Almighty God, You are the author and sustainer of all human life; grant that your servant, Elizabeth our Queen, whom you granted a long and happy reign as Monarch of these lands may be forgiven her sins and rewarded with that eternal life promised to all those born again in the water of baptism and power of your Spirit. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God, forever and ever, Amen. Eternal rest, grant to her O Lord, And let Perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, Through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
Prayer for the King
O God, to whom every human power is subject, Grant to your servant His Majesty the King wisdom in the exercise of his high office, so that, always revering to you and striving to please you, he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care the freedom that comes from unity and peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God, forever and ever, Amen.
Alphais widely acknowledged as an outstanding programme for teaching the Christian faith and drawing us into a closer personal relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is designed especially for those of us who don’t go to church, or those who may be unsure, questioning or curious about aspects of our religion and our beliefs. Even people who are active and committed Christians will find that Alphais an excellent refresher for our own faith and is an ideal opportunity to invite any of our friends and/or family who are searching for the meaning of life or seeking an enduring happiness and joy in our lives.
Our online Alpha sessions will be held from 7.30pm to 9.00pm every Thursday evening for 11 weeks (apart from the Holy Spirit Day which will be held on Saturday.) Each evening session will begin with a film on key aspects of the Christian faith, after which there will be an opportunity for questions and small-group discussions.
If you are interested in giving Alpha onlinea try, please enter your name and email address below and hand it in at the back of the Church or hand in to the Presbytery not later than Sunday 28th August. If you can join us please also encourage others to join with you. There is no charge for Alpha
What you will need:A computer (desktop or laptop) with a microphone and camera, or a tablet, or a smartphone (and an ample supply of tea or coffee.) Before the first session set up Zoom on your computer, tablet or smartphone and join a test meeting so that you can check everything works.
I hope that you will have noticed that little by little over the years, I have striven to maintain and enhance the beauty of our church. To identify the change of liturgical seasons the church offers us different colours and one way of expressing this is the use of the altar frontal or antependium.
Fr Eamonn and I have asked Andrew Penson (Penson Ecclesiastical Arts) to produce a reversible altar frontal (Violet and White) to help mark the seasons of Advent and Lent, and Christmas and Eastertide. This will enable the changes to take place easily without the need to get inside the altar every time the season alters. The green fabric marking the Ordinary Sundays of the year will sit inside the altar as it does currently and will not need to be changed.
Andrew has produced a great many of these frontals in this Diocese and others; they are of the finest quality and most worthy for the altar of Our Lord’s Sacrifice. The price will be £1,100.00.
A very generous donation from a parishioner has funded half this cost already. If anyone else wishes to make a contribution, this would be most welcome – perhaps in memory of a loved one? I hope that we would be able to have paid for it in full in time for it to be blessed on the first Sunday of Advent.
Donations can be made in cheque (payable to St Mary Star of the Sea Church and marked ‘for altar’) or cash to the Parish Office. Donations can also be made to the Parish bank account:
Sort Code: 40-05-20
Account Number: 61077155
Please put ALTAR as the reference, or it will have to be added to the General Offertory.
Thank you for working with the children on their books. They are very proud of them and we take time at the beginning of each session so they can show us and each other what they have been doing at home.
THIS SESSION ON THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION WILL TAKE 2 WEEKS.
NEXT WEEK 26th APRIL WE WOULD LIKE ALL THE CHILDREN IN CHURCH. THIS IS TO GO THROUGH HOW THEY ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE SACRAMENT.
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE SACRAMENT (Thinking about the things we have done well, and those times when not been as good as we should be.
DURING THE SACRAMENT
AFTER THE SACRAMENT
All the information is on page 41. Please read it with your child.
This week is about Reconciliation, and much of this week is discussion and drawing.
Pages 34 to 36 is all about Everyday life and who is helping us to get it right. Remind the children about things like learning to swim, ride a bike etc. Who helped them? Mistakes were made but parents/teachers helped them to achieve. God is like the good parent, who encourages us even when we fail.
Page 37. The story of Zacchaeus . Like the story of the Prodigal Son, this is all about Reconciliation.
Read the story and talk about it
What was his job?
Why was Zacchaeus disliked so much
How did the other people feel when Jesus invited himself to dinner at Zacchaeus House?
How did Zacchaeus feel?
What did he do after having dinner with Jesus? Did it make him change his ways and become a better person?
Page 40 and 41
The children will have to say the Act of Sorrow during the sacrament. It is on page 40. It will be written out for them but it is very short and they could try and learn it!
Please help your child to write their own Saying Sorry Prayer
St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church 