+++

Christmas Eve        

        6 pm in
Kildallon Church

Once again this year we will have our special Christmas Nativity service for all Ages on Christmas Eve. This is a very family orientated service celebrating the wonder of the New born King right at Christmas itself. Using songs and drama we will share the story of Christ’s coming, with you the congregation joining in the nativity. It was great having it in previous years and I again encourage families to come along if you possibly can.
In a really informal fun way please come to join the story. If at all possible come with costumes on, or to put on. Come as angels, shepherds, kings - you know the sort of thing! This year we especially need kings and servants. It needn’t be anything elaborate. We ask families to come willing to participate as the congregation join the story around the church. It’s a wonderful way for children and adults to enter the story on this special night. Join us and plant a Christ memory at the heart of Christmas itself.
Even if you can’t dress up please come! It's a service that adds greatly to our Christmas memories, helping put Jesus Christ our Lord at it’s heart. Hope to see you there..

+++

+++

Thinking Christmas Thoughts

Never Give Up

At art college you are taught:'Never rub out.'
Instead you are taught to use what you have and work from it, no matter how unsatisfactory the starting point. This has been God's approach to his creation. Christmas is a celebration of his determination never to give up on his people, no matter what it takes.

Large Stocking?

Christmas is too large to be tucked away in the toe of a Child's stocking.
Christ comes!!!

Another Christmas Thought

Many people think that's its wrong to call Christmas 'Xmas'. 'It's like taking Christ away from Christmas!' they say. It's a reflection of the way Christmas has become separated from the birthday of Jesus Christ. But let's think about it another way. When I receive a letter with a row of Xs at the bottom, it tells me that the sender loves me very much. When we see Christmas written 'Xmas' it can remind us that God loves us so much that he sent his own Son to tell us. So Xmas starts with a big kiss to remind us of God's great love. And of course an X is also a cross and Jesus' love took him all the way from the stable to the cross.

Judith Merrell

+++

Breffni Holy Communion Service

Always a popular service the Christmas Communion in the Breffni will be on Thursday 20th December led by Rev Tanya Woods. Visitors are always very welcome. The January service will be on Thursday 24th at 2pm led by Rev Brendan.

+++

Senior’s New Year Night Out

Our Senior Citizen’s dinner will take place on Saturday 19th January in Ballyconnell Parish Hall between 5.30 and 9.30pm. It would be great if many of our senior citizens from the whole of the group could come along. Transport will be provided for anyone that needs it and the whole evening will be free.
If you would like to help support our Seniors dinner here are some very practical ways:
Come to a meeting on Wednesday 2nd January at 7.30pm in Ballyconnell hall kitchen to plan the great event!
You might provide some of the goodies required – crackers to dress the table, chocolates or toiletries to be given as a gift on the day, after dinner mints to go with tea and coffee.
You might offer your car on the day to bring folk to the dinner, home from dinner or both!
Come along to the dance after the meal from 7pm. This is open to all parishioners young and older!
Please help us make it a super night out!

+++

Mothers Union Christmas Meal

Derrylin and Swanlinbar - Kildallon branches joined together in Derrylin Hall for their annual Christmas celebration and had an excellent meal provided by Mrs Jean Maguire, an outside caterer which meant all the ladies could go and enjoy the occasion without having to enter the kitchen. Branch leader, Mrs Vi. Breen welcomed everyone along and after the meal party games were organised by Mrs Daphne Foster. An enjoyable evening was had by all.

+++

Tomregan Parish Dance

Many thanks to all who have been coming along to enjoy the craic and dancing in Tomregan hall each month. The next Tomregan dance night is on Friday January 25th 10pm..

+++

Diocesan Prayer for the Election of a New Bishop

As we have said farewell to Bishop Ken and Helen we are encouraged to pray as the diocese enter a time of transition trusting God to lead us, and guide us in the choice of new bishop.
We are encouraged to use the following prayer together with other parishes in the diocese as we look to the future:

Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your church in this United Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth so that your church may be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

+++

Youth Nights

From January to Easter we will be starting some new fun evenings with our young people. We will be working with our neighbours in the Killeshandra and Arva Group. Our own group will meet on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Young people from all the groups are then invited to meet up on the 4th Saturday of each month.
Our opening evening will be Saturday 12th January from 7.30 to 9.30pm in Tomregan Hall. As an addition to a fun night our confirmation group are invited to choose a Bible as a confirmation gift.
On January 26th we will meet in Arva between 7.30 and 9.30. The venue is still to be arranged.
For further information please speak to Richard..

