December Newsletter

December 2014

FROM THE RECTOR  

Our ‘Flower Festival’ last year raised the funds to re-roof the stables in the church grounds. Having money left over after the work was completed the Flower Festival Committee decided to use the balance to install a much needed defibrillator in the Parish Centre. On 3^rd November we had a training night for a member from each Parish Organisation which was conducted by the company who installed the machine. As many of you will know, a defibrillator can be a life saving device and we are very grateful to the Festival Committee for providing it for the Parish.

On 4^th November the Institute of Technology Tallaght held their Annual Business Prize Giving in the Church. It is always a lovely evening and it’s nice to be part of such a happy event and to see the Church filled with locals. We have a close relationship with the college where I am part time chaplain, the College also use our Parish Centre for sporting activities and exams.

November continued to be a busy month. We had the return of the Christmas Shoe Box Appeal on 9^th November, a Remembrance Service in Mount Seskin Community College on 19^th and on the 21^st I went to a Building Blocks conference in All Hallows College on ‘Messy Church’.  I attended ‘Tallaght Person of the year’ in the Red Cow Inn on 28^th  which was awarded to Mary McLaughlin  for her work with the suicide charity HOPE (Hold On Pain Eases). Christmas can be very sad for some people, a time of reflection, so the work of charities such as HOPE is invaluable.

May I take this opportunity to wish all the readers of the Parish Newsletter a very happy Christmas and health for the New Year.                                                                                                                               William.

Christmas in St. Maelruain’s

 

Sun 14^th December:  

11am - Parish School Carol Service and play  

  

Sun 21^st  December:  

11am - Good News Club Carol Service 

7pm  - Nine Lessons and Carols  followed 

by refreshments in the Small Hall. 

  

 Wed 24^th December: 

11.30pm -‘Midnight’ Holy Communion 

   

Thurs  25^th December 

9.00am - Christmas Morning Holy Communion with hymns

11am - Christmas Morning Family Holy Communion

Sun 28^th December 

11am - Family Service

Wed 31^st December  

 11pm - New Year’s Eve Multi Cultural Service 

 

Please Note : SUNDAY MORNING HOLY COMMUNION 8.30AM SERVICE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 9.00AM

BAPTISM     On 1^st November Milo Hewitson  was Baptised, baby son of Emma. Please pray for Milo and his family as he begins his Christian life.

BISHOPS APPEAL      The project this year for the Bishop’s Appeal is the Al – Ahli Hospital in Gaza which is run by the Anglican Dioceses of Jerusalem and which was damaged in the recent conflict in that region.  Funds raised will go towards medical supplies, fuel for generators and basic food parcels and blankets.

GIFT DAY    Thank you to all who gave so generously to our Annual Gift Day, this year in aid of a new Church boiler. The sum raised, as we go to print, is €5, 515. If you haven’t given your donation yet, it’s not too late. Don’t forget that there is a tax rebate of 31% available on all recorded donations given annually over the sum €250 to the parish. 

ENVELOPES     Church giving envelopes will be available in the Church Porch at the end of the month. If anybody would like to join the envelope scheme, keeping in mind the tax rebate available to the parish, please ask the Rector or contact the Parish Office 462 6006.

THE CHURCH OF IRELAND GAZETTE     If you would like to subscribe to the Church of Ireland all Ireland weekly newspaper please contact the Parish office.

ODD JOBS

The Select Vestry is looking for volunteers to help with small maintenance jobs around the Parish Centre and also if there is anyone with knowledge of lawnmower repairs who would like to help out with the upkeep of our graveyard machinery. Please contact Billy Gould on 087 986 4551 if interested.

CHURCH REVIEW

Subscription of €40 is now due on orders of the Diocesan Church Review Magazine, please send payment to Parish Office as soon as possible. If you do not wish to continue with you subscription or if you would like start receiving the magazine, can you please let the Parish Office (462 6006) know before the end of December.

DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS

The Church will be decorated for Christmas on Friday the 20^th December at 10am. Donations of flowers, greenery and decorations gratefully received. A warm welcome awaits anyone who would like to come along and help to decorate the church, young, old, male or female!

