Issue
87 CSNL NEWS January/February, 2025
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 probably a little late at this point to wish you a Happy New Year
but I do so regardless and pray that for all of us 2025 will bring goodness and
good health. New Year is a time to
reorient
ourselves and as Christians we are still observing the season of
Epiphany which encourages us to look at the World in expectation of seeing
signs of the wonderful presence of God in our lives – The Wise Men may have gone on their way home but this
is a still a World filled with possibility, light and Hope. Amidst all the
challenges on the international stage and in our own lives may we look for and
discern those signs of God’s presence and
allow them to change both us and the reality of our World for the better.
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.
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.
Chuckle
Time
Notice seen in a church newsletter: “Women’s group
sale of unwanted items - please feel free to bring your husbands”.
Visit Of Archbishop
Michael Jackson
The Archbishop paid us a surprise visit on
Sunday, 17th November and preached at all services that
morning. It was a great pleasure to have
him with us for the morning and he really enjoyed his visit and wrote to our Rector
afterwards to thank everyone for the warm welcome he received in all our
churches.
Message
For The New Year
Dee Huddleston in her sermon on
the visit of the Magi, worked out that it would have been about 1,040 kms., and
taken about 3 - 4 months. As she had
ridden on a camel, it would not have been a comfortable journey - but one of
faith, worship and obedience. No Sat-Nav
- just following a star, which stopped over the place where Jesus was
born. They came to pay homage to worship
the King of the Jews and offer gifts
Gold - a precious substance - fit for a King. Frankincense - used in medicine still today -
fit for a priest and a healer. Myrrh - a
prophetic gift - to prepare for His death and burial. Prophet, Priest & King. The Magi would never be the same again and
had to return by a different route.
Different people by a different route.
2025 - we are all on a journey - nobody knows what is ahead - but we have
Jesus with us along side. Dee
ended with the words of Minnie Louise Haskins, used by King George VI
in 1939 - “Go out
into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and
safer than a known way.” ”So, I
went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the
breaking of day in the lone East.”
Dublin &
Glendalough Magazine - The Church Review
Subscriptions of €45 were due on 1st
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.
World Day Of Prayer
- Friday, 7th March, 2025
This year the service will be in St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church, Straffan at 8 p.m., and is
written by the women of The Cook Islands.
All are welcome - men, women and young people!
On Going Events
Craft
& Chat: The Group resumes after the Christmas
break and welcome all for crafting, chatting and refreshments each Tuesday in
the Slip Hall at 2.30 p.m.
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: No dates at present.
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 the drive on 29th November, with
lots of festive fun! The next dates are
Friday, 31st January and Friday, 28th February & 28th
March. New players are always
welcome. Great prizes and a lovely
supper guaranteed!
Register Of Vestry
Persons - Note To All Parishioners!
These will be reviewed at the next meetings of the Select Vestries of
Celbridge./Straffan and of Newcastle-Lyons.
If you wish your name to go on this register there will be forms in the
churches which can be filled out and given to the churchwardens. Only those who are registered can vote at an
Easter General Vestry meeting and thus determine the membership of the Select
Vestry for the next year.
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.
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.
Deaths
Our deepest sympathy on the death of Gordon Tracey
of Celbridge who died on 30th December after a short but bravely
borne illness. Our prayers are with his
wife and best friend of 39 years, Ger, his daughters Rachel, Rebecca,
Georgia & Jess, who were his pride and joy and their respective
partners, Sindre, son-in-law Tom, Blaine & Caitriona, his
beloved grandchildren TJ, Jake & Heather, brother Howard and
sister Valerie, mother Lil, mother-in-law Teresa “Teesie” and his
circle of family and friends. Gordon’s funeral
took place on 7th January at 11 a.m., in Christ Church followed by burial
at Donaghcomper cemetery, Celbridge.
Thanks to Rev. Scott Peoples, who took the service due to our Rector
being ill at the time. Our deepest
sympathy also on the death of Lord Patrick Thomas Connolly-Carew of
Donadea, Kildare, who died on 18th December. We remember especially in prayer his wife Celia
and children Virginia, Nicola, Camilla & William as they mourn his
loss. Patrick was a much loved
man who had a particular connection with Christ Church, Celbridge where the
family have worshipped for generations.
A private funeral and burial was held in Christ Church, Celbridge. A Memorial Service will be held at a future
date.
Christmas Services
A large congregation attended the first Christmas carol service held in
Straffan Church on Sunday, 15th December at 3.00 p.m, involving the
Ukrainian community who were one year in the village. The augmented choir, with Zoe Lipson,
as organist and members of the Ukrainian community led the singing with carols
in both languages. The readings were
also in Ukrainian and English. There was
a greeting in Ukrainian by Alex at the beginning and a blessing by Maria
at the end. The service was led by Rev.
Stephen Neill, who thanked all involved in the service, the beautiful
decorations, in Ukrainian colours, readers and all who provided and served the
refreshments afterwards. Most of all,
thank you to Jos Evertsen, whose idea it was to have the united service.
Our Rector reports the Christmas services were very well supported with
the highest turnouts since before Covid which was very encouraging. Special thanks are due to our wardens, choirs
and organists who were especially busy as well as a great team of parish Lay
Ministers. Thanks to all who decorated
the churches so beautifully and then took down all the decorations afterwards.
Open & Welcoming Congregations Charter
Both of our Select
Vestries recently adopted the Open & Welcoming Congregations Charter and on
Sunday, 17th November in Christ Church, Celbridge, it was launched
by our Rector and a number of parishioners along with Changing Attitude
Chairperson and Celbridge parishioner Mark Bowyer.
