ST JOHN: THE APOSTLE WHOM JESUS LOVED

St John is is the Evangelist whose Gospel is so important because it is such a wonderful reflection of the love of Jesus, yet his feast day seems almost to be squeezed into a leftover space in the packed calendar of Christmas week.   The founders of our Parish, however, honoured him with this window on the east side of our sanctuary.  

We can't work out what the artist has put in the chalice that St John is holding.    Can anyone help, please?

IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, GET OUT OF ...

We did!   You can be sure that as soon as we had taken this foggy photo of Mike (second from left) and his terrific team serving up incredibly hot meals on Christmas Day, we got our camera safely out of the steamy kitchen straight away!

The waiting customers, most of whom would otherwise have spent Christmas Day alone, enjoyed a first class meal, thanks to St Thomas's for the use of their hall and the volunteers from the various Christian churches in Lymington who organised and manned this truly Christian function.

PARISHIONER WINS HAMPER IN SVP DRAW

On behalf of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Tom presents Joan with the hamper she won for a 50p ticket in the annual National SVP Draw.   And that's not all.    There was a gorgeous Christmas cake in the hamper as well.    What happened to it, Joan?    Oh, did you.   Well, you shouldn't have.   Next time wait until Tom has presented it to you!

SHROPSHIRE LAD AND LASS COME TO VISIT

Here's Jim and Mai from Craven Arms, in Shropshire, who've come all this way to visit Kathy, and to sample our hospitality after Mass on the feast of the Holy Family.    We hope the weather improves for you both by the time you make the return journey!

BETHLEHEM GETS PROPERLY STITCHED UP

It is difficult to believe that this magnificent tapestry is the work of our Knit and Stitch group, which was started only a few weeks ago.   This first project of theirs, the final stitching of which has now been completed, is of such quality that we have been reduced by it to a state of seriously silent admiration.   It is a terrific piece of work - a splendid collage of Bethlehem.   

Now it has been mounted behind the altar and makes a superb background for the figures of our crib waiting to receive the infant Jesus on Christmas Day, and for the visit of the Magi who this year will be arriving on January 2nd, having cut four days off their normal travelling time.    (memo to BAA - try camels?)

CHRISTINGLE DRAWS THE SHORT STRAW

This photo was taken before all the congregation arrived.   Even so there was no way in which the carefully dimmed lighting and clever candle display could hide the low numbers.   Not really surprising, since Christingle was the third event held in our Church on the same icy day.  

The children were not at all put out by having such a small audience, and gave of their very best.    Here are part of the cast, snapped from the wings.   Well done all of you!

HOW GOOD WAS OUR CHRISTMAS TREE

Our entry for this year's Christmas Tree Festival at the URC Church was really striking.    What you cannot see from this photo is the amount of work which Cathryn and her team put into the individual decorations.   We are very grateful to them.    The Parish can be justly proud of our entry in this year's festival.

CALLING ALL WINDOW SILL NON-WATCHERS!

Just in case there is anyone (surely not!) who hasn't been following our church's rotating window sills, here is a guide to the four weeks of Advent as displayed on the west (right hand) side of the nave until Christmas Eve:

First week: The Lord is coming and will not delay; he will bring every hidden thing to light and reveal himself to every nation.

Second week: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

Third week: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!  The Lord is near!

Fourth week: The maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son, whom she will call Emmanuel.

FINALLY, THE BEST FLASH MOB SHOW EVER!

As a special treat for us for Christmas, Cathy has found a fantastic clip on Youtube, to whom our thanks for allowing us to reproduce it here.   With our apologies to anyone who has seen it already, here it is for those of you who have not yet had that opportunity.   It comes to you with our very best wishes or a happy and holy Christmas.   Just click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE  Enjoy!

ST.BERNADETTE ARRIVES AT THE GROTTO

Even though he's now living a long way from Lymington, Big Jim continued to work on his superb sculpture of St
Bernadette, which he had started before he left our parish.  Now that he has completed it, he returned last weekend to see it formally blessed and installed in the grotto behind the Church.    He and Patricia, who commissioned the work herself and generously donated it to the Parish, watch over it proudly after the ceremony.

SHOW AIDS BRAIN TUMOUR VICTIMS

Here are just some of the hard-working team who helped our Bernadette, in the centre of the picture, to put on a charming display of dance, music and fun to entertain us at the annual children's concert.    Money was raised for the Parish and for the brain tumour research team at the Wessex Cancer Trust.   The contribution to the Trust will be made on behalf of Samantha Cashen, who is also being given a video of the show which she was not able to attend.    We pray that she will make a full recovery.

CWL LADIES LOOKING FORWARD TO A TREAT

Deirdre, Ramona, Wendy and Ellen wait patiently to be called into the Stanwell's dining room for their Christmas lunch.      We are assured that the meal was well worth waiting for, but being of the wrong gender we were sadly unable to join the lovely ladies of the Catholic Women's League and so could not confirm this!

