NO PEACE IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

Christmas has never really been very peaceful under the altar at Our Lady of Mercy.      Already we can see that some extra settlements have appeared this year.    That’s bound to cause more trouble.  

Then there’s all those immigrants coming in– three more of them expected in twelve days time.      And what are Eileen, Eileen and Clare going to do with these sheep that have just arrived?       It’s a good thing they’re going to have a census, isn’t it.

SIX FLAUTISTS GO A-FLUTING FOR OAKHAVEN

Last Saturday evening Tina and five of her flute-playing friends gave a recital at her house to raise funds for Oakhaven.       As well as giving their invited audience much pleasure they collected a total of £150 for the Hospice.    What a great Christmas present!

WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT A WHITE CHRISTMAS

You’ll find it in the Paul Duffy room, the one at the end of the right hand corridor in Our Lady of Mercy Hospitality Centre.     Here’s Lisa, Luke and Johnny setting it up.

SCHOLARS SING CAROLS FOR THE PARISH

This afternoon, 60 of our young students from Our Lady of Mercy and St Joseph's performed a magnificent carol service re-enacting the birth of Jesus Christ with their song. There were many outstanding soloists and narrators alongside the choral voices and those dressed up to take part in the tableau. Well done to all.
                                                                                                             photo and report by Cathy

CAROLLERS VISIT LOCAL RESIDENTIAL HOMES

One of the four groups of parishioners, young and old, who volunteered to sing carols at to residents of Lymington care and nursing homes, visited Barfields today.   The other groups went to Oakhaven, Freegrove and Solent Mead.

THAT WAS A BUSY WEEK FOR BASICS BANK

Santa visited Elmers Court Hotel last Sunday to collect goods for Basics Bank.    A clean shaven Desmond Swayne MP and District Council leader Cllr Barry Rickman got together on the bouncy castle in the absence of younger children.      It would have made an even better photo had we been able to persuade them to have their faces painted!     Sadly we had fewer visitors than last year but nevertheless £70 was donated and Santa's Sack was filled twice over during the course of the very enjoyable afternoon.

                                                                                                                   photo and report by Anthony

 

Clare and her team among the heaps of goodies which they had brought into the foyer of the URC Church on Tuesday.    Among the volunteers who made them all up into Christmas parcels that evening were some of our younger parishioners.       A total of 147 parcels were distributed, mostly paid for from money donated to Basics Bank.

WELCOME TO JACK, OUR NEWEST PARISHIONER

Simon and Mulgoriate Smith with their beautiful baby Jack posed with his godparents and their relatives before Jack received the Sacrament of Baptism, through which he became a member of the Church of God.       The graces he received when Fr Danny administered the Sacrament a few minutes after this photo was taken will enable him to become a strong and faithful Catholic Christian.      We wish him every blessing in the future.

LINDA SCORES HER HALF-CENTURY

Popular Hospital Chaplain Linda Lee celebrated her fiftieth birthday today by inviting members of other Christian denominations to join her for a coffee at a popular High Street café in Lymington.     A truly ecumenical gathering came to wish her well, including URC Minister the Rev Chris Vincent (left).      Linda works hard, cheering everyone up with her lovely smile, and we wish her many more years of healthy and happy service with the patients at New Forest Hospital.

LYMINGTON HIGH STREET DURING WWI

This old postcard, published in 1916, shows the High Street from its eastern end.    Close to the viewer on the right hand side can be seen the entrance to the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, just in front of the presbytery, looking almost the same as it does today.
Photo from www.newforestexplorersguide.co.uk  (Information and images - New Forest villages, wildlife, walks, cycling, history, commoning, pubs and much more.)

O COME THOU WISDOM FROM ON HIGH

The first of the four weeks of Advent is with us, so Joseph and Mary begin their journey along the four window sills on the right side of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy.   
 



Meanwhile on the other side of the Church the first of the four advent candles is alight, and as each week goes by an additional candle is lit.  

NEWEST ENTRANT TO THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB!

 

As last week’s Friendship Club meeting was drawing to a close, who should come to join in but Maura’s granddaughter Amelia Florence carried by proud mother Sally Ann.    Baby Amelia, six months old next Monday, will shortly be baptised at Corpus Christi Church, Boscombe.

LOCAL M.P. GETS WHISKERED FOR CHARITY

Local M.P. Desmond Swayne visited Basics Bank this week to donate a share of the sponsorship money he raised during November for various good causes by growing this handsome moustache and sideburns.       

 

U.R.C. CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL ENTRY

 

 

Jacqui and Catherine are just putting the finishing touches to the decorations on the tree entered by the Parish of Our Lady of Mercy in the Christmas Tree Festival at the URC Church this week.   If you want to see the other trees, you'll have to hurry - it finishes on Friday!