Corrawallen Kildallon Kinawley Newtowngore Swanlinbar Templeport Tomregan Group Newsletter

Newsletter No 15 September 2008

“There were no blacksmiths in the land…” (1 Samuel 13:19 NLT).

Do you ever read something and find that it really hits home with you, or encourages or speaks to you? This happens to me quite a lot actually and I would like to tell you about the most recent time by quoting from the Bible notes which we use as a Group of Parishes (The Word for Today). On Wed Sep 3 the notes read as follows;

The Bible says, “There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews … none of the people of Israel had sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan” (1 Samuel 13: 19-22 NLT).
To keep the Israelites in slavery, the Philistines removed all the blacksmiths. It was a devastating blow. Blacksmiths made swords to be used in battle and sickles to be used in the harvest field. Can you imagine the effect that would have on a nation?

Satan’s tactics haven’t changed. His goal is still to silence the moulders and shapers of a new culture; a kingdom culture. Why do we need spiritual blacksmiths? Because they understand how to shape raw material into something God can use. They not only shape it, they sharpen it. All great leaders have emerged from raw material. And tomorrow’s leaders are walking around today in raw form just waiting for a spiritual blacksmith to come along. Unfortunately many ministry leaders are so busy “running the show,” they don’t take the time to work with raw material. Spiritual blacksmiths aren’t only needed in the local church; they’re also needed in the nation to reshape our culture. We need “influencers” who can reform the ranks of business, education, government and media. Any volunteers?
It’s time for the spiritual blacksmiths in the land to break free from the constraints of the Philistines and return to the ancient craft of shaping men and women for God’s service. The battle is too big for Saul and Jonathan to handle alone!

These notes really encouraged me for the following reason. We are on the verge of doing something very significant in our Group of Parishes – we are just about to make a major investment in some of our existing and potential leaders through a course called Growing Leaders, but I was feeling rather over-awed and more than a little frightened about the whole thing. Why? Well let me give you some reasons.

1. It’s a course I have never led,
2. It involves a major commitment of time to prepare for each session,
3. I was genuinely concerned that some people might say that it is only for a little “in crowd”,
4. At times I felt that that the course might come across as just another one of those things that the “new man” does,
5. And last, but far from least, I was afraid of failing!

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to be carrying some of those thoughts/doubts around in your head for days and weeks. And imagine what an affirmation it was to read the notes in our daily notes on Wed 3rd September!
You see, God knows our hearts and he knows our needs. Sometimes we just don’t see Him when He is right there beside us. I’m sure that there were other occasions when God could have been trying to get my attention to speak into my fear and doubt. But the truth is that we are often too busy or not looking in the right place!
I would encourage you if you have drifted away from reading the Bible on a daily basis to start doing so again through the use of Bible notes. It only takes a couple of minutes to read the text each day, but those couple of minutes can be such a blessing and encouragement for much, much longer.
If you don’t already have a set of Bible notes and would like to receive a copy then simply contact our UCB liaison, Beatrice Crawford on 04867748406.

Church of Ireland Cross Geoff signature Revd Geoff Wilson

Christianity Explored

Guilt, loss, dryness, emptiness and questions are expressions I often come across when I listen to folks talk about faith and Church matters. It need not be like that. How great then that we have this wonderful opportunity to discover afresh real treasure and hope. Christianity Explored will help us greatly. This is a highly regarded course that will help us all get to the heart of what church should be about - a meeting with Jesus himself. In an informal setting the course essentially deals with 3 questions at the heart of Christian faith.

Who is Jesus?
Why did he come?
What is involved in following him?

At whatever stage of your Christian journey you presently find yourself this is a great course for you.
If you would not call yourself a Christian but want to explore more this is for you. You will be sure of a welcome even if you have never done anything like this before.
You might have been a committed follower of Jesus for years. This will also be great refreshment for you. This really is a great opportunity for you all.

This year we are running Christianity Explored in Newtowngore Parish hall and is for everyone in the group.
The dates are given below. The ten evenings will start at 8.30 pm with a cup of tea/coffee and informal chat, a presentation through a DVD and some discussion regarding what we have seen. There is also one day away Exploring Christian Life after week 6.

