Pew Sheet – 17th March 2024
Music Notes 17-03-2024
Hymns at St Mary’s
358 King of Glory
611 Christ be beside me
349 Fill thou my life
80 Great is Thy faithfulness
You may have noticed a mention of a service of Tenebrae to be held on Good Friday
at 7.30 p.m. This is a special service of meditation on Christ’s Passion through Scripture readings and music. Candles are extinguished one by one as the congregation listens to the account of the suffering and death of Jesus and meditate quietly while music is played or sung. It is one of the most moving and meaningful worship services of the year for many congregations.
The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” is not a new development in church liturgy. It has been observed since medieval times. Originally Tenebrae was held in the monasteries on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of Holy Week. It was part of the matins and lauds (daily Scripture-reading and prayer services) which began at two o’clock in the morning. Later, to allow town folk to participate in these services, the monasteries scheduled the Tenebrae during the afternoon or evening before each of these holy days.
During these services fifteen candles (fourteen dark-coloured and one white) were arranged on a
triangular candelabra. Fourteen psalms were read during the matins and lauds, each followed by a
choir response. After each reading one candle was extinguished until only the white candle, often called the Christ candle, remained burning.
The Christ candle was removed (“hidden”), then later brought back to symbolize the anticipated resurrection of Christ. *
We will be conducting a modern interpretation of this ancient style of service with readings alternating with hymns, anthems, and organ music.
Bébhinn 087 228 5965 bebhinnmuire@gmail.com
*Information taken from an article on Tenebrae by Harry Boonstra (www.reformedworship.org)
Random Notes CDLII
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a lifelong physical disability that affects movement and posture resulting from brain injury occurring either before birth or in the newborn and early infancy periods. It is the most common physical disability in childhood and affects 17 million people worldwide. There is no known cure. CP leads to severe medical consequences for those affected, including developmental hurdles and complex health care needs. These may manifest as enduring issues with kidneys, lungs, and mental well-being.
Other complications like irregular sleep patterns, pain, muscle contractures, communication barriers, and ongoing mobility problems can extend from early childhood through to adulthood.
The incidence of CP in high income countries is approximately 1.6 per 1,000 live births, suggesting that approximately 100-150 children with CP are born in Ireland every year. The timing of diagnosis of CP is highly variable, and it is estimated to be diagnosed on average at approximately 2 years of age in Ireland (but may be much later). Ideally, CP would be diagnosed much sooner, at around 6 months of age if possible, so treatment of the symptoms can be most effective.
CP has featured in the news recently with the announcement of funding of three research chairs by the Collison brothers. The Collison brothers, from Limerick, are famous for founding the Stripe payment company while still in school. They are now billionaires. They have a sibling who has CP and their mother has advocated strongly for more awareness of the condition and its treatment.
Last summer a group of researchers, including me, from UCC, TCD, the Royal College od Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Emory University in
Atlanta, Georgia, submitted a €10m proposal for a project called ELEVATE. ELEVATE aims to identify risk factors of CP early so that we can prevent or ameliorate the severity of CP when it does occur and ultimately target the earliest possible interventions, proactively preventing complications. ELEVATE will optimise the health of children with CP and improve their ability to participate in everyday life.
ELEVATE is a large, complex and ambitious project. I am pleased to report that it received funding in December 2023, €5m coming from Science Foundation Ireland and another €5m coming from the Cerebral Palsy
Foundation in America. My part in the project was to draft parts of the technical specification in collaboration with a paediatrician colleague from Emory University. Now that we have received funding, I have to deliver on the promises I made in the proposal last year! This will form a large part of my research work for the next five years.
Our formal project launch is on Friday 22nd March so keep an eye on the news!
SJFW
PS. Tanzania is still ongoing and I hope to bring more news of that later this year.
Dates for your Diary
March
20th MU meeting 3pm Parish Hall ‘Who do you think I am’ bring a photo of your younger self to put up on a stand and let others guess! Teas/coffees as always.
Online Zoom Lenten Study 8pm
Holy Week & Easter :
24th Palm Sunday:
9:30am Morning Prayer in St John’s. Palm & Passion Liturgies
11am Morning Prayer in St Mary’s including Palm Procession, with Palm Liturgy in the Rectory Grounds before returning for Passion Liturgy in the church.
25th – 27th Monday – Wednesday of Holy Week:
10.30am Holy Communion in St Mary’s
28th Maundy Thursday:
12 noon Diocesan Chrism Eucharist in St Factna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery.
7:30pm Maundy Thursday Eucharist in St Mary’s,including washing of feet
9pm until Dawn ‘Night/Gethsemane Watch’ , in St Mary’s Church
29th Good Friday:
10.30am St John’s – Morning Prayer with Litany
12 noon Stations of the Cross in St Mary’s Graveyard with our sister church of Our Lady & St John
7.30pm St Mary’s – Service of Tenebrae— A meditation on the Passion with readings and music
30th Saturday of Holy Week:
9pm St Mary’s – Easter Vigil Service, Pascal candle lit from outside byre.
31st Easter Sunday:
9.30am St John’s – Easter Eucharist
11am St Mary’s – Easter Eucharist
April
11th Annual General Vestry (Easter Vestry) 7:30pm Parish Hall
28th Taizé Service 7pm St Mary’s Church
May
5th Choral Festival, visiting Choir 11am St Mary’s Church
Rogation Sunday , distribution of Sunflower Seeds
12th Confirmation Service 11am St John’s Church
(no service in St Mary’s Church)
19th Pentecost Sunday Club Prizegiving at 11am Service

The Owenabue Garden and Flower Club will host their ‘Spring Show’
with a Floral Demonstration by Mary O’Keeffe AOIFA titled
“All things bright and beautiful”
Includes Horticultural Competitions
On Monday 25th March 2024 at 8pm
in St. Mary’s NS, Waterpark,
Carrigaline, all welcome, €7 visitors.