THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A
15th March 2020
Dear Parishioner,
Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Lent. It is hard to believe that we are half way through this holy season. You
may like me already have broken your Lenten resolutions. Do not worry and just start again. In today's Gospel we
read about the moving encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. During it Jesus told her about the gift God
wanted to give her - the gift he called 'living water'. Here we encounter Jesus and he offers us the same gift.
Let us dispose ourselves to receive the 'gift of God'.
There is a thirst in every human heart. Each of us is like that lonely Samaritan woman. We are thirsting for something,
something that will satisfy all our longings. But often we search in the wrong places. We draw water from many wells:
the water of praise to quench our thirst for self-esteem; the water of success to quench our thirst for importance; the
water of pleasure to quench our thirst for joy. But we still get thirsty. Only God can give us what we are looking for.
He alone can cause a spring to well up inside us. The water from this spring will sustain us in our journey to the
Promised Land of eternal life.
May each one of you persevere in your Lenten resolutions. Please pray for me as I pray for you.
God bless,
Deacon Kevin.
Notices:
WORK MORNING AT ST AUGUSTINE'S
SATURDAY 4th APRIL 10am - 12noon
Please do come along and support us - many hands make light work!
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MESSAGE FROM GWEN STORKEY Gwen and all her family would like to thank everyone for their sympathy,
support and the many cards we received along with all the booked Masses. Bern would have been so touched. Thank you.
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SVP SUDAN APPEAL 22 MARCH Next Sunday the SVP will be holding their annual appeal for the people of
Sudan. If you are a member of the gift aid scheme then you can use one of your spare gift aid envelopes for a
donation or pick up a spare envelope from the back of the Church next Sunday. Thank you in advance - you are always
very generous to this appeal.
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MANY THANKS TO THE WALTER FARTHING TRUST who gave us a very generous grant of £3,500 towards
the new church doors.
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PRAYER GROUP MONTHLY MEETING This month's meeting will be held on Wednesday 25 March 8pm at St
Augustine's.
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THE CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE invite you to join them for:
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Reflection for Lent Sun 22 March 7-8pm An hour's meditation using music from Taizé
and words from Pope Francis, interspersed with silence.
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Reflection on the Themes of Holy Saturday 11.30am 11 APRIL
Both at Blessed Sacrament Church, Melbourne Avenue.
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BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL "GOD WHO SPEAKS" LENTEN LECTURES Wednesday 18th March 7.30pm in
Cathedral parish hall. Sharing the Good News: Sacred scripture as beacon and promise to be given by Dr Maria
Heath, chair of Catholic Charistmatic Renewal. Free Entry. All welcome. More info at www.cathedral-brentwood.org.
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EASTER LILIES Each year we ask for special donations for Easter Lilies to decorate the Church for
our Easter celebrations. If you would like to make a donation (a suggested donation of £4.00)
in memory of a deceased loved one, please place your offering in an envelope and write for Easter
Lilies and pass it to Cath Lyons. Many thanks for your generosity.
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SYCAMORE FOR LENT - sessions continue on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9pm. Each session involves a
short film, time for discussion and some food: the topic this coming week is The Gift of Faith. All are welcome and
each session stands alone; so if you have not come along yet, or think you may not be able to attend
all remaining sessions, please do come along when you can. If you need transport to get to a
session, please let us know via the parish office. Please pray for the Sycamore team and for the
programme at St Augustine's.
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The Passage is raising funds through the Big Give from 12 noon Tues 17th March - 12
noon Tues 24th March to support its work Helping Homeless People to move away from the street to a new home and to
return to work. Double your Donation, Double your impact. This is a matched giving scheme for online
donations. If someone (can be company, individual or trust) gave £10 online matched giving of £10 would
bring the Gift up to £20 (and for individuals to £22.50 with Gift Aid with higher rate tax relief it may
cost the donor less than £10). For more information ring Andrew Hollingsworth 020 75921886 click here to Email.
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SION COMMUNITY WORK AND PRAY: join us for a week or a few days from 30th Mar to 4th Apr to volunteer
your time and talents helping us with some essential upkeep to our large house/gardens. An opportunity for anyone who
would like to take time out and experience community life, including daily prayer, Adoration and Mass at the
Cathedral. Working hours will be taken up with manual work and if you someone who likes to cook you can take a turn
in the kitchen feeding the troops! For further information and to register contact Mary: click here to Email.
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DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM 23rd May 2020: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the
Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we honour Our Lady of Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before
walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy
House. Please contact Fr Sabu to book your place.
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LENT TALKS OLI - CANCELLED WITH REGRET Abbot Hugh Allan
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LENT TALK 3 COLCHESTER - CHECK IN ADVANCE, PREVIOUS WEEK CANCELLED, Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory St CO1 2QB
Friday 20th March, Valerie Quinlivan from University of Essex, will speak on the theme of 'What is
Discipleship'. Please do come and support him. All welcome.
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DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY, Diocese of Brentwood. Start in September 2020. Salary £40,000.
Closing date for applications 16th March 2020. Full details at www.bcys.net/jobs or call Fr Dominic Howarth on 01277373959.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Wednesday: Ian McIntosh
Next Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Lent (A)
First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13
David is anointed king of Israel.
Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14
Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Gospel: John 9:1-41
He went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.
