Issue 75 CSNL NEWS January/February, 2023.
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 ..
The beginning of another year brings new stories and also the repetition of some old stories. One of the latter is the annual shortage of space in our hospitals to cope with the seasonal surge in respiratory illness - we have moved from the Christmas story’s “No room at the Inn” to “No room in our hospitals” and that is not the only place there is no room as we find ourselves in the middle of a deepening housing crisis where there is ‘no room in our houses’ for the homeless and the refugees which brings us full circle back to the experience of Mary & Joseph when they knocked on the door of that Inn in Bethlehem and found themselves is a draughty cold stable.
This is a reality repeated and reflected in the experience of those who, in the depths of winter on this island, are forced to live in tents and even on the streets. Christmas is over and we have moved on but the life of those who are marginalised in our society whether on trolleys, in tents or on the street has not changed - there is still ‘no room at the Inn’.
This is a huge challenge for our entire country but for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ it is an additional challenge to the integrity of our Christianity! We cannot welcome the baby Jesus into our lives at Christmas and then do nothing about the huge numbers of people for whom it seems there is still no room because as Jesus himself told his disciples (and that includes us): ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ (Matthew 25:44-45).
I like many of you I am sure am often overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge but somehow we must move beyond paralysis to action. As a parish community there must be some way (apart from and in addition to simply giving money) of helping to change this desperate situation in our small corner of God’s Kingdom - I would ask that we all pray about this and seek God’s guidance and I would love to hear from anyone who has any ideas about an initiative we could either get behind or instigate. As long as there is ‘No room’ we have work to do!
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
5th (29/01/23) United Service. Christ Church, Celbridge. 11.30 a.m.
*Services are continuing in Newcastle at 10 a.m., on the 1st Sunday until April when it will re-assessed.
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. If you are interested in becoming a new subscriber please contact your distributor.
Celbridge: Ken Denner
Straffan Debbie Kelly
Newcastle-Lyons Elizabeth Waldron
On Going Events
Craft & Chat: On Tuesday, 10th January, the group met for Afternoon Tea. This had been planned for 6th December, but was postponed due the funeral that day of Heather Moore. All are welcome to the Slip Hall on Tuesdays at 2.30 p.m.
Whist Drive: No plans at present.
Time Of Prayer For Healing: The Wednesday morning services in Christ Church, Celbridge are not resuming at the present.
Bereavements
It was with great sadness that the parish heard the news of the death of Heather Moore after a very short and unexpected illness. Heather along with her late husband Kevin and daughters Amber, Fraoch & Ella had been part of the very fabric of Straffan parish and she had only recently moved away to live in the Mageough in Rathmines but still kept in contact with her many friends in the parish. Her funeral in Straffan Church was full to the doors and was a very moving occasion with a lot of input from the family which made it very personal and poignant. Following the service, cremation took place in Newlands Cross and then there was a very pleasant gathering at Barberstown Castle where food and stories and memories shared. Our thoughts and prayers are especially with daughters Amber, Fraoch & Ella, her
grandchildren, April, Matthew, Victoria, Sian, Elodie, Sam & Emme, her brother Norman and sister Elizabeth and sons-in-law Frank & Gavin. May Heather rest in peace and rise in glory.
Our prayers and sincere sympathy to Linda Daly on the recent and unexpected death of her brother Trevor in the UK. We pray comfort for Linda, her mother, Trevor’s daughters and all who mourn his passing. May Trevor rest in peace and rise in glory.
Deepest sympathy to Kate Bagwell on the death of her sister-in-law, Jane, Madam O’Donovan, beloved wife of the late Daniel, The O’Donovan in Skibbereen, Co. Cork. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
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.
Remembrance Sunday - 13th November
The rite of Remembrance was observed in all churches. Thanks to those who contributed to the Poppy Fund.
Confirmation
Our Rector would like to hear from anyone who wishes to be confirmed this year.
Christmas Services
Celebrating Christmas without Covid restrictions was a wonderful thing this year. As always we started in Straffan, not with the Miscellany this year though hopefully it will return but the first of our carol services on Friday, 16th December, which was very well supported and included a large contingent of the Miscellany choir leading the vigorous singing. The collection was for Merchants Quay Ireland and was a very impressive total of €1,066 which was doubled by supporters of MQI who pledged to match donations for the moth of December. Special thanks to our organist, Jenny Shaw and the choir and all the readers.
The following afternoon was the turn of Newcastle. Again a very happy occasion. It was wonderful to hear the organ played for the first time in a couple of years by James Pasley who kindly offered his services. Afterwards we had refreshments and delicious edibles and again thanks to the readers and those who produced the goodies. The collection at the service went to the Peter McVerry Trust.
