FROM
THE RECTOR Tallaght’s
Christian Unity Week Service took place in St. Thomas’ RC Church, Jobstown on
Sunday 19th January. The preacher was Rev. Andrew Kingston from
Methodist Centenary Church who spoke to us about St. Paul arriving to Malta.
Andrew brought his sermon to life with a slide show of pictures he had taken on
holidays in Malta of the sites St. Paul visited while on the island. The
service was organised by Saule Cameron, St. Thomas’ pastoral worker who is
originally from Lithuania. Saule’s parents were a ‘mixed’ marriage and Saule
herself is married to a Scottish Presbyterian so Christian Unity is very much
in Saule’s make up. It was a lovely service which was enhanced by the fact that
Saule is a gifted musician.
I attended the inaugural launch for
the visit of the worlds largest floating book shop ‘Lagos’ on Saturday 1st
February. The ship will be docked in Dublin Port from 17th – 30th
June. At present the only outlet in Dublin for Christian books is ‘Foot Prints’
in Dun Laoghaire so in this ‘internet era’ having ‘Lagos’ visiting Dublin will
give people an opportunity to handle
Christian books as well as look at different versions of the Bible. The ship
also stocks educational books and family books, well worth a visit and a date
to put in your diary.
I attended the
launch of BACI’s Lenten course, on
the very current topic, ‘Caring for the Garden of the Earth’ which we will be
using in St. Maeruain’s on Wednesday mornings at 10am from 4th March for the five weeks of
Lent.
We had a visit
from St. Maelruain’s School, Old Bawn on 17th January for a tour of
the church and grounds and on 6th February a secondary school
student from Firhouse Community School, accompanied by a parent, came to visit
the church in relation to a school project. I talked on the history of the
church and explained the Church of Ireland’s ethos through the internal
architecture of the church.
On Sunday 26th
January I went to the Holocaust Memorial Day in the Mansion House. I make the
effort to attend this event every year and especially so this year, the 75th
anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz to remind myself of just how
horrific the Holocaust was. It is something that has haunted me all my life;
how a civilized society like Germany, albeit suffering the consequences of WW1
war debt, could be whipped up into hatred of their fellow citizens by Hitler’s
‘fake news’. I wrote a piece for our local Newspaper for Christmas, voicing my
concern for the rise of the right and the lie of racism that we are not ALL
God’s Children.
‘Now and
Then’ The Christian Musical Drama group which the parish has been associated
with for a long number of years with parishioners taking part in their
productions both on stage and behind stage
had a fundraiser for their 30th anniversary production on
Friday 21st March in The
Brass Monkey which I attended. Their 30th anniversary production is
‘Jesus Christ, Supper Star’ and will run from 24th – 27th
March in the Priory, it promises to be a great show!
God bless William
LENTEN
COURSE
We will be using the Biblical Association of the Church of Ireland’s
Lenten course, on the very current topic, ‘Caring for the Garden of the Earth’
on Wednesdays, 10am starting 4th
March for the five remaining weeks of Lent.
The Series covers the topics the following
topics, Week 1: ‘What must we do to
perform the works of God?’ (John 6.28). Week 2: ‘Supposing Him to be the gardener’
(John 20: 15). Week 3: ‘My Father is still working and I also am working’ (John
5: 17) Week 4: ‘God, the lover of life’ (Wis. 12:1). ‘Jesus feeds five thousand people’ (John 6: 1
– 14).
WOMEN’S
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE
Takes place in St. Thomas’ Jobstown on Friday 6th
March at 7.30pm with supervised car park. Theme: Zimbabwe
ST.
PATRICK’S DAY Holy Communion
service at 11.00am
MOTHERING
SUNDAY this year falls on 22nd
March, an opportunity to show your mum how much you care!
THE
CLOCK SPRINGS FORWARD on
Sunday 29th March, the Sunday after Mothering Sunday.
EASTER VESTRY The
Easter Vestry (Parish AGM) will take place this year on the Sunday following Easter 21st April after a shortened Holy Communion
Service. This is an opportunity for you to have your say in the running of the
parish.
SUMMER
SALE The date for the SUMMER SALE has been
set for 9th May. Ronnie
Scott, who has organised the SALE for many years had decided to step back. We
are very grateful to Ronnie for all the work he put into the SALE over the
years. A stall holders meeting will take
place in the Long Room of the Parish Centre on Thursday 19th March
at 8pm to plan for the SALE on 9th May. Please
contact the Rector if you are unable to attend on 086 803 0239. The SUMMER SALE
is one of our main fundraisers of the year, if you are not a stall holder but
would like to volunteer or if you have ideas on how to make the SALE a success,
PLEASE come along.?
CONFIRMATION
Our Confirmation Service this year takes place
in Christchurch Cathedral on 31st May (Pentecost Sunday, the arrival
of the Holy Spirit) at 3.30pm. If you are interested in having your child
Confirmed please contact William 086 803 0239
TAIZE VINE SERVICE
We continue to have a Taize
service on 4th Saturday of
each month, as
part of the local Vine initiative and everybody is welcome. This
month the service takes place on 28th March. We were grateful to
David Gibson (a parishioner) who lead our service on Saturday 22nd
February.
MOTHER’S UNION / FAMILIES FIRST
We
had a great turn out on Monday 10th
February for our meeting which was Janet and Regina giving us a
wonderful flower arranging demonstration. It was really terrific and showed us
how to make beautiful creations from small to elaborate. At the end they were
kind enough to raffle the arrangements so lots of people went home with a
lovely creation. So thank you once again Janet and Regina for a great night and
all the work you put into the evening is much appreciated.
Our
March meeting will be on Monday 9th March in the Main hall at 8pm when the
branch will be hosting a Diocesan event when we will be having a talk on how to
support the bereaved. This event is open to all so feel welcome to come along.
We are looking forward to welcoming a good crowd to this event.
Tea
rota this month is Iris Harley and Yvonne McGlynn, but as we will have a large
number this month it would be appreciated if everyone could bring along a
packet of biscuits and give a hand if needed. Saoirse are looking for black
bags.
Our
AGM and Bring and Buy sale is on Monday 6th April (a week earlier
that usual due to the following Monday being Easter Monday). Thanks very much. Valerie
BOWLS CLUB
TABLE TENNIS
BOYS BRIGADE - Suspended for lockdown
If anyone has a boy that may be
interested in joining Boy’s Brigade please
come on down we would love to have them.
Friday evenings: Anchors 7pm – 8:00pm
Juniors
7pm - 8:30pm Company
7pm - 9pm.
GIRLS BRIGADE - Suspended for lockdown
The
Girls Brigade are busy rehearsing for a number of National and District
competitions, in both team and solo dance categories and are putting the
finishing touches to entries for National Arts and Crafts Competitions. Fingers
Crossed! Following all of that our annual Company Display will take place on
April 25th at 3pm in the Parish Hall. All are welcome!
Fiona
WHIST DRIVE
Suspended
for lockdown
CRAFTY CHATTERS
We will
have only one meeting of Crafty chatters in March on Tuesday 3rd due
to our scheduled second date falling on St. Patrick’s Day. We meet from 2pm
-4pm in the Small Hall. Bring along whatever craft you are working on or learn
a new one!
PARISH COFFEE MORNING
Suspended for lockdown
CROSSROADS
is a C of I Social Club for those in their 20’s & 30’s and a
little older….They meet on the last Friday of the month in Buswells Hotel,
Molesworth Street, Dublin. For details contact David on 085 7272 019. Follow
them on Facebook, to join Crossroads
Group, please send message request to Valerie
Raitt Thomas or Beryl Healy.
