ADVENT WAITING, WANTING Our Advent season has begun. We are now in a time of waiting, wanting and anticipating. While the Christmas rush excites and is demanding, we can all get so caught up in the consumer mentality of buying presents, decorating and cleaning, so that everything is right. While Advent is a time of waiting and wanting; for some, it is a waiting and wanting that all this Christmas stuff is over, because some people find it a hard and difficult time. The loss of a loved one, money worries and ever- escalating bills can cause a lot of anxiety at this time. As our society is becoming more secular in mentality, we have tended to leave the Christ-child out of Christmas. We have replaced Christ with an X and prefer to call it Xmas. Xmas has no real meaning, if Christ is not at the centre. Maybe, as we begin this season of Advent, we could bring Christ back to our preparation and waiting…to give this Child a chance to change us and our world. After all, His name is Emmanuel…a name which means God is with us!
To bring Christ back to Christmas – The greatest gifts you might give this year are:
∗ peace in family life,
∗ consolation and comfort to the broken hearted and the lost,
∗ and strength to those who are worried and afraid.
You cant box and wrap this stuff.
At the end of the day…Jesus is the Reason for the Season.
The Advent Wreath
There are five candles on the wreath. They remind us of the four Sundays of Advent and Christmas Eve. Three are purple and one pink and one white.
The 1st Sunday Symbolizes HOPE with the Prophet's Candle Jesus is Coming
The 2nd Sunday Symbolizes FAITH with the Bethlehem Candle Mary & Joseph's journey to Bethlehem
The 3rd Sunday Symbolizes JOY with the Shepherd's Candle. Joy at the coming birth of Jesus
The 4th Symbolizes PEACE with the Angel's Candle The Message of the Angels: "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men"
The 5th The White candle is the CHRIST Candle lit on Christmas Eve.
Give yourself a gift of Peace this Advent
On the Wednesdays of Advent there will be Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament after the 10am Mass until 11am, including our Mass we will have an hour with the Lord. Why not join us for an hour each week. Silence and prayer are the key to peace. Why not give yourself this gift?
Parish Christmas & Triduum Cards
The Parish Christmas Card and Christmas Triduum Mass Card available in the Parish Office after Mass today and during the week for a short while after the 10am Mass. The Triduum of Masses will be offered on 23, 24, 25 Dec.
Parish Assembly will meet in the Parish Centre on this Monday 28th Nov. at 8pm to plan the arrival of the Eucharistic Congress Bell and the Hour of Prayer in our Parish on the 9th Dec.
Dates for your Diary
28th Nov. Parish Assembly Meeting at 8pm
4th Dec. Senior Citizens Christmas Party in Nemo Rangers at 3pm
6th Dec. Carol Concert /Nativity Play with the Pupils of Bunscoil Chriost Ri, Colaiste Chriost Ri, Christ King Girls Secondary School, Parish Choir & School Choirs in the Church 7.30pm.
9th Dec. The Eucharistic Congress Bell will arrive in our Parish. From Congress Rd it will be brought in procession to the Church via Derrynane Rd. OConnell Ave & Evergreen Rd. where there will be an hour of prayer from 7.30pm. It will overnight in our Church.
11th Dec. Giving Sunday, and the St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Collection.
12th Dec. Parish Assembly Meeting 8pm
17th-18th Dec. Penitential Rites (Confessions)
Pariah Calendars: Next weekend we would appreciate if the area collectors would collect the 2012 Calendars to distribute to their area.
Turners Cross Senior Citizens Christmas Party in Nemo Rangers Sun. 4th Dec. at 3pm. Names must be handed into to Sacristy today
Death: We remember in our prayers Br. Leopold OMahony who died recently we extend our sympathy to his family and the Presentation Community at Maiville
Mass times: Throughout our Diocese in every Parish there will be a reduction of weekend Masses beginning on the weekend of the 1st January. Here in Christ the King Church our Mass times will be Saturday Vigil 6pm. Sunday 10am and 12noon. Working Holydays Vigil 6pm, Day 10am & 6pm The new times of Masses in surrounding parishes will be to hand shortly.
Advent Prayers of the Faithful.
Our thanks to all the teenagers who have volunteered to read the prayers of the faithful during the Advent Season – well done.
First Friday: Fr. Kerry & Fr. Charlie will visit the sick and the housebound this coming Thursday & Friday at the usual times.
Christmas gifts with a difference.
Last year there was a very good response to the Gift with a difference. Are you searching for a Christmas gift idea? You can purchase one of the Trocaire gifts and get the card to sent or give to a friend. They are available at the back of the Church from members of the Parish Assembly. This Christmas change someone's world for the better with a Trócaire Gift. Taking a moment to think of others is what Christmas is all about and this is your chance to change someone's world with a gift they truly need.
Turners Cross Gramophone Society: recital will be held on Tues. 29th Nov. at 7.30om. in the Parish Centre. Presenter Billy Collins.
Mass of Remembrance for the deceased staff and students of Christ King Secondary School will be held in the school on Mon. Dec. 5th at 7pm.