MULLINGAR UNION OF PARISHES
Dear Parishioners,
Advent
Advent provides a wonderful spiritual preparation for Christmas. During Advent we hope to provide opportunities for prayer and reflection. Each Friday during Advent, from 1.00pm -2.00pm in All Saints,’ there will be an opportunity for prayerful reflection on the Gospel of St. Mark and also listen to Advent music.
We are also designating Fridays in Advent as a fast day, encouraging people to spend either the whole day or part of the day fasting and to make a small charitable donation.
Remembrance Sunday
The Annual Service of Remembrance on Sunday 13th November was a very special occasion. We were delighted that the numbers attending increased again this year. It is encouraging to see that the Service is attended by a very wide variety of age groups and that a growing number of younger people are making a point of attending each year.
All Saints’ Christmas Whist Drive – Friday 2nd December at 8.30 p.m.
The Christmas Whist Drive will be held in All Saints’ on Friday 2nd December at 8.30pm. The November Whist Drive was attended by a large number of people and we look forward to welcoming them and others to our Christmas Whist Drive. As always there will be some very special prizes and a delicious Christmas supper.
Nativity Play – Sunday 11th December at 11.00 a.m.
For the first time since the pandemic we are delighted that the traditional Nativity Play will be held on Sunday 11th December. This occasion is always attended by a large number of children and their families and provides the opportunity to tell again the wonderful story of Christ’s coming at Christmas.
Christmas Concert – Saturday 10th December at 7.30 p.m.
On Saturday 10th December at 7.30 p.m. in All Saints’ Church, the Christmas Concert with the Midland Youth Orchestra and the Mullingar Allsorts Children’s Choir will be held. It will be lovely to hear again the Christmas music that we were not able to hear ‘live’ during the pandemic. The singing by the children and the playing of the instruments by the orchestra will be very inspiring.
Christmas Carol Services – Sunday 18th December
Killucan Parish Carol Service 11.30 a.m.
All Saints’ Candlelit Carol Service 7.00 p.m.
Christingle Christmas Services
These lovely occasions before Christmas will be The Annual Christingle Services will be held in All Saints’ church on Sunday 4th December at 11.00 a.m. and in St. Etchen’s Church, Killucan on Sunday 11th December at 11.30 a.m..
The times of the Christmas Services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day can be found in the Parish Union Notes.
Christmas Extravaganza: Friday 16th – Sunday 18th December
All Saints’ Mullingar Hospital MRI Scanner Fundraiser
There will be a special Christmas Extravaganza in All Saints’ Church from 16th-18th December in aid of the MRI Scanner Appeal for Mullingar Regional Hospital. There is still a shortfall in this Appeal. The church will be decorated with the theme of Christmas Carols and the Hall will have Mrs. Bear’s Woodland Kitchen Display, especially for the young and young at heart! There will also be a selection of Christmas trees to admire. Are you available to help? We will require assistance with decorating, donations of greenery/foliage, and people to meet-and-greet visitors. If you can help in any way please let me know. Church decorating will take place on Wednesday 14th December starting at 10.00 a.m. If you have any time during the day please let us know. Emma 087-6374131
All Saints’ Christmas Displays – MRI Scanner Fundraiser
Christmas displays at All Saints’ church and a special display in the Hall of Mrs. Bear’s Woodland Kitchen will be open to view from
Friday 16th December 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm
Saturday 17th December 10.00 am – 5.00 p.m.
Sunday 18th December 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm.
Entry fee: adults €5 (including tea and coffee), children €2.
Parish Christmas Raffle
Cards are enclosed with the December Union Notes. The draw will take place on Wednesday 14th December at 7.30 p.m. Lots of great prizes including a selection of hampers. Thank you in advance for your support.
Holy Baptisms
This month we look forward to a number of baptisms in the Parish. We pray for each of the children, their parents and godparents and look forward to welcoming the children through baptism into the Church.
