February 2005
After a really good and happy Christmas Day and with all the good things leading up to the festival it was of course with great shock that the Tsunami disaster began to reveal itself on St Stephen’s day. (The giving from this parish has been tremendous.) We are very proud of one of our congregation who is now out there – Noel Baker – as a news reporter for various national papers. He is writing some vivid and thought provoking articles. It will be a trip quite unlike any other and one he will never forget. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Little did he or we think on Christmas Day that within a matter of a day or so, he would be flying off to Sri Lanka and then going on to Thailand etc.
As I said we had a good Christmas and thank you to everyone who made all the services special in so many ways. The snow was a great bonus for Christmas morning!
We now look forward to the baptism of Sarah May Appelbe at Farranthomas on 23rd January. Sarah is the daughter of Henry and Olive Appelbe.
Confirmation classes are about to start – the Confirmation this year being on 29th May also at Farranthomas.
The next Vestry meeting will be on Wednesday 2nd February at St Paul’s Parish Centre, Ballymoney. This year is the year for all office holders (Nominators, Synod members etc.) to be up for election. The Easter Vestry will be at Kilmeen on 3rd April after the 10.30 Holy Communion service – put it in your diary now!
Lent arrangements are as follows:-
Wed. 9th February 8.30 Ballineen Methodist Church
Ash Wednesday Service
Wed. 16th February 8.30 St Paul’s Centre Ballymoney
Wed. 23rd February 8.30 Ballineen Methodist Church
Wed. 2nd March 8.30 Ballineen Methodist Church
Wed. 9th March 8.30 St Paul’s Centre Ballymoney – Mother’s Union Service
Everybody welcome (followed by AGM)
Wed. 16th March 8.30 St Paul’s Centre Ballymoney
Thurs. 24th March 8.30 Christ Church, Kilmeen
Maundy Thursday Service of the Last Supper
Each evening – apart from the services underlined – will take the form of a discussion and/or meditation led by various people followed by a form of Night Prayer.
The Good Friday workshop will be at Desertserges this year. We do try to use all churches in rotation for different events.
A big thank you to Betty Smith for making a set of Green and a set of Festive White burses and veils for use at Farranthomas, and for renewing the Red set with embroidery.
We are pleased now that Kenneth Clarke (Mossgrove, Newcestown) is well on his way to recovery after his accident on the farm.
16th December
In Kilowen churchyard – Jessie Susan Lowe (neé Frost). Interment of ashes after cremation in Godalming, Surrey, England.