Parish Notices Sunday 25th January 2015

The Rector writes ‘ It’s already the time of year to think about Lent as Ash Wednesday is on 18th February this year.  Our  Lenten Bible Study this year is the series ‘Same–Sex Issues and the Bible’   We will meet in the Parish Hall at 8pm on each Wednesday of Lent (this follows the 7.30pm Evening Prayer Service ) starting on 25th February and ending the Wednesday before Holy Week.  This 5–part Bible Study Series has been put together by BACI (the Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland) with a view to bringing the Church’s discussion and discernment process on these issues to all of us in the Church of Ireland and I hope that you will make time to join us each Wednesday.   The series has been carefully designed to take note of recent biblical thinking in this area and to offer both traditionalist and more modern ways of considering the key texts.   It demands no theological expertise of those taking part, but it does invite us as a group to think about the theological, biblical and sociological questions in a non–academic fashion’

DIOCESAN MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS for 2015 are due by 31 January. The annual subscription has increased slightly to €23 to cover rising printing and publication costs. Please pay Rowland Newenham or the Church Wardens.

FLOWER / BELL ROTAS If  anyone would like to be  included in Rota for both Bell Ringing and/or Flower Rota for 2015 (who isn’t already on it) please give their name to the Parish Office.  If you would like to chat about it then ring Joy Keefe on 087 2559844.  Those on the rota feel that it is a privilege to be able to help in our parish.  The flower rota is two people in charge of flowers for a month. So if                      someone feels they need to be paired with someone more experienced this can be  arranged.

CONFIRMATION The classes are on Saturdays, from 6pm to 8pm in the Rectory and will begin on Saturday 7th February with the candidates being confirmed in St John’s Church on Sunday 19th April.  If you or anyone you know is interested in preparing for confirmation this year then please let the rector know in the next week.

MONKSTOWN CHAMBER CHOIR return to practice at 8pm in St John’s Church on Thursday 29th January. We love to welcome new members to this parish /community choir and there are currently spaces for Altos, Tenors and Basses. For further information please contact Roger Ellis on 087 9607750.

Saplings Home Group meeting at the Poole’s home on Wednesday 28th January at 8pm. Speaker will be Prof. Maire Mulcahy. All welcome.

We are holding a Scrap Metal Collection over the next few weeks to raise funds for the Parish.  So have a clear out of your shed, garage and attic! If you require your scrap metal to be collected then we can arrange to collect it from your home or business.  for information on where to drop off or if you need it collected. Call Adrian Bateman on 0868300379 or Henry Forbes on 0872035000 .A full listing of acceptable items and materials is on the website www.carrigalineunion.org

SONGS OF PRAISE   Sunday 8th February. “Songs of Praise” Evensong in St John’s Church at 7pm. Choose your favourite seasonal hymns on the voting forms available at the back of the church. The most popular hymn from each category will be revealed and sung by congregation and choir on the evening.

Al-ANON Family Groups Carrigaline Al-Anon Family Group are hosting an Open Public Meeting on Friday 30th of January at 8pm in the Carrigaline Parish Centre behind the Roman Catholic Church. Al-Anon is a support group for families and friends whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. They extend a warm welcome to anyone who wishes to come along on the night.

Owenabue Garden and Flower Club, Carrigaline will hold their AGM on Monday 26 January at 8 pm in the Canon McCrea Hall in the School. This will be followed by “Flowers with a Difference”- A Sugar Craft demonstration. Inquiries to 086 3222615.

                   NEXT   WEEK

Jan 26th    Toddler Plus One 10am Parish Hall

Monday Club 3 – 5pm Parish Hall

Jan 28th    Eucharist Service 10.30am in St Mary’s Church

Saplings Home Group 8pm Poole’s home.

 

FORWARD PLANNER

Feb 7th   Confirmation Classes 6 -8pm in Rectory

Feb 8th   Songs of Praise 7pm St John’s Church

Feb 12th   Friendship Club 11am Rectory

Feb 16th   Annual Update of Parish Register 7 to 8pm Parish Hall

Feb 20th   Youth Club 7 to 9pm Parish Hall

April 19th Confirmation Service 11 St John’s Church

 

Random Notes CXXVI

As a chorister in St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, I have always looked forward to July when our Choirmaster would return from the The Irish Church Music Association’s (ICMA) annual Summer School held at Maynooth College. He would bring all sorts of sheet music back with him, as well as many new ideas, thoughts and inspirations. A small group of us sang at the closing service of the Summer School in 2013, and I found it fascinating to visit such an historic place. The Chapel in the College has very good acoustics, and the choir stalls are designed in a very English way, with the choristers and clergy facing each other at the front of the Chapel, before the altar. The recently restored organ is also at the front of the Chapel.

I was delighted then to hear that the 2015 Summer School is being opened up to ALL Church Musicians in Ireland. The event will be hosted by the ICMA as well as the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music) and CMD (Church Music Dublin). The training needs and the challenges are similar whether parish musicians work in Church of Ireland or Roman Catholic parishes, so to join forces for a summer school is a sensible, significant and long due development. Worship during the three day event (2nd to 5th July) will represent the liturgies of both traditions.

The team of tutors will include Andrew Reid, director of the RSCM. He has visited Ireland from time to time, and RSCM affiliates who have experienced him at work, will no doubt, want to do so again. The summer school is designed as a residential event, starting mid-morning on Thursday and ending after lunch on Sunday. The social aspect is one of its attractive features (believe me – this is true!!). However, the event fee structure will also cater for those who wish to participate on a daily basis.

Church musicians in Ireland have always had to have an ecumenical bent, in order to survive, but opening up events such as this is really breaking the ground and can only be a positive step in the right direction for Irish Church music”

RCE