Issue 91 “UNION NEWS” September 2017

Dear Parishioner(s)
September
In September each year Parish activities recommence after the summer and we look forward to many months of special events and activities in the Parish.

All Saints’ School
The school year begins on Weds. 31st August. We look forward to welcoming all the new children who will be starting school. We extend our best wishes to all the young people in the Parish who are starting Secondary School. All Saints’ School has undergone a complete refurbishment over the summer and the children and teachers will be returning to a lovely fresh environment. We wish the Principal and staff everything good for the new school year. May I also wish all students going to Third Level every success and happiness.

Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association
The Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Association will commence again on Tuesday 26th Sept. We wish the Captain, Leaders and the Company well.

Sunday Schools
The Sunday Schools in All Saints’ and Killucan will formally start again on Sunday 8th October. We are holding a special occasion in both churches on that Sunday and we look forward to welcoming the children, with the support of their parents. The focus of the Sunday Schools this year will be on teaching God’s story as it is found in Holy Scripture. I would like to thank all the leaders for the time they are giving to this important work in the Parish.

Bible Study
Each month we meet for Bible Study and I warmly invite parishioners to attend in All Saints’ on Saturday 16th September at 10.30 a.m.

Culture Night
National Culture Night will be held on Friday 22nd September. In All Saints’ there will be some beautiful music provided by Adele O’Dwyer and Charles Marshall, two highly accomplished musicians. Adele and Charles are going to perform three short sessions of approximately 20 minutes duration, starting at 8.00 p.m. and after each session there will be a short break. Everyone will be most welcome. We also look forward to welcoming visitors to the church.

Thanksgiving Service for Anne Purdon
Mrs. Purdon is a much loved and highly respected parishioner of Killucan Parish and, over many years, has given enormous support and encouragement to the Parish. As a mark of our appreciation a special Service will be held on Sunday 24th September at 11.30am followed by a reception. We are delighted that Mrs. Purdon’s family will be able to join us for the Service. We warmly invite all parishioners, and also the friends of Mrs. Purdon in the community and Diocese, who would like to join with us for this special occasion.

Ploughing Championship
The Ploughing Championship will take place between 19th-21st September and I know many parishioners will be attending. This year the Diocese will be providing hospitality and welcome at the Championship. If any parishioner would like to help in the organisation of the hospitality perhaps you would telephone Vanda Fryday, the Rector’s Churchwarden in Tullamore Parish, to make the arrangements. Vanda can be contacted on 086-2418016.

Ecumenical Blessing – Sunday 17th September
The Ecumenical Blessing of St. Bigseach’s Well will be held at 4.30 p.m. on Sunday 17th Sept. T his is a lovely occasion and I hope many parishioners will attend. If you are not familiar with the location please contact Violet Medforth, People’s Churchwarden at Kilbixy, on 0876181155 for directions.

Killucan Family Service
Killucan Family Service will be held on Sunday 10th September at 11.30 a.m. I warmly invite all the families and children to this first Family Service after the summer. I hope it will be very well supported.

Back to Church Sunday – 17th September 11.00 a.m.
Again this year I invite all grandparents, parents, those preparing for Confirmation, those who have been confirmed, godparents and parishioners to All Saints’ for a wonderful Inspirational Hymn Singing Service. Last year was a magnificent occasion giving everyone in the Parish the opportunity to join together as God’s Christian family to sing His praises. This year we will sing well known inspirational hymns, led by our Senior Parish Choir, and the children from All Saints’. Come to our Songs of Praise.

Harvest -The Harvest Services will be held in all churches next month.
Lecture on the Reformation
This year we are celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in the Christian Church. To mark the occasion it had been planned to hold a special lecture by Bishop John McDowell on Sunday 10th September at 8.00 p.m. in All Saints’. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this lecture has had to be postponed and will be held at a later date.

Heritage Week -I would like to thank everyone who acted as steward in each of the four churches during Heritage Week last month, and welcomed our visitors.
Coffee on Thursdays
Coffee on Thursdays from 10.30am – 1.30pm is now well-established. The coffee mornings are providing much-needed funds to different charities in the town and I warmly commend the coffee mornings to you for your support.

Tiny Tots Club
Each Friday morning from 10.00am – 12.00 noon in All Saints’ there is a lovely occasion for parents and their young children to meet. I extend a very warm invitation to all the younger parents in the Parish. You will be most welcome.

Rev. Trevor Holmes
Trevor has worked in the Parish for the last two years as a non-stipendiary curate. His ministry has been greatly appreciated and he has endeared himself to everyone through his warm empathy, sincere faith and quiet kindness. The Bishop has appointed Trevor to take on other Diocesan duties. In wishing him well in his new ministry, we thank him sincerely for all that he has brought to the life of the Parish. We hope Trevor and Anne will be very happy in their new Parish. A special Service will be held on Sunday 15th October at 7.00 p.m. in All Saints’ at which Trevor will preach his final sermon. Following the Service we will make a presentation to show our appreciation for his ministry. There will not be a replacement for Trevor at the moment from the Diocese. I hope parishioners will understand if, from time to time, church Services are altered. I will do my very best to keep to the current pattern of Services but it may arise that I have no option but to change them from time to time.

Olive’s Appreciation
Olive had surgery at the end of June to remove a cancerous tumour and commences chemotherapy this month. Olive would like to sincerely thank everyone in the Parish for their wonderful support and kindness. She has also warmly appreciated being remembered by so many in prayer and is delighted to know that this prayerful support will continue during the treatment she is about to undergo.

Holy Baptism
We recently welcomed into God’s family through Holy Baptism, Evan Taylor Dargan and Edward Shaw Cooke. We pray for the children, their parents and godparents as they begin their journey of faith.

Confirmation:Confirmation Classes commence on Sunday 10th September at 5.00p.m. in All Saints’. The Confirmation will be held on Sunday 29th October at 11.00 a.m. in All Saints’. I look forward to meeting all the candidates who will be making their Confirmation this year.

Select Vestry
The next meeting of the Select Vestry will be held on Tuesday 19th September at 8.00 p.m. in the Rectory.

RTE Choir Practice
The choir practice due to be held on Saturday 7th October at 10.30 a.m. has had to be postponed. Bill McConnell, our musical director, will rearrange an alternative date.

Summer Duty
Canon Patrick Lawrence has kindly agreed to deal with all pastoral emergencies while Olive and I are away from Thursday 17th August – Wednesday 6th September. Canon Lawrence can be contacted on 044-9222109 or 086-0562944.

In the light of the recent increase in postal charges the Select Vestry would like to offer options for parishioners on receiving the ‘Union Notes’ each month.
Please Email info@mullingarunionofparishes.net with your Name Address and Mobile number� And let us know if you would like to receive your Union Notes as�
Email Version �
Collect a printed copy in the church�
Continue to receive by post �(we are happy to continue to do so)
Some parishioners have returned the completed forms or emailed their details and have recieved an email friendly version of the Union Notes. There will e printed copies of the notes available in the church.

Website
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. I encourage you to continue to look at the website and to also advise your family and friends about it.� �

Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/mullingarunionofparishes.net Keep up to date
on our Parish Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @MullingarUP

With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector

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