Pew Sheet – 4th May 2025
The Rector writes ‘When I was first in the Holy Land in 2006, I visited Tabgha and the Francisan Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter. It commemorates, and allegedly marks the spot, of Jesus’ reinstatement of Peter as chief among the Apostles which is where our Gospel today is situated.. Tabgha (Arabic: al-Tabigha; Hebrew: Ein Sheva which means “spring of seven”) is on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel and is a depopulated Palestinian village, the population was expelled in 1948. It is traditionally understood to be both the place of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in chapter 6 of Mark’s Gospel and also the third Resurrection appearance of Jesus after his Crucifixion which we read in chapter 21 of John’s Gospel today.
I took this photo of the beautiful statue of Jesus telling Peter to ’Feed my Sheep’
A most tranquil spot which of course gave no clue of the pain of those who had been sadly
dispossessed in that area.’
Music Notes 04-05-2025
Hymns at St Mary’s
196 O worship the Lord
597 Take my life
605 Will you come and follow me?
492 Ye servants of God
We are honoured to have the St Mary Treblemakers choir
visit our church from St Mary High School in Ontario Canada this morning. This group of 38 members is an extracurricular female choir who are also part of the larger school SATB choir. The group perform on a regular basis for their school, community events, and at other major North American festivals. The group perform to the highest standards and have been successful in a number of choral competitions where they routinely receive marks of 95% and above.
The choir’s artistic director, Tanya Earle, is in her 29th year of teaching the choral program at St Mary High School and is responsible for developing the choral curriculum from its inception. The school choral program is instrumental in drawing new students to the school from the surrounding areas each year, eager to participate in the singing community and create excellent music together.
We are delighted to have the choir participate in our service today and we wish them every success in the Cork International Choral Festival.
Bébhinn 087 2285965
bebhinnmuire@gmail.com
Peter Coughlan writes
‘Stephanie and myself are the representatives of our union of Parishes for Christian Aid. The Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross are currently supporting Christian Aid and their partner the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) in the Malen District with a very important fund raising project entitled “Liloma” a word in the local language meaning Hope for the Future.
The Rev Tony Murphy visited the region in November of last year and met many of the people directly involved. He has kindly agreed to tell us of that amazing experience during our 11am service next Sunday 11th May – we know you will all be very interested in what Revd Tony has to share with us. After the service we will have coffee and tea in the parish hall and Tony, Stephanie and myself will be happy to chat to you all in more detail about the project.
Donations to the Christian Aid project can be made at the retiring collection or in the hall after the Service.
Thank You in advance !
Dates for your Diary
May
11th Christian Aid Service 11am St Mary’s Church, Preacher : Revd Tony Murphy
17th Cork Operatic Society Fundraising Concert Performance
4pm St Mary’s Church
Youth Group Board Games evening 7:30pm till 9pm
20th Screening of the Oscar winning Documentary ‘No Other Land’
7:30pm Parish Hall
June
1st Sunday Club Prizegiving 11am in St Mary’s Church
8th Confirmation Service 11am in St Mary’s Church
(no 9:30am Service that day)
21st Parish Féte in School Hall and Grounds
Youth Group BBQ 7:30pm till 9pm
Request for Volunteers for a Rota to cut the grass around St Mary’s Church. Depending on the number of volunteers, it should only be every 4 to 6 weeks. Please contact William Warren-Perry or Revd Richard Dring.
Summer lunch
to be held at Lee Valley Golf and Country Club, Ovens, Co.Cork on Wednesday 21st May 1.00pm
Cost 33.95 pp (main, dessert and coffee/tea)
We hope you can come and we can arrange a lift if necessary. Contact Deirdre 0862612442 or Valerie 0871270457 or Hilary Warren Perry 0862637137 to arrange a lift or book to join us, before 14th May.
Looking forward to a lovely day out!
Random Notes CDLXXXIX
Last week in St John’s Church Monkstown, we sang hymn 278 “Now the green blade rises from the buried grain”. Obviously this refers to Christ coming back to life after spending time in the grave but at this time of year, the analogy between the resurrection in the garden and Christ is so poignant. We only have to blink, and the speed and ease of the destruction of our natural environment, by humankind, is all too familiar and commonplace.
BUT (and I know this is a cliche) the power and magnificence of nature to “..come again, like wheat that springs up green” is truly powerful and amazing.
In May we see around us buds forming on trees and plants. Hedgerows are becoming fuller and thicker. People are so eager to get out in to their gardens and start sowing seeds and planting shrubs. Its lovely!!! Such a positive time of the year.
When I was studying horticulture, one of my friends (the late Conor Gahan) wrote a wonderful article/paper on this subject. Simply titled “The ability of plants to reproduce themselves”. I remember our lecturer at the time commenting on the briefness and simplicity of the content. The clever ways that the natural world has adapted and used what is around them, in order to not only survive, but also thrive in abundance.
Consider the size of buddleja’ that grow out of chimney pots
…or the vividness of campanula in a garden wall.
Observing the robin’s in the garden centre over the last few months has equally been fascinating. They created incredible nests from what was around them. The first brood of chicks all died, then they had another brood. Some died and others remain to live on. But the parents didn’t complain – they just got on with life and kept themselves fed and warm.
Truly inspirational.
“Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green”
RCE
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