The Newsletter October 2014

Rector: Canon Ian Poulton, Diocesan Reader: Parish Archivist: Clonenagh Rectory, Mabel Peavoy, Vicky Knowles, Portlaoise Road, Shannon Road, Clonin School, Mountrath. Mountrath. Mountrath. Phone: 057-8732146 Phone:057-8732331 Phone: 057-8732846

Laura Grant & John McBryde in action at the National Ploughing Championships recently

Clonenagh Group of Parishes Annatrim, Borris-in-Ossory, Lacca, Mountrath, Roskelton, Seir Kieran.

October is "pay and file" time, the It was my first realization that deadline for the tax return, and, more accountancy can some-times be more significantly, payment of tax for the of a creative art than a science. Looking year. For ten years financial back now I think that my father always management in our house has been knew and she knew that he knew but through columns in exercise books. they both realized that 'keeping count' Lines drawn down a page separate a was a valuable discipline, even allowing column in which each item is written, for the SPG". from a column that shows amounts budgeted, a column for credit card Perhaps there is something of the expenditures, and a column for cash Gospel in 'bits and pieces' or 'SPG'; withdrawals and debit card spending. Jesus was never a rigorist. He gets into On the right hand side is recorded the trouble over his disciples' vagueness in balance, after the addition or, more keeping exactly to the rules: often, the deduction of each item. "One Sabbath Jesus was going through Keeping a track of all the transactions is the grainfields, and his disciples began not easy, a certain vagueness creeps to pick some heads of grain, rub them in in under cover of "cash". "What was that their hands and eat the kernels. Some €60 for?" of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" "I dunno, bits and pieces". Jesus answered them, "Have you never There is a Charles Handy story where read what David did when he and his 'bit and pieces' has its own initials: companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the "Words and money mattered . . . in the consecrated bread, he ate what is Irish rectory where I grew up. Each lawful only for to eat. And he week my parents would prepare and also gave some to his companions." exchange their personal accounts, in an Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of attempt to keep some track of their Man is Lord of the Sabbath." Luke 6:1-5 spending. It was a weekly agony for my mother who could never remember There is room in life for both discipline what she had spent on what. I used to and for being relaxed. When it comes to try to help. 'Why,' I once asked, do you budgeting, as with many other things, it spend so much sometimes on the SPG is the discipline that makes the space when we are so poor?' A child of the for being relaxed. Discipline through the rectory, I knew about the SPG; it was year should mean 31st October does the Society for the Propagation of the not hold too many fears. Gospel in Foreign Parts, a famous missionary society. 'Hush,' said my mother, 'and never tell your father, but SPG really stands for Something, Probably Grub.'

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Farm Safety Canon Kearon is Secretary General of the , a position he The Board of Education of the Church of has held since 2005. Born in 1953, issued a statement of support for Canon Kearon is a native of . the suggestion made recently by the Educated at , he President of ICSA (the Irish Cattle and served his curacy in All Saints Raheny Sheep Farmers’ Association), Mr Patrick and St John’s Coolock, before becoming Kent, for health and safety education to chaplain of Trinity College in 1984, a be included in the primary school position he held until 1990. He was curriculum, with a particular emphasis Rector of the Parish of Tullow (Dublin) on farm safety for children in rural areas. from 1991 to 1999 after which he became Director of the Irish School of This matter is of concern to all of those Ecumenics (1999–2005). involved in farming and is of particular concern to the The Archbishop of Dublin, said, ‘Canon community given that a significant Kearon has expressed his delight at number of its members are engaged in returning to work in Ireland and his farming. The number of deaths on farms intention to serve the people of Limerick due accidental health and safety related and Killaloe and the communities of incidents in recent months and years which they are a part. I have known displays the absolute need for greater Canon Kearon for many years and have awareness among children and young always appreciated his personal people of the dangers on farms and from friendship. I wish Kenneth and Jennifer farming equipment. all that is best within the love of God in their time in Limerick and Killaloe.’ While it is realised that the primary level curriculum contains a great many The –elect said: ‘I am honoured elements, the Board is nonetheless of and delighted to have been elected to the view that it would be beneficial for the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe, and close consideration be given to the I look forward to getting to know the highlighting of farm safety given the diocese, its people and its clergy well in frequent references to farm animals, the near future. Ireland has been farmyards and farm life in the primary through a very difficult period in its level curriculum and popular school history, and I look forward to helping the textbooks. diocese play its part and making its contribution to shaping the future. This diocese has made a distinctive New Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe contribution to the Church of Ireland in the past, in part through the work of its On 8th September, the Episcopal and most recently through Electoral College for Limerick & Killaloe Bishop , and I hope to be elected Canon as the able to continue in their footsteps.’ new Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe. He succeeds Bishop Trevor Williams who retired at the end of July.

