Thanks to our Editor Lilian Webb for getting the magazine out as always :)
Issue
74 CSNL NEWS November/December, 2022
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 All Saints Day as I write these notes for the parish magazine –
This issue covers two critical months in the year that are a
microcosm of the whole cycle of life. We begin with the traditional
time of Remembrance of those who have died and then move into the
time of Preparation that is Advent and then into Celebration at
Christmas and finally Anticipation at what the New Year will bring.
All of these are important parts of what it is to be human. Sometimes
we are remembering, sometimes preparing, sometimes celebrating and
sometimes anticipating –
it is a cycle which keeps repeating and that is no bad thing as long
as we move through the transitions and don’t
get stuck at any one point. We cannot always be remembering or we get
stuck in the past –
we can only do so much preparation before it becomes an end in itself
–
we
can only celebrate for so long as the high has to end sometime –
and finally in anticipating the future there is a fine line between
anticipation and worry –so
let us use these couple of months to embrace the God given rhythm of
life which helps us to negotiate the ups and downs of that life. And
finally –
A very Happy Christmas to you all.
Yours.
Stephen
Church
Services
Sunday Newcastle
9 a.m* Straffan 10.15 a.m. Celbridge 11.30 a.m.
1st Holy
Communion Service of Word Holy Communion
2nd Service
of Word Holy Communion Service of Word
3rd Holy
Communion Morning Prayer Holy Communion
4th Morning
Prayer Holy Communion Morning Prayer
*As
a trial starting on Sunday, 6th
November, services in Newcastle will on the 1st
Sunday of each month take place at the later time of 10 a.m. It is
hoped that this will accommodate those who find the 9 a.m. quite a
challenge, especially in the winter months. This time change will not
affect the service times in either of the other two churches.
What’s
The Collective Noun For A Bunch Of Surprises!
50+
YEARS OF SERVICE:
A surprise awaited our deputising organist Valerie
Twomey who
was playing for Celbridge Harvest Festival on Sunday, 9th
October. Over 50 years ago Valerie
had first played the organ in Celbridge while a student at Celbridge
Collegiate School (now Celbridge Manor Hotel) and over the years has
played frequently including a short period as the parish organist. At
the end of the service Bill
Nicholson,
on behalf of the parishioners presented Valerie
with
a beautiful Autumnal bouquet and once Valerie
got over the shock she delivered a fine speech in appreciation.
BELATED
PRESENTATIONS:
One of many challenges of the Covid Pandemic was the inability to
mark certain significant occasions in a meaningful way. On Sunday,
30th
October at the end of the United Service in Straffan we tried to make
up for this with presentations to two parishioners who had stepped
back from major roles in the parish during the period of the
pandemic. The first was Jos
Evertsen who
had been a previous parish secretary and especially involved in the
administration of the parish during the prolonged vacancy period. He
was also instrumental and the driving force behind the refurbishment
of the Slip Houses and the lower hall in Celbridge which are a great
legacy into the future. Jos
was
presented with a Blue Book voucher which we hope he and Dorothy
will enjoy using and Dorothy
was also presented with a bouquet of flowers acknowledging her
patience when Jos
was tied up on parish business.
Jackie
Taylor also
stepped back from here role as Lay Minister in the parish during the
pandemic and she had for many years been a key part of the Ministry
team in the parish. Always a thoughtful preacher and putting much
preparation into leading prayers and worship Jackie
has provided a faithful ministry among us and we are very thankful
for her dedicated service. Jackie
was
also presented with a Blue Book voucher and some flowers. Some of
Jackie’s
family who could not be present including some in South Africa and
Australia were able to watch from afar via the livestream webcam.
That was not the end of it! However –
Two ladies in Straffan had in recent times had milestone birthdays
celebrating their 90th
birthdays and both Kate
Bagwell & Pat Sharp were
presented with flowers to mark the significant birthdays. All the
recipients seemed very surprised and many thanks to all those who
helped to arrange the presentations.
It’s
Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Time!
You
can bring your completed shoeboxes or fillers for the boxes to the
churches or Sherwood Lane Restaurant in Celbridge where they will be
collected - All donations greatly appreciated - further details
available in the churches. If anyone would like to volunteer with us
please contact Claire
on
086 0640547. We will be working in the sort centre over by Lucan
Garden centre (across from Peamount Hospital) from the 8th of
November for approximately four weeks.
