
to survive all that is going to happen,
and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man."
Advent Family Service of Light—On Sunday 2nd December at 3.00 p.m.—led by the children’s choir. All most welcome.
Adult Faith Development—Advents events—see notice in the church porch.
Christmas Quarterly—Is now due.
Parish Fabric and Finance—The replacement windows of the presbytery—due to begin on Monday 3rd December.
Advent at Pauline Books and Media—Exchange Square Glasgow—Saturday 8th December 2pm Children’s Story Telling—3 to 9 years—children must be accompanied by an adult.
SVDP Christmas Appeal—St. Andrew's SVDP will soon launch their Christmas Appeal. Last year, thanks to your wonderful generosity more than £200 was raised and all of this went to where we felt it was best directed; needy families locally; toys for children of poor families in Govan. Most went to those families, including very grateful asylum seekers, identified by our friends in St. Laurence’s SVDP in Drumchapel. As well as all who helped, we are particularly grateful to Kay Dick of the Padre Pio Prayer Group and other individual parishioners who responded so well, and in some cases, in a very substantial manner. Thank you in anticipation.
Family Christmas Party—The Parish Family Christmas Party will take place on Saturday 15th December 2012, 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. in the Upper Hall. Tickets are priced at £6.00 per family. Please bring a wrapped gift for a child labelled Boy/Girl and age range as a donation to charity. Tickets will be on sale at the Toddler Group every Thursday 10.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. in the Lower Hall or contact Elizabeth Flanagan on 07714241092 or Margaret Doherty on 07717748342.
Family Ceilidh—Many thanks to everyone who came along and supported the Family Ceilidh and helped to make it such a great success. Particular thanks to Stephen and Clare Hayes, Maureen Gregory, David Maguire and Chloe Grossart whose help was invaluable to us. Thanks also to everyone who helped us clear up at the end of the night. All the help and support we received is very much appreciated. Veronica Maguire and Shivonne Hayes.
Festive Teas and Coffees—Sunday 16th December. Please Join us for mince pies and tea/coffee/mulled wine after 10am and 12 noon masses in the Upper Hall. All donations of home baking welcome (no nuts please).
Thanks to the Messengers—We would like to thank all the messengers, especially the new messengers who came along to Monday night’s meeting, all your help is very much appreciated. We do however still need new messengers for the Killmardinny, Gartconnell and Manse Road area. Please write your name and address on the sheet which is on the notice board at the church. John Heath 570 0797.
Christmas Card Postal Service—This weekend, Saturday 1st/Sun 2nd December, you are invited to post your Christmas cards to parishioners in the red Pillar Box in the porch. No stamp required. However, a donation of 10p per item is requested. Post this money also in the box, which is locked. Postal service available this weekend only and up to Tuesday 4th Dec, when sorting will take place. Next weekend Sat 8th/Sun 9th December, you are asked to check your ‘mail box’ and uplift any cards addressed to you. The cards will have been set out alphabetically in the Upper/Lower Hall on tables. Senders are asked to put their name on the back of each envelope, in case cards are not uplifted. The money raided will be distributed amongst Parish organisations and charities, eg SVDP, SPRED etc. This service can only be extended to Parish members. Cards only please and nothing of value enclosed with a card.
Year of Faith—Reverence in Church—We live in a noisy world. Our towns and cities are full of noise. There is noise in the skies and on the roads. There is noise in our homes and even in our churches. And most of all there is noise in our minds and hearts. When we come into church the Sacramental presence of Our Lord in the Tabernacle should lead us to silence. We need to focus, prepare to hear the word of God and have a quiet mind to connect with the Lord. Surely we want to listen to what He has to say to us and being together in this way can make us one … The Body of Christ. We also want our church and parish to be a warm and welcoming place where we greet and speak to one another. There is a time and place for music, for singing, for speaking and a time and place for silence. In so far as possible “no talking” should prevail in the church especially before and after Mass. We can talk in the porch, in the forecourt outside the church and in the halls at the monthly coffee morning.
Advent is a good time for all of us to make an effort to create silence in our church. Please help us to foster a greater spirit of prayer and recollection. Thank you.
Year of Faith—Discussion groups on 6/12 from 7pm to 9pm at the Upper or Lower Hall. Discussion/reflection sheets issued by the Archdiocese are available at the porch of the church.
Christmas Soup Run—There will be a box at the back of the Church until the 7th December for donations to the Christmas Soup Run. Gifts of gents’ toiletries, underwear etc. would be greatly appreciated. If these could be wrapped and labelled with contents this will make our task much easier. Food donations of sandwiches/soft fruit/biscuits/mince pies only for this month please. Arrangements as usual. Many thanks for all your support over the last year. For further information contact Phyllis on 0141 570 1343.
St. Nicholas Care Fund—Please remember to take an Advent Pack.
Forthcoming Ecumenical Events—Blessing of the Crib, Wednesday 5th December 5.30 George Square. Carols for Peace, Sunday 16th December 3pm City Chambers.
AGAP—Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Thursday 13th December St. Mary’s Carlton 7.30pm
Turnbull Hall—Ethics Group The Impact of Socio-Economics Factors on People’s Health. Speaker Sir Harry Burns, Tuesday 4th December at 7.15pm.
Turnbull Politics Group—Catholics and Independence—Peter Kearney, Friday 7th December, Boyd Orr Lecture Theatre One at 6.30pm.
Children’s Choir Dates— 2nd December (3pm Family Advent Service), 9th, 16th, 25th of December at 10am Mass. Any queries please contact Annamaria Strachan 0141 942 9799/07749715514 e mail - [email protected]
Spred—Our parish Spred group will lead the Liturgy at 12.00 Mass on 9th December. You are warmly invited to join us for refreshments afterwards in the Upper Hall.
The Calix Society—See notice at the porch.
Human Rights Day—10th December.
The Ministry of Reader—The Reader has a vital contribution to make to the Liturgy of the Word. This is a very important ministry of service to the whole parish community and we need more Readers in the parish especially at 12 noon Mass. Training and support will be given. If you feel you could make a contribution to this ministry, please speak with Father Donnelly.
Youth Involvement—We are looking for young people to be more involved and included in everyday parish activities. Among areas requiring youth volunteers are:-
Liturgy - new readers, —Coffee Mornings (set up and clearing) - Piety Stall (part of rota age 16+) Justice and Peace Group. Immediate volunteers are required for the Family Advent Service at 3.00 p.m. on 2nd December to help with the children in the hall afterwards. All volunteering may contribute to the Duke of Edinburgh and Caritas Awards. If interested sign up to Facebook—St. Andrew’s Parish Church Bearsden Youth Group or text Erin McGoningle on 07904648817; or James Brady 07917861412 stating the areas you would like to volunteer for.
Russkaya Cappella: Scotland’s Russian choir
Russian music sacred and secular – with a Christmas flavour in St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Milngavie Friday 7 December at 7.30 followed by tea in the Church Hall admission £6/ £4 concessions. Tickets available at the door, or in advance from Milngavie Bookshop.