Legacy:  This week we received a cheque from the estate of the late Beryl Dickenson for the sum of  £23,008. 32. Sincere thanks to her family. Beryl’s generation certainly gave to the church in whatever way they could. It would be good to think that this spirit of such generosity be re-captured in future generations. The forms to include the parish or the Diocese in your will is in the porch. A hundred Masses for the repose of her soul will be said in thanksgiving.

Advent:  My Christmas Card  to you all, outlining the times of all the Christmas Masses, is available today. The times will also appear on the parish website.  Our increasingly popular Carol Service  with the Medway Brass Ensemble is this Saturday 17th at 6 pm followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Old Hall afterwards. There will be a retiring collection at this Service.  The Parish Community Reconciliation Service is on Sunday 18th at 3 pm but individual confessions are also heard every Saturday between 10.30—11.00 am.

Christmas Offerings:  Some of you have asked to have the Christmas Offering envelopes from today as you will not be here over the Christmas. The envelope should be handed to you as you enter the church.  The collection at all of the Masses on Christmas Eve and Day go towards the financial upkeep of your Priest. This is his bi–annual salary. The other being Easter day.

Nativity on Christmas Eve:  The Youth Choir will be singing the Nativity in  the Christmas Eve Mass at 6.00 pm. There will be a rehearsal after the 10:30am mass today, 11th Dec 2011, for anyone who wishes to be involved in the Christmas Eve Children's Mass. We are looking for adult volunteers, readers Yr 5/6, angels yr3/4, soloists and harmonies year 7 upwards.  All other children can arrive  5.30 pm on Christmas Eve and join us on the sanctuary dressed as angels or shepherds .

New Years Lunch 2012:   The New Year lunch is being held on Saturday 14th January in the Centenary Hall.  If you intend going to this lunch, you must let Cathy know as soon as possible - 01883 343581. This lunch is for  the  senior members of our parish only.   If you would like to volunteer to help in any way—to serve or cook, even for an hour or two, let Cathy know.

Christmas Eve  9 pm Mass Choir:  Rehearsal for this follows the Sunday evening Mass at 6.30 pm today.  Once again we appeal for some men to help with this as it is impossible to produce  4 part harmony without the addition of tenors and bass.

Driver:  Driver urgently required for 10.30 am Mass to pick up a passenger on a rota once a month. Ring Geoff Orton 01883 346650.

Carol Service:  St Mary’s yearly Ecumenical  Carol Service is on Tuesday 13th December at 8 pm at  the church of St Lawrence.

Children's Christmas Party—Next  Sunday— 18th December - Centenary Hall after the 10.30 Mass. Free entry. Come and celebrate with music, dancing and games! Santa's Grotto. Food and bar available. For further details contact Mel Flaherty on 07736 070455 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it     The proposed party for January 6th has been cancelled and will be replaced by another one later in the year.

Social Committee Meeting:  The next Parish Social committee meeting is on Monday December 12th at 7.30 pm in the Parish Office. Top of the agenda is a repeat of the Hispanic Night for Spring  2012.  All welcome.

Wedding:  The Marriage between Damian Anthony Charles Chang and Emma Lisa Jones takes place here this  Saturday at 1 pm.

Baptism:  Fabian Joseph Kelly will be Baptised this Saturday.

R.I.P.  Please remember in your prayers the soul of Kathleen Watts, a parishioner here for over 60 years who died recently. Her Requiem Mass is tomorrow, Monday at 10 am. We remember her children Anne and John at this  sad time in our prayers.  May Kathleen rest in peace.

Giving Tree:   Please see the Giving Tree in the church. You can buy gifts to help people in the poorest communities in the world or provide simple gifts for young men detained at Gatwick. They are asylum seekers and have no belongings.

Double “C” Club  Winners for December:  £70—Karen Rapps; £50—Kit Monk; £30—Betty Creton. New members are still required to join this “200” Club. Please ring Jean—01883 341385.

Mass Intentions:  I am conscious that there is a backlog of Masses to be said and I am doing my best to have your intentions included as quickly as I can. It would help me enormously if you could refrain from dating your Mass intentions for the time being as I may not be able to honour the preferred  date and time for the reasons given.  Mass intentions for those who are ill will of course take precedence and will be said as soon as possible.

Ministries:  Could Readers and Eucharistic Ministers please sign-up for the Christmas Masses. Sheet in porch.

 Items for next weeks newsletter to reach the parish office before 6 pm on Thursdays