Faith in Focus:
JACKPOT PRAYER?
A woman who was on a diet came into work with a huge chocolate cream cake. When her friends asked if she had stopped dieting she told them that God wanted her to have the cake. "I saw it in the bakery and prayed to God to let there be a parking spot outside, if he wanted me to have the cake. And on the 10th time round, there was the parking place!"
Prayer is a strange thing. Some people feel the need to tell God a shopping list of things that they want, as if he didn't already know what they need! And often we ourselves don't realise what we really need and we pray for things that we think will make life better, but which everyone else knows will be our ruin. The same happens when an alcoholic prays for a bottle of whisky.
There are those who tend to think that prayer is like a religious fruit machine, a divine one-arm-bandit. You put your request in, pull the handle and eventually you hit the jackpot. Of course, this would be to treat God like some sort of robot that did not have our welfare at heart. It's the sort of prayer that people make to win the lottery.
So it's hardly surprising that people talk about unanswered prayer. The very thought that God would completely ignore us when we turn to him is ridiculous. But scripture tells us that sometimes we are asking for the wrong thing or with the wrong motives and that's why we don't receive what we want. Prayer is always answered; it's just that sometimes the answer is "no", or it comes in a way we didn't expect.
When we look at the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Our Father or the Lord's Prayer, we notice that there is a lot of emphasis at the beginning on God's will being done in all things, and the values of God's kingdom permeating our thoughts and actions. Maybe if we remained open in our prayer, telling God of our needs and desires, but asking him to help us become conformed to his will, then we would start to change our approach to prayer, wanting to be part of God's plan rather than getting him to change his plans to suit ours. Prayer would become a request to change us.
And maybe that's why we have to wait until the second half of the Our Father before we get round to asking for things…
Parish News
DAY FOR LIFE (July 25th)
On the fourth Sunday of July each year we celebrate the Day for Life and recall our duty and efforts to support human life from womb to tomb. Leaflets explaining this year's theme are available at the back of church.
To help us recognise the sacredness of life at each of its stages, and as it leads to eternal life, here are some words from Pope John Paul II: Men and women are called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the dimensions of their earthly existence, because it consists in sharing the very life of God. The loftiness of this supernatural vocation reveals the greatness and the inestimable value of human life even in its temporal phase.
Life in time, in fact, is the fundamental condition, the initial stage and an integral part of the entire unified process of human existence. It is a process which, unexpectedly and undeservedly, is enlightened by the promise and renewed by the gift of divine life, which will reach its full realisation in eternity.
At the same time, it is precisely this supernatural calling which highlights the relative character of each individual's earthly life. After all, life on earth is not an "ultimate" but a 'penultimate" reality; even so, it remains a sacred reality entrusted to us, to be preserved with a sense of responsibility and brought to perfection in love and in the gift of ourselves to God and to our brothers and sisters."
» Click here to visit the Day for Life website
ETON WICK
Since Fr Noel Connolly is recovering from surgery, we are unsure whether we are able to offer Mass at Eton Wick over the next few weekends.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
20-27 AUGUST Further details: Fr Damien Walne, on 01604 406410.
PARISH FINANCES
Loose and envelopes £808 Standing Orders £250 Total £1058 Many thanks. Second Collection today for "A Day for Life".
A PARISH FUNDRAISING CONCERT
As previously mentioned there will be a fundraising concert for the Parish in October. We can now confirm that the date for the concert will be Friday 15th October at Our Lady of Peace Church. Details of the Programme for the evening and ticket sales will be coming soon - so watch this space!! If you have any queries, or know of any local businesses who would be happy to sponsor, please call Anna Goldberg on 07532 338874 or Bob Bryant on 07979 820064 or 01628 543650.
'HEALING FOR A BROKEN WORLD'
- on Monday August 16th at 7:30 p.m. Polish Church of Divine Mercy - Healing Mass by Fr Stefan Starzynski from the USA. All welcome.
ST ANDREW'S JEC
- meets this Wednesday at 6.30 p.m.
