Monday 25 March 2024

Holy Week & Easter Services 2024

 


Holy Week and Easter Services 2024

Wednesday, 27th     Compline.  St. Finians Church, Newcastle-Lyons.  8 p.m.


Thursday, 28th       

 Maundy Thursday.  Holy Communion & Stripping of the Altar. 8p.m  Straffan Church.


Friday, 29th             Good Friday,  

Way of the Cross Walks.  All starting from the COI churches this year.

10 a.m., in Straffan.  12 noon in Celbridge and 12 noon in St. Finians.


Saturday, 30th         Holy Saturday.   

Lighting of the Easter Fire & 1st Eucharist of Easter.  8 p.m., in Straffan.


Sunday, 31st           Easter Sunday.  (NB.  Clocks go forward at 1a.m.

Dawn Ecumenical Sunrise Service at Castletown Gates.  6.15 a.m. 

Holy Communion in all 3 churches at usual times. 

9am Newcastle; 10.15 Straffan; 11.30 Celbridge


Monday 11 March 2024

CSNL NEWS March April 2024

 

Issue 82 CSNL NEWS         March/April, 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 ..

This will be the Easter issue and the key word and theme of Easter is HOPE.  I think it would be safe to say that we live at a time when we need a lot of hope in our lives.  The international situation is very worrying and whether we think of what is happening in Gaza or in Ukraine both have the potential to bring turmoil not just to those who happen to be at the epicentre but to the whole world.  It would be easy to let despair drag us down.

 

The Cross which is at the centre of the Easter event is a place both of despair and hope and the strange paradox of our faith is that those two can coexist.  We are probably at the despair stage at the moment, firmly lodged in the bleakness of Good Friday but Sunday (Easter) is coming and as Christians we believe despite our despair!  That belief has a transformative power in itself.  Hope can change things for the better.  If we are hopeless we will never see the opportunities that lie before us to change our world for the better but if we decide to hope against all odds we will see a better way.  Yes these are challenging times but this is where Hope is born!

 

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

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

 

On Going Events

Craft & Chat:  The Group continues each Tuesday afternoon at 2.30 p.m., in the Slip Hall and is open to all for crafting, chatting and refreshments.  All welcome!

 

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

 

Whist Drives.  The first two Whist Drives of 2024 (26th January & 23rd February) were very well supported and as always some lovely prizes on offer as well as the plentiful and tasty supper.  The March whist drive is not on the last Friday of the month as this is Good Friday and will instead take place on Friday, 22nd March at the usual time of 8 p.m.  New players always welcome.  Thanks as always to Esther Lougheed & Rebecca & James Taylor for organising the nights and to Val Denner for helping with the raffle.

 

Saturday Night Services - Christ Church Celbridge - 7 p.m.

The February service on Saturday, 10th February  was on the theme of Nourishing Faith and the reading was the feeding of the 5000.  One of the features of this service is a chance to try out some alternative music and our organist James Pasley came up trumps with a song called 5000 + Hungry Folk which was a numerical tongue twister and great fun.  The service is generally quite informal and we would be delighted to see some new faces - also if you play a musical instrument feel free to bring it along.  The service is normally followed by refreshments and time for a chat after the service.

 

Easter General Vestries

The EGV for Newcastle-Lyons will be held in St. Finians Church on Wednesday, 10th April, at 8 p.m.  Thursday, 11th April, will be the date for the EGV for Celbridge & Straffan at 8 p.m., in Primrose Hill School.  These are the meetings to hear the reports of our Rector and Treasurers and also to elect the Select Vestry, Churchwardens & Glebewardens.

 

Confirmation

Classes are now underway.  There are 2 candidates this year, Poppy Murphy & Marlena Quigley.  They are to be confirmed in Christ Church Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday, 19th May at 3.30 p.m.  Please keep them in your prayers.

 

Sunday Services On Line

Dont forget that if you cant get to church on Sunday, the service from Straffan is live-streamed.

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

 

Ukrainian Community In Straffan

It has been a great joy in these last few months to welcome a number of members of the Ukrainian community to join us for worship in Straffan.  We now produce the services, readings, prayers and sermon in translation each week which we hope makes participation easier.  A number of our parishioners are also involved in the provision of language and conversation classes which are essential in finding employment and settling into this new environment.  We are very conscious that our new friends have loved ones still in Ukraine and are obviously hugely concerned for their safety.  While we do enjoy the addition to our congregation we pray for a peace that will eventually allow our Ukrainian friends to return to their homes and begin the process of rebuilding.

