General Easter Vestry & Triennial Elections –

Will take place in Old St Mary’s on Thursday, 28th April 2011 @ 7.30pm

Select Vestry Meeting –

Next meeting – Tuesday, 5th April 2011 @ 7.00pm in the Rectory – main item on the agenda will be the 2010 accounts.

Bereavement –

We extend our sincere sympathy to Patricia Lalor and her family on the sudden death of her father.

Singing Group –

Wednesday, 9th March & Friday 18th March in Old St. Mary’ @ 8.00pm. New voices are always welcome –whether you want to sit near the organ or not! We practise well known hymns etc and learn new ones.

Schools’ Festival Service –

The Service for this year in Cashel, Waterford & Lismore area of our diocese will take place in Cashel Cathedral on Friday, 11th June @ 11.00am

Drop in Coffee morning –

Saturday, 16th April 2011 – just drop into the Rectory for a cuppa, scone & a chat from 10.30am – 12noon. Donations to the Hall Restoration Fund.

Holy Trinity Fethard –

The parishioners of Holy Trinity Fethard have now repaired the heater & replaced some slates on the roof. They will now place capping on the roof, which was not done at the time of re-roofing, complete the placement of grids on all windows and redecorate the church.

The repair & provision of two more heaters will be funded from the donation received from the film company and will just about be sufficient to complete this part of the project. The remainder will be funded by the Wyndham Bequest. The Select Vestry has approved these expenditures.

Concert Old St Mary's Clonmel (Church of Ireland) –

On Friday, 25th March 2011, Kelly Lonergan & friends will perform in Old St.
Mary’s @ 8.00pm – She will be joined by Mum, Derek Ryan and others in a
concert of classical music.Kelly is completing her training on piano and has
played in Old St. Mary’s in the past. Tickets are be on sale @ €10 from the
rector, & Marian’s in O’Connel St.

Installation of Canons –

The Rector will be installed as Treasurer of St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Wednesday,15th March @ 3.30pm.
The Rector of Abbeyleix will be installed as Chancellor.

Weddings –

At the moment bookings for weddings in St. Patirck’s Church, Inishlounaght for 2011 are almost at their maximum. There are already bookings for 2012.

St Paul’s, Cahir –

In spite of there being almost no grants from the Heritage Council this year, we have been granted a substantial sum towards the repair of the Glengall memorial at St Paul’s. It will require matching funds and we hope the family concerned may assist us.

Bring & Buy –

This annual event is planned for the 1st Sunday in June, 5th, in the afternoon. It is always a great success, but it does need everybody’s support.

Select Vestry Meeting –

Next meeting – Tuesday, 1st March 2011 @ 7.00pm in the Rectory – main items on Agenda finance & repairs to Rectory following water damage.

Singing Group –

Friday 25th February & Wednesday, 9th March in Old St. Mary’ @ 8.00pm. New voices are always welcome –whether you want to sit near the organ or not! We practise well known hymns etc and learn new ones.

Flowers & Cleaning –

The response to our appeal for the setting up of a cleaning rota and filling the flower rota at Old St. Mary’s has been really good. We have a few vacancies – and really the more the merrier because the amount needing to be done by each person will be less – if you have not volunteered, please do so! Participation does give a better sense of belonging and encourages everybody to work better for their Church.

World Day of Prayer (formerly The Womens World Day of Prayer) –

will be held in St Olivers Church, Elmpark on Friday, 5th March at 8.00pm.
All welcome!
This year’s Service has been produced by the women of Chile.

Drop in Coffee morning –

We have not had one of these for some time for all sorts of reasons. Our next one will be when the redecoration & repairs made necessary by the flooding of the rectory have been completed.

Tourist s

The county Council has placed a “Tourist Information” board at the entrance to holy Trinity, Fethard. 100 such plaque are being erected around the country at the moment. The plaques at Old St Mary’s are to be replaced and one will be placed at the Anne Street gate.

Holy Trinity Fethard –

The parishioners of Fethard have decided to complete their project of placing
protective grids on Holy Trinity’s windows. They have also now completed the
conditions of our financial arrangements in the union of parishes.

Whist Drives –

These take place on the 2nd Friday of each month in the Sisters of Charity School hall across the road from Old St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Clonmel. It is a great night of fellowship in the relaxed atmosphere of a game of whist.
Friday, 11th February @ 7.45pm
Friday, 11th March @ 7.45pm
Friday, 8th April @ 7.45pm

Preaching –

The Rector, as a member of the Chapter of St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny will preach in the cathedral on Sunday, 27th February @ 11.30am.

Concert at Old St. Mary's Church of Ireland, Clonmel –

On Friday, 25th March 2011, Kelly Lonergan & 7 friends will perform in Old St.
Mary’s Church of Ireland, Mary St, Clonmel @ 8.00pm

– Kelly is completing her training on piano and has played in Old St. Mary’s in the past.

Tickets will be on sale @ €10.

Installation of Canons –

The Rector will be installed as Treasurer of St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Wednesday, 2nd March @ 3.30pm.
The Rector of Abbeyleix will be installed as Chancellor.

Parking at Old St. Mary’s –

Curves fitness centre have reserved parking spaces in the churchyard. We receive a substantial donation from them. Please do not park in those spaces.
We don’t make much use of our churchyard outside service times and businesses like this do help with funding the day-to-day maintenance & overhead expenses of our parish.

Weddings –

At the moment the bookings for weddings at St. Patirck’s Church, Inishlounaght for 2011 are almost at their maximum.
There are already bookings for 2012.

Select Vestry Meeting –

Next meeting – Tuesday, 18th January 2011 @ 7.00pm in the Rectory – main items on Agenda finance & repairs to Rectory following water damage.

