listened to me. I was homeless for want of care, of love, and acceptance and you opened your heart and took me in.

There are so many kind things we could do for one another if we were a little more aware and sensitive. It is not a question of doing great things but of doing little things with great love as Mother Teresa says. Nor in most cases is it a matter of giving things. Rather it is a question of giving of ourselves, of our time, of our energy, of our love. Those who love genuinely do so without show and without expecting any reward. We are serving Christ and helping to build his kingdom when we love others sincerely, in simple practical everyday ways.

Wouldn’t it be terrible to have to appear before Jesus never having loved. Today’s Gospel is so important and central that if we were to forget everything else and remember and practise only this, we would be ok. For a Christian there is only one failure, one sin and that is not to love.

In the evening of our life we shall be examined on love. (St John of the Cross)

John has appeared before Our Lord Jesus Christ, his judge but also his saviour. How will we fare when our day comes?

 

 

 

Father Terry - funeral arrangements

Vigil Mass : Thursday 17 September at 7pm in Our Lady and St John’s, Heswall                
Funeral Mass : Friday 18 September at 10.15am in St Joseph’s Birkenhead   

Father Terry Boylan

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Father Terry Boylan on Sunday 6th September at his home in Pensby.

Please pray for him, his family and the communities he served.

Details of funeral arrangements will be displayed here when they are known.

Asylum Link Volunteers Day: 5th September 2015

Christian Aid week 2015

Christian Aid Week 10th - 16th May 2015

Churches Together in Heswall

supporting Christian Aid Week 10th - 16th May 2015

A chance to work alongside other Christians

On Sunday 10th May there will be a service led by the Friends at Heswall Methodist Church at 6.30pm as the week begins. House to House collection should be completed by 16th May.

Afraid, alone, in pain

Be the answer to Loko’s prayer this Christian Aid Week.

This Christian Aid Week, you can help transform the lives of women like Loko.

From 10-16 May, churches the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland will come together to pray, campaign and raise money to improve the lives of people like Loko.

Every year, 100,000 volunteers demonstrate God’s love for the poor by taking part in house-to-house collections for Christian Aid.

This fantastic witness is a chance to take the mission of the church into your community.

Loko’s choice in life is simple: ‘If I can’t collect firewood, my children will die.’

Four times a week, in a remote corner of Ethiopia, Loko makes a back-breaking eight-hour trip to gather wood. It’s a task she dreads, but she steels herself to do it because if she doesn’t her children will starve.

She prays to God as she walks. ‘I ask him to change my life and lead us out of this,’ she says.

Just £5 could give Loko a loan to start her own business buying and selling tea and coffee, freeing her from her desperate task and allowing her to spend more time caring for her family.

Find out how you can play your part at www.caweek.org




UK registered charity no. 1105851 Company no. 5171525 Scot charity no. SC039150 NI charity no. XR94639 Company no. NI059154 ROI charity no. CHY 6998 Company no. 426928 . The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance. © Christian Aid November 2014 15-J3099. Photo: Christian Aid/Andrew Testa/Panos

Churches Together in Heswall - Good Friday Walk of Witness

Churches Together in Heswall





Good Friday

Walk of Witness

 

Starting from Our Lady and Saint John at 9.30

The walk will process in silence led by the cross and the Churches Together banner through Heswall, pausing for prayer and hymns at each church en route accompanied by Port Sunlight Silver Band. It will end outside Linghams Bookshop with a hymn and reading from Heswall URC

At 10.30 there will be a family service at Heswall URC organised by St Peter’s Church,  followed by refreshments arranged by the URC.

TTIP [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership]

Few people are aware of the existence of the current negotiations between the EU and the USA. There are alarming reports about some of the hidden terms of this proposed trade agreement, which are said to be a threat to both UK citizens and to those in poorer countries. Wirral Trade Justice has prepared a draft letter to be sent to MP's/MEP's pointing out some of the concerns and asking where they stand on TTIP. Copies of this draft letter are available at the back of church. Postal addresses can be found at ww.europarl.org.uk/en/your_meps.html.

Fr. John Seddon, Merseyside County Scout Chaplain sadly passed away

Fr. John Seddon, the Merseyside County Scout Chaplain has sadly passed away. Fr. John supported all scout groups and led many initiatives within scouting.  He will sadly be missed

 Fr John will be received at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Thursday 5th March at 7pm. This will be followed by a short service led by Bishop Tom Williams.  As there are extremely large numbers expected at the funeral mass, the Thursday night service has been arranged so that those unable to attend the Friday mass can pay their respects.  The funeral mass itself will take place on Friday 6th March at 11am at the Cathedral, led by Archbishop McMahon, followed by  internment at SS Peter and Paul RC Church cemetery in Crosby.

Scout Uniform is welcomed by all those wishing to attend either service.  It may also be nice for those Scouting friends to assemble together in the Cathedral to participate in both acts of worship and celebration for John.

Ecumenical Lenten Course @ The Beacon Cafe, Heswall

This Lent an ecumenical course will be running at the Beacon Cafe with the first one scheduled for Wednesday, 25 February between 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm and on the four Wednesdays following in March.

We will be using Praise Him to allow us to explore five songs of praise in the New Testament. Exploring these songs we shall discover what they tell us about God and Jesus and we shall also reflect on what they tell us about us and our faith.

