Parish Notices Sunday 16th December 2012

The Rector writes ‘I celebrated my first year here in Carrigaline Union last Tuesday 11th. It’s really hard to believe that it was a whole year since I was instituted as your rector. The year has flown by and yet in some ways I feel like I have been here for so much longer. I feel that I know you for far longer a time than a mere 12 months. That is the joy of coming as a rector into a community. You don’t have to wait for years until you are deeply involved in people’s lives,. By virtue of my ministry, I am allowed alongside of you in your times of great joy and deep sorrow. This can be both an honour and privilege and also a daunting challenge. Your expectations of me and what we can achieve together is balanced by what is physically and emotionally possible in any given situation. I hope that my next year is as enjoyable and fruitful as the last year has been and that we continue to journey together successfully as a community who are grounded in the love of the One in whose name we gather. To the King of Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever AMEN.’

SUNDAY SCHOOL. From January 2013, as well as welcoming children from age 4 in Sunday School, we also encourage children from age 3 to join with the older children as long as one of the parents can accompany them. In this way, they will get used to Sunday School in an informal way and be completely ready to go ‘solo’ from age 4. Thank you to the dedicated Sunday School teachers for all the effort they put into helping our children learn about God. It is very much appreciated by us all.

TODDLERS PLUS ONE GROUP continues on Monday, December 17th. This group of Toddlers plus ‘one’ (Mum/Dad/Minder) meet each other in St Mary’s Church Hall from 10am ‘till 12 for playtime and chats with a cup of tea/coffee thrown in. Contact the rector for details or just turn up!

CHRISTMAS COMES TO THE MONDAY CLUB-On Monday 17th , the Monday Club will be gathering for Carols & Festive Goodies from 3pm until 5pm in the Parish Hall. All welcome.

MIDWEEK COMMUNION SERVICE 10.30am every Wednesday in St Mary’s Church. The first Wednesday of each month will have special prayers for the work of the Mothers’ Union followed by refreshments after the Service. All Welcome.

JUNIOR CHOIR meets in St Mary’s Church from 6.30 to 7.15pm each Thursday night. All school going children welcome. Contact the rector or Hilary Dring for more details.

ST JOHNS HOME GROUP meets at fortnightly intervals. The group is using the Crossway Bible Guide “Discovering Luke’s Gospel” by Simon Jones (1999), Leicester and is available to purchase at €6. The next meeting will be in the New Year. Date and location to be decided.

Diocesan Magazine Subscriptions for 2013 are now due. Please give payment of €20 to Wardens or Rowland Newenham.

Parking in Carrigaline. Please be careful not to block the entrance to the Church when you are parking outside St Mary’s Church. Someone who finds it difficult to walk was unable to get into the Church Grounds a couple of weeks ago. If parking is tight on Church Road, please do come around to the Rectory and park as there is plenty of room in the Rectory garden.

Congratulations to Christina Dring, Ali Byrne and Grace Bateman on winning the Under-14’s Munster Plate Final with Carrigaline United Soccer Club on Saturday in CIT against Ballinhassig. Well done girls!

A walking group meets on a Monday morning at 11am in the car park opposite the Bosun in Monkstown. It is open to everyone and for all levels of fitness. The emphasis is on fun and friendship. Further details by contacting Sandra Mc Loughlin on 087 1315393 or sandiemcloughlin@gmail.com.

The Theological Book Circle met on Wednesday 15th November to discuss the Philip Yancey book. All were agreed that it was a great book, easy to read but very profound and thought provoking. The new book chosen is ‘Christianity with Attitude’ by Giles Fraser (Canterbury Press Norwich 2007 ISBN 978-1-85311-782-4) and we meet at 8pm in the Rectory on Thursday 31st January to discuss. All welcome.

EAPPI Don’t forget to pray for Kate Cargin as she experiences day to day life as an Ecumenical Accompanier in the West Bank. You can find out more about Kate in Palestine by going to her blog site at www.kateinpalestine.wordpress.com. We will get a chance to meet her in person when she comes to speak to us at our services on February 17th 2013.

Allotments For Rent-Join Carrigaline Allotment Group at Thompson’s Farm, Aghamartha, (near Carrigaline, on the Fountainstown Road). Grow your own veg and fruit, enjoy the exercise, half and full plots available. Call or text 087 7090899 to arrange a viewing.

Wanted: A temporary part-time childminder. Hours vary each week due to shift work. Possibly 7-9am max 2 days a week. 13.50 till latest 20.30 max 2 days a week. If shifts fall on a weekend may be no work that week. If any child sick on a work day may need collection from school or minded for school hours. Mainly afternoons are Tuesday to Thursday. 3 children in infant room and 1 in sixth class. Driving essential. Contact no. 0834208090

FORWARD PLANNER

Dec 17th Toddlers Plus One 10am in St Mary’s Church hall Monday Club 3pm in Church Hall.

Dec 19th Carrigaline Community Carol Service at 7.30pm in our sister parish of Our Lady and Saint John.

Dec 20th Junior Choir at 7.30pm in Monkstown.

Dec 23rd Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols in St John’s Church, Monkstown. 4pm.

Dec 24th Carols around the Crib in St Mary’s Church. 4pm.

Eucharist of the Nativity St Mary’s Carrigaline Midnight

Dec 25th Christmas Day

The Eucharist St John’s Monkstown 09.30am.

The Eucharist St Mary’s Carrigaline 11.00am.

Dec 26th St Stephen

The Eucharist St Mary’s Carrigaline10.30am.