In Advent we await the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ: not only His first coming in the stable at Bethlehem, but also His second coming at the end of time. Therefore we are strongly commended during this season to ‘stay awake’, alert for the unknown moment when Our Lord will call us to Himself. We are to consciously seek to amend our lives and to take to heart John the Baptist’s call to, “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near.” For God is very near, He is Emmanuel, God with us. At Holy Mass we have a foretaste of that coming, for in the Eucharist He becomes present to us by the power of the Holy Spirit and feeds us with His Grace so that we may be strengthened for His arrival in glory. SERVICES FOR THIS WEEK 3rd December 2023 THIS SUNDAY - Parish Mass at 10.00 am. 4th December MONDAY - No Mass today. 5th December TUESDAY - Mass at 6.30 pm. 6th December WEDNESDAY - Eucharistic Adoration at 11.45 am. Mass at 12.15 pm. 7th December THURSDAY - No Mass today. 8th December FRIDAY - Mass (Book of Common Prayer) at 10.00 am. 9th December SATURDAY - Mass at 10.00 am. - Adult Baptism / Confirmation Class this week at 3.00 pm at the Vicarage. 10th December - Second Sunday of Advent SUNDAY - Parish Mass at 10.00 am. TEA AND COFFEE IS AVAILABLE AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP. PARISH NEWS FORTHCOMING EVENTS THE HEALTHY CHURCH INITIATIVE. Thank you to those of you who have let Shanny have your email addresses. An invite for you to complete an online questionnaire will be making its way to you for you to fill in between the 2nd and 3rd Sunday of Advent ( 10th - 17th December ) Thank you in advance for taking part in this process which will help us to reflect on our Parish life and identify areas where we can improve our ongoing witness and mission outreach. Paper copies are now available for those of you who do not have access to a computer. THE ADULT BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION CLASS continues to meet on Saturday afternoons for those preparing for the reception of these Sacraments. It takes place at 3.00 pm at the Vicarage. Come and join us for the M K Chorale Christmas Concert which takes place here at Saint Martin’s Church on Saturday 16th December at 5pm. The Concert is in aid of Unity Mk, formerly known as MK Winter Night Shelter. Tickets are available via M K Chorale’s Website. £14 for Adults. £4 for those under 25. Some tickets will be available on the door. REPOSITORY - CHURCH GIFT SHOP This is open before and after Mass on Sundays and weekdays selling a wide range of items from religious cards, rosaries, books, crucifixes and icons to mugs, fridge magnets, church diaries, pens and note books. Items can be seen in the glass case by the font at the back of church and in the glass case in the Vestry Hall. Please take a look. OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL takes place each and every Sunday. If you have children between the ages of 5 - 12 they will be most welcome from 10 am in the Vestry Hall. Hope to see you there. IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYERS or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed. My contact details are as follows: Telephone: 07714190663 Email: Vicarstmartin@outlook.com I am also available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 11.30am. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time. Please continue to remember the following in your prayers: For a good keeping of Advent. For our Parish that we may emulate him in our faithfulness to the Gospel and its proclamation and to the care of our brothers and sisters in their need. For our Bishop Paul and all the Parishes that look to him in the Oswestry Episcopal District. For our Sunday School and for the children attending. That the gifts of the Holy Spirit may be ours so that we may grow our Parish and serve the people of Fenny and Bletchley more effectively. For the success of our ‘Growing Healthy Churches’ initiative. For the success of our part of the Fenny Poppers Festival, that it may be an opportunity for others to experience our Church and community positively. For the successful launch of our new Sunday School. For a deepening of our faith and a greater commitment to Christ. For the strength to remain firm in our Christian faith and to give witness to it through our own example. For the people of Turkey after the recent devastating earthquake and for those seeking to aid them at this time. For an end of war in the Ukraine and in Somalia and the re-establishment of Peace. That we may continue to remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves. For those at school, college or University, that they may be kept safe and well. For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents. For the Government, that in this time of rising costs we may see increased integrity within the world of politics. For peace to reign within our homes and amongst one another. For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes. For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there. For Father Victor and Father Ian and for all parish clergy as they seek to continue to make present in our midst the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, the other Sacraments of Christ and offer continuing Pastoral care. For the Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict as it continues settles into its new home in Ponce, Puerto Rico and that it finds the funds to furnish its new Motherhouse. For it’s Abbot, Michael-John Austin, for all of the community and for those new to its life. For the Sick: For Gareth Vaughan, Doris Weatherley, Yvonne and Denis Simpson, Judy Rogers, Benyamin Kha-jeh-pour, Gary Ashby, Richard Lyons, Heather Burke, June Reid, Nicola Monaghan, Rosalio Eluna, Susan Carter, Pam Wilderspin, Jean Holden, Peter White, Paul Ward, David Lingham, Sandra Walduck and Eugenius Yung. For the Departed: For all the recently departed, for those that rest in our Churchyard, and for Grace Funnell, Edith Curtois, Nelson Payne, Daniel Collier and all whose Year’s Mind occurs at this time. Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord. And let Light Perpetual shine upon them. Blessings as always to you and those that are dear to you, Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert)