The Rector writes……
This issue of Parish Matters comes out on 1 February which is St. Brigid’s Day. Brigid was a contemporary of St. Patrick and founded a religious community at Kildare. More than that, it is almost impossible to say with any sure historical basis. Unlike Patrick she left no contemporary writings and what has been written about her includes pagan elements, as there was also a pre-Christian Celtic pagan mother goddess of a similar name. Whoever she was, her spirituality had an enormous impact on the church and her reputation for holiness had spread to Scotland and Northumbria by the sixth century.
At the time of Brigid, and for many centuries later, the church in Ireland was centred on religious communities of monks and nuns. Sadly, this aspect of Christian life is almost non-existent in Ireland today. I think this is a pity and we are a poorer society and church as a result. In the end God calls women and men into religious life and so any resurgence in religious communities is dependent on people’s response to this call. Brigid reminds us of our Celtic Christian heritage and of a church that sought to bring the Gospel to the Irish people with sensitivity to earlier, deep rooted spirituality. She also reminds is that there were influential women at the heart of the church, which has contemporary relevance as only at the end of January the ordination of the first woman bishop took place in the Church of England. When the roll call of saints of the Celtic church in Ireland is so make-dominated, the honoured place given to Brigid of Kildare is itself a testimony to her leadership qualities.
Last month we enjoyed hosting Zac Harmon in the parish as he did a placement with us. We wish him well as he prepares for his ordination in Oregon in June. Despite the fact that Zac is from the US and only spent a term a number of years ago studying in Galway, his enduring proficiency in the Irish language and interest in Irish culture is a reminder to us all of its international appeal. My own limitations with the language mean that I have little confidence in reading scripture or leading worship in Irish. While we do include it in services on St. Patrick’s Day perhaps it should be used on the Sunday nearest 17th March too when more people are in church. If you feel confident enough to do a reading in Irish, please let me or one of the clergy know. It would be nice to use your gifts and celebrate our cultural heritage in some meaningful way at worship that day.
Adrian.
Bible Study Dates: Wednesday 4th February and 18th February at 3.00 p.m. in the home of Ailsa Jones, Passage West and on Thursday 5th February and 19th February at 7.30 p.m. in Carol Boylan’s home, Moneygourney .
St. Luke’s National School
St. Luke’s School was a hive of activity in December with our annual Carol Services, Christmas Fair, and the excitement of Christmas. Our School Choir under the direction of Miss Guinane were particularly busy as they sang Carols for the residents of St Luke’s Home and the Parish Carol Service. We raised over 1,300euro for the Children’s Ward in the Cork University Hospital at our Carol Services and Game Playing Day. The children also thought of those in need at Christmas and collected non perishable food for St. Vincent DePaul. Our Christmas Fair raised 4,500euro for School Funds – many thanks to our hard working Parent Association for organising this event. Our first Assembly of 2015 was held in St. Luke’s Church when we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany. The wise men were brought to the crib by our youngest pupil, Alison Gash-O’Flynn, our oldest pupil, Ben Hickey and our SNA, Lindy Hancock. At the end of at the service a representative from each class was given a star to lead them back to school. We welcome Ms Ciara O’Rourke as our shared learning support teacher. She replaces Ms Sorcha Tully who has moved to Dublin. We also welcome Lydia French and Natascha Fischer Dooley from Ashton School who work with us every Tuesday as part of their Community Action Programme. Thank you to John Healy who nominated us for a community award given by Analog Devices. The 400euro received will go towards our Soft Surface Play and Sensory Area.
American Visitor. In January we as a parish were delighted to host Mr. Zachary (Zac) Hermon as part of a study placement. Zac is studying for ordination at Virginia Theological Seminary near Washington DC and hopes to be ordained deacon to serve in the Diocese of Oregon in June. During his time with us, he participated in confirmation classes, led school assemblies, observed baptism and marriage preparation, accompanied the clergy on their home communion rounds, spent an night in Cork city working with other volunteers from the Simon Community on the ‘Soup Run’, visited the Boys’ Brigade, and met Rev. Bruce Pierce at the Education Centre at St. Luke’s Home. Zac also spent a week in Rosscarberry during January as a guest of Dean Peters. We hope that as a result, he has gained much from his time with us and learned a little about the life of the Church of Ireland in this part of the country.
