The Swanlinbar Kildallon Group of Parishes in the Church of Ireland Kilmore Diocese. Corrawallen Kildallon Kinawley Newtowngore Swanlinbar Templeport Tomregan

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Newsletter No 8  January 2008

A work in progress!!

I’m not asking for a show of hands, but can anyone remember the American TV show called PETROCELLI? You’d be showing your age, along with me, if you did! The program first appeared on TV back in 1974 and centred on Tony Petrocelli, a Harvard-educated attorney of Italian descent who left the big-city rat race for peace and tranquillity in the west. He and his wife, Maggie, roughed it in a trailer while their new home was under construction, something which Tony was doing himself – each show began and ended with Petrocelli pictured working at the house. The whole time I watched the show, over the couple of years that it ran on TV, I never noticed any progress or development – it always seemed to be at the same stage of construction. I think that this illustration is really useful as Lent looms large in the Christian calendar.

Tony Petrocelli
Traditionally, Lent is viewed as a penitential season, a time for reflection and self-examination, and that is exactly what we will be encouraging folk to do. Obviously, all of us who choose to follow Jesus are “a work in progress”, not “the complete thing”, this side of eternity. But has there been any progress or growth in your walk with Jesus this past 12 months? For some of us the answer will be a resounding YES and that is something to be celebrated and built upon. For some the answer will be MAYBE, perhaps due to a year with peaks and troughs in a spiritual sense and that is something which we should determine to deal with. For others the answer will be a definite NO as they have perhaps been laying the same old brick with the same old stale cement and the building is actually decaying rather than progressing and that is a state of affairs that definitely needs urgent attention.
Building

But how can we build on our faith and grow in our walk with Jesus? Well the responsibility for that rests with you the reader and I would like to suggest a number of ways in which you can move forward in your faith;
You could determine to read some Bible notes each day and so feed your soul on a daily basis – to do this contact Geoff, in confidence, and he will be only too glad to provide you with a set of notes, covering the next three months, at no charge;
You could come to one of our Lenten services, full details are contained elsewhere in this Newsletter;
If you haven’t been to Church in a while, then why not come along some Sunday morning rather than waiting for Easter Sunday;
You could come along to our Lenten Bible Study in Ballyconnell – full details elsewhere in this Newsletter.
There are lots of things that we could all do to move forward in our faith this Lent as we are all a work in progress. The decision to act rests with each one of us as we begin once more this period of self-examination and reflection.

Church of Ireland  CrossGeoffChurch of Ireland  Cross

 

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News Items

GROUP NEWS

The Beadles have landed!

It’s great to finally take stock having arrived at last! On behalf of the Beadle family I can say with confidence we are truly delighted and excited to finally be here.
Thank you so much to everyone for your welcome. We really enjoyed our service of welcome and appreciated all who went out of their way to make it such a memorable occasion.
The first week was largely spent unpacking. It is a long while before I want to see so many cardboard boxes again! The children have really enjoyed the space the house provides while I am very grateful for the office space for books and visual aids.
We really must say a big thank you to all who have worked so hard to make the house feel as welcoming and homely as possible. To all who have overseen contractors, listened to our preferences for colours and curtains, helped with drills and cleaning and making things - a huge thank you. We really appreciate the gifts of your time and talents. Thank you.
The twins Alicia and Asher are in playschool two days a week while Ruth has settled really well at school in Ballyconnell. Ruth went to the Girls Friendly Society yesterday for the first time in Newtowngore and had a brilliant time.
I’m learning to find my way a bit but it will take time. I have though learnt some important things like always take a map and try and start a journey going on the right road! Much of the countryside looks the same (especially at night!) but I will soon learn the different routes around. More seriously I am greatly looking forward to getting to know many of you as people in your groups and homes over the coming months.
For ourselves as a family we are going though a time of enormous change. Not surprisingly we have sometimes asked ourselves “What are we doing?” but always we are reassured that God is truly in this move. I can tell you that’s the best place, indeed the only place we want to be.
We are also conscious that we come to a parish group that is in the midst of significant and exciting change. We can see that it is change not for change sake but so that more of Jesus can be seen as we grow as a church family and grow in faith.
I was particularly encouraged to attend the informal praise service at Kildallon. Some of you came, like me for the first time not knowing what to expect - but you came. Some of you knew that the music might not be your preference - but you came. Most of you knew the topic was challenging to all of us (forgiveness is never easy) yet you came. You came out of your normal fixed routines to seek God. There was a hunger for God that night. Growing is difficult but so much easier when we are seriously seeking after God. We were so encouraged!
We as a family look forward to journeying with you over the next few years. As together we seek after God, may we encourage one another.

