Winter Fair - Saturday 30th November

The sheets for the raffle will be available 

in the churches next Sunday too. 

Everyone is welcome to take more than one sheet!! 

 

Parish signs up to Open & Welcoming Congregations Charter

 Both of our Select Vestries recently adopted the Open & Welcoming Congregations Charter and this Sunday it was launched by the rector and a number of parishioners along with Changing Attitude Chairperson and Celbridge parishioner Mark Bowyer

CSNL News: Nov-Dec 2024

 

Issue 86 CSNL NEWS         November/December, 2024.

Parish Of Celbridge & Straffan with Newcastle-Lyons

Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough

By the parishioners - for the parishioners

 

From Our Rector - Dear Friends ..

It is the morning of the US Presidential election as I write these notes and a time when many people are holding their breath as they wait to see the outcome, not just in America but throughout the World and that includes Ireland. It is a nervous and uncertain time as the result will have implications for all of us. We too are facing into an imminent election in this country and that will affect us even more immediately than what happens on the other side of the Atlantic. And so there is a lot of uncertainty as to what lies ahead and yet we must keep going and hope and pray for the best.

 

The Christmas story which we are about to enter into once again is also set in the context of instability and uncertainty as we see the humble nature of Jesus’ birth and the subsequent threat to his life and his being forced to flee to Egypt with Joseph and Mary until Herod had died.  And yet out of those fragile and threatening beginnings Christianity was born – it was not and is not meant to be a religion of power or dominance but rather presence and witness especially on the margins of our World communicating God’s Love to all but especially those who are suffering.

 

As Christians by following Jesus we have committed ourselves to live in and on the uncertain margins of our World. It is not the safest place to live but it is the place where God does extraordinary things. May we have the faith to embrace uncertainty and trust that God is closest to us when we feel most vulnerable.

 

Yours                                                                                                               Stephen

 

Straffan Sunday Services Live Streamed

https://www.churchmedia.tv/straffon-church-of-ireland and www.facebook.com/CSNLParish.

 

Church Services

Sunday Newcastle 9 a.m*   Straffan 10.15 a.m.    Celbridge 11.30 a.m.

1^st        Holy Communion  Service of Word       Holy Communion

2^nd        Service of Word    Holy Communion     Service of Word

3^rd        Holy Communion  Morning Prayer        Holy Communion

4^th        Morning Prayer      Holy Communion    Morning Prayer

5^th            29^th December.  United Service.  11 a.m.  Straffan Church.

 

*Services will continue in Newcastle at 10 a.m., on the 1^st Sunday as a permanent change in the Sunday timetable.

 

On Going Events

Craft & Chat:  The Group continue to meet each Tuesday in the Slip Hall at 2.30 p.m.  All are welcome for crafting, chatting and refreshments.

 

Wednesday Night Prayers:  From 8 p.m., to 9 p.m.  At present, they are held in the home of Tony & Elizabeth Waldron in Newcastle.  If anybody would like details they can contact Rev. Stephen or Dee Huddleston.  Everyone is very welcome to come along or to let them know if there is something they would like them to pray about. 

 

Saturday Night Services:  Rev. Stephen hopes to re-launch the services in Christ Church, Celbridge in the New Year.  These are generally quite informal.  It would be great to see some new faces. Also if you play a musical instrument feel free to bring it along.  Refreshments normally follow and time for a chat after the service.

 

Whist Drives:  Come along for great fun, prizes and a tasty supper on the last Fridays of the month at 8 p.m., in the Slip Hall.  Thanks to all who organised and provided refreshments and raffle prizes for those on 27^th September and 25^th October.  The next date is Friday, 29^th November and this will be the Christmas night - so lots of festive fun!

 

Chuckle Time

A lady went into the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards.  “What denomination?” asked the clerk.  “Oh good heavens, have we come to this?” the lady exclaimed.  “Well give me 20 Catholic & 20 Church of Ireland please.”

 

Christmas Fair - Saturday, 30^th November - Primrose Hill School

Put the date in your diary!  This is a joint venture between the three churches and our parish school.  It will be held from 11a.m., to 3 p.m.  

All the usual stalls, teas, a raffle and more and lots for the kids

·     Face painters

·     Santa’s Grotto

·     Elvie Photo booth

·     Personalised Colouring books

 

Church Of Ireland Youth Department Funding Now Available

Youth workers and volunteer youth leaders are strongly encouraged to apply for the above Bursary fund - Next Steps - to boost their skills and bring out their potential.  The closing date for the current round is Saturday, November, 30^th 2024.  Vocational training and development in youth ministry is essential and its impact on the Church can last for generations.  An application form can be had from Barbara Swann, CIYD’s Office Administrator at admin@ciyd.org.