Singing Group –

Friday 21st January & 4 February in Old St. Mary’s, Church of Ireland, Clonmel @ 8.00pm. New voices are always welcome –whether you want to sit near the organ or not! We practise well known hymns etc and learn new ones.

Sunday Life –

The programme planned for Christmas Day did not happen because some of us were unwell, I had lost my voice, and there were too few to achieve the
whole purpose of the planned programme.
The Rector did regain her voice in time to record the programme for 2nd January 2011

Flowers & Cleaning –

The response to our appeal for the setting up of a cleaning rota and filling the flower rota at Old St. Mary’s has been really good. We have a few vacancies – and really the more the merrier because the amount needing to be done by each person will be less – if you have not volunteered, please do so! Participation does give a better sense of belonging and encourages everybody to work better for their Church.

Easter 2011 –

The bishop has asked us to celebrate Easter in a special was this year. The Rev Dr Richard Buxton, Wales will be coming to us in Holy Week to pray and meditate with us. On Palm Sunday we will have a central service & we will, weather permitting, hold a “Way of the Cross” around the walls of Old St Mary’s – banners etc will be made by children & adult of the parish.

Diocesan Magazines –

Eleven publications appear every year and cost €30 for that period.

Each parish has a section and it is a great way to keep up with happening in the wider Church & the diocese. If you would like to receive it, contact the Rector with your €30 before 20th November 2010. As the spares have rarely been used, they have not been ordered this year.

The December issue was very late as the courier who delivers them was unable to get out of the seaside resort of Courtown Harbour because of the snow and ice!

If you have not given the rector your subscription for the magazine, please do so soon!

Church of Ireland Gazzete –

This publication is published weekly and is but one of three such weekly magazines within the Anglican Communion. It keeps members up to date with what is going on on our island. It arrives, usually every Thursday, except for two editions in July/August. Subscription is €40 per annum (includes postage of bundle)– orders are teken by the Rector & subscriptions for those who already receive it are now due.

Christmas Day –

The weather wasn’t quite as awful as last year, but it was really cold.

It was so cold, it was impossible to heat old buildings.

The attendance in St Paul’s was small on Christmas eve. This wasn’t surprising as driving conditions were not good and temperaures were as low as -11C.

I Really admired those who got up and braved the cold for the early Service in old St Mary’s!

The journey to Fethard wasn’t as bad as I anticipated, but the gas boiler had frozen at the church. The congregation was the largest for some years and we really did “draw close” – as close as could, in the sanctuary, choir and at the front of the church. We didn’t delay. I hope it won’t put people off coming more often in future.

Old St Mary’s had an average Christmas days attendance, and the spirit was good.

Afterwards the Rector visited 3 people in the hospital.

During the previous week she brought holy Communion to those who are visited and receive Holy Communion at home during the year.

On St Stephen’s morning I drove to Tullaghmeelan feeling Spring had come.
The -11C of the day before had changed to + 8, and at one point for about a kilometre it was +9! The numbers in Tullaghmeen were small – it is always a challenge to get people to go to church two days running!!

Vacancies –

As we begin 2011, there are some changes in our diocesan clergy.

Canon Nancy Gillespie, former Rector of Stradbally, Co Laois, has taken up duty as Priest-in-Charge of Killeshin.

The Rev Hilary Dungan will leave Portlaoise Parish for pastures new at the end of February and The Rev JP Kavangh, former Rector of Kells, has taken up duty a chaplain in DIT.

Please pray for these parishes as they experience change and pray also for the Boards of Nomination who will meet in the coming months to appoint new Incumbents.

Kids Club

Our next Youth event will be announced shortly.
Once again each child will get notice. (if you are not on the rectors list please make contact)
Thank-you, parents for your support and it is so lovely that so many of you are interested in your children taking part.
Of course our dates won’t suit everybody and that can’t be helped.

Some more offers of doing the safeguarding trust course necessary and the garda vetting etc towards being a youth worker would be so welcome!

The more qualified youth workers we have the more flexible our event dates can become.

Drop in Coffee morning –

Our next one will be when the redecoration & repairs made necessary by the flooding of the rectory (after the thaw)have been completed.

Re-ordering of Old St Mary's –

I hope that in 2011 we will learn to sit closer together and
nearer the celebrant or the person conducting worship. It takes a bit of getting used to when we have traditionally sat in the same pew for years. In the past people did sit in “family pews which they “bought” and maintained.

We are supposed to be worshipping together and it was never intended, especially by Cranmer, that the celebrant at Holy Communion should be separate, “high and lifted up behind rails” or remote from the congregation. He brought the Holy Table to the centre of the aisle around which all were to gather. The rails & the Holy Table against the East wall became the norm in the 17th century in order to keep the pet dogs of the faithful away from the bread & wine!

Please do what Cranmer’s BCP liturgy says “Draw near to receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ......................”

New publication –

We look forward to the publication of the Rev Iain Knox’s latest updating of the succession of clergy.
When his update of that of Cashel & Emly appears in print, the succession of clergy up to very recent years will be complete.

Much credit is due to him & his friend the Rev David Crooks for their contribution to this massive task. These lists can never be truly complete and will always be a work in progress.

Flower Arrangement Demonstration –

In spite of bad weather and its consequences, the proceeds of the night came to €500.

A huge thank-you is due to Heather Bailey and her helpers for all her efforts and for the lovely supper.

Bag Pack –

Like the flower demo, this was a success and thanks is due to George Hogg
who organised it, right down to our hi-vis jackets which will be handy in the
future.
€2,200 was raised for our hall restoration fund and another bag-pack is
planned for the same time this year.

More participants will bring in a large amount. It is a great way to profile our Church & to meet lots of lovely people.