The God who Speaks team has produced a simple ceremony for the lighting of the Advent wreath. There are prayers and readings for use on each of the four Sundays of the Advent season.
It can be downloaded using the link below.
26 Saturday Nov 2022
Posted Catholic, God who speaks, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
inThe God who Speaks team has produced a simple ceremony for the lighting of the Advent wreath. There are prayers and readings for use on each of the four Sundays of the Advent season.
It can be downloaded using the link below.
29 Saturday May 2021
Posted Catholic, Mission, Parish Newsletter, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
inA reminder that for the next few months we have celebrations of Sunday Mass at 4pm on Saturday, as well as at our usual times of Saturday 6pm and Sunday 9am and 11am.
The 4pm Mass will remain in place for the next couple of months.
Thank you to the parishioners who are generously giving their time and energies so that Mass can be offered at these times.
Click here for access to the full newsletter…
02 Friday Apr 2021
Posted Catholic, God who speaks, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
in20 Saturday Mar 2021
Posted Catholic, God who speaks, Parish Newsletter, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
inClick here for access to the full newsletter…
10 Wednesday Mar 2021
Posted Catholic, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
in01 Monday Mar 2021
Posted Catholic, Mission, Parish Newsletter, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
in2021 A Year of St Joseph
Pope Francis has declared a year dedicated to St Joseph, from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021.
He says: “Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble” (Patris Corde – With a Father’s Love ).Let’s do that. Let’s ask St Joseph to keep a watchful eye on this family of the Church, to intercede on our behalf’.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols
You might like to give some time this month to pray a Novena of prayer to St Joseph
The texts for the Novena will be posted on the blog each day, and each day they focus on a different aspect of St Joseph, and the example he gives.
Each day of the Novena you are invited to
And you are invited to link your prayer with the rest of your daily life by having a go at a suggested activity.
And if you would like to read ‘Patris Corde – With a Father’s Heart’ – the Apostolic Letter from Pope Francis on the 150th Anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church – the link is here.
Photograph (c) 2014, Allen Morris. Carmel, Lisieux.
19 Friday Feb 2021
Posted Catholic, God who speaks, Parish Newsletter, Prayer, Scripture
inWith the latest news being that some primary school aged children may be able to return to school from next week in Wales and from 8 March onwards in England, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel in what has been a challenging time for many families.
The Bible Society Open the Book team wanted to support homeschoolers throughout lockdown by creating fun and interactive RE resources for families to use at home. They are suitable for children aged 5–11 and free to download.
Focusing on the parables of Jesus and how he used them to teach people about God and about themselves, there are activities, conversation starters, games, puzzles and ideas for going deeper into each of the parables.
14 Sunday Feb 2021
Posted Catholic, Mission, Parish Newsletter, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
inThe parish is offering the following times of prayer on Ash Wednesday (17th February)
0700 – In church: Liturgy of the Word, with Ashes
1000 – In church: Mass, with Ashes
1200 – On-line prayer, especially for people who are housebound.
1900 – In church: Mass, with Ashes
If you are not able to come to church – for Mass or a Liturgy of the Word,
and cannot join us on -line,
you might like to use the following order of service
Ash Wednesday at Home
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’
Lord God, with all our hearts
we beseech you:
have mercy on your people; spare your people;
strengthen all people in the struggle against the havoc of this pandemic.
Lord our God, without you we are so weak and our courage so limited.
Give us your strength; give us your love; give us wisdom and skill to continue this fight.
Spare your people, O Lord we pray.
Comfort those who mourn and gather into your kingdom all who have died.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord,
who died and rose to life,
who lives and reigns with you,
for ever and ever. Amen.
So Lent begins!
PS If you know someone who is not on-line and not likely to see this Blog,
you might print out a copy of this page and take it to them,
to help them prepare for Ash Wednesday
21 Thursday Jan 2021
Posted Catholic, God who speaks, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
inChristianity is a religion of hope and life and love.
However, like many people, Christians sometimes lose hope; life can lose its savour for us and darkness overwhelm us; and love, somewhere, lost.
Like this we can seem to ourselves faithless, and the truths of faith like a false dream.
We feel the pain and loss others do, and respond in many of the same ways too – some helpful and some harmful.
Prayer often comes difficult at these times. But there is one form of prayer especially suited to them, tried and trusted in our tradition: Lament.
In lament we come raw and angry, pained and wretched to God: accusing, demanding, sorrowful.
It is a form of prayer many of us have not been schooled in. But hallowed words are offered – especially in the psalms – that we can use, especially if we have not yet found words of our own.
At times when our pain may keep us from knowing the care of God, giving voice to that very pain may bring us closer to him then as yet we know.
On Fridays Christians remember the agony of Jesus on the cross – the abandonment he experienced and the lament he gave voice to.
Each Friday at 3pm a lament will be posted on this blog.
Image: Fragment of figure (Collection of Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts). Photograph (c) 2020, Allen Morris.
19 Tuesday Jan 2021
Posted Catholic, Mission, Prayer, Scripture, St Nicholas Boldmere
inEvery January for the last few years, #Pray24Brum has brought together Christians in Birmingham and beyond to pray for the city.
#Pray24Brum 2021 takes place from 8am to 8pm on Friday 22 January and from 8am to 8pm on Saturday 23 January.
Due to the lockdown there will be no central venue in which people can gather for prayer. Instead, #Pray24Brum is inviting individuals, households, congregations and Christian communities to set aside 24 minutes during the 24 hours to pray for Birmingham.
This year our parish is beginning the Day of Prayer on Saturday 23 January with a Zoom prayer service.
The form of prayer will be our usual Morning Prayer with an addition or two.
Thank you to the members of the parish who, with Fr Allen, are co-leading the prayer.
If you wish to join us then simply click this link (nb this is NOT the usual link for Morning Prayer) and you will be welcomed in any time after 0820. The prayer is expected to begin promptly at 8.30am.
Photograph: (c) 2014, Allen Morris. Detail: The Cube, Birmingham