Parish Notices - 28th September 2008

26th Sunday of the Year

Today’s Readings:   Ezekiel 18:15-28   Philippians 2:1-11   Matthew 21:28-32
Sunday Missal p. 454ff.

WELCOMING THE STUDENTS  New students will flood into Durham next weekend and Freshers’ Week will begin.  At Freshers’ Fair we hope to welcome new students to St Cuthbert’s by giving them St Cuthbert’s Cross Cakes (iced cup cakes with St Cuthbert’s cross on top).  Baking is a wonderful act of love and welcome, and distributing these cakes is a powerful sign to the students of a loving community.  Please bring your welcome offerings to the Church next weekend or Monday 6th.  Many thanks!  You can extend your welcome by adopting a student (this involves have a student over for dinner, etc.)  contact Margaret Harvey e-mail: margaretharvey@uwclub.net 

MORE RECIPES REQUIRED  Not enough recipes have yet been collected to create a parish recipe book.  I suspect this has more to do with shyness than a lack of creativity.  We hope to have this book produced to catch the Christmas market.

PLANT APPEAL Now is the perfect time to thin your borders!  Here is a wish list for plants needed for the church garden, which will make it look beautiful and can also be used by the flower arrangers for church: Eucalyptus, Fatsia, Elaeagnus (Maculata), Skimmia, Hypericum, Phormium (2 kinds, Red & Green), Pittosporum, Ruskus, Cordyline, Euonymus fortunei, Box (Buxus), Hebe, Rosemary, Senecio, Vibirnum.

SHARED HARVEST  Thank you – the fruits of your summer raised £180.47 in aid of CAFOD.

FAMILY FAST DAY FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER.  CAFOD envelopes are available in church this week.  Please share what you can and stand in solidarity with poor communities in the developing world.  Don’t forget to fill in the gift aid details if you are a taxpayer.

FR PETER LEIGHTON’S CELEBRATION MASS named tickets are available at the back of church for collection.

COME AND SING this Saturday at St Mary’s Cathedral.  Please see noticeboard for more information

THE RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA):  In late October we begin our RCIA process, principally designed for people who are not Catholics but would like to know more with a view to coming into the Church.  It is also for adults who are preparing for a sacrament of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist).  If you, or someone you know, fits into this category, then perhaps you could e-mail Fr Tony with your details so we can meet for a preliminary chat.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL next meeting will be on Wednesday 15th October at 7.30pm.  Agenda items will include:  reports from Parish Committees/Groups, and the Annual Financial Report.  If there are any other matters you wish to raise at the meeting please advise Fr Currer, or Cliona Kear (c.m.kear@durham.ac.uk) before noon on Wednesday 8th October.

FAIR TRADE STALL ROTA available in the narthex in named envelopes for those people who did not receive an e-mail.

MARCH TO END CHILD POVERTY this Saturday 4th October, Trafalgar Square, London.  www.endchildpoverty.org.uk “We must remember that poverty exists in our midst and, following Christ’s example, it is our duty to care for our neighbour.  Just as we seek to end extreme poverty across the world, so we should remember our commitment to end child poverty in the UK.  I encourage you all to support the Keep the Promise rally on 4th October.”  Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor.

OUR TWIN PARISH IN INDIA   Judy McLean and Alison Purvis will present an evening of their trip to Belpahar at 7pm on Friday October 17th at which curry will be served.

DURHAM CHURCHES TOGETHER Prayer Diary “We pray for Elvet Methodist, for the congregation as it adjusts to challenges and opportunities of Circuit changes in staffing.  We pray for the people of Bowburn Methodist, St Mary’s, Shincliffe and St Oswald’s working together with King’s Church.”

NEW POSTERS AT THE BACK OF CHURCH:
•    Mass at St Josephs, Durham, every last Sunday of each month beginning 28th September.  4:30pm Confession, 5pm Mass, 5:40 shared table.
•    Vacancy:  Marriage and Family Life Officer.  Closing date 30th September
•    Local people in crisis – volunteers wanted!  St Cuthberts Care is launching a new community initiative to provide basic essentials to those people in the diocese who are in dire need of support.  Please see poster.