January 2004

Happy New Year and I hope everyone has enjoyed a good Christmas. Thanks to everyone who made Christmas in the Kinneigh Union so special and for all the hard work and enjoyment that we have had together. It is only by putting real effort into things that we get true satisfaction. The two school services, the Ecumenical Carols by Candlelight and the Christmas Eve Crib Service were all different this year proving the musical and artistic talent we have in the Union.

It was good having Francis Buttimer back from hospital and among us after his horrific fall from a ladder, hitting a metal crate. What with injuries all down one side affecting his kidneys, spleen and ribs he was lucky the accident wasn’t even more serious. The family are very grateful for the way so many people have swung into action to help out, both immediately at the time of the accident and long-term whist Francis gets better.

Farming has become one of the most dangerous or hazardous occupations; not that farming itself is becoming more dangerous but that other industries now have very stringent health and safety regulations and have reduced their accident rate. This means in most cases people aren’t carrying out hazardous tasks in isolation but have constant back up, unlike most farmers. Yes, I have read the booklet outlining safe practice and policies on farms, and we are all aware of what is needed; but the reality is that often, (for many of us – not just farmers) we must do things which entail a degree of risk and often alone. This is where the concept of good neighbours is important – people who don’t mind being there for us and lending a hand when needed.

BCP 2004 As you will have already read elsewhere and in this magazine, now is the time to order your Book of Common Prayer 2004 There is a discount of 20% on orders placed and paid before 25^th January 2004 (We have set this date in the Union so we can get the final order together across the Union before the deadline of the end of the month

Pew edition @ €19.99 less 20% = €16 each (green hard back, three ribbons)

Pew Presentation @ €29.99 less 20% = €24 each (red imitation leather/skivertex with gold-edged pages and ribbon markers)

Large print Edition @ €19.99 less 20% = €16 (green hard back, three ribbons.) Put your order in and payment with the following people who have the order forms:-

Betty Kingston for Kilmeen;

Lily Shorten for Farranthomas;

Billy Duke for Kinneigh;

Hilda Ross for Desertserges.

Each church building also needs extra books, (say minimum of twenty) which may be given in memory of loved ones.

We also need in each church, one or two Desk Editions @ €40 less 20% = €32 each or Presentation Desk Edition @ €55 less 20% = €44 each (red imitation leather/skivertex, with gold-edged pages and silk ribbons.) These may also be given in memory of loved ones.

Baptism – It was with great pleasure we welcomed baby Ryan Shane Jennings into full membership of the church at Kilmeen on 13^th December.

This was the fifth baptism at Kilmeen in 2003 – which isn’t bad going for a small country church. The cut glass bowl in the font, which was given in memory of Anne McKeag in 2003, has now been nicknamed ‘The Busy Bowl!’

Marriage – our congratulations to Lisa Hawkins teacher at Ballymoney School and Pat Ahern on their wedding at Bandon on the 3^rd January.

Funeral – It was a fine sunny autumn day of 21^st November that the body of Eva Buttimer was finally laid to rest in her beloved Kilmeen churchyard. The reception into church two nights before had been a real homecoming with so many friends and neighbours of the family. She died on the 18^th November aged ninety three, the end of a remarkable life.

HOLY BAPTISM

13^th December

In Christ Church Kilmeen Ryan Shane, son of Shane and Jennifer Jennings.

Burial

21^st November

In Christ Church Kilmeen Evelyn Jane Buttimer