Harden not your hearts."
Fr. Donnelly’s Retirement—On Friday 4th October Father Donnelly retires from St. Andrew’s parish where he has served for the last eighteen years. To mark his retirement there is a parish function and presentation on Saturday 26th October. All parishioners are most welcome and will have the opportunity to speak with Fr. Donnelly and wish him well.
The Vigil Mass at 6pm will be concelebrated, followed by a wine and cheese in the church hall. There are no tickets for the function and there will be a nominal charge at the bar. Please feel free to come in at any time in the evening until around 9.30pm.
Envelopes for donations for a personal presentation to Father are available at the back of the church. Please return these in the second collection. Cheques are payable to St. Andrew’s Church.
S.C.I.A.F.—(Syria Appeal). Many thanks. The sum collected was £713.00
Liturgy Group—There is a meeting of the Liturgy Group on Tuesday 8th October at 7.30pm in the presbytery.
October Devotions—The rosary is recited each weekday morning, before Mass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Ladies Cabaret and Fun Casino Night in Aid of the White Lily Fund which raises money for Cancer Research in the West of Scotland—Friday 25th October at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Champagne Reception 3 Course Meal, Cabaret and Fun Casino Tables. As always it will be a great night. Tickets cost £45.00 each. Ladies only so why not get together with some friends and take a table of 10. For more information and Ticket, please contact Angela Bruno on 07730615045.
Children’s Choir Dates—November 10th, November 17th, December 8th, December 15th. All at 10.00 a.m. Mass. For queries contact Annamaria Strachan 942-9799 or 07749715514.
Altar Servers—Any young member of the Parish (who has made his/her First Holy Communion) who would like to become an Altar Server is invited to contact Chris Sanders (942-7519) or Fr. Mackle who will gladly take your details. Training sessions are due to commence soon.
Confirmation for the Primary 4—Children will be celebrated on Thursday November 14th (Group 1) and November 21st (Group 2) at 7.30 p.m. Near the time, the school will arrange the groups. If parents wish to change the allotted group, please inform the school. If children are not attending St. Andrew’s Primary, please chose either date and arrange that with the Parish Priest.
The Sacraments—Confirmation, Reconciliation (First Confession) and First Communion. Parents intending to present children in the coming year are required to complete an application/enrolment form for each Sacrament—Confirmation (Pink) Reconciliation (Purple) First Communion (Yellow). They are available on the table in the folders at the porch of the church. Please complete and return them to the Parish Priest by 20th October.
Parents Meeting—in preparation for Confirmation and First Communion at the Parish Upper Hall on Thursday 24th October at 7.30 p.m.
P3 Service of Commitment for the Sacraments—At 10.00 a.m. Mass on Sunday 27th October at 10.00 a.m.
White Flower Appeal for S.P.U.C. on Saturday/Sunday 5th/6th October. We are required to uplift the donations outside the church. Thank you.
Parents of Primary 4 Children: The Piety Stall has a large selection of books on Saints’ names on sale for those children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in November.
The Piety Stall - has a large selection of retirement cards on sale.
Coffee Morning—After 10.00 a.m. Sunday 20th October. Please come along and join use. Donations of Home Baking (no nuts please) always gratefully received. This month we are raising funds for Beam (Bearsden and Milngavie talking newspaper Association) which was mentioned in last month’s parish bulletin. Also, many thanks to everyone who came along to last month’s coffee morning. The sum of £120.00 was raised for the Multiple Sclerosis Society Scotland.
Pro-Life Prayer Campaign—See notice on the Church porch.
Westerton Church—Is hosting an event ‘Imagine Scotland’s Future’ on Friday 11th October in Westerton Church Hall, Crarae Ave, Bearsden. A community consultation where people can bring along their ideas and discuss the way forward for the country ahead of what will be a momentous year. The event will include structured group discussion and will be part of a national series of community events throughout 2013. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please contact Marlene Anderson, Session Clerk 0141 563 8126 for further information.
Scotland for Marriage—Ask that you email or write to your local MSP Gil Paterson ([email protected]) asking him to vote against Same–sex Marriage Bill and particularly that he raise the following points with the Scottish Government.
Section 14 is wholly inadequate in providing the free speech protections promised by the Government. Instead, the relevant public order legislation should be amended to clearly specify that it is not wrong to criticise same-sex marriage.
The Lord Advocate’s new prosecutorial guidelines on hate crimes are also inadequate. While opposition to same-sex marriage wouldn’t be the sole grounds for prosecution, it could be a factor. The proper way to deal with such an important issue is through specific free speech amendments to existing legislation such as the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.