The Swanlinbar Kildallon Group of Parishes in the Church of Ireland Kilmore Diocese. Corrawallen Kildallon Kinawley Newtowngore Swanlinbar Templeport Tomregan

Home page	Newsletter No 56 May 2012			Weekly Notices
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SAMS	Mothers Union	Sunday School Prize Giving	Vestry meeting	Service schedule

All Welcome

The other day I joined the Cavan Protestant network on a trip to Armagh. I tagged along wanting to visit a place I had heard of a couple of years ago - the Crossfire Trust in Darkley. Darkley direction sign

If ever a place could do with a name change you might think Darkley was it – a name of a small village that is sadly still synonymous with the murder of 3 men at a Pentecostal church service over 30 years ago during some of the worst days of what we now refer to as ‘The Troubles.’
Ian is a man who has sacrificed himself to one place in order to see change. In a few moments he shared a little of his story. It was humbling to hear him speak.
Ian shared a couple of little stories all with great power. He runs the house with the foundation principle that ALL ARE WELCOME. Think about those words for a moment – so easy to say yet if we consider them properly so difficult to do.
Ian Bothwell

Ian shared how this first struck him when giving out leaflets in a republican village that said at the bottom, “all welcome” then walking past two members of the RUC. This was at the height of the troubles - He didn’t offer them an invitation – where he was; they were seen as the enemy. That night Ian had a sleepless night. With a sense of conviction Ian went the following day to the RUC station and spoke with the same RUC officers he met previously. This time he offered an invitation. The two RUC officers cautiously appeared at the event (with other vehicles in close support watching for ambushes!). The villagers were shocked at the invitation – Ian though had stuck to the Christian principle that still underlies his work today ALL WELCOME!
Today Ian continues his work building on the principle All are welcome as the project seeks to work in numerous imaginative ways with families in need of help, whatever it is. Some are affected by drink, drugs, poverty. Some are former prisoners. Everyone in some way has been affected by the past troubles. Whatever their background – the principle seeks to be the same – All are Welcome.
Ian’s story makes me think about the words we say. Words can be so cheap sometimes. At other times like in that RUC station they can carry so much meaning. Words carry such a force when accompanied by action.
Of course welcome runs through the heart of the Gospel. Good news comes through genuine and sometimes costly welcome. We can come to our heavenly Father because of the Cross. As Jesus cried out “Father forgive them they do not know what they are doing,” we are reminded there were no cheap words on the cross

In each of our parishes we are looking forwards at many really positive exciting things we can do to help grow the life of our parishes. There are lots of suggestions including changes to a few of our services to encourage young families in particular. As we, as a church, are seeking to be loving and welcoming to all may we think seriously about how we do this. It is all too easy to take words for granted.

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News Items

The next T.D.A. meeting will take place on Tuesday, 15th May 2012 in Templeport Resource Centre at 9.00 p.m.

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Vestry Meeting

There will be a meeting of Newtowngore Select Vestry on Thursday 24th May at 8.30pm in the hall.

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Join the Choir?

One of the great suggestions at our vestry meetings was a choir. We are therefore looking at starting a choir which might sing at special services. To get things started we are having a meeting for all who might be interested on Thursday 31st May at 8.30 in Templeport church.

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Ice Cream Party

Ballyconnell School will be hosting an ice cream party on Saturday 9th June between midday and 3pm. This is always a fun event. All monies raised will be in support of the Down Syndrome Association. Please pop along in support of this worthy cause.

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Templeport Songs of Praise

Any Templeport parishioners wishing to help plan the Songs of Praise event on 9th September please come to Realta Café in Ballyconnell at 3.30pm on Saturday 9th June.

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Treasure Hunt

Kildallon are planning a family treasure Hunt. Kildallon Parishioners please put Friday 10th August in your diaries. There will be a meeting for anyone who wants to help plan the evening on Saturday 9th June in the Realta Cafe in Ballyconnell at 2pm.

