I do hope you had a lovely and peaceful
Easter. Thank-you to those who decorated St Paul’s and Holy Trinity.
Thank-you to the person who left a bucket full
of beautiful Spring blooms at Old St Mary’s. They filled the font!
The lighting of the Paschal candles in St
Mary’s Churchyard took place in the presence of a large number of people,
clergy and the fire was provided by the scouts.
We could still do with some more plants for
our bio-diversity project at Old St Mary’s
I attended the Chrism Eucharist in Leighlin
Cathedral on Holy Thursday morning. As usual there was a large attendance of
clergy and Readers. During the Service the Bishop blessed the oils for Baptism,
the sick and Ordination. Using oils has not been a practise of the Church of
Ireland in the recent past. We also shunned stoles also and other aspects
of the Church in the past in Ireland and took “pride” in being “faithful to the
Fathers of the Church”! Then, we woke up; did that which we were afraid to do
and discovered that the heavens didn’t fall in, but that for many, colour,
symbol and modern language brought the two lives we seek to live in union with
each other are indeed compatible, wholesome and helpful. We even came to
realise that following God’s Creation in which He created male and female to
share equally we too are obliged to treat all equally. We still have a long way
to go!!
On Saturday, 8th June; the Eve of
Pentecost the special Service for the Eve of Pentecost which will take place in
every parish in our Diocese will take place in Old St Marys @ 8.00pm.
It
will include a new hymn and the “film” featuring members of our Diocesan
Family.
Barbara
Clonmel
Tourism – We
recently signed up to membership of Clonmel Tourism; which is a new initiative.
Membership gives us a site on their website/Facebook. This enables us to be
part of an effort to promote our parish, it’s history, times of worship,
opening times and phone number/parish email for those who wish to make contact.
It has put us in a position where we are “out there”. We need to do what we can
to meet the invitation we now have out there for all who would visit and bring
with it the benefits it would yield. Google it!
Fundraising
Meeting – We
will meet on Wednesday, 8th May 2019 @ 8.00pm in the
Rectory to plan our fundraising for the remainder of the years.
Sunday
Life – This
Christian programme on Tipp Fm is broadcast from 7 – 8am on Sunday mornings and
is presented by clergy of South Tipperary.
Singing Group - will practice in Old St
Mary’s on Thursday, 11th April at 8.00pm. All welcome!
Safeguarding Trust – There are policies required for all aspects of this. Every
aspect of Church life is covered! The one regarding photography is that none of
us may take a photograph of a minor (under 18yrs) without the permission of a
parent/guardian. The publication of photographs is covered under Data
Protection. Yes, the world has changed and we must also change!! It’s not
something dreamed up by “the Church” or any other organisation; it is for the
protection of minors and vulnerable adults and seeks to ensure the safety of
all!! In the coming weeks and months there will be further information and
training for everybody. The diocesan committee that will oversee all aspects of
Safeguarding will meet in the coming weeks to plan what we all need to do!
Parish
BBQ
- This will take place on Sunday, 30th June 2019 at the Rectory from about 1pm
onwards. Arrangements are as usual. There will be steaks and the usual food.
Contributions of salads, desserts etc are always welcome. Adults 15euro
Children under 16yrs Free. We share the proceeds with another charity.
General
Synod –
As is usual this large gathering of members of the Church of Ireland who have
been elected to our governing body meet in mid – May. This year we meet in
Londonderry/Derry for the 1st time
ever. As the very large body of clergy and laity of our Church meets to
discuss, make decisions and decide on ways to further God’s Kingdom and to make
His Church a place for all who believe.
Pentecost – Some weeks ago
a group of clergy and lay people in our diocese got together and filmed a
Pentecostal scene in Wexford. It was good fun with Bishop Michael playing Peter
and the rest of us dressed up in appropriate costumes, singing and pretending
to be present at the coming of the Holy Spirit. The plan is that each parish
will receive a copy of this on a “stick” to be shown the night before Pentecost
(Saturday, 8th June) during an act of worship. Volunteers to assist with screening would be welcome, please contact the Rector.
Hospital
Visiting – There
has been no change
to take the view that in informing hospital
chaplains of details of those in hospital they are creating a breach of Data
Protection! So, the chaplains continue to depend on patients or their families to inform
us of loved one who are patients. The alternative is for the patient to ask for
the chaplain to visit. The only time hospital staff would ring the chaplain, in
the past, was when they considered a patient to be very seriously unwell.
It might be helpful to those of us who are
chaplains to know whether there is still a space on the “admittance” form for
the patient or for their family to identify the patient’s religion. Might I ask
if you or your loved one is being admitted into hospital and is asked for
identify their religion that somebody asks for the purpose of the question
before completing the form.
