I
hope you are enjoying the sunshine when the clouds and rain allow it to shine.
We don’t realise how lucky we are not to have the extremes of heat experienced
in many parts of Europe. As a result of our Special Diocesan Synod a group has
been commissioned to bring recommendations to our Diocesan Synod in October.
There will be change with regard to most things we do. We need to consider our
parish arrangements, numbers of clergy in various forms of ministry throughout
our diocese. Building
are another matter; but one that will be a difficulty going into the future. As
they are heritage buildings there is probably little or nothing we can do with
them. We are obliged to maintain them and funding that would be nigh
impossible.
At
the moment we are preparing to train new Lay Readers. The course will begin
this Autumn. The present prospective people seeking to do the course are
scattered around the diocese; so there may be some travelling to venues. It can
be challenging but support is offered. It is not necessarily a course for
prospective Lay Readers alone. Anybody can do it.
The
Dean of Cashel continues his recovery from major surgery. The Rev Bronwyn and
the Lay Readers in the parish are doing well.
Our
sympathy goes to the Knowles family on the death of Dean Philip; a friend to so
many.
Our sympathy also goes to Jimmy
& Anne Kingston who both were bereaved in recent time by the death of a
brother; Richard Tanner and Raymond Kingston.
Our sympathy also goes to the
Rankin family. Norman was a faithful worshipper at Old St Marys. His funeral Eucharist
was celebrated in Old St Mary’s on Thursday, 1st August and burial
took place in St Patrick’s Cemetery.
May
they and all the faithful departed in Christ rest in peace.
Barbara
Koln Philharmonia –
Will perform in Old St Marys on Wednesday, 7th August @8.00pm. Tickets at door.
Harvest Thanksgivings
-
Sunday, 1st September
2019 in Cahir @ 7.30pm
Sunday, 8th September
2019 – Tullaghmeelan @3.30pm
Sunday, 15th
September 2019 – Fethard @ 7.30pm
Friday, 20th
September 2019 – Clonmel @ 7.30pm
Singing Group:
Will
meet in Old St Mary’s on Wednesday, 28th
August 2019 @ 8.00pm. All are welcome to join us in choosing hymns for Sunday
worship and other occasions
Confirmation – This is the time of
year when the Bishop begins to set the dates for Confirmations in our Diocese.
The usual age for candidates is over 12yrs. If you have not been Baptised you
may ask for Baptism and Confirmation at the same time if you are over the above
age. You can be baptised at any age! Classes/Conversations begin in Autumn in
this Parish with the Baptisms/Confirmations taking place when the Bishop
chooses; always on a Sunday. So, if you can speak to me before the beginning of
October a date can be set at the Clergy Conference. I prefer that the
candidates ask me rather than parents!
Fees – Fees for
special occasion have always been in place for the use of churches, organists,
graves and certificates. We do not charge for Baptisms in this parish. There
are fees for new graves, re-opening of graves and weddings. In case of Baptism
it is traditional to give a “gift-offering”. These fees go towards the upkeep
of our historic buildings and other parish expenses. Fees are set by the Select
Vestry.
Fundraising – There will be a
meeting at the Rectory to plan for fundraising at 8.00pm on Thursday, 29th
August. We cannot continue to rely on the off - chance that subscriptions to
Assessment and collections can keep us afloat. It’s not working!! We have
already proved that we can be more active; so, let’s get on with it! What we
need is to keep up the momentum of the coffee morning earlier in the year.
Sunday Life – This hour long
programme is broadcast on TipFm on Sunday mornings from 7 – 8am. It is
presented by local clergy and, usually, consists of music, readings and chat.
CHURCH SERVICES
|
Date
August
|
Cahir
9.30am
|
Fethard
9.30am
|
Clonmel
8.30am
11.00am
|
Tullameelan
2nd Sunday
11.00am
|
|
11th
August
|
H.C.
|
No Service
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
|
18th
August
|
No
Service
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship
in other church
|
|
25th
August
|
M.P.
|
No Service
|
H.C.
