Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Isaiah 40, 1-11; Psalm 84; II Peter 3, 8-14; Mark 1, 1-8

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Marcelle Niemira

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Geraldine Pile

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Margaret Bartlett (1^st Anniversary)

Sunday 5.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Sheila Fields (3^rd Anniversary)

 

Monday 11^th December: Ferial: Isaiah 35, 1-10; Psalm 84; Luke 5, 17-26

8.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Personal Intention

10.40 am: Blacon: Funeral Service for Antti Poutiainen, late of Great Barrow

1.10 pm: University Chapel: Weekly University Mass – All Welcome

1.20 pm: Blacon: Funeral Service for Beryl Mynott, late of Waverton

 

Tuesday 12^th December: Ferial: Isaiah 40, 1-11; Psalm 95; Matthew 18, 12-14

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Alex Barnes (Birthday Remembrance)

7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Primary School Carol Service

 

Wednesday 13^th December: St Lucy: Isaiah 40, 25-31; Psalm 102; Matthew 11, 28-30

11.00 am: Grosvenor Manor Care Home: Service for Residents and Vistors

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Stephen Steele

 

Thursday 14^th December: St John of the Cross: Isaiah 41, 13-20; Psalm 144; Matthew 11, 11-15

10.30 am: Grosvenor Villas Care Home (Crawford’s Walk): Carol Singing

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Barbara Graves 70^th Birthday Thanksgiving

2.30 pm: Oaklands Care Home, Littleton: Carol Singing

 

Friday 15^th December: Ferial: Isaiah 48, 17-19; Psalm 1; Matthew 11, 16-19

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Mike Griffiths (Anniversary)

1.05 pm: High School: Weekly Class Mass

 

Saturday 16^th December: Ferial: Ecclesiasticus 48, 1-11; Psalm 79; Matthew 17, 10-13

10.30 – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions

6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: John, Peter and Pam Newbrook (Birthday Remembrances)

 

 

SUNDAY 17^th  DECEMBER 2023: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR B): GAUDETE SUNDAY

Isaiah 61, 1-11; Psalm Luke 1; I Thessalonians 5, 16-24; John 1, 6-28

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: John, Peter and Pam Newbrook (Birthday Remembrances)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Paul Lawton

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Ann Blythin

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Lal Cook and family

 

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Wendy O’Brien, Jimmy McCahy, Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, James Convey, Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Ruth O’Kane, and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Alan Bonner, Stephen Parry, Maureen Carroll, Joyce Backhouse, Antti Poutiainen and Beryl Mynott; and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Margaret Aspinall, Geoff Crank, Betty Kinsey, Margaret Brotherston, Joan Finney, Peter Wyn Jones, Fred Fazey, Elizabeth Clark, Tom McLoughlin, Patrick McDonough, Margaret Ilott, Patrick Walsh, George Baxter, Bill Gough, Irene Kite, William Barron, Antonio Nardini, Finn Abberton, Joan Baxter, Edith Dodd and Michael Griffiths, Maurice Power, Jack O’Gorman. May they all Rest in Peace.

 

Parish Information and Contacts

Live Streaming Link: www.churchservices.tv/stwerburghchester.

SVP: svpchester@gmail.com     Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.

St Werburgh’s is part of the Diocese of Shrewsbury: Registered Charity No 234025.

Safeguarding: safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello: 07813743723 and Chris Proudfoot: 07711495070

Parish events

Live Streaming Now Officially Launched

Via the Parish website (follow the link from the home page) or at

https://www.churchservices.tv/stwerburghchester

 It shows a fixed view from the back of the Church of the whole sanctuary area (inc pulpit & lecterns) and the first three rows of the congregation.

 

Christmas Times: 196/300 Booked for 4.30 pm!

• Christmas Eve: 4.30, 6.00, 8.30 and 11.30 pm. Booking Essential for the 4.30 pm: 196 booked so far!
• Christmas Day: 9.00 am and 10.45 am.
• Boxing Day: 10.00 am: Altar Servers Mass.

 

Christmas Volunteer Rota Out Today

For all those hundred and one volunteer roles.

Please sign up today if you can help out in any way. We need a tip-top team (good, eh?) of Welcomers in particular, to give everyone coming at Christmas, Werbie and Wizziter, the warmest of welcomes.