Changing Attitude
Ireland - ‘Open hearts for an
open Church’
The Parish of Celbridge and
Straffan with Newcastle-Lyons is an Opening and Welcoming Congregation.
We subscribe to
the following six principles, in the belief that the Church is called to
welcome all.
We promote trust
and understanding amongst heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ PARISHIONERS.
We seek to include
LGBTQIA+ people and their families at every level of parish life, welcoming not
only their presence but all they have to offer.
We do not make the
assumption that everyone is heterosexual: whether
in conversation, preaching, or in the prayers of the
Church.
We are candid in
our welcome for LGBTQIA+ people and same-sex couples.
We recognise
committed same-sex unions at social events, in church services and other
aspects of Church life.
We welcome clergy
regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
www.changingattitudeireland.com. October,
2024.
Fundraiser For Gaza
This took place in the Slip Hall on December 6th from 12
p.m., to 7 p.m., with yoga, crafting, making baubles, crackers and Christmas
wreaths, teas and cakes. Also, pre-loved
Christmas jumpers, zero waste Maynooth Clothes Rails and consultations with
Kilcock Therapy. This was to raise money
for Red Crescent & Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
Confirmation -
Sunday, 8th June - Christ Church Cathedral
Classes will start in February.
Please contact our Rector if interested in being confirmed this
year. The service will be at 3.30 p.m.
Christmas Fair
Report By Lucy Jones
The venue was Primrose Hill National School, Celbridge, Straffan and
Newcastle-Lyons parishioners got together with our Parish School to create some
Christmas Fair magic. There were
goodies, crafts, a raffle and bargains galore!
Adults and kids took advantage of the face painting, elfie-selfie and
Christmas games. There was a wonderful buzz all day and a huge amount of fun
was had. At noon, Santa Claus paid a
visit to the delight of the children (we are very much hoping he will come back
next year, as he was such a success).
Thanks to all the helpers, supporters and families. It was a wonderful event. €2,348.98 was raised for parish and €2,348.98 for Primrose Hill National School.
From The Editor
Happy New Year to all readers and contributors. Due to the illness of our Rector, this
edition is out one week later than planned.
Thanks to all those who responded to my mentions in the press etc., especially
those on WhatsApp as I don’t have a smart
phone so I couldn’t reply. I was thrilled to win the Christmas Cover
Photographic Competition of the Church of Ireland Gazette with a photo of the
Grand Canal, near Sallins taken in 2010 to represent “The wonder of His works” and to win €100 for myself and the parish. I was also asked by Christian Aid to promote
their Christmas Appeal for Sudan and managed to get in The Leinster Leader two
weeks in a row on page 4 - as a Naas Woman and a Sallins Pensioner (probably
meant Parishioner!) and also got on the Kildare Live News!
Team Hope Shoe
Boxes Update By Linda Halnon
A record number of 7085 shoeboxes in total were shipped out on 9th
December from the Team Hope Warehouse in Newbridge. The boxes were shipped to Burundi, East
Africa, this year, one of the poorest countries in the world. This will truly make an enormous difference
to each child who receives one. A huge
thank you to everyone who supported Team Hope this year, including the very
talented knitters in our parish! Your support,
time offered in volunteering in the warehouse and generous donations are
greatly appreciated.
Ash Wednesday - 5th
March
There will be services of Holy Communion in Christ Church, Celbridge at
11 a.m., and in Straffan at 7 p.m.
Concerts
In Christ Church, Celbridge
The Evening with Glen
Hansard and Special Guest storyteller Martin Shaw at Christ Church
Celbridge on 14th December was sold out in 12 hours. Glen sang a beautiful song he had
written for Ukraine together with two Ukrainians. This concert was in Aid of
Ukrainian Action Ireland. Rebecca
Storm was in Christ Church on 6th January. Sandy Kelly & Marc Roberts will
perform on Saturday, 8th February, the Ireland Peace Choir on
Saturday, 1st March and the UK Drifters will be there on
Saturday, 22nd March. Tickets
are on sale on Eventbrite or text Breda 087 9630719. Doors open at 7.30
p.m.
Thanks
Thanks to those who supported the Poppy Appeal. 2025 is the 100th 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, 12th July. Thanks to Dee Huddleston for taking
the service in Straffan on 3rd November, Geoffrey McMaster on
1st December, both Dee & Geoffrey on 29th
December and Dee on 5th January in both Straffan &
Celbridge when Rev. Stephen was ill.
Calendar Of Events
January
Jan 1 Subscriptions for Church Review due.
Fri 31 Whist Drive. Slip Hall, Celbridge. 8 p.m.
February
Sat 8 Concert. Christ Church, Celbridge. 8 p.m.
Fri 28 Whist Drive. Slip Hall, Celbridge. 8 p.m.
March
Sat 1 Concert. Christ Church, Celbridge. 8 p.m.
Tue 4 Closing date - Issue 88 CSNL NEWS.
Wed 5 Ash Wednesday.. 11 a.m. Christ Church, Celbridge.
7
p.m. Straffan.
Fri 7 World Day of Prayer. St. Brigid’s Church, Straffan.
8
p.m.
Sat 22 Concert.
Christ Church, Celbridge. 8 p.m.
Fri 28 Whist
Drive. Slip Hall, Celbridge. 8 p.m.
June
Sun 8 Confirmation. Christ Church, Cathedral. 3.30 p.m.
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
Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth and the life ..” John 14:6.
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