MOTHER’S UNION / FAMILIES FIRST

On Monday 10th November we held a Quiz Night  in aid of Church Boiler replacement. Whilst we would have wished for a greater attendance, those present had great fun and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you to Eileen Dunne for organising the questions, Liz Norris Quiz Mistress,  and all who brought items for supper.

Monday 8th December: 8pm.  Christmas Flower Demonstration with Janet Edgely & Regina Donoghue.. All welcome. Please bring your favourite Christmas treat to share at supper. (excluding mince pies)

Monday 12th January 2015 – Annual Dinner. The venue will again be Blazin Grill who are local and excellent value. If you wish to join us for this night out please contact either Valerie (086 8594850) or Miriam (087 2939751)

SAOIRSE

For December they have requested toothpaste.  However, can we also contribute Christmas fare. Please bring along your items on Monday 8^th December.

January: They have requested kitchen towels, if you plan on coming on 12^th January, bring them along and I will put them in my car boot..

May your Christmas be filled with lots of happiness, peace and love...

……. and lots of presents !!                             Miriam – Secretary.

BOY’S BRIGADE  

We had our annual joint BB and GB enrolment service on Sunday 23rd November which there was a great turn out. And a special thank you to Mark Atkinson for the lovely sermon. All the boys enjoyed it and was great to see some old and welcomed faces. 

BB will finish on Friday the 12th December for the Christmas period and will restart in the New Year, mid January. We would like to wish all the parish a very happy Christmas and New Year.   

BOWLS

We wish all in the bowls club health and happiness for the festive season and as we go to print, looking forward to seeing everyone at the bowls Christmas dinner this Saturday. 

WHIST DRIVE 

The December ‘Turkey’ Whist Drive is on Monday 15^th  at 8.00pm in the small hall. All Welcome!

PRAYERS FOR THE PARISH

Prayers for the parish continue on Monday evenings at 8.00pm in the upstairs of  Parish Hall, needs your support. 

BIBLE STUDY  of the reading for the following Sunday continue on Thurs afternoon at 3.00pm upstairs, Parish Hall.

PARISH COFFEE MORNING 

Our November Coffee Morning was a bit of a surprise, just as we had intended!  Everyone had quite a chuckle when they arrived and found three Victorian (well, sort of) maids waiting to greet them.  The phones and cameras were whipped out at amazing speed!  We felt like celebrities!  We had candles, crackers, mince pies and lashings of tea and cake and the atmosphere was very warm and jolly.  Thank you one and all for your support and generous donations throughout the year.  We wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and New Year.  Our next Coffee Morning will be on 30^thJanuary.  Vivienne, Regina, and Barbara.

December 2012

From the Rector

We had our gift day on 18^th November, thank you all who gave, it really is much appreciated. We had 2 extremely generous donations which has brought the figure raised, as we go to print, of approximately €11,000. This amount will go towards the loss of income from the car boot sales and the loss of Weight Watchers as tenants allowing us to limp into another year. As the New Year approaches please consider giving by weekly envelope, which allows you to plan your giving or by monthly bankers order. Contact the parish office to arrange either 462 6006.

On the 6^th November the church hosted the I.T.T. business prizes and on the 7^th and 8^th , I attended the college’s conferrals in the Victory Centre. It was lovely to see the students and their families celebrating the culminations of their studies, among which there were a couple of parishioners. On 9^th November we had  a Remembrance Service for deceased students and staff of the I.T.T in St. Maelruain’s Church.

I attended the Discovery service in Christchurch Cathedral organised by our former Curate Obinna on 18^th November and on the 21^st November I took part in the Remembrance Service in  Mt. Seskin Community College (formerly Jobstown College) for the 1^st years and answered questions on the Church of Ireland afterwards.

Victims support celebrated 25 years in Tallaght  also on 21^st November, they are there to support all who have been victims of crime however small, contact them on 459 9511 or 085 154 0378, victimsuppinfo@gmail.com

On 23^rd Nov. I attended the Tallaght Person of the Year, Amy had been nominated for her voluntary work overseas. It was in the Maldron Hotel this year, a new and bigger venue for the event, and it worked out well with the circular tables.

