This year
appears to be passing along faster than ever before and a late Easter makes it
more difficult to get one’s head around it.
Easter is
a time for family, for being together and a time of celebration.
Do join us
for, at least, one Service, during the Easter season.
We
decorate the church for special occasions. You do not need to be an expert
flower arranger. We will be in the church doing this on Easter Saturday from
about 10.30am – bring along yourself and if you have some nice greenery or
flowers let them bring you along!!
Nobody has
a “special” area to decorate! We just do what we think will look best!
And it’s a
wonderful way to get to know people!
Happy
Easter!!
Barbara
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, we find ourselves at a crossroad! There are obvious
differences emerging in matters of faith, Biblical understanding and, we are,
of course in a different time.
Last
Saturday, I attended a Colloquium at Trinity College, Dublin. I was a day -
long discussion about where we are as a Church, where we might be going and
discussed many aspects of movements within and without the Church. We talked
about the 70s and 80s and maybe a little longer that that when we experimented
madly and then appeared to have run out of steam.
It is a
different world and we need to seek for what is right for our time.
Our Prayer
Book has been updated a number of times in recent years. And, yes, we have enabled a better pastoral
approach to difficult situation. However, we are in a time when the secular
world have made itself more obvious.
We need to
find what is right for our time; to encourage rather than demand of others that
they do as we say – as we did in the past. Always bearing in mind that
attendance at worship is a personal choice rather than an obligation.
One of the
things that will happen in the short time is the decision for the Dioceses of
Limerick and Tuam to become a single Bishopric.
There is also
the reduction of the members of Synod! We in Cashel, Ferns and Ossory have a
disproportionally large number of members. Our task this year is to acknowledge
that we need to make our Synod a place where there is fairness in all aspects
of legislating for our all –Ireland Church!
We are one of
those dioceses who have failed to provide a proportional number of new clergy
in recent years. There are a lot of us who are nearing the end of our parochial
ministry!
We are a Church
where there is a wide range of theological understanding and practice.
Making the 1st
move is not easy. Your 1st port of call is your Rector. Sometimes a
little encouragement from parents, friends, colleagues helps. In the coming
weeks the body who interview potential candidates will meet to decide who
enters the Theological Institute in the Autumn. Their task is not easy either.
So, pray for
those seeking to test a vocation and for those who make the decisions for the
future.
Membership of
our Synod, our Select Vestries, our diocesan synod and council and those who
work day by day to further the work of ministry and sit on committees, synods,
councils etc is vital There is much to be done, all are welcome to participate
and ,while it can take up a lot of time, it is worthwhile and it is seldom
boring!!
We need you
to encourage others and to take a little time to consider where you might find
your place in the Lord’s vineyard!
We are doing
better all the time with new people joining in! If we all pitched in so that
nobody is over – burdened we would do better!
Coffee Morning! – It was amazing!! Parishioners, school
families and friends
baked and
attended. Thank-you to all who helped in so many ways and a special Thank-you
to the new male voice choir who serenaded us! After lots of chat and indulging
in too much amazing “forbidden” food, tea/coffee in china cups and the raffle;
we discovered that we had made €1,000!!! Well done; everybody. We will be doing
that again!!
Fundraising Committee Meeting – We will be meeting immediately after
Easter to make more plans! All welcome!
The General Easter Vestry – Will
take place in Old St Mary’s on Friday, 26th April 2019 @ 8.00pm. All
parishioners over the age of 18yrs may attend and those who contributed towards
the Assessment during the last year are eligible for election to the Select
Vestry.
Sunday Life – This Christian programme on Tipp Fm is
broadcast from 7 – 8am on Sunday
mornings and is presented by clergy of South Tipperary.
Apology – My apologies to those who attended the
Junction Festival Concert in Old St Mary’s and were cold. The performers
insisted on the heat being turned off and it was!! This will not happen
again! I arrived late and thought we had
run out of oil!!
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.
