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Midweek Lent Services

On Wednesdays in Lent we will be exploring some of the most famous words of Jesus, The Beatitudes.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart , for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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Supporting Beryl Baker

We will soon enter the season of Lent and once again we hope that many of you will support our annual Jar of Grace initiative. Just a quick recap for you as you engage with this idea again or perhaps for the first time. With this newsletter you will find a self adhesive label with the words "JAR OF GRACE" printed on it. From the 9th March, Ash Wednesday, I would ask that you stick this on a jam jar and place it in the centre of the table where you have most meals. Each time you sit to have a meal, I would invite you, along with every participating home in our Parish Grouping, to place a coin in the jar and say a simple prayer for those less fortunate than ourselves. Please do try and remember this each meal as a note shoved in to make amends for forgotten coins and prayers really is not quite the same as regular giving and prayer. On Easter Sunday we will collect in all the offerings and give thanks to God in this grace giving.
Each coin, no matter how small can make a difference. Let us give together and pray together and together we can make a difference.
This is now our third year supporting Beryl in her work as a Christian nurse in the Chaco region of Paraguay. Our gift was hugely valuable as she was able to use it to get medical supplies for her work. This is a hugely practical way to share the love of Christ. We continue to support Beryl this year through our Jar of Grace appeal and each of the loose plate collections at each of our Lentern services in our own Group of Parishes. Please give generously and don't forget they will be recieved at our Easter Day Celebrations.
Later this year, in July, Richard will be joining a team visiting Paraguay in order to meet Beryl and get a sense of her work and surroundings to report back to us.

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Pancake Party Sunday 6th March

Following our last Sunday school leaders meeting we were exploring our next steps espaecially after the Group Christmas Party was cancelled due to the weather. One leader had a fantastic suggestion - A pancake Party! So here goes ...on Sunday 6th March there will be a children's party to mark the coming Shrove Tuesday and start of Lent. There will be lots of games and fun, gifts, chocolate and of course pancakes!! The party begins at 3.30 pm and continues until 5.30 pm in Tomregan hall Ballyconnell. We hope this will be the first of a monthly children's event and we ask that parents would support this new initiative.

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Newtowngore National School Enrolment

Forms for junior infants 2011 are now available at the school. Contact the secretary on Tuesday or Thursday between and 9 am and 1 pm or the Principal Miss Faulkner before or after school hours. Applications should be received by 30th April 2011. Telephone 049 4333955

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Want to Grow?

Derrylin Parish are holding a special evening of worship, ministry and teaching on Wednesday 16th February at 8pm in the church. This event is part of New Wine’s work to support local churches. The speaker is Mark Aldridge and the evening will especially encourage folk busy helping in the life of ordinary parishes keen to move forward and grow.

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Lent:   What to Give Up?

Give up Complaining - Focus on Gratitude.
Give up Pessimism - Become an Optimist.
Give up Harsh Judgements - Think Kindly Thoughts.
Give up Worry - Trust in God.
Give up Discouragement - Be Full of Hope.
Give up Bitterness - Turn to Forgiveness.
Give up Hatred - Turn Good for Evil.
Give up Anger - Be more Patient.
Give up Jealousy - Pray for Trust.
Give up Gossiping - Control our Tongues.
Give up Sin - Turn to Goodness.
Give up Giving up - Hang in there!

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Time for a Smile!

For those over forty!
Gas Meter said to Shilling: “Glad you dropped in Bob, I was just going out!”

Silly Sign in Shoe Shop
“Buy One Get One Free!”
Hasn’t that always been true?

Break-fast?
A local café advertises: ‘All Day Breakfast - from 7 am to 11am’. Am I missing something?

The Human Race
A little girl asked her mother “How did the human Race appear?”
The mother answered “God made Adam and Eve and they had children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on so all mankind was made.
Two days later the girl asked her father the same question. The father thought for a moment then answered “ Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved.
The confused girl returned to her mother and said: “How is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God and Dad said we developed from monkeys?”
The mother answered without hesitation, “Well dear, it is very simple, I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his side.”

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