December has been a month of special cakes and varied festivities – and in the Union, a number of two of everything!
Birthday Cake Early in the month I was in England for my brothers 50th birthday and I took the opportunity to visit friends and family. An enjoyable time even with a hazardous ferry trip back to Rosslare in stormy weather!
Wedding Cake = Two weddings in the parish; Elizabeth Buttimer and Jason O’Halloran on 15th December. John Duke and Anna McSweeney on 27th December.
Baptism (or Christening) Cake = Two baptisms Melissa Anabel Shorten, daughter of Harold and Violet on 10th December; Simon Paul Jennings son of Jennifer and Shane on 17th December .
At the time of writing (apart from Melissa’s baptism with her own special cake and surrounded by lots of family and friends) most cakes have yet to be cut!
Christmas Cake = Thank you in advance to all who have made Christmas special in so many different ways.
Two school Carol Services - Desertserges and Ballymoney both put a tremendous amount of energy in producing their imaginative Carol Services and enriching the life of the Union.
Two Ecumenical Carol services. This year at Ballineen Methodist Church where we thought about God’s messengers, the angels; and on the 22nd at St Joseph’s, Castletown, with thanks to Silá Hennessey and the Ecumenical Choir.
There has been the usual round of pre Christmas Community dinners (I only did two this year) and this year the Mother’s Union entertained members of Dunmanway MU to a Christmas party with a Beetle Drive (two M U s!) Lots of other things (not in twos) will have also taken place by the time you read this. We also look forward to the Christingle Service for the very young and all their family at Farranthomas, 5pm on 31st December.
On Sunday 7th January at 11.30 our Methodist Friends will worship with us at Kinneigh and we will use the Methodist Covenant Service.
We have a date for Confirmation next year – Sunday 6th May so Confirmation Classes will start in the New Year. Can I have names in please now, of anyone who would like to be confirmed? If there are adults, others of you might like to join in with them as a refresher course and as companions in faith.
At the time of writing Barney Coombes is back in hospital after falling badly. Tom Kingston is in Bantry Hospital and Annie Bateman has to undergo surgery. We wish them all speedy recovery.
Ballymoney School The theme of ‘twos’ continues here. We interviewed for the job of Principal and it was with great pleasure we were able to offer the post to Ms Lisa Hawkins-Ahern who will give the school a strong sense of continuity as well as bringing with her very many considerable talents. We have now interviewed for a second permanent teacher. The news about this person should be out by the time this magazine is!
December
10th In St Bartholomew’s Church, Kinneigh; Melissa Anabel Shorten, daughter of Harold and Violet.