Richard, Pauline and the children






Richard Beadle with wife Pauline & children

To protect the children their faces have been altered

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Welcome to Richard, Pauline and the children!

Rev Geoff, Bishop Ken, Capt Richard Beadle and Captain Colin Taylor
Above, from left: Rev Geoff, Bishop Ken, Capt Richard Beadle and Captain Colin Taylor
Below: Richard’s parents behind himself and Pauline. Right Geoff, Naomi, Pauline & Richard
Richard’s parents behind himself and Pauline
Geoff, Naomi, Pauline & Richard
We had a great service of welcome for our new Church Army Officer, Capt Richard Beadle, his wife Pauline and their 3 children, Ruth, Asher and Alicia on Sunday 6th Jan. There was a lovely warm atmosphere in the service and afterwards in the community centre as we continued fellowship over a cup of tea.
Bishop Ken spoke on John 3 and 1 John 3, reminding us of the awesome, generous love God has for each one of us.
One of the most significant aspects of the service was the call to commitment from the whole congregation to be part of the ministry to which Richard has been called. Richard and the family will need our support and encouragement as they settle into a new area and a new ministry. Richard’s work will be primarily, though not exclusively, with children and families with young children. We want to see this crucial area of ministry grow in our group.
I would like to thank everyone who helped in the preparation of the service, all who took part in the service and all those who contributed to the refreshments afterwards – all of these contributions say “You are Welcome” in their own small way.

There are lots more pictures on the web site at:
www.swanlinbar-kildallon.kilmore.anglican.org/group-news/beadle-welcome

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United Services

One of the first tasks that I have been asked to look at is the United Service. We want this to be a service that is meaningful worship for people of all ages - from the youngest to the oldest. This is a wonderful challenge and will take time to develop. I ask for your patience as we find our way. I expect that I will be pointed to a few people who may be able to help but would love to hear from anyone who would like to be involved. Based on the Church of Ireland Service of the Word these are creative visual and participative and informal in shape. The liturgy will sometimes be new. There might be drama or quizzes. Prayers might sometimes be written. Talks will always have a visual element. Songs will be in both modern and more traditional styles.

United services are not simply an adult service with the children present or indeed a service just for the children. Our hope and longing for this service is that it becomes a special quality of worship of its own that can only happen because ALL AGES interact creatively and worshipfully. United services will teach us so much about what it is to be a community of faith, to participate and rejoice in our creativity, our different ages, gifts and preferences that can all be offered to God.

The next United service in the Kildallon part of the group will be on Sunday 10th February for GFS Enrolment Sunday and in Swanlinbar on the 17th when we celebrate Holy Baptism. Whatever your age please come along.

Richard    

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Richard Beadle

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Office Administrative Assistant

The Group Office in Ballyconnell is nearing completion, with just a few things remaining to be done at the time of writing. I would like to encourage folk to consider the position of Administrative Assistant to work in the office for a total of 15 hours per month. It is envisaged that this position would be flexible in nature, of course within certain necessary parameters. Rather than listing details of criteria required for the position, we would welcome folk to contact Geoff for more details, including remuneration package and an application form. Closing date for applications is Friday 8th February 2008.

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Office desk

Sparklers galore!!

