BANDON FLOWER CLUB presents a Christmas demonstration by Breda Crowley A.O.I.F.A on Monday 14th December at 8 pm in The Brogan Inn, Kilbrogan Hill.  No competitions on the night.  There will also be a Christmas sales table.  Visitors welcome.

BANDON S.V.P. Due to difficult times the above Society requests that all those wishing to be considered for Christmas help should make written application on or before Dec 8th.  Details of all residents especially children are required.  Please give your telephone number.  This time is needed to budget our resources carefully.  Applications can be left in box at rear of Church or in our secure box at the shop in Weir St. Bandon.  We would appreciate donations of good second-hand clothing, bed linen, shoes etc. for sale in our shop in Weir St. Bandon.

BANDON CHRISTMAS COAL FUND will hold its annual collection this weekend.  Donations may also be sent to the Honorary Treasurer at St. Patrick s Church, Bandon.

COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE in St. Peter's Church, Bandon.  Friday 18th December at 8 pm.

GORTA CHARITY SHOP Clothing urgently wanted.  Men s, Women s, Bric/Brac, Books, CD s and DVD s for Gorta, Bridge St. Bandon.  Your generosity would be greatly appreciated.

GRAMOPHONE CIRCLE Monday 7th December at 8pm.  Gateway Hall.  Everyone welcome.

SENIOR CITIZENS ANNUAL XMAS PARTY Due to flood related circumstances, the Annual Christi-nas Senior

CITIZENS PARTY has had to be deffered to early in the New Year and will not take place on the I I th December.

THREE IRISH TENORS CHRISTMAS CONCERT St. Patrick s Church, Bandon.

Wednesday 9th December at 8 pm.  Tickets 25.  On sale at the Church and at Hickeys

News agency, South Main St.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tuesday 8th December.  Masses on Tuesday will be the same as on Sundays with an

extra mass at 7.30 pm that evening.  There will be vigil masses on that evening.  There

will be vigil masses on Monday evening at 6 pm and 7.30 pm.

RECENT BAPTISMS

Roisin Hannah Harrington, Dangan.  Niamh Ellen Walsh, Gaggin.

Lily Catherine Madigan, 12 The Close, Wetherton.

Ethan Denis Heaney, Curra lodge, Kilmore.

Station Mass for the following areas will be held in St. Patrick's Church on Monday 14th December at 7.30p.m.

1.       Dangan, Cripple Hill, Danganmore. 2. Gaggin, Cashelbeg. 3. Killountin.

4.       Monarone, Clashafree. 5. Tullyland, CuiTavreeda, Lissaphooca, Gurranebeg,

Knockanrea. 6.Curraclough, Callatrim. 7. Ballylangley, Carrigcannon. 8. Derrycool, Carhue South.

If we reflect on the First Reading ID the Mass today, we discover that it presents us with a typical Advent theme.  It contains a message of hope for God s people, Israel, in time of great difficulty, They are in exile in Babylon and things took bad.  But god has not abandoned them.  He will restore them to the Promised Land, thus showing himself to be the saviour of his people, who will, then, display their splendor to every nation.  In the Gospel, the prophet Isaiah is quoted to the same effect: all humankind will see the salvation of God.

Now it is of interest to notice that in all this and in most of the Old Testament is presented in this-worldly terms: returns from exile, protection from enemies, making the countryside more hospitable and land more fertile, prosperity, good family loving, long life, etc.  The Hebrews had then no concept of an afterlife as we understand it.  For them death was the end.  Only in the decades before Jesus time did a concept of an afterlife emerge.  It is then possible to have faith in God and at the same time not believe in an afterlife.  It may even be said that such a worldview has real advantages.  It makes clear that life on earth is the only one we have.  So we have to attend to it seriously and well and do all the good we can in God s service and that of our neighbour.  Also such a worldview avoids the danger of falling into a pie-in-the-sky attitude, where the injustices of this life are compensated for in the next.  Rather one is called to serve God and neighbour because that is the right this to do; it is God s will.  Here one is unlikely to develop a reward-and-punishment understanding of human living.

Only in Jesus is the reality of the afterlife fully revealed.  There the virtuous life is crowned by sharing in God s own life in etemity.