St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick 850Th Anniversary P.19
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FEBRUARY 2018 NEWSLINK The MagazineThe of the Magazine Church of Ireland of the United Church Dioceses of of Ireland Limerick, KillaloeUnited & DiocesesArdfert of Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert INSIDE St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick Prize winning trees in Nenagh p.2 850th Anniversary p.19 Pastoral care for Dementia part 3 p.17 Mothers Union Vigil p.18 Bishop Kenneth writes p.3 Prayer corner p.5 Methodist District changes p.6 Bishop’s Lent challenge p.7 View from the Pew p.8 Letter: Making a difference p.8 Bible bite for Children p.34 including Methodist District News p. 32 Advent carols by candlelight in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick 1 ISSN. 0790-4517 www.limerick.anglican.org Nenagh Christmas Tree Festival This has become a regular feature of Nenagh town’s Christmas All attendees had the chance to vote for their favourite trees and festivities and we believe it is a joyful addition to the season, these were the winners: ending with the Service of Nine Lessons & Carols, for which St • Business or Retail (kindly sponsored by the Nenagh Chamber Mary’s Church was packed. We had all sizes and styles of trees, of Commerce) - ’Peppermill Garlands’ by the Peppermill proving once again the creativity and imagination of local people. Restaurant, Nenagh; In addition to Parish funds, the charity we supported this year with a €2000 cheque was St Cronan’s Association (Nenagh Branch), • Individual - ‘Jingle Bells’ by Michael Doran; providing high quality support to more than 120 people and their • Organisation - ‘The Invisible Christmas Tree’ by St Cronan’s families living with disability. Services. The invisible Tree, by St Cronan’s Services Jingle Bells, by Michael Doran Peppermill Garlands, by Peppermill Restaurant, Nenagh Bandon Grammar School Co-Educational Boarding and Day Founded 1641 Principal: Ian Coombes, B.A., H.D.E., M.Ed. Bandon Grammar School, a Church of Ireland managed school working in a spirit of inclusion. Helping all to discover and reach full potential. We offer:- • Excellent academic, pastoral and guidance support by dedicated staff stimulating high achievement • Modern, comfortable boarding facilities • Strong tradition of inclusion of children with special needs • Wide range of subjects including the full range of sciences, business subjects, 4 languages and many practical subjects • Exciting, innovative and ever changing Transition Year Programme • Emphasis on the visual and performing arts, music, choir, debating, poetry and essay competitions • Modern specialist and general classrooms, laboratories, workshops, lecture theatre, all superbly fitted with the latest technology • Wide choice of sports, clubs and after-school activities on over 30 hectares of campus • Intensive and inclusive range of local and foreign tours • Award winning IT system, second to none in the country • Evening study facilities available for day pupils • State grants, family allowances and scholarships available to help with moderate fees Phone: 023-8841713 Fax: 023-8844404 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bandongrammar.ie Twitter: @bandongrammar 2 Bishop Kenneth writes – A Lent Challenge Last year for Lent many people took up the “Bishop’s Challenge” many of us have with some aspects of to read a form of Daily Prayer each day during Lent, and I’m giving faith. Building on his long experience you the same challenge this year. A form of Daily Prayer, together of pastoral ministry he sees faith as a with the Collects and readings for each day is enclosed in this issue journey and encourages us to travel of Newslink. with our questions, confident in the knowledge that God is with us and that Most of the readings this year come from the Epistles, which are everything rests with him. very different types of reading from the Gospels. There aren’t the same stories and parables with which we are so familiar – instead I can do no better than to quote Revd the epistles are letters written to the various church communities Ted Woods who writes in the Foreword: around the Mediterranean, often addressing issues or problems they were facing at the time. “Journeying in Faith will have many uses. It is an accessible introduction to the Christian faith for new members of the The epistle to the Philippians is addressed to the church at Philippi Church. It is an ideal refresher for the individual who wants in Macedonia, which was the first church St Paul established in to think more deeply about his or her faith. Clergy who are Europe (see Acts 16. V 11-15), and he kept in touch with them over looking for material for an adult confirmation group or a parish the years. In the readings it is clear he remembers a number of discussion programme, or indeed a teaching