 

WhatsApp Groups

WhatsApp group continues to be very active.  There are also groups specifically for Newcastle and another for Straffan notices – together they provide a very effective means of contact in the parish.

 

Sharing Hope With People Without A Home

Each parish in the Church of Ireland is being encouraged to consider how it can help to overcome homelessness at a local level between Harvest and Christmas.” Homelessness is a rucksack that none of us wants to be carrying”. Archbishop Michael Jackson, Chair of the Church & Society Commission said.  A two page flyer can be downloaded from the Church of Ireland website, gives more information.

 

Straffan Christmas Carol Service

This will be held on Sunday, 15^th December at 3 p.m.  Whilst having a traditional carol service, this year we would like to add something special.  We have a small Ukrainian community living in Straffan, some of which attend our church.  They have also been actively involved with our Market & Carboot Sale over the summer.  This small community arrived last year during 15^th & 17^th December.  During this past year, they have made great efforts to participate and integrate despite the significant language barrier.  At this year’s carol service we would like to combine our traditional service with a flavour of Ukrainian culture and have their participation.  Christmas is a time when everyone is easily preoccupied with their own family arrangements and it can pass others by without any great joy. 

 

In our combined Irish/Ukrainian Carol Service we will have some carols with combined English/Ukrainian verses, some Ukrainian carols and some readings in Ukrainian.  It gives us all an opportunity to share our cultures and celebrate a special occasion together.  After the Carol Service we hope to have an opportunity to mix with our Ukrainian friends and to wish them also a happier Christmas period.

 

There will be more details nearer the time and also on all services during Advent and Christmas on the parish website and Social Media.

 

Kill Senior Citizen’s Christmas Dinner

The Editor has been asked to advertise the above which will be held in Kill GAA Hall on Sunday, 8^th December.  This covers Kill, Ardclough, Straffan parish area & Johnstown.  Further details from Kill Parish Office.

 

Thanks

The Editor omitted to say thanks to all maintaining church grounds and to Dee Huddleston & Geoffrey McMaster for taking services in July, August and September!  Thanks to Dee for taking the service in Straffan on 6^th October and speaking on the work of Christian Aid and also 3^rd November and to both Dee and Geoffrey who took the services when our Rector was preaching at the harvest in Limerick.

 

Baptism

Welcome to Elizabeth Grace Rebekah Huddleston, daughter of James & Rebekah who was baptised in Straffan Church on the 2^nd November. Her Godparents are Ellen Forster, Abbie Forster, Stephen Forster and Nina Huddleston. We wish Elizabeth every blessing in her journey in faith and life.

 

Concerts In Christ Church, Celbridge

Concerts – It has been a very busy couple of months for concerts in Christ Church Celbridge since Abbaesque, Culture Night Traditional Irish Night, Conor McKeown, Sean Keane and a Leonard Cohen tribute with John McKenna.  The next date for the diary is Saturday 21^st December when Conor McKeown returns for a Christmas concert.  Regular concert goers (and parishioners) are very happy to have full length pew cushions in all the pews!

 

All tickets are now up on Eventbrite and also available from Breda - 087-9630719.

 

During his sermon on Sunday, 27^th October, Rev. Stephen, spoke about the concert in Christ Church, Celbridge when John McKenna presented “At War with Mercy” featuring 16 songs written by Leonard Cohen.  John dressed up as a tramp and greeted people at the church, but most passed by.  He then walked up the aisle slowly at the start of the concert, when probably some were thinking was he going to interrupt the concert, when he took to the stand as the presenter.  A lesson in how we perceive people and treat them.  A lesson for all, before our Rector spoke on Blind Bartimaeus and his unorthodox way of being noticed.

 

Remembrance Sunday - 10^th November, 2024.

Thanks to those who supported the Poppy Appeal, poppies being available in all churches on the day.  The Royal British Legion in Ireland would like to thank all who donated last year.  2025 will be the 100^th anniversary of the Legion in the Republic of Ireland.  A special service of Remembrance will be held in the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, Dublin on Saturday, 12^th July. 

 

Market & Carboot 2024 - Looking Back - By Jos Evertsen

It’s hard to believe that we are at the end of our 14^th season.  Another year of the Market & Carboot has gone by.  This year is proving to be THE record year of all.  We hosted 12 events and nearly 800 cars.  Whilst we had a few light showers from time to time, overall we have been blessed with the weather and did not need to cancel any event.  The demand for bookings has been unprecedented.  It was not uncommon to process up to 130 booking requests for 72 places.

