Church of Ireland - Diocese of Dublin
Parish News
Castleknock and Mulhuddart with Clonsilla
December 2002/January 2003 |
Previous issues of The Parish News
Contents of this issue
The Parish News will be published monthly and will usually be available by the first Sunday.
Copy Deadline Organisation reports should be sent either in written format to Martha Waller, C/O The Parish Office, or by email to: MarthaWaller@Hotmail.com. These should be submitted by the 10th of the preceding month, no matter what day of the week.
THE RECTOR WRITES
Dear Friends,
Inside this issue of the magazine, you'll find all the information about our Christmas services and other events that are coming up in December and January. When Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year, and everyone complains how busy they have become its important that we as part of a Christian community take time for ourselves to reflect on the message at the heart of Christmas- the incarnation, God becoming a human being. The essential Christmas message is that God became one of us, sharing our humanity, our joys and our sorrows. Christmas is less about sentimental pictures of the baby in the manger and much more about the most important event in human history - one which cannot leave any of us unchanged.
I was struck by these words written recently by a visitor to Bethlehem: "the destiny of Bethlehem has always been a place of paradox. It was paradoxical that Christ was born there, when the wise men expected to find him in David's greater city, Jerusalem. It is paradoxical that the Most High should there choose to be so low. Few pilgrims to the Church of The Nativity can be unmoved by the tiny entrance which forces one to stoop low to enter the church in appropriate homage to the one who stooped so low that he became a tiny child. It is tragically paradoxical that in a year when the Church of the Nativity has been under siege, with people holy and not so holy walled up inside, the Old Testament passage from Micah "You Bethlehem Ephrah" often read at Christmas should end "he will be their peace". (Micah 5: 2-5)"
This is the world that God entered two thousand years ago. A world of paradox where hatred and love, peace and war, joy and sorrow exist side by side. No matter how each of us is feeling, when Christmas can evoke both happy and sad emotions, we can know that God is with us in all circumstances.
Take time to get in touch with the real Christmas: come to the advent Study Group as Wilfred Harrington unpacks the birth stories of Jesus with us. Come to the Carol services or the quiet services in the evenings. Take part in the Posada event as Mary and Joseph go round the parish. And join us all on Christmas day to celebrate God with us.
Yours in his service
Andrew
Clonsilla Project: Stop Press
Great news! Following the archaeological survey undertaken of the site, the Clonsilla Project plan is now ready to go for planning permission before Christmas. Our goal is getting closer and closer, with over a third of the money raised and the pledges from parishioners coming in. If you haven't returned your pledge form yet, please do so as soon as possible. More forms are available from the parish office.
National School at Clonsilla?
A very exciting development is taking place at Clonsilla. About 20 years ago a piece of land, about 1.5 acres, was reserved for the Clonsilla parish to purchase, and build a National School. The land remains there unused to this day, and we are now investigating whether there is the demand for such a school. If we can make a sufficiently strong case to the Department of Education, they will consider purchasing the land on our behalf and building the school. The land is adjacent to St. Mary's, parallel to the Clonsilla Road and will eventually be accessible from the new distributor road leading to the Mt. Symon development. Obviously we have to consider many factors, including the effect on Castleknock National school, but at present we are preparing figures for presentation to the Department. Please remember that this very much a preliminary application: permission to build is one thing, getting a school built is quite another, especially given the current state of government finances. Watch this space……
Many thanks to all who supported the Gift Fair on 10th November - the preliminary total raised is 5,000 which is a splendid achievement. Also a special word of thanks to Edie and Ned Nuzum for hosting the Fork Supper in October which raised over 1,000; again many thanks to all our supporters.
Calling all musicians
We'd like to know what musical resources we've got here in the parish, perhaps with a view to starting a small music group. So if you play an instrument or even sing we'd like to hear from you. Please contact Andrew or Sandra. Don't be shy!
A SEASON OF PEACE AND GOOD WILL TO ALL by The Curate
The Christmas season brings home to us the powerful message of peace and goodwill which the angel announced at the birth of Jesus, and New Year offers us a time to think of the future and to make resolutions for the better, so again we might well be thinking about our world and what we can do to make it a better place for ourselves, for our children and for all God's people. To help us reflect more constructively on the whole issue of peace, it might be useful to reprint here some of the powerful thoughts about the lack of peace in our world today, which the Rector used in his sermon on Remembrance Sunday in November:
"In these days of peace in Western Europe it's easy for us to think that Remembrance Sunday is all about the past. There's the feeling that it's about an ever dwindling band of elderly soldiers who fought in a war which has little relevance to us today. But it shouldn't be like that. If we in western Europe experience a comparative peace since 1945, the rest of the world is not. The rest of the world has been through, and is still going through, the worst and bloodiest time in history. As we read this, there are 16 wars taking place all around the world, mainly in Africa. In the 20th century, 109 million people have died in war - 45 million soldiers, 64 million civilians. In the 18th century 50% of war casualties were civilians; in current wars it is 95%. Half of those civilian casualties are children, and there are estimated to be around half a million child soldiers currently in action. ….