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From the registers the life of her parish, another place where she left her mark in Mountrath Holy Baptism was in the Country Market: flowers from her beautiful garden, tomatoes from her On Sunday, 24th August 2014, at Saint greenhouse, but most of all her delicious Peter's Church, Mountrath, Chloe Eliza- cakes were always much in demand. beth Hargroves of Ard Edmond, Cas- For the last couple of years as her tletown. mobility decreased, she resided in the loving care of her daughter, Gwyn, and Funerals her family, in the Rectory, Aughrim, Co. Galway, where she passed away peace- The Late Gladys Gill fully on 4th September, after a short ill- Gladys Elizabeth Gill, née Cooper, was ness. born on 26th September 1928 in the Old Her funeral service was conduct- Schoolhouse in Aghaboe, where her ed by her son-in-law, Canon George mother was the school teacher. Flynn, Rector of the Aughrim & Creagh Her family later moved to the Pike Unions of Parishes, in St. Peter’s of Rushall. She was educated in Church, Mountrath, on Saturday 6th Aghaboe and subsequently in Car- September, and attended by a large rickmacross Boarding School, Co. Mon- gathering of mourners. The address was aghan. She then returned to help her given by her daughter, The Rev. Lesley father on the family farm. Robinson, Rector of Clontarf. On 12th October 1955 she mar- After the service, Gladys was laid ried Herbert Gill in St. Brigid’s Church, to rest in the adjoining churchyard be- Stillorgan, and she moved to his family side her late husband, Herbert, who farm in a place called Castletown, just passed away in 2011. outside Birr in County Offaly. We extend our sympathy to Iso- In 1971, following the birth of their bel, Wilbert, Gwyn, Lesley, and all her four children, Herbert and Gladys and family and friends. their family moved to a smaller farm in County Laois, coincidentally to another The Late Canon George Flynn Castletown. Sadly, less than two weeks after the Gladys had many gifts, chief death of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Gladys among them, music. Many parishioners Gill, Canon George Flynn collapsed and may remember her playing the organ in died suddenly in County Galway. Mountrath church on occasions when Ordained in Armagh Ca- Archdeacon and Mrs. Gray were on holi- thedral on 24th June 1990, he was then days. Her touch was so gifted that nu- appointed Bishop’s Curate in the union merous people would remark that they of Kilsaran, in the Diocese of Armagh, knew it was her who was playing from and became the -in-Charge there the moment the organ started up. Every the following year. He was Rector of the other Sunday, she could be found en- Clonenagh Group of Parishes from 1998 hancing the church choir with her beauti- – 2000, and his final incumbency was in ful singing voice. the Aughrim and Creagh Unions of Par- In addition to throwing herself into ishes, where he was instituted as Rector

Page 4 on 1st February 2008. Thursday Bible Club: Our Thursday In January of this year, he was Bible Club began again in September installed as a Canon, becoming Preband after the summer break and meets once of Inniscattery in the United Dioceses of a fortnight in the parochial hall in Moun- Limerick and Killaloe. trath from 6.30 until 7.45 pm. Numbers George will long be remembered had built up to two dozen in the spring for his exceptional spirituality, energy and the club opened with sixteen mem- and most of all his pastoral care and bers in September. We hope to build up kindness. Nothing was ever too much numbers this year as we did last year. In trouble and no one was ever outside the October the club meets on Thursday, remit of his care. His devotion to the el- 2nd and Thursday, 16th. derly, the vulnerable and the sick were exemplary. 4th Seed: Mervyn Tomb is beginning He also had the rare gift of being a new initiative aimed at young people able to relate and minister to people of from 6th Class until Second Year ages. all ages equally, putting huge effort into Called 4th Seed (after the Parable of the children’s ministry in all his parishes, Sower), it is a monthly Saturday evening especially for Family Services. As one gathering at the Faith Mission Centre in young, former parishioner of this Group Durrow for games, activities and some of Parishes wrote on Facebook from Bible teaching. The first meeting is on Australia on the news of George’s death: Saturday, 4th October and then on Sat- ‘Thank you Rev. George, the world has urday, 1st November. Contact Mervyn lost a shining light and Heaven has for details. earned an incredible soul’. His funeral service was held in St. Lacca Harvest: The harvest thanks- John’s Church, Ballinasloe, on Saturday giving season continues on Sunday, 5th 20th September, and was conducted by October at 4pm when we shall welcome Archdeacon Wayne Carney, acting as Sam Harper as our preacher. Archbishop’s Commissary, in the pres- ence of numerous diocesan and visiting Clonenagh Select Vestry: There will clergy, including many from the Roman be a meeting of the select vestry of Catholic Church. Clonenagh Parish in the parochial hall The packed church included fami- on Tuesday, 7th October at 8 pm ly, friends and present and past parish- ioners, all of whom were shocked and Vintage talk: Mr George Conn, a well- saddened by George’s untimely passing. known vintage tractor enthusiast, will Poignantly, the address was once again give an illustrated talk on "Henry Ford: given by Rev. Lesley Robinson, his sis- The Man who put the World on Wheels" ter-in-law, and following the service at the Faith Mission Centre at Durrow at George was laid to rest in Annatrim 8 pm on Thursday, 9th October. There Churchyard in the family plot. will be an epilogue and refreshments. We extend our deepest sympathy Admission is free and everyone is wel- to his wife, Gwyn Cooper-Flynn, his five come. stepsons Stuart, Scott, Ross, Robin and Dale, and his large circle of extended GFS: GFS began again on 19th Sep- family and friends. tember with twenty girls present and more to come. The next meeting of the branch will be on Friday, 10th October.

