Holy Trinity and St Augustine of Canterbury

Extracts from Newsletter for June 2003

PENTECOST is the birthday of the Church. On that day the apostles received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We too have been given gifts, which we have a duty to share. The action of the Spirit is mysterious, but it’s not magic. What is called for on our part is openness, willingness and effort. Fear, selfishness, laziness, apathy - all these lead to stagnation. What the Holy Spirit did for the apostles was to give them courage and boldness so that they were able to overcome their fear and timidity. From being a group of people, huddled together in fear of each other and of the world at large, they became people with a Mission and a Message for the world - the Good News of Jesus Christ. After the coming of the Spirit they became living witnesses for Christ. The same Holy Spirit has been given to us too. Let us pray that this same Spirit will enlighten our minds, purify our hearts and strengthen our wills, so that we may give effective witness to our Christian faith.

TRINITY SUNDAY

God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In God the Father we have a Father who cares deeply about us. In Jesus we have a Brother

who died for us, and who has promised to remain with us always. And in the Holy Spirit, we have a Comforter, who guides us to the Kingdom of Eternity.

Pentecost - 7/8 June.

Trinity Sunday - 14/15 June.

Corpus Christi - Thursday 19th June. Holy Day of Obligation. Masses as announced.

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Friday 27th June. Day of Devotion.

We congratulate all children making their First Holy Communion on 22nd June 2003.

At Your Word, Lord – Mission – Liturgy – Leading Small Communities

w Mission is about being touched by the Word of God through a time of grace. God uses all of us in His endeavours to touch our hearts. Please allow Him to use you - let us know if you would like to be involved in the preparation and presentation of the Mission, which we are planning for the third or fourth week in September.

w Small Communities

will begin to look at the theme ‘God - A Community of Love’ from 5 October for 6 weeks. Would you like to host / lead one of these groups? No experience necessary as all training will be given!!

w Liturgy

Workshops are coming up on 7th and 14th June. Please contact Mike Tingle (490274) for details of times and venues. You could make a valuable contribute to the Mission Liturgies as well as the Sunday Liturgies during the ‘At Your Word, Lord’ 6-week season.

w Visit http://www.aywl.org.uk to find out more about the process.

Or speak to any of the Core Community: Mike Tingle; Bill Piper; Jennifer Blanchfield; Ian Allott; Greg Hewitson; Chris Bryan; Neil Haslam, Caroline Holmes.

Everyone will be invited to a special Mass at Wembley Arena to celebrate the launch of At Your Word Lord in our Diocese.

Mark your diaries now for Friday 26th September. More details will follow.

Hitchin Parish extends a warm welcome to all young adults to a Mass on Sunday 1st June at 5 pm followed by opportunity to reflect and chat and a chance to socialise afterwards. This is a monthly event - please contact Joanne Chico on Tel: 01462 450502 if you want to know more.

Catholic Young Adults are gathering The Cardinal invites young adults (17-30ish) to a :MASS FOR PENTECOST

With the opportunity to reflect, share and discuss in the Cathedral Hall afterwards.

Sunday 8th June at 5.30 pm, Westminster Cathedral. Refreshments will be provided.

Fatima Mission - your donations of coins in the large bottle at the back of the Church are still very much needed and appreciated, as are your old spectacles which could give sight to someone in the Third World. Please don’t forget these on-going appeals.

Christian Aid Week The total amount raised in Baldock has not yet been confirmed, but our thanks go to all those from our parish who helped to raise £422.32 in the house-to-house collection.

SPUC Petition The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child are putting forward a petition regarding the ‘Morning After Pill’. Please take a moment to sign the petition which you will find at the back of the Church.

Children’s Liturgy Once again we are running short of colouring pens and pencils for the children. All donations gratefully received!

Parish Census On the weekend of 14/15 June 2003 we are planning to carry out a parish census. It is 3 years since this was done and it would be very useful to update our records. If you happen to be away on that weekend, or if you are new to the Parish, please take a spare form from the back of the Church and hand it in to Fr Peter. Thanks!

Help Required Trembaths, a home providing nursing and dementia care for the elderly in Letchworth, would welcome any volunteers on Wednesday mornings, when they hold a weekly Christian service for residents. Please contact Alan Dickinson on Tel: 01462 481694 if you can help in any way. Thank you!

Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius will be sung by the Bach Choir, conducted by David Hill, at Westminster Cathedral on 5th June at 7.30 pm. Tickets are available on Tel: 020 7344 4444 or via e-mail on tickets@thebachchoir.org.uk.

Parish Gift Day Thank you in advance for your donations towards the redecoration of the Church. If you have not already done so, please take one of the special envelopes from the back of the Church.

The White Fathers Mission Appeal will take place on the weekend of 7/8 June 2003. Please give generously of your prayers as well as your donations for this worthy cause. Thank you.

Quiz Night, Saturday 7th June 03. 7.30 for 8.00pm at St John’s School.

Fish and Chips supper (chicken or veg available). Tickets £6 each. Teams of 6 (can be made up on the night)