"The amount spent today in our world on armaments every fortnight, would be enough to provide clean water, healthcare and food for everyone. Large amounts are spent by the poorest, least developed countries, who can least afford it. It's a scandal, an insult, and as Christians we ought to be the first to do something about it. And yet so often we leave it to someone else to join Amnesty, to protest, to give money to Concern…. Jesus' message is that God is unimpressed with complacency."
In our prayers this Christmas season, let us pray for our own families and friends, but also bring before God all those for whom this is a time of suffering and injustice. Let our prayers for peace be genuine, heart-felt and informed, not just nice but empty words. And let our New Year's Resolutions be positive, not just about giving up those things which we know harm ourselves, but about thinking seriously how we as Christians in the world can play our part in sharing the good news of God's love, peace and goodwill to all.
TANZANIA SAFARI - BY Janet Craven
a continuation of Janet Craven's (edited) journal of her visit in the summer of 2002.
EAST TO THE INDIAN OCEAN: Leaving Kilimatinde, we were delighted to be part of the whole village celebrating the opening and blessing by Bishop Alpha of a new Dispensary in a relatively deprived area.
DODOMA POLITICAL CAPITAL: Marked expansion in all aspects met us as we entered Dodoma. At the Diocesan HQ, we met Mama Elizabeti, a widow (who had, with her husband, first welcomed me to Mvumi in 1960) and then, unexpectedly, along came Mary, the first woman pastor of this diocese (Central Tanganyika) who had been a bright Mvumi school-girl in her day, and Philemon, whom I had last heard of in prison. A joyful reunion.
MVUMI HOSPITAL: A warm reception from Alison Talbert (who had visited our parish in 2001) who then took us to meet some dear old friends, mostly ex-hospital staff. That evening it was out under the brilliant African night sky to share a festive meal with Gillian and Stanley (whose wedding I had attended in 1961 in Kigoma, far to the west). Singing by their extended family, and grandchildren, entertained us. Next day a quick round of the hospital convinced us that things were going well and that expansion was taking place in the right direction, including eye services and prevention. (PS Alison says 'ta' for the Clonsilla marmalade.)
EXPRESS TO DAR ES SALAAM: Speeding 300 miles to the east towards the ocean in a luxury bus took us a little over 6 hours. Private enterprise is flourishing with the pavements now choc-a-bloc with street traders, restaurants, lots of cars and 4WDs, and up-market eateries.
The Indian Ocean was just as beautiful and enticing as ever, and the very dust under our feet spoke of belonging; as did even more so the welcome and renewed fellowship with colleagues in the office who co-ordinate the country's Christian Medical Services and in the homes of friends. Over-riding all was a sense of gratitude to our Heavenly Father, and to the generous couple who made it all possible.
HOME: All too soon it was "Kwa Heri" at Dar Airport - the happy smiling faces and the waving are still vivid. Finding my sister (in the UK) and Alice in good health on my return was an added bonus. Now, it is to keep the bonds with Tanzania strong and useful to God - so our parish links with the St Anne's Hospital in Liuli are very encouraging for all of us.
Ecumenical Blessing of the Graves
Both St Mary's and St Brigid's were filled to capacity on Sunday afternoon 3rd November for these moving annual ecumenical services. The presence of the Archbishop of Dublin, who preached at St Brigid's, was much appreciated; and we were also grateful to Fr Martin Murnaghan (PP of St Mochta's, Porterstown) for preaching at St Mary's. The collections at the two churches raised over 2,000 in aid of the Cruse Bereavement fund and hospice movement.
Advent House Group
Meeting weekly during Advent (on the first three Thursdays i.e. 5th, 12th and 19th Dec) we will be looking at the Infancy Narratives in the Gospels. These will be organised ecumenically, and the first session will take place in the Parish Centre (8pm Thurs 5th Dec) - see the website for details of the other sessions. We are delighted that Fr Wilfrid Harrington OP (from the Dominican Priory at Tallaght) has agreed to come to lead these sessions for us. It promises to be an excellent and prayerful way to prepare ourselves spiritually for the birth of our Lord.
