Parish Notices Sunday 27th November 2016

The Rector writes ‘We begin the Advent season which lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The Season symbolises the present situation of the church in these “last days” as we wait for the return of Christ in glory.  We compare ourselves to Israel at the end of the Old Testament when the people were exiled;  waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of their Messiah. They looked back to God’s past actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and they call for God once again to act for them. In the same way, during Advent, we look back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time we look forward to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people.

In this light, one of the popular Advent hymns we sing perfectly represents our Advent cry: 

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

While Israel would have sung the song in expectation of Christ’s first coming, we now sing the song in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of the second coming in the future.’

 

Please help spread the word about our Live Crib event.

It promises to be a very special and unique weekend in the life of our Parish and the

wider Carrigaline Community.

 

CARRIGALINE CHRISTMAS FAYRE 2016 – 3rd &4th December, 11am-5pm, at the GAA Hall. It would be very much appreciated if anyone had time to bring home baking/home produce to the school stall. Your donations have made a big difference over the past few years. Thank you in particular from St. Mary’s N.S. Parents’ Association to anyone who has helped out previously. Contact                     Hilary on 086-3680513 if you need more info. Thank you.

Monkstown Home Group In view of the Advent and Lenten Studies already happening in the parish, the Monkstown Home Group will reconvene in early January 2017  (dates to be advised) for a couple of sessions and then after Easter for three further sessions (dates to be advised) to complete the series. We look forward to welcoming all who are interested to our evenings.

TWINNING NEWS. We are celebrating our 30th Anniversary with Guidel next year. If anyone would like to join us for the week the dates are 24th June to 1st July. For more information contact Olna at 087-9525969.

Anam Cara, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its next monthly Parent Evening on Wednesday 7^th of December from 19:30 to 21:00 in Brú Columbanus, Cardinal Way, Wilton, Cork. This event is open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether the death was recent or not.

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

28th Nov      Toddlers plus One 10am

Monday Club 3-5pm Parish Hall

30th Nov        Holy Communion 10:30am St Mary’s Church

Advent Talks : ‘Faith’  8pm  Parish Hall

1st Dec Select Vestry Meeting 8pm Rectory

3rd/4th Dec  St Mary’s School Christmas Fayre in GAA Hall

7th Dec Advent Talks : ‘Hope’  8pm  Parish Hall

8th Dec          Friendship Club/Mothers’ Union Lunch 12:30 Monkstown Golf Club.

10th/11th Dec  The Road to Bethlehem, Live Crib, St Mary’s Church

14th Dec   Advent Talks : ‘Love’  8pm  Parish Hall

18th Dec         Service of 9 Lessons & Carols 4pm St John’s

24th Dec        Carols around the Crib Service 4pm St Mary’s

 

Random Notes CCXIII

The following was jotted down in a note left in the house of the mother of one of our Parishioners in Bandon by someone who thought that as I had a sense of humour  I might like someday to include it in our notes. He was quite right on both counts!

Apparently it was part of  a letter his  Grandfather had received way back in 1900 from his brother who was a Professor at that time in Dublin.

As we head into the ‘writing letters for Santa’ time of the year,

I thought it might be appropriate to include it today.

A little boy brought up by a pious father and mother conceived an intense desire for a bicycle, and prayed for one every night going to bed. It so happened that his father overheard his doing this and told it to the mother saying; – ‘Now will be a good opportunity for confirming our Johnny’s faith. I will get him a bicycle; he shall see that prayers are answered.’  The mother assented heartily but the good woman feared a bicycle as dangerous for so young a boy and suggested a tricycle instead. ‘All right’ said the father.  The tricycle was purchased, shining new.  Johnny prayed as before and in the morning his father called him to come downstairs at once and see what was waiting for him in the hall. Johnny, all of a flutter, jumped from his bed and running out of his room he looked down, saw what was below and said : –  ‘Good Lord, is it possible you don’t know the difference between a bicycle and a tricycle?’

 

EMM