 

It has been an interesting year where we tried to introduce a little novelty and variety:-

 

We experimented with creating a CRAFT corner

We had extra help from our Straffan based Ukrainian community.  It gave them an opportunity to integrate and participate in our events, to learn English, to meet people and experience some of our local culture;

Our local Straffan based band ‘No Strings Attached’ entertained us several times;

We hosted our first ‘KIDS MARKET’ very successfully, with a request for more next year;

We sponsored a Stall for the RNLI.  Their efforts contributed to our community awareness of their activities and also supported their fundraising efforts for a new boat in Wexford.

 

Including our new Ukrainian volunteers, this year we have a Team of 49 people.  We are quite a large group, but as we know it takes a lot of people to run our Community Event, everyone taking a few turns over the entire season.  Thanks for your commitment and dedication, we have had a most successful season.  Here are some of the comments that have come back from our regular booters:-

 

.. you are an amazing Team, we feel very secure, there are lovely people, a social every two weeks …

..thanks to all the Team who work to set it all up and assist us as needed …

…thank you all for hosting a great carboot this season …

..we enjoyed all the fun and laughs.  Most successful season so far.  Music and good cheer.  Well done to you and all the Team …

 

Thanks again to everyone for your time and contributions.  A special

thanks to:-

 

Our Team of Bakers.  Without your home baking, we would not be able to run such a successful Tea Stall.  Your donations of baking are greatly acknowledged and appreciated.  We are all well aware that the cost of both baking ingredients and the use of electricity are increasing relentlessly.  On behalf of all of us “THANK YOU!” and

Our Behind The Scenes Team, for putting up and taking down the roadside signs, setting out the roadside cones early on the Saturday morning, managing our rubbish bins, cutting the grass and keeping the grounds, the ‘Staking-Outers’ and those managing the bookings.

 

The total income raised during 2024 was just over €16,000 benefiting the parish with just over €8,000.  To date, since 2011, the parish has benefited just in excess of €76,000! 

 

With your help and support, we can hopefully continue next year.  The shape of the Market and Carboot Event has increasingly become a widespread Community Event with fundraising benefits.  A change from our initial Fundraising Event with local Community benefits.  Looking forward to meeting up again next March to review the Market & Carboot event 2025.  If you have any further ideas or suggestions, please bring them along.  For now, thank you all again.  We wish you well and good health over the next few winter months and until March, 2025.  Best regards.

 

(.. and a HUGE THANK YOU to Jos from all the Parish!)

 

Dublin & Glendalough Magazine - The Church Review

Subscriptions are due on 1^st January - thanks to Elizabeth Waldron (Newcastle-Lyons), Debbie Kelly (Straffan) & Ken Denner (Celbridge) for distributing and to whom subscriptions should be paid. If you do not already receive the bumper packed magazine and would like to do so, please contact the above.

 

Harvest Festivals

The first was held in St. Finian’s Church, Newcastle-Lyons on Sunday, 29^th September, when our Rector was the preacher.  Members of the congregation took part in the readings and prayers, led by Geoffrey  McMaster and thanks too to James Pasley for playing the organ.  The decorations were especially impressive.  The congregation remained in their pews and were served with refreshments.  The collection was for the Bishops’ Appeal.

 

Christ Church, Celbridge celebrated the harvest festival on Sunday, 13^th October, when again the church was beautifully decorated.  It was lovely to have involvement from some of our schoolchildren at the service - leading prayers and assisting our Rector with his sermon.  After the service, the congregation moved to the Slip Hall for refreshments.  The collection again went to Bishops’ Appeal.  Thanks to James Pasley for playing the organ.

 

Sunday, 20^th October was the date for the harvest thanksgiving in Straffan Church, which was also live streamed on the webcam.  The church was decorated to the usual high standard.  Thanks are due to all who made the preparations for the day, not only in Straffan but in all three churches.  Thanks to Jenny Shaw for playing the organ.  The collection again was for the Bishops’ Appeal.  It was good to see many Ukrainian friends attending.

 

A fresh appeal was launched by the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal.  Funds raised will be shared equally between the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, which has a number of schools and hospitals in the region including in Gaza, and Tearfund.  The Archbishop of Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum said: “The whole system is collapsing but as Christians, we continue to have hope, and we are called to be resilient.  Despite everything people are determined to continue with their ministry.”  Tearfund’s church partners are doing their best to respond across the region, working in very difficult circumstances to provide meals for displaced people, ship vital medicines and keep schools running. 

 

Ecumenical Pet Blessing Service - Saturday, 5^th October - Christ Church, Celbridge

This year was one of the biggest attendances with the church full of pets and their humans. The dogs were in fine voices as usual.  Rev. Stephen was accompanied by Fr. Jonathan from St. Patrick’s Church, Celbridge in blessing the pets and remembering sick and deceased pets dear to their humans.  All pets were given a Bandana with the word ’Blessed’ printed on it and a Blessing certificate.

