As the evenings draw in and we are ablaze with colour, this is a good time of the year to take stock and remember. Our Week of Remembering began last Sunday 3rd October with a Service of Remembering in both churches. It is an opportunity to give thanks for the lives we have known and to pray for those who, at this time, are suffering from loss and grief. The importance of providing time and space for this loss to be spoken out in story, or even in the silence with only ourselves and God, is acutely apparent at this time. We are reminded of the many occasions in the Gospels where Jesus ‘holds open space’ for people to tell of their loss or trauma.
Just think of the two disciples fleeing from Jerusalem, following the traumatic death of their Messiah, encountering a stranger on the road who doesn’t appear to know that has happened. Their journey to Emmaus in the presence of an unrecognisable Christ is a process of realisation of the events that have happened and the beginning of some form of healing for them. Isn’t it a very human reaction to want to fill the silence with words of comfort and reassurance when we are in the presence of someone who is upset?! Yet the best gift we can provide for another person is a safe place and silence in which their story can be heard. After all, the words ‘Listen’ and ’Silence’ are comprised of the same letters. It is this ‘holding space in silence’ that we are taught during Chaplaincy training and it is, at first, a most difficult thing to hold. Yet, given the right circumstances, it can be most cathartic. The concept of ‘stiff upper lip’, where courageous, seldom succeeds in healing, but the words that we use to express our thoughts can often release deep hurt. It is my prayer for all who are grieving or suffering loss of any kind at this time that God grants them grace to speak out their story and a quiet listening ear and a safe place in which to do so. (Picture: The Road to Emmaus by Liz Lemon Swindle)
DIOCESAN SYNOD 2019 The synod took place this year in Taney parish centre. For the seasoned layperson it is always a good opportunity to meet people from other parishes; a once-a-year connection. And for new synods persons, it is an education on how the Diocese works. There is a recognised procedure for the day. A book of reports is sent to the synod member in advance, which is meant to be skimmed/ read (but often isn’t!) beforehand. After a service in the church, the members meet to go through the reports from the various Diocesan committees, and hear representatives speak about them. There is an astonishing amount of work going on in the diocese which congregations rarely hear about; a huge variety of concerns and enterprises.
There are reports on schooling, ministries to children, to young adults, to undergraduates, on coffee mornings for lonely PhD students, to hospital patients, care of the elderly, housing action, interfaith dialogue, healing; to say nothing of the need for proper cover for Rectors’ maternity leave (once an unheard-of requirement!) The Diocesan Council for mission gave us a break by asking a panel of five to describe some of the initiatives in their parishes which conform to the Come &C project. This discipleship project was begun in 2014 to highlight the 5 Marks of Mission: to Tell, to Teach, to Tend, to Transform, to Treasure. Two of the panel were Rev Bob Clemens talking about Kilternan’s new parish centre, and our own Rev Cathy describing her take on Bible Stories with the help of Little Mouse. Tend and Transform; Tell and Teach, respectively.
There was a brief window of relaxation for food (very nice) and then back to work in break out groups to discuss four areas of Diocesan concern. The Church and other Faiths, the Church and the Environment, Social Justice and Young People. My group was Young People, and lively discussion followed on the all too familiar problems of appealing to youngsters, while galvanising volunteer leaders, and squeezing the time for anything into the busy weeks. Two things I remember from this: the possibility of running church groups as part of after school care, and the advice that you should never take a bible anywhere near a youth club.
Following an overview of the new publication which justifies and analyses this five-year project, we were finally released into the outside world at 10 pm, exhilarated perhaps, and certainly exhausted.
Submitted by Judy Cameron
MISSIONARY SALE
The Parish missionary sale will be taking place this Saturday the 9th November in the Parochial Hall from 11 am – 2 pm. There will be several stalls including Toys, Plants, Books, Cakes and Jams, Bric-a-Brack and a raffle.
Please come along and support the Parish.
CHARABANC NOTES contact Marjorie Mold on 2083499.
We are now well into our winter gear and still enjoy our weekly tea parties. and are delighted to welcome Mr Leckie to our happy gang
We will hold our birthday lunch on Friday 22nd November when each can bring in a friend.
We wish Sheila and Anna well as we miss them at the table each week. Do come along and join us any time you feel like a cup of tea and a chat on Fridays from 2,30 till 4,30 the door is always open, and the tea pot is always full.
FLOWER GUILD contact Marjorie Mold (01) 2863499
Now that the harvest is over, we will look forward to the Christmas festivities
Our church arrangements for first two weeks of November will reflect the POPPY APPEAL and will be by Mrs. Mold then Mrs Sutton on 17th an 24th November
If anyone would like to have memorial flowers in church on any Sunday please contact Marjorie, we can arrange them for you, or you may of course prepare them yourself
Memorial flowers in the coming weeks will be by Mrs Ross on 1st Dec and Mrs Bass on 8th
We are also still open for bookings for wedding flowers and will be delighted to hear from any couples planning to marry in the coming year. Our prices are very competitive, and we can also supply the red carpet for the occasion. As all our work is voluntary and we supply our own greenery. all profits we make are then saved to use for parish projects, so all is put to a very good use to enhance the church and grounds.
SUNDAY COFFEE LIST contact Joyce Roe 2862645 or Marjorie Mold 2863499.
Coffee duty next two weeks will by for Rebecca Martin and Ruth-Anne and Chris Chambers. Thank you.
| Sunday November 10th | Remembrance Sunday | Rebecca Martin |
| Sunday 17th November | Holy Communion | Ruth-Anne and Chris Chambers |
PASTORAL CARE contact Joyce Roe 2862645 or Marjorie Mold 2863499
We send our sympathies to the Tower family on their loss, at this sad time
We will hold our Sunday lunch in the parochial hall on Sunday 24th November when we will welcome any of those who would like some company for a friendly lunch and chat
These lunches are aimed at those who would otherwise be alone on Sundays and are a chance to meet up with friends. We aim to keep the numbers to about 26/28 or so to keep it on a personal level.. We will phone around in the next week or so. but if your name is not on our list and you would like to join us, do please contact Joyce or Marjorie
Ray has very kindly agreed to run his crafts slot on Saturday 23rd November instead of his usual time on Sunday to enable us to hold the Sunday Lunch on the 24th.
CONFIRMATION 2020
Our 11 confirmation candidates from Powerscourt and Kilbride will be participating in our weekly services. We look forward to welcoming and supporting them through this journey of faith. We ask that you remember them in your prayers.
READERS AND INTERCESSORS WANTED
We would welcome other voices to lead our prayers in both churches on the first Sunday of each month. Please step forward to assist in this valuable ministry.
New readers are always welcome to participate in our services. For further information please contact the Parish Office.
AND FINALLY….
We would welcome news or articles on events or stories you may have and wish to share with the community. If you would like to be included in this Newsletter please contact Mandy Berkeley, School and Parish Secretary,
at (01) 2863862