Dear Parishioners,<\/p>\n
Revd. Hazel Scully
\nThe special Service held on Sunday 25 th February will long be remembered in the
\nannals of the Parish. At the Service we had both the privilege and pleasure of
\ncelebrating Hazel\u2019s ministry in the Parish since 2003 and her valued role as a
\nparishioner prior to her Ordination. Hazel\u2019s contribution to the Parish was nothing
\nshort of colossal and in showing our appreciation we also thanked her husband, Ray,
\nand the members of her family for all their support over the years. We hope that
\nHazel can now look forward to many years of rest after her wonderful ministry in the
\nParish.<\/p>\n
Whist Drive \u2013 Friday 1 st March at 8p.m.
\nOver the last 15 years Olive has taken a very keen interest in organising the Parish
\nWhist Drives. The Whist Drive on Friday 1 st March will be the last one she will
\norganise. The Whist Drives provide a most enjoyable occasion for those who attend
\nand, in thanking Olive for all she has done, we would also like to express our sincere
\nthanks to all those who assisted her so generously with their time and prizes over the
\nyears. Everyone will be most welcome to attend the Whist Drive and you are assured
\nof a most enjoyable evening.<\/p>\n
All Saints\u2019 School
\nOn Sunday 3 rd March Bishop Storey will preach at the 60 th Anniversary Service of the
\nlocation of the school at All Saints\u2019. The school has provided an excellent education
\nto children over all those years. It is wonderful to see that it is still thriving and the
\nopportunity the children get in their education from the Principal, the teachers and the
\nstaff is nothing short of wonderful. Their dedication and care of the children is utterly
\nimpressive. Everyone will be most welcome to attend this very happy occasion at
\n11.00 a.m. this Sunday.<\/p>\n
General Easter Vestry
\nThe General Easter Vestry will be held on Thursday 7 th March at 8.00 p.m. in All
\nSaints\u2019 Church. This is the annual meeting of the Parish and this year I do hope the
\nmeeting will be very well attended. We will elect the new members of the Select
\nVestry and their role is going to be exceptionally important in preparing for the arrival
\nof the new Rector and the continued benefit of the Parish. The current Select Vestry
\nwill meet at 7.15 p.m. on Thursday 7 th for a short meeting prior to the Easter Vestry
\nmeeting at 8.00 p.m.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Gardens of Hope
\nOn Saturday 2 nd March the Lighten Our Darkness churchyard working group will meet
\nat Stonehall churchyard at 9.30 a.m. I will also be at All Saints\u2019 at 9.00 a.m. to offer
\nanyone a lift to Stonehall who may not be familiar with its\u2019 location. I warmly invite
\nparishioners to come and join the young leaders as we undertake this very important
\nwork to protect biodiversity in each of the Parish churchyards.
\nLiverpool
\nThe visit by the young leaders of the Lighten Our Darkness initiative to the Diocese of
\nLiverpool on the weekend of 18 th February was a truly wonderful success. The young
\nleaders\u2019 presence and enthusiasm was greatly appreciated and their presentation was
\nsimply outstanding. On the Sunday morning the young leaders visited a number of
\nParishes to speak about the project and the clergy and people of Liverpool were
\nsimply enthralled and, most importantly, inspired to undertake a programme of
\ncreation care to help repair the damage that has been done to God\u2019s creation. I cannot
\ncommend the young leaders more highly and their outstanding tutors who have given
\nthem such support and assistance. Lighten Our Darkness has been an initiative that
\nhas gained a national profile in the Church of Ireland and beyond and it is all our
\nhopes that the work and example the young leaders have given will inspire countless
\npeople in the Church to take on a role of stewarding the beautiful natural world God
\nhas bequeathed to us. I wish all the young leaders the very best for what will be a
\nbright future for them all.
\nHoly Baptisms
\nWe pray for all those children who have been recently baptised and also for their
\nparents and godparents.
\nBereavements
\nWe offer our deepest sympathy to Edna Craig following the recent death of her sister
\nin Canada, to David Webster following the death of his uncle in Co. Wicklow and to
\nDr. Willie Fearon following the death of his brother in Chester, England. We pray
\nthat Edna, David and Willie will be comforted by their lovely memories of their loved
\nones. We pray that each of their loved ones, now in the fuller presence of God, may
\nrest and rise in glory.
\nSt. Etchen\u2019s Killucan
\nIt has recently come to the attention of the churchwardens that the number of prayer
\nbooks available for public worship has diminished. It may be that unintentionally
\nparishioners have taken prayer books home with them and, if this is the case, we
\nwonder would they be kind enough to return them to the church please.<\/p>\n
St. Patrick\u2019s Day
\nThere will be a celebration with the usual lovely music provided by the choir, on
\nSunday 17 th March. However, this year the streets will be closed to traffic due to the
\nSt. Patrick\u2019s weekend celebrations in the town. Therefore parishioners are invited to
\npark at the Rectory on St. Patrick\u2019s Day and to walk through the Rectory garden to the
\nchurch. Some parishioners may also decide to park at Dunnes Stores and take the
\nshort walk to All Saints. We hope for a large attendance on what is always a very
\nspecial occasion.<\/p>\n
Church Services
\nAfter the 10 th March the Archdeacon will be responsible for arranging the church
\nservices in the Parish. The Archdeacon has been furnished with the times of Sunday
\nservices and it is hoped to make these available to parishioners during the vacancy.
