Issue 42 “UNION NEWS” August 2013

Heritage Week
Heritage Week runs from 17th – 25th August. From Monday 19th-Saturday 24th three of the churches will be open from 11.00 a.m.-3.00 p.m. – All Saints’, Killucan and Kilbixy. Last year All Saints’ church was opened and there were a good number of visitors from Ireland and abroad. We need a number of volunteers to help steward in the churches this year and anyone who is available to do so, for even a short period of time, should contact Harry Haskins on 086-9549341.

Kenyan Project
For a number of years the Parish has supported the missionary work of Isabelle Prodnzynski in Kenya and, indeed, the Confirmation Class this year has raised money for the building of a new school. Isabelle will preach next Sunday, 4th August, at 10.00 a.m. in All Saints’ and I warmly invite you to attend to hear about the important work she and CMS are undertaking. After the Service there will be an opportunity to purchase some Kenyan craftwork.

All Saints’ Golf Outing
The All Saints’ Golf Outing was held on Friday 26th July at Mullingar Golf Club by kind permission. The Outing was a huge success and greatly enjoyed by all the golfers who participated. We are greatly indebted to Cyril Collier and Pat Fletcher for organising the event and it is an amazing achievement that, in the current economic climate, the Golf Outing raised so much money. We would also like to thank everyone else who contributed or helped in any way.

Parish Development
The Select Vestry has decided to embark on a major Parish Development Program to build up our Parish community over the next few years. We now have our church buildings in very good order and we want to ensure that they are living Christian communities under God’s guidance and care. In preparation for the formulation of the Development Program a meeting has been arranged for young parents in the Parish on Thursday 15th August at All Saints’ Parish Hall at 8.00 p.m. I warmly invite young parents to come to this initial meeting to discuss how the Parish can develop and help from their perspective.

Visit to Wexford Flower Festival
A special bus trip is being organised to Wexford on Saturday 14th September. This should be a most enjoyable day and will include a visit to a Parish Flower Festival. If you would like more details regarding this outing please contact Jean Kilmartin at 044-9375144.

Kilbixy Lecture
There will be a very interesting lecture given on Friday 2nd August at 8.00 p.m. in Kilbixy church by Professor Friend. His topic is “Leprosy and TB” and, as you may know, Kilbixy was just one of two churches in Ireland with a leper hospital. I would like to warmly invite you to this very interesting lecture and please invite friends and neighbours to join you.

Holy Baptism
Will Andrew Orton was baptised in Killucan Church on Sunday 28th July. We remember Will, and his parents and godparents, in our prayers at this time.

Bereavements
We offer our deepest sympathy to Sarah Mason and her family and friends following the death of her mother Anita. Anita was so well known for her care and compassion for animals.

We also offer our deepest sympathy to George Tracey following the death of his mother who had been frail for some time and was residing in a nursing home in Dublin. George’s mother was a very warm and lovely person.

We would also like to offer our deepest sympathy to Michael and Lorna Chapman following Hope’s death. Hope and Michael would have been married 65 years this September, but in recent months Hope’s health had failed and after her discharge from Mullingar Hospital she passed away peacefully with great dignity and courage. Hope was a wonderful gardener and at her funeral service in Almoritia the church was beautifully decorated with floral arrangements.

To all those who have been bereaved we hope they will be warmly comforted and supported by the love of their family and friends and also that their faith in God will sustain them at this difficult time. Christians have the assurance of knowing that God’s promises are true and that death is not the end but an entrance to a fuller life in God’s presence.

Summer Reflection
You may have seen some of the recent coverage of what has been referred to as the “5 – 2 Diet” or “Intermittent Fast”. Participants of the 5 – 2 Diet reduce their calorie intake for 2 days a week and then eat normally for the other 5 days. The number of devotees seems to have grown and accepted this “diet” as part of their “lifestyle” . However, Christians also subscribe to the 6-1 of “lifestyle”. Following this pattern we work for 6 days a week but on Sunday, the first day of the week, we remember the Lord’s Day as holy and find time to worship Him in prayer and thought at church. I invite you to give some thought to the 6-1 lifestyle and you will be most welcome at any of the services on Sundays in the Parish and I would like to feel that, in the sacredness of the church, you will feel inspired to think about and appreciate those things which are above and are of eternal value.

If you are taking holidays this month I hope you have most restful and enjoyable time.

With God’s blessings,

Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector
The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Telephone No. 044-934 8376