November 2003
Our seven baptism and confirmation candidates Chris Baker, Lorna Buttimer, Adam Deane, Jessica Elstob, Niall Helen David Shorten, Amanda Sullivan, were duly confirmed by Bishop Paul at Christ Church Kilmeen on 12th October. This was a very joyful occasion and having a baptism (Jessica) brought out the full meaning of confirmation. A liturgical highlight was when Bishop Paul sprinkled everyone with water from the font as a reminder and renewal of our baptismal promises. Bishop Paul told us during the sermon about a very new way of praying and being with God by focusing through the aid of different coloured meditation beads from Scandinavia. These beads are not like a rosary, but one by one each colour helps us to focus on different aspects of our life (work, relationships, our private knowledge of ourselves, etc.) – including a gold one that is God. We see our own image reflected in the gold one reminding us that we are not God but that we were made in the image of God and all that means with its responsibility to the world. We look forward to hearing more about this aid to prayer and spirituality and to eventually using them in this Union, when they become available.
The Draper family and friends have been busy at St Bartholomew’s Church, Kinneigh sanding down and revarnishing the pews in readiness for Dorothy Draper and Seán Brennan’s wedding. The pews were ready infact days just before the Harvest Festival; the church smelt really fresh and clean – and nobody got stuck to the pews!
A big thank you to all who cleaned and decorated all the churches for the various Harvest festivals – I love the autumn colours and fruitfulness that Harvest Festival time brings. A big thanks to all our preachers, The Revs. Jean Blanchard and Stella Mikhail, and to Mrs Irene Bagnall local Methodist lay preacher.
At the time of writing we look forward to Dorothy and Seán’s wedding; I am excited to be sharing the occasion with Fr. Gerard Galvin. More about this next month.
Also at the time of writing, we look forward to Kelvin Shorten’s baptism at Kinneigh on 19th October and our love and thoughts go to him. As most of you know I much prefer to hold the rite of baptism in the context of the centrality of the Eucharist, that is the regular communicant congregation being the welcoming community to new members of the church. However I realise that sometimes for reasons of travel, work and timing of our morning services, the family prefer another time. Ralph and Carolyn are infact very much part of the worshipping community and very well understand all this and know why I am mentioning this here.
We welcomed Cian Thomas Cars through baptism on 2nd October and our best wishes go to him and his family.
Savour the Flavour – Ballymaloe Irish Stew from the Taoiseach; Crunchy Chicken from the Bishop; Penne with Tomatoes, Spicy Sausage and Cream from Davina Allen; a special omelette from Ann-Marie Kelly of Today FM; Tuna Tagliatelle from David Heap/Donal Maher of Fair City; Seared Honey Soy Salmon from Gay Byrne; Chicken Lano from Ian Dempsey of Today FM and lots more from Charlie Bird of RTE News; Neven McGuire of Open House – the list goes on and includes Sharon Wolfe local headmistress; lots of you who are reading this and even the Rector! What is it? It is a lovely recipe book that has been a real community effort in a bit of fundraising for Ballymoney School. People from all quarters have contributed and it will make a very good Christmas present that will go through the post to people far away (well that’s what I’m going to do this year.) Thanks to parents Wendy O’Mahony and Grace Hosford for all their hard work; to the sponsors of the project and to Carla Blake for her support, and special recipe and for being at the book launch on 17th October. Cost €10, look out for it at various shops in the Ballineen area, Bantry Market and various fayres and through parents of the school. Wendy O’Mahony 023 47965 for further details.
Even though we in this Union of Parishes are obviously going to enjoy a gourmet winter of good eating, we … (seriously now) …. do not forget those whose crops have failed; those who crave the Good News of aid and relief of famine; and for the Christian institutions who seek to serve those in need. In this matter we hold our yearly Missionary Giving Service on 13th November at 8pm at Farranthomas when and where we are asked to give sacrificially all we can, to both Aid and Missionary societies. It is part of our Christian discipleship that we don’t just give our spare cash to ‘charity’ but to plan our giving week-by-week, monthly and yearly. More people are beginning to see the practical sense of giving regularly though direct debit from their bank to the parish (best way) or to gift aid by giving collection through named envelops so as to save on tax. Cheques are welcomed at the Missionary Giving Service. We look forward to the Rev Eileen Cremin that night as our special preacher. All welcome to this service.
Our giving from this parish is shown in very many other ways throughout the year and local hospitals and homes have shown their appreciation for recent gifts and donations from the harvest collections.
Our thanks to Jim Turner of Rossmore Pottery for making four lovely little pottery lavabo jugs and basins for use by the president (the priest) for hand washing at the Eucharist.
The Girls’ Brigade Enrolment Service is on Sunday 16th November 10am at Kinneigh Church. We welcome the Reverend John Purdy our local Methodist Minister and co-chaplain to the Girls’ Brigade.
October
2nd In Christ Church Kilmeen – Cian Thomas son of Steven and Joanne Cars
12th In Christ Church Kilmeen - Jessica Leigh daughter of Carol and Ian Elstob
August
23rd In Christ Church Kilmeen - Rosemary Buttimer and Roy Logie