Confirmation Preparation. The confirmation group is beginning to meet each week on Wednesday evenings in the Canon Packham Hall. We pray for each member as they look forward to the diocesan day for confirmation candidates when they meet with the Bishop next month and to the confirmation service in St. Luke’s Church on 26th April, 2015.
Boys’ Brigade. The annual enrolment service for the 1st Cork Company of the Boys’ Brigade was deferred in November and now takes place on Sunday 1 February at 11.15 in St. Luke’s Church, Douglas. This year we are delighted that the guest preacher will be Mr. Zac Hermon. It is his last Sunday with us prior to his return to the United States. We thank the Boys’ Brigade Captain and Officers for all they do to put together an attractive programme of activities each Thursday evening when they meet in the Canon Packham Hall.
Lunch Invitation. The Old Schoolhouse Lunches continue on the last Wednesday of each month in Blackrock. This month it takes place on Wednesday 25 February at 12.30pm. All are welcome to enjoy a delicious 3 course meal and some good conversation and fellowship.
Lent: We enter the season of Lent this month. On Ash Wednesday there will be celebrations of Holy Communion in St. Michael’s Church, Blackrock and St. Luke’s Church, Douglas in the morning and an evening Penitential Service in Holy Trinity Church, Frankfield at 8pm.
Our Lenten vigil of additional weekday services also begins. These will be advertised through our monthly ‘Parish Matters’ newsletter and on the parish website. We hope that parishioners will avail of these opportunities to meet for worship and prayer. There will also be a special mid-week Lent course on the subject of prayer held in the Rectory each Wednesday evening at 8pm.
Advance Notice of Coffee Morning. Blackrock’s main effort in aid of parish funds will take the usual form – a Coffee Morning in the Old Schoolhouse on Saturday 28th March, 10-12. As usual there will be much more than coffee. Stalls will include cakes, crafts, plants, etc. – an opportunity to stock up for Easter, and to meet up with parishioners from the other churches in our Union and with the local community.
Forthcoming Vestry Meetings. The Select Vestry for Douglas Union will hold their next meeting on Friday, 27th February at 8pm in the CPH and the Douglas Union Easter Vestry will be held at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 21st April.
Forthcoming Ladies’ Lunch .Watch out for announcements of a Ladies’ Lunch, which will be held in the Maple Suite, Rochestown Park Hotel on Saturday 21st March at 12.30pm for parishioners and friends! Guest Speaker will be Rev. Eileen Cremin. More information nearer the time!!!
The Revision of the List of Vestry Members for Holy Trinity Church, Frankfield will take place on Thursday 12th February at 8pm in the Sunday School Room and for Douglas Union of Parishes on Friday 27th February at 7.45 in the Canon Packham Hall. Any parishioner who is 18 since the last revision or anyone who is new to the parish is asked to fill in the appropriate form at the back of the church and give it to a church warden so that their name can be added to this register of electors in our parish.
CHURCH SERVICES – FEBRUARY 2015
Sun. 1st February
8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
9.45 Service of the Word Passage
10.00 Service of the Word Frankfield
11.15 BB Enrolment Service Douglas
11.30 Service of the Word Blackrock
Wed. 4th February
11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
Sun. 8th February
8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
9.45 Holy Communion Passage
10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Holy Communion Douglas
11.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 15th February
8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
9.45 Holy Communion Passage
10.00 Morning Prayer Frankfield
11.15 Holy Communion Douglas
11.30 Morning Prayer Blackrock
Wed. 18th February Ash Wednesday
11.00 Holy Communion Douglas
11.00 Holy Communion Blackrock
8pm Penitential Service Frankfield
Fri. 20th February
9.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Sun. 22nd February
8.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
9.45 Morning Prayer Passage
10.00 Holy Communion Frankfield
11.15 Morning Prayer Douglas
11.30 Holy Communion Blackrock
Mon. 23rd February
11.00 Morning Prayer Blackrock