+++

Newtowngore Recipe Book

If you are lost for cooking ideas or simply like cooking or want to get one as a gift don’t resist! Copies are available for €10. The new recipe book is full of mouth watering ideas donated from far and wide. Congratulations to the team of Mabel, Denise, Naomi and Jennifer on getting this great piece compiled and produced. All sales are in support of the Newtowngore Hall redevelopment!

+++

Bawnboy Festival Cheque Presentations

The photo on the right shows Captain Richard Beadle receiving a cheque for €500 for St Peter’s Church from the Bawnboy Festival committee.

This year €17,000 was donated to a number of charities.

The festival has always supported St Luke’s Cancer Hospital in Dublin. This year they were presented with a cheque for €12,000. The remainder of the profit was distributed between the two churches and many other local charities.
The photo on the left is of the festival organising committee who produced such a marvellous result.

The Bawnboy Festival web site for 2012 may be found at: www.bawnboy.com/festival2012 or from the Bawnboy.com home page

+++

Newtowngore Hall Opening

It was wonderful to have Bishop Ken and Father Dennis Murray along with us to share in the great occasion of the hall opening anew for the benefit of the community. Wow! The hall really is like a new hall and looks splendid, spacious and bright. It was great to see many from the wider community supporting the opening both in presence at the service and tea and in generous giving.
The hall was in action shortly afterwards with the annual Sale of Work. A Big thank you once again to everyone for all the hard work and support. It was also generously supported with approximately €4,000 raised towards parish funds.

+++

Dance & Social Night

One of the highlights of parish life recently has been the social night on Thursdays in Swanlinbar Old School Hall. It's been a very popular evening to brush up on dancing skills and some really good craic. Why not come along to an end of year social night on 29th December from 9 to midnight, Supper will be served.. It's a great chance to get out after the excess of Christmas festivities! Everyone welcome. .

+++

Corrawallen GFS Service

Our GFS service was held this year in Corrawallen. It was great to see families supporting their children and Brendan gave a memorable talk about hats, reminding us that Christ our king wore a very different crown. May we take this opportunity to thank Jackie and her team for all their sterling work through the year with the girls. It is so appreciated.

Thanks are due to Jenny Van der Laan and Jennifer Richardson who took the photographs for this item.    

+++

Sustentation / Free Will Offerings

We really value the gifts of all our parishioners and friends of the various Parishes in our group - without your giving the work of the Church would not be possible. As in recent years may we once again gently encourage people to ensure that their offerings are with the various Parish Treasurers by the last Sunday of the year. This year it will fall on the 30th December so it really would be ideal if gifts could be received the Sunday before - 23rd December. If we can comply with this request then the treasurers will have opportunity to bank your gifts before the end of the financial year, ie 31st December. This will enable us to produce a set of accounts based on the balance in the account at that date.
Once again can we publicly share our appreciation of the work of our various money counters, recorders and the parish treasurers, and would ask you to get your gifts to them rather than then having to come to you, a task which is difficult, time consuming and embarrassing for all concerned. Unfortunately, if your gift has not been banked by the 31st December then it will not appear in the 2012 accounts. This is in accordance with recent charities legislation that tightens our recording procedures. Thank you all once again for your support in giving to the Church.

+++

Bazaar

Many thanks to everyone from the whole community who came along and supported this annual November night. €3,543 was raised for Kildallon parish. A big thank you to all who helped make it happen!

+++

A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

In the vivid encounter between Elizabeth and Mary in the reading from Luke’s Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Advent there is a larger than life, once upon a time quality. Which doesn’t mean it is just a fairy tale. But it does give the story a significance and resonance that reaches beyond the merely factual. Because in this story Luke is underlining the continuity between the story of Israel and its God and the story that is about to unfold, of the ministries of John and Jesus.
Luke’s story looks both back and forward, gathering in what has gone before, and pointing to what is to come. It shows how prophecy is fulfilled in its events, it reveals the importance of Elizabeth and John in God’s purposes, but it also reveals the greater importance of the one who is to follow, in the Spirit-inspired reactions of Elizabeth and the unborn John.
And then there is Mary herself – no passive acceptance of her destiny shown here, but a joyful embrace of it as she rushes to tell her cousin the news - but then finds the Spirit reveals it to her before she can speak. - Luke emphasises the role of the Holy Spirit in all that is happening. And it is Mary who now prophesies in the words of the wonderful hymn we call the Magnificat. On her lips we hear the prophetic message of the radical and revolutionary nature of the rule of the God whose Son she carries.
This prophecy, following on from Elizabeth’s prophecy - her spirit-filled exclamation, puts both women squarely within the prophetic foreshadowing of Christ’s birth, as successors to Micah and Isaiah in their fore-telling and forth-telling of God’s salvation.
It is important to recognise Mary as prophet as well as mother of our Lord, as no passive vehicle for God’s purposes but one who, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly utters the message of his salvation for his world, a salvation in which she herself, through the one she bears, will play such an integral role.

