Group Churches

Sustentation/Free-will offerings

We really value the gifts of all our parishioners and friends of the various Parishes in our group – without your giving the work of the Church would not be possible. But we would like to gently encourage people to ensure that their offerings are with the various Parish Treasurers by the last Sunday of the year, ie 25th December. If we all comply with this request then the Treasurers will have opportunity to bank your gifts before the end of the financial year, ie 31st December, and they will then be in a position to produce a set of accounts based on the balance in the account at that date.
We are also very much appreciative of the work of our various money counters/recorders and the Parish Treasurers, and would ask you to get your gifts to them rather than them having to come to you, a task which is difficult, time consuming and embarrassing for all concerned. Unfortunately, if your gift has not been banked by the 31st December then it will not appear in the set of accounts for 2005. Thank you once again for your support in giving to the work of the Church.

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Smartie tubes

I hope that all the children have not forgotten about saving up their spare 20 pence and 20 cent pieces! Tubes of Smarties were given to the children at our last United Service in Templeport and throughout Advent and Christmas the children are encouraged to collect any spare 20s for the work of the Charity “BBC CHILDREN IN NEED”. Please do support this collection and all of our contributions will be collected at our next United Service in Swanlinbar on Sunday 15th January 2006.

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Bequest

The Estate of Harold Pennell Smith has made a gift to honourand Margaret Smyth nee Pennell.John and Margaret Smyth were born in Kinawley and were married at Swanlinbar in 1909.Their son,Harold, born near Toronto,Canada1918, died in July of.
It was the will of the late Harold Smith that this bequest be used for the upkeep and repair of the Parish Church in Swanlinbar. We are most grateful to the family for this generous bequest.

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Parish fund raising

At the recent sale of work in Swanlinbar Parish, we had yet another exceptional effort raising just over £2000 on the day. Thanks are due to everyone involved in all the work which went into making the day such a success.
And Tomregan Parish had their first Guest Tea in over 20 years on Friday 25th November. Over 170 people packed into the Parish Hall for a fun-filled, food-filled, dance-filled evening!! It was an absolute delight to see so many people there and to see our Hall used in this way. Over €1700 was raised on the night and thanks are especially due to the ladies of the Parish who really did excell themselves in putting on a wonderful banquet of food - nobody went home empty! Lets hope that it will not be another 20 years to the next one!
And also in Tomregan, thanks to all involved in the Christmas Whist Drive which raised in the region of €460. I understand that numbers were a little down on previous years, but that this did not dampen the spirits or the competitive edge! Thank you to the organisers and to the parents of the children of the National School who provided supper on the night.

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Home Study Groups

One of the most significant things to come out of our recent Christianity Explored course was that folk felt that the Church as it is at present is not meeting some of our needs. This challenges me and rather than being disappointed or annoyed by what is in effect the honesty of the people, I feel that it is important to listen and then model and envision a way of meeting those needs. Outside of our Church services there is little opportunity for people to meet and share in a safe environment something of the week they have had and how God has been at work in their lives, or perhaps even to talk about a personal struggle. It appears to me that there is a real need for such support and encouragement and I am delighted that there is a hunger for such an opportunity. The writer to the Hebrews says And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Now, I understand that the warning not to give up meeting together was directed at those who had deserted the Christian assembly (the problem of people not going to Church on a Sunday is not a new phenomenon!!), but I do believe that in these few verses there is a sound advice regarding the benefits of meeting together. By coming together we can learn from one another, grow together, support those in need and build up relationships in the context of a safe environment. Church services are the central part and will remain the central part of our expression of worship, but they do not meet all of the needs of a community which is seeking to grow. This is where the concept of Home Groups can plug a gap. Home Groups are exactly what they sound like…..groups of people who meet in someone’s home! Home Groups provide an opportunity for people to get to know one another better so that strong relationships under God can be established. Home Groups are informal, offering members the opportunity to talk about their experiences since last meeting. Home Groups are designed to feed people with the Word as a portion of time is set aside each meeting for the study of Scripture. Home Groups are for those who have a desire to grow in their faith, and that should mean all of us. Home Groups are beginning in our Group of Parishes in January of 2006. If we want to grow then we must be fed. This applies to a new-born Christian just as much as it does to a new-born infant.
If you are interested in becoming a member of a home group or would just like to find out more about them, then please contact me at the Rectory and I would be only too willing to come round and have a chat with you.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
but let us encourage one another!(Heb10: 25a NIV)

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Confirmation Classes

These will begin on Sunday 8th January with a meeting with parents and candidates in the Rectory at 4pm. This will provide me with an opportunity to outline the preparation, the commitment required and explain the process to all parties. After this initial meeting, we will meet on a weekly basis for approx 1 hour at 7pm. I am certainly looking forward to this course with our six candidates, Julie Clements, Gary Crawford, Julie Graham, Janine Stubbs, Hannah Wilson and Jack Wilson. It will be an opportunity for me to develop my relationship with our young people and guide them as they develop their relationship with Jesus. Please remember to pray for our candidates as they begin their preparation in the early part of the New Year.

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Outstanding achievement!

I mentioned in an earlier edition of the Newsletter that a number of students in the Group had passed their exams and were moving on to third level education. But what I was not aware of was that Mark Crawford had excelled in A-level Technology & Design coming second overall in the whole of Northern Ireland. Mark, very, very well done and congratulations on this outstanding achievement. I have no doubt that you will do very well as you continue your studies to obtain an M.Eng in Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast.

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Gospel Concert

Featuring the singing of the Virginia Gospel Choir. This will take place in the Slieve Russell Hotel on Friday 6th January 2006 at 8pm. All proceeds will go to the Swanlinbar Community Playgroup, Trevia House (tickets available from Bernie McGovern at €15).

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Clavinova at St Peter’s St Peter's Church have recently taken delivery of a Clavinova on a trial basis. Currently, music is provided for worship through recorded choir music but it is hoped that in the near future there will be a "live" alternative. The Clavinova is just one of a number of options which is currently being considered. Bethany is pictured playing it for the first time, something which received by everyone.

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Group Service last month You can see how excited the children were at our last United Service in St Peter's; when they were asked to put up their hand if they wanted some sweets, look what happened!!Seriously though, you can see how much they enjoyed doing the actions to JESUS' LOVE IS VERY WONDEFUL.We even managed to get some of the adults to join in. These & all other photographs are available on application.

Holiday Cover Geoff will be away for a break from the evening of the 25th of December, returning on 2nd of January 2006.   In the event of a pastoral emergency please contact the Revd Glenn West on either 0044 28 6634 6870 or 0044 7980 269014