Saints’ Days after Christmas
On, St. Stephen’s Day, St. John’s Day 27th December and the Holy Innocents’ Day 28th December, there will be a Service of Holy Communion in All Saints’ at 11.00 a.m. These traditional services after Christmas are very special occasions and are always supported by parishioners.
New Year’s Day
There will be a United Parish Service in All Saints’ Church at 11.00 a.m.
Parish Gift Day We would like to thank parishioners for their very generous support for the Parish through their Gift Day offering. If you would still like to support the Parish Gift Day your contribution will be greatly appreciated.
Christmas Donation to Society of St. Vincent de Paul
This Christmas, with all the other churches in the Mullingar area, we will be donating money to assist the Society in their compassionate distribution to people in need.
Mullingar Choral
The Christmas Concert will be held in the Cathedral at 7p.m. on Sunday 4th December. A wonderful Christmas musical occasion.
Bereavement
We offer our deepest sympathy to Rosanne, Alan, Nick and Simon Broderick and Mark, Rachel and Alice Potterton, who live in the Parish, and the wider family, following the death of their uncle Harold Clarke. Harold was very well known and prominent businessman and also a very committed member of the Church of Ireland. He lived a long life that won admiration and respect from a very wide circle of family and friends. We pray that, now in the fuller presence of God, he may rest in peace and that his family may be comforted by their lovely memories of him.
We also offer our sympathy to Kevin, Clodagh, Aoife, Oisin and Caoimhe Ryan following the death of Kevin’s mother Lily. Lily was a much loved mother and grandmother and was greatly admired by her circle of friends and members of the wider community. She passed away very peacefully in the wonderful care of the Camillians in Killucan. Lily was a person of enormous faith and we pray that, now in the fuller presence of God, she may rest in peace and that all the family may draw comfort from their many lovely memories of her.
We were all sad to learn of the passing of Doreen Deering who was a very longstanding member of All Saints’ Parish in Mullingar. Doreen was over 100 years of age but was lucid to the very end of her life. She was a delight to visit and listening to her stories of living in Ireland over 100 years was both fascinating and enjoyable. Doreen’s funeral took place in All Saints’ and she was buried with her much-loved sister Poppy in Clara, Co. Offaly. At the time of her death Doreen was the last surviving member of her family. We pray that she may now rest in the Lord’s presence.
January Inspire Notes
While we were in the US recently I received an email advising that the January Notes were required in November. I sent the January Notes from the US but unfortunately they appear to have missed the deadline and so regretfully the Mullingar Notes will not appear in the January issue of Inspire. However, all the Parish news will be available in the January Union Notes.
St. Thomas’s Day
There will be Service of Holy Communion at 11.00 a.m. in All Saints’ on Wednesday 21st December.
With God’s blessings,
Rev. Alastair Graham
Church Services this Month
Sunday 4th December
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion (said), Rector
11.00 a.m. Children’s Christmas Christingle Service
with refreshments, Rector
Killucan 11.30a.m. Morning Prayer
Almoritia 7.00 p.m. Evening Prayer, Rector
Sunday 11th December
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Rector
11.00 a.m. Children’s Nativity Play
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Children’s Christmas Christingle Service
Sunday 18th December
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion (said), Rector
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Parish Carol Service
All Saints’ 7.00 p.m. Candlelit Christmas Carol Service with
The Mullingar Town Band
Saturday 24th December – Christmas Eve
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion with Prayers for Peace, Rector
10.30 p.m. Midnight Holy Communion in Candlelight Rector
Sunday 25th December – Christmas Day
All Saints’ 10.00 a.m. Christmas Family Service, Rector
Almoritia 10.00 a.m. Festival Holy Communion ,Canon Patrick Lawrence
Killucan 11.30 a.m. Festival Eucharist, Rector
Holy Days in December
26th December St. Stephen’s Day
27th December St. John’s Day
28th December Holy Innocents’ Day
There will be a Service of Holy Communion in All Saints’ on each of the Holy Days at 11.00 a.m.
Sunday 1st January – New Year’s Day
All Saints’ 11.00 a.m. Holy Communion and Carols, Rector
This is a United Service for parishioners from each of the churches
