All posts by 3 churches

Christ the King bidding prayers, 4th Sunday of Lent (6 March 2016)

bidding prayers, Christ the King

Note to Reader: Please PAUSE as directed between the Intention and the Response. Please read the response all the way through with the congregation especially where it is longer than usual

Priest:  As we listen to the story of the prodigal son in today’s readings we are reminded of the Father’s endless love for us constantly calling us back to Him

R. Our response  is “Lord , your mercy is our hope”

R. We ask the Lord to bless and support His Church throughout the world bearing in mind especially the plight of Christians in the Middle East

PAUSE

R. We pray

Lord your mercy is our hope

R. Through the news bulletins we are constantly aware of the plight of the refugees and migrants. Let us pray for these stricken people and their families as they seek a new and safer life

PAUSE

R We pray

Lord your mercy is our hope

R. We are mindful of our brothers and sisters who are sick in mind or body and pray for them and their families and all who care for them

PAUSE

R. We pray

Lord your mercy is our hope

R. Let us pray for all in our parish families who mourn. May the Lord find wys and people to comfort them in their time of loss

PAUSE

R. We pray

Lord your mercy is our hope

R. As we try to understand he many arguments about the future of our country either in or out of the European community we ask the Lord to guide us to produce a fair and  humane society based on Christian principles

PAUSE

R. We pray

Lord your mercy is our hope

R. In the silence of our hearts let us listen to the voice of Our Father

LONGER PAUSE

R. We ask Mary the mother of Our Lord to join us in prayer saying HAIL MARY….etc.

Priest: Lord Merciful Father listen to our petitions and grant them through Jesus your Son who lives with you and the Holy Spirit forever

AMEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Churches Info

3 churches, lent

Visitors often tell me that there seems to be a lot going on in our 3 Churches, going by what is a full newsletter every week, often with things queuing up to get in. They are right – but sometimes we only realize it when we try to put useful parish info together.

Our 3 Churches Evangelization and Pastoral group felt it was time to do a new edition of our information leaflet, and so you should receive one today with this newsletter. It contains loads of information on many different aspects of parish life. Please do not file it in the bin, mainly because it is meant to be a useful resource for you – but also because it has taken a few people a lot of time!

In the next week or two we will publish a second sheet, this time giving more detailed info on the surprising number of groups and activities in our Churches that encourage prayer and discussion. Again, new parishioners sometimes ask what there is to join, while “oldies” are often unaware of just how much is going on.

PS By the way, check out the new Archdiocesan website at rcadc.org

Communication – Community – Communion……it all helps to make us one!

Fr Matthew

REFLECTION after Communion this weekend. Use it at home too…

The Mercy of God is patient.
God tends us – and nurtures us,
and gives us time to grow to fruitfulness.
God of love and compassion,
teach us to be patient with ourselves
and with others.
Help us to be open to the feeding and pruning we may need to become fruitful disciples in your Kingdom.
And give us the grace to repent,
seek your mercy, and enjoy your forgiveness. Amen

Christ the King bidding prayers, 3rd Sunday in Lent (25 Feb 2016)

bidding prayers, Christ the King

Priest  We pray that our journey through Lent will make us more aware of our needs

The response is   The Lord is compassion and love

We pray for the Church that it will be slow to anger and rich in mercy in order to overcome evil with good    PAUSE

The Lord …….is compassion and love

As the peace candle sheds its light in a number  of homes we pray for peace and peacemakers, for those who suffer and those who care for them

PAUSE      The Lord …….is compassion and love

We pray for the people of Wales as we celebrate St David’s Day.  May they remember their Christian heritage.         PAUSE

The Lord …….is compassion and love

Lent is a time when we ask forgiveness and honestly admit our sins.  We remember the messages of Jesus, messages of  love, justice and mercy

PAUSE     The Lord……….is compassion and love

We pray for women and men who work together for their families and the wider community        PAUSE      The Lord ……..is compassion and love

We pray quietly for our own needs           LONGER PAUSE

We ask Mary to be our refuge as we say      Hail Mary ………….

Heavenly Father we make our prayers with trust and hope.  We ask this through Jesus your Son and the Holy Spirit for ever Amen

A poem for Lent

lent

Lent is often described as a journey. Jesus was sent by his Father on a journey, into our world. In Lent we join Him on the way to Calvary and beyond. The great modern Welsh poet R.S.Thomas sets the scene…

And God held in his hand
A small globe. Look, he said. The son looked. Far off,
As through water, he saw
A scorched land of fierce Colour. The light burned There; crusted buildings Cast their shadows: a bright Serpent, a river
Uncoiled itself, radiant
With slime.

On a bare
Hill a bare tree saddened
The Sky. Many people
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed Boughs. The son watched Them. Let me go there, he said.

“The Coming” R.S.Thomas 1913-2000

REFLECTION after Communion this weekend. Use it at home too…

Lord Jesus Christ,
your prayer transfigured your whole being radiating the glory of God and revealing your divinity.
Help us to remember that we are God’s adopted children and that by His grace we too can share in the divine life.
Be with us this Lent as we learn to pray with new joy and show us through your Word, the Sacraments, silence, and time spent in your company that we can become more like you.

Amen