The
table quiz on 22nd
September in the Kildrought Pub went really well and was very well
attended. All the money made on the night will be used to buy
supplies of school stationery, wash items, clothes, toys and sweets.
Many thanks to everyone that attended.
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.
On
Going Events
Craft
& Chat: Good
News! After a 2 and a half year break, the group resumed on 4th
October meeting Tuesdays at 2.30 pm in the Slip Hall. It was great
to welcome some new faces as well as the familiar faces! All are
welcome!
Whist
Drive: There
will be a Christmas Whist Drive –
date to be confirmed.
Time
Of Prayer For Healing:
It is hoped to recommence the Wednesday morning services in the New
Year.
Remembrance
Sunday - 13th
November
The
rite of Remembrance will be observed in all churches. From this
Sunday (6th
November) Poppies will be available in our churches.
Harvests
Thanks
to all who decorated our churches so beautifully for the recent
harvest
services and provided the music. St. Finian’s
in Newcastle was the first on its traditional last Sunday of
September (25th) in the afternoon. The following Sunday 2nd
October was Straffan’s
turn at 10.15 a.m., and then finally Celbridge at 11.30 on the 9th
October.
10
Years Of The STRAFFAN MARKET & CAR BOOT SALE - Looking
Back - By Jos Evertsen
THE
INCEPTION:
During 2011, our Parish Fundraising Committee was trying to come up
with new fundraising ideas. Not an unusual annual struggle for any
Parish! The idea of car boot sales was novel, there was no local
competition and such an event could bring in a worthwhile return on a
regular basis. As it happened, it became apparent that the Straffan
Community Hall Committee had come up with a similar idea for their
recent revamp of the Community Hall. The two groups agreed a combined
effort to be held on our Straffan church grounds. The first Straffan
Car Boot Sale kicked off on the 16th
July 2011.
For
both parties the objective of the car boot sale was fundraising. For
our Parish it was to create income and funds towards the maintenance
of the Straffan church building. The Straffan Community Hall
Committee had a significant loan outstanding on the full revamp of
the Hall. The running of the car boot was to be done by volunteers
from both parties, a combined initiative still operational today.
From
early on, we created our own “brand”
of car boot sale. We diverted from the more common approach of a
‘First
come First serve basis and park up as many as you can squeeze in’,
and we
introduced
a pre-booking system for numbered 3 metre wide stalls. This avoided
not only the usual vying and jostling for places, but more
importantly it avoided early morning (4 a.m. onwards) queuing in the
village. Also every car had enough space to set up its own wares.
With careful planning we now manage to mark out up to 70 car spaces
(stalls) around the church grounds.
It
soon became apparent that a lot of the ‘booters’
were looking for refreshments and wandered across to the local shop.
The setting up of our own tea stall with home baking proved to be in
great demand and provided a further profitable income stream. Since
its inception in 2011, the car boot is held twice a month between
April and October.
A
TYPICAL WEEK PREPARING FOR A STRAFFAN MARKET & CAR BOOT SATURDAY:
A successful car boot depends largely on two factors (1) Attracting
enough cars / booters to fill all available places and (2)
Encouraging enough buyer foot fall to give a profitable
return to the
booters. Advertising by both ourselves and the booters (on Facebook)
generally brings in enough people to make it a worthwhile effort for
everyone and including of course, the social element for the
community.
In
the background, there are a lot of other things quietly going on in
order to get ready for the Saturday event. Volunteers on the Team
have taken on certain tasks to make it all come together on the day.
Putting up the road advertising signs, cutting the grass, taking
bookings, rostering volunteers, marking out the site, baking by the
tea stall volunteers. We have a 7:00 am start on the Saturday morning
and we place NO PARKING cones along the road side and check-in the
booters. During the morning we monitor activity and safety on the
site and account for the monies received at the gate and the tea
stall. Of course there is always the tidying up at the end of each
event. This process is repeated every two weeks between the end of
April and early October, on average 12 events per year.
WHAT
HAVE THE MARKET & CAR BOOT EVENTS CONTRIBUTED DURING THE PAST 10
YEARS?:
The Straffan Market & Car Boot sale has become a true Community
Event. Through the Team of Volunteers, people work together across
the entire community. It has become a place where the ‘Straffan
locals’
meet up for a coffee and a chat. Its popularity also attracts booters
and people from outside the Straffan area and who have become
‘regulars’.
We draw people from as far as Antrim, Swords, Dublin city, Mullingar,
Wexford and even County Clare.
