From the Rector:
Lent has just begun and in these days of pilgrimage we as Church
accompany Jesus through his own passion, death and ultimately his
Resurrection. It is a story filled with action and tension, as
dramatic and as extraordinary as any thriller you will watch in the
cinema or on your Netflix box. The events of Holy Week are filled with
suspense, fear, pain, terror, surprise, revelation and will culminate
in unspeakable Joy.
So how do we reflect that in our worship? How can we make
our worship more real? One way is to add a little drama and so this
year as part of our Easter ceremonies we will hold a vigil on Holy
Saturday(Easter Eve) in Straffan Church and it will commence with
lighting the Easter fire outside the Church. We do this outside not
only because the insurance company understandably get very anxious
about people lighting fires inside churches, but principally because
the light is a celebration of the light of the Resurrection and with
it new hope and new beginnings and we want to share that light not
keep it to ourselves. (Please pray for good weather). After the fire
is lit the Paschal Candle (Easter Candle) is lit and carried into the
church for the Easter vigil. So why not come along and share in the
drama of our faith.
Many of our own lives are at times filled with drama and as
we all know those times can easily become times of crisis. The Good
News of Easter is that out of the most deep and dire crisis faced by
the first followers of Jesus, his death on the Cross, God was able to
bring about transformation and a new beginning, a new Hope. If you are
going through a tough time at the moment let God share and transform
that burden and let the light of Easter show you a way forward and a
new beginning. I wish you all a Holy Lent and a very Happy and
dramatic Easter.
Yours, Stephen
Services:St Patrick's Day: 11am Christ Church Celbridge (Holy Communion)
Holy Week:Spy Wednesday 8pm St Finian's Newcastle-Lyons
Holy Thursday 8pm Straffan Church HC
Good Friday:
Way of Cross: 10am Straffan Church to St Brigid's Straffan; 12Noon St
Patrick's Celbridge to Christ Church Celbridge ; 12 Noon St Finian's CofI to St Finian's Roman Catholic Church
8pm: Prayers around the Cross in Christ Church Celbridge
Holy Saturday: 9pm Straffan Church - Easter Vigil with lighting of Easter Fire
Easter Day:
6am Dawn Ecumenical Service Castletown Gates (Refreshments
afterwards in Slip Hall)
9am Newcastle Lyons HC
10.15 Straffan HC
11.30 Christ Church CelbridgeHC
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: It was a great pleasure to welcome
fellow Christians from St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church Celbridge
and Celbridge Christian Church (Pentecostal) to share with us in
marking the week of Prayer. Fr Brian McKittrick and Pastor Paul Carley
joined the rector in leading the worship and musical accompaniment was
provided by the excellent choir and organist from St Patrick's
Celbridge. All who attended were very moved by the liturgy which this
year came from the churches in Germany.
Baptisms:
On Sunday 15th January in Christ Church Celbridge we welcomed
into the family of the Church baby Thomas Robert Stapleton, son of
Robert and Christine and a brother to Molly. We wish Thomas every
blessing in his journey in faith and life.
Confirmation 2017: This year we have a small number for Confirmation,
just two in fact for the parish Confirmation. They are Ruby Tobin and Malachy Mckenna, both of
Celbridge. They are to be confirmed in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
on 4th June. We also pray for all those to be confirmed from the parish in King's Hospital School.
We wish them all well in their preparations.
Bereavements: We extend our sincere sympathy and prayers to Jackie
Finlay of Christ Church Celbridge whose brother Syndey died on 22nd
January after a short illness. His funeral took place on the 26th
January in St Peter's Church of Ireland, Portlaoise.
Whist Drive
On Friday 17th February we had our second parish whist drive in the
Slip Hall and once again it was very well supported. Beginners mixed
with seasoned professionals to enjoy a great night's cards and a
beautiful supper. Special thanks to Rebecca Taylor and Esther Lougheed
who are the driving force behind this new initiative and also all
those who provided the supper including and especially Linda Daly who
served and tidied up the beautiful spread. Thanks also to those who
donated raffle and spot prizes.
EGVs
Celbridge/Straffan: 27th April 8pm in the Slip Hall, Celbridge.
Newcastle-Lyons: 3rd May 8pm in St. Finian's Church, Newcastle.
Please note all are welcome to attend these annual meetings!
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