 

Ash Wednesday - 14th February

There were services at 11 a.m., in Christ Church, Celbridge and in Straffan at 7 p.m.  The children from Primrose Hill National School took part in the service in Christ Church, Celbridge.

 

Concerts In Christ Church, Celbridge - Future Events

Thursday, 18th April.                 The UK Drifters

Saturday, 22nd June.                  John Spillane

Saturday, 7th September.                       Brian Kennedy

Saturday, 5th October.               Sean Keane

All tickets are now up on Eventbrite and also available from Breda - 087-9630719.  All 25 except UK Drifters - 30.

 

Solidarity To Palestinian Ambassador

Archbishop Michael Jackson has had a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Jilian Wahba Abdalmajid.  The meeting took place in the Embassy at the invitation of the Ambassador.  They spoke about what is happening in Palestine and the Ambassador said that her family was still living in Gaza.  The Archbishop highlighted the link between the Diocese of Jerusalem and the United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough as well as his travels to Gaza and the Westbank, the friendly and welcoming people he met there and the appeal to help with the reconstruction of Al Ahli Hospital.  Dr. Abdalmajid said that two of her three children were born in Al Ahli.  Archbishop Jackson said after the meeting, We offered our solidarity and our friendship.  And we will both continue to keep and build this friendship.  You can donate to the Shine A Light for the Diocese of Jerusalem appeal online at Diocesan Funds Current Account, Bank of Ireland, 2 College Green, Dublin 2.  IBAN: IE50.  BOFI: 9000 1769 3548 78.  BIC: BOFIIE2D. 

 

World Day of Prayer - Friday, 1st March

Our ecumenical World Day of Prayer 2024 was co-ordinated by the Roman Catholic Celbridge ladies and held in the Slip Hall.  The beautiful service of worship was written by the Christian women of Palestine, during the covid19 pandemic, and was very well attended.  Rev. Stephen gave a special welcome to the group of Ukrainian ladies who are living in Straffan, and extra prayers were added at the end of the worship, for peace in Palestine and the Ukraine.  Father Joe & Rev. Stephen gave the final blessing.  Tea and biscuits and chat followed and it was a great opportunity to catch-up with our new neighbours and old friends.  We raised 388, which is lodged with WDP Ireland for various charities at home and abroad.  WDP 2025 will be held in St. Brigids Roman Catholic Church, Straffan.  The Christian women of Palestine called us to connect with the land from where Jesus came, was born, ministered and died and from where our faith began and is rooted.  Despite living in an area of the world where there is ongoing conflict and the future is uncertain, the women of Palestine shared with love a reminder that they are there, and they want to give hope to everyone.  The theme of the service was I beg you, bear with one another in love. 

 

Newcastle-Lyons 300

Next year St. Finians Church, Newcastle-Lyons celebrates 300 years in its current form.  Reputed to be the oldest parish church in the diocese it has seen so much of the history of the Church of Ireland and indeed long before that.  There is a standing cross in the graveyard that is likely 7th century!  It seems a good excuse therefore for a celebration and there are a number of events being planned at this time.  More details to follow.  Claire Burke organised a quiz in aid of the anniversary - all answers being well known bands!  Thanks to everyone who entered.  Almost 700 was made.  Prizes went to Cavan, Straffan and Newcastle.  The answers:

 

The Rolling Stones, Spice Girls, Abba, The Cure, Four Tops, The Who, Cranberries, Genesis, Simple Minds, Boomtown Rats, The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Police, Def Leppard, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AHA, Madness, The Dubliners, Green Day, Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, Hot Chocolate, Wings, The Carpenters & U2.

 

Thanks

..to Dee Huddleston for taking the services on the first Sundays of the month in February & March in Straffan.

Holy Week & Easter Services

Wednesday, 27th           Compline.  St. Finians Church, Newcastle-Lyons.  8 p.m.

Thursday, 28th              Maundy Thursday.  Holy Communion & Stripping of the Altar. 8 p.m.                                        Straffan Church.

Friday, 29th                  Good Friday,  Way of the Cross Walks.  All starting from the Church of                                      Ireland churches this year.