Then completing a busy weekend we were invited to the Bridge Church for an outdoor ecumenical Christmas service with a live crib and petting zoo and drama and music from a variety of groups and choirs including our own choir from Christ Church, Celbridge led by James Pasley. Thanks to the Bridge Church for the welcome.
Then on the 24th December, we were in Christ Church, Celbridge for the 4 pm., carols around the Christmas tree with hot chocolate and mince pies afterwards. Again a lovely service with the choir and congregation in good voice and very generous collection for the work of ALONE which has strong Celbridge connections.
The Christmas Eve Eucharist at the earlier time of 9.30 p.m., was well supported as were the morning services on Christmas Day in all three churches and there was a sense of great joy at being able to gather together for Christmas. Again thank you to all who helped to make our Christmas celebrations so meaningful including our lay ministers, organists, choirs, wardens, readers, congregations and all who cleaned the churches and decorated them so beautifully and took them down afterwards.
International Day Of Persons With Disabilities.
Our Rector lit up Christ Church, Celbridge in purple to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities. He also shared the following with Celbridge Access Group - “As the parent of a young man with intellectual and sight disability, I welcome all efforts to make our community more accessible to those who face challenges in accessing basic and essential services and I am thankful for the generous support that the community in Celbridge gives to those who
face such challenges.”
Select Vestry
The Register of Vestrypersons is revised each year in January. Forms are available in all churches for registering as a member of the general vestry which allows voting rights at the Easter General Vestry.
World Day Of Prayer 2023
The service will be held in the Slip Hall, beside Christ Church, Celbridge on Friday, 3rd March. This year the service is compiled by the women of Taiwan and the theme is “I have heard about your faith”, based on Ephesians 1: 15-19. All are welcome. The time will be announced later.
Organisation Focus - Merchants Quay Ireland
MQI is a national Homeless and Addiction Charity.
It helps those with basic needs, such as a warm welcome, tea and a helping hand.
It helps with accessing Drug Services and giving the first steps to becoming drug free.
It offers support to families of loved ones affected by addiction or homelessness.
It provides primary healthcare and drugs related services.
Thanks
.. to Dee Huddleston for taking the service in Straffan on 4th December and Dee and Geoffrey McMaster for taking the services on 1st January.
Team Hope Christmas Shoeboxes
Many thanks to everyone who donated shoe boxes, fillers and helped to pack.
Winter Madness
Dublin & Glendalough Youth Council is delighted to host the Summer Madness team in running a ‘Winter Madness’ event for youth groups and young adults. Winter Madness will take place in Holy Trinity, Rathmines, on Saturday, 11th March from 7.30 p.m., to 9.30 p.m. It will feature Rev. Scott Evans as the speaker and Hollie McCullough and her band will be leading the praise and worship. It is free to attend, and will give young people a taster of what Summer Madness is like. So come along for some hot chocolate, entertainment, games and worship. Members of youth groups should attend with an adult. For more information - contact Emma Fawcett -dgyc.office@gmail.com.
Today - Author Unknown
Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
The world is a pretty evil place.
Even if,
Some goodness does shine through once in a while,
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last
And it’s not true that it’s all in the mind and the heart
Because true happiness can be obtained
Only if one’s surrounding are good.
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure that you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll in a million years hear me say that
Today was a very good day.
Now read this from bottom to top!
Calendar Of Events
January
Church Review Subscriptions due.
Sun 29 United Service. Christ Church, Celbridge. 11.30 a.m.
February
Feb 1 St. Brigid’s Day.
Wed 22 Ash Wednesday. 11 a.m. Holy Communion.
Christ Church, Celbridge, with participation from the
pupils of Primrose Hill School.
7.30 p.m. Holy Communion. Straffan.
Mon 27 Closing date for material of next issue of CSNL
NEWS
March
Mar 1 St. David’s Day.
Mar 3 Women’s World Day of Prayer. Slip Hall. Celbridge.
Sat 11 Winter Madness. Holy Trinity, Rathmines. 7.30 p.m.
Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day.
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, for the homeless and all others in need of our prayers as a result of war, famine and other disasters.
Chuckle Time
An incident in a Brazilian football match graphically illustrated the point that while there is a time to be on our knees, there is also a time for action. International footballer Roberto Rivelino received the ball straight from the kick-off and drove a shot from the half-way line: the ball whizzed past the goalkeeper’s ear while he was still on his knees in the goal mouth completing his pre-match devotions.
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
iPod? iPad? Try iPray …. God is listening!
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