Mullumbimby“I am here among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:2

Serving the Catholic Community in the Brunswick Valley

The Nativity of the Lord Year A- 25th December, 2016

Liturgy this weekPsalm Response

Christmas Eve: For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord

Christmas Day: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Gospel AcclamationChristmas Eve: Alleluia, alleluia!

Tomorrow the wickedness of the earth will be destroyed: the Saviour of the

World will be our king. Alleluia!

Christmas Day: Alleluia, alleluia! A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth.

Alleluia!

Sunday Mass ReadingsSunday, 25th December

The Nativity of the LordChristmas Eve: Is 62:1-5;

Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25.Christmas Day: Is 52:7-10;

Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18Sunday, 1st January, 2017

Mary, the Holy Mother of GodIs 7:10-14; Rom 1:1-7;

Mt 1:18-24.

www.mullumbimbycatholic.com.au

St John’s Catholic Parish

Mass Times this week:WEEKEND MASSES

Brunswick HeadsSaturday Vigil 5.30pm

MullumbimbySunday 8am

Reconciliation 7.30am

Continued Page 3

A Christmas Message from Fr Lyall

The Lord has come!

MOST people enjoy Christmas, but our celebrations will differ depending on what we believe about Jesus - the person at the centre of the celebrations.

Some people acknowledge that Jesus was a charismatic, gifted teacher and religious debater who claimed to heal sickness and work miracles, but others still cannot be sure of who he is and where he came from.

Some of Jesus’ fellow Jews had

known him all his life. They said he was the son of Mary and Joseph, the local carpenter in Nazareth. They had watched him grow up and they knew all his relatives.

These Nazareth locals acknowledged that he was a smart person, but many were sceptical about his

talk about God being his Father.Those who wrote about him in the

Bible are more certain. They say that while Mary is his mother, Joseph is

As with all Catholic priests, Fr Lyall will be away between Christmas and NewYear’s Eve. In an Emergency contact: Rev Deacon Graeme Davis on 0417 241 564.

Mullum Instyle Living Open 7 Days

A fantastic range of homewares, kitchen, craft, toys and so much more!

Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby6684 3442

St John’s Catholic Parish, Mullumbimby

PRIEST: Fr Lyall CowellAddress: 15 Murwillumbah Road(PO Box 27,)Mullumbimby, 2482Phone: 6684 2106Mobile: 0423086984Parish email: mullumbimby@lismore.catholic.org.au

PARISH SECRETARY: Michelle DaviesOffice: Wed & Thurs 10am-5pm

CHURCHES:St John’s 15 Murwillumbah Rd,Mullumbimby

Our Lady of Lourdes50 Mullumbimbi StBrunswick Heads

PARISH SCHOOL: St John’s PrimaryPrincipal: Tim BleakleyPhone: 6684 2386

Contact Information

WelcomerReaders

Offertory Procession

Ministers of Communion

Data Projector

Rosters: 31 Dec/01 Jan - Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Year A

Collection Counters Wed Dec 28 - Gwen, Michael and Sandra

BRUNSWICK HEADS

Robyn MacdonaldFrances GodbeeLisa Russell

Volunteers please

Sandra ScarrabelottiMichael ScarrabelottiMark Russell

MULLUMBIMBY

Liturgy GroupVivianne PykeMarie Wedd

G Walker and Family

Peter KiernanClaudia KiernanVeronica Bellenger

Nicci

SAINTS AND FEASTS26.12 St Stephen - venerated as the first martyr of Christianity, he was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem. Accused of blasphemy, he was stoned to death. 27.12 St John - (AD 6-100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He outlived the remaining apostles and was the only one to die of natural causes: Judas Iscariot died by suicide, while the other ten died a martyr’s death. 28.12 The Holy Innocents - According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi. 30.12 The Holy Family is in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father, Saint Joseph, as a family. The feast is celebrated on 30 December if both Christmas Day and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God are Sundays (always a Friday in such years).