Page 5 Andrew Holt's Memorial Service: A Sunday, 19th October at 7pm – the memorial service for Mr Andrew Holt of darkness of the autumn evening an-

Coolrain who died on 11th September nouncing that the winter is approaching will take place in Annatrim Church on and that we can rejoice that seedtime Saturday, 11th October at 11 am. and harvest have not failed and that all is safely gathered in. Major Harding's Memorial Service: The Memorial Service for Major Cecil Mothers' Union Service: After the di- Harding of Tulach Nore, who died in ocesan service in September and the England during August, takes place in day conference on 18th October, Moth- Annatrim Church on Saturday, 11th Oc- ers' Union members are welcome to at- tober at 1.30 pm. It seemed a fitting time tend the branch service at Mountrath at which to hold the service – Major Har- Church at 8 pm on Monday, 20th Octo- ding loved Annatrim Church and it will ber. Tea will be served afterwards in the be looking at its best with the decora- parochial hall. tions for the harvest service the next day. Diocesan Synod: Our diocesan synod takes place at Piltown in Co KIlkenny on Annatrim Harvest: Our harvest Wednesday, 22nd October where our thanksgiving in Annatrim will be at 11am parishes will be represented by Mrs Emi- on Sunday, 12th October. We welcomed ly Jackson, Mr Ivan Jestin, Mr Joe eighty-four people to the harvest service Peavoy, Mrs Jean Treacy and Mrs in Annatrim last year – an excellent total Joyce Wharton. A census of Church of when other morning services were tak- Ireland church attendance took place in ing place – and hope for a good attend- November last year and produced re- ance this year. sults that were presented to the Stand- ing Committee and posted on the Diocesan clergy conference: The an- Church of Ireland website in June. With nual clergy conference takes place at a Sunday attendance of just 20.2% in Clonea in Co Waterford from Monday, our diocese, it is hoped that the dioce- 13th until Wednesday, 15th October. san synod will take seriously the findings Telephone calls to the Rectory number of the census and will take steps to con- will forward to the Rector as usual. sider what opportunities there for renew- al and evangelism. All the other discus- Mothers' Union Conference: The sions regarding parochial organisation Mothers' Union hold a conference on the and the other matters before synod be- theme "Sowing Friendship" at the come irrelevant if there are no people. Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on Saturday, 18th October, 10.00 am -3.30 pm. The Remembrance of Loved Ones: Our cost, including lunch, is €25 and every- annual service of remembrance of loved one is welcome. Application forms are ones takes place in Mountrath Church available from Jean Treacy and Mabel on Sunday, 2nd November at 7 pm. Peavoy. Everyone is welcome at this service, regardless of their religious background Roskelton Harvest: The harvest festi- or parish. val season concludes at Roskelton on

Page 6 A couple had two little mischievous boys, There's this guy who had been lost and ages 8 and 10. They were always getting walking in the desert for about 2 weeks. into trouble, and their parents knew that if One hot day, he sees the home of a mis- any mischief occurred in their town, their sionary. Tired and weak, he crawls up to sons would get the blame. The boys' the house and collapses on the doorstep. mother heard that a clergyman in town The missionary finds him and nurses him had been successful in disciplining chil- back to health. Feeling better, the man dren, so she asked if he would speak with asks the missionary for directions to the her boys. The clergyman agreed and nearest town. On his way out the back- asked to see them individually. So, the door, he sees this horse. He goes back mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the into the house and asks the missionary, morning, with the older boy to see the "Could I borrow your horse and give it clergyman in the afternoon. back when I reach the town?"

