The
year is really moving on! Our Harvest Thanksgivings has taken place.
Congregation at these Services have been much larger than heretofore. Thank-you
to those who decorated our church so beautifully and to those who provided
sandwiches, cakes, buns and served tea and coffee.
The
Ploughing event is over. The Church of Ireland stand this year was facilitated
by our diocese; with clergy and laity provided coffee/tea and biscuits to
visitors. And, this year, the numbers visiting was way up on previous years.
There is a “curiosity among people to learn more, to clarify their view on us
and to do some family tree research.
The Mothers Union had their usual stand where
they faciltate parents with a “nappy changing” service. I attended on Tuesday
and did my stint in the Church stand. We had many visitors to Old St Marys this
Summer. Some were seeking “family tree” information and quite a number had come
just to visit the place where their ancestors had lived and worshipped. Since
the new school term began we have had three school classes visit as part of
their learning about the place where they live and exploring with width and
depth of the Christian faith. The questions asked reveal a genuine interest and
curiousty. . This is a growing trend as we become more confident as children of
God in sharing with each other, learning about the place where we live and
broadening our understanding of each other. It can, only, be good for all of
us.
Barbara
Select Vestry Meeting – Will meet in Old
St Mary’s on Friday, 1st November 2019 @ 8.00pm.
Whist Drives – Please note the
slightly earlier start time is to enable us to finish a little earlier to
enable people to ge home a little earlier.
Friday,
11th October 2019 in the Sisters of Charity School -opposite Old St
Mary's @ 7.45pm sharp.
Friday, 8th
November 2019 in the Sister of Charities School opposite Old St Mary’s, Clonmel
@ 7.45pm
Friday, 13th
December 2019 in the Sister of Charities School opposite Old St Mary’s, Clonmel
@ 7.45pm
New players always
welcome...
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 on 6th
November 2019 @5pm in the Rectory. If it turns out that this does not work for
you; please ring me. Confrrmation will
take place in this parish on Sunday, 11th April 2019 at 11.00am .
Dates & times are set by the Bishop who performs dozens of them in our
large diocese.
Cleaning &
Decorating our churches - Part of being a parishioner is lookiafter our churches, churchyards and other
properties. It is customary to decorate our churches for special occasions such
as Harvest Thanksgivings, Christmas and Easter. It is also parishioners
responsibility to clean our churches. These times of coming together enable us
to get to know each other and to be integrated into parish life. The days when
those long established in the parish, who “knew” how to do things, has passed.
Now we welcome everybody to be part of the family of faith, to make their
contribution in their own way. It can be a pot/bunch of flowers, a short time
preparing for a special occasion or bringing a contribution towards the
refreshments we provide at the end of special Services. We have a cleaning rota
which needs updating! So volunteers, please contact rector.
Harvest
Thanksgivings
– Attendances were up this year in all our churches. Thank-you so much, those
of you who ensures our churches were looking the best. The flowers, bunches and
baskets of grain, vegetables and of
harvest symbolsdisplays reall help to get into the spirit of the occasion. It
is right to give thanks to the Lord for the bounty provided at harvet time.
The
children from the Parochial School presented their baskets/boxes of fruit and
vegetables at Old St Marys which were brought to Mariancourt on Monday morning.
Thank-you to all who attended and to those who
decorated our churches and supplied the refreshments. Thank-you to David
Butler, Derek Verso and Pierce for their efforts to help us sing better with
their excellent accompaniament. There is always ample oportunity for everybody
to take part in this annual celebration as we have four Services each Autumn
and all are welcome to participate.
CHURCH SERVICES
Date
|
Holy
Trinity
9.30am
|
St
Marys
8.30am
11.00am
|
St
Paul's
9.30am
|
Tullameelan
11.00am
|
13th
October
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
|
20th
October
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
No
Service
|
27th
October
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
Service
of the Word
|
H.C
|
No
Service
|
3rd
November
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
No
Service
|
10th
Nov
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
|
Sunday Life – This hour long
programme is broadcast on TippFm on Sunday mornings from 7 – 8am. It is
presented by local clergy and, usually, consists of music, readings and chat.
Wednesday
Worship
Takes place in Old St Mary’s on Wednesday mornings at 10.30am. It is usually a
celebration of Holy Communion and is followed by a cup of tea or coffee.
.
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 welcomes all children. It under Church of
Ireland management and the ethos of the school is Anglican/Church of Ireland.
Sunday,
29th September – Banna Cluain Meala played to a packed church on Sunday,
29th September 2019. This was the 2nd such “free” concert
and it is hoped to continue.
Bereavement
– Stuart
Smith died peacefully in South Tipperary General Hospital on 3rd September 2019 in the presence
of his family. He loved the outdoor life; especially while he lived in the
south west of our country. Born in England, he came to Ireland and grew to love
life here. We offer our sincere sympathy to Maura and his family in their
sorrow. His funeral Service took place in Old St Mary's and cremation took
place at the Island, Cork. May he
rest
in peace.
Singing Group – will meet in Old
St Mary’s on Wednesday, 16th
October 2019 @ 8.00pm. The group usually choose the hymns; but I’m sure
there are some of you, or maybe all of you, who would like to have some imput
into what we sing on Sunday morning in Old St Mary’s @ 11.00am. So, if you
would like to contribute to the singing during our worship; write the 1st
line of your choices on a piece of paper and we will consider your
choices. Please bear in mind that some
hymns may not be in the present books and that it is not feasible, to list
hymns in advance. Anothr way of contributing is to join us when we practice!! All
welcome!
Diocesan Synod – This gathering will
take place in the Dolmen Hotel, Carlow on the afternoon/evening of 23rd
October 2019. This is the annual meeing where decisions for the future are made
for our diocese. The meeting considers parish reports, explores new
ideas/plans. It is the Diocesan AGM and those elected to it in accepting their
election to it have made a conscious decision to attend!
Concert in Old St
Marys:
“An October Evening
with the Choir” will take place in old St Mary’s on Friday, 25th
October @ 8.00pm – proceeds will go to Bridgewater House.
FOR
YOUR DIARY
Carols for Advent in
St Paul’s, Cahir – Sunday, 8th December @ 7.30pm
Carol Service in
Tullaghmeelan –Thursday, 12th December @7.30pm
Sunday, 15th
December - Carol Service in the Augustinian Abbey Church Fethard @7.30pm
Friday, 20th
December – Old St Mary’s, Clonmel @ 7.30pm decoration of church on Thursday, 19th
December –time to be arranged
Sunday, 22nd
December – Holy Trinity, Fethard @ 7.30pm