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Mothers Union

Mums In May 2012 - Celebrating 125 Years Of Mothers’ Union In Ireland.
Mothers’ Union Members throughout Ireland will be celebrating their 125th anniversary during May 2012 when they will be hosting the ultimate tea party entitled Mums in May. For 125 years in Ireland Mothers’ Union has been involved in Christian mission at home and overseas so it seems fitting that while enjoying the fun and fellowship with the Mums in May tea party it will help raise funds to support :
1. Local projects in Ireland – dioceses will be able to apply for funding for projects.
2. The Overseas Fund – suffering badly in this recession so can we help?
3. The Centenary Fund – a less well known fund that helps clergy in training when money is tight.
Join us for a Mums in May celebration in Kinawley Minor Hall on Monday 28th May at 8pm when Mrs Pauline Beadle will give a cookery demonstration and members can swap their favourite recipes. Everyone is welcome, not just MU Members so come along, join the fun and find out some more about what Mothers’ Union does.

The Mother’s Union web site may be found at: www.kilmore.mothersunion.ie

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Simply Living, Living Simply
(Talk by Fiona Castle)

Linda Lovett Fiona Castle Laura Graham Over three hundred people attended two venues in the Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh Diocese to hear Fiona Castle give an inspiring talk on her life - from growing up and becoming a dancer, to meeting her husband Roy (whom she was introduced to by Eric Morecambe); the birth of her children, the highs and lows in her life, her battle with depression, the loss of her husband and how becoming a Christian transformed her life.
She spoke of going to Peru to visit her daughter who was a missionary and how it was such a life-transforming experience for her. She saw how happy people were with so few physical possessions and yet they had time for each other so she came home and decided she was going to get rid of the items which were cluttering her life and her house and turn her time and energy into things which were far more important.
She asked us why do we need so many luxury items in our houses, we only have to spend time cleaning and looking after them and find ourselves too busy to enjoy life, there are so many things which we don’t really need but which we accumulate to make ourselves feel better. Are we afraid to invite visitors in case our homes or our cooking are not perfect? - surely our love and our welcome is much more important than our possessions, it is much better to serve bread and cheese at the kitchen table and have time to talk and listen to our guests.
Fiona challenged us all to look at how we live our lives - the need to "de-clutter" both our homes and our hearts and live for the moment. She related how children have the ability to enjoy life and not always be in hurry and rushing on to the next thing.
She concluded her talk by encouraging everyone to take time out to relax, enjoy the moment and have peace. We all need unoccupied periods to re-evaluate our lives – “God has planted eternity in our lives but we are so cluttered, we haven’t found it yet.”

Pictured above (from left) are, Linda Lovett, Fiona Castle & Lorna Graham.

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Bereavement

Bob Keyesl

Sympathy is extended to Freddie and Dessie Keyes and to Kathleen Foster on the death of their brother Bob Keyes recently in London.

Heavenly Father, give us faith and light in times of darkness. May our trusting in you help us live with questions unanswered. Grant us a certain hope in You, that will grow to surpass immeasurably the greatest depths of despair felt now. In you our Lord we put our trust.

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Breffni Health Centre Breffni Holy Communion Service

The next service of Holy Communion will be led by Canon Steve Clark on Tuesday 22nd May and on Tuesday 26th June.
Please come along if you can, it’s great when other parishioners come and share in the service with the residents.

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Newtowngore Hall

The contractor continues to make excellent progress with the extension at the rear. As photos show the roof work is well under way and windows and doors are now fitted. There are now good discussion on kitchen fittings! The Rural development fund hope to see this stage complete at the end of the month so things are moving swiftly.
There remain some details to be worked through regarding the second stage of work which would assist the main hall itself. Please pray for the discussions with the Leitrim Leader Fund that this can all be sorted out swiftly in a helpful way.
Our thanks once again to both grant bodies and to the Newtowngore parishioners at the heart of this most worthwhile project.
There will be a meeting of the Newtowngore Select Vestry on Thursday 24th May at 8.30pm in the hall.