ADVENT by The Curate (with acknowledgments to the Church Army)
This year during Advent we are for the first time following a Mexican custom called POSADA, which is a Spanish word meaning 'inn'. In Mexico, people dress up as Mary and Joseph and go from house to house in the locality, telling people about Jesus and asking for a room. Adapting this here, we have invited different households around the parish to invite the crib figures of Mary and Joseph into their homes for one night during Advent, and then take them to the next house the following day. This is a great way to bring home to us the real meaning of Christmas, as we prepare our homes and our hearts to receive our Lord at Christmas.
ADVENT IS FOR CHILDREN TOO
A THANK YOU PRAYER FOR ALL THAT CHRISTMAS MEANS
C Crib
H Hope
R Royal
I Ice
S Stable
T Travellers
M Mary
A Animals
S Star
From the list of words, can you find the missing one from the following poem:
Amidst the winter's ice and chill,
Remember Jesus lying still,
His bed a crib in stable bare,
Just Mary, Joseph and animals there.
There was but one dazzling star
That brought those travellers from afar.
Simple shepherds who left their sheep
Kings of royal lineage deep.
But you, dear Lord, who came for all,
Those who succeed and those who fall,
Help us all to turn to you,
This Christmas and the whole year through.
The word HOPE is missing from the poem.
Let us pray that Hope is put back into Christmas
And into the lives of the many people
Who feel that life is hopeless. Amen.
All Souls Day:
At St Mary's, Clonsilla, a quiet and moving service on the evening of 2nd November gave parishioners the opportunity to remember before God with love and thanksgiving, their own loved ones who have died in faith. As the names were read out slowly, small candles were lit as a symbol of the light of Christ, in whose love nothing (not even death) can separate us. The Eucharist was celebrated by the Curate, who on the same day presented to each parish a Book of Remembrance to record the names of our departed loved ones - this was a belated thank you from Sandra for all the support from the parishes during her first year (as a deacon) with us. It is a gift we shall treasure.
UNITY OF ALL CHRISTIANS by Sandra Pragnell
"We have this treasure in clay jars" (2 Corinthians 4: 4-18)
Prayer for Christian Unity is something we are called to do if we listen to Jesus' own prayer that we may all be one (John 17: 11); and every year between 18th and 25th January we have a special opportunity to pray with our Christian sisters and brothers in different churches. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place from Saturday 18th January to Saturday 25th January 2003. This year, the theme is taken from Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians - "we have this treasure in clay jars". The week will be marked in the following way:
- we will have our usual pulpit swap with neighbouring clergy on 18th/19th January, when our clergy will preach at the Vigil Mass on the Saturday night, and on Sunday morning 19th Jan we will welcome a local PP to preach at St Mary's at 10am and at St Brigid's at 11.30am.
- Also, each night from 18th to 25th Jan inclusive (8 nights in all) there will be a short service of scripture reading and prayer, including silent prayer, from 8-8.30pm, in a different local church each night. This should enable all of us to get to at least one of the services and take part in ecumenical prayer with (and meet) our Christian neighbours. There will be posters up in the churches giving details of which church we meet in on which night. So please look out for them.
From the Registers:
Holy Baptism: Sun 27th October: at St Mary's, Vladislav Mikhayliv (son of Volodimir Mikhayliv and Olesya Tkach of Porters Gate); and at St Brigid's, Jae Catherine Keller (daughter of Michael and Kim Keller of Tyrellstown) and Caoimhe Bohan (daughter of Barry Bohan and Kerstin Wilkenkemper of Huntstown).
May they shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.
Christian Burial: Sat 2nd November at St Mary's: Lily Free (followed by burial in the family grave at Mount Jerome Cemetery). A long term resident of Clonsilla, Lily Free died on 31st October after a short illness, and very peacefully, in the presence of her family. Her family have paid tribute to the devoted care of the staff at the ICU at James Connolly Memorial Hospital at Blanchardstown. We extend our sympathy to and remember in our prayers all of Lily's family - especially her sisters Eva (Keating), Dorrie (Styles) and Vera (Barr) and her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and wider circle of family, friends and neighbours. May Lily rest in peace.
Sympathy: We also extend our sympathy to the Rev'd Stella Mikhail, formerly our student reader, on the recent death of her mother, and assure her of our prayers. Our sympathy also goes to Joan Whitehead on the death of her sister Silvia May Simms from Sandymount and her brother-in-law Ronnie Peskey of Adare.