Christmas was a busy time for young men in the Swanlinbar part of our group with proposals of marriage coming thick and fast!
Nicola Breen (Kinawley) and Dave McLean, Louise Fisher (Swanlinbar) and Barry Healy, Lorraine Kells (Templeport) and Gethin Duggan & Gail Foster (Ballyconnell) and Steven Johnston all made commitments to one another through engagement over the holiday periods. Sincere congratulations to each couple on this important step in their relationships. It will be a busy time for Geoff with marriages in 2009/2010!

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Diamond Ring

New births

Congratulations to Noel and Naomi Mitten of Tomregan Parish on the birth of Emma Ruth and to Paul and Emma Whyte of Kildallon Parish on the birth of Ella Louise – both little girls are absolutely gorgeous. May you all know the Lord’s blessing in your families.

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Baby

GFS Enrolment Service

If you want to support an existing children’s ministry, without actually having to get involved, why not make a special effort to come along to the annual enrolment service for our GFS on Sunday 10th February at 11 o'clock in Newtowngore Parish Church.   By simply being there you can communicate, through your presence, that you value the work of GFS in general and our local leadership specifically.   Matilda, Jacquie and Jenny work tirelessly with a small number of girls in our branch and their leadership is very much appreciated

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Girl's Friendly Society logo

MU News

The February meeting of MU will take place at 8pm on Tuesday 19th February in St Paul’s Hall, Kinawley – speaker, Mrs Hazel Hicks.

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Mother's Union logo


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A Course to help us grow during Lent

Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Peter may have been the first one out of the boat, but Jesus’ invitation to walk on water is for us all. But walk on water, what does that mean?
Walking on water means;
Facing our fears and choosing not to let fear have the last word;
Discovering and embracing the unique calling of God on our lives;
Experiencing the power of God to accomplish what we would not be capable of doing on our own.
Our Bible course this Lent is entitled 'If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat'. I would encourage each one of us to seriously consider coming along to the minor hall, Ballyconnell for six evenings this Lent, to learn something more about what it means to walk on water with Jesus. Sessions will include;

Week Day Date Time Session title
1 Thursday 7th Feb 8.30 pm What’s Water-Walking?
2 Tuesday 12th Feb 8.30 pm The Tragedy of the Unopened Gift
3 Thursday 21st Feb 8.30 pm Find Your Calling and Get Your Feet Wet!
4 Thursday 28th Feb 8.30 pm Facing Our Challenges, Conquering Our Fears
5 Thursday 6th Mar 8.30 pm Good News for Cave Dwellers
6 Thursday 13th Mar 8.30 pm Learning to Wait on Our Big God

Each evening will begin at 8.30 pm with a cup of tea and a chat and everyone should be leaving again by 10 pm at the absolute latest, even allowing for me going off on a tangent!! No one will be expected to speak, pray or read. The whole emphasis of the evening will be on simply moving forward in our faith, out of our comfort zones into a place where real growth is possible with Jesus. That may sound a bit intimidating, but trust me, everyone will be made to feel most welcome and no one will be asked to do or say anything they are not comfortable with. Each evening will consist of discussion and a presentation through a DVD. Anyone wishing to take part should contact Geoff as he needs to order up participant’s handbooks as soon as possible (cost £6 - €8).

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Walking on water



Tea cup

Lenten Services

Our Lent services will commence on Wednesday 6th February 2008 in Kildallon. During the past couple of years, our shared Lenten services with Derrylin folk have proved to be a real blessing to all of us. We wish to build on this bond of fellowship which has developed through these services, amongst other things. Given that our new grouping now extends from Fermanagh to Leitrim, we felt that it might be stretching folk to travel to the extremities of our group and therefore have decided to concentrate our Lenten services in 3 churches, Derrylin, Kildallon and Tomregan. I hope that folk still feel able to come along to one or all of the services, even if it isn’t in “your own church”! Our theme throughout Lent this year will be relationships. All Services will be at 8 pm.