                                    10 a.m., in Straffan.  12 noon in Celbridge and 12 noon in St. Finians.

Saturday, 30th               Holy Saturday.  Lighting of the Easter Fire & 1st Eucharist of Easter. 

                                    8 p.m., in Straffan.

Sunday, 31st                 Easter Sunday.  (NB.  Clocks go forward at 1a.m.)

                                    Dawn Ecumenical Sunrise Service.  6.15 a.m. 

                                    Holy Communion in all 3 churches at usual times.

 

Organisation Focus - Royal National Lifeboat Institution

This week, the RNLI celebrates its Bicentenary and two stamps were issued to honour the amazing role played by the RNLI in providing a lifesaving rescue service at sea and also in inshore lakes.  It was founded in 1824 by Sir William Hillary.  There are approximately 1,121 lifeboat crew members with 675 shore crew in Ireland.  Over the past 20 years the RNLI has responded to 20,899 incidents, saved 724 lives and come to the aid of 25,120 people in Ireland.  This voluntary organisation relies on donations and 6 in 10 launches are only possible thanks to gifts in wills.

 

Chuckle Time

An African bishop arriving for a Lambeth Conference was asked Have you anything o declare?  The bishop took his Bible from his pocket, opened it, and loudly declared, We preach Jesus Christ, who was crucified, died and is risen again.

 

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.

 

Bereavements

It was a great sadness to hear of the death of Willie Doble who died peacefully on Monday, 26th February.  Our sympathy and prayers go especially to his daughters Sandra & Claire, grandchildren Lauren, Aimee, Daniel & Davey, his great granddaughter Lola, sons-in-law Liam & Declan and his wider family and many friends.  Willie was over 80 years a parishioner of St. Finians, Newcastle-Lyons and always had a welcome and a smile for the visitor or new parishioner.  His funeral took place in his beloved St. Finians on Thursday, 29th February and the very large congregation spilled out well into the graveyard.  The burial followed in Donacomper Cemetery in Celbridge where Willie was laid to rest with his late and beloved wife Essie.

 

Deepest sympathy to William (Willie) Roche and his wife Janet (sister of Valerie Denner) of Celbridge on the death of Willies mum, Carmel Roche.  God bless all who mourn the loss of loved ones.

 

Suicide Awareness Training At CITI

This will take place at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Baemor Park, Churchtown on Saturday, 25th May.  The session will offer an evidence based training course to equip attendees with the necessary skills and confidence to support individuals who may be considering suicide.  The course will run from 9.30 a.m., to 1 p.m.  The cost is 25.  Register at:  https://forms.gle/bgkraF7rpTFc64c66

 

Come & Sing Stainers Crucifixion - St.Bartholomews Church, Dublin.  Saturday, 23rd March.

Registration and rehearsal will begin at 2.30 p.m., with a break at 4.30 p.m, for which tea and coffee will be provided.  The performance will begin at 5 p.m and open to all. 

 

Calendar Of Events

March

Sun      10        Mothering Sunday

Sun      17        St. Patricks Day.  Services as usual.

Fri        22        Whist Drive.  Slip Hall, Celbridge.  8 p.m.

Sat       23        Stainers Crucifixion.  St. Bartholomews Church..

Sun      24        Palm Sunday.

Wed     27        St. Finians Church, Newcastle-Lyons.  8 p.m.

Thu      28        Maundy Thursday.  Straffan.  8 p.m.

Fri        29        Good Friday Way of  the Cross walks.

                        10 a.m.  Straffan.  Noon.  Celbridge & Newcastle.

Sat       30        Holy Saturday.  Straffan Church.  8 p.m.

Sun      31        Easter Sunday.  Sunrise service.  6.15 a.m.

                        Castletown Gates/Slip Hall.

                        Clocks go forward at 1 a.m!

                        Holy Communion in all 3 churches.

April

Wed     10        EGV.  St. Finians Church, Newcastle-Lyons.  8 p.m.

Thu      11        EGV.  Primrose Hill School, Celbridge.  8 p.m.

Thu      18        The UK Drifters.  Christ Church, Celbridge.

May

Tue      7         Closing date for next issue of CSNL NEWS.

Sun`     19        Pentecost.  Confirmation.  Christ Church Cathedral,

                        Dublin.  3.30 p.m.

Sat       25        Suicide Awareness Training.  CITI.  9.30 a.m.

 

Whos 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.