Sunday 21st December 2025 Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A)

"For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
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UPDATE ON MASSES/SERVICES – 
Due to Fr. John being on Sick Leave, the following schedule of Masses/Services will continue and be reviewed at the end of January 2026. Many thanks for your understanding and please keep Fr. John in your prayers.
​There is a little flyer in the porch with these details on it. If you haven't already done so, pick one up and for anyone you know.
 
 St Andrew's, Bearsden. 

• Vigil Mass (Saturday evening) - 5.30p.m. 
• Sunday Morning Mass - 10a.m. with Confessions before Mass from 9.10a.m. to 9.40a.m.
• If you wish to speak to Fr. Michael on Sunday mornings, it would be good to do this after Confessions have finished. 
• Eucharistic Service - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - 10a.m. 
• Masses - Thursday and Friday-10a.m. 
• Saturday mornings Holy Hour 10a.m.-11a.m.This usually takes place every Saturday and you are welcome to pop in for whatever amount of time you can give.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Wednesday, 17th December

• ​Advent Confessions from 6p.m.-7p.m.

Christmas Eve

• Vigil Mass - 5p.m.
• Carol Service - 8.30p.m
• 'Midnight' Mass at 9p.m.

Christmas Day

• Mass - 10.30a.m.
• No Mass Boxing Day. 

New Year's Day Mass

• Mass 10a.m.
• No Mass 2nd January.

​St Joseph's, Milngavie. 

• Vigil Mass - 4p.m. Confessions from 3.30p.m. to 3.40p.m. 
• Sunday Morning Mass - 11.30a.m. 
• Mass - Monday - 10a.m. 
• Eucharistic Service - Wednesday and Friday - 9.30a.m.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

• Christmas Eve - Vigil Mass– 5.30p.m and 7.30p.m. 
• Christmas Day - 10a.m. 
• New Year’s Day Mass – 11.30a.m. 
• Christmas Masses in St. Joseph's this year will be celebrated by Canon Joe McAuley and Canon George Bradburn.

 
Plate Collections
14/12/25:

• Plate - £836.
• Second Collection - St/ Nicholas Care Fund - £1,010.
• Many Thanks.

Some of the Christmas Collection will go towards the Ecclesiastical Fund for those students studying for the Priesthood. 
Second collections January 2026:

• The Feast of the Epiphany (3rd/4th January) - Justice & Peace.
• 24th/25th January - Collection for Assisted Parishes.  

 
Gift Aid. 

• If you would like to join on a regular basis or make a 'one-off' payment, there is a form in the sacristy to fill in or speak to Fr. Michael for more details. 
• If you pay tax, the parish can claim some of it back from the government. 

 
29 Club Christmas Winners:

• £1000 - No.13; Bernadette Mclaughlin
• £250 - No's 29 & 2; Fr. Michael, Mary T. Coyle
• £100 - No's 120 & 64; Thomas Laurie, Kathleen Thomson.
• Well done to all our winners. If you wish to join, speak to a Member of the Club or Fr. Michael.

 
Many thanks to all who attended the Art Sale in Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardonald.
The grand total of £4,585.15 was raised for their Maintenance Fund.
 
The Association of Bearsden Churches (ABC) Carol Singing:

• Raised the magnificent sum of £511.62 at ASDA, Bearsden between the hours of 11:00 and 13:00 on Saturday 13 December.
• The proceeds will be split equally between St Margaret of Scotland Hospice and Glasgow City Mission.
• Thank you so much to the two singers from St Andrew’s who turned up. As one of the largest congregations it is fair to say that our response was disappointing.

 
Roof Repairs. Work should have started on the church roof in order to keep it in good condition. Many thanks for what you hand in. As always, your money isn't simply 'sitting' in the Account.

Catholic Social Teaching Thought for the Week – 21st December
God’s heart has a special place for the poor, so much so that he himself “became poor”. The entire history of our redemption is marked by the presence of the poor. Salvation came to us from the “yes” uttered by a lowly maiden from a small town on the fringes of a great empire.
Evangelii Gaudium, para. 197
 
Laudato Si’ - On Care for our Common Home
Underlying every form of work is a concept of the relationship which we can and must have with what is other than ourselves. Together with the awe-filled contemplation of creation which we find in Saint Francis of Assisi, the Christian spiritual tradition has also developed a rich and balanced understanding of the meaning of work, as, for example, in the life of Blessed Charles de Foucauld and his followers. (#125)
 
Before receiving Holy Communion, we are asked to make some act of reverence such as a bow.
 