We will update you on the completion of work in Tomregan Hall in the next Newsletter. Newtowngore hall

Newtowngore hall

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Caroline and Ross Congratulations

Wedding bells have been sounding and it is with great delight we join in saying congratulations to Caroline Morton and Ross Little who were married in Tomregan Church and Richard Kells and Jaqueline Breiden in St Peter’s.

May the memory of the wedding day be a source of strength and joy throughout their lives together.

Jackie and Richard Kells

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SAMS Update

It was great to see Geoff and Gill Hamilton and Claire Holmes visiting to help us with our United service at the start of the month. Claire will be returning to Paraguay in the summer to live and will be supported in part by our neighbours – the Killeshandra parish group. Claire and Geoff helped share a little about life in the Chaco and the present situation for nurse Beryl where rains have caused some flooding. The few roads become very difficult!
As I write the amounts for collections for medicines to support Beryl are being finalised. If anyone has any grace jars or gift for Beryl please let your treasurer have it ASAP. We will confirm the final gift in the next newsletter.

Pictured from Left: Claire Homes, Gill & Geoff Hamilton

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India Update

First of all, we would like to say a huge 'Thank you' to everyone who baked for and supported the Cake Sale on St Patrick's day in Ballyconnell - €1310 was raised for the House of Peace Orphanages.
Secondly, we have received the profiles of the children we are sponsoring from the orphanage. Each sponsor will get a photograph and profile of the child they are sponsoring, so they can write to their child if they wish. If anyone else is interested in sponsoring a child, please speak to Gail Lovett or Avril Graham.

Sowmiya Santhoshkumar Sanjay

From left: Sowmiya, age 11, Santhoshkumar, age 14 and Sanjay, age 6.

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Sunday School Prize Giving

As a taster for our summer children’s club, Junior and his team from Operation Mobilisation are coming for a fun afternoon. The service is at 3pm in Tomregan followed by fun and food across in the school grounds where you will see their double decker bus. To help us plan the food there will be a meeting of the Forward Group on Thursday 17th May at 8pm in Tomregan.
While we have a visiting team we love to see the children involved in our services. Parents and Sunday school children please note we will have a couple of rehearsals to help us prepare on Thursday 17th May and Thursday 24th from 7-8pm in Tomregan church.

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Summer Children’s Club (19th -24th August)

There is a meeting to help us plan the Children’s Summer Club on Thursday 7th June at 8.30pm in Tomregan old School. We would ask all those planning to help with a really exciting fun program to come along. We would ask confirmation candidates to join the fun if they possibly can.

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Letters from Edoh

The letter on the left was sent in January 2012.
Edoh wrote:
Dear Swanlinbar and Kildallon Sunday School,
What joy for me to write to you and tell you about my dream. When I grow up I would like to become a good dressmaker.
Some day I would like to help my family building their own house.
Pray God to put his hand on me.
How are Kerrie, Ali, William, Archie, Thomas, Mark, Evan, Zara, Cassie and Jodie?
Edo

Edoh

The letter on the left was sent in March 2012.
Edoh wrote:
Dear Swanlinbar and Kildallon Sunday School,
I received your letter and the birthday card you sent me. May God bless you!
By the grace of God I am fine. At the project centre we learned Proverbs 3: 5-6.
Pray for me to be a wise child.
How are doing Ruth, Alicia, Asher and Beth?
Best regards to you.

Letter of Thanks from the Compassion Organisation

Dear Mrs. Graham,

Thank you so much for your on-going love and care for Edoh. Your sponsorship is having a wonderful impact on Edoh's life and I am delighted to enclose the latest picture we have of her.

You are giving Edoh every opportunity to break free from the cycle of poverty that enslaves so many people across the world. At the Compassion project she is receiving, among other things, the opportunity to hear the gospel and learn about Jesus, regular
Christian training; educational opportunities and help; health care, hygiene training and supplementary food if necessary; a caring and safe Christian environment to grow in self-confidence and social skills; personal attention, guidance and love.