Olive Thornburgh – Some of you knew her very well as a teacher in the Parochial School, as a
parishioner and friend. She gave her body to medical science and her remains
have now been released to her family. A Service, followed by internment of her
ashes in St Patrick’s Cemeteryvwill take place in Old St Mary’s on Saturday, 27th
April 2019. The time has not be decided on yet. I am sure that there are some remaining
parishioner who would wish to be present. I will inform you as soon as I have a
time. If you would like to be present please tell me and I will inform you of
the time.
Parish BBQ - This
will take place on Sunday, 30th June 2019 from about 1pm onwards.
Arrangements are as usual. There will be steaks and the usual food.
Contributions of salads, desserts etc are always welcome. We share the proceeds
with another charity.
Bishop’s Visit – The children
enjoyed the Service in Old St Mary’s on 24th March . They told us
about what they had learned about Holy Communion and helped Bishop Michael
during the celebration. Bishop Michael used the special prayer for use when
there are children present. The prayer of consecration is said in response to
questions asked by a child.
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 a n act of worship.
Unfortunately I will be away but hope we can make it happen in our parish with
the help of somebody who knows how to use a computer and projector! Volunteers
would be most welcome to audition!!
Biodiversity Project at Old St Mary’s - Just a reminder that we do need
some more plants for our herbaceous beds in particular.
CHURCH SERVICES
|
2019
Jan -Feb
|
St Pauls
Cahir
9.30am
|
Holy Trinity
Fethard
9.30am
|
Old St Marys
Clonmel
8.30am
11.00am
|
Tullaghmeelan
11.00am
|
|
7th
April
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship in other church
|
|
14th
April
Palm
Sun
|
H.C.
|
M.P
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
|
16th
April
|
Tuesday,
Evening Prayer in Cahir @ 7.30pm
|
|
17th
April
|
Wednesday,
Compline in Fethard @ 7.30pm
|
|
18th
April
|
Thursday,
H.C. & Washing of Feet in Clonmel
|
|
19th
April
Good
Friday
|
9.30am - Liturgy @ 9.30am in Cahir
12.00noon
– 3pm – by the Cross in Old St Marys
Compline
in Fethard @ 7.30pm
|
|
20th
April
Easter
Eve
|
Lighting
of the Paschal candles in the grounds of Old St Mary’s
@
7.30pm
1st Eucharist of Easter in Cahir
@ 9.15pm
|
|
21st
April
Easter
Day
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C
H.C.
|
Worship in other church
|
|
28th
April
Palm
Sun
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HYMN SUGGESTIONS – There is no reason why we should
not use the hymns suggested in our diocesan magazine when we do not have an
organist – This list appears every month in the diocesan magazine! - This is the recorded music list
Lent 5- Sunday, 7th
April – 293(CD18,MD9); 575(CD33,MD16); 310(CD18,MD9);
627(CD35,MD17); 294(CD18,MD9)
629(CD36,MD18); 654(CD50,MD26);
420(CD49,MD25); 614(CD35,MD17); 415(CD25,MD12); 490(CD28,MD14); 115(CD7,MD4); T&P 51, 64,
110
Palm Sunday, 14th
April – 78(CD5,MD3);
217(CD14,MD7); 239(CD15,MD7); 124(CD8,MD4);
168(CD10,MD5); 431(CD26,MD13);
134(CD8,MD4); 228(CD14,MD7); 326(CD20,MD10);
102(CD7,MD3); 117(CD7,MD4);
429(CD25,MD12); T&P 17, 52,120
During
Holy Week, hymns in the “His Suffering and Cross” and “Holiness” sections are suitable
Easter - Sunday, 21st April –
All hymns between Nos 250 – 292 are suitable during the Easter season. 91(CD6,MD3); 96(CD48,MD25); 711(CD40,MD20); 96(CD48,MD25); 197(CD12,MD6); 466(CD27,MD13);
78(CD5,MD3); 328(CD20,MD10); 408(CD24,MD12); 91(CD6,MD3);
431(CD26,MD13); T&P 13, 60,
81,