- wikipedia

St John’s Primary SchoolMullumbimby

Tim BleakleyPrincipal

www.mbyplism.catholic.edu.au

11 Murwillumbah Road, MullumbimbyPhone: 66842386

Let Us Pray FOR THOSE:Recently deceased: Heather Maroney, Shirley Mills, Mary Barnabi, Ken McMorrow.

Anniversaries: Mick Bellenger, Patrick Creagan, Sylvia Condon, Charlie O’Donnell, Kelly Stuart.Time of need: Daphne Jenkins, Camilla Reynolds, Pat Warren, Maureen Creagan, Jimmy Budd, Teresa Pezzutti, Pat and Elaine Walker, Elaine Quinn, Antoinette Noonan, Hazel O’Meara, Judy and Frank Mills, Baby Thomas and family, Maryann Paterson, Maree Wiesmes, Colleen Mudge, Norah Porthouse, Shirley Cairns, Jim Mills, Dan Boyle, Doug Spensley, Gerda Hughes, Peter Colville, Pam Fraser, Anne Carolan, Fr Andrew Benton, Samantha & Kate Holley, Mary Nicholson, Stephen Buckley, and Betina Abbott.

Continued from Page 1The Christmas GospelFour Masses are celebrated for the feast of Christmas, and each is given its own set of readings to help us contemplate Christ’s birth. In each of these Gospel readings, we hear portions of the Infancy Narratives with which we are familiar.

The Gospel for the Christmas Mass during the day is taken from the beginning of John’s Gospel, but this Gospel is not an Infancy Narrative like those found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Instead, John’s Gospel begins at the beginning, as it were, and presents the Creation story as the framework for announcing the Incarnation. John’s opening words, “In the beginning . . .,” echo the opening verse of the Book of Genesis. This framework invites us to view Jesus’ birth from God’s perspective. Each of the Gospels makes clear that Jesus’ birth was the result of God’s initiative. However, John’s Gospel highlights that this was the divine intention from the very beginning, from the moment of Creation.

As we observe in today’s reading, the Gospel of John includes highly philosophical and theological language. One example that particularly stands out is John’s use of the expression, “Word of God.” This expression (logos in the Greek) borrows from a concept found in both Jewish and Greek thought. In Jewish thought, this phrase describes God taking action—for example, in the Creation story and in the Wisdom literature. In Greek, or Hellenistic, thought, the logos was understood as an intermediary between God and humanity. John and others in the early Church adopted this language to describe God’s incarnation in Jesus. As the term was used to express the trinitarian faith of Christians, the word Logos came to be equated with the Second Person of the Trinity.

In this prologue to the Gospel of John, the main themes that will be developed in his Gospel are introduced. These themes are presented as dualities: light/darkness, truth/falsehood, life/death, and belief/unbelief. We also hear in this prologue a unique aspect of John’s Gospel—the motif of testimony. John the Baptist

Our Diocesian Seminarians:Rogelio Del Monte, Wilber Tobe,Emmanuel Okparanaku and Anselm Okeke. Also those planning on entering seminaries in 2017.Please let us know if names should be removed from list.

The Little Blue BooksCopies of The Little Blue Book for Advent and Christmas Seasons 2016-2017 - six minute reflections on the Infancy Narrative of Luke, are available from the back of the churches for $4 each. Please place correct money in the containers.

not his biological Father. In fact they say that while he was born in Bethlehem and lived in Nazareth, he came from God who is his Father, to show us a new way of being human.

This way sees all of life as God’s gift and requires us to live and organise ourselves accordingly.

I hope that those who don’t believe in God or Jesus enjoy the holiday season. I hope that those who believe that Jesus is a good human being who said and did some remarkable things will celebrate his birth in the company of loved ones and work for peace and justice.

I pray that those of us who believe that Jesus has come from God to show us who God is, will respond to his love and, like the Wise Men, fall down and worship the King of Kings who brings us salvation, before we radiate God’s love in our celebrations and in the way we live our lives.

