This blog is for the use of the whole parish; please let me know if you'd like to contribute.


Chris (email link at the bottom of each page)

First Sunday of Lent 2021

Permalink

Mark 1:12-15 First Sunday of Lent (B)

The Spirit led Jesus into the desert for forty days to be tempted and tested. During Lent we too are led by the Spirit into the mystery of Jesus's time in the desert. By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert (Catechism of the Catholic Church 540). We too, during this holy season, can expect to be tempted and tested.

Mark informs us simply and straightforwardly that in the desert Jesus was "tempted by Satan" (v. 13). The name Satan means "adversary". In the book of Job we are given a vivid picture of Satan in God's heavenly court, along with all the other angels, where he has the role of accuser or prosecutor (see 1:6ff.). The Scriptures identify Satan as the serpent in the Garden of Eden who tempted Adam and Eve (Gen. 3) and, therefore, as the origin of sin and temptation. What the Scriptures and tradition make clear is that humankind has a mortal enemy who, although a finite being created by God, is in a desperate struggle to overthrow God's reign, usurp his Lordship and lead his creation into darkness and death. On Easter Sunday each of us will recite our baptismal promises and in doing so renew them. Bear this in mind as we move through Lent because, as you will be aware, a renewal of our baptismal promises involves us actively, freely and voluntarily rejecting Satan.

Lent is also a time for us to discover anew and afresh the gospel, the 'Good News’, which Jesus began to proclaim immediately after his time of testing. What is the Good News? The Good News is a message of two parts: the first part is to repent and the second part to believe the gospel. We walk together on this road marked out for us by the Church and take up our call to stand firm and resist the devil knowing that he will flee, and embrace freely and with love the gospel, which is Christ with us and in us, the hope of salvation. 

In these days, therefore, let us add something beyond the wonted measure of our service, such as private prayers and abstinence in food and drink. Let each one, over and above the measure prescribed for him, offer God something of his  own free will in the joy of the Holy Spirit." (St Benedict)

Chris

from Bible Alive

Genesis 9:8–15 • Psalm 24(25):4–9 • 1 Peter 3:18–22 • Mark 1:12–15

Comments

Step up to CAFOD's 2021 Lent appeal challenge.

Permalink

 

Can you walk alongside Abdella?


Abdella's story

"I am a young man. I am wasting my life. What would I do if I had the time? I would start a small business. I want to make something of myself.”

Abdella, 23, from Afar in northern Ethiopia

Abdella is 23 and lives in a small village in the Afar region in northern Ethiopia.  

He wakes before dark to start on a long journey that will see him walk along a dried-out riverbed, over rocks, and over a mountain just to get a drink of water. The entire journey to get water for the family will take Abdella ten hours.

Can you imagine needing a drink of water and having to spend most of the day collecting it? Coming back exhausted and bruised from the journey? Being so frustrated because you feel your life is slipping away from you? Then having to do it again without any sick days or days off.



Read more of Abdella's story

Donate now

What your donation could buy

Buy water containers

Start a small business

Help service water pumps

Comments

Cn Bennie's Gospel and homily 20-3-20

Permalink
Dear Parsihioners of St Peter's,


I was kindly given a video camera by Julie Morrey recently and used it to take a test video (unbeknown to Cn Bennie) from the very from the back of the church. Thinking he may like to make the occasional contact with his flock whilst public services of mass are ceased. But of course would have deleted this had it not been with Cn Bennie. 
I didn't think the sound would be any good but it turned out better than I expected. The video is of Cn Bennie's last public gospel and homily taken on Friday 20th March at St Peters. I producer this shortened version that Cn Bennie would like to be shared. 

I plan to do another this Sunday but move the tripod Close and reduce the height of the Lecture so we can get a better view and hopefully clearer sound. Then again  on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday sessions.





So please expect more to follow.

