12th January 2020

THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

CHRIST THE KING PARISH OFFICE 01980 622177

E-mail: amesbury.christtheking@cliftondiocese.com

The Parish office is normally open from 10:00 to 12:00

Monday to Friday

PARISH PRIEST: Rev Saji Mathew saji.mathew@cliftondiocese.com

Parish Office Telephone: 01980 622177

E-mail: amesbury.christtheking@cliftondiocese.com

Website: Amesbury.cliftondiocese.com

PARISH SAFEGUARDING REPRESENTATIVE: Dr Maame Duku Sarfe

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING

THE PRESBYTERY, 4 LORDS CROFT, AMESBURY, WILTS., SP47EP

WELCOME TO CHRIST THE KING We welcome visitors, family and friends to our Mass today.

We are glad you are joining us today. If you are new to the Parish we would invite you to register with us by completing a

registration form, that are to be found in the narthex. May the Lord continue to bless you all.

YEAR OF COMMUNION Within the context of our celebrity culture, there is such an emphasis on self-promotion that the idea that anyone might give someone else the glory is not something we come across very often. The human condition is such that many people crave attention, long to be noticed and be significant in the eyes of the world. What John the Baptist tells us is that there is one greater than us; one whom we must promote over and above ourselves. John is not concerned with popularity stakes or being the centre of attention. Having dedicated his life to preparing the way for Jesus to come, the time is right now for him to ‘decrease’ so that Jesus can ‘increase’. The Christian life is different from celebrity life. Following Jesus requires us to put him first above all else, to make him centre stage – so that others may come to know him in all his majesty and glory. The Christian way of life is an invitation to a humble and hidden life, a place where God dwells within us. What greater reward is there?

Readers Minsters of HC Counters Coffee Cleaners

Sat 11 A Fairbairn S Bradwell / P Monaghan J Meredith

R Harris 3

Christine, Margaret,

Helen, Gaye Seraphine Sun 12 D Simkin M Fitzpatrick / M Taylor

Sat 18 P Monaghan P Morehead / H Burnell H James

S Morgan 4

Christine, Margaret,

Helen, Gaye Seraphine

Sun 19 C Crossland L Brown / M Ryan

ORDINARY TIME WEEK 1 SUNDAY CYCLE: YEAR A / WEEKDAY CYCLE: YEAR 2

DIVINE OFFICE: Psalter 1

Sat 11th Jan Saturday after Epiphany 6pm Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Sun 12th Jan THE FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD 11:00am Holy Mass - People of the Parish

Mon 13th Jan Weekday in Ordinary Time 9am Angelus, Lauds 9:15am Mass

Tue 14th Jan Weekday in Ordinary Time 9am Angelus, Lauds 9:15am Mass

Wed 15th Jan Weekday in Ordinary Time 9am Angelus, Lauds 9:15am Mass

Thur 16th Jan Weekday in Ordinary Time 9am Angelus, Lauds 9:15am Mass

Fri 17th Jan Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot 5pm Exposition of Blessed Sacrament 6pm Angelus, Mass

Sat 18th Jan Weekday in Ordinary Time 6pm Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Sun 19th Jan SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 11:00am Holy Mass - People of the Parish

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION )

Saturday 5:15-5:45pm & by appointment

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION/RECONCILIATION First Session (For Parents) : Sunday 19th January, after 11:00am Mass.

CONFIRMATION

Next Session: Tuesday 11th February, 7pm, St Osmond's, Parish Rooms.

EMERGENCY EXITS Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the nearest exit. In the case of an emergency please leave all belongings and move immediately to the fire points which are: (1. Outside the presbytery and (2. At the far end of the car park near the cross. Wheel chair users and those that require assistance walking should remain in their places until they are attended to by a fire warden. Thank you.

SUNDAY 12th January

LITURGY OF THE WORD

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON After the Lord was baptised, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

FIRST READING Prophet Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 28 The Lord will bless his people with peace.

SECOND READING Acts of the Apostles 10: 34-38

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! The heavens opened and the Father’s voice resounded: “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Alleluia!

GOSPEL Matthew 3: 13-17

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Behold the One of whom John said; I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.

OUR PRAYERS For our Bishop, +Declan, For our school, the Children, Parents, Teachers & Governors, All the sick of the Parish, those in Hospital, Our Housebound Community, For the Homeless, Destitute, Dispossessed and for those in despair.

IN MEMORIAM For those who have recently died. For those who have died unknown and in obscurity. For those whose anniversaries occur at this time.

