United Service New Year's Eve in Straffan 10.15 - No services in Newcastle or Celbridge!

NOTE: Sunday 31st December - No services in Newcastle or Celbridge - UNITED SERVICE in Straffan at 10.15

Christmas Services 2017

Christmas services 2017

Sunday 17th December: 9 Lessons & Carols in St. Finian's Newcastle-Lyons @ 4pm


Christmas Eve: Carols around the Christmas Tree with Hot chocolate and mince pies - Christ Church Celbridge @ 4pm


Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve Eucharist - Christ Church Celbridge @ 11.30pm (23.30)


Christmas Day: All services Holy Communion - St. Finian's Newcastle-Lyons 9am, Straffan Church 10.15 & Christ Church Celbridge 11.30am

Christmas Whist Drive - 1st December

Change of Plans - Advent Carols!

PLEASE NOTE: The Advent Carol Service previously scheduled for Sunday 3rd December in Christ Church Celbridge at 4pm will NOT take place - The usual Sunday morning service at 11.30 will include traditional Advent hymns - Apologies for the late notice.

Christmas Fair Saturday 25th November

Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal - Can you help?

Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal 

We will be putting together the shoeboxes in Celbridge church on the 12th of November 2017 at 11:30 a.m. We would be really grateful to see as many children and adults as possible to help us with this. 

We have left Team Hope boxes in the back of each of the churches and would hugely appreciate donations of shoeboxes, toys, teddies, sweets, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small clothing items, hats, scarfs, copy books, pens, pencils etc, or if you would like to sponsor the delivery cost of a parish shoebox the cost of this is €4-00.

If anybody has any free time during the month of November to help us in the sort centre please contact Claire on 086 0640547. A huge thanks again to the parishioners who helped us last year.

Diocesan Synod Report

Click here for report on recent Diocesan Synod - Parish reps were Robert Moody (Straffan), John Lougheed (Celbridge) and Geoffrey McMaster (Newcastle-Lyons) along with the rector.

Songs of Praise - 12th November - Straffan Church

Sunday 12th November - 3.30pm - Songs of Praise in Straffan Church of Ireland - If you have a favourite hymn please put it in the comments or email stephen.neill@gmail.com and we will include as many favourites as possible
This service marks the culmination of our recent roof repairs and is a celebration and thanksgiving for all the support we have received from parishioners and friends and neighbours in the wider community.  

September Parish Whist Drive

Harvest Thanksgiving Services

Straffan Harvest: Sunday 15th October at 3.30pm (Preacher Rev'd Canon Aisling Shine)

Celbridge Harvest: Sunday 29th October at 11.30 - Also joint 5th Sunday Service.
Preacher: Mr Geoff Scargill, Head of Charitable Services at Protestant Aid

Pet Blessing Service - Sunday 8th October @ Christ Church Celbridge

Farewell Ms. Downey

Some pics from the recent Retirement assembly for Brid Downey who was a much valued member of staff at Primrose Hill (our parish school) for 10 years - She will be greatly missed! We wish Brid a long and healthy retirement. Staff and Students alike paid tribute to Brid's generous good humour and her care for the whole school community. 

Farewell to Fr Aidan

At a packed farewell reception last night in Newcastle-Lyons the Rector, on behalf of the parishioners of St. Finian's Church of Ireland parish made a presentation to Fr. Aidan Kieran CC St. Finian's Catholic parish who has been appointed Administrator of Castledermot. Fr Aidan will be greatly missed and has been a very good ecumenical neighbour and a good friend to the parish. We wish him every blessing in his new appointment. The presentation from the parish included a framed photo (see below) which marks the shared Good Friday Way of the Cross in which Fr Aidan alongside Mr Geoffrey McMaster was a driving force. Thanks to Mr Tony Waldron who took the photo of the Church and combined it with the Good Friday inset photo taken by Mr Geoffrey McMaster who also took the photo of the presentation ceremony. The parish also gave Fr Aidan a cheque to buy something of his choosing for his new home.

Results and Prizewinners of Church Connections Quizsheet

Many thanks to Lilian Webb for devising this quizsheet and well done to all who entered.

Vintage Afternoon Tea & Garden Party

The Vintage afternoon tea and garden party in Straffan Steam Museum and gardens today was a great success - Thanks to Dee Huddleston, Shirley Dunlop  and Matt Black  especially who worked so hard to produce a really enjoyable afternoon for an attendance of well over 150 people - We are indebted to the Guinness family for allowing us the use of their facilities. Thanks also to all the helpers and bakers who contributed to the day and to those who donated raffle prizes. Thanks too to Fiona from Bella Mia Boutique in Celbridge who judged the Best dressed lady and gent and the best hat. Winners were Jackie Taylor for best dressed lady and Lucy Jones for best hat - - Pics Lilian Webb & Rev Stephen

See link below for photos of the event

Photos

Straffan Roof Table Quiz

Quiz in aid of Straffan Church roof fund - open to all - you can print off this image or if want one emailed to you leave a request in the comments with your email address or email stephen.neill@gmail.com - Thanks to Quiz author Lilian Webb

Parish Outing to Powerscourt - July 2017

A great day was enjoyed by parishioners and friends in the beautiful grounds and gardens of the Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow on Thursday 6th July - Many thanks to Esther Lougheed and Rebecca Taylor who organised a very enjoyable outing.