Over
the years a close community has been formed amongst the booters and
the local volunteers. Many attend not only to sell their wares but
to enjoy the safe local setting and the social aspect that our event
brings. Its social impact is invaluable and quite unique. For
several years we also held a Christmas Fair in early December. For
this, people prepared special Christmas decorations, art and baking.
Whilst it was popular with both sellers and buyers, we had to stop as
the weather conditions at that time of the year are too
unpredictable, causing everyone disappointment when it had to be
cancelled. It is still something that people enquire about.
The
underlying fundraising drive has also made a significant financial
impact in both our parish and the community hall. The financial
benefit generated, is always shared between the Straffan Community
Hall and our Straffan church. Since its inception in 2011 we have
had 10 years of events. Both 2020 and 2021 were written off due to
the COVID pandemic restrictions. During this time we held
138
events.
had 6,073
cars / booters on site.
generated
a total income of €135,900.
Entrance
Fees - €91,454.
The
Tea Stall - €37,042.
Donations
and other activities - €7,404.
running
expenses were kept to just €2,290
through the generosity of all our volunteers.
WHAT
BENEFIT HAS THIS BROUGHT TO OUR PARISH & STRAFFAN COMMUNITY
HALL?:
As highlighted earlier, the major benefits brought by the Straffan
Market & Car Boot Events are both the social dynamic in the local
community and the fundraising for both our Parish and the Straffan
Community Hall. The funds that came to our parish made various
things possible which otherwise would have posed significant
financial challenges to our limited Parish finances. The fundraising
contributed to the upkeep of the Straffan church building as follows;
Major
internal roof repair and the valley replacement on the south roof.
Installation
of a toilet facility.
Refurbishment
of the Vestry.
Refurbishment
to the Bier.
Central
heating maintenance.
In
2022, roof slates and gutter repairs - €2,600.
In the
next two years we need to replace the valley on the north roof.
In
2013 the Straffan Community Hall underwent a major refurbishment. It
now provides a modern facility where community groups and activities
are held for both adults and children. It now hosts
art
classes, Pilates, music lessons, drama, a youth group and a mother &
toddler group. Except for the grant-aid from the Leader Programme,
the cost of the extensive refurbishment was met by a significant loan
which has now been paid off. Future income will continue to support
the maintenance and further development of the Hall facilities. The
Community Hall has now established itself as a central asset to the
Straffan community and is available for rent.
ARE
THERE PLANS FOR 2023?:
This Community Event has generated a unique social dynamic in the
local community. Its continued success however fully depends on the
willingness and numbers of volunteers available. Without them, it
will not be possible to stage or manage it. This past season we had
up to 41 volunteers who were willing to help for two hours on a
Saturday morning and including baking for the tea stall. Whilst it
looks like a large number, it was still a challenge at times to get
adequate numbers, especially during the school holiday period.
During
March 2023 the volunteers will get together again to discuss
arrangements for the 2023 season. We always welcome anyone interested
in helping out, even for just a few hours on a Saturday morning. We
concluded 2022 very successfully.
On
behalf of both our parish and our local community, a big Thank-You
to
all the volunteers who made themselves available and supported the
Straffan Market & Car Boot Sale. Please join us again in the 2023
season.
Weddings
Congratulations
to two couples who walked down the aisle in Straffan Church during
September. On Friday, 16th
September, Suzanne
Lett & Calvin Murphy
wed and on Saturday, 24th
September, Rachel
Taylor and Conor O’Callaghan tied
the knot. We wish both couples every blessing in their futures
together.
Prayers
We
remember all those who are sick at home, in hospital or nursing
homes, those who care for them, the bereaved, for the citizens of
Ukraine both here and in their own country.
Church
of Ireland Gazette
This
is a great magazine to keep you abreast with news and views of the
Church of Ireland across the island of Ireland, as well as world
news, devotional, youth, social, crossword, recipes, monthly readings
etc. It costs €40
for the e-edition, €75
to be posted to your home, or €45
to church/local shop. There are 10 editions per year.
gazette.ireland.anglican.org.
Church
Review Subscription Renewal - 2023
Coming
up at the end of the year and we are happy to tell you that the
annual
subscription amount remains at €40.
This
month there are a few extra copies in the church please take one and
if you are interested in becoming a new subscriber please let the
distributor in your church know.
