Issue 56 “UNION NEWS” October 2014

Harvest
During the month of October, Harvest Thanksgiving Services will be held in each of the churches and we look forward to our visiting preachers. Harvest is an important time in the Parish and I do hope each of the Services will be very well supported by parishioners. The Parish Harvest Services will be held on:
Killucan Sunday 12th October 11.30 a.m.
Preacher Dean Paul Ogle (Dean of Trim)

Kilbixy Sunday 12th October 5.00 p.m.
Preacher Rev. Damien O’Cathain (Rector of Castlepollard)

All Saint’s Sunday 19th October 11.00 a.m.
Preacher Rev. Stan Evans (Rector of Clifden)

Almoritia Sunday 19th October 3.30 p.m.
Preacher Rev. Stan Evans

Parish Dinner – Friday 14th November
The Parish Dinner will be held in the Greville Arms Hotel at 8.00 p.m. I do warmly invite parishioners to attend. It is a lovely opportunity for us all to meet together in a very relaxed and friendly setting. Tickets are modestly priced at €20. The tickets will be available over the next few weeks and I hope there will be a very good response.

Bi-Centenary Whist Drive
The Bi-Centenary Whist Drive was a great success and raised €500 for the Hospice. I would like to thank everyone for all their hard work in organising such a very special evening.

All Saints’ Youth
On Sunday 5th October at 5.00 p.m. we are re-launching the Youth Group in All Saints’ Parish Hall. I hope this will be very well supported. The opening Session will last till 6.30 p.m.

Flower Festival- Thursday 20th-Sunday 23rd November
The organisation for this very special event is well underway and over the next few weeks we will be widely publicising the Festival throughout the church and in the community. If any parishioners would like to sponsor one of the flower arrangements, perhaps they would contact Jean Kilmartin at 044-9375144 as soon as possible.

Bi-Centenary Service and Lunch – Sunday 2nd November
This special Service to mark the Bi-Centenary of All Saints’ Church will be held at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday 2nd November. Archbishop Lord Robin Eames will be the special preacher. After the Service the Bi-Centenary Lunch will be held in the Greville Arms Hotel. Everyone will be receiving an invitation and I hope we will have a large response from the Parish for this important event.

Bible Study in All Saints’
The next Bible Study will be held on Saturday 4th October at 10.30 a.m.

Holy Day
There will be a special Healing Service in All Saints’ at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday 18th October to mark St. Luke’s Day.

Bereavement
We offer sincere sympathy to the families in the Parish who were bereaved last month. Kathleen Ferran’s father passed away in St. Louis USA and Douglas Matthews’ brother passed away in Naas, Co. Kildare. We pray that their loved ones, now in the fuller presence of God, may rest in peace.

In the Parish, three much-loved parishioners also passed away.
In All Saints’, Dorothy Horan’s funeral was held on Thursday 18th September. Her contribution to the life of the Parish and the community was immense, through her wonderful gift of music, and she will be very sadly missed.

Max Conry’s funeral was held on Thursday 25th September. Max was so highly respected by all the parishioners in Almoritia and he, too, will be greatly missed.

In Killucan, on Tuesday 30th September we had the funeral of Caryl Lucas-Clements. Caryl, too, had made a wonderful contribution to the life of the community and was held in deep affection and warm admiration by everyone.

Dorothy, Max and Caryl each bore their illness with great dignity and courage and the Parish will certainly be the poorer without their presence and faith. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to their families and, while they have gone from our sight, we know they are in God’s safekeeping.

Ordination
Ruth’s ordination was a most moving occasion and, of course, was also very historic, in that this was the first Ordination by a woman bishop in the Church of Ireland. We hope that Ruth will be very happy with us during her year and I know you will make her feel most welcome.
Ruth has written – “I just want to take this opportunity to convey my appreciation to all those involved in the preparation of the Service for my Ordination. I would also like to sincerely thank the Choir whose music added a richness and depth to the worship, the churchwardens for all their support and those who provided such a lovely supper. Your gift of hospitality made myself, my family, friends and guests feel exceptionally welcome.”

Westmeath Protestant Orphan Society
A Retiring Collection will be taken at all Services on Sunday 26th October.

Parish Web Address
You may like to keep in touch with the Parish through the website and your family and friends may also like to have the web address. The address is www.mullingarunionofparishes.net.

With God’s blessings,

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