Group Churches

Fundraising in Tomregan Parish
Thanks to everyone who gave so generously to our Gift Day in Tomregan; the amount raised for the Church Repair Fund is in the region of €5500.

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Scone Supper
And thanks are also due to all involved in making the Scone Supper such a good night’s crack. Michael Moran and Tommy Hands entertained us royally as we danced the night away into the wee small hours. Everyone had a super night and almost €1500 was raised for the Church Repair Fund.

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Diocesan trip to Brasor, Romania
And even more thanks are due to everyone who supported Dawn Cassidy through the recent coffee day/cake sale. The whole event saw a steady flow of keen coffee/tea drinkers all day and over €1100 was raised to go towards the cost of the trip. Any monies which Dawn raises in excess of her travel/food costs will be going towards the provision of equipment for the centre she will be visiting. If you weren’t able to make it on the day and would still like to support Dawn in this trip then please contact me in the Rectory. A very sincere thank you is also due to Rosaleen Howden for so kindly opening up her house in this way.

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Group Confirmation Service Six candidates were confirmed in a service of Holy Communion in Swanlinbar Parish Church on the afternoon of Sunday the 30th of April. The Church was full and the atmosphere was very, very special. Our young people acted out a mime entitled THE OFFERING which challenged each one of us as we contemplate the fact that the most important thing we can give to God is ourselves. I would like to thank our young people for being such a credit to their families and to our Church. It was a great honour for me personally to have been part of this significant moment in their lives. Do remember to continue to pray for them as they continue in the faith. And lets not overlook the fact that two other young people from our group were confirmed at a service at Cavan Parish on the afternoon of Sunday 14th of May. Do remember Glenn and Jamie as they also continue along this journey of faith with God.

Click here or on the image above to see a larger picture which may take several moments to download on a slow internet connection

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Arrow leadership course
By now I am sure you are well aware that over the course of the next 18 months I will be away from the Group for four periods of six days each as I do a leadership course with the Church Pastoral Aid Society in Sheffield. My first residential begins on Sunday the 4th of June, returning on Friday the 9th. Any pastoral emergencies during this period should be referred to Archdeacon George Davison who can be contacted on 6774 8994 (if dialling from the Republic prefix the number with 048).

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Swanlinbar Parish Outing on Saturday 3rd of June
Anyone who has not already booked their place on the bus to Bangor for the Parish outing should contact Mary Thornton as soon as possible. There are only a few places remaining.

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Sunday School BBQ
We will be holding our Sunday School and young people’s BBQ this year again at the Rectory at 2pm on Saturday 24th of June. The purpose of this is to say thank you to the children for attending so faithfully all year and also to our teachers for their commitment week by week. This is open to all of our young people so please do not feel left out or excluded by the words Sunday School. Please let me know if you intend to come along in order that we can make suitable arrangements regarding catering.

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Closure of Stragowna Primary School & Parish Sports Stragowna Primary School will close its doors for the last time at the end of this academic year after many, many years of faithful witness and work in our community – it will be a sad day for all of us. The Board of Governors are very conscious of this and have arranged a Closing Ceremony for the evening of Wednesday 14th of June at 7pm in the school. This will be an occasion for anyone with an association with the school, past or present, to come together and give thanks for the life of the school and the way in which it has impacted upon and been instrumental in shaping and forming so many children and young people in our community – everyone is very welcome to attend. Bishop Ken and Mrs Helen Clarke will be our guests at this ceremony. Please note that the Parish Sports will take place on Friday the 16th of June at 7 pm in the School grounds.

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Holiday Bible Clubs I think that this is perhaps another first between our Group and George’s Parish! In pursuit of building closer working relations with one another and also moving Forward together, we will be holding a Holiday Bible Club between Monday the 3rd of July and Friday the 7th of July in Derrylin Parish Hall from 10am to 12.30pm each day. We would love to hear from you if you would like to be involved in the leadership of this club as we need leaders to make this happen! There will be no charge for the club but voluntary donations would be appreciated if your child attends.

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Informal All-Age Praise Service
This is just a very preliminary notice regarding a proposed monthly service between our Group and George’s Parish. No details are available but it is our intention to begin a more informal Praise Service in the Autumn of this year. I hope to have more details in next month’s Newsletter.

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Summer Madness
This is a Christian Festival held at the King’s Hall each year. This year the event will be running from Friday 30th of June to Tuesday 4th of July. This event is for all ages but is primarily geared towards our young people (secondary school upwards). I have been to this event for many years now and can completely commend it to you and would encourage you to give this serious consideration. If you would like to hear excellent Bible teaching, contemporary worship and enjoy fellowship with around 3000 other Christians, then Summer Madness is the one for you. If you are interested and would like more details then please do give me a ring prior to Friday the 2nd of June.

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Jar of Grace/Lenten Appeal
I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous effort and generosity which was evident through our Jar of Grace Lenten Appeal. We raised €2727.43 and £998.59 all of which will be sent to Tearfund for their continuing work in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the Pakistan earthquake. Works flow out of grace, and we hope and pray that these gifts will bring some relief to those who are in need of the grace of God in very practical ways at this time.
And I would also like to thank the Parishioners of the Belturbet Group of Parishes who gave so generously to our Lenten Appeal. At a Palm Sunday service in Drumaloor Parish the collection amounted to €829.40. All of this will be sent along with our Lenten Appeal collection to Tearfund. Thank you all so much for your extreme generosity.

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Easter Vestries Thank you to everyone who attended the recent Easter Vestry meetings. The following persons were elected to serve you for the incoming year;
St Peter’s Templeport Churchwardens Victor Lovett (R), Robert Clarke (P) Glebewarden Cecil Howden (P) Select Vestry Wilson Crawford, Cecil Finlay (*), Carol Graham, Abraham Graham, Gracie Gould, Ivan Gould, Ivan Hewson, Bertie Howden, Ivan Kells, Joyce Kells, Linda Lovett (#), Nigel Rofé.
Tomregan Ballyconnell Churchwardens Minnie Mitten (R), Caroline Morton (P) Glebewarden Trevor Hicks Select Vestry David Breiden, Dick Breiden, Phyllis Cassidy, Cyril Foster (*), Mervyn Foster (#), Ronnie Johnston, Hazel Kells, Charlie Marsden, Eric Mitten, Noel Mitten, Mildred Morton, Harry Wallace.
St Augustine’s Swanlinbar/ St Paul's Kinawley Churchwardens Swanlinbar - Leslie Wilson (R), Ivan Stubbs (P) Kinawley – Raymond Humphries (R), George Graham (P) Glebewardens Ernest Breen (R), Tommy Fisher (P) Select Vestry Mackey Breen, Violet Clements, Cecil Crawford, Stephen Crawford, Hazel Crawford (#), Alan Gould, Mervyn Gould, Lorna Graham, Alan Hassard, Stanley Moffitt (*), May Rooney, Sam Wilson.
# denotes Parish Treasurer & * denotes Parish Secretary. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking once again, all those who served their respective Parishes on the Select Vestry over this last year and especially our outgoing Churchwardens whose time and commitment to their offices was much appreciated by everyone.

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Wedding bells in Ballyconnell Central School!   Congratulations! A very sincere and hearty congratulations from the parents, children and Board of Management of Ballyconnell Central School to Miss Susan Coles on her recent marriage to Cyril Notely. Susan has just commenced teaching in the school at the beginning of this academic year but has already formed a strong bond with the children. We wish you both every blessing in your married life together.

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