This course has been put together by Dr Paula Gooder, who is Theologian-in -residence for the Bible Society, a Reader in the Church of England and a member of General Synod. Dr Gooder is assisted by Archbishop Justin Welby, Sister Wendy Beckett and actor David Suchet CBE. Methodist Moira Sleight provides the Closing Reflection at the end of each session.

The course comprises of five stand alone sessions (so it doesn’t matter if you miss one):

1. Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14)

2. Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) - Lead by Canon Coonan

3. Humility (Philippians 2.5-11)

4. New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12)

5. Word made flesh (John 1.1-14)

Canon Coonan will be leading the York Conversation on Wednesday 2^nd March on Jesus as the Image of God, an opportunity to reflect, pray and discuss with our fellow Christians in Lent

Mary TV

Hi my names Steve burke I am in holy family parish Pensby. On a pilgrimage to Medjugorje last year I gave my testimony to Mary TV. On a pilgrimage a year or two before Jennie Ray  a well none member of Our lady and St John gave hers also to Mary TV. Jennie and her husband have since moved down south.

Mary TV now has archives for people to look back for folks to view. Testimonies can be inspiring to others and my wife and I watch it once a week as these recording go out on the internet weekly as pilgrims are asked to give their conversion stories.

Mary TV is run by a very blest couple from America, they have 8/or 9 children some I think work out in the TV station in Medjugorje Bosnia that is totally funded by donations from the English speaking pilgrims that have been there.

This weeks no 153 tells the story is from seven  or more years back of how they hoping to get  the project off the ground its about 50 min long but it explains the amazing story and history of this confessional of the world with over 3omillion souls from all four corners of the world  over the last 33 years going there.  I was converted from an atheist RC but atheist there on my first visit aged 46 I have been 13 times. Jennie and her husband spend 2/3 weeks there every year.

Go to www.marytv.tv  then go to Fruits of Medjugorje Archive then the play list:

012 Jennie Ray
135 Steve Burke
153 History
I thought that with it being lent it would be something for people to ponder and a soul from each parish is a good balance. Plus a good few from both parish have been together including Deacon Jeff from Pensby.

God Bless.

Volunteer at The Beacon

What is the Beacon?

A Coffee Shop in Heswall supporting Fairtrade!!

No . . . its so much more than that . . . it is the Church active within the local community. It offers a warm welcome, friendship and pastoral support and care for everyone who comes through the door.

It is run by a wonderful team of volunteers both from within and without the Methodist Church who willingly give of their time throughout the year.  All the profits go to charity.  It has raised many thousands of pounds which has enabled us to support people at home and abroad who are so much less fortunate than ourselves.

 

  

We are in need of a few more volunteers to join the team and would especially like to make this a more ecumenical coffee shop involving as many of the Churches in Heswall as possible.   Maybe your children have now gone to school, or you have recently retired, or are looking for something new to be involved with.   If you can offer the most precious gift you have, your time, for just a few hours a week, a month, whatever you can spare, we would love to hear from you to discuss this further.  

Thank you. Marjorie Griffiths 348 4969

 

                              

E-Mail Update.....Now Working.

E-Mail Update.....

Some of you may have been experiencing some problems over the weekend e-mailing the contact@ourladyandstjohn.org.uk email address.  The problem has now been resolved.  Please do resend any email you may have sent over the past few days, to ensure that we receive it.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sunday 18th January - Sunday 25th January 2015

19th - 23rd January at 12.00 noon
  Prayers followed by light lunch at Friends Meeting House, Telegraph Road

Sunday 25th at 6.30pm
  United Service for The week of Prayer for Christian Unity in URC
  The Speaker is Sister Breda FCJ


The Well is Deep

This year's theme comes to us from the churches of Brazil. Brazilians, who have traditionally been tolerant of their various social classes and ethnic groups, are now living through a time of growing intolerance made manifest in high levels of violence, especially against minorities and the vulnerable. The logic that undergirds this kind of behaviour is competition for the religious market. Increasingly, in Brazil, some Christian groups compete with one another for a place on the mass media, for new members and for public funds.

The Brazilian churches have begun to recognise that intolerance should be dealt with in a positive way - respecting diversity and promoting dialogue as a permanent path of reconciliation and peace in fidelity to the gospel. We can share this recognition. Although the competition between churches is less obvious in our islands, we are well aware that competition and violent discrimination lie beneath the surface of our lives together. Jesus challenges us to acknowledge that diversity is part of God's design, to approach one another in trust and to see the face of God in the face of all men and women.

Churches Together in Britain & Ireland:  www.ctbi.org.uk/681

New Year Resolutions

Some ideas for New Year resolutions:-

1) Spend more time with God, family & friends.

2) Enjoy life more.

3) Get rid of a habit that is holding you back and doing you no good.

4) Try to learn something new about God every week.

5) Make a more determined effort to help other people.

Welcome to the Parish Blog of rcchp

rcchp stand for 'Roman Catholic Parishes of Heswall and Pensby'. This conststs of the parish of Our Lady & St John, Heswall and the parish of Holy Family, Pensby, on the Wirral Peninsula.

Canon Stephen Coonan is Parish Priest of both parishes.