Pew Sheet – 11th December 2022

The Rector writes ‘We get to light the Pink Candle this morning, the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Rejoice Sunday. And as I have been telling you now for 11 years, appropriately this was the day I was instituted in Carrigaline Union, funnily enough the 3rd Sunday of Advent that year was also 11th December. 

Today I rejoice in this parish becoming officially a  ’Church of Sanctuary’ and I hope that we can build on our efforts in that area over the coming years.. When you see those protesters in Fermoy and East Wall menacing incoming Refugees who are arriving with their plastic bin bags of belongings you just know how important it is for us all to stand up and be counted.

In the pages of this pewsheet, you will find the plan for our Bicentennial Celebrations. We will be printing a proper Programme of Events in time to be handed out at our Christmas Services but I thought you’d enjoy a preview! As I read it on paper now I am getting quite excited for the year to come. Perhaps it is the result of being locked up during the Covid times but I am really enjoying all of our get-togethers these days.  Last Sunday’s Tractor Run was fantastic, really great fun. Thank you

to Henry Forbes and Philip Whitley for organising such a fabulous day, and to everyone that helped out on the day.. Brace yourselves – I have a feeling it’s going to become an annual event!’

Music Notes 11-12-2022

Hymns at St Mary’s

136    On Jordan’s bank

349    Fill thou my life

134    Make way

459    For all the saints

The Companion to Church Hymnal is a treasure trove of information on hymns which I consult regularly.I can do no better than quote directly from it describing the hymnody of Graham Kendrick who wrote our third hymn today:

Both the words and music of his many religious songs have won the hearts of diverse sections of the Christian Church all around the world……For many people his songs help proclaim key aspects of Christian thought and they often articulate themes of compassion and a burning desire for justice. They cross international, denominational, and ideological barriers.

Graham Kendrick is the son of a Baptist minister and was born in Northamptonshire. He trained as a teacher and later became a professional singer. He then became involved with youth ministry and now belongs to the Ichthus Fellowship based in south London where he chooses to ‘minister rather than perform.’

Bébhinn 087 228 5965

bebhinnmuire@gmail.com

Random Notes CDXLII

Recently I had the pleasure of spending a week teaching in the Czech University of Life Sciences (CZU) in Prague. I was teaching database design to a class of undergraduates who were mainly from central Asia. CZU has about 18,000 students and has a strong focus on agriculture. It has a Faculty of Forestry, as well as its own farm, brewery and vineyard. It is possible to buy sausage and other food products made right on campus. While I was there, I had the opportunity to sample the university beer!

On the walls of the Faculty of Management there was a poster depicting a religious scene with a saint, an angel, a devil and what looked like a llama. This is a depiction of the feast of Mikuláš. Mikuláš is marked on December 5th, the eve of St Nicholas’ Day itself.

Mikuláš is of course the figure we know as St Nicholas.

The Angel – and?l – represents Good and the Devil – ?ert – represents Evil. All three characters walk the streets, stopping children and asking them if they were good in the past year. Most children say yes and sing a song or recite a short poem. They are then rewarded with sweets, candy or other treats, which are handed out by the Angel. Traditionally, naughty children would be put in the Devil’s sack and taken to hell or would only get a sack of potatoes or coal instead of candy. Needless to say, this does not actually happen!

In Prague, on the eve of St Nicholas, parents bring their children to the Old Town Square to observe this tradition.

In villages, the three figures go from house to house. At home, children receive small gifts of sweets and candies, usually stuffed into a stocking and hidden somewhere in their room.

The photo is taken from one of the posters I saw. I am not sure of the role of the llama, or maybe it is a sheep?

SJFW