Sunday 13th January 2008

The Baptism Of The Lord

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

Unity means different things to different people, but we are united in our observance, even of our apparent divisions. The body of Christ, the church, is still a divided community. Our observance will not change this reality. We are separated by theological differences that often spill into national and theological identities. Our divisions as a human family trace their origins in race, clan, tribe and class. We struggle with these deep divisions and realities. We have myths, stories and even sacred texts that bear witness to these differences. We are united in our "brokenness". For most of us, particularly here on the island of Ireland, prayer for christian unity is still an uncomfortable and a controversial subject. For some, it involves fear of the subjunction of differences into "sameness" and is intimately linked to concepts of power, authority and who is "inside" and who is "outside" the true Christian community. It also involves issue of inclusion and orthodoxy, - which side is right or wrong? Who really has the "inside track" or what God is really planning for humanity?

Given the history of the human family, the story of the church, and the history of these islands, this week presents to us (who call ourselves Christians), both a challenge and an opportunity. Like the preacher who announced to his congregation before a fund raising appeal for their church building fund, "We have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have enough money to reach the goal of our church building fund!" The congregation clapped. "The bad news is that it is still in your bank accounts!" There is certainly enough imagination in the people of God to mirror the oneness of God and our interconnectedness to one another. The challenge and the opportunity before us is how we channel and use this imagination that is before us today in our readings and prayers.

Our ancestors, who worked and prayed hard to envision the unity of Christians over the past 100 years, have inspired us with a great and noble challenge. Their imagination still disturbs and beckons us into a mystery that calls upon the engagement of our own personal imaginations. We are not mere spectators. We invoke the work and prayer of Paul Wattson, an American Anglican in 1908, later inspiring the World Council of Churches in the Reformed church tradition, and the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity in the Roman Catholic tradition. A thought from one individual (itself a disturbing thought for many of us!) can change and move major institution to transform the world. A prayer can centre us and give us the courage to pursue what may seem, superficially very impossible or undesirable.

To his Christian listeners Paul gives this advice, which is the context of the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:

"And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, warn them that we are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient towards all. See that none render evil for evil but do that which is good, both among yourselves (interpreted as the church community) and among all (interpreted as the larger community). Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In every thing, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

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WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY : 18th - 25th JANUARY 2008

The observance of the 'Church Unity Octave' was initiated by Rev. Paul Wattson, an Episcopal priest, and took place at Our Lady of the Angels chapel, Graymoor, Garrison, N.Y. in 1908, one hundred years ago this year. It was developed by Abbe Paul Couturier in 1935 as the 'Universal Week of Prayer for Christian Unity'. The biblical text for this centennial Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is taken from 1 Thessalonians. The text 'Pray without ceasing' (1 Thess 5:17) stresses the essential role of prayer within the life of the Christian community as its members grow in their relationship to Christ and to one another. This text is one in a series of 'imperatives', statements in which Paul encourages the community to live out its God-given unity in Christ, to be in practice what it is in principle: the one body of Christ, visibly one in that place.

A service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place in the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road, on Sunday 20th January at 5.00pm. Everyone is welcome.

COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1687.00. Many thanks.

PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome.

DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of
Jimmy McGurk, St. Colman's Drive,
Dan McDermott, Dunamanagh,
Charlie Connolly, Jefferson Court, and
Philomena Purcell, Sion Mills, who died during the week. May they rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES
Lizzie Logue, Mary Mullan, Tom Mullan, Terry Logue
James McGarrigle, Frank McElwee, Michael (Mickey) Madden, Jimmy Quinn
Margaret Conway, Agnes Connolly, Eamon Hannigan, Michael Conway
Kathleen McKinney, Maureen McColgan

PRAY FOR PRIESTS
Last year the diocese published a prayer card with the names of all the Derry diocesan priests. Many of you have these cards and every day a specific priest is named. This week we ask you to pray for:

Fr. John Cargan PP, Steelstown, 13th January
Fr. Neal Carlin, 14th January
Fr. Walter Carolan CC, Banagher, 15th January
Fr. Colm Clerkin PP, Ballinascreen, 16th January
Fr. Roland Colhoun ADM, Long Tower,
17th January
Fr. Michael Collins PP, Limavady, 18th January
Fr. Oliver Crilly PP, Greenlough, 19th January

