|
 |
| A reflection on changing patterns of ministry by our student, Hazel Hicks ‘The understanding of the role of the Spirit mirrors the role of Jesus himself in John’s gospel, as the one who takes the tradition and makes it new, without contradicting or devaluing what has gone before’ As I read these words of John Witcombe, the author of my present study module on ‘The Holy Spirit’, I felt as if they were speaking to me and the new parish group of Kildallon / Swanlinbar. After 28 years as a Diocesan Reader I’m now training for ordination and as part of that training I’m on parish placement in the group. This is not contradicting or devaluing my experience as a Reader, rather it’s another step on my vocation journey, a step that was possible due to my previous experience. The words also spoke to me about what the leadership team of the Parish group are aiming to achieve ‘taking the tradition and making it new’. Changes such as service times, Holy Communion on different Sundays, united services, not worshipping in their local church every Sunday and having a student on placement have posed challenges for some people. The changes in no way contradict or devalue the worship or traditions of the past rather they take account of changing numbers of people who live in the area and attend worship as well as staff available to lead worship and provide pastoral care. The new grouping builds on the firm foundation of hard work and dedication by so many people and like Jesus in His ministry it takes tradition and makes it new. In the team ministry each of the leadership teams’ gifts, skills and experiences are shared, valued and encouraged, which means that the parishioners benefit from a wide range of skills and experiences. What the team are working towards is summed up by further words from my study and could well sum up Jesus’ ministry ‘reinterpreting the old to give it contemporary significance and that of revealing the new in a way consistent with the old’ Thank you to the leadership team and the parishioners of the group for the very warm welcome, support and encouragement which I have received, I really look forward to the months ahead, working with you as part of the group parish family. I have no doubt that like Jesus, you the parishioners will take up the challenge of change and ‘take traditional and make it new’ knowing that the Holy Spirit will lead us into new truth by encouraging and supporting us. Hazel Hicks
|
|
+++
|
Fancy going for a bit of a jog!! On 29th October this year, I will be stepping out, or should I say striding out, once again as I prepare to take part in Dublin City Marathon. You may have seen me out pounding the roads already, and wondered what I was up to – now it all makes sense. In running the 26.2 mile course I will be hoping to raise sponsorship for two very worthwhile causes, Macmillan Cancer Relief and The Jack & Jill Trust. Macmillan improves the lives of people affected by cancer. They help with all the things that people affected by cancer want and need, from specialist health care and information to practical, emotional and financial support. Amongst other things, the Jack & Jill Foundation “provides early intervention home respite to families with children up to the age of 4, with severe developmental delay who require extended care.” Macmillan Cancer Relief serves those affected by cancer in Northern Ireland and is dependant on voluntary donations for 99% of its work. The Jack & Jill Foundation helps families in the Republic of Ireland and relies entirely upon voluntary donations. If you would like to sponsor me please make contact and let me know as I feel it is important that people do not feel visitations in the lead up to the marathon have an underlying purpose. Or, if you would like to take a sponsor card and help to raise sponsorship for these causes then that would be very much appreciated. There will be a social / fundraiser at some stage later in the autumn at which cheques will be handed over to representatives from both charities.
|
News ItemsGROUP NEWSHarvest celebrations for 2007 Just a reminder of when and where our Harvest Celebrations are for this year;
Do try and make a special effort to visit a church you have never been to before. +++
+++ Harvest project Our Group Harvest project for
this year will be the Asia Floods Emergency Appeal through Christian Aid.
It has been evident to all of us over this past summer how much harm can
be done by rain. I have observed many fields literally tramped due to
wet ground as farmers struggled to gather in the silage harvest. We have
all seen the images on television of Sheffield and other major cities
in England which ground to a halt due to flooding. +++
Newsletter and Web Site If you have any news items or
photographs for insertion in future editions of this Newsletter or on
the web site please let me have them. +++ Back to TOP
+++ Meeting for all Sunday School Teachers Would all Sunday School teachers
please note that there will be a training evening at 8.30pm on Tuesday
2nd Oct in Ballyconnell Minor Hall. The purpose of this evening is to
introduce all of our teachers to the new Scripture Union material which
we will be using across our Group. The purpose of using this material
is as follows; :
This is a Christian organisation
who through an annual shoe box appeal, have touched the lives of literally
tens of thousands of children from under-privileged and deprived backgrounds
in Eastern Europe at Christmas time. You will find enclosed with this
Newsletter, a leaflet which explains how you can support this extremely
worthy cause, but in summary the following are some pointers; Back to TOP
+++
+++ Parenting Course Having attended a conference
recently, it became apparent to me that our Church needs to support
and equip or parents in whatever way we can. Many would say that it
has never been more difficult to be a parent, either of young children
of teenagers. Much of this support would have taken place at the School
Gate in years gone by, but now many of us are too busy to get out of
our cars to talk to one another, rushing off to the do the next task
in an increasingly busy world. We need to help our parents to address
this malaise. TOP
+++ Back to TOP
+++
+++
So far, 11 people have indicated their intention to come along to Christianity Explored, which is most encouraging. It is still far from being too late to let me know if you would like to come along – indeed, it is not essential that you do so, just turn up on the night if you wish. The course commences on Wednesday 19th September at 8.30pm in the Minor Hall, Ballyconnell. I promise anyone who comes along that they will not be asked to say, pray, or do anything that they are not comfortable with – it will be entirely up to the individual how much or how little they contribute each evening. If you aren’t able to be make it to every evening that is also fine and should not be seen as a reason for not coming, although it has to be said that the more you can commit to, the more you will get out of it. The course content and times are shown in the table. +++
+++ TOPCorrawallen Newtowngore - Sale of Work This will take place at 7pm on Friday 26 October in the hall at Newtowngore. You can expect the usual stalls with refreshments for all tastes! Please support the sale of work as all proceeds will go towards Parish Funds. +++ St Peter’s Annual Gift Day This did not take place, as was the custom, during September due to the renovations to the Church, but all Gifts will be received along with the collection during the Harvest Celebration on Sunday 7th October. Would parishioners please note that the gift they place in the enclosed envelope with this Newsletter will go towards the work of St Peter’s Parish Church and not towards the Harvest collection.
Training evening for people working with children & young people Safe guarding trust is something which the Church of Ireland has been committed to for a good number of years now. In doing so we ensure that the organisations which meet on Parish premises or Parish groups which go on visits/trips are providing the highest level of care for our children and young people. We remain totally committed to the provision of a safe environment and the care of the young people, children and adults at risk in our organisations. In pursuance of good practice, The Panel, consisting of Miss Beatrice Crawford (Kinawley), Mrs Norma Richardson (Newtowngore), Mrs Linda Lovett (Templeport) and Mr Kenneth Magee (Kildallon), together with Geoff, have carried out a complete and comprehensive review of procedures and policies in place in organisations and on our premises. The outcome of this review is that a number of matters have been updated and it is intended to brief all adults involved in work with our young people, children and adults at risk at a training evening to be held in Ballyconnell Minor Hall on Tuesday 4th September at 8.30pm. The purpose of this review has been to ensure that we are caring for all those in our care as well as those who are responsible for their care. This meeting is extremely important and records of attendance will be kept, so please make a special effort to come along if you are a leader in an organisation working with any of the foregoing groups. If for any reason you are unable to attend, then please let Geoff know in advance. +++
+++ TOP
+ + +
Back to TOP+ + +
+++ e & oe + + + |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * ooo * * * |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
+oooo