God Bless,

Alban
Comments

Permalink
Come - Join St Peter’s Lent Faith Sharing Course - “Let it be”

D94673E2B43344599A74D35FE95337BFFind out more about Our Lady in preparation for the re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary on 29th March 2020. 

As this is an exceptional year for Christians in England and Our Lady,  our parish will re-run the CaFE “Let it be” five-session course over five Wednesdays in Lent. The course gives us a much deeper understanding of Mary from her Immaculate Conception through to her being crowned “Queen of Heaven”; and of course why she is so honoured and blessed with so many titles (well in excess of 50) including “Protector of Christians”. 

This inspiring course involves engaging video sessions that will explore Our Lady, past & present. 
Mary is arguably the greatest Lady ever; - chosen by God, the First and Perfect disciple, Mother of the Church, Queen of Heaven and an advocate to God for all Christians. Mary is the perfect model for us to follow;  her example will help us become ever closer to her son and our saviour Lord Jesus Christ.

Each person attending will be need a course book that links to the video sessions and will help you appreciate Mary’s significance to your personal faith journey. The book includes prayers and reflections to do throughout the week at home/work and if embraced will make your Lent truly devout.

To book a place simply register on line by clicking here
  or call Alban on 07751 625942.  
Comments

"Let It Be"

Permalink
Come - Join St Peter’s Lent Faith Sharing Course - “Let it be”

Led through 5 weeks of engaging video sessions, this Inspiring course will explore Our Lady; past & present. Mary is arguably the greatest Lady ever; chosen by God, the First and Perfect disciple, Mother of the Church, Queen of Heaven and an advocate to God for all Christians. Mary is the perfect model for us to follow;  her example will help us become ever closer to her son and our saviour Lord Jesus Christ.

Each person attending will be given a free course book that links to the video sessions and will help you appreciate Mary’s significance to your personal faith journey. The book includes prayers and reflections to do throughout the week at home/work and if embraced will make your Lent truly devout.

The course is open to all so why not come and check out Session 1; on Monday 26th February at 7:15pm and bring a friend if you like....

To reserve your free book register on line at
https://goo.gl/xU5Qav  or call Alban on 07751 625942.

D94673E2B43344599A74D35FE95337BF
Comments

CAFOD special day of reflection

Permalink
If you're looking for a wonderful opportunity for some spiritual input and reflection during lent this year then  read the following.......
Note: if you're from St. Peters and need a lift then contact Alban on 01767 681537.
Comments

Good Friday Walk of Witness

Permalink
From Neil Spencer:

There will be a Walk of Witness on Good Friday: we will assemble at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Methodist Church, setting off at 10:45. We will walk to the Market Square for a service at 11:00 followed with drinks and hot cross buns.

It's likely still to be cold, so wrap up warmly, but it will be worth it to witness to our brothers and sisters in Biggleswade on this holiest of days.

Chris
Comments

Palm Sunday

Permalink
My Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Palm Sunday! In the minds of many, more memorable than Easter Sunday…the Day of Resurrection. Perhaps we can identify more with the waving of palm branches, Jesus riding on a donkey…the sound of Hosannas, than we can with the empty tomb – the uncertainty of the resurrection, daring to believe. We like the familiar, the comfortable. This week we are being led where we would rather not go….through death.

But when we awake, we will awake to the sight of God’s glory….and then our hosannas will become another song. A song that is the song of the Easter people. In the meantime let us watch and pray.

Have a good week.
Fr. Richard
Comments

Lent Approaches

Permalink
Dear All,

This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Masses with distribution of the ashes will take place at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

A garment of sack cloth and a covering of ashes is in Jewish tradition a sign of repentance and penance for wrong done.

Lent for the Christian is a time of penitence and renewal leading us to the great feast of Easter, the most important feast in the Church’s year.

LENT is the Old English word for SPRINGTIME. In America AUTUMN is known as The Fall (the season of the falling of the leaves). LENT is the season of the LEN(g)T(hening) of the days. It is an interesting aspect of the season of Lent. For us then LENT is a springtime for our faith, a time of renewal.

