The 29th Sunday of the Year
21st October 2007
WORLD MISSION DAY

Tue - St John of Capistrano
Wed - St Anthony Claret

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Gospel Reflection

All too often we lack persistence when it comes to prayer, sometimes losing faith in it altogether. We give up on prayer for lots of reasons. We give up on prayer because we have stopped believing that God is really listening. We give up on prayer because we think that we are unworthy of God's attention, or that God must be busy doing other things. We give up on prayer because we have an immature expectation, and can't understand why God doesn't pander to it. Whatever reason we have for giving up on prayer we need to re-think, because at worst, giving up on prayer can mean giving up on our relationship with God.

Today Jesus urges us to persist in prayer. However disillusioned we might feel, we are urged not to give up. Just because God hasn't granted a prayer in the past doesn't mean God won't grant a future prayer. The key is to remember that God isn't a magician giving us quick fix answers whenever we're feeling at a loss. God sees the overall picture, and as long as our prayer fits that picture how much more readily will he answer us, than the unjust judge gives in to the widow in today's parable.

We are encouraged to pray with a genuine desire to build our relationship with God. We are to pray with perseverance with persistence

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World Mission Day
"All the Churches for all the world."

21st October

"All the Churches for all the world": this is the theme chosen for World Mission Day. It invites the local Churches of every continent to a shared awareness of the urgent need to re-launch missionary action in the face of the many serious challenges of our time.

In a special message for the occasion, The Holy Father's call to each of us to be a missionary may inspire us or burden us. Let's take this opportunity to look within ourselves to connect strongly with Jesus there. By seeking Jesus within, we will find the love and the power to speak of him to others. By uniting with Jesus, we become aware of the desire of his heart to draw all people into the love which is God. We are not called to empty words and cold actions. We are called to speak and act out our close friendship with Jesus.

The Pope ends his message praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary to "make us aware that we are all missionaries, called by the Lord to be his witnesses in every moment of our lives."

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UNITY SERVICE

Together with the Christian Churches around Hampton we are invited to the United Reformed Church in Hampton Hill for a service of hymns, prayers and readings next Sunday Evening (Sunday 28th October) at 6.30pm

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THE CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

Saturday 10th. November 11-3pm in the Parish Centre.

We are now appealing for goods for the various stalls. We need items of jewellery, cosmetics, stationery, tombola, candles, crafts and homemade preserves. Please note that due to lack of space we are unable to take books, clothing, toys and bric-a-brac

Stallholders - Please add your name to the list in the porch if you are able to help run a stall.

Sponsorship of prizes - Many thanks to everyone who agreed to sponsor prises. Please hand any donation or the prize in question to Father Bernard.

Grand Draw Tickets are now on sale after all masses
Setting Up. The Hall will be open on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th November from 7-9pm for stall holders to price and display their goods. Freshly baked cakes may be brought along on either of these evenings but we would appreciate all donations of goods to be handed in before hand so that we can sort and distribute them. K Wren

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HARVEST FAST - C.A.F.O.D.

A sum of £960.00 was donated by parishioners in the collection 2 weeks ago. A further £500.00 had been placed in the collection since June. Last week I wrote a cheque for £1498.50 for its works of charity in the poor countries of the world. Fr.B