Service
of
the Word
|
Worship
in other church
|
|
1st
September
|
Harvest Thanksgiving
@
7.30pm
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship
in other church
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wednesdays – Holy Communion @10.30am in Old St Marys. Refreshments
afterwards.
The Parochial School – This is our parish
school and is situated in the old Model School on Western Road. We have two
fulltime classroom teachers, a fulltime teacher whose duties are to help pupils
in those subjects they find a little difficult and a Secretary. The Board of
Management is made up of the Chairperson who is the Rector, parishioners and
parents. The school patron is our Diocesan Bishop. The school welcomes all
children. It is under Church of Ireland management and the ethos of the school
is Anglican/Church of Ireland.
EIO
Surveys
– Tullameelan and Inislounaght have now been surveyed. At some point we will
receive a report.
Safeguarding Trust – The Diocesan
Team/Panel have almost completed their training; which has been quite detailed!
The 1st training days for members of parish panels and all who take
part in child orientated activities have taken place in three venues; Leighlin,
Enniscorthy and Waterford. Parish policies are being written and it can be
taken for granted that Safeguarding Trust is now an integral part of parish
life. This is not to be taken as yet another onerous duty but needs to be
accepted, seen and implemented as our collective effort to ensure that all
minors and vulnerable adults are “safeguarded” from abuse of any kind. To begin
with, everybody needs to know who the panel members are! To do that you need to
view the parish panel notice on your church notice board. In near future, a
designated noticeboard will appear in each church in the diocese and it will
display the necessary notices required for compliance.
Select Vestry – Will meet in Old
St Mary’s on Friday, 6th September 2019 in Old St Marys, Clonmel @
8.00pm
Ordination – On Friday, 13th
September Ms Janet Findlay will be ordained Deacon for the Ordained Local
Ministry by Bishop Michael in Leighlin Cathedral. Please pray for her and all
ordained clergy.
Holy Baptism – Falcon Karl David son
of Talon & Pauline Walsh, Ontario, Canada was baptised in St Paul’s, Cahir
on Saturday, 3rd September 2018 in the presence of his family. May
he grow in faith and in the knowledge of his Lord.
The Ploughing Match –
It’s
our turn again to be part of this annual event. The venue is in the parish of
Fenagh and our diocese will provide a prayer space, hospitality and an
opportunity to tell people about our Church. People come in and ask questions,
share in prayer and receive hospitality. If you’re there, do come in for a chat or just time out
from the crowd outside! It’s an opportunity for those of us present to proclaim
Christ crucified.
The
Mothers Union will have their own tent. They offer a space where mothers of
babies and small children can have a place for nappy changing, feeding and a
short time of respite. If you would like to give an hour or so of your time
with us in the tent; just let me know!
Sunday Life – This hour long
programme is broadcast on TipFm on
Sunday
mornings from 7 – 8am. It is presented by local clergy and, usually, consists
of music, readings and chat.
Vocations Sunday – I cannot recall any
effort before in the Church of Ireland where our Church actually took seriously
the encouragement and promotion of a
life in the ordained ministry or those other ministries we take for granted. I
wonder how many have any realisation of how our parish life is sustained day by
day, Sunday by Sunday. We expect/assume that when we decide to go to Church the
gates and doors will be open, that there will be somebody there to conduct the
Service; preferably the Rector, that it will be warm and that we will receive
what we expect.
It
doesn’t work quite like that! To worship in Church, we need to have people with
us, we need to know who does what, why do they do it, how did they get to do it
in the first place, who pays for it all so that when we attend the doors are
open, the lighting and heating work! Why do some not realise that others keep
our life of worship alive. Yes, occasionally, Rectors got up and, more or less
talked about the “availability” of an ordained life for those with a calling to
it.
Other
Churches have consistently and energetically promoted “Service to the Lord” for
those who felt “called” .
So,
on the 15th September, in each of our parishes throughout the
Diocese we will come together to have a day of reflection, information and
celebration of vocation to ministry. There will be one united Service in the
morning in Old St Mary’s at 11.00am. It is for everybody!! It is an opportunity
for all of us to find our place in the life and worship of our Church.