\nClosing Services
\nAs everyone is aware, I will be retiring as Rector of the Parish following the church
\nservices on Sunday 10 th March. I would like to hold a church Service in each of the
\nchurches before I depart. On Sunday 3 rd March at 7.00 p.m. I will conduct a Service in
\nAlmoritia. On Saturday 9 th March I will conduct a Service in Kilbixy at 5.00 p.m. On
\nSunday 10 th March I will conduct a Service in All Saints\u2019 at 10.00 a.m. and in Killucan
\nat 11.30 a.m. My final Service will take place in All Saints\u2019 on Sunday 10 th March at
\n4.00 p.m. Sacred music is such an important part of our worship of almighty God and
\nthe final Service will be a Songs of Praise when we will all come to church to sing
\nsome of the inspiring hymns that lift all our hearts in our worship of God. I look
\nforward to meeting parishioners at these final Services to express my gratitude and
\nthanks for the magnificent support Olive and I have received over the last 15 years.
\nWe will miss you all very much<\/p>\n
Union Notes
\nThese are the last Union Notes that I have prepared for distribution in the Parish. The
\nfirst yellow sheet was posted to everyone in September 2009 These final Union Notes
\nare no. 168. I have kept a copy of each of the Union Notes and I am going to leave
\nthem in the Parish so that there will be a lovely record of all the many and different
\noccasions we shared together since 2009.<\/p>\n
A Warm Farewell
\nOlive and I will naturally be very sad to be leaving all of you in the Parish. We leave
\nwith the most wonderful memories of your friendship and love and we will look
\nforward from time to time to our visits to your amazing county of Westmeath and in
\nparticular the area embracing the Mullingar Union of Parishes. You are truly amazing
\nparishioners and your next Rector will be utterly blessed with the opportunity of
\nworking, praying and living with such lovely people. May God bless each of you with
\nHis grace and love.<\/p>\n
With God\u2019s blessings,Revd. Alastair Graham<\/p>\n
Church Services this Month \u2013 March 2024<\/p>\n
Sunday 3 rd March
\nAll Saints\u2019 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion (said)
\n11.00 a.m. 60 th School Anniversary Service
\nPreacher Bishop Storey
\nKillucan 11.30 a.m. Morning Prayer
\nAlmoritia 7.00 p.m. Evening Prayer<\/p>\n
Saturday 9 th March
\nKilibxy 5.00 p.m. Holy Communion<\/p>\n
Sunday 10 th March
\nAll Saints\u2019 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion
\nKillucan 11.30 a.m. Holy Communion
\nAll Saints\u2019 4.00 p.m. Farewell Service and Songs of Praise<\/p>\n
Sunday 17 th March
\nAll Sainta\u2019 11a.m. St. Patricks Day Service (with music)
\nSunday 24 th March \u2013 Palm Sunday<\/p>\n
Good Friday 29 th March \u2013 12 noon Holy Hour-All Saints\u2019<\/p>\n
Sunday 31 st March \u2013 Easter Day
\nAll Saints 9a.m. Holy Communion
\n11a.m. Easter Family Service
\nKillucan 11.30a.m. Morning Prayer<\/p>\n
All Saints\u2019Sunday School-The leaders will arrange a monthly children\u2019s
\nService at 5p.m on Sunday 28 TH April, Sunday 26 th May and also on
\nEaster Day 31 st March. On Sunday 23 rd June there will be a Bible Camp
\nfrom 3- 5 p.m. led by Luke Hawkins followed by a service at 5p.m. The
\nleaders are also going to hold Saturday games in All Saints\u2019 starting on
\nSaturday 23 rd March at 2p.m.and also on Saturdays 13 th April, 11 th May
\nand June 8 th for children ages 7 years and older. We hope lots of children
\nwill attend<\/p>\n
Parish Sale \u2013 Saturday 11 th May
\nPlease pop the above date in your diary for the Annual Parish Sale. We will
\nhave all the popular stalls along with a few more. There will also be the
\nchildren\u2019s baking competition, full details in the April yellow sheet. If you are a
\ngardener please keep any extra plants or parts of your divided plants that you
\nmay have for the sale. Helpers always welcome for the stalls, please let us
\nknow if you are available to help, 10am- 2pm. Emma 0876374131<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Parishioners, Revd. Hazel Scully The special Service held on Sunday 25 th February will long be remembered in the annals of the Parish. At the Service we had both the privilege and pleasure of celebrating Hazel\u2019s ministry in the …<\/p>\n