Congratulations to the two new arrivals at Clonsilla: Alan (born on 11th November to George and Carol Reid), and Max Thomas Clark (born on 14th November to Iain and Donna Greeenway).
Thanks be to God.
10th DUBLIN COMPANY
THE BOYS' BRIGADE
St. Brigid's Church
Castleknock
(in aid of 10th Dublin)
will take place on
Saturday 1st February, 2003
At
Castleknock Parish Centre
Music by: 5th Avenue
Supper by: Clarke's Catering
Tickets available from:
Robert Lawson , Martha Waller
Laurence O'Reilly , Hal McGuckin
Ruby Bannister , Janet Seaman
Bernard Sheridan , Sean Skehan
Donations of Spot Prizes would be greatly appreciated
Boys' Brigade News
The Anchor Boy Squad of the month for October was the "A Squad". This is a monthly award for Manners, Behaviour and Enthusiasm (MBE). Anchor Boy Leaders choose each month which squad are to be the winners. Members of the "A Squad" are David Duffy, Darragh McKiernan, Luke Henshaw, Andrew McCabe, Pearse Dolan, Darrin Barr and Stephen Lynch.
Anchor Boys enjoyed a fun night on 22nd October for Halloween. Some lovely drawings were done by them and these decorated St. Brigid's for our Enrolment Service. Some talent was evident when the Anchor Boys joined with Junior Section to sing the "choir piece" at the service.
Junior Section boys are busy working towards their achievement badges. We played a friendly against the 11th Company, which was hugely enjoyable even though we didn't win. The Tuesday night indoor soccer league is a tremendous success with games keenly contested. Third year boys attended the BB Challenge.com on Saturday 9th November where they had a wonderful time.
The Company Section boys continue to use their meeting time to play board games, chat and have a good time. A number of boys went on a hill walk around Bray Head in poor weather conditions but it didn't dampen the spirits of the participants.
The whole company are looking forward to their Enrolment Service on Sunday 17th November, 2002. All 52 boys will be participating in the service including a choir piece under the direction of "choirmaster" Bernard.
Looking ahead:
Christmas Fair - 7th December - please donate books to us for the BB Book Stall.
10th Dublin Company - Annual Supper Dance (in aid of 10th Dublin) will take place on Saturday 1st February 2003 in Castleknock Parish Centre, Main Street, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Music by: 5th Avenue Supper by: Clarke's Catering. Tickets available from: The Parish Office, Martha Waller Secretary
Girls' Brigade News
We are back in full swing and are very busy at present. We welcome Sub-Officer Jean Henry from Sligo Girls' Brigade. Jean is nursing in The Adelaide & Meath Hospital in Tallaght, and we are delighted to have her join us on Wednesday evenings.
Good Luck to the girls entering the G.B. Feis on Saturday 9th November. We have girls from Explorers, Juniors and a Brigader taking part. The Explorers are taking part in the Verse Speaking competition on Saturday 30th November.
Our Enrolment Service will take place on Sunday 24th November at 11:30a.m.
Ros Garrett
Mothers Union
We did say on our programme "Out on the Town" on Monday 6th January 2003.
Well...........as at the time of writing - don't know where, don't know when.
But............by the time you receive your Parish News we should know more and you should know more.
So................."Out on the Town" we will be.
On Monday 3rd February 2003 we will be back in the Castleknock Room of the Parish Centre and Mrs Carys Morrow will speak to us on "Bereavement - A Christian Perspective" Valerie Greene - Hon. Secretary.
Table Tennis Club
Our Club Night is on Mondays from 8:00p.m. to 11:00p.m. for practice in the Parish Centre, and we play in the United Churches League.
New members are very welcome, so don't be a couch potato, give it a try you may enjoy it. Table tennis is the most popular racquet sport in the world. So just drop down on the night or phone me for further details.
Walter Meara - Hon. Secretary.
Operation Christmas Child:
The shoebox campaign was again willingly taken up by children in Castleknock N.S. as well as parishioners in the pews. Over 100 boxes were filled and sent off (under the auspices of Samaritans Purse) to help make Christmas special for deprived children in eastern Europe and elsewhere.
December at a glance:
Sat 7th - Christmas Fayre; Sun 15th - Pathfinders Kriskindle Party 6.15pm; ed 18th - Tues 24th - Xmas Eve Eucharist 11.30pm St Brigid's; Wed 25th - Xmas Day; Thurs 26th - St Stephen, also Parish Hockey 12 noon; Fri 27th - St John; Sat 28th - Holy Innocents; Sun 29th - Christmas 1, 7pm Carols by Candlelight at St Thomas.