1. Wednesday 1st October Introduction
2. Wednesday 8th October Jesus - Who was He?
3. Wednesday 15th October Jesus - Why did he come?
4. Wednesday 22nd October Jesus His death
5. Thursday 6th November What is grace?
6. Wednesday 12th November Jesus - His resurrection
Saturday 15th November Day away The Church, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Bible
7. Wednesday 19th November What is a Christian?
8. Wednesday 26th November Continuing as a Christian
9. Wednesday 3rd December Choices - King Herod
10. Wednesday 10th December Choices - James, John & Bartimaeus

Please let myself or Geoff know if you intend to come along as there is some material which needs to be ordered in advance for each participant. Equally if you would like to know more please do ask.

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Champion's Challenge Children's Holiday Club

We had a great week in Newtowngore with our group children's holiday club. It was made even more exciting to see such a great turnout of children. 25 - 30 children came each morning. As promised we had lots of fun, games, drama, crafts, puzzles and songs in a fast moving programme that left no time to be bored!
You only have to look at the photographs below to see that all the children had a fantastic time.

Every day we looked at Jesus through sporting language and images. We looked at Jesus as our trainer, physio, team-mate, substitute and winner. I wonder if you can match the sports words about Jesus to the five bible passages?
The feeding of the five thousand,
The resurrection
The cross
The healing of the centurion’s servant.
The wise and foolish builders.

Answers lower down this page

I believe it was also a thrill to share a little of the week through our Group United Service in August. Well done to Adam, Josh & Ruth and Asher able to share the memory verse two weeks after the club! If anyone wants to follow me, they must forget about themselves, they must take up their cross each day and follow me. Luke Chapter 9 verse 23. Our challenge is to live this verse!

Thank you so much everyone who helped out. As well as adult leaders and parents helping it was also fantastic to have many of our teenage young people keen to help. Folk from different parts of the group also came and helped with much needed refreshments. A great team effort was a key to a fantastic week.
Thank you.

Just a few of the photos taken at the Champion's Challenge Children's Club

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Be Encouraged In Prayer

I have never forgotten reading of a man's conviction that one of the most astonishing things we will discover at the end of this life will be the value of prayer. His great regret that we did not pray more. We will see prayer in a great light of understanding. We will see prayer's great worth in a new way. We will see fully the effects of prayer and be thrilled. Prayer is not easy but it will help us make a true difference.

I firmly believe we can help make a great difference through the weekly prayer group. Meeting in homes they are relaxed, informal, encouraging and welcoming. You are very welcome.

The next dates are as follows:

Thursday 18th September Correwallen
3 pm
Louise Patterson's

Thursday 25th September Ballyconnell
8.30 pm
Mildred Morton's

Tuesday 30th September Templeport
8.30 pm
Abraham & Carol Graham's

Tuesday 7th October Kinawley
10.30 am
Mackie & Vi Breens

Wednesday 15th October Kildallon
3 pm
Valerie Livingstone's

Fashion Show

Ladies, get out your diaries and make a note of a special night coming up in the very near future. Our Forward! steering group have organised a fashion show for the evening of Wednesday 5th November at 8pm in the Seven Horse Shoes, Belturbet. Tickets are priced at €10 and can be obtained from any of the Forward! steering group. Get you ticket early to avoid disappointment!

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Swanlinbar Supper Dance

For those annual pilgrims to the Swanlinbar Supper Dance, it’s to be at 8 pm on Friday 24th October in the regular Enniskillen venue. Dancing is to the Cascades. The usual excellent buffet will be served at 9 pm sharp. Anyone wishing to buy a ticket for the bargain price of £12 can do so by contacting Alice Gould on 048 6774 8749.

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Mothers’ Union News

Don’t forget about the forthcoming opening service in Corrawallen Parish Church on Tuesday 16th September at 8 pm. The Diocesan President, Mrs Helen Clarke will be giving the address that evening so please do make a huge effort to come along.
And the following evening in Derrylin Parish Church, the Mothers’ Union Development Worker, Louise Despard-Hilliard will be addressing the ladies regarding her role within our Diocese of Kilmore. A warm invitation has been extended by the ladies of Derrylin, to all branches within the Diocese.
Both meetings will be concluded with some supper.