Merry Christmas from all at SCIAF:
The time of Advent often brings with it a time of reflection. We would like to extend our gratitude to all our supporters in Parishes across Scotland for their unwavering support of SCIAF throughout the year.  As we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ, our King, we pray that your Christmas is surrounded by love, light, joy, and peace and wish you all the best for 2026.
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The 2026 edition of the Western Catholic Calendar is now on sale in the Piety Stall, priced £3.50.
 
Children's choir dates:

• 21st December
• 25th December
• If your child is not in St Nicholas and would like to join, please contact Annamaria Strachan ([email protected]) 07749 715514 for details.

 
The Church is open until 5p.m. Monday to Saturday. Call in and enjoy the peace and quiet and take time to sit in the stillness in the silence of God.

Tea is served in the hut after daily Mass/Services Monday to Thursday. All most welcome.
 
Please join us in 2026 for the St Mungo Festival.

• Saturday 10th January 11.45 for 12.15. The Life of Mungo in The Mitchell Library, Granville Street with Church and Civic representatives.
• Sunday 11th January 4.00pm. St Mungo Festival Ecumenical Service.  Glasgow Cathedral, Cathedral Precinct, High St with Civic and Church Leaders.
• Monday 12th January 7pm Vigil of St Mungo, Ecumenical Service. St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral, Clyde St. Glasgow.
• All welcome to these free non-ticketed events.

 
Regarding young children who haven’t made their First Communion being given a blessing at Communion time. Parents who wish their child to receive a blessing must come forward, please, in the Communion line to the priest. Many thanks.
 
Our volunteers collect donations every evening from M&S Milngavie and deliver to St Gregory’s, Wyndford Foodbank and Aspire West End which helps people get back on their feet. If you are interested in volunteering or even providing occasional holiday cover, please get in touch with Veronica McLaughlin by email at: [email protected]
 
SSVP at the Ozanam Centre 

• Are looking exclusively for boy’s/men’s jackets, jeans and trainers as these are in high demand just now.  
• They must be clean and wearable, not ruined.  
• The sort of thing that has just been grown out of.
• Contact [email protected] and we will come and uplift

  
Support for Drumchapel Foodbank.

• Non-perishable food items are always gratefully received. Please place in the box in the Church porch during usual opening times.
• Donations can be taken straight to the Foodbank at Ladyloan Pl Unit 9, G15 8LB.
• We regularly use cash donations to purchase food items for delivery straight to the foodbank.
• Our rota is always looking for more foodbank volunteer drivers. If you can help, please contact [email protected].
• Thank you for continuing to give the foodbank your support.

Christmas Animals

• Without the animals, it was almost impossible for Mary and Joseph to reach Bethlehem...and for the Three Kings and the Shepherds to join them there.
• An invitation to us to make our own personal journey to Christmas. no matter how difficult.
• The Good News is that it doesn't matter if we are 'Naughty' or 'Nice'. Every one of us has a place at the Manger, and a place in Jesus' heart.
• Happy Christmas, one and all... Thank you for your support of 'aWordinyourear' Channel. 

​Parish Bulletin

• Items for inclusion should be sent to [email protected] by 5p.m. on the Tuesday before publication, maximum 80 words.
• The Parish Bulletin is available weekly on our website/by email for all those on our Parish database (subscribe here to have it emailed weekly) and on the noticeboard in the Church porch.​

Please remember in your prayers those in need, those who are sick and housebound and those in hospital.
Recently Deceased: Canon Tommy Hendry, Frank Brady, Geraldine Gibbons, Lewis Hannah, Fred McDermott, Hugh McGill, Matthew Rawling and Douglas West.
Anniversaries: Margaret Campbell, Liz Catterson, Bernard Connolly, William Doherty, Rachael Donnelly, Charlie Harkins, Patrick Murray, Eva Nicholson, Agnes Reilly, Rae Russell and Helen and Alec Walker.