PAPAL VISIT PRAYER
God of truth and love,
your Son, Jesus Christ, stands as the light
to all who seek you with a sincere heart.
As we strive with your grace
to be faithful in word and deed,
may we reflect the kindly light of Christ
and offer a witness of hope and peace to all.
We pray for Pope Benedict
and look forward with joy
to his forthcoming visit to our countries.
May he be a witness to the unity and hope
which is your will for all people.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Mother of the Church, pray for us.
St Andrew, pray for us.
St George, pray for us.
St David, pray for us.
» Click here to find out more about The Papal Visit to the UK
» Also see: twitter.com/thepapalvisit
PAPAL VISIT - UK Sept 2010
In September we will welcome our Holy Father, Pope Benedict to Britain. We have been allocated 103 tickets to the Prayer Vigil in Hyde Park on Saturday 18th Sept and a full days program from 12 noon to 9pm is being organised by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Gates at Hyde Park will open around 12 noon.
If you would like to go to this vigil, please take a form from the back of the church, fill it in and return it to Millie Fernandez tel: 07957 594646 as soon as possible. Estimated timings, costs and travel arrangements will be given later. We need to submit the names of those requiring tickets at the end of July. If the number of applications exceeds the places available, names will be drawn by ballot.
» Click here for the Q & A article: How can I see the Pope in the UK?
» View the locations on the Papal Visit itinerary (Google Maps)
NEWMAN DAY PILGRIMAGE
With the Beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman this September 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, we are arranging a Day Pilgrimage to Oxford and Littlemore (near Oxford) to trace the footsteps of Newman.
The Pilgrimage will be on Sunday 8 August by coach to Littlemore and Oxford departing from 78 Cippenham Lane, Slough at 7:20 a.m. returning around 7:30 p.m. We have organised a tour of the workplace and worship areas with talks on Cardinal Newman's life, Holy Mass, Vespers and Benediction and a picnic in the college grounds.
Please bring a packed lunch Price: £5 per head to include entrance fees and a donation to the Sisters who will be hosting us.
Name, telephone number and money as soon as possible as there are only a few places left. Call 07957 594646.
Diocesan Courses and Events
DIOCESAN SUMMER SCHOOL
A MISSIONARY CHURCH. 27th - 30th July 2010.
RE Centre, Milton Keynes. £35 per day. £45 for Friday (inc. conference
dinner) £130 for all 4 days. See flier on Notice Board or contact
presbytery. A great opportunity to learn and reflect!
Mass Times, Places & Intentions
24thJULY- 1stAUGUST
Saturday 24th July
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - Brendan O'Sullivan (Anniv)
Sunday 25th July - SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
9.00 a.m. St Gilbert's - Service of the Word and Holy Communion
9.45 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - John Rowan RIP
11.30 a.m. St Andrew's - Nora O'Donovan (Tom Batt)
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - People of the Parish
Monday 26th July | SS JOACHIM & ANNE
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Steven Truman RIP (Pearl Eatwell)
Tuesday 27th July
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Patrick & Mary McMorrow RIP
7.30 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - HOLY HOUR: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Wednesday 28th July
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Paddy Brown RIP (Vera McLaughlin)
Thursday 29th July | ST MARTHA
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Service of the Word and Holy Communion
11.00 a.m. St Andrew's - Sr Kathleen Henneker intentions
Friday 30th July
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Dec'd of Davies and Stewart families
Saturday 31st July | ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA
9.30 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - Service of the Word & Holy Communion
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - In Thanksgiving (P.M.)
Sunday 1st August - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
9.00 a.m. St Gilbert's - N.B. Mass or Service
9.45 a.m. Our Lady of Peace - People of the Parish
11.30 a.m. St Andrew's - John Gates Anniversary
6.00 p.m. Our Lady of Peace - Mary Bax & Peter Bax (Ann & Claire)
At Our Lady of Peace, Morning Prayer of the Church is said at 9.15 on weekdays and Saturdays, and the Rosary after the morning mass on weekdays. Do come and join us!
CONFESSIONS
Saturdays 5.15 -5.45 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace.