ROSARY AT SALISBURY CATHEDRAL The Ecumenical Rosary is prayed in Salisbury Cathedral on the third Friday of each month at 12:00. The next is on: Friday 17th January. We meet in the Cathedral refectory at 11:30 All are welcome

SOUP RUNS Thank you to all who are participating in providing soup to the homeless on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Kindly remember to return the canister to the church kitchen prior to the end of the Saturday 6pm mass - unless you have other arrangement with next soup maker.

SATURDAY COFFEE MORNINGS The next coffee morning will be on: Saturday 8th February 10.30 to 12.00. Why not come and join us?

RE-DEDICATION OF ENGLAND TO OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM a For full details and dates relating to the above event, following the announcement by the Bishops of England and Wales on 1 January 2020, to the Personal Act of Rededication on 29 March 2020. please see: dowrytour.org.uk.

HOUSEBOUND If you are aware of any of our parishioners that are housebound and would benefit from a home visit and or to receive communion, please let Fr Saji have their details.

Correction: 200 CLUB December Winners

£35 Bernadette Jones £25 Helen James

£15 Christine Kinghorn

PEACE AND SILENCE IN CHURCH Please respect those that may wish to pray either BEFORE and AFTER Mass

by maintaining silence in our church and the Narthex area. Feel free to use the coffee area to catch up and hold conversations.

SECOND COLLECTION This week there is a second collection for The Society for the Protection of Unborn

Children

DIOCESE DIRECTORY & LITURGICAL DIARY Copies are available in the Narthex. Directory £5, Diary £6.50

CONFIRMATION 2020 The next meeting is on 11 February at 19:00 in St Osmund’s Parish Rooms. Details of the programme can be found at: https://salisburycatholics.org/confirmation. Please note change of date for the Confirmation Mass next year: It will be held on 23 June 2020

LAST WEEK’s OFFERTORY COLLECTION

Thank you for your collection of £289

Your generosity is appreciated

THE GOSPEL OF St MATTHEW Tisbury Catholic Church invites you to a talk on the Gospel of St. Matthew by Fr Nicholas King S.J. on: Saturday 29th February at11:30am in the Methodist Chapel, High Street, Tisbury, SP3 6HF

200 CLUB January starts the sixth year of the 200 Club. Profit is shared between the church and the school.

Subscriptions (£12) are required now for 2020. Peter and Carol will be present at all the weekend masses during January to collect money from

members and other people who may like to join. Thank You.

THANK YOU Thank you to all who supported Lilian’s Christmas Cake sales. This year £110 has been sent to CAFOD.

CATECHIST COURSE A course designed for the formation of the catechists of our diocese. The course is aimed at forming new catechists as well as supporting and refreshing existing and “well-seasoned” catechists. This next series is to be hosted at St Osmund’s Church, Salisbury. The course will run on a Wednesday evening, once a month through the year, starting Wednesday 29 January. Sessions start at 7.30pm with refreshments from 7pm. Further information can be found on the Clifton Diocese website. Those wishing to take part in the series will need to submit registration details by the end of January. There is a minimal cost to the course of £50 which can be subsidised by our Deanery.

From the Desk of Father Saji

Sunday 12th January 2020

Today we celebrate The Baptism of the Lord, and conclude the Christmas Season. (You should get "A Gold Star" – or maybe a new Angel for the top of your tree – if you wait until today to take down your Christmas decorations.) In our Western consumer driven-culture, anticipation of Christmas begins well before Halloween. Even before that retailers have been advertising sales for more than a month. For us in the Church, however, our joy-filled expectations began on December 1st, the First Sunday of Advent. We count down the four weeks to Christmas by lighting the candles of our Advent Wreath. So now, our Advent longings and our Christmas joys are complete…or maybe not. Just a few weeks ago we recalled that the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means 'God is with us.' When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