See the photos by clicking HERE

Straffan Church Roof Fundraising Event - Garden Viewing - Prospect House Straffan

Straffan Church - Closed until Sunday 11th June

Note: Straffan Church will remain closed this Sunday (4th June) but will reopen for worship on Sunday 11th June. Thank you to everyone for your patience during the works on the church roof

Parish Sponsored walk in Glendalough - in aid of Roof Repair Fund

 

A great day in Glendalough today - All walkers completed the 9k walk and enjoyed lovely weather and good company. See more pics here: https://goo.gl/photos/2GxCzwwGfEevKFpy7

Sunday School Coffee Morning in aid of Straffan Church Roof Repair Fund

Next Sunday 21st May - Sunday School Coffee Morning after 11.30 service in Christ Church Celbridge - In aid of Straffan Church Roof Repair Fund

Presentation by Dee Huddleston on Christian Aid visit to India

Leading into Christian Aid Week (14th 20th May) Dee Huddleston of Straffan parish gave a very interesting and moving presentation following her recent visit to India with Christian Aid. She will be giving the presentation again next Sunday in St Finian's Church Newcastle-Lyons at 9am and Christ Church Celbridge at 11.30am. There will be coffee after the service in Celbridge - All welcome at either service 

Straffan Church closed for roof repairs

Straffan Church will be closed for at least two Sundays (14th and 21st) due to essential roof repairs - Watch this space for updates - Alternative services in Newcastle Lyons at 9am or Celbridge at 11.30 

Team Hope Table Quiz

Presentation to Linda Daly for her work as Slip Hall Administrator

After the United service in Christ Church Celbridge on Sunday 30th April a presentation was made to Linda Daly to mark her retirement as Slip Hall Administrator. Wardens from all three churches and the Buildings Committee presented Linda with a drawing of the hall, the work of local artist and parishioner June Lanigan and a cheque was also presented as a token of our appreciation as a parish for all that Linda has done to promote and improve the hall facility in recent years.

Easter Vestry - Newcastle Lyons

Easter Vestry for Newcastle Lyons is Wednesday 3rd May at 8pm in St. Finian's Church - All welcome

1st Car Boot Sale of 2017

Saturday, 29th April

·       FRESH Home made produce - cakes, jams, breads

·       Crafts - jewellery, giftware, hand-made cards, books, toys

·       Potted plants, crafts, DIY supplies, home furnishings

Location: Church of Ireland grounds, Straffan, Co Kildare

Time:  

ü Sellers - Gates open at 7:30 o'clock and we finish off from 1:30 pm. onwards  No vans or traders.

ü Public - 9:00am - 2:00 pm

FOR YOUR DIARY

Straffan Market & Boot Sale 2017 Dates

13-May; 27-May; 10-Jun; 24-Jun; 08-Jul; 22-Jul; 05-Aug; 19-Aug; 02-Sep; 16-Sep; 30-Sep; 02-Dec. - Christmas Market 

Easter Vestry Celbridge & Straffan

Annual Easter Vestry Meeting for Celbridge & Straffan is tonight, Thursday 27th April at 8pm in the Slip Hall, Celbridge. All welcome.

United Service on Sunday 30th April

This Sunday (30th April) is a 5th Sunday and there will only be one service in the parish. It will be a Holy Communion service in Christ Church Celbridge at 10.15am. 
NOTE: No services in Newcastle or Straffan!

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES

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

Well Done Primrose Hill!

Well we didn't win but the kids did us proud 😊 Our choir was formed specially for this competition and they were right up there with the best of well established school choirs in the United Diocese. Not only that but our choir entered in the more challenging Part-Singing Competition and their harmonies were beautiful. Special thanks to their director Liz Butler (Principal) and their accompanist Laura O'Neill. The pictures show the choir performing their songs: My Lord What a morning (trad) & El Condo Pasa (Simon & Garfunkel) and the choir being presented with their certificate from the Archbishop. A great evening and a very proud school and parish community. 😊




More pics here from Diocesan Communications officer Lynn Glanville - click link below:

https://www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough/posts/1284268228275885

Diocesan Schools Choir Competition

Best wishes to pupils from Primrose Hill school, Celbridge (Our parish national school) who are competing in the Diocesan School Choirs competition in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin this evening (2nd April) - News of the event to follow later

Clocks change this weekend!

A request for help

Ciaran's cousin is a parishioner in our parish - if you can make a donation it would be greatly appreciated - we pray for Ciaran and his family as they work to get him home in terribly difficult circumstances

https://www.gofundme.com/jvaap6-bring-ciaran-home

Mothering Sunday - 26th March 2017

Services in St. Finian's Newcastle - Lyons @ 9am, 

Straffan Church @ 10.15 

and Christ Church Celbridge @ 11.30

Note: Sunday School at the 11.30 service in Christ Church, Celbridge

Spring Sale - 8th April - 11am-2pm - Slip Hall, Celbridge

Our parish school marching in Celbridge St Patrick's Day Parade

Primrose Hill NS as 'Castletown Gates'

Well done to all the kids and their parents who turned out despite the typical Irish weather 

Whist Drive - 31st March

Extracts from current parish Newsletter - CSNL News

CSNL News March April 2017

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!

Pilgrim Faith Development Course - The Commandments

Commencing Thursday 16th March 

@ 8pm in Primrose Hill School, Celbridge

This is the 3rd module in the Pilgrim Course which we have been following in the parish for the last couple of years - This time the subject is the 10 Commandments. All are welcome - Contact Rev Stephen for further info 087-2328172 / stephen.neill@gmail.com

Note - Not meeting next week - next session will be announced here

Our Churches

Christ Church Celbridge

Straffan Church

St. Finian's Newcastle-Lyons

St. Patrick's Day 2017

A Service of Holy Communion will be celebrated in Christ Church, Celbridge at 11am on Friday 17th March to commemorate the feast day of our Patron Saint. All are welcome!