Spring cleaning is undergone wearing a Pinnie, using Flash, and various Aides de nettoyer.

Lenten Renewal is helped by Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.

Yours,
Fr. Richard

Comments
Acts
Adult Education
Advent
alms
angel
angels
anger
annunciation
answer
Apocalypse
apostles
apostolic
archbishops
architect
ascension
ask
atonement
banquet
beatitudes
bishop
bishops
Blessed
blessings
blind
blood
body
bread
brokenness
burden
CAFOD
care
centurion
chances
change
charity
Children
Christ
Christian
Christian Aid
Christ the King
church
Churches Together in Biggleswade
cleanse
come
comfort
coming
commandment
commitment
compassion
Conference
contemplation
conversion
coordinator
Coronavirus
courage
covenant
COVID-19
cross
cure
daily bread
Damascus
death
death to self
delight
desert
Devil
diocese
disciples
divine
Divine Office
divine work
divinity
Dominicans
doubt
Downside
earthly matters
Easter
eat
effort
encouragement
end-time
enemy
equality
eternal
Eucharist
evangelical
evangelise
evil
example
fairness
faith
faithfulness
fasting
Father
faults
fear
fear of God
feed
fever
fiat
find God
fire
fish
food
foretold
forgive
forgiveness
foundations
fountains
Francis
free
fruit
fruitfulness
Fund-raising
future
Gabriel
generosity
gentle
gift
giving
glory
God
God's
God's Plan
God's will
God-man
Godhead
Golden Rule
good
gospel
grace
gratitude
greatness
heal
healing
health
heart
heaven
heavenly matters
High Priest
Holy Spirit
Holy Week
Holy_Spirit
homeless
hope
Hosea
humble
humility
hypocrisy
I AM
immortality
incarnation
increase
In Jesus's Name
innocence
insight
Internet
jealousy
Jesus
joy
justice
Justice and Peace
kindness
King
King David
kingdom
knowing
knowledge
law
Lent
leprosy
life
light
live streaming
living
loaves
Logos
Lord
Lord's Prayer
lost
love
lunatic
Magi
manna
maranatha
martyr
Mary
Mass
Matthew
meaning
meditation
mercy
Messiah
mindfulness
Ministries
miracle
miracles
moral
Mount
mountains
mystery
mysticism
name
narrow path
Nazereth
neighbour
new creation
new life
New Testament
New Year
Nineveh
None
obedience
Old Testament
OneWorld
online
Organisation
Our Lady
outcast
outcasts
Palm Sunday
parable
Paraclete
Parish
Parish Youth
Passion
Paul
peace
penance
perfect
perfection
Peter
Pilgrimage
pity
poem
poor
Pope
power
praise
prayer
Prayers
preparation
proclamation
Prologue
promise
prophesy
prophet
prophets
protection
question
rebellion
recovery
reflection
refugee
reign
rejection
rejects
renewal
repentance
rest
resurrection
revelation
rich
righteiousness
righteousness
risen
Rock
Rolheiser
Sabbath
Sacraments
sacrifice
Sadducees
Safety
salvation
Satan
save
Saviour
sayittogod
Scriptures
second
Second Coming
seed
self-indulgence
self-sacrifice
sent
sermon
serve
service
sheep
shepherd
sights
signs
silence
sin
sinfulness
sinners
Social
Solomon
Son
Son of God
soul
sower
spirit
Spirit of Christ
Spiritual
splendour
St Benedict
steadfast
Stephen
stoning
storm
storms
strength
struggle
suffering
SVP
talents
teacher
teaching
tears
temptation
tenants
The Cross
Thérèse of Lisieux
time for God
today
