Pew Sheet – 31st August 2025

The Rector writes ‘ It is lovely to be back, refreshed, after a good long break. Mind you, like many of you, I spent most my free time sorting out my taxes and what seemed like a whole year of paperwork for filing, doing my huge pile of ironing, sorting out and donating old clothes. And we managed to fill a medium size skip too!. But it was lovely not to have to keep looking at my diary to see where I should be. I suppose that is really the essence of a holiday isn’t it. Thank you to Richard for covering for me. Today is our Parish barbecue and this really draws a line under our summer. The young people are back in school, some are heading off to college for the first time. And the Sunday Club begins again next Sunday. I suppose we have to say goodbye to Summer and hello to Autumn.

Harvest here we come!

Before we read what our regular contributors have to say on this special 500th edition, of Random Notes ‘‘Random Notes D’ ,on behalf of all of the parishioners and friends of Carrigaline Union, I’d like to thank the group of people who write the notes each week:

‘KLR’ Lesley Roberts,

‘RCE’ Roger Ellis,

‘SJFW’ Simon Woodworth

‘MMPC’ Mary Cowhig.

We have so much enjoyed their random words over the last 13 years and we look forward to more of the same in the future!

Congratulations!

It may perhaps be of some interest to the curious to learn the origin of the title ‘Random Notes’.

The name was adopted from a series of miscellaneous notes of that name dealing with matters philatelic compiled by the noted Peterborough born, and for much of his life Dublin based meteorologist, historian, and philatelist, F.E. Dixon (1913-1988), which over a considerable number of years were published in the ‘Journal of the Irish Philatelic Circle’.

It will therefore not require much imagination on behalf of the readers of the present day ‘Random Notes’ to speculate as to who copied the title!

K.L.R.

When Canon Elaine first asked me to join the Random Notes team in June 2015, I had no idea that I would still be writing them ten years later!

At first I wasn’t sure what topics to choose but then decided not to settle on any particular subject, instead, I write about anything and everything!

This has allowed me to pick any topic from history to silly newspapaer stories with the opportunity to indulge in some leg-pulling along the way.

Here’s to the next ten years!

MMPC

I can’t believe that Random Notes has reached this milestone! It seems like only a few years ago that Lesley and I had the idea to do a regular feature on the back of the weekly newsletter/pew sheet.

Now that there are a few of us doing it, the pressure has been taken away and having to come up with something every four weeks is absolutely not a chore. Rather, it satisfies a tiny corner of my mind that I would otherwise have ignored. When I see on the calendar that it’s my turn to do RN, one initially thinks “O what am I going to do this week?”.

But then your mind starts to explore what might be suitable, and in the end, something just pours out!

I love the fact that there are no rules for the Random Notes. The only stipulation (kind of unsaid) is that a photograph should ideally accompany the words. This just adds a bit of colour to the feature, and I must admit that Elaine is very helpful with this side of things, I also enjoy how far they spread – when I get a text or message from someone with only a vague link to Carrigaline Union.

Who knows the future for RN, but hopefully the simplicity and “randomness” will ensure they go on for a few more 500’s??!!

RCE

When I started to write Random Notes, I tried to focus on items of local interest. But then I was lucky enough to get asked to go to exciting places like Malawi and Tanzania, so I decided to write about those instead. Most of the time the Notes write themselves. Occasionally I need to do some proper research! Nowadays I have two topics I like to write about: One is on Ethics and Technology and the other is More Adventures In Africa. I’m writing about ethics in technology because the advent of Artificial Intelligence is landing us with some really challenging problems. Also, I’m preparing a seminar on the topic for a future run of the Certificate in Christian Theology. The danger for me, though, is lapsing into preaching sermons in Random Notes. I promise to try and avoid this!

Back to Africa. Updates have been thin for a year because our Kilimanjaro project finished up in August 2024. A parishioner recently asked me when would I have more stories from there and I am happy to report – Very Soon! We have received €4.9m in funding to extend our work into Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia as well as Tanzania. I will be in all of those countries between now and Christmas. Kenya is also on our radar. Maybe this time around, I’ll provide a link to some pictures!

If I may, I would like to toast my fellow Random Noters on this 500th edition. I enjoy reading their notes even more than I enjoy writing mine.

Here’s to the next 500.

SJFW

ST MARY’S INDOOR BOWLING CLUB 2025/6 SEASON

St. Mary’s Indoor Bowls Club re-opens on Tuesday 2nd September 2025 at 7.30pm

in St Mary’s School Hall, Waterpark.

New members welcome.

For enquiries contact

Henry Forbes 087 2035000

or stmarysbowlscarrigaline@gmail.com.

SUNFLOWER COMPETITION

Although you don’t have to enter until just before Harvest, a seasonal warning to measure your Sunflower and take a photo before the strong winds blow!

In advance of the ‘Whist Season’ resuming in October, Henry Forbes and Barney Deane will again hold some Whist Training sessions in the Parish Hall in September. More details nearer the time.

As the Bishop intends to retire in the Spring of next year, the Confirmation Service will take place at 3:30pm on Sunday 1st February in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral for parishes of Cork City Rural Deanery. Please let the Rector know before end of October

if you would like to be confirmed in February 2026. Our own parish preparation will begin on 6th November. (classes will be from 5pm to 6:30pm each Thursday)

September

Sunday 7th

Sunday Club resumes 11am Parish Hall

Wednesday 17th

MU Opening H.C. Service 3pm St Mary’s Church

Refreshments as always afterwards and a chance to catch up. All welcome!

Thursday 18th

Charting a Future with Confidence Diocesan Roadshow 8pm Parish Hall

Friday 26th

Voices for Gaza Concert 7:30pm St Mary’s

Church. Fundraising for MSF in Gaza

Saturday 27th