Date Location Service
6th February Kildallon Ash Wednesday
13th February Derrylin Based upon Evening Prayer
20th February Tomregan Based upon Evening Prayer
27th February Derrylin Based upon Evening Prayer
5th March Kildallon Based upon Evening Prayer
12th March Derrylin Based upon Evening Prayer
17th March Tomregan Monday of Holy Week
18th March Derrylin Tuesday of Holy Week
19th March Kildallon Wednesday of Holy Week
20th March Derrylin Maundy Thursday (Holy Communion)
21st March Tomregan Good Friday

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Lent Bible

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Jar of Grace – “The Body of Christ has AIDS.”

The Jar of Grace is not a new initiative for folk from the Swanlinbar part of the Group, but some explanation is essential for our new Grouping to engage with this fully. In this Newsletter, you will find a self-adhesive label with the words “JAR OF GRACE” written on it. Beginning on the 6th of Feb, Ash Wednesday, I would ask you to stick this on a jam jar and place it in the centre of the table where you have most meals. Each time you sit to have a meal, I would invite you, along with every other participating home in our Parish Grouping, to place a coin in the jar and say a simple prayer for those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Please do try and remember this each meal time, as a note shoved in to make amends for forgotten coins and prayers is not quite the same as regular giving and prayer. On Easter Sunday, we will collect in all of your offerings and give thanks for this grace in giving.
Each coin, no matter how small, can make a difference. Each prayer, no matter how small, can make a difference. Let us give together and pray together and together we can make a difference.
(The Jar of Grace appeal, together with the loose offering at each of the mid-week Lenten services, in our own Group of Parishes, will be going to the work of “The Body of Christ has AIDS” campaign).
This special appeal is supporting projects where Mission Agencies (Bishops’ Appeal, Christian Aid & Tearfund) are working with people living with HIV and AIDS. We cannot begin to imagine the impact of these diseases in families and communities throughout the developing world, but your giving will enable Mission Agencies to bring relief and education in much needed areas. Tim McGowan of Tearfund commented at the recent campaign launch “Sexual violence during the recent civil war in Liberia was often used against women and children, thus heightening the HIV infection rate. This appeal will help Tearfund to tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS in communities which are rebuilding after the civil war by building the capacity of local churches to respond, targeting high risk groups and raising awareness of the stigma about HIV and AIDS through youth programmes and activities within the wider community.” This sounds like a way in which our local church can support another local church in its response to the real needs of real people. Please give generously. The proceeds from our Jars of Grace will be received at our Easter Day celebrations.

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Jar of Grace - empty

Jar of Grace - full!

Kinawley Women’s Group

Are holding an evening with Pauline Corrigan entitled “Beauty with Nature’s Store at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February 2008 in Kinawley Enterprise Park. Everyone most welcome.

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Group of women

Vestry meetings

Would members of the Select Vestries for the following Parishes, please take note of the following meetings;

Vestry Day Date Location
Tomregan, Ballyconnell Tuesday 29th January Swanlinbar Rectory
St Peter's, Templeport Tuesday 5th February Swanlinbar Rectory
Christ Church, Kildallon Monday 11th February Kildallon Rectory
Newtowngore /Corrawallen Tuesday 19th February Kildallon Rectory

Supper will be provided at each of these meetings.

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Sandwich

Cup of tea

Tea pot


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Is children’s and youth work important?

Well I believe that it is and perhaps at no time in history has it been of more importance. Let me share with you some statistics from the first ever religious knowledge survey conducted in Northern Ireland. Some of the key findings of the new Northern Ireland poll were;
Just 21% of Northern Ireland respondents aged 16-24 could say that there were four Gospels, as against 54% of over 65s;
Just 17% of respondents in the younger age group could say the First Commandment, as against 46% of the older age group.
Of course we need to be careful with statistics as someone once famously said, there are lies, damned lies and statistics! But, even allowing for the fact that people can make figures say what they want them to say, these figures are worrying, to say the least. At a glance, it might appear that within a generation religious knowledge has more than halved, and this within a supposedly Christian culture!! Someone once said to me that they questioned whether it was worthwhile continuing with a Sunday School when the numbers were dwindling to such an extent that there were more teachers than pupils. I say that it is vitally important for each child to be brought up in the faith which we have been nurtured in.
We already have some fantastic children’s work going on in our Parish Grouping, but we are seeking to develop our children’s and youth work and you can support us in that work. Captain Richard Beadle will be assuming responsibility for our School’s ministry and will be working with children and parents with young children – support him in this work. How can I do this you may ask? Bring your child along to church each week and encourage them to be regular in public worship. If you haven’t already done so, bring your child along to our monthly kids club (next meeting, Ballyconnell Parish Hall, Sun 3rd Feb between 3.30 pm & 5 pm). As Richard gradually introduces new initiatives with an emphasis on children, bring your child along and encourage them in their Christian education.
If parents and grandparents do not encourage their offspring to engage with church life and the education being provided, how are the children going to hear?