Celbridge: Ken
Denner
Straffan Debbie
Kelly
Newcastle-Lyons Elizabeth
Waldron
Bereavement
It
was with huge sadness we heard the news of Audrey
Smyth‘s
death
after a short period of ill health. Audrey
was
a very faithful and supportive parishioner in Christ Church,
Celbridge and also known by so many people in the town, especially on
Main Street where she lived at the heart of the community.
Unfailingly generous and possessing a great sense of humour, Audrey
was very popular and will be sorely missed. She died peacefully on
October 22nd
in the care of Glenashling Nursing Home. We think especially of her
sister Ruth,
brother-in-law David,
niece Louise
and her husband Dave,
grandnieces Charlotte
& Isabel,
aunts, cousins, relatives and all who mourn her loss. Her funeral
took place on Wednesday 26th
October at 12 Noon in Christ Church, Celbridge followed by burial in
Donacomper Cemetery, Celbridge.
Double
Baptism
Caoimhe
Lily-Jane Small & Arthur Davies Small,
children of Sophie
& Max Small of
Straffan were baptised in Straffan Church on 22nd October 2022. We
wish them both every blessing in their journeys in life and faith.
Music
In Christ Church, Celbridge
Having
attended St. Andrew’s
Church, Lucan for many years, pandemic travel restrictions and a new
found love of walking, prompted Trish
and I to discover our local church. It wasn’t
long before Zoe
Lipson,
the established organist, invited me to play the organ. That
gradually became a full time commitment with the arrival of her first
born. Providing music during a pandemic was an interesting
experience. As restrictions gradually lifted, we constantly adapted
to what was allowed at each point. Initially, hymns had to be played
while singing was banned. Once a solo singer was allowed, my
daughter Rebecca
would
sing, socially distanced and behind transparent screens made from
IKEA picture frames, mounted on microphone stands and secured with
sticky tape. A small choir was allowed by Christmas with choir
members enduring masks and other restrictions to provide music at all
services. Thankfully we are back to normal again now. The choir in
Christ Church as been re-growing steadily over the last year. You
can join us on any Sunday and you will be made welcome. We are
currently preparing a few pieces for Christmas. The possibilities
are endless now that we are free of restrictions.
Playing
the pipe organ in Christ Church, Celbridge is both a pleasure and a
privilege. You are invited to share the experience. The organ is
versatile and well maintained, supporting a variety of registrations
for voluntaries and for accompanying singers. If you already play
piano and would like to try playing the organ, then please contact
me. You are welcome to bring along some sheet music after any
service and I will be happy to show you how to get started.
You
don’t
need previous experience and there is no requirement to play for
services. If you would like to play for a service, then I can highly
recommend it. Learning to play music is a lot of fun. I find that
playing for others makes music practice meaningful and provides a
sense of purpose. I started out playing just one hymn per Sunday as
the organist played the rest. This gentle introduction to playing in
public was a good way to get started, and is perhaps something you
could aim for. There also many training opportunities provided by
the dioceses through Church Music Dublin.
James
Pasley,
Organist. 087-0515859.
Pet
Blessing Service
Saturday
Morning 1st October was the occasion of our Ecumenical Pet
Blessing in Christ Church, Celbridge. Our Rector
was
accompanied by Fr
Joe McDonald (PP
Celbridge & Straffan) in leading the service. A large number of
pets, mostly dogs and one brave cat attended and sang, barked and
meowed enthusiastically in accompaniment to the organ played by James
Pasley.
The collection was for KWWSPCA and a number of the volunteers were
present along with 2 rescue dogs to share information about the work
of the society. The total raised was a very generous €529.33.
Thanks also to those who provided the teas and refreshments for pets
and their humans after the service and to those who helped with
stewarding, handing out service sheets and reading. It was the first
time back indoors since the pandemic and it was a joy to see so many
familiar faces and some new ones too. We were delighted that the
local paper, The Liffey Champion covered the event and gave a full
page spread of interviews and photos. Roll on next year!
Chuckle
Time
A
priest leading assembly asked the children, “Now,
who can tell me what you have to do to get to heaven?”
One
little boy put up his hand at once. “Die,
sir.”
Advent
& Christmas Services
These
will be announced in churches, on the website and social media.
Calendar
Of Events
November
Sun 13 Remembrance
Sunday.
Sun
27 Advent Sunday.
December
Sat 24 Christmas
Eve.
Sun 25 Christmas
Day.
January
Sun
1 New Year’s
Day.
Church
Review Subscriptions due.
Tue
3 Closing date for CSNL NEWS.
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
My God
shall supply all your need - Philippians 4:19
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