Spring is
close and the hope of brighter mornings and evening is anticipated.
I hope that
in the coming months there is will be greater will to support our parish.
Last night (26th
January), I attended a lovely parish dinner, followed by entertainment provided
by talented parishioners of Cashel Union of Parishes. I was there as a
parishioner.
We tried to
organise such an event a little while ago and the lack of enthusiasm was disappointing;
not just to me but to those fellow parishioners who looked forward to us
getting together socially and to get to know each other better.
Our parish
BBQ will take place at the Rectory on Sunday, 24th June 2018 and I
do hope may will try to attend who may not have yet in previous years.
Bishop
Michael will be with us in Fethard (9.30am) & Old St Marys (11am) on Sunday
4th February and again on Sunday 22nd April for
Confirmation (Old St Marys @11am). Being there on 22nd April is of
the utmost importance. Our young people need to be supported and encouraged. We
need to worship and socialise together. Otherwise we will die as a parish and
then we would forever bemoan our loss!!
It's time to
reflect, reassess and start rebuilding!!
Barbara
Envelopes & Assessment – This scheme only works if every envelope is filled whether
you are in Church or not! If you need to indicate where the contents of an
envelope needs to go; please write “collect” or “Asses” on the back of the
envelope. Please, do not attach other pieces of paper which can come loose!
St
Paul's – During the
coming weeks hundreds of lowgrowing roses will be planted at the back of the
church and should provide an attractive view from the river below. The Haha
project is in progress at the moment. The walls have been cleaned and the steps
that will give access out of it will be very welcome to those who, in the past,
have walked up from the river only to find they cannot get out to complete a
circular tour of the town.
The
Presbyterian and Pentecostal congregations have returned to worship in the
Presbyterian Church.
List
of Vestrymen – A
meeting of the Select Vestry will take place on Tuesday, 20th February in the Rectory @8.00pm for the
purpose of updating the list of Vestrymen. This will be the only items on
the agenda. All parishioners who have subscribed (either by donation or envelopes)in
the past year are entitled to be part of this this body who will meet in Easter
Week to elect from their number the Select Vestry for the coming year. Forms;
which all must sign, will be available in the churches during the coming week
and on the night.
General
EasterMeeting – Will take place in Old St Mary's Church, Clonmel on @ 8.00pm on
Thursday, 5th April @ 8.00pm – all registered Vestrymen (sorry, the
title has not been changed since Disestablishment in 1870) are welcome to
attend. This important meeting elects the Select Vestry for the coming year.
Concerts - The Koln
Philharmonia will return
to perform
in Old St Marys in early August.
Whist Drives – Numbers have been
small so far this season.
Beginners and players of all levels welcome. Our next one takes place in the Sisters of Charity
Hall (opposite Old St Mary's) on
Friday, 9th February @ 8.00pm
Congratulations
– To Josh &
Sheila (nee Hunter) Lamb on the birth of Grace in Dublin. Congratulations also
to grandparents and the wider family.
Fas &
Tus – We have a
number of participants doing various things in Clonmel, Tullameelan and
Marlifield. Our newest participant is completing the digitisation of our parish
records. He is making excellent progress and this will help us preserve the
original registers. Most of the genealogical work I do do is by email for those
who cannot come to Ireland from all parts of the world!
The Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity
This happens
every year for eight days in January. In my early days in this parish, it
happened with a Service of the Word in the Clonmel area. The enthusiasm for
Church praying for Christ Unity died some years ago in many area.
It has never
been more important for Christians to pray and work in the cause of being one
in Christ – not one denomination but a family of Churches united in one cause;
prayer and fellowship.
Last
Wednesday this deficit was ended in Cahir. A not very large congregation with a
substantial local choir and students from Colaiste Dun Iascaigh gathered in St
Maty's Church at the invitation of Fr Tom Rogers PP. We were joined by Fr
Celesius of the Coptic congregation.We sang well known hymns with gusto and
joyfully and prayed together for unity in love and fellowship. I preached
during a Service of the Word; provided by the Churches in the Carribean.
Afterwards we
shared the tea/coffee and goodies at the back of the church.
Hopefully
this will be a new beginning towards a greater understanding and fellowship
between Christian in our widr parish area.
Confirmation
– There are five candidates this year and our classes/discussions continue on
Wednesday afternoons at 4.00pm at the Rectory. Confirmation takes place in Old
St Marys on 22nd April 2018.
CHURCH
SERVICES
|
2018
Feb/March
|
St Pauls, Cahir
9.30am
|
Holy Trinity
Fethard
9.30am
|
Old St Marys
Clonmel
8.30am
11.00am
|
Tullaghmeelan
11.00am
|
|
Feb
4th
2nd
to Lent
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
|
|
Feb
11th
Sun
to Lent
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C
|
|
Feb
14th
Ash
Wednesday
|
9.00AM
|
EP
@ 7.30PM
|
H.C.
