February 2014
FROM THE RECTOR
As usual, the
build up to Christmas and New Year’s was busy. Early in December I attended the
ITT sports scholarship award in the College and later on that same evening went
to our Bowl’s Club Christmas dinner.
The 14th
of December was the date for the
Tallaght Methodists Carol Service. They lost their minister last year
and said goodbye to their hall administrator Jill Cosgrove at Christmas. I have
had a good deal of involvement with the Tallaght Methodists along with the
chaplain of Mount Seskin Community College
(formerly Jobstown
Community College) Paddy
Doyle so I was sorry to have to say goodbye to Jill.
On December 8th
I was installed as a Canon of Christchurch Cathedral and on Monday 16th I read the 8th Lesson on behalf of
the Chapter at Christchurch Cathedral’s Nine Lessons and Carols, one of my
first duties as a new Canon. I would like to thank everyone for their good
wishes and support on this appointment.
The Marthoma
(our Saturday afternoon Indian congregation) who are in full Anglican Communion
with the Church
of Ireland had their Holy
Communion and Carol Service on Saturday 21st. The Archbishop Right Rev’d Michael Jackson
preached at the service which was followed by their Indian Christmas Dinner.
The following
day we had our Children’s Carol Service at 11.00am with a Nativity Play by the
children from the Good News Club and a piece sung by the Parish School Choir
led by Ms Caroline Rountree. At 7.00pm we had our Nine Lessons and Carols
service with an excellent attendance. I would like to thank Janet Edegly and
the ladies who so beautifully decorated the church for Christmas, it really was
lovely and I would also like to thank the ladies who provided the supper after
the Carol Service, it was very much appreciated.
Christmas week
continued on with a service on Christmas Eve at 11.30pm and with services at 8.30am and 11.00am on Christmas Day which all
went off well. We had a multicultural service on New Year’s Eve to welcome in
2014. Valerie played the key board with some of the music group and our African
parishioners sang a couple of African songs while we were waiting for the New
Year bells to be tolled. It was a lovely way to welcome in the New Year.
On 4th
January we were again joined by the Archbishop to say goodbye to our Syrian
Orthodox Congregation who had been using Tallaght
Church for almost a decade as they
move to Brookfield
Parish Church.
We wish them well in their new location.
On 20th
January I attended a service in the chapel of Tallaght Hospital
for Christian Unity Week which was held by the hospital Ecumenical Chaplaincy Team
at the start of the week. On the subject of Christian unity, Bishop Eamon Walsh
kindly included me for his lunch for the priests of the area the following
Friday for the second year running.
As many of you
will know by now Valerie broke her hip on Saturday 25th at a women’s
self defence class with Amy. She needed a pin to repair the break and
thankfully not a hip replacement. Thank you to everybody who has shown so much
concern for her with their prayers and good wishes.
God bless
William.
BAPTISM
On Saturday 4th January we had the baptisms of
Sophie Rose and Chloe Isabella daughters of Jonathan and Katya McNaughton. We wish both these children
all of God’s blessings as they begin their Christian lives.
FUNERAL
The funeral of Henry Freemantle took place in St.
Maelruain’s on Wednesday 29th January. We extend our deepest
condolences to his wife Harriet, to his children Gary, Michael and Wendy and to
all his family and friends.
THE CHURCH REVIEW
Subscriptions for the Church Review were due in January.
Thank you to those who have paid. If your sub remains unpaid please forward €40
to the parish office as soon as possible.
CHRISTMAS SING ALONG
It’s seems like a distant memory now, but the Christmas Sing Along was a great success and the sum of
approximately €2000 was raised. Ronnie Scott would like to thank all those who
donated raffle prizes, helped sell tickets, bought
tickets, helped on the stalls, assisted with the mince pies
and beverages, helped set up and tidy up and anyone else who gave up their time
and effort to make this event such a success.
A big thank you to all involved!
MOTHER’S UNION / FAMILIES FIRST
We had our New Year Dinner locally on Monday 13th
January in the Blazin’ Grill – good food, good company, a great evening to
celebrate New Year as a group.
SAOIRSE Jan/Feb donations from members: Kitchen Towels/Black
plastic sacks.
On Monday 10th February at 8pm Alice Leahy
Director and co-founder of TRUST, a non-judgemental, befriending, social and
health service for people who are homeless will speak to us. This meeting is open to all, please come and
bring a friend.
Trust have a “wish
list. Second hand clothes, clean, ready to wear:
Men: Jeans Waist
30/32/34 only. Shoes/Runners: Sizes 7/8/9/10/11.
Ladies: Jeans – All
sizes. Shoes Runners: All sizes.
For both men and
women: T-shirts; jumpers; fleeces/hoodies; shirts; tracksuits; anoraks; Towels.
Maybe this would be an incentive to sort those
wardrobes? Please drop donations into
church porch or to Valerie. Thank You – we appreciate your help.
On Monday 10th March Sean Kennan will speak to us
on Kilmainham Jail.
Tea Ladies: February: Janet Edgely& Noelle Lewis
Tea Ladies: March: Regina
Donoghue & Carol Laughlin
THE BOY’S BRIGADE
Happy New Year everybody. We have resumed after
the Christmas break, with planning starting for our annual display in April.
Please note the new finishing time for company section will be 10.00 pm on
Friday nights. Preparations are taking place for various district competitions.
Arrangements are being made for company and junior sections to visit the
Curragh Military Camp museum at the end of February and we look forward to
seeing a full turn out from those sections.
TABLE TENNIS
We are back in full swing on Thursdays at 8 pm,
with tables busy all night. There is still plenty of room for more players. It
doesn't matter whether you're a beginner or experienced player, you will be
guaranteed a fun night followed by tea and biscuits so that you won't be
worried about the calories you may have lost! We are in the Parish Centre from
8 to 10 on Thursday night.
Why not give it a try?
ST.
MAELRUAIN’S FLOWER FESTIVAL
As you came to Church this morning , you will
have noticed that work has begun on the roof of the stables, which has been in
need of attention for some years. This project is being funded entirely from
the proceeds of St. Maelruain's Flower Festival and we are looking forward to
seeing the completed works in a few weeks.
We hope everybody will enjoy the Spring flowers
that should be emerging shortly around the Parish Centre and in the flower
beds. These flowers were supplied by the Flower Festival committee last
September, when we planted in the region of 300 snowdrops and daffodils as
a reminder of the the festival and the great
week end we all enjoyed.
In order to preserve them from year to year, we
would love to see everybody taking care not to walk on them or park on them.
It was a terrific event, made possible by your
co operation and help. Thank you all again.
Regina Donoghue . Flower Festival Committee
FUNDRAISING
After the great
success of the Flower Festival last year not only financially but also
socially, has anybody in the parish any NEW
ideas for raising much needed funds for the parish??
CRAFTY CHATTERS
The Crafty Chatters are meeting on Tuesday 4th
December at 2.15pm in the small hall. Please come and join us for an
afternoon of chat, crafts, good company and fun. All Welcome!
PARISH COFFEE MORNING - 28th February, 10.30am - 12.30pm.
Another
chance to stop, take some time out, and smell the coffee! We have
received very nice compliments on the lovely aroma of coffee as you enter the
door and the freshly baked cakes served at our Coffee Mornings and we thank
everyone for their kind comments. Thank you to all who come and support
the coffee mornings, but there is always room for more to come. All are invited
to join us on the last Friday of the month.