The author, Mary Ellen Hynes, in her work, Companion to the Calendar, A Guide to the Saints and Mysteries of the Christian Calendar, published by Liturgical Training Publications, Chicago, IL, 1993, reminds us that: “In Hebrew the name of Jesus is Joshua. This name means Saviour. A thousand years before the time of Jesus, in the days of the Exodus, after Moses died a man named Joshua became the leader of the Hebrew people. Joshua led the people through the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. “Our Saviour Jesus in a new Joshua. Jesus leads us into the Jordan of baptism. We pass through the water to enter a new life. Sweetened dairy foods such as cheesecake and eggnog are customary during Christmastime in honour of our Saviour, who leads us into ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’” Yes, today we do end the Christmas Season. But today’s Feast actually marks a beginning in the spread of the Christmas message. Following His Baptism, Jesus is led out into the desert, and then beyond, to begin his public ministry. Affirmed in identity by the voice of God the Father, Jesus embraces his mission as Saviour – for all peoples of all times. In many ways the Baptism of the Lord is a threshold event that signals not something different for Jesus, but the next step in the unfolding mystery of God’s love revealed…to us! So what about you and me, and the transitions in our lives? A graduation from school, the loss of a job, a new career, relocating the family, getting married, the birth of a child, the onset of a serious illness, the death of a spouse, family member, or close friend – all these too might be considered threshold events. Where do they lead us? What changes in our lives? How is God in all this? Because we are baptized into the mystery of Christ’s life, death and resurrection our entire lives are an unfolding of God’s love and grace. Because we are baptized into Christ Jesus, we share in His divine life, and partici-pate in the very love that makes the Blessed Trinity One. This awesome and awe inspiring gift of baptism is a reality of grace that a local St. Louis theologian Sr. Millie Ellebracht CPPS, once called "Totally Outrageous!” That is how much God loves us. That is why God parted the heavens, took flesh, and dwelt among us. That is why God opened the heavens, to speak words of love and delight. That is exactly what God continues to do, for each of us, every day of our lives through Jesus Christ, who is for us Divine Mercy...coming to us as Saviour through the Sacramental Life of the Church. Listen to the words of today’s Gospel, “This is my beloved….” Do you believe that God speaks these words to you? Go ahead, eat a piece of cheesecake or drink some eggnog, and celebrate both the Baptism of the Lord, as well as your own baptism into His wonderful life and love.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

On The Way- God’s Christmas gift: true worship

Last Sunday we observed the Feast of the Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem. The Church has always understood these men from the East to represent and indeed embody all the nations of the world coming to Christ (thus, we traditionally depict them as being of different races). Christ is born not just for Israel but for all nations.

We usually focus on the Magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Those are certainly curious gifts for a newborn. But what the Magi did before presenting the gifts is even more amazing: They prostrated themselves and did him homage (Mt 2:11). Their prostration is more than a gesture of reverence or respect. It is an act of worship. Thus in the Magi all nations come and worship the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob…the Lord of Israel…the God-Man Jesus Christ. Their following of the star brought them to true worship.

To our modern, egalitarian, ears the phrase “true worship” might seem odd. It clearly implies that there could be false worship. And, as shocking as it might be to modern sensitivities, there is in fact such a thing as false worship. Deep in our human nature is the desire to worship. We have been created for precisely that purpose. But because of our fallen human nature and the fallen world more generally, we err in our discernment of how to worship. Hence the false worship that was the human sacrifices of the Canaanites, Carthaginians, and Aztecs. So also Jepthah’s offering of his own daughter (Jdg 11:29-40). Clearly, we need assistance in knowing how to worship rightly.

With the Nativity of Christ, God has come into the world to give us the worship that our hearts desire. The prayer over the offerings for the Mass of Christmas Day says that the birth of Christ has “inaugurated for us the fullness of divine worship.” Again in the Mass of December 31, we celebrated the Nativity of Christ that “established the beginning and fulfilment of all religion” and address God as the One Who gives us “the gift of true prayer.”He is born to bring us true worship. At the Last Supper Christ will bring this gift to its completion. In the upper room He will institute the Eucharist as the memorial of the Sacrifice of the Cross and will entrust to the Church the perfect form of worship: the Mass. He has come into the world to offer His life on the Cross and to establish the Mass as the continual offering of that sacrifice.

To Your Health in the New Year:

The New Year often brings promises we make to ourselves to lead a healthier life. Here are a few tips to create a healthy lifestyle that may reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Be a planner. Write down what your priorities are, the small steps you will take to achieve them and when you will work on each step. Everything you eat and drink matters to your current and future health. To get the nutrition you need, eat a wide variety of different foods regularly, and eat foods of many different colours. Eat more whole grains, fruit, vegetables and fish. Make at least half of your grains whole grains. Fill half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Eat fish two or more times each week. Include at least one meatless meal a week. Try plant-based foods that are good protein sources, such as cooked dry beans, peas or lentils, tofu, sprouted whole grain bread, quinoa, or whole rolled oats. Chia and hemp seeds and nutritional yeast can be added to foods to boost their protein content. Eat less sodium, saturated fat and sugar. Your heart will thank you. Most of the sodium we get each day comes from prepared and restaurant food. Eat more home-cooked meals and replace sugary drinks with water or low-fat milk. Use herbs and spices to season your food and cut back on salt. Try fruit for dessert. Bake whole, cored apples or pears, sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg. Freeze bananas, whole strawberries or grapes for a frosty treat.