@
10.30AM
|
Worship in other
church
|
|
Feb
18th
Lent
1
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship in other
church
|
|
Feb
25th
Lent
2
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
Service of the Word
|
Worship in other
church
|
|
March
4th
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
H.C.
H.C.
|
Worship in other
church
|
|
March 11th
|
H.C.
|
M.P.
|
H.C.
M.P.
|
H.C.
|
|
Mar 17th
St
Patrick
|
H.C. @
9.30am
|
Tues 16th H.C. @ 7.30pm
|
H.C
@
11.00am
|
Worship in other
church
|
Bishop Michael will celebrate in Fethard and Clonmel on 4th
February 2018
Wednesday Weekday
Service – Service at 10.30am in Old St
Marys – Refreshments afterwards
Your
Prayers – Please
remember those who are unwell, at home & in hospital. At this time we
need to pray, especially, for peace.
Burials – As most of you know, Old St Marys churchyard is closed
to new burials; except for two families who retain a burial right. There are
fees for grave plots which can be viewed in our church porches. There are also
fees for each burial. These fees enable us to maintain our churchyards but the
duty to maintain the actual graves is that of the family. In view of the
growing shortage of space for burials, the County Council, who oversee all
burial grounds, are making it a requirement for parishes who receive grants for
maintenance of burail grounds that, for now on, graves may not be
“booked/allocated” in advance. The availability of burial plots has become an
enormous problem in our local public cemetery!
Sunday Life -This is an hour-long programme on TippFm which is
broadcast from 7- 8am on Sunday mornings. It usually comprises music, reading
and interviews. We keep it light as most of our listeners have just woken up!
Visitors – This is the time of years when people appear at our
church doors to visit or to find
information about their families who once lived in South Tipperary. Some just
turn up but most make appoinments to view registers and see where their
forebears worshipped. It is important that we try to keep our churches open so
that these visitors do not return home disappointed by closed gates and locked
doors! This year is proving to be no exception! Visitors have come from many
parts of our world to see the sights in Cahir, Fethard & Clonmel. One
family came to see Tullameelan.
Tax Relief
– While quite a
number of people took forms last year, our tax relief was one third of that in
the previous year. It is something of a puzzle why people do not partake in
further assisting our parish. The taxman gives charities tax relief for
donations by those whoe pay income tax. It is free money that enables your
parish to meet its costs, it has no effect on your finances. So why is there
such a reluctance to take part in this scheme???? Your receipts & tax relif
forms will be issued in the coming weeks and the completed forms should be returned to me
before the end of March 2018Greeting Cards – Greeting cards with
pictures of all our 5 churches are available in
each church at €2 each. The inside is blank to facilitate personal greeting.
RCB - The
Representative Church Body is our Central Church “Civil Service”. They provide us with information and
assistance in practically every area of parish life. The staff are trained in
Church law and practice. There are some areas where individual dioceses or
parishes do things a little differently; but must do it in accordance with our
Constitution.
Most of our
buildings are vested in this body so that when we need to do major or
structural work on them, we need their permission. This ensures that we do
things properly and do not spend money inappropriately or recklessly.
Monies that
have been left to the Church/parish in wills and bequests are managed by them.
Sometimes Church members have difficulty in accepting that they “manage our
money and property”, but we should always be aware that what we have inherited
and are required to care for, is part of the heritage of the Church of Ireland
as a whole.
We are not an
independent parish but an integral part of a much larger body. The “hierarchy
through which decisions are made with regard to property, legal issues etc
usually follow the following pattern, Select Vestry to Diocesan Council to RCB.
The Diocesan
Council usually only comes into the picture when a parish seeks to spend more
that €20,000 or comes into a category, laid down in our Church's Constitution
as requiring RCB permission.
Yes, we have
legally binding laws and a Constitution by which we must abide.
The Constitution is a very large and
complicated document by which we must all abide. It's interpretation is
contained in our Diocesan Rules or, when we are in doubt, by our Diocesan
Chancellor. During the coming months,
I plan to
write about some aspects of Church life a us Anglicans should know it.
Bio-Diversity Project – This project
at Old St Marys & St Pauls have developed very well in the last year; both
due to dedication of parishioners and CoCo. At Old St Marys; we welcome
contributions of plants for the new areas. Please consult with Bernard
regarding which plants are best for such projects.
Cleaning
& Flowers in our Churches – Please
remember to do what you have volunteered for. And please take your rubbish away
with you. New volunteers are always welcome.
