3rd Sunday

[...]  the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death  light has dawned.

Matthew 4:16

2nd Sunday A

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

Baptism of the Lord

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heavensaid, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

  Matthew 3:16-17

The Epiphany

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2

The Holy Family Sunday

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."

Matthew 2:13

Christmas

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

John 1: 14

Joy to the World: the Lord has come! Merry Christmas!

4th S of Advent

 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). 

Matthew 1:23

3rd Sunday of Advent

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:11

2nd Sunday of Advent

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Matthew 3:1-3

Christmas bazaar

CHRISTMAS FAYRE; Thank to everyone who helped make Saturday such a great success – for those who organised the day, those who prepared the stalls , those who cooked , those who donated gifts and cakes - those who came and supported the day = EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE IT SUCH A HAPPY DAY.

Advent

PASTORAL LETTER

on

WAKE UP CALL

My dear People,

Advent is a wake- up call; and wake up calls are all the more important on dark winter mornings; and all the more difficult to respond to!

Indeed, in the Reading from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans which we have just heard he said:

‘You must wake up now….the night is almost over…

it will be daylight soon’ (Romans 13: 11-12).

The purpose of this wake- up call is very clear. It’s not simply to get us out of bed, but it’s a call to renew in our hearts and minds the demands of Faith:

‘Let us give up all the things we prefer to do under the cover of the dark;

Let us arm ourselves and appear in the light’ (Romans 13:12).

Advent is the time to refresh in our lives the patterns by which we follow Christ and are attentive to Him. Indeed, Jesus uses the same language:

‘Stay awake,’ he says, ‘because you do not know the hour

when the Master is coming’ (Matthew 24:42).

Four times in a relatively short Gospel we have this phrase ‘Stay awake’. Vivid and immediate are the warnings. They are conveyed through the person of a doorkeeper who must stay alert since the Master may return unexpectedly and must not find us sleeping.

This invites us to be in a state of readiness and yearning. It means keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord; it means trying to live the life he wants us to live. I find it beautifully expressed in these words of Blessed John Henry Newman:

‘That person watches for Christ who has a sensitive, eager, apprehensive mind;

who is awake, alive, quick-sighted and zealous in seeking and honouring Him

and who looks out for Him in all that happens and does not lose sight of His Crucifixion and Resurrection.

That person watches for Christ, who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed

If they found He was coming, at once.’

May this Advent be a time of profound grace and joy for you all. Let us not be distracted by the commercialism of the season, but stay awake to its deeper meaning and rejoice in its blessings.

+ Thomas
Bishop of Brentwood

Christ the King

 And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Luke 23: 43

32nd Sunday

 And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage;  but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,  for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

 Luke 20:34-36

31st Sunday

THANK YOU to all who helped make the celebration of ST.CEDD’S FEAST so special last Sunday.

For the prayerful Mass with music and the children’s welcoming hymn, the Bidding prayer in 11 languages, the African Offertory Procession and the great participation of everyone in the Mass. Special thanks to all those who donated food and drink for the lunch in the hall and especially to those who organised the occasion. It was a very happy day.

St Cedd pray for our parish

Feast of Saint Cedd

Today in our parish we are celebrating our Parish Feast of St Cedd. In 653 St.Cedd sailed from Lindisfarne, an outpost of Iona,Northumbria, as part of the Celtic mission and landed at Bradwell on Sea, in Essex. He spread the Faith with people of Essex and built a chapel which is still there today.

St.Cedd pray for us and our parish. 

29th Sunday

And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

 Luke 18:7

after Mission

Thanks be to God for the last week and such a blessed time. 

the door is opened

Come in and be part of

Parish Mission - Monday to Friday (8-11 October 2013)

3, 2, 1... mission

Heavenly Father,
We pray that our Parish Mission may be a time of grace and renewal for all.
We ask you to bless all families in our Parish especially those who are expecting difficulties.
Bless the old, the young, the poor, the sick, the unemployed and those in sorrow or despair.
Help us dear Lord to grow in faith and love of you. Amen.

UK and PL prayer