OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE

Below is a list of Advent Reconciliation services happening across our Deanery. Father Tony will be joining Fr Graham on Thursday evening (18th December) at St Peters to hear confessions.

Advent is a solemn, penitential season. Traditionally there are no flowers in the church during this time, however, one of the flower arrangers explains what you will see at CTK in Steyning during Advent:  1st Sunday: the advent wreath is blessed and the first candle is lit  2nd Sunday: a simple arrangement of green foliage on the altar and the porch  3rd ‘Gaudete’ Sunday: a joyful day, variegated foliage is added to bring in some colour. Arrangements are added to the window sills.  4th Sunday: coloured berries are added as the preparation nears completion.  Finally on Christmas Day, the birth of Jesus, and the flowers are added to complete the arrangements and bring joy to all.  You can still donate to the Christmas Flowers fund at masses this weekend. Thank you for your support.

If any children of the parish would like to take part in the mimed telling of the Gospel on Christmas Eve, please speak to Mrs Carter on Sunday, or contact the office: adurvalley@abdiocese.org.uk , so we can get an idea of numbers. Thank you. There will be mince pies and mulled wine served in the Parish Room after the mass. All are welcome.

Times of the Christmas masses at OLQP:

This Sunday, we encourage you all to come together at our SVP Christmas event, after the 9.00am mass, raising money for local people in need this Christmas. We have beautiful tote bags, quilt covers, table runners, stockings and Christmas gift bags of all sizes, all handmade by a craft group for us. Plus you can get a different Christmas outfit for the season, be it a jumper of glittery dress or other outfits for all ages, male and female, and a lot of these are brand new too. There will be a raffle, and cakes of all sizes, where you can buy a slice to take home or sit down and enjoy with your coffee. Scones, fruit crumbles and hot sausage rolls, all freshly made. All are welcome.

We will be watching 'The Way', a film which has inspired thousands to walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Friday 5th December at 7:30pm Fish and Chips will be provided as an optional addition for £10. Please email moviectkchurch@gmail.com if you would like to pre order food. All are welcome

Throughout November, we will have the Books of Remembrance in the church. Please come and write in names of loved ones who have died in the past year (no need to rewrite names from previous years). On 22nd November at 10.00am, please join us for a special Memorial Mass at St Peter’s to pray in particular for loved ones who have died this year, and all those who are bereaved. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Parish Room. All are welcome.

Come and join us for coffee where there will be sweet and savoury treats on sale to enjoy with your coffee or take home. Also lots of Christmas gifts: jumpers, books, pyjamas, glittery outfits, plus a raffle.  All proceeds to the SVP Christmas Parcels Campaign.

According to tradition, Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that each time she piously recited the following prayer, it would greatly ease the suffering of those holy souls in purgatory: Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.