(front of) newsletter, 18th December, 2016

St. Mary Star of the Sea   1 High Street, HASTINGS TN34 3EY

Tel: 01424 421263              Email: stmaryshastings@outlook.com

(Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Trust – Registered Charity 252878)

Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines)

Parish Deacon: Rev. Duncan Brown.                                                           Priest: Mgr Tony Harris, SCA

Normal Mass Times

Sundays: 6.00pm (Sat), 10.00am, 11.30am. Tuesday to Saturday: 10.00am

Adoration: First Friday of Month 10.30am to 12 noon. Saturdays: 10.30am to 11am.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays 10.30am and after the 6.00pm Mass.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

18^th December 2016             YEAR A         Parish Mass Book page 90

A BIG THANK YOU To Wendy, Jenny and Richard and their four little helpers who decorated our Christmas tree so beautifully. Thanks also to Denis and Dawn for assembling the crib. -------------------------------------------------------- CHRISTMAS PRESENTATIONS Congratulations to the pupils and staff of the Sacred Heart School on two excellent Christmas presentations. A credit to the school. ---------------------------------------------------------- PARISH MATTERS  Deacon Duncan  can be contacted on  07766 828612  for help on parish matters ------------------------------------------------------- FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS There will be a second collection today to decorate the church for Christmas. PARISH FINANCES The offertory collection last weekend came to £776.53 including cheques and standing orders. Many thanks to all concerned. ------------------------------------------------------- THE CHURCH CHRISTMAS COLLECTION is for the support of the priest. -------------------------------------------------- CHURCH CHRISTMAS CLEAN-UP on Wednesday morning, 21st December from 8.30am to 10am. All welcome. RECONCILIATION SERVICE in St Thomas of Canterbury, Magdalen Road, on Wednesday 21st December at 7.30pm. An opportunity to go to Confession.  ------------------------------------------------------------- CHILDREN’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY 3 – 4.30pm party tea, disco and games. £3 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tea, coffee and cake of course. All children, parents and carers welcome! Tickets after 10am Mass or from Sacred Heart School Office.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME CHRISTMAS EVE: CHILDREN’S MASS at 5pm. Children are welcome to come dressed as any Nativity character they want – angels, shepherds etc. BLESSING OF INFANT JESUS NATIVITY FIGURES We invite all families to the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve to bring the statue of the Baby Jesus from their own cribs at home to be blessed. CAROL SINGING: 9.30pm MASS OF THE NATIVITY: 10pm CHRISTMAS DAY: Masses at 10am and 11.30am. ------------------------------------------------------------ REHEARSAL If your child would like to take part in acting out the Nativity during the Gospel at the Children’s 5pm Mass, please give your name either to Mrs Allen or to Mrs O’Connor. We will have a short rehearsal today, Sunday 18th December, after the 10am Mass and again on Friday 23rd December at 10am. A CHRISTMAS DAY PRAYER Loving God, help us to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds and worship of the Wise Men. Close the door of hate, and open the door of love all over the world. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Robert Louis Stevenson. ------------------------------------------------------------ A THOUGHT Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. ------------------------------------------------------ DEACON DUNCAN, FR HERMES AND FR TONY WISH YOU ALL A PEACEFUL AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS.