Extreme Weather
The weather conditions have meant that unfortunately there have been a few changes to our services and meetings these past few weeks. May I apologise if anyone has been caught out or not informed. We have tried to keep changes to a minimum and sought to do as much as we can safely. A particular disappointment was the cancellation of Corrawallen's advent carol service for which Newtowngore school had put in so much hard work.
Our GFS service will also be postponed till early Spring as they have not been able to meet.
May I publicly voice a huge thank you to our visiting clergy, Canon Reggie Twaddell & Rev Hazel Hicks for their help with services in the snow and ice and Canon Cyril Roslton for his help with home communions.
We will always try to advise you of late alterations to Church Service or meeting times in the Sunday Newssheet or on the web site latest Newssheet page which you can find at:
www.swanlinbar-kildallon.kilmore.anglican.org/news-sheet-weekly |
Bereavements
It was with great sadness that we said farewell to Anna Johnston (Newtowngore Parish), Fred McMullen, (Tomregan Parish) and Dorothy Mitchell (Kildallon Parish). Anna was our oldest parishioner living to the grand age of 96 years.
Dorothy had been unwell for a while yet her death was a surprise nonetheless. Our thoughts are with the families, neighbours and friends who will miss them greatly. We pray for God's comfort and peace in their time of grief.
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Christmas
There was much to rejoice in during our Christmas celebrations this year. Pictures from some of the events are here. The children of Ballyconnell Central School shared a delightful version of the nativity both in Templeport and in the Breffni. The Senior Citizens Christmas dinner and dance was once again a great success and an important night.
Thank you to the Forward group for arranging a really fun evening. Thank you also to the Sunday School teachers and to Beatrice for helping run a Christmas party for the children.
Newtowngore School parents also held a Christmas tree party which proved to be a fun night again with that funny man in the red suit visiting. He was certainly kept busy! Despite the weather and a venue change the Christmas Eve Nativity also went ahead and it was a huge delight to see 35-40 folk of all ages in attendance.
 
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There will be a United Vestry on Tuesday 26th January 8pm in Ballyconnell Minor hall . This is our first united vestry for some time so may I ask vestry members to make every effort to attend.
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Templeport Development Association
Regrettably the monthly meeting scheduled for the end of January has had to be cancelled. |
Contemporary Service
A new monthly service is starting at the end of the month involving the Parish groups of Killeshandra, Derrylin and ourselves. It will be similar perhaps to the informal service using more modern styles of worship. It is hoped that young people will share an important role in it's life but it is very open to everyone. We will host the March service. The 1st Service will be in Derrylin parish hall on Friday January 29th at 8.45pm. Speaker Rev Alison Calvin. |
Getting up to Date 
A helpful question we might all ask during our vacancy is what can we do to get ready for a new Rector. A proposed wee change to our newsletter has set us on a journey that will benefit the group and a new Rector enormously. So what's the change? Each month up to now approximately five hundred labels with the names of all parishioners who subscribe to the Newsletter have had to be printed and stuck on manually. This is obviously not only expensive buying the labels but also very labour intensive. This month we will do a small trial in one or two parish areas. If this is successful we hope next month all the Newsletters will have the parishioner’s names printed directly on them. This will save considerable time and expense. This small change has led us look at updating the records we hold. I want to be clear why: Firstly our present records are based on the 2005 parish census. It's surprising how much information is out of date as parishioner's circumstances have changed for all sorts of reasons. Secondly it will help a new Rector and present staff to contact you easily as most helpfully by visit, phone, letter or for a few using email. Thirdly it will help a new Rector and present staff gather key information quickly for events. For example knowing the year of birth will help us identify groups such as the over 60's, teenagers, toddlers and everyone in between for invitations to special events. This will save a lot of time with this information already together. As we are assessing this need can I assure everyone the information required is not huge or especially sensitive. The key information will be items such as full contact details and year of birth. As we gather this information from you we will also get your permission to hold it. If anyone has any concerns please let me know and be assured the records are available for you to see. We will let you know how this information will be gathered up in due course.
Leslie Matthew's Big Fundraising Birthday Concert
The Donegal Hospice Letterkenny invite you to Leslie Matthew's Big Fundraising Birthday Concert in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny on Tuesday 19th January. Admission £10 or €10. Yes it's short notice but it's a chance for folk who enjoyed Leslie's music at our Templeport country and gospel concert to enjoy a night out after the big freeze. Violet Clement has organised a minibus at very reasonable rates if there is sufficient interest . If you might be interested give her a call ASAP at Telephone 00447921715031 |
Emergency Cover
Captain Richard will be away from Friday 29th January to Friday February 19th. In the event of emergencies please contact Rev Steve Clark Tel 049 9524778
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Please Could You Contribute to future Newsletters?
If you have a digital camera or a camera on your mobile phone please take photographs of your local parish activities. We would love to hear from you or, just send your photos to the group office. |
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Where is God?
