Parish Notices Sunday 4th January 2014

The Rector writes ‘Happy New Year to you all. I hope that 2015 proves to be a blessed and grace-filled time for us all. Tuesday 6th is the feast of the Epiphany and just as we did last year, we will have a special service in the Canon McCrea Hall in St Mary’s School. This Service is at 10am and all parishioners are welcome to come along and be part of it. During the Service, we will again bless the chalk and mark the Lintel of the School with the special Epiphany blessing . This ceremony of the blessing and inscription of the initials of the three Magi was introduced to us by the Bishop at last year’s Service when he used chalk blessed during the Epiphany liturgy to write above the entryway, This year we will be writing 20 + C + M + B + 15. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2015 is the year. Everyone at the Service will be give a piece of the chalk to take home to mark their own door lintels. If you are free on Tuesday, do come and join us in the School at 10am. ‘

MONKSTOWN HOME GROUP- the next meeting of the Monkstown home group will take place on Tuesday 13th January at 8.00 pm at the home of John Sweeney, Suaimhneas, Upper Ardmore, Rochestown, Co. Cork

CONFIRMATION CLASS-Each year, young people from our parish community receive instruction on various aspects of their faith development and over the course of 3 months or so, they prepare themselves spiritually in order to confirm the promises that were made for them at their baptism. The classes are on Saturdays, from 6pm to 8pm in the Rectory and will begin on Saturday 7th February with a view to the candidates being confirmed in St John’s Church during Easter-tide (this could be any Sunday in April , May , June, the date is entirely at the Bishop’s discretion) If you or anyone you know is interested in preparing for confirmation this year then please let the rector know in the next few weeks.

LECTIO DIVINA- Each first Wednesday of the Month, we meet at 8pm in the Parish Hall to discuss the following Sunday’s Gospel reading. This method of reading the Bible is an ancient one, where the piece of scripture is read three times, with a break in between to really think about what is being read and how it is speaking to you at this particular minute of your life. It is a most enjoyable experience and not at all difficult, you don’t have to ‘know your bible back to front’ as many people fear is the case. Do come along and all will be revealed! Please speak to the rector if you would like any more details on Lectio Divinia.

CARRIGALINE FAMILY SUPPORT CENTRE are running a 12 week Rainbows Programme for children in January 2015. It is a peer-support programme to assist children and young people who have experienced loss in their lives through divorce or separation in their family. It is for children aged 9-12 years old and the programme runs for one hour every week in the Carrigaline Family Support Centre. No cost. They will also be running 3 Parenting Plus courses for parents in January/February. They will run the Adolescents (11-16 years), Childrens (6-11 years) and Early Years (0-6 years) programmes. These courses run for 8 weeks. To find out more information or to reserve a place on either of these programmes please call 021-4919299.

NEXT WEEK

Jan 6th Epiphany Service 10am in the School, Parishioners are welcome to join with the School community for this Service.

Jan 7th Lectio Divina 8pm Parish Hall

Jan 8th Friendship Club 11am Rectory

FORWARD PLANNER

Jan 12th Toddler Plus 10am Parish Hall

Monday Club 3 – 5pm Parish Hall

Theological Book Circle 8pm Rectory

Jan 14th World Day of Prayer Bible Study after

10.30 Eucharist Service in St Mary’s Church

Jan 16th Youth Club 7 to 9pm Parish Hall

Jan 21st MU Meeting 8pm Parish Hall