 

After the service the congregation moved to the Slip Hall for refreshments.  A collection of €640 given at the service went to KWWSPCA who were there in numbers with some rescue and volunteer dogs as usual and they shared information about the work they do in sheltering, fostering and homing dogs.  Thanks to all who made it a great day - presenting certificates and Bandanas, providing refreshments, preparing the church and cleaning afterwards and to James Pasley for providing the music.

 

Sympathy

Our deepest sympathy to Judith Gleeson and family of Celbridge on the recent death of Judith’s father, Roy Watts.  The Funeral Service took place on Wednesday, 16^th October in All Saints’ Church of Ireland, Raheny with Cremation afterwards at Glasnevin Crematorium Chapel.  Our prayers are extended to his wife, Pamela, his children, Judith, Lynne, Sandra & Robert, sons-in-law Jim & Shane, Robert’s partner  Maria, grandchildren Richard, Leanne, Peigi & Cara, sister Margery and her husband Harry and extended family and friends.  May God comfort all who mourn.

 

Slip Hall

With the closure of the Montessori School there is now some availability for morning hires in the hall.  Please send enquiries to email:csnparishhall@gmail.com.

 

The Church Clairvoyant (1955) - Rev’d S J Forrest

They grumbled at the anthems and the chants they couldn’t sing,

They moaned about the settings that the festivals would bring,

But they left the poor old organist to find out everything,

By instinct, or possibly, by radar.

 

They groused about the particles of dust upon the pew,

But they never told the verger, or perhaps they thought he knew,

By instinct, or possibly, by radar.

 

They fetched the doctor fast enough when father had the gout,

They called the district nurse when tonsillitis was about,

But they never told the Vicar, for they thought he’d know without,

By instinct, or possibly, by radar.

 

The moral of these verses isn’t difficult to show:

That if you think a man is wrong, politely tell him so,

Don’t leave the chap to ascertain the things he doesn’t know

By instinct, or possibly, by radar.

 

I am slowly learning who is who and what is where but it’s going to take some time to reach what might be called ‘Full Operating Capacity’.

 

Organisation Focus - Team Hope Shoe Boxes

Team Hope sent 176,615 shoebox gifts to children in 12 countries across Easter Europe and Africa as part of the 2023 Christmas Shoebox Appeal.  For many of these children, this is the only gift they will have received this Christmas (or in their lives before).  We know every box contains cherished items that can transform a child’s life, a scarf and woolly hat can keep the cold at bay or a simple pen and notebook could be the passport that a child needs to be able to start their journey through the education system.  Through the giving of a shoebox our Partners can also identify other needs and provide help. 

 

Your kindness spreads to the families and communities and the ripple effect you start with your shoebox gift can never be under-estimated.  Thanks to all who provided items and shoeboxes this year and in advance to all those involved in the packing.

 

Calendar Of Events

November

Sun      10        Remembrance Sunday.

Fri        29        Whist Drive.  Slip Hall.  8 p.m.

Sat       30        Christmas Fair.  Primrose Hill School.  11 a.m.  - 3 p.m.

                        Closing date for C of I Youth Department Funding.

December

Sun      1         Advent Sunday

Sat       8         Kill Senior Citizen’s Christmas Dinner.

Sun      15        Straffan Christmas Carol Service.  3 p.m.

                        United with Ukrainian community.       

Sat       21        Concert.  Christ Church, Celbridge.  8 p.m.  Conor McKeown.

Tue      24^th      Christmas Eve

Wed     25^th      Christmas Day.  Holy Communion in all 3 churches at the usual times.

                        Happy Christmas! 

Sun      29^th      United Service.  11 a.m.  Straffan Church..

 

(Details of other Christmas services will be posted on the Parish website, Social Media and announced in all churches.)

January

Wed     1         New Year’s Day.  Happy 2025 to all readers!

                        Church Review subscriptions due.

Tue      7         Closing date for inclusion in the next issue of CSNL NEWS.

Sun      12        CSNL NEWS available in all 3 churches.

 

Who’s Who In The Parish

www.cs-nl.org  celbridgestraffannewcastlelyns@gmail.com

Rector:  Rev. Stephen Neill     01-6288231                  087-2328172

www.paddyanglican.com          stephen.neill@gmail.com

 

            Keep up to date on www.cs-nl.org & 

https://www.facebook.com/CSNLParish & www.Dublin.anglican.org

 

Anxiety weighs down a heart, but a kind word cheers it up.  Proverbs. 12:25.