Pew Sheet – 15th December 2024

The Parish Eco Group writes ‘‘Christmas is the time for the giving and receiving of gifts.  Unfortunately not all gifts are welcome. In Ireland alone last year we gifted planet earth with 100,000 extra tonnes of Packaging Waste and we threw away €42 million Euros worth of food during the festive season.

Sobering statistics, but we can all help to reduce these un-wanted “gifts” to the planet by making changes.

· Use recyclable wrapping and ensure all relevant packaging gets recycled.

· Cut back on consumerism.

· Plan food shopping carefully.

· Use your freezer.

If we all help in a small way towards a growing problem with waste and the devastating effect it is having on our earth, we can help to reverse these trends.

A very Happy and Peaceful Christmas to all.’

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent , Rejoice or ‘Gaudete’ Sunday.

Reading Workshop

If you are interested in reading the lessons in church, please do put this date in your diary.

St Mary’s Church from Saturday 18th January 2025 from 10am until 12 noon. The Rector will conduct a Workshop designed to help you understand what reading in Church really means.    It is not just about getting up to the lectern each Sunday and reading aloud some text, but about proclaiming the word of God in time-honoured fashion in our Christian community. Just let the Rector know if you’d like to take part so that she can have enough booklets printed.

Other dates for your 2025 diary :  our series of online talks by Bébhinn Ní Mheara ‘The Music of our Praise – the wonderful world of music for worship’. February 5th, 12th and 19th.

Confirmation classes

begin on January 23rd 2025.

They will be held in the Parish Hall each Thursday from 5pm until 6:30pm.  Candidates will need to get in touch with the Rector as soon as possible as it isn’t possible to join in the classes once they’ve begun

The New Year’s Ball

25th January

8pm  Canon McCrea Hall

St Mary’s School, Waterpark

Tickets : 25 euro

More details nearer the time  but put the date in your diary now!

Dates for your Diary

December   

Sunday 22nd  Fourth Sunday of Advent

11am Morning Prayer, St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline

4pm  Service of Nine Lessons & Carols, St John’s Church, Monkstown

Tuesday 24th Christmas Eve

4pm Carols around the Crib Service, St Mary’s Church,

11pm First Eucharist of the Nativity, St Mary’s Church 

Wednesday 25th Christmas Day

9:30am Holy Communion, St John’s Church

11am Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church

Sunday 29th December  The First Sunday of Christmas

11am United Christingle Service , St Mary’s Church, 

January

Wednesday 1st The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus

10:30am  Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church,

Sunday 5th

9:30am Holy Communion, St John’s Church,

11am Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church 

Monday 6th The Epiphany

10:30am  Holy Communion, St Mary’s Church

Wednesday 22nd  

7:30pm Ecumenical Service for the Week of Prayer for

Christian Unity, St Mary’s Church

Thursday 23rd 

5-6:30pm Confirmation Classes begin in the Parish Hall.

Saturday 25th  

8pm  The New Year’s Ball  Canon McCrea Hall 25euros

February 

Sunday 2nd Candlemas

9:30/11am Services as normal

5pm Service of Wholeness and Healing St Mary’s Church

Wednesday 5th

8pm First of the Zoom online talks ‘The Music of our Praise – the wonderful world of music for worship’. (continuing on Wednesdays 12th & 19th)