The Baptism of our Lord:

Many young families approach our parish on a regular basis asking to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for their children. This is a privileged moment for us to share with them their enthusiasm and hopefulness for their children. I am reminded of many of these moments today, as we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. There are several special moments during the Baptism ceremony. For instance, we ask the parents and godparents a series of short, but important questions: Do you believe in God? Do you reject Satan? And all his works? And all his empty promises? I believe these questions are increasingly relevant given the contemporary tendency to disbelieve in the existence of Satan. St. Ignatius of Loyola has something very simple yet significant to say regarding the existence of good vs. evil. He refers to two different standards of living: the standard of Christ vs. the standard the “evil one”. St. Ignatius suggests the image of playing for two different sports teams as an analogy. These teams have two different jerseys. You cannot be on both teams at the same time. He asks us, which team do you want to play on? He goes on to explore this image of the two different teams. What is it like to play on one team or the other? When parents present their children for Baptism, they are essentially signing up for the team that stands for Christ. The coach for the other team promises comfort, easy life, honour and power. It takes a long time to realize that this coach is full of lies. He makes us think that if we do certain things, then we will be happy. The team of the “evil one” sets us up to compare ourselves to each other and try to step on others to make the self-appear better. After a while, a person realizes that these things did not create happiness. Rather, they brought about misery and unmanageability. This coach is the “father of lies.” The team for Christ offers a completely different definition of success in life. The Christian definition does not refer to having fame, or wealth or power. Jesus does not lie to us because he takes us seriously. Jesus offers us a life of humility, love and service to others. And finally, the team for Christ takes strength from the final statement in today’s Gospel, “You are beloved!”

Baptism –A Gift of New Life

This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The voice from heaven acclaims not only Jesus but to the onlookers at the Jordan River that in Jesus there is a new creation: “This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Because of our baptism we have the same assurance; we are beloved daughters and sons of God. I recently went through all of my important papers and came across my baptismal certificate. I realized that I didn’t even remember my date of baptism. I do remember so many other dates of significance in my life. Perhaps that is the same for many of you. I suggest that you might sort through all of your important papers and look for your baptismal certificate. Along with the celebrations of birthdays, weddings, significant anniversary dates, include the celebration of your baptism. It was that day that you were “claimed for Christ.”

Family Faith Formation-Bringing the Gospel Home:

There is something about water that is appealing to children. Most children love to play in the bathtub when they are little. It isn’t about getting clean but a different environ-ment in which to play. With their bath toys and imagination the kids giggle and play long even after the water turns cold! Water is used for drinking, cleaning, cooking, watering plants and so much more. It is also a powerful symbol in our faith. John the Baptist baptized with water as a sign of washing away our sinfulness and starting anew. It is a sign or repentance. In today's Gospel when Jesus came to John for Baptism, He had no sins that needed to be washed away so why did He come to John? Jesus was now an adult, about 30 years old, and had likely been trained as a carpenter with Joseph. This event was turning point in His life, the beginning of His public ministry. His old life was washed away and He was made ready to work for His Heavenly Father. As Christians we were baptized, cleansing and anointing us for the work our Father has for us. We recreate this moment each time we bless ourselves with holy water when we enter and exit church. Our Heavenly Father is well pleased with us when we acknowledge that we need His help in our ministries, our jobs, and our relationships. The next time you put your hands in water, ask God to bless, strengthen and guide you as you work to build His kingdom here on earth.

GOSPEL MEDITATION~ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF

SCRIPTURE

The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives four reasons for the Incarnation, why God became man in Jesus Christ. The third reason is “to be our model of holiness.” All of Jesus’ words and actions model for us what we ought to do. He also shows us how we’re meant to be. Jesus’ baptism ought to remind us of our own baptism and of the impor-tance of baptism in the Christian life. The Baptism of the Lord reminds us of our Trinitar-ian identity. When we are baptized, we stand in solidarity with Christ, bathed in the wa-ters he sanctified. There, the Father proclaims our adoption into the family of God. “‘This is my beloved son [this is my beloved daughter], with whom I am well pleased.’” And the Spirit, too, descends. We are filled with the Spirit’s grace and power to continue Christ’s mission on earth. We received these gifts in the sacrament, and they continue to dwell within us through sanctifying grace. We can and should invite God to stir up these graces of our baptism and consider them in our own lives. Does Christ feel like a distant relative two thousand years in the past? Or do you see him as someone who can be en-countered here and now? Ask yourself where you find your sense of dignity and worth. Do you still search for it in success, social status, and selfish pursuits? Or are you able to rest in being a beloved child of God? Remember, baptism gives us a call and a charge to change the world. Do you pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you? Or are you so focused on your own life that you miss the mission? This week, let’s do as Jesus did. Let’s live in our baptism!