Issue 175 “UNION NEWS” November 2024

Issue 175                    “UNION NEWS”                         November 2024
Dear Parishioners,
We have had enjoyable Harvest Services in all of our Churches over the past two months.
Thanks to all who decorated and then distributed the flowers and produce afterwards. A
special thank you to all who participated at the afternoon Songs of Praise on Sunday, 20th
October. The retiring collection at the services on the 20th went to Dominic Street Meals on
Wheels.

The annual Remembrance service will take place on Sunday 10th November at 10.30am and
we look forward to welcoming everyone to this special service. Please note the start time
which is to allow for the 2 minutes’ silence at 11am.
Vestry Meeting-The next meeting of the Select Vestry is on Tuesday 19th November at
7.30pmin All Saints’ Church Hall.
Whist Drives
November Whist Drive, Friday 1st November, 8pm All Saints Church Hall.

The December Whist Drive is on Friday 6th December at 8pm. All welcome

Youth Activities
Board Games Saturday 16th November 2pm – 3.30pm
Sunday School, 24th November at 10am
The Hub Friday 29th November 7.30pm – 9pm

Meals on Wheels
We are delighted that Elizabeth Broderick has been co-opted onto the board of St.Dominic's
Meals on Wheels as the Church of Ireland representative.Meals on Wheels is one of the local
charities supported by the Mullingar Union of Parishes.

Baptism
On October 5th we welcomed into Christian Fellowship through Baptism Max James Ennis,
son of James and Sarah Ennis and baby brother to Ava. Max is the grandson of Jennifer and
Brendan Coady.

Bereavement
We offer our deepest sympathy to Doreen Lynch and family on the death of Doreen’s aunt in
Donegal and to Olwyn Bourke on the death of her aunt in Dublin. Olwyn’s aunt was sister of
the late Ivan Bourke who was organist in All Saints’f or 60 years.

We also extended our sympathies to the McKay family on the death of Hans Oosting. Hans
was the husband of the late Anne Oosting nee McKay. Hans was laid to rest in Ballyglass
Cemetery on Monday 21st October. Canon Lawrence officiated at the funeral service and the
All Saints’ congregation was represented by Arthur and Marion OT’oole.
Sympathy is also extended to Marion O’Toole on the recent death of her two brothers within
a day of each other.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.

Retirement
We send best wishes to Diane Ashmore as she departs All Saints’ Primary school where she
held the position of Vice Principal and taught 3rd and 4th class. The last classroom day for
Mrs Ashmore was on Friday 23rd October. The Select Vestry would like to extend their
many thanks for the enormous contribution Mrs Ashmore has made to the School and Church
life with special mention of the All Sorts Choir and her musical guidance to the Lighten our
Darkness group.

Lighten Our Darkness update
Our thanks to Luke Hawkins who is working with the Lighten our Darkness group and has
organised a meeting with Ben Jones, President of Missional Generation to discuss the
ongoing production of an Eco Gen app. Missional Generation is a Christian charity based in
Leeds which seeks to empower young people to share their faith with others through the use
of technology. We look forward to hearing further details on their progress in our next issue.

Food for Thought
Hallowe’en
By the time we read the ‘Yellow Sheet’ we will be celebrating the season of Hallowe’en.
Children will be off school and enjoying the first school break of the new academic year.
Hallowe’en in Ireland has become very Americanised over the past twenty years or so.
It’s not so long ago that Halloween was celebrated-certainly in the country- with childish
‘tricks’ and general harmless foolery.
Frightening costumes were worn particularly by children, and so the imagined evil spirits of
Hallowe’en were meant to be frightened away!
Children played games with apples and nuts, and generally a good time was had by all!
Judging by some of the outside house decorations we see now, Hallowe’en has taken on a
more sinister outlook. It feels like a more unhealthy attitude to the dead is being marked,
along with attention to witches and human skeletal forms. It is hard to see what the
connection between these things and Hallowe’en is, except that these items help to create
opportunities for commerce.
Hallowe’en is literally the eve of All Hallows Day, better known as All Saints’s Day.
The Church of Ireland celebrates All Saints Day following Hallowe’en by remembering and
celebrating the saints living and departed.
The more catholic wing of the church also celebrates the day after, November 2nd. As All
Souls’ day emphasising the desire to pray to those who have died that they might intercede
for us before the throne of God.
Whatever your desires are, enjoy Hallowe’en. (Nothing spooky or macabre to be frightened
of!)

Friday November 1st, we celebrate Holy Communion in All Saints’ Church at 11.00 a.m. PL

Emergency Pastoral Care
During the vacancy Canon Patrick Lawrence is available for emergency pastoral care. His
contact details are 0449222109 or 0860562944

November Church Services

Sunday 3rd November Fourth Sunday before Advent
All Saints’ 10am Holy Communion
Almoritia 11.30am Holy Communion
Killucan 11.30am Family Service
Sunday 10th November
All Saints Mullingar Remembrance Service 10.30am
Sunday 17th November
All Saints’ Mullingar 10am Morning Prayer
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer
Sunday 24th November
All Saints’ Mullingar 10am Morning Prayer
Kilbixy 11.30am Morning Prayer
Advent Carol Service All Saints Mullingar 7pm
Sunday 1st December
All Saints’ Mullingar 10am Holy Communion
Killucan 11.30am Morning Prayer
Kilbixy 11.30 Holy Communion
Dates for the Diary
Sunday 1st December Ecumenical Advent Carol Service Mullingar Cathedral
Friday 20th December 7.30pm Carol Service All Saints’ Mullingar
Saturday 21st December 5.30pm Carol Service Killucan
Holy Days
There will be Holy Communion in All Saints’ at 11am for the following
Friday 1st November, Feast of All Saints.

Parish Website –
www.mullingarunionofparishes.net