Looking forward to January and beyond:
Wed 1st Jan: Eucharist at 10.30am at St Brigid's to mark the Naming of Jesus (and the New Year).
Mon 6th Jan: Eucharist at 10.30am at St Mary's to mark the Feast of the Epiphany.
18th-25th Jan is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; there will be a simple ecumenical service of scripture and prayer, including silent prayer, at 8pm-8.30 pm each night in a different church. Also on the weekend Sat 18th and Sun 19th, our clergy will arrange the now traditional pulpit swap with our neighbouring clergy.
Sun 1st Feb: Annual Supper Dance in aid of 10th Dublin BB Company (at Parish centre). Music by 5th Avenue; supper by Clarke's Catering. Tickets available from the Parish Office.
Readings for Sunday Services in December and January:
2nd December Isaiah 2: 1-5
Advent Sunday Psalm 122
Romans 13: 11-14
Matthew 24: 36-44
9th December Isaiah 11: 1-10
Advent 2 Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19
Romans 15: 4-13
Matthew 3: 1-12
16th December Isaiah 35: 1-10
Advent 3 Psalm 146: 4-9
James 5: 7-10
Matthew 11: 2-11
23rd December Isaiah 7: 10-16
Advent 4 Psalm 80: 1-7, 16-18
Romans 1: 1-7
Matthew 1: 18-25
24th December Isaiah 62: 6-12
Christmas Eve Psalm 97
Midnight Eucharist Titus 3: 4-7
Luke 2: 1-20 (or 8-20)
25th December Isaiah 9: 2-7
Christmas Day Psalm 96
Titus 2: 11-14
Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20)
30th December Isaiah 63: 7-9
Christmas 1 Psalm 148
Hebrews 2: 10-18
Matthew 2: 13-23 |
6th January Isaiah 60: 1-6
Epiphany Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3: 1-12
Matthew 2: 1-12
13th January Isaiah 49: 1-7
Epiphany 2 Psalm 40: 1-11
MISSION SUNDAY I Corinthians 1: 1-9 as they might be altered
John 1: 29-42 } for a Mission theme
20th January Isaiah 9: 1-4
Epiphany 3 Psalm 27: 1, 5-13
Week of Prayer for 1 Corinthians 1: 10-18 Christian Unity Matthew 4: 12-23
27th January Micah 6: 1-8
Epiphany 4 Psalm 15
Septuagesima 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31
Matthew 5: 1-12 |
WANTED - USED POSTAGE STAMPS
When all those Christmas cards start pouring through the letterbox, don't forget to keep the stamps from the envelopes as used stamps can raise money towards Christian Mission. So far, in 2002 we raised 36 for Crosslinks, so many thanks to those of you who have been collecting stamps for me.
Irish stamps, especially any commemorative ones, and all Christmas stamps are particularly sought after by our dealer. As are Euro stamps, and any high value stamps (such as you would find on a parcel). But all stamps are welcome.
SERVICES FOR DECEMBER
Every Wednesday: Holy Communion at 10.30 a.m. in Parish Centre
Sun. 1st Dec ADVENT SUNDAY
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Eucharist St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
Sun. 8th ADVENT 2
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Sung Mattins St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Sung Mattins St. Brigid's Castleknock
Sun 15th ADVENT 3
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Eucharist St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. School Carols St. Brigid's Castleknock
8.00 p.m. Night Prayer St. Thomas's Mulhuddart
Sun 22nd ADVENT 4
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Service of Word St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Service of Word St. Brigid's Castleknock
Sun. 29th CHRISTMAS 1
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Eucharist St. Mary's Clonsilla
7,00 p.m Candlelit Carols St. Thomas's Mulhuddart
SERVICES FOR JANUARY
Every Wednesday: Holy Communion at 10.30 a.m. in Parish Centre
Sun. 5th CHRISTMAS 2
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Eucharist St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
Mon 6th EPIPHANY
10.30 Eucharist St. Mary's Clonsilla
Sun. 12th EPIPHANY 1
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Sung Mattins St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Sung Mattins St. Brigid's Castleknock
7.00 p.m. Healing Service St. Brigid's Castleknock
Sun. 19th EPIPHANY 2
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Eucharist St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
8.00 p.m. Unity Prayers St. Thomas's Mulhuddart
[for other services in Christian Unity Weeks 18th-25th Jan. see page 7]
Sun. 26th EPIPHANY 3
8.30 a.m. Eucharist St. Brigid's Castleknock
10.00 a.m. Service of Word St. Mary's Clonsilla
11.30 a.m. Service of Word St. Brigid's Castleknock