Your love and support is an essential part of sponsorship. It means so much for a child in poverty to know that someone on the other side of the world is thinking of them and praying for them.

Thank you once again for all that you are doing for Edoh. We pray that you will continue to enjoy sponsoring with Compassion for many years to come.

Yours sincerely

Ginny Sharman
Sponsor Relations Director Compassion UK

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Time for a Smile!

Heavenly Rates

A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, "Here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach Saint Peter at Pearly Gates 100 points, you get in."
"Okay," the man says, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
"That's wonderful," says St. Peter, "that's worth three points!"
"Three points?" he says. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service."
"Terrific!" says St. Peter, "that's certainly worth a point."
"One point? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans."
"Fantastic, that's good for two more points," he says.
"TWO POINTS!!" the man cries, "At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!"
"Come on in!"

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Prayer Points for the remainder of May and early June

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;
In our year of mission let us pray on each day for one another.

Sunday:	We pray for our lives. May Jesus be seen. May his name be given glory in a wonderful way;
Monday:	We pray for the Parish of Kildallon. May relationships grow as social events are planned including a Table Quiz and Treasure hunt;
Tuesday:	We pray for the Parish of Newtowngore & Corrawallen. As the hall work continues we pray for a good completion and for it’s future use;
Wednesday:	We pray for the Parish of Swanlinbar and Kinawley. With activities planned we pray for the transforming of relationships in a powerful way;
Thursday:	We pray for the Parish of Templeport asking that the sense of family with all ages will grow. May lives continue to grow and be changed by Jesus;
Friday:	We pray for the parish of Tomregan. May there be a wonderful sense of new life and hope as links are made with children and families in significant ways and the refurbished hall;
Saturday:	As we pray locally may we not lose touch of a God whose Son was given for the whole world. We pray for our links in India and Paraguay and young Edo in the Togo;

C of I Cross

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Schedule of Church Services Until the beginning of July
Date	Time	Location	Service	Leader
Sunday 20th May	10am	Swanlinbar	MP1	Richard
	10.30	Newtowngore	Family HC	Brendan
	11.30	Templeport	MP1	Richard
	11.30	Tomregan	MP1	Mervyn
	Noon	Kildallon	Family HC	Brendan
Tuesday 22nd May	2pm	Breffni	HC1	Canon Steve Clark
Sunday 27th May	3pm	Tomregan	United Sunday School Prizegiving	Brendan Richard & OM TEAM
Sunday 3rd June	10am	Swanlinbar	MP2	Brendan
	10.30	Newtowngore	Service of the Word	Richard
	11.30	Templeport	MP2	Brendan
	11.30	Tomregan	MP1	Mervyn
	Noon	Kildallon	Service of the Word	Richard
Sunday 10th June	10am	Kinawley	Family HC	Brendan
	10.30	Corrawallen	MP2	Richard
	11.30	Tomregan	Family HC	Brendan
	Noon	Kildallon	MP2	Richard
Sunday 17th June	10am	Swanlinbar	Service of the Word	Richard
	10.30	Newtowngore	MP2	Brendan
	11.30	Templeport	Service of the Word	Richard
	11.30	Tomregan	MP1	George
	Noon	Kildallon	MP2	Brendan
Sunday 24th June	10am	Kinawley	Service of the Word	Richard
	10.30	Corrawallen	Family HC	Brendan
	11.30	Tomregan	Service of the Word	Richard
	Noon	Kildallon	Family HC	Brendan
Tuesday 26th June	2pm	Breffni	HC1	Canon Steve Clark
Sunday 1st July	10am	Swanlinbar	Family HC	Brendan
	10.30	Newtowngore	MP1	George
	11.30	Templeport	Family HC	Brendan
	11.30	Tomregan	MP1	Mervyn
	Noon	Kildallon	MP1	George
1 after Service type indicates Traditional 2 after Service type indicates Contemporary

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Home page

Previous News Letter (April)

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All Welcome

News Items

Prayer Points for the remainder of May and early June

Schedule of Church Services Until the beginning of July

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