December Services
4th 10.00 DESERTSERGES Morning Prayer;
11.30 KINNEIGH Holy Communion with Baptism
11th 10.00 FARRANTHOMAS Holy Communion
11.30 KILMEEN Ballymoney School Carol Service
18th 10.00 Kinneigh Holy Communion
11.30 DESERTSERGES Desertserges School Carol Service
8pm Kinneigh Ecumenical Candle-lit Service
24th 11.30pm DESERTSERGES Midnight Communion
25th 8.30 am FARRANTHOMAS Holy Communion
10am Kilmeen Holy Communion
11.30am Kinneigh Holy Communion
1st 10.30am Kinneigh Christingle Service with Holy Communion
O Living Word proceeding from the mouth of God, penetrating to the ends of the earth, come and pierce us with the sword of truth.
One moment he was there, the next gone! That’s how he would have wished.
David Llewellyn was with us as usual at the Sunday Eucharist on 16th October at St Mary’s, Desertserges. Afterwards, a group of us were in discussion about new handrails in the church, to make access for the less able, easier. In his usual indomitable way (waving his stick expressively) David couldn’t understand what all the fuss was all about. If he couldn’t walk up to the altar he’d crawl on all fours!
Two and half weeks later on All Soul’s Day (with new handrails in place, for anyone to use of course) St Mary’s was the setting of David’s funeral. He no longer had the need of sticks or rails!
With a church full, we remembered an extraordinary life well lived. The service reflected the fact that he would not have wanted anything gloomy. He would be all for emphasizing the Christian triumphant Easter rising in glory, meeting God and his loved ones, not of merely wasting the next Great Adventure in serving his Lord, by ‘resting around in peace!’
Lorna Wallace (David’s daughter from Canada) read the lesson from Wisdom; Archdeacon Robin Bantry White preached; Cathy and David Lehane shared two prayers they had written for their grandfather, then Dean Michael Burrows led us in a series of memories and collects. Ann Lehane and Michael Burrows shared the task of organist between them and Liam Buckley and Mike Goggin (two Classical guitarists) played very appropriately during the distribution of the Communion. The Rector, led the service and presided.
Here in Kinneigh Union we were privileged that he came back to live out his last two years with us after an absence of over twenty years. Everyone had stories of his ability to demolish pulpits during sermons, of bells crashing round him and his otherworldliness. He enjoyed renewing many contacts and was a great support to me, the Rector. Although life was never the same after Doreen had died and he felt very frustrated by not being able to do all the things he used to do, nevertheless in his late eighties he was still an inspiration to us all in his unflagging zeal for Third World aid, his love of the Eucharist, his ability to preach and make his point. We have lost a good friend.
Thanks to all – especially Valerie Jennings, Marjorie Garland, Kenneth Beezley, Graham Garland and Frank Jennings for getting so much professional work done the days before (and the very night before!) and for making St Mary’s so welcoming in time for the funeral.
(More about David Llewellyn elsewhere in this magazine.)
As we all prepare for the Christmas season let’s not loose sight of the fact that ecologically we are all heading for disaster if the nations (starting with ourselves as individuals) don’t take greater care of the planet. Change can start with all of us this year being wise shoppers (buy FairTrade, or ethically produced items whenever possible.) Something home made (even recycled) and where time with a touch of care and love is involved, says far more, and does more for our environment.
Christmas Cards (locally made) of the Kinneigh Round Tower and Church are available in packs of ten @ €10 a pack or two packs @ €15. The artist is Peter Flynn and the cards are in aid of the Castletown Kinneigh Table Tennis Club. Obtainable from Ina and Ivan Shorten 023 47202
Congratulations to Rosemary and Roy Logie on the birth of their son Calum – a new grandson for Jean and Richard Buttimer.
O Child of God calling together the creatures of the earth, the vulnerable with the powerful, come, gentle our strength, coax our trembling into song. (Jim Cotter1989)