transgressions
Trinity
trust
truth
understanding
unity
unworthy
victory
vine
vinedresser
vineyard
virgin
Visits
walk
watchful
water
way
wealth
weary
Website
will
Witness
women
Word
work
World
worm
worship
wounded
yearn
Year of Faith
yoke
You
RSS Feed 
March 2023 (1)
July 2022 (1)
June 2022 (1)
April 2022 (2)
March 2022 (3)
February 2022 (4)
January 2022 (1)
December 2021 (3)
November 2021 (6)
October 2021 (3)
September 2021 (4)
August 2021 (3)
July 2021 (1)
June 2021 (2)
May 2021 (2)
April 2021 (2)
March 2021 (1)
February 2021 (7)
January 2021 (7)
December 2020 (7)
November 2020 (8)
October 2020 (4)
September 2020 (7)
August 2020 (6)
July 2020 (8)
June 2020 (8)
May 2020 (9)
April 2020 (9)
March 2020 (17)
February 2020 (9)
January 2020 (7)
December 2019 (8)
November 2019 (7)
October 2019 (6)
September 2019 (6)
August 2019 (3)
July 2019 (5)
June 2019 (4)
May 2019 (3)
April 2019 (4)
March 2019 (5)
February 2019 (2)
January 2019 (5)
November 2018 (1)
October 2018 (3)
September 2018 (2)
August 2018 (2)
June 2018 (3)
May 2018 (3)
April 2018 (3)
March 2018 (5)
February 2018 (5)
January 2018 (5)
December 2017 (7)
November 2017 (4)
October 2017 (3)
September 2017 (5)
August 2017 (4)
July 2017 (3)
June 2017 (6)
May 2017 (4)
April 2017 (4)
March 2017 (6)
February 2017 (4)
January 2017 (5)
December 2016 (4)
November 2016 (4)
October 2016 (3)
September 2016 (5)
August 2016 (5)
July 2016 (4)
June 2016 (8)
May 2016 (4)
April 2016 (4)
March 2016 (6)
February 2016 (4)
January 2016 (3)
December 2015 (5)
November 2015 (4)
October 2015 (2)
September 2015 (2)
August 2015 (1)
July 2015 (3)
June 2015 (3)
May 2015 (5)
April 2015 (6)
March 2015 (5)
February 2015 (5)
January 2015 (2)
December 2014 (4)
November 2014 (4)
October 2014 (7)
September 2014 (5)
August 2014 (3)
July 2014 (5)
June 2014 (5)
May 2014 (5)
April 2014 (5)
March 2014 (6)
February 2014 (9)
January 2014 (5)
December 2013 (5)
November 2013 (6)
October 2013 (5)
September 2013 (7)
August 2013 (5)
July 2013 (5)
June 2013 (5)
May 2013 (1)
April 2013 (3)
March 2013 (3)
February 2013 (1)
January 2013 (5)
December 2012 (10)
November 2012 (7)
October 2012 (6)
September 2012 (6)
August 2012 (4)
July 2012 (2)
June 2012 (6)
May 2012 (10)
April 2012 (4)
March 2012 (3)
February 2012 (2)
January 2012 (8)
November 2011 (1)
October 2011 (1)
September 2011 (1)
August 2011 (1)
May 2011 (1)
April 2011 (1)
March 2011 (4)
February 2011 (2)
January 2011 (2)
December 2010 (2)
November 2010 (1)
October 2010 (3)
September 2010 (1)
August 2010 (1)
May 2010 (1)
March 2010 (2)
February 2010 (1)
January 2010 (3)
November 2009 (2)
October 2009 (1)
July 2009 (1)
May 2009 (1)
April 2009 (2)
March 2009 (1)
February 2009 (3)
January 2009 (1)
November 2008 (1)
October 2008 (1)
September 2008 (4)
August 2008 (2)

This site uses cookies. Some of the cookies we use are essential for parts of the site to operate and have already been set. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but parts of the site may not work. To find out more about cookies on this website, see our Privacy Policy.