On the evening of the 25^th I went along to the ‘Massey’ Christmas Concert in St. Aengus, Balrothery, it was truly a magnificent evening. They are having another one in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, on 15^th Dec at 8pm, I would highly recommend it at €10 a ticket for concert hall standard.

May I take this opportunity to wish all the readers of the parish newsletter a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.                                                                                                                                                                William.

Funeral

The funeral of Jean Furney took place here in St. Maelruain’s on Thursday 8^th November. We extend our condolences to her husband Norman, sons Gary and Paul, to her daughter in law Michelle, to granddaughter Heather and to the wider family circle.

Jean’s ashes were buried on Wednesday 28^th November  in the Church graveyard.

Baptisms

On 25^th November Darragh John Beckett, baby son of David and Edel was baptised. Please pray for Darragh as he begins his Christian life.

The Church Review

Subscriptions for the Church Review are due in January, Please forward your sub to the parish office as soon as possible. If you would like to cancel your subscription or if you would like to order the Church Review (Diocesan Magazine) please contact the parish office by 13^th December 462 6006.

The Church of Ireland Gazette

If you would like to subscribe to the Church of Ireland all Ireland weekly newspaper please contact the Parish office.

Bowls Club

The Christmas dinner is on December 8^th in Lucan Golf Club. No club nights until 12^th January.  Wishing all members a very happy Christmas. Congratulations to Bill and Anne Gould on becoming grandparents to twin boys!

Parish Reunion Coffee Morning

We have enjoyed renewing old friendships and making new friendships at our coffee mornings recently.  Thank you to everyone for your support and for your generous donations.  We are taking a rest over Christmas and hope to see everyone again in the Old Hall on Friday January 25th 10am - 12noon.  We wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Christmas and Peaceful New Year.  Barbara, Gina and Vivienne.

Mother’s Union

On Monday 12^th November Amy Deverell gave a presentation on her recent trip to Uganda followed by a lengthy questions and answers session.  Very many thanks Amy for taking time out to speak to us.  We were very pleased to welcome some friends of the craft group along.

At the Diocesan Meeting in Sandymount on Saturday 17^th Nov. a request was made for little hats for very premature babies slightly bigger than an egg cosy.

Diary Dates: Monday 10^th December: Festive Night/Beetle Drive; Please bring along supper item other than mince pies!

Saoirse: For December please bring along box sweets/biscuits/hamper along with black plastic sacks they have requested.

 Monday 14^th January 2013 – Annual Dinner – Blazin Grill, Tallaght. 7.30pm for 8pm.

Wishing all a wonderful festive season!

Whist Drive

The ‘Turkey’ Drive for December will take place on Monday 17^th  at 8.00pm, all welcome!

Flower Guild

The church will be decorated for Christmas on Friday 14^th December from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Donations of flowers, greenery and festive decorations gratefully received. A warm welcome awaits anybody who would like to help, male of female!

School News

We are all delighted to welcome the Archbishop Reverend Michael Jackson to the school on the morning of December 4^th to celebrate the 30^th Anniversary of the School. There will be a Tree Planting Ceremony in the courtyard at 10.30. We will also have some old photos on display in the hall to bring back some happy memories.

5^th and 6^th class hosted Assembly on Thursday 29^th November, the theme was Daniel and the Lion’s Den, we had parents in attendance. On Thursday 13^th December Junior infants will perform their nativity play.

As you are all probably aware school grants have been cut and the school is finding it difficult to pay the bills this year so we have decided to produce a School Calendar to help raise funds. We hope you will buy either the personalised one with your child’s photo on the front for €10 or the regular one with the staff on the front cover for €8. An ideal Christmas gift! Please contact the school office to place your order. 4521 7933.

The School Church service will be on Tuesday December 18^th at 11am in St. Maelruain’s Church.

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to all the readers of the parish Newsletter from everybody here in the parish school!