 

Christmas Flowers: Second Collection Today

 

Would Make Beautiful Christmas Presents…

We’ve had donated two new Ukuleles, in cases, with Instruction Booklets – they might be a breeding pair, but I can’t be sure – and a lovely Stamp Album mainly featuring Vatican Stamps. On the table at the back of church for your inspection. Sealed bids to FP please, and all proceeds to Caritas.

 

Repository: Final Two Weeks before Blackpool…

Bernice and Paula are heading off to Mrs Peabody’s Guest House on the South Shore on 21^st December for their usual Turkey and Tinsel Christmas: last chance to buy your Christmas Cards today and next Sunday.

 

Church Library Last Open Morning  of This Year

Monday 18^th December, 9.30 – 11.30 am, with a good selection of books on display on Advent and Christmas. Everyone welcome – why not bring the youngsters and get them into the Library habit?

 

Primary School Raffle: £884 Raised!

Wonderful result and Mrs Baggs and team would like to thank everyone who supported. The four prizes were all won by Parishioners, and given to the PP…

 

Upcoming Christmas Concerts in Our Church

• Tuesday 12^th Dec: 7.00 pm: Primary School
• Saturday 16^th Dec: 3.00 pm: Chester Bach Singers
• Sunday 17^th Dec: 3.00 pm: Dee Ensemble

 

Dee Ensemble Sunday 17^th December at 3.00 pm

A return concert by this Ladies Choir, made up of alumni from Chester Music Society Junior Choir. Conductor Anne Rushforth, accompanist Fiona Rushforth. Festive songs, carols and readings.

Free entry and refreshments provided at the end of the concert. Retiring collection for Platform for Life, a Mental Health charity who provide support, counselling and play therapy for low-income families in high deprivation areas around Chester.

 

Message from the Flower Team - Christmas Tree

“There are small white stars at the back of church: please take one, add your special wish and leave it in the box to be added to the tree. No message too small, let’s fill our tree with hope and positivity.”

 

CathSoc Fundraising Events in December

We are planning a 24 hour fast between the 9^th and 10^th of December. To sponsor us, please donate to Mary's Meals using the JustGiving link below: https://www.justgiving.com/page/marysmealsukccathsoc?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmarysmealsukccathsoc&utm_source=whatsapp&utm_campaign=pfp-whatsapp We are also organising a raffle for a Christmas hamper in Church. We will be selling raffle tickets at the 9.00 am and 6.00 pm Masses on the 3^rd and 10^th of December.

 

Tattenhall House Masses

Lovely final Mass of 2023 on Thursday, at Maggie and Dennis’ house, with some festive carols and a batch of my legendary mince pies. We meet again on Thursday 11^th January at Tony and Anne’s. Thanks to all the Tatties who support this monthly Mass in the south-east corner of our Parish and make it such a joyous occasion.

 

CathSoc End-of Term Christmas Meal Tonight

Nineteen of us gathering Sunday evening before the Students head off for Christmas Holidays. Thanks for all your support this term, students, and please keep it going on Sunday evenings throughout 2024!

 

Advent Posada Statue Traveling Round the Parish

The journey began a week ago with the blessing of the Statue. Now it travels around the Parish.

 

Welcome Wednesdays – CAFOD Gift Last Week

Another super Welcome Wednesday last week, the place full and buzzing, and thoroughly enjoying my mince pies and coffee. I’m here to serve. Thanks to all of you who contributed to the buying of a CAFOD present, a goat. Now we just have to try and wrap the blessed thing. If only it would stand still!

 

Advent Prayer Evening Last Wednesday

What a beautiful evening! Huge thanks to the great team who put it all together, and the wonderful number of you who turned up to be nourished by the Advent music, prayers, reflections and visuals. I do hope such parishioner-led services will now become a regular feature of our life together.

 

Carol Singing in the Nursing Homes

Thursday 14^th December: Grosvenor Villas at 11.00, and Oaklands Care Home at 14.30. Come and join us!

 

Liturgy Group Meeting Thursday 14^th Dec 7.00 pm

To put the finishing touches to all the Christmas arrangements. All welcome!

 

High School Christmas Fair Tuesday 19^th December

If you have any books in good condition that you would like to donate, please drop them off at the school reception for the attention of Ana. You are all invited to the Fair, 4.30 pm onwards, Entrance £1, followed by the Carol Service at 6.30 pm.

 

Advent Day by Days Now on Newsstand: £1

Also the Sacred Heart Messengers (£1).

 

Photo of the Week: St Nicholas Cathedral Vienna

This is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, as you can probably guess from its onion-shaped minarets.

Many thanks to Miss Cooper for sending it in!