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Bereavement

With sorrow and shock our sympathies are extended to the Johnston family following the tragic death of Graeme Johnston from Newtowngore. Teresa has lost a dear husband, Tom and Margaret a much loved son, Peter, Trevor and Carl a dear brother. Granny Johnston a precious grandchild. Our thoughts and prayers are also with Graeme’s aunt, Revd Sandra Lindsay, so soon after the death of Cecil. In the most difficult circumstances her ministry was greatly appreciated.
For a great circle of family and friends life has changed profoundly.
As a church family may we each continue to seek to be a blessing and support to all those affected by loss. May we also seek God’s strength to see light in the way ahead.

Heavenly Father, give us faith and light in times of darkness. May our trusting in you help us live with questions unanswered. Grant us a certain hope in You, that will grow to surpass immeasurably the greatest depths of despair felt now. In you our Lord we put our trust.

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Gift Day

Just a short note to let folk know that the Annual Gift Day for St Peter’s, Templeport will be on Sunday 19th October at the service of Morning Prayer in the Parish Church. Anyone who has supported the Gift Day in the past should find an envelope enclosed with this Newsletter. If you have not given to the Gift Day previously and would like to be included, then please contact the Parish Treasurer, Linda Lovett (049 952 3332), who will make the necessary arrangements for you to receive an envelope in good time.
money

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Group Office Surgery Hours for remainder of September and early October
Date	Time
Wednesday 17th September	10.30-12.30
Thursday 25th September	9.30-11.30
Monday 29th September	2 pm-4 pm
Friday 10th October	11.00-1 pm

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Work to Swanlinbar Rectory

As a result of a recent inspection by the Diocesan Glebes Committee a survey was carried out on a portion of the ground floor of Swanlinbar Rectory given that there were areas in the main meeting room where there was rotten skirting board and wall-paper peeling off the wall from the ground up. This survey was carried out by Trevor Foster & Associates, Architects and recommended that this room be dry-lined on the three external walls and have a damp-proof course installed to prevent what appeared to be rising damp (the Rectory is over 100 years old and has no damp-proof course). This work is currently being tendered for and should be carried out in the very near future.
In addition to this, the Vestry approved the installation of a multi-fuel stove with back boiler given the rise in oil prices and the dependence on this form of heating in the Rectory.
Much of the preparation work for the arrival of the contractors has been carried out through voluntary labour and both Naomi and I are deeply appreciative of the ongoing support of folk in general for our ministry in your midst so visibly seen through work like this being progressed so quickly.

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Work to Parish Churches

Corrawallen has been re-painted in parts following the recent major works. There was still evidence of damp/effervescence in places which necessitated this touch up
Ballyconnell Parish hope to soon start the major work to the roof of the Church. The Vestry are confident that this work should all be covered through generous Grant Aid schemes
Templeport Parish have just completed the work to their roof / guttering and also re-plastered a portion of the tower following the discovery that some of the existing plaster had come away and the remaining plaster was boast in places.

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Retirement of Mrs Joan Patterson

Sunday 19th October 2008 will be a special day in the life of the Kildallon part of our Group of Parishes as it marks the official retirement of the School Principal for Newtowngore National School, Mrs Joan Patterson. A service to mark the occasion will take place at 3pm in the afternoon in the Parish Church, Newtowngore followed by refreshments in the Parish Hall.

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United Group Vestry meeting

Please don't forget about our meeting tomorrow (15^th September) evening. Representatives from SAMS and Crosslinks will be addressing us on the issue of partnership in Mission and how we might engage in this more fully.