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Praying boy

Praying girl

Points to Ponder - Mother’s Day / Mothering Sunday

Mother’s Day is a special day for honouring Mothers through out the world. Mother's Day holds great significance for all of us. This year, Mother’s Day will be celebrated on the 11th of May in America whilst in the UK and Ireland we will celebrate on Sunday the 2nd of March.
The reason Mother's day is celebrated in the UK on a different date to other countries is due to the relationship between Mothering Sunday and Easter. It falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent - which varies from year to year - and it is thought that the tradition is related to a mid-Lent festival in which people were encouraged to return to their 'mother' church (i.e. the church in which they were baptised) to renew their vows.
Mother's Day in the USA and a number of other countries including Australia, Belgium, Denmark and Italy, falls on the second Sunday in May and is a more recent tradition, having been established in 1914.

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Points to Ponder 2

Here’s how to get MAD without being BAD:
- Be angry with the right person.
- Be angry for the right cause and reason.
- Be angry for the right duration of time.
- Be angry in the right way.
Nothing is more discouraging for a parishioner than a discouraged minister.
A Minister on one occasion said: “The Church is supposed to be a show window of what heaven looks like.” How nice, but experience tells us that sometimes it is the show window of something quite different.
The season of Lent amongst other things, should remind us that the Lord suffered a great deal of injustice with never a complaint or any self-pity.
Just wonder how a Minister can persuade others to taste the goodness of the Lord when he himself does not enjoy the intimacy of that relationship.
We can never attain true friendship in our Church until we are able to disengage ourselves from counting what the others do or do not do.
Overheard: “It’s not that we don’t like our Minister. It’s just that we feel so happy when he is not around!”
At times communities settle for the lowest common denominator for reasons of avoiding tensions instead of opting for serious conversion efforts and renewal.
Holidays can be a soothing balm for some Ministers but can also be a source of anxiety for others. Take the case of a Minister I heard of who was so afraid to take holidays not because he was overly concerned regarding the ministry and the office works that may be left behind, but for self-oriented motivation. In reality, he was afraid that people would soon discover and realize that his office, after all, could function more efficiently in his absence.
I always find it so amusing to have a colleague who complains and gripes every moment of the day … as long as he lives far from me! .

[Onz, oar]

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A bit of History - Shrove Tuesday 5th February

  1. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of shriving, when tradition held that the faithful confessed their sins to the local priest and received forgiveness before the Lenten season began.
  2. As far back as 1000 AD, "to shrive" meant to hear confessions. (Trivia note: the term survives today in the expression "short shrift" or giving little attention to anyone's explanations or excuses).
  3. Historically, Shrove Tuesday also marked the beginning of the 40-day Lenten fast period when the faithful were forbidden by the church to consume meat, butter, eggs or milk. However, if a family had a store of these foods they all would go bad by the time the fast ended on Easter Sunday. What to do?
    Solution: use up the milk, butter and eggs no later than Shrove Tuesday. And so, with the addition of a little flour, the solution quickly presented itself in... pancakes. And lots of 'em
  4. Today, the Shrove Tuesday pancake tradition lives on throughout Western Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia, but is most associated with the Britain and Ireland where it is simply known as Pancake Day with a traditional recipe, although these can be as varied in the England as there are households.
  5. In England there are several celebrations on this day but perhaps the best known one is the Pancake Day Race at Olney in Buckinghamshire which has been held since 1445. The race came about when a woman cooking pancakes heard the shriving bell summoning her to confession. She ran to church wearing her apron and still holding her frying pan, and thus without knowing it, started a tradition that has lasted for over five hundred years
  6. In France, (as well as in the United States - or more famously - in New Orleans) it's known as Fat Tuesday which kicks off the Mardi Gras festival with wild celebrations just before the austere Lenten season.
    In Sweden, Fat Tuesday translates to ‘Fettisdagen’, and in Lithuania it's ‘Uzgavens’. In Poland, traditional celebrations take place on a Thursday a week before Ash Wednesday and so it's ‘Tlusty Czwartek’, or Fat Thursday.