The clergyman, a huge man with a boom- The missionary says, "Sure but there is a ing voice, sat the younger boy down and special thing about this horse. You have to asked him sternly, "Where is God?" The say 'Thank God' to make it go and 'Amen' boy's mouth dropped open, but he made to make it stop." no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open. The clergyman repeated Not paying much attention, the man says, the question. "Where is God?" Again, the "Sure, OK." boy made no attempt to answer. So, the clergyman raised his voice some more So he gets on the horse and says, "Thank and shook his finger in the boy's face and God" and the horse starts walking. Then bellowed, "Where is God!?" he says, "Thank God, thank God," and the horse starts trotting. Feeling really brave, The boy screamed and bolted from the the man says, "Thank God, thank God, room. He ran directly home and dove into thank God, thank God, thank God" and his closet, slamming the door behind him. the horse just takes off. Pretty soon he When his older brother found him in the sees this cliff coming up and he's doing closet, he asked, "What happened?" everything he can to make the horse stop.

The younger brother, gasping for breath, "Whoa, stop, hold on!" Finally he remem- replied: "We are in real BIG trouble this bers, "Amen!" time! God is missing, and they think we did it!" The horse stops 4 inches from the cliff. Then the man leans back in the saddle and says, "Thank God."

Items for the November 2014 Newsletter need to be with the editor by WEDNES- DAY October 22nd AT THE LATEST, so that the Newsletter can be assembled in time for the 4th Sunday, October 26th. PLEASE make your item as ready for publication as possible, and most im- portant, please ensure that you spell names correctly. Ideally, items should be submitted by e-mail to- [email protected] Otherwise to- Ivor Clegg, Cloncourse, Mountrath, Co. Laois. 057-8621277/087- 2522162 This Newsletter and many older editions can be downloaded directly from www.clonenagh.com Page 7

October 2014 Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12- First Seir Borris-in- 20 Roskelton Mountrath Lacca Sunday Kieran Ossory th Psalm 19 9.30am 11.30am 4.00pm Philippians 3: 4b-14 Harvest 5 9.30am Holy Communion 11.00am Holy Communion Matthew 21: 33-46 Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Thanksgiving Seir Second Exodus 32: 1-14 Annatrim Mountrath Sunday Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23 Kieran th Philippians 4: 1-9 11.00am 11.30am 12 Matthew 22: 1-14 9.30am Harvest Thanksgiving Morning Prayer Holy Communion Seir Borris-in- Third Exodus 33: 12-23 Mountrath Lacca Roskelton Sunday Psalm 99 Kieran Ossory th 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10 11.30am 4.00pm 7.00pm Evening Harvest 19 Matthew 22: 15-22 9.30am 11.00am Morning Prayer Morning Prayer Holy Communion Prayer Thanksgiving Seir Fourth Deuteronomy 34: 1-12 Lacca Annatrim Mountrath Sunday Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17 Kieran th 1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8 10.30am 11.00am 11.30am Family 26 Matthew 22: 34-46 9.30am Morning Prayer Holy Communion Morning Prayer Service

October 2nd Thursday………..Thursday Bible Club (page 5) 4th Saturday………....4th Seed (page 5) 7th Tuesday……..…...Clonenagh Select Vestry meeting (page 5) 9th Thursday………….Vintage Talk (page 5) 10th Friday…………....G.F.S. (page 5) 11th Saturday………...Memorial Service for Andrew Holt (page 6) 11th Saturday……..….Memorial Service for Major Harding (page 6) 13th Mon -15th Wed….Diocesan clergy conference (page 6) 16th Thursday…...…...Thursday Bible Club (page 5) 18th Saturday………...Mothers’ Union conference (page 6) 20th Monday..………...Mothers’ Union branch service (page 6) 22nd Wednesday…….Diocesan Synod (page 6) 22nd Wednesday…...Closing date for November 2014 Newsletter items!

November 1st Saturday………....4th Seed (page 5) 2nd Sunday…………..Service of Remembrance of Loved Ones (page 6)

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