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Select Vestry meetings Would members of the Select Vestry please make a note of the following meetings. All meetings will take place at 8.30pm on the given evening.
Date	Time	Vestry	Location
Wednesday 17^th September	8.30 pm	Templeport	St Peter's Church
Monday 22^nd September	8.30 pm	Kildallon	Sunday School Room
Thursday 2^nd October	8.30 pm	Swanlinbar	Rectory
Thursday 7^th October	8.30 pm	Ballyconnell	Minor Hall

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Harvest Services

Day	Date	Church	Preacher
Friday	19th September	Newtowngore	Capt Colin Taylor (CA)
Sunday	21st September	Kildallon	Sister Valerie Thom (CA)
Friday	26th September	Kinawley	Rev Brian Martyn
Saturday	27th September	Ballyconnell Parish Hall	Harvest Supper & Concert
Sunday	28th September	Corrawallen	Rev Kyle Hanlon
Friday	3rd October	Templeport	Capt Richard Beadle (CA)
Sunday	5th October	Ballyconnell	Rev John Wannacott

Please do support our Harvest services this year, not only in your own Parish Church, but by travelling to another Church in our Group. This year, as we contemplate deeper engagement with Mission, our Harvest projects will be the Mission agencies SAMS & Crosslinks. Both of these agencies will have made a presentation to our United Vestry meeting on Monday 15th September. (All Harvest Festival services are at 8 pm)

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Harvest Supper & Concert

This year the Harvest supper & concert is to be on Saturday 27th September at 8pm in Ballyconnell Parish Hall
Nothing much more to report on this front other than to encourage folk to come forward and volunteer their gifts/talents to entertain us. If you would like to take part it is important for us to know in advance so that a program can be arranged. You can let us know by contacting your Forward! Parish representative or Richard/Geoff.

The Forward! reps are as follows;

Florence Bayliss 049 4333057
Karen Breen 028 6774 8292
Violet Clements 028 6634 8989
Avril Graham 028 6774 8427
Cecil Howden 049 9521270
Linda Lovett 049 9523332
Minnie Mitten 049 9526271
Milly Morton 049 9526189
Mabel Pollock 049 4333051
Sophia Whyte 049 9526106
Gertie Woods 049 9526324

Welcome to our Harvest Concert and supper.

Please do support this evening and lets make it a real night to remember for the right reasons. Of course, as usual, there will be a beautiful supper to enjoy during the interval.

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Answers to the questions ‘match the sports words about Jesus’ above.

1. Jesus our Team-mate - The feeding of the five thousand
2. Jesus our Winner - The resurrection
3. Jesus our Substitute - The cross
4. Jesus our Physio - The healing of the centurions servant
5. Jesus our Trainer - The wise and foolish builders

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New Central School Update

As you can see from our photos, work is progressing rapidly at this stage with the fitting of the trusses etc.

Building work at new Ballyconnell school Building work at Ballyconnell new school.

Mrs Mary McGovern

We were all, deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mrs Mary McGovern of Bawnboy wife of James and mother of Patrick and Joe, contractors. Sympathy is also extended to Ann, Bernie, Brian, Martina, and Paula. Mary was a lovely soul and will be sadly missed in the community and beyond.

Cross

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Have You Anything You Can Contribute to this Newsletter?

If you have a digital camera or a camera on your mobile phone please take photographs of your local parish activities. We would love to hear from you or, just send your photos to the new office.

camera

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Time for a smile?

Kind thoughts can be short to speak but their echoes are endless.

Mother Teresa

No one ever injured their sight by looking on the bright side of things.

Unknown

As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Bible - Proverbs 25:25.

Anger can be an expensive luxury.

Italian Proverb

Anger is as a stone cast into a wasp's nest.

Malabar Proverb

Anger without power is folly.

German Proverb

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Prayer Points for August & September

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:	That all new students in Colleges/Universities would settle well in their new environments and adjust to living away from the nest ;
Tuesday:	For safety for all involved in building projects in our Church property;
Wednesday:	For all who are contemplating coming to Christianity Explored – that they would benefit immensely through it and know Jesus more intimately;
Thursday:	For Growing Leaders – that the course would help the participants to become more effective in their leadership roles;
Friday:	For our Harvest Services – that they would be a time of genuine rejoicing and celebration as we focus on God’s faithfulness and generosity to us;
Saturday:	For the way ahead regarding our engagement with Mission – that we would make informed, and Godly decisions which would help us to become more effective in this area;
Sunday:	For the sick, needy, lonely and bereaved – that God’s healing hand would minister in power through each of us to bring comfort and peace to those we know.

C of I Cross

Service Schedule for the remainder of September & early October

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

News Items

GROUP NEWS

Prayer Points for August & September

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