Who is this child in Mary’s arms? Your answer will determine not only

your celebrations but also your future.A Happy, Blessed and Peaceful

Christmas to you all.- Fr Lyall Cowell

was sent by God to testify about Jesus, the light. Others in this Gospel will also offer testimony about Jesus. The reader is invited to accept this testimony, which bears witnesses to Jesus, the Son of God. But even more directly, Jesus’ action and words will themselves testify to his identity with God as God’s Incarnate Word.

Thank youFr. Lyall wishes to thank all parishioners and friends for their kindness at this time of the year. It is much appreciated.

Why 2 Collections?For those who do not come to Mass regularly you may be confused why there are two collections during the Mass. They are for two separate funds.The FIRST collection money helps to cover the costs of having a full time priest in the parish - his salary and essentials, including food.The SECOND collection is money that helps support the parish of St John’s, including paying its bills, insurance, maintenance of buildings etc. If you are able to give to both, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cards and calendarsColumban Calendars are on sale at the back of both Churches - $10 each. Also for sale are Christmas cards in packets of 10 - $6 each. The sale of these helps St Vincent de Paul Society - your support is greatly appreciated.

HolidaysFather Lyall will be away between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. Please direct any Emergency calls to Rev Deacon Graeme Davis on: 0417 241 564. Michelle Davies, the Parish Secretary will be in the office as normal next week, but will be away the first two weeks of January (2-15). The newsletters will be preprinted single

SAVE THE DATEChristmas Masses

24: Christmas Eve: OLOL Brunswick Heads, 5pm carols, 5.30pm Mass. St John’s, Mullumbimby, 8pm.

25: Christmas Day, St John’s, Mullumbimby 8am.

Christian MeditationParish Resource Room, Weds at 3.30pm. Phone Judy 0401629748.

Prayer GroupMary of the Angelus Intercessory Prayer Group, 10.30am, OLOL, Brunswick Heads, 2nd and 4th Friday of month. Enquiries or prayer requests, call Jan 0431 477445.

www.mullumbimbycatholic.com.au

“Never see a need... without doing something about it”St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

St Carthage’s Community Care provides care to older people, people with dementia, and children, young people and adults with disabilities. They also provide respite for carers. They offer care services across the Northern area of the Diocese. Contact them if you have any questions or would like more information on St Carthage’s Community Care.

Spiritual Reading at St John’s ChurchThere are many good books available for borrowing in the Parish Library located in St John’s Church. Feel free to avail yourself of these books at any time. Write your name and the title of the book(s) taken in the book provided.

pages during her absence. She returns to the office on Wednesday Jan 18.

Stamp CollectionThanks to Pat Burns, stamps will still be sent to the Josephites in Sydney. Please place stamps in a sealed bag or envelope, marked ‘Used Stamps’, on the collection plate at Mass.

Direct Debit GivingDo you have trouble finding cash for your planned giving envelopes? Will you be away on holidays and have forgotten to organise your giving? Why not organise a Direct Debit? Just give your bank the parish bank details and ask for payments to be made on the 15th of each month. St John’s Catholic Parish, Bank: NAB, BSB: 082-729, Acc: 509796718. (Please notify the Parish Office if you start DD Giving.)

Sacristan NeededAfter many years of wonderful service, Jenny Tucker is taking a well deserved break from her role as Sacristan at St John’s Church in Mullumbimby. We are looking for two willing helpers to take over the role of Sacristan at the church. They will be fully trained in all aspects of the role.

We extend a warm welcome to all to worship with us. Whether that be only once or twice a year, or every weekend. What ever your life circumstance are, you are most welcome in St John’s Catholic Parish.Or if you wish to have a confidential chat with our parish priest, Father Lyall Cowell, then please call to arrange a time for a cuppa with him on 6684 2106.

Come as you are...