Two brothers were terrible trouble makers. They were always breaking things, stealing things, lying, and making all kinds of general trouble. The parents have tried everything to get the boys to change, to no avail. Finally, out of options, they ask their pastor if he can help. He says he will talk to the boys, but only one at a time. The parents drop off the youngest and go home, promising to return to get him soon. The boy sits in a chair across from the pastor's desk and they just look at each other.
Finally, the Pastor says, "Where is God?"
The boy just sits there and doesn't answer.
The pastor begins to look stern and loudly says, "Where is God?"
The little boy shifts in his seat, but still doesn't answer.
The pastor is starting to get angry at the boy's refusal to converse and practically shouts "Where is God?"
To the pastor's surprise, the little boy jumps up out of his chair and runs out of the office.
The boy leaves the church and runs all the way home, up the stairs and into his brother's room. He shuts the door and pants, "We're in BIG TROUBLE. God's missing and they think we did it!" |
The Clergyman and the Politician
At the pearly gates, St. Peter greeted a clergyman and politician and gave them their room assignments.
"Pastor, here are the keys to one of our nicest efficiency units.
For you, Mr. Politician, the keys to our finest penthouse suite."
"This is unfair!" cried the minister.
"Listen," St. Peter said quietly to him, "Ministers are a two cents a dozen up here, but this is the first politician we've ever seen."
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Some More Smiles for You
A kindergarten teacher was walking around observing her classroom of children while they were drawing pictures. As she got to one girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible. -- George Burns
A Sunday school teacher asked the children just before she dismissed them to go to church, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?"
Annie replied, "Because people are sleeping" |
Stop Press
Please remember the people of Haiti who need all the help and prayers they can get!
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 Prayer Points for the remainder of January and Early February
Let us continue to listen
to God in prayer and develop a daily routine of praying for
the following on the day of the week indicated;
| Sunday: |
Pray that our life of worship to God would truly grow. May we come with expectation of meeting with Christ and his renewing; |
| Monday: |
Pray for many struggling with the pain of illness. As we pray for healing we also pray for families who share in the pains, joys and care; |
| Tuesday: |
For all those struggling in these difficult economic times. Ask that families would know the hand of God's protection over health and relationships;
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| Wednesday: |
Pray for farmers in the difficulties of this hard winter. For protection on the farm and a good Spring; |
| Thursday: |
Pray for those who are missing loved ones through the pain of death. We ask that the sure and certain hope of Christ would lighten our darkness; |
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Pray for young people exploring Confirmation in the coming months. We pray that Christ would become increasingly real on the journey; |
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Pray for our Lent season and ask that our Lent services would help us grow into a community of changed lives that want to bring change in the world around us  |
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Service Schedule for the rest of January & early February |
Day and date |
Time |
Location |
Service |
Leader |
January |
Sunday 24th |
11.00 |
Corrawallen |
United |
Richard |
3.00 |
Ballyconnell |
United |
Richard |
Tuesday 26th |
2.00 |
Breffni |
HC1 |
Rev Steve Clark |
Sunday 31st |
10.00 |
Kinawley |
MP2 |
Margaret Crawford |
10.30 |
Corrawallen |
MP1 |
Canon Cyril Rolston |
11.30 |
Ballyconnell |
MP2 |
Margaret Crawford |
12.00 |
Kildallon |
MP1 |
Canon Cyril Rolston |
February |
Sunday 7th |
10.00 |
Swanlilnbar |
HC 1 |
Rev Charles Eames |
10.30 |
Newtowngore |
MP 2 |
George Taylor |
11.30 |
Templeport |
HC |
Rev Charles Eames |
12.00 |
Kildallon |
MP 2 |
George Taylor |
Sunday 14th |
10.00 |
Kinawley |
MP 1 |
Canon Reggie Twaddell |
10.30 |
Corrawallen |
MP 1 |
Mike Edwards |
11.30 |
Ballyconnell |
MP 1 |
Canon Reggie Twaddell |
12.00 |
Kildallon |
MP 1 |
Mike Edwards |
Wednesday 17th |
8.00 |
Kildallon |
Ash Wednesday |
TBA |
Sunday 21st |
10.00 |
Swanlilnbar |
MP 2 |
George Taylor |
10.30 |
Newtowngore |
MP 2 |
Richard |
11.30 |
Templeport |
MP 2 |
George Taylor |
12.00 |
Kildallon |
MP2 |
Richard |
1 after Service type indicates Traditional 2 after Service type indicates Contemporary
After the United Services there will be a cup of tea in the Church or local hall  |
e & oe
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Our United Services on 24th January are ones to look forward to. In view of the recent uncertainty of the weather there will be united services in Corrawallen at 11am and in Ballyconnell at 3pm. We will be celebrating and exploring the apostle Paul's wonderful visual image of the body as a picture of the church. This will be a service for all ages so please encourage young families to come along. Please make every effort to attend one of them. It would be lovely if you could stay for a few minutes for a cuppa after the service.