PARISH SAVINGS SCHEME
The Parish Savings Scheme for this year has now commenced. The Savings Scheme is vital for offsetting any interest the parish owes to the bank as well as being a very practical way of saving for events at the end of the year. If you would like to join the Scheme contact the parish office for the name of the promoter in your area.
It is most important that savers are aware of the following banking regulations:
1. No saver may save more than £5000.00 in an individual name.
2. All savers must have a bank account, building society account or credit union account as cheques issued at the end of the year will be crossed and will have to be paid into a bank account.
3. If you are saving for a child, the child must also have a bank account as their cheque will be crossed and cannot be put into any other account. If the child has no bank account and you want to save for them you should put their savings along with their parent's savings or in the name of the parent who has a bank account. It is recommended that you do this now rather than wait until the end of the year.
Please be aware that the Bank are very strict regarding this legislation.
If you have any queries you can contact the parish office, Tel., 71882215.

PARISH DRAW
The first Draw of 2008 will be held on Thursday 24th January at 2.30pm in the parish office. We would ask all promoters to make their returns to the parish office on Monday 21st January. The new lists and draw cards are now available at the parish office and we would ask all promoters if they would collect these before Wednesday 16th January.

We are looking for more people to take part in our Parish Draw. The prizes are excellent and it only costs £5 a month. The Draw is an important part of helping to reduce our parish debt. Now that the debt on St Patrick's Hall building is at zero we can concentrate on getting the rest of the overall debt reduced. Thankfully it is all going in the right direction and our Parish Draw is very important in this regard. We are looking for more promoters and more members for 2008. As you read this and you are not taking part in our draw, why not join today? You can ring Amanda our parish administrator to find out the names of promoters in your area.

JOIN THE STRABANE PARISH DRAW AND HELP REDUCE THE OVERALL PARISH DEBT. EVERY NEW SUBSCRIBER IS VERY IMPORTANT.

VISIT OF CARDINAL BRADY
His Eminence Sean Cardinal Brady will be making his first official visit to the Diocese and will be Principal Concelebrant at Mass in St. Eugene's Cathedral on the morning of Thursday 24th January at 10.00am. Everyone is welcome. Cardinal Brady will be available after Mass to meet those who come along.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PARENTS OF P.4 AND P.7 CHILDREN
There will be a meeting for parents of P.4 and P.7 children from St. Anne's, Evish, and Barrack Street Boys' Primary Schools on Monday 14th January at 7.30pm in St. Anne's P.S. At that meeting Fr. Paul Farren and his team from the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre will give a talk on the three Sacraments. Because of the importance of this event we encourage a full turn out from our parents.

CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2008
Confirmation for the parish of Camus will be held on Sunday 18th May 2008 at 3.00pm. First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday 31st May 2008 at 11.00am.

EVISH PRIMARY SCHOOL
If you have not already returned your consultation sheet to Mrs McQuillan, Principal of Evish P.S., we would ask that you do so before 21st January. If for any reason you have not received a consultation sheet, these are available at the school. This is open to all residents of the general area, parents of present pupils, past pupils or those connected in any way with the school. It is important that as many as possible fill in the consultation sheet in order that a widespread view be taken.

TAIZE PRAYER AND CHANT
Join us for an hour of meditative Taize Prayer and Chant on Wednesday 16th January in the Day Chapel, St. Mary's Church, Melmount from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone welcome.

ACCORD
Marriage Preparation Workshop on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd February in the Thornhill Centre, Derry. Friday 7.00pm to 10.00pm and Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm. Booking forms available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, Tel., 02871362475.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 1, 6, 15, 22. There was no Jackpot winner. There were 7 match 3 winners who shared £300.00: Stella Patton, Danny Gallagher, Devenney Family, Rebecca McCrea, Noel McNamee, Rosemary Conwell, Joe Lafferty. Jackpot for February is £1100.00. Next Draw will take place on Sunday 3rd February 2008 at 9.00pm at Melmount parish bingo.

NOTICES FOR PARISH BULLETIN
In order to facilitate printing we ask that all notices and anniversaries for the parish bulletin are either given to the sacristan or left at the parish office by Wednesday morning at the latest.

STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
The Club will hold its first Committee meeting of 2008 this Monday night 14th January at 8.00pm in Ballycolman Community Centre. There will be a meeting of all players wishing to play with the Club at Senior, Reserve or Minor level on Wednesday 16th January at 7.45pm in Sigersons Clubrooms, Ballycolman Estate. Everyone welcome.
There will be a Ladies Volunteer Recruitment Programme at 7.30pm in Ballycolman Community Centre on Wednesday 16th January at 7.30pm and anyone interested in helping out with ladies football are very welcome to attend.

STRABANE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
The next meeting of Strabane Family History Society will be on Thursday 17th January, 2008 at 8.00pm in Strabane Community Library, Abercorn Square. New members are most welcome and existing members attendance is earnestly requested.

LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE OPEN DAY
P.7 pupils and their parents are warmly invited to attend the Open Day in Lumen Christi College, Bishop Street, Derry on Sunday 3rd February. The Principal, Mr P. O'Doherty will give his address at 3.00pm and at 4.00pm in the College Assembly Hall. Visitors will then be shown around the College facilities by current pupils. Tea and light refreshments will be served in the College canteen.

ST. PATRICK’S HALL - Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.

N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday 28th January from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and 5.15pm - 8.00pm. The Blood Transfusion Service would appeal for the support of all existing blood donors and welcome new donors.

ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are holding a dance/social on Monday 21st January 2008 in St. Patrick's Hall. Music is by Country Traditions and supper is at 9.00pm. Admission is £5.00 or 7 Euro (includes supper). Everyone is welcome.

PRAYER CORNER



THE NEW YEAR

Ever Faithful God
in this new year I pray:

to live deeply with purpose,
to live freely, with detachment,
to live wisely, with humility,
to live justly with compassion,
to live lovingly with fidelity,
to live mindfully with awareness,
to live gratefully with generosity,
to live fully, with enthusiasm.

Help me to hold this vision
and to daily renew it in my heart,
becoming ever more one with you,
my truest Self.

I ARISE IN THE NEW YEAR

I arise with amazement at the presence of the Holy One.
I arise with gratitude for life.
I arise with hope that all shall be well.
I arise with courage to meet what will be difficult.
I arise with conviction to do what is life-giving.
I arise with eyes ever alert for beauty.
I arise with openness to greater truth.
I arise with desire for continued transformation.
I arise with compassion for the hurting ones in the cosmos.
I arise with grief still settled in my spirit.
I arise with a sense of kinship with all whom I love.
I arise with determination to make good choices in using my time.
I arise with willingness to help those who will need my care.
I arise with hesitation as I think about the pain that may come.
I arise with longing for ever greater inner freedom.
I arise with happiness, knowing that I am invited to live life more fully.
I arise with love for the Holy One, my Intimate Companion.

Compassionate God and faithful Friend, thank you for the opportunity to walk into another year of life. Help me to be faithful, to be generous, to be yours.

PSALM 71

In You, O my Beloved, do I take refuge;
Let me never feel separated from You!
In your compassion come and refresh me;
listen to my cry,
answer my plea!
Be to me a rock, a tower of strength,
a strong arm to uphold me,
as I abandon myself into your hands.

Be a very Presence to me as fear grips me.
For You, O Friend, are my hope,
my strength, since I was but a child.
Upon you have I trusted from my birth,
You, whom I knew before my mother's womb.
I continually sing praises to you.

I have been a burden to many;
In you alone will I trust.
I am filled with gratitude and
sing your praises all the day.
Do not abandon me in my old age;
desert me not when my strength is
spent, or
when my mind plays tricks with me.
For fears rise up to confuse me,
doubts and forgetfulness
band together,
And say,"the Beloved no longer dwells with you;
there is no one to stand by you."

O Friend be not far from me;
O Beloved come and enfold me
in your Presence!
Help me to release my fears.
Hear my prayer that they may be transformed,
O You, who are my Counsellor.
As I surrender myself into your hands,
I praise you more and more.
I tell others of your goodness
of your compassion and grace
all the day;
for your glory is beyond my understanding.
As I grow in inner peace and serenity,
I sing songs of praise,
to You my Friend!

You who have done wondrous things.
O Beloved, who is like You?
You who have seen me through many fears,
strengthen me again:
From the depth of despair
You renew my spirit,
You increase my trust, and You comfort me.

Blessed be the Beloved, who dwells in all hearts!