Dear Parishioners,
The Providence of God
While we have benefited from the expertise and experience of the medical profession and academic scientists during the pandemic, Christians also draw strength and comfort from the providence of God. We firmly believe that God, rather than being absent from His world, intervenes in His existence and offers care and protection, and provides the confidence for all of us to know there is a power beyond human experience that we can all trust and have hope in. Prayer, therefore, is a wonderful blessing as it enables us to share a loving relationship with God. The reading of the Bible provides us with much strength, wisdom and consolation.
Prayer in Church
The churches will remain open this month to enable parishioners to find time for prayer and reflection and to experience the comfort of God’s presence and the hope of His gospel. All Saints’, Killucan and Kilbixy are open each Sunday:
All Saints’ between 10.00 a.m.-12.00 p.m.,
Killucan between 11.30 a.m. -12.15 p.m.
Kilbixy between 4.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.
It is lovely to see parishioners gathering to pray every Sunday and, while we are not permitted to hold a Service, the playing of sacred music provides an inspiring backdrop to our private prayer. In addition to the Sunday opening of the churches, All Saints’ is also open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week and the opening times can be found in these Union Notes.
Remembrance Sunday – Sunday 8th November
Remembrance Sunday is always an important time in the Parish and we hold the annual Service of Remembrance in All Saints’ which is always so well attended. This year, due to the restrictions, we will not be permitted to hold a Service. However, at 11.00 a.m. in All Saints’ those who are in church for prayer will be invited to stand for the two minute Silence and for the laying of a wreath. In Killucan, at 12.00 noon, the two minute Silence will be observed, and in Kilbixy in the afternoon the two minute Silence will be observed at 4.30 p.m. I warmly commend each of these occasions to you.
Parish Gift Day – Sunday 29th November
For the last number of years we have held the Parish Gift Day on Advent Sunday. This year we will continue to offer prayers for the Parish on Sunday 29th November and the Honorary Treasurer, John Hales, will be writing to all parishioners before Parish Gift Day Sunday. This has been a very challenging year financially for the Parish and many parishioners have been very generous in their support which is greatly appreciated. I am very conscious of the financial pressures placed on many parishioners due to the pandemic, but if parishioners are in a position to support the Parish their gifts will be warmly welcomed as, throughout the pandemic, we have done our very best to keep the churches open and a momentum in the Parish.
November Prayer Promise
Christian Voices Together, which comprises the leaders of the different Christian faith communities in Mullingar, has launched a November Prayer Promise. During November the Christian leaders will pray daily for your prayer requests. All you have to do is send an email to CVTPrayerPromise@gmail.com. As Christian leaders we offer our sincere support to everyone at this challenging time, with the assurance of knowing that “the Lord is near to us”.
Harvest Thanksgivings
We were very fortunate to be able to hold our Harvest Thanksgivings in Killucan and Almoritia on Sunday 4th October. Unfortunately, due to the introduction of the new restrictions, the Harvest Festival to be held in All Saints’ on 11th October had to be cancelled. However, on Friday 16th October we were able to hold four short Harvest Services for the children in All Saints’ School which were very enjoyable. This year as our Harvest gift to the community we were able to give a good quantity of non-perishable food items to the very worthy work at TEAM which provides shelter for those suffering from domestic violence. I would like to thank everyone for their gifts.
Lighten Our Darkness
The young leaders held a Zoom meeting on Friday 30th October which went very well. The young leaders are continuing to keep the work of their Project alive and have some very interesting plans for over the Christmas school holidays. More details of their plans will be given in the December issue of the Union Notes.
Diocesan Synod
The Bishop and members of the Diocesan Council have decided to hold the Diocesan Synod by Zoom on Saturday 21st November. This will be a very ambitious undertaking and we commend our Bishop for her commitment to ensure that this important Diocesan event is held despite the impact of the pandemic.
Christmas Raffle
Every year we run a raffle at the Mayfair and it has always been both enjoyable and well supported. In the light of the absence of the Mayfair this year, the organisers thought it could be very worthwhile and very enjoyable to hold a Christmas Raffle. Raffle cards are included with these Union Notes and if you require additional cards please contact Jean Kilmartin at 044-9375144. We hope there will be a good response. All the prizes have a lovely Christmas theme and, to those who are successful in the raffle, the prizes will certainly brighten Christmas this year.
Bereavements
The ashes of the late Frank Small were buried in the family plot in Almoritia on Sunday 1st November. We pray that Frank will rest in peace and rise in glory. We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife Mary, his children Mark and Vicky, his brother Billy, his sister Marie, his grandchildren and the wider family and circle of friends.
We also offer our deepest sympathy to Mignone and John Duggan following the sad passing of Mignone’s mother, Mignone, in Cavan General Hospital. Mignone’s mother had been unwell for some time but bore her illness with enormous courage and grace. She was deeply loved and admired by her loving husband, Wilson, her eight children, her ten adoring grandchildren, her remaining siblings and all members of the family. Mignone was a person of great faith, and we pray that, now she has departed this life, she will rest in peace in heaven in the care of her heavenly Father and will rise in glory. We trust that Mignone, John, Jane, Graham and Erica will be comforted by their lovely memories of her and by knowing that God’s promises are true, that death is not an end but an entrance to eternal life.
We pray that both Frank and Mignone are resting in heavenly peace.
Church Opening Times for Prayer
Sundays 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon All Saints’ Mullingar
11.30 a.m. St. Etchen’s Killucan
4.00 p.m. Kilbixy
Monday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon All Saints’ Mullingar
Wednesday 12.00 noon – 2.00 p.m. All Saints’ Mullingar
Friday 1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. All Saints’ Mullingar
“Our heart is restless until it finds rest in thee”
St. Augustine
A Scripture Reading
You might like to read these words of Scripture I found helpful in my recent Bible reading: Ephesians 6, verses 10-18:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
A Prayer
Blessed Lord who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, help us to hear them to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that through patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which you have given us in our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen.
