Dear Parishioner(s)
Happy New Year
I would like to wish you a very happy New Year and I hope you had a most enjoyable Christmas with your family and friends. It was lovely to meet everyone at the different Services over Christmas. Christmas Day 2017 will go down in the annals of Parish history as the day the parish broadcast the Christmas Day Service on R.T.E. 1 television. Congratulations to everyone who took part in the broadcast Service.
Christmas Parish Programme
The month of December was a very special time in the Parish and the different special events that were held were so memorable. It is so encouraging that the Programme of events is now becoming the ‘norm’ during the season of Advent in the Parish and we are already thinking of how we can strengthen and improve the Programme for Advent 2018. However, we were disappointed that the planned Christmas Party for elderly residents of Rose Lodge Nursing Home had to be cancelled due to the fact that there were less than 8 offers of help. I am sure this will be rectified this year and we will be able to provide plenty of Christian cheer for the residents in the Home next December.
January
We look forward to a number of different events during January and I hope they will give an inspiring lift to our hearts and souls after the Christmas festivities.
” Epiphany. On Saturday 6th January we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men to visit the baby Jesus. There will be a special Service in All Saints’ at 12.00 noon and you will be most welcome to join us for this important occasion.
” J.A.M. Our new Sunday School programme in All Saints’ will commence on Sunday 14th January at 10.00 a.m. and at 11.30 a.m. in Killucan on Sunday 7th January. I would like to thank those who have offered their leadership and I hope the support by parents for J.A.M. this year will be encouraging.
” Service of Crowns. For the last number of years we have held a Children’s Gift Day in the Parish each January. All the children will be wearing crowns, remembering the gifts that the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus. The Service will be held in All Saints’ at 11.00 a.m. Isabelle Brondzynski will tell us about how the children’s gifts of €1 will be used in the school in Kenya.
” Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Every year Christians meet in January to pray for Christian Unity. The Week of Prayer will commence on Thursday 18th January and will conclude on Thursday 25th January – the day we remember the Conversion of St. Paul. There will be special events held on Thursday 18th, Sunday evening 21st and Thursday 25th. A leaflet giving details of the times and venues will be available shortly.
Holy Baptism
We welcomed into Holy Baptism Skye Erin Evangelista and Beckett Joseph Smith. We pray for them as they begin their journey of Faith and their parents and godparents.
Coffees on Thursday
One of the most successful undertakings in the Parish last year was the Coffee Mornings run by Arthur and Marion O’Toole. They have turned out to be enormously popular and successful and in the first year raised over €6,400 for local charities, as well as providing an oasis of friendship and companionship. We look forward to this year and I warmly commend the Thursday Coffee Mornings to you which will start on Thursday 4th January.
Hospital MRI Scanner Appeal
At the end of the All Saints’ Parish Carol Service on Sunday 17th December, a cheque for €7,500 was presented to the Chairman of the Hospital Appeal Committee, Mr. John McGrath. This was the total raised by parishioners and I would like to thank you for your generous support of this most worthy appeal.
Parish Gift Day
I would like to thank everyone who generously supported the Parish Gift Day. If you would still like to contribute the Honorary Treasurer will look forward to receiving your Gift.
Thank you.
Olive and I would like to thank you for your prayerful and caring support before Christmas when Olive had to be hospitalised. Your support was an amazing source of strength. Olive particularity appreciated receiving so many thoughtful cards and generous gifts and flowers which were left at the Rectory and at the Church. When she has recovered she looks forward to thanking you in person.
Looking to the Year Ahead
It is fashionable for people to make New Year’s resolutions and new beginnings at the start of the New Year, of course, many of these are not fulfilled as was planned. I hope you will make a resolution to confirm your support for the work in the Parish and to offer your help as we ensure that God’s story, God’s way, God’s principles, God’s care, and God’s love is upheld in all we do. It would be lovely to know that many parishioners are resolved to attend Church more frequently and to encourage their children to attend Sunday School.
With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham, Rector,
The Rectory, Gaol’s Hill, Mullingar, Co.Westmeath. Phone No. 044-934 8376
Thursday Coffee
Coffee is served every Thursday in All Saints’, from 10.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Do join us for coffee and help support those organisations helping people in need in Mullingar. Your Hosts are Arthur and Marian and they bring with them a wonderful assortment of homemade delights.
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. You can Contact Zoe on 0852026188
Tiny Tots Group starts back on friday 12th 2018
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 be 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