sermon, need look individuals there, and he has a warm affection for that church. no further. Journeying in Faith deserves a wide readership. It is a balanced and well-reasoned presentation of the Christian St Paul also founded the church in Corinth which was one of the faith and I warmly commend it to those inside and outside the most important cities in Greece, (see Acts 18. V 1-11). Setting the Church.” church up there had been a difficult task, and St Paul was fearful at times. The church thrived afterwards, but in St Paul’s first letter The book is available from the Church of Ireland on-line bookshop – to Corinth it is clear there are tensions and difficulties. That’s very https://store.ireland.anglican.org. Price €12.50. helpful for us as it reveals St Paul’s attitudes and opinions on a wide range of subjects. With all good wishes + Kenneth If you are looking for more readings I can do no better than recommend to you Canon Cecil Hyland’s new book Journeying in The Rt. Revd. Kenneth Kearon, Faith. Many of you met Canon Hyland when he visited a number of Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe, parishes as part of a diocesan review a couple of years ago. Kilbane House, Golf Links Road, Castletroy, Limerick V94 X0EF The book faces many of the questions and issues in faith today as Tel: +353 (0)61 333635 honestly and openly as possible. He admits the difficulties that Email: [email protected] Diocesan Calendar To place an entry please email the Editor at [email protected]. Mon 12th February, 11am-3pm CME – Interfaith Day (meeting Jews & Muslims), Limerick City (venue to be advised) Thu 22nd February Finance Committee 4pm, followed by Diocesan Council 7.30pm Thu 1st March, 8pm GFS Diocesan Council, The Rectory, Birr Sat 10th March Council for Mission Conference – Ministry to Children Mon 12th March CME – Living & sustaining a life of prayer (venue to be advised) Tue 13th March, 7.30pm Mission Evening on Church Planting, Rev Adrian McCartney, South Court Hotel, Limerick Sat 24th March GFS Diocesan Service & Craft Day, Birr Thu 26th April MU Diocesan Council Tue 8th May, 7.30pm Finance Committee Thu 10th – Sat 12th May General Synod, Armagh City Hotel, Armagh Thu 17th May Joint Property Committee & Glebes Committees 6.45pm, followed by Diocesan Council 7.30pm See also the diocesan website www.limerick.anglican.org/calendar. 2 3 Editorial – Love in Lent Newslink This year Ash Wednesday is also St Valentine’s Day, 14th February. Newslink is the diocesan magazine for the United Diocese of This is quite unusual - I’ve checked - it hasn’t happened before in Limerick, Killaloe & Ardfert, which also includes the historic dioceses my lifetime. Although it will again in 2024 and 2029, thereafter it of Aghadoe, Clonfert, Emly, Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh. For further will not happen in the 21st century. information about the United Dioceses see the diocesan web site: www.limerick.anglican.org. This happy coincidence invites us to think about Lent through the Newslink also covers Methodist Midlands and Southern District lens of love. Because at its heart Lent is surely all about love. About Circuits within the boundaries of the Church of Ireland Diocese. the love God shows us by taking on human flesh as Jesus Christ to show us how to overcome sin and death. About the love Jesus shows Editor for his Heavenly Father as he is tempted in the wilderness. About In addition to news from parishes, schools and diocesan the love Jesus shows for his disciples as they travel to Jerusalem, to organisations, the Editor is delighted to receive articles and letters his passion and crucifixion. If we practice penitence and self-denial for publication, as well as suggestions as to how Newslink may be as we travel with Jesus toward Good Friday, we should do so with improved. the joy that comes with growing knowledge of the love of God in Please note: names and addresses of contributors must be given, the person of Jesus Christ. and all letters printed will include name and address unless otherwise agreed with the Editor. All material dealing with parish/ Greek, that subtle language, distinguishes between four different circuit matters must first be cleared with the Minister concerned. human loves: familial love (storge); friendship (philia); romantic love (eros); and spiritual love (agape). Surely it is our human Contact details: experience of all these loves which gives us a bare inkling of what Joc Sanders God’s incomprehensible love for us is like. And that includes the Turravagaun, Dromineer, passionate, romantic love which we celebrate on St Valentine’s Day. Nenagh, Co Tipperary Tel: 067 24987 Mob: 087 699 6775 That great Christian mystic, Julian of Norwich tells us: Email: [email protected] What, do you wish to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Newslink is printed by Davis Printers, Know it well, love was his meaning.