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Plate heaped high with lots of pancakes with honey and lemon or could it be butter melting?

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Church of Ireland Cross     Prayer points for February     Church of Ireland Cross

Let us continue to listen to God in prayer and develop a daily routine of praying for the following on the day of the week indicated;

Monday: For all those who found the holiday period to be a tough time through illness or personal tragedy –that they would once more know God’s peace in their hearts;
Tuesday: For all those experience the effects of HIV and AIDS, either directly or indirectly – that our Lent appeal would help us to relate to them in their suffering and relieve their distress;
Wednesday: For our ongoing development of children’s ministry in our Group – for wisdom and guidance as we move this area of ministry forward;
Thursday: For our leadership team – that they would continue to rely on Jesus in their daily lives and ministry
Friday: For our Lenten bible course – that God would use it to move us out of our comfort zones and would enable us to build strong relationships in our Group through it;
Saturday: For all those affected by the economic decline – that their situation would not drive them to despair and that the Lord’s provision would be forthcoming for each of their needs;
Sunday: For Richard, Pauline, Ruth, Asher and Alicia as they settle in our midst – give thanks for a good beginning and pray that they might establish good local links and in our Group.

C of I Cross C of I Cross

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C of I Cross   Service Schedule for February  C of I Cross

Day
Date
Time
Church
Service
Speaker
Leader
Sunday
3rd
10.00
Kinawley
HC 1
Richard
Geoff
Sunday
3rd
10.30
Newtowngore
MP 2
George
Joe 
Sunday
3rd
11.30
Templeport
HC 1
Geoff
Geoff 
Sunday
3rd
12.00
Kildallon
MP 2
Richard
Essie 
Wednesday
6th
8 pm
Kildallon
Ash Wednesday
Geoff
Richard 
Sunday
10th
10 am
Swanlinbar
MP 2
Hazel
Hazel 
Sunday
10th
11 am
Newtowngore
United Service GFS Enrolement
Richard
Geoff 
Sunday
10th
11.30
Ballyconnell
MP 2
Hazel
Mervyn 
Sunday
10th
8 pm
Derrylinn
Informal Praise
-
 George D
Wednesday
13th
8 pm
Derrylinn
Lenten Service
Richard
George D 
Sunday
17th
10.30
Corrawallen
MP 1
George
Joe 
Sunday
17th
11 am
Swanlinbar
United Service Holy Baptism
Geoff
Richard 
Sunday
17th
12.00
Kildallon
MP 1
George
Roy 
Wednesday
20th
8 pm
Ballyconnell
Lenten Service
George D
Geoff 
Sunday
24th
10 am
Kinawley
MP 1
Richard
Richard 
Sunday
24th
10.30
Newtowngore
HC 1 - Holy Baptism
Geoff
Hazel 
Sunday
24th
11.30
Templeport
MP 1
Richard
Robert 
Sunday
24th
12.00
Kildallon
MP 1
Geoff
Hazel 
Tuesday
26th
2 pm
Breffni
HC 1
Richard
Geoff 
Wednesday
27th
8 pm
Derrylinn
Lenten Service
Geoff
George D 
 1 after Service type indicates Traditional 2 after Service type indicates Contemporary
After the United Services there will be a cup of tea in the Church or local hall Tea cup

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