What's On Dec09

What was on in December 2009

Tuesday 1st December

Service of Reconciliation for Advent starting at 7.30pm. There will be no Mass at 7.15pm. Six priests will be available to hear confessions and you are invited to borrow “Making a Better Confession” from the porch. The service should finish by 8.30pm. Everyone is encouraged to make their confession before Christmas and this is a wonderful opportunity, especially for families.

Tuesdays 1st, 8th, 15th December

Firm Believers, our inter-church fun-fitness class from 7.00–7.45 pm. Last session before Christmas; resumes on 5th January. Click here for further details; any other queries to Doreen Hairs.

Wednesday 2nd December

ECHOES catechists’ training course at 7.45pm. Click here for more details.

The next session will be on 6th January 2010.

First meeting of the Social Centre development "Specification Team" at 8.00pm in the church meeting room.

Thursday 3rd December

Mission and Planning Team (MaP) meeting at 8.00pm in the church meeting room.

Friday 4th December

This morning the staff of St James’ School will be at the Emmaus Centre, West Wickham for a period of spiritual reflection led by Doreen Hairs.

Saturday 5th December

The Wave Climate March in Westminster (starting with a service in Westminster Central Hall led by Archbishop Vincent Nichols and Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury). A group from St James' will going to what is always a thought provoking and fun day, leaving Petts Wood on the 9.29am fast train to London Bridge, and from there to Westminster tube station. CAFOD has asked all parishes to support this event. See the CAFOD FAQ sheet for more details. Please email Roger Wright if you intend to join the parish group.

Also, St James’ School Christmas Fair from 12noon to 3.00pm.

And in the evening, St Michael’s Christmas Social and Grand Draw to be held in the Social Centre. Games, dancing and refreshments and St James' parishioners are also welcome. Tickets will be £5.00 each, children free.

Monday 7th December

St James' Primary School Advent service in church.

Thursday 10th December

Cubs District Carol Service at 7.00pm.

Saturday 12th December

Servers' practice from 10.30-11.30am.

We welcome through Holy Baptism, at 4.30pm, Nathan Terence Dominic Cracknell (4 months), his parents Juliet and Michael, and godparents Francis, Andrew and Suzanne.

Sunday 13th December

Making Christingles for 20th December in the hall after 10.00am Mass (Clare Wakefield).

Over 60s Christmas lunch. Please add your name to the list in the porch. If you need transport please contact Frank Simon.

Monday 14th December

Journey in Faith Christmas Party at 8.00pm in the Presbytery, for all present members and those who have become Catholics in the past two years.

Tuesday 15th December

Sing carols at Petts Wood station for Harris HospiceCare from 6.15pm to about 7.00pm, followed by mince pies at the Methodist church.

At 7.00pm, Sleeping Beauty at Churchill Theatre, Bromley. Contact Suzanne Horner for tickets at £12 on a first come, first served basis.

Wednesday 16th December

St James' School Mass in church at 9.30am.

Saturday 19th December

Help clean the church ready for the Christmas events which start this Sunday. A team of parishioners will be working on this from 9.30am to 12 noon, so please join them for what is always good fun.

Youth Group Christmas party and games, 12noon – 2.30pm for years 7-11.

Christmas Choir practice schedule

Tuesday 8th December 8.00-9.30pm

Tuesday 15th December 8.00-9.30pm

Sunday 20th December 4.00-5.00pm

Sunday 20th December

Christingle Service for children and families in church at 5.30pm.

Christmas refreshments in the hall at 6.00pm.

Thrice Welcome Christmas in church at 6.30pm. This is the third year for the event which has been well received each time by all who attended. There will be carols, Christmas music, readings and poems, after which mulled wine and mince pies will be served in the hall. In addition to the usual wonderful collection of Christmas music, the readings will include the definitive Christmas story from St Luke's gospel as well as poems by Gilbert Thomas, Roger McGough, Adrian Henry, Laurie Lee and Ursula Fanthorpe. And as a special Christmas bonus we offer advice to worried husbands on what to buy their wives for Christmas. This advice is worth the cost of admission alone except there isn't one, admission is free including the mince pies and mulled wine, so why not bring a friend?

Wednesday 23rd December

Come and help to decorate our church for Christmas, starting at 7.00pm. There is no list but we need as many willing hands as possible.

Christmas Masses and other services

Christmas Eve:

Confessions heard 10.00-11.00am

5.00pm Vigil Mass of Christmas

11.20pm carols by candlelight

12.00am Midnight Mass

Christmas Day:

Mass at 10.00am (families and children)

Mass at 11.30am

St Stephen's Day (26th);