Pewsheet – 1st June 2025

The Rector writes ‘Most of us have watched in horror the growing chaos and carnage in Gaza and so the statement issued last Wednesday 28th from our Archbishops calling for decisive action in Gaza was very welcome.

“It is with outrage that we watch the desperation, dislocation, and defenceless

resident population of Gaza who feel they have been abandoned by the world.”

You can read the statement in full at

https://www.churchofireland.org/news/12910/church-of-ireland-archbishops-call

I myself will be fasting for 24 hours from midnight tonight to raise funds and awareness of what is happening in Gaza. This is what’s called a ’Rolling Fast’ and is organized by a group called ’Hunger for Justice’. It has been going , non stop , since 15th April 2024. Each day, someone new takes up the fast and since it began, it has raised over 192,000 euro. If you’d like to support this campaign, the link is

https://www.gofundme.com/f/hunger-for-justice-gaza

If you yourself would like to volunteer be a link in the Hunger For Justice chain and do a 24-hour fast, you can register here at:

https://forms.gle/MAq9SJWQgoWqqWQw8

Today, we will have the ’Passing the Light’ liturgy for the 9 young people who will be confirmed, together with 2 adults, next Sunday, Pentecost at 11am in St Mary’s church. Don’t forget that there will be no 9:30am Service that day!. Please do come to the 11am Service to support them. It is so important that they are surrounded by their community of faith’

Prizegiving Day

Each of the children who attended Sunday Club in the last year will receive a prize at the 11am Service today.

They are a great gang and it is wonderful to see them learning all about faith while having a great time too!

Thank you to all the parents who bring them along on the first Sunday of the month for the Club and then bring them to the 11am Service on the second Sunday for the All Age Service. It is so important that the young people feel involved in the liturgies.

This is what gives them a real appreciation of what our parish is about and all of the parishioners really enjoy seeing the children come back to church with their crafts and their enthusiasm. At the All Age Service, it is lovely to see the children welcoming people at the door , reading, doing the intercessions and the collection.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the leaders and in our parish we have many dedicated leaders who give their time and energy for our young people.

We are all so grateful to each and everyone of them and there is of course a little thank you chocolate present for them as well !

Congratulations to

Ewan, Auburn, Ben, Louis and Lexi

Lara, James W, Alex, Abigail, Sam, William, Kevin and Mary Jane

Daisy, John W, Robbie, Conor, James G and Zoe

Aine, Nathan, Frank, Matilda, Hanna, Maymie, Cliodhna, Connor and Isobelle

And also well done to the Leaders !

Elvina, Clodagh, Brenda, Hilary W-P, Nicola, Hilary D and Helen

Finally on the day that’s in it, a special thanks to Oriel Hosford for all the work she does with the Youth Club…..

Dates for your Diary

June

8th Confirmation Service 11am in St Mary’s Church

(no 9:30am Service that day)

21st Parish Féte in School Hall and Grounds

Youth Group BBQ 7:30pm till 9pm

29th 5th Sunday United Service of Wholeness & Healing in St Mary’s at 11am (no 9:30am Service that day)

July

9th Mothers’ Union 130th Celebration Service 11:30am Rushbrooke, Cobh

Calling all Gardeners!

Hazel Fleury is making her annual appeal for you all to start potting up now so we have a good supply of plants for sale on her stall at the Parish Fete on June 21st.

Random Notes CDXCIII

St Colman’s Church, Farahy (North Cork) is opened and used for the annual commemoration of the socialite and author Elizabeth Bowen. The church was built in 1721 and formed part of the estate of her now sadly demolished home at Bowen’s Court. Pictured below is the organ in Farahy. But there is an intriguing little connection with Monkstown….

The existing Forster and Andrews organ in St John’s was installed as a single manual instrument in 1872. A second manual was added at a later stage and the organ was moved from the south aisle to it’s current position in a newly constructed purpose built extension.

The late Dermot Locke worked on the organ almost 30 years ago. St John’s was built in 1832 and little is known about any previous instrument. However, Dermot mentioned that the current organ’s predecessor was now in Farahy Church.

I didn’t think much more about this until recently, when Padraig O’Donovan attended the Elizabeth Bowen commemoration.

On the back of the organ is a label which reads

“J Seymour Murphy,

50 Duncan St..Cork for

Rev Tho’s Gibbings,

Glebe, Monkstown”.

So Dermot was right – the original organ from St John’s has lived

in North Cork for the last 153 years!!

It was possibly located in the gallery in front of the door as is often the case, like in St Mary’s. The “new” Forster and Andrews organ wouldn’t have fitted up there.

Although no longer playable, there is hope for the old Cork “Seymour Murphy” organ. Heritage and cultural grants have been applied for, so who knows….Monkstown might reclaim some of it’s history soon….in Cork!!