CLASS FOUR BEING WELL GOVERNED

Here's a Governor really playing a full part in the life of the School.    This is Sean organizing Class 4 from our Junior School, when they visited the Church on Tuesday.  Shortly after this photo was taken, the children were sent off to different parts of the building, to explore the church and to find out all about it individually or in small groups accompanied by members of staff.   What a good way to learn!

YOUNGSTERS' VIEW OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

For our first post of Advent, we open with this gorgeous portrait of John the Baptist, contributed by the Children's Liturgy Group.   You can imagine him thundering at the Pharisees, can't you.   "You brood of vipers ...!"    And with muscles like that, he would have had no difficulty plunging penitents down into the Jordan, and pulling them back up onto their feet again.   Clearly all those locusts and jars of wild honey have done marvels for his physique, but before starting this diet, fellows, you are advised to check with your GP.

CAKE FOR BODY FOLLOWS FOOD FOR SOUL

Brockenhurst hosted the first two of the Advent Sunday afternoon events, then fed us cake.    Here's Joan holding hers rather gingerly, with Paddy behind her and Margaret in the middle being offered a slice by Neville.   (Margaret's not sure whether she should, but we think she's going to.)
In the background with Mgr Peter and Fr Danny is Big Jim, who has absolutely no fear of cake.

FRIENDSHIP CLUB'S ST NICHOLAS DAY MEAL

The Friendship Club chose Santa Claus's real feast day on December 6th for their Christmas lunch at the South Lawn Hotel.

It was good to see Pam and Peggy there.   We did think of stopping on the way to Milford, and photographing Pam indicating with her arms which way we had to go, but in the end we decided to take shots in the hotel lounge.    Watch that drink, Peggy.   You'll get rusty if you drink too much of that!   But don't they both look great!     They were obviously enjoying themselves.

Now here's three very jolly partygoers.    Noreen, Maura and Delia look so happy that we expect them to burst into song at any moment.   How about  "Baby, it's cold outside"?

 At first we thought this was a group of Lib Dem MP's, trying to make up their minds which way to vote on tuition fees.    Then we realized it was Peter, John and Eileen having a discussion.   We're certain there won't be any divisions here!

Pam and Betty have found themselves a quiet corner here.  But we soon put paid to that!   We were delighted to find that we had another charming lady named Pam with us at the party.  She hasn't suffered being blogged by us before, which is probably why she's not looking at all worried at the prospect!

ELISA KNOCKS UP NINETY ON THE STRAIGHT

Watched by Cathy, and by Pat who made and decorated that smashing cake, Fr Danny presents Elisa to the congregation, who applaud enthusiastically.    No, your Grace, there isn't a riot at the end of Mass every Sunday.   Just this one.   And why not?     For today we celebrate Elisa's ninetieth birthday.

What a beautifully decorated cake!   Surely you're not going to cut it up for us all to have a piece?   

 For me?      Oh well, then, if you insist.   Thank you, Elisa, and here's to a very happy year ahead, with good health and the support of your lovely family!

REQUIESCANT IN PACE

It is with great sadness that we have to record the death of Robert Keen, a popular and much-loved member of our Parish.   Robert was a Senior Research Associate at St Edmund's College, Cambridge.  "He was an extremely valuable member of the Council of the Catholic Union of Great Britain for a number of years and was the founder chairman of the Education Working Group," a spokesman said, "he will be greatly missed."     He was also a member of the International Thomas More Society.
 Until a few months ago he often presided over the Eucharistic service at our Church on Wednesday mornings.  We join with Pam and the family in their grief at his passing, and pray that he may now rest in peace.


We have also received the news of the sudden death of the Reverend Monica Mills, the Minister of Lymington URC Church.    It seems only a few months since her appointment to that community, who had coped remarkably well without a minister for so long, and who were naturally delighted when she arrived.   Her death is a real tragedy for the members of that congregation as well as for her husband and their family.    We ask them to accept our sincere regards and condolences, and assure them of our prayers.

CHRISTMAS FAIR AT ST DOMINIC'S PRIORY

Last Saturday the Christmas Fair at the Priory raised more than £1400, due in some measure to help from parishioners of our Parish.     Here are some impressions from that day.

An hour before the opening, the Cake Stall Squad arrive.     A quick cuppa, then down to business straight away.   Off comes the polythene wrapping, and then on to the important matter of deciding what prices to charge.     Freda, Patricia, Joan and Jo are going to make those decisions very carefully.

Once the fair gets going, however,  the rooms quickly fill with hungry visitors, some of whom have been queueing up outside in the cold for more than half an hour.    Anyone for a slice of pizza?    It looks irresistible, especially when it's served up with such lovely smiles from Louise and Pat!

Just look at all these beautiful dolls!     Sister Sadora who's looking after the stall is the latest postulant to join the community at St Dominic's.     We should make it clear, however, that her happy headwear is not the new approved veil for Dominican postulants!    She hails from Kentucky, so let us welcome her with a few words (click) from Carolina Bluegrass.