Those of us who are trying to sort this out
need as much information as possible in order to make progress. Please, do be
aware that if you do not want the chaplain to visit, you are entitled to make
it clear to staff. We do not wish to intrude on anybody who would prefer not to
see the chaplain.
In the case of nursing homes, we would ask to
visit a patient by name; so, in order for me to know who is in a nursing home
somebody has to inform me.
Visitors
– Many
come to visit in Clonmel. They come as part of their holiday and for other
reasons; particularly to further their knowledge of ancestors who left this
island for a better life. We are privileged to have records going back to 1766.
They are not complete; but the excitement and joy of finding any record is for
many a particularly important moment in the life of somebody who knows their
family left here for a better life and find a record of their lives still
treasured by us.
Old St Mary’s holds numerous records. It
records of Baptisms, dates of birth,, marriages, deaths and burial and within
those records names of parents (Mums were not generally recorded on Church and
Civil records until very recent times), place of residence, occupation and, in
some, the Rector took the liberty of adding some extra details in the margins.
Sometimes the Rector recorded inclement
weather or the fact that the garrison was out of town on a particular Sunday.
One of the more unusual of records that worship did not take place in Holy
Trinity, Fethard on a certain Sunday, because the Rector had died that morning!
Visitors also come to see their ancestor’s
name on plaques on church walls. Sister from South Africa arrived one day last
year wanting to see their
Grandfather’s name on the war memorial in Old
St Mary’s. They said he had lost his life during WW1 in South Africa. I was
stumped! Well when we went inside there he was on the plaque. I had never read
it properly! These visitors often fill gaps in the lives of their family that are
not recorded on plaques/registers.
We need to try to have somebody present when
visitors arrive. Closed doors are a huge disappointment! It happens everywhere,
but to have our churches open on a particular day/s of the week; especially, in
summer would bring all sorts of benefits.
Fees – There has been a
belief by many that there are no fees for Baptisms, Marriages and Burials in
our parish. All activities in Churches/Halls bring a cost in heat & light
and maintenance which must be met.
In the case of a Baptism it is customary to
present an “Offering”; that is a sum of money to say “Thank – you”. As with
all such giving the “offering” goes to the parish not the Priest/Rector.
There are set fees for Marriages. The Civil
Register charges for the legal documentation necessary to contract a legal
marriage. There are also fees for the use of the church for heat, light and
general maintenance. These fees also go towards the parish not the
Priest/Rector.
Funerals/Burials also have set fees as above.
There is also the cost of a grave plot if on Church land (including that in
churchyards of closed churches) and for each burial. Once again the fees go to the
parish and not the clergy.
There are notices in the porches of each of
our churches with regard to this.
I have to say that some Funeral Directors
still assume that “Protestant” funerals have no charges. We don’t send out
bills as it is assumed we all know our obligation as members to support as best
we can.
Assessment/Sustentation
It is also a fact that we depend on the
Assessment/Sustentation to meet the costs of everyday life – maintenance and
all those expenses of maintaining a parish. What you give as your contribution
is up to you. The best way of doing it is to use the envelope system. You put
1/52th of what your decided to give for the calendar year in each envelope
weekly (whether you go to Church in your parish or not!). We all also need to
realise, when we decide what to give that as costs have risen over the years in
our “ordinary” lives so, also, has the cost of maintaining our “Fabric, Finance
and Furnishings” obligations.
(That “3FS” are the three areas we maintain!)
We also need to fundraise in order to
actually meet our obligations and when all join in it brings in what we need;
but more importantly it brings us together and that we can become a community
of faith.
HYMN SUGGESTIONS –
Sunday 12th May
- 4th Sun of Easter - 644(CD37);
655(CD37); 365(CD22); 250(CD16); 432(CD26); 467(CD27);
660(CD38); 276(CD17); 670(CD39);
360(CD21); 263(CD16);
Sunday 19th May - 5th Sun of Easter – 295(CD18); 97(CD6); 321(CD19); 525(CD30); 509(CD29); 682(CD39); 683(CD39); 350(CD21); 646 (CD37);
553(CD32); 493(CD28);
Sunday, 26th May – 6th Sun of Easter – 350(CD21);
343(CD2); 695(CD39); 677(CD50); 376(CD22); 294(CD18); 295(CD18); 549(CD32); 634 (CD36); 386(CD23)
Sunday, 2nd June
– 7th Sun of Easter – 293(CD18); 34(CD2);
281(CD17); 263(CD16); 418(CD25); 137(CD8); 523(CD30); 438(CD26);
285(CD17); 627(CD35); 638(CD49); 259(CD16); 597(CD34);
398(CD24); 285(CD17)
