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The Epiphany of the Lord
4th JANUARY 2009
This Sunday:
Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 71, Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6, Matthew 2:1-12
Next Sunday:
Isaiah 55:1-11, Psalm 72, John 5:1-9, Mark 1:7-11
This week in the parish
| The Parish OFFICE is CLOSED until 20th January
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 Today’s feast of the Epiphany offers some hope. The child born at Bethlehem may seem to be a nobody, but he is truly the light of the world. Here is the star that lights our way through a troubled and dark world. Stars offer very little light, but still they show us the way. Jesus, born in a manger, is the way we must walk if we are to come together in harmony and find our way back to our Father in heaven.
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MIRACLE
THE ANGEL LAWYER
 During World War 11, the chief policeman of the Romanian city where my grandfather pastored demanded payment to keep the church open. Naturally, my grandfather would not bribe the man. In revenge, the chief secretly sent a letter to the higher authorities describing my grandfather as an "army deserter." As a result, a few weeks later he was taken to Bucharest, the capital, along with other deserters, to be tried and punished by the Martial Court.
On the day of the trial, forty men awaited sentencing in the courtroom hall. Halfway through the day, the court recessed and my grandfather learned that he would be the first one examined after the break. Imagine his anxiety as his thoughts went back to his wife and three children!
During the break, a man he had never seen before offered to plead his case in court for 10 lei (Romanian currency). At first my grandfather told the man to go on his way, but the stranger persisted, so he finally agreed and gave him the money. As the session started again, my grandfather learned that all the cases before him had received the death sentence, and he fainted. The next thing he knew was that somebody was waking him up. "You're free to go. That man has defended your case so well that we had to let you go." My grandfather searched in vain for the lawyer that argued his case so persuasively. No one knew of him or had seen him since. But the Bible promises that "He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways (Psalm 91:11).
As told to Adriana Timsa by Antonella Assimiti
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Sacramental Programme
A reminder to all parents that the first parent-only session is on 10 February at 7.30pm in St John’s Church. As parents are no longer required to attend the children’s sessions, it is compulsory for parents to attend the three parent-only sessions. Failure to attend the 3 parent-only sessions will result in your child being withdrawn from the programme. The first session for the children will be on 17 February from 4.00pm-5.30pm at St John's church. The children will need to attend each of the eight sessions as the programme has been condensed. If you have any queries please call Brenda at the parish office, 426 5599.
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Want to enrich your spiritual journey in 2009?
Walk By Faith could be what you are looking for.
Contact Jovita 09 360 3028 or visit website: www.credo.org.nz.
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TAKE NOTE
The parish office will be closed from Christmas eve until late January.
As January tends to be a quiet month, there will be no newsletters printed during this period.
SPECIAL NOTE
Weekly News on this Parish Web site will continue - any notices for this web site or distribution to parishioners by email each week - please click my address to email to ss@hbcparish.org.nz
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PASS ON THE GOOD NEWS...
If you know of anyone who would like the NEWSLETTER emailed to them weekly
let me know their email address.
Email me here: ss@hbcparish.org.nz
Perhaps you can think of some non-practising Catholics
who may be interested in at least keeping a small contact this way?
SIGN UP HERE
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3-day Christian Meditation Silent Retreat
with Fr Laurence Freeman OSB.
Make a note in your diaries for this 3-day retreat, to be held at Waikato University, Hamilton from Monday 2 February to Thursday 5 February 2009, entitled "The Hunger for depth and meaning - Spirituality in a secular age".
Accommodation is in single rooms with key, all linen provided. Chapel on campus. The campus is easily accessible from Hamilton Airport.
For information and registration, contact Raewyn at 07 549 4005 or email raewynblair@netsmart.net.nc
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Baradene College Centennial Year 2009:
We would like to re-connect with past students, staff ad community of Baradene College.
Please register today at www.baradene.com for the latest Centennial event info and to connect with past friends & colleagues.
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HUMOUR
The cowboy without a horse
A cowboy rode into town and stopped at the saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had a habit of picking on newcomers. When he finished, he found his horse had been stolen.
He comes back into the bar, handily flips his gun into the air, catches it above his head without even looking and fires a shot into the ceiling. "Who stole my horse?" he yelled with surprising forcefulness.
No one answered.
"I'm gonna have another beer and if my horse ain't back outside by the time I'm finished, I'm gonna do what I dun back in Texas and I don't want to have to do what I dun back in Texas!"
Some of the locals shifted restlessly.
He had another beer, walked outside, and his horse was back! He saddled up and started to ride out of town.
The bartender wandered out of the bar and asked, "Say partner, what happened in Texas?"
The cowboy turned back and said, "I had to walk home!"
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WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!!!
Let us know if there are any parishioners you know of who are:
- Sick
- Need transport to doctors, hospital etc.
- Lonely or grieving
- Require emergency food supplements.
Help us to help you!
Please phone:
| Orewa Area: | | Whangaparaoa Area: |
| Cathy Donovan - 426 6522 | | Chris O’Sullivan - 426 5988 |
| Noeline Still - 426 0144 | | Judith Gooding - 424 1008 |
| Jackie Straka - 421 0502 | | Judy Devlin - 424 0268 |
Any donations of non-perishable food items for the Care and Share foodbank will be welcomed.
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ON SALE:
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NZ CATHOLIC - $3.00
DAILY MASS CALENDARS - $2.00
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Catholic Boys Adventure Camp 
