Pew Sheet – 9th June 2024

The Rector writes ‘Today is the ‘2nd Sunday after Trinity,- Proper 5’  which means that as well as being the second Sunday since Trinity Sunday it is also the 5th week of ‘Ordinary time’.  Surprisingly I often get asked about the Church Seasons – why they are the way they are and why is this particular time of the year called ‘Ordinary Time’ etc.  I have put together a little article within this Pewsheet to try and better explain it. I hope you enjoy it and when you have read it , you will look at our parish liturgical wheel with new eyes!’

Ordinary Time is a period in the liturgical calendar of the Church that falls outside of the major seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter.

The term “Ordinary” comes from the Latin word “ordinalis,” which means “numbered,” because the weeks are numbered.  

Here are some things to know about Ordinary Time:

Ordinary Time is divided into Two Segments:

First Segment: Begins after the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (which follows the Christmas season) and continues until the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

Second Segment: Begins after Pentecost (which concludes the Easter season) and continues until the beginning of Advent.

Number of Weeks:

There are 33 or 34 weeks of Ordinary Time, depending on the year and the date of Easter. The total number of weeks is

adjusted so that the liturgical calendar aligns with the civil calendar.

Themes and Focus :

Ordinary Time focuses on the public ministry of Jesus Christ, his teachings, miracles, and parables.

It is a time for us  to grow in our understanding of the

mysteries of Christ and the Christian faith.

Scripture Readings:

The Sunday and weekday readings follow a three-year cycle (Years A, B, and C for Sundays; Years I and II for weekdays), covering a broad spectrum of the Bible. This ensures a

comprehensive exposure to the scriptures over time.

Liturgical Colour

The liturgical colour for Ordinary Time is green, symbolizing growth, life, and hope. This colour is used for the vestments worn by the clergy and the decorations in the church.

Ordinary Time in Practice

While Ordinary Time is a period without the heightened focus of other liturgical seasons, it includes some feasts and other solemnities that celebrate saints and key events in the life of Jesus and the Church

Ordinary Time as a Spiritual Journey:

This period is seen as a time for spiritual growth and

deepening one’s faith. It encourages regular participation in the sacraments, personal prayer, and community involvement.

So our Ordinary Time is an essential part of our liturgical year, providing a rhythm of reflection and growth. It is also a time when we are called to live out the teachings of Christ in our daily lives, integrating the spiritual lessons from the major

liturgical seasons into our regular practice of faith.

Music Notes 09-06-2024

Hymns at St Mary’s

250     All hail the power of Jesus’ name

277     Love’s redeeming work is done

566     Fight the good fight

662     Those who would valiant be

                       We left Lady Blanche Noel last week walking off arm-in-arm with her new husband the organist Thomas

Murphy, much to the chagrin of her family. I was curious to see if any record existed of her life with Thomas and found that there is quite an amount written about her.

  She emigrated to America with her new husband Thomas, who was of Irish descent but had been born in England. They  settled in the town of Bartlett in New Hampshire where Thomas taught music and French in a nearby school for boys and also playing the organ in the local church.

They bought a cottage with money Blanche inherited from a maternal aunt and seem to have been very happy.   Blanche worked as a journalist contributing short stories, observations on English social life, and travel descriptions to a number of magazines including ‘Harper’s’ and’ ‘The Atlantic Monthly’.   She is celebrated as one of the pioneers in the movement to allow women of the aristocracy the freedom to marry whoever they wished.   Blanche only lived for ten years after her emigration to America, she died in 1881 after a brief illness.

Thanks to Lesley Roberts for encouraging me to find out more about this interesting couple!

Bébhinn 087 228 5965

bebhinnmuire@gmail.com

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Dates for your Diary

10th June   Men’s Coffee Morning

10am in the Carrigaline Court Hotel.

15th June   Diocesan Retreat

Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin, Youghal

10 a.m. (Coffee)   10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. followed by a light lunch ‘Sharing Christ’s Peace in a Conflicted World’ – a retreat led by Brother Tobias of the

Society of Saint Francis.  ALL WELCOME but please book a place before tomorrow 10th June using this email rsvp@corkchurchofireland.com

30th June 

11am United Service in St Mary’s Church. No 9:30am Service.

3.30 pm St Fin Barre’s Cathedral,  the Bishop will ordain Andrew Coleman and Eoghan Healy to the

diaconate.  Both will serve as deacons in the Ordained Local Ministry.  ALL WELCOME!

28th July   Parish BBQ after 11am Service

Random Notes  CDLX

There is something special about Church of Ireland country churches in the summer.  I first got this feeling when I played for a wedding in Castletown-Roche a few years ago, but it continues to this day.

The Grove-Annesley family are remembered in lots of memorials on the walls in that church, and their contributions to horticulture as well as their Army victories – a strange combination!

Their family home and gardens, “Annes Grove”, are now under the care of the OPW, as pictured below in 2023.

In Monkstown, Carrigaline and Crosshaven, this connection with the past can also be felt. I’ve also felt it in Timoleague and Lismore Cathedral.

The squawking of the crows; the cooing of the wood-pigeons. The roast beef in the oven!  All amongst the warming of a damp church. It’s part of our wonderful Church of Ireland tradition, and must be appreciated, Especially in summer months we can recall the hats on the ladies, the garden parties that must have followed and no doubt the conversations after a few sherries!

Once I step my foot on the lower “C”  pedal on the organ every Sunday morning, I feel connected, comfortable and happy in these beautiful, historic environments

RCE