Week 11 Kingdom 25/11/24

The Kingdom of God is not just a distant promise, but something we can
experience here and now. It’s a place where love, justice, and peace reign.
We build this kingdom through our actions, our relationships, and our
commitment to living out Christ’s teachings. The Kingdom is a place of
belonging, where everyone is valued and loved. When we work together,
we can create a glimpse of heaven on earth, a place where God’s love
shines through in all we do.

Coming Soon!

We will soon enter into the season of Advent – a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. During our week of peace there will be the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for those students who have already made their first confession.

This video explains more about what to expect if you have not been to Reconciliation in a while. If you would like to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation on the morning of Tuesday 10th December then speak to your form tutor who can assign you a slot on our booking system. If you can’t make this date then please speak to Tim or Marsha on a Monday to find out when there will be the opportunity in a parish near you! For anyone who has not made their first confession but would be interested in speaking with a priest then please come and see us in the Chaplaincy office on a Monday!

Day 1 – Head

On the first day of our prayer we will be reflecting on The Word of God to help us to understand our theme.

We begin our prayer this morning with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

We are in the final week of the liturgical year! During a month where we pray for those who have died, our word of the week asks us to think about how we can build the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Romans 14: 17-19 ESV

Discuss what you imagine the Kingdom of Heaven to be. Has this piece of scripture changed or influenced that vision?

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

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Day 2 – Heart

On the second day of the week we focus on our hearts. How can the scripture that we looked at yesterday impact our lives, and the lives of others? What themes can we draw from the scripture?

We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

This week’s scripture gives several suggestions of ways that we can build the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth and to be more like Christ: righteousness, peace, joy, mutual upbuilding.

See how many more you can find in today’s song and reflect on the ways that you can serve Christ as a unique individual. Add your ideas to the comments box!

We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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Day 3 – Hands

On the final day of the week we try to put into action the things we have learnt and reflected on previously in the week, hence the hands link!

We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Building the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth requires us to take action!

This weekend Catholic churches all across the Nottingham Diocese ‘put their money where their mouth is’ and supported the work of local hospices by taking a second collection at weekend Masses to make a donation to their work. But why?

In early September 2024, when parliament returned and a Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – started its passage through the House of Lords, our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action.

That call is renewed now, urgently, as on Friday, 29th November, the House of Commons will hear the Second Reading of a bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater.

Our Catholic Social Teaching compels us to respect the human dignity of every person – especially those who are vulnerable – and by supporting the work of hospices in our diocese it demonstrates that we should be working to improve care for those in the end stages of their life, not to accelerate their death. Please encourage anyone who can make a donation to consider contributing to this worthy cause in some way.

As we pray for the coming of the Kingdom here on earth, we hold those making these important decisions in our prayers, asking God to grant them the wisdom to act for righteousness, peace and mutual upbuilding.

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

To find out more about this issue and how you can support the dignity of life by writing to your MP, follow this link: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide/

We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.