News Items

SWANLINBAR GROUP NEWS

Harvest Services
All is pretty much gathered in by now and it has been such a good year with bumper crops all round. We have much to be thankful for and as we come together in our group to give thanks let us also think of the way in which we are called to be good stewards of those gifts which God has given us. This will be our theme throughout our services with a variety of speakers bringing us news from different parts of the world. Beginning in Swanlinbar on the 23rd, Flo Creighton will be sharing with us her experiences on the African continent this past summer. Then in Ballyconnell on the 30th, the McGirr family, recently returned from Missionary service in China, will be bringing us a wholesome message from the Asian continent. Then we will return to the African continent in Templeport on the 7th Oct as Mike Edwards shares with us some of his recent experiences in Uganda as he led a Diocesan team there in the summer. Each Friday service will be followed with a supper and on the Sunday evening I will be looking at the story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz and reflecting on how God’s heart’s desire is to Make Poverty History. Each Sunday evening our Sunday School children will be performing a Harvest piece for us. Please do try to attend these services, not just those in your own parish, and let’s continue to move Forward! together.

Confirmation
So far we have five candidates for confirmation in our group so preparation will begin in the next couple of months. If you would like to be confirmed or to have your son/daughter prepared for confirmation, then please contact me and we can have a chat about confirmation and what is involved.
Please do remember our young people as they prepare for confirmation. This is a significant period in the formation of a young person and should represent a proclamation of a faith which is meaningful and well grounded in Christ. Sadly this is not always the case and for many, myself included, it is a form of passing out parade. The church as a whole has a responsibility to encourage and support one another and especially those who are preparing for such an occasion. Please do pray for our young people; pray that they would articulate a faith with their lips which is written on their hearts and that they might find our churches to be a place of welcome and blessing.

Trip to Devenish Island
A good number of our group braved the waves of Lough Erne for a social evening when we set sail for Devenish Island on MV Kestrel! It was an absolutely beautiful evening and the Lough was like a mill pond. I was delighted with the atmosphere and the fact that we got to know one another a little bit better. Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians as the body being made of many parts. I often think that we take for granted the remarkable creatures which we are. No machine is as complex or fascinating as the human body. But imagine what it would be like if the brain could not communicate with the hand or the hand could not coordinate it movement with the opening of the mouth. There would be absolute chaos! It takes communication and team-work to make things happen effectively. So it is in the Church. If we are to grow in our knowledge and trust of one another we must get to know one another better and so begin to value the role which we play in the body of Christ. I would like to thank everyone for coming along and making the evening such a success and particular thanks to Millie Morton for all of her work and for the organisation which went into the evening. Watch this space for a further group event closer to Christmas!

Congratulations
To Gail Lovett and Ashleen Gould in their recent success in the Junior Cert. Both girls did exceptionally well and will be continuing their studies in the Royal School, Cavan. We wish you both well as you continue in your education.
And a change of educational establishment is imminent for another member of our group. Mark Crawford did exceptionally well in his “A” Level exams and will now begin further study in the field of Engineering at Queens University, Belfast. We wish you well Mark and hope that you know God’s leading in this New Direction you are travelling.
And finally, Alison Fisher has concluded her studies in Architecture. Alison recently graduated from the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow with a post-graduate Diploma in Architecture. We wish you every blessing Alison as you now take up employment with Anderson, Bell & Christie Architects, Glasgow.

Our sympathy
Is extended to the Pogue family in their recent loss. Tony, of Doon, Ballyconnell, passed away peacefully in hospital after a short illness. Tony was one of life’s gentle men, always quiet by nature and thinking of others before himself. He will be sadly missed by those who had the privilege to know him and our prayers and support are extended to Myrtle, Eva and Paddy at this difficult time.

Christianity Explored
A course for everyone who wants to go deeper with God. This course starts on Thursday 6th October at 8 pm in St Paul’s Hall, Kinawley. It runs for 10 weeks and will use the Gospel of Mark to examine who Jesus is and His relevance today. I really would encourage folk to give this course a try, even if you are nervous about talking about your faith, please do come along and we will be sensitive to that fact. Some may feel that they are beyond an introductory course but it never ceases to amaze me how God speaks to me through the most unlikely situations. Come along and encounter God afresh - find out more about His Son, Jesus Christ and enjoy the opportunity to meet with other members of the group in a relaxed setting. Please let me know if you intend to come along as there is a need to order some course materials in advance.

Swanlinbar Supper Dance
This popular annual event will take place on Friday 21st October. I feel it is only fair to warn folk that I have taken some dance lessons since last year so come along and see how I am progressing!! Tickets, priced £8, are available from Alice Gould (028 6774 8749 from N.I. & 048 6774 8749 from R o I).

Tomregan Guest Tea
I think that I am right in saying that this will be a first for Ballyconnell in the Parish Hall. Put the date in your diary, Friday 4th Nov, and watch this space for further details.

Diocesan Review
In the next month or so a team or 3 or 4 Diocesan Representatives will be visiting each Parish as part of a Diocesan Review of how Parishes are grouped. From the outset I feel that it is important to state that this is not about closing churches but rather to examine each Parish and listen to the people of the Parish regarding their experience of Church. This will be done through open meetings in each Parish, which I will not be present at. The purpose of open meetings is to ensure transparency of the process. Rectors will not be present as it is felt that their presence might inhibit the people in some way, a stance which I fully understand and support. This review will deal with your Church and therefore I would expect that anyone who really cares about their Church will be present. I do however understand that there will be folk who will simply be unable to attend for good reason. Please do come along to these meeting and ensure that you have your opportunity to express your opinion in an open forum. Meetings will take place as follows;
Swanlinbar & Kinawley Tue 18th Oct 8 pm St Paul’s Hall
Tomregan Wed 19th Oct 7.30 pm Tomregan Hall
St Peter’s Tue 25th Oct 8 pm Templeport Community Centre.
See Bishop’s letter in Scribe for further details.

The end of August/beginning of September was a busy time in our churches as 4 couples were joined together in Holy Matrimony. By the time you read this most of them will have returned from their honeymoons and for some the daily routine will have begun once again. But it is different now as they set out together as man and wife and face all the challenges which life presents together. It was a real pleasure for me to take part in each of the ceremonies and to get to know each couple through preparation and I wish Denise & Keith, Jennifer & Steven, Anne & Paul and Gaynor & Trevor every blessing in their married lives together.

Bawnboy Festival News
As reported in the last edition of the Newsletter, this year’s festival was another great success. I can now report that €25 000 was raised, which is an astounding achievement in a small community such as ours. Much hard work has gone into arranging and organising the whole event and we are indebted to the Festival Committee and all volunteers concerned. The following is the list of beneficiaries;

Anyone wishing to attend the handover of cheques is welcome to attend the Keeper’s Arms on Saturday 1st Oct at 9 pm. The photographs taken at the vintage Sunday displays may be found at: www.bawnboy.utvinternet.com/2005-festival If there is sufficient interest we may arrange to show them on the evening of the presentations.

Courses commencing in Kinawley Entreprise Park

For further details contact Roisin 048 66349936

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Service Schedule for the remainder of September and the Harvest Festivals

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