Rev. Dr. Susan Patterson.

+++

Bible Notes

Many of you receive the Daily Bible notes from UCB. Many Christians use daily Bible notes as a way of helping us think about a piece of scripture each day. Many times they have spoken to people in a way that has helped them see their need and hopes differently. Lives are changed through them.
Recently we had a letter from them that we feel we should share with you. UCB have asked for financial assistance to help them overcome a present shortfall in giving. They write, "We estimate that, by 31st December, we will have received over 28,000 fewer donations than in 2011, resulting in almost an £800,000 shortfall, when demand for UCB’s ministry has never been so great!"
UCB have an incredible ministry touching many, many lives through the gift of their bible notes for all ages and radio broadcasting.
We know that many of you give a gift to Beatrice and this year she has forwarded a sum on our behalf early in response to this urgent need. If you would like and are able to give a financial gift in what we know are difficult times please send it to UCB direct or give it to Beatrice Crawford.
This letter is also a reminder to me that the notes we receive can all so easily be neglected. They are a costly gift not to be wasted.

+++

Congratulations

It was great to hear that Dawn Cassidy is now working in an area of great need in Dublin with Rehab following the successful completion of her Social Care Worker degree. Please pray for her in a most demanding environment. .

+++

Please Help the Scribe Collectors

I wonder if you were impressed with the development of the Scribe recently. It really is a publication the Diocese should be proud of. As you can imagine it involves a great team of helpers including our own distributors for each parish. To help ease the burden during the end of year festivities and weather uncertainties please encourage our Scribe collectors by giving your Scribe subscriptions for next year as soon as possible. The cost is €16.50 or £12.50 for a year.

+++

Puppets Have a Great Time

It was great to have Junior and the OM team with us once again with a fantastic presentation getting us in the mood for the coming season. Many thanks to the families who came and supported a great afternoon. In truth though the attendance was disappointing and on a wet and miserable afternoon. It was just such a shame that so many families missed out and I couldn't help but be reminded of the great advent story shared by Jesus where folk turn down his invitation to a great banquet. Fortunately the OM Team led by Anna are soon to be back, visiting a number of our local schools just before Christmas. Can't wait!

Photos by Jennifer Richardson

+++

SAMS - Thank-You Letter from Bishop Ken

Dear Richard,
Warmest Christian greetings to you!
I want to thank you, your vestries and members of the local church for the prayerful and financial support given to SAMS during the past year. I am taking up the post of SAMS Mission Director in January 2013. I am enthused and excited about the possibilities of sharing with you the growing ministry of SAMS. As a mission agency SAMS continues to evolve and develop. In May this year Rev Andrew Forster , Rector of Dundgannon Parish was elected as the new SAMS Chairperson. Also in May SAMS Ireland became SAMS UK and Ireland.
As a a direct result of your prayer and finance. we are able to sustain our current commitments and respond to some new requests. As a mission agency we acknowledge the recessionary times in which we live, but we remain thankful and optimistic as we trust God for future growth. Thank you for your continuing support.

Yours in Christ.
Bishop Ken Clarke
SAMS Mission Director.

SAMS will be having their annual Friday Night Live on Friday 1st February with Bishop Ken giving the main address. Details in the next newsletter.

+++

New Birth

Congratulations to Lorraine & Gethin Duggan on the birth of Lara Poppy Duggan who was born on 11th November at 2.08pm weighing 6lb 13oz. May God bless her and all her family with a long and happy life ahead. .

+++

+++

Time for a Smile!

The Small Fat Man

Having taught her children about the birth of Jesus, the Sunday School teacher was admiring their efforts to draw the scene. Among the animals, the crib, the shepherds, Mary and Joseph, one little boy had added a small fat man standing close to baby Jesus.
Rather reproachfully, the teacher asked if the little boy had added Santa Claus. 'Oh no! he replied. 'That's Round John Virgin!

The Gifts

Three six year olds were playing the wise men in the school nativity play. As they came to Mary and Joseph in the stable, the first one handed over his gift and said, 'Gold'.
The second one presented his gift and said, 'Myrhh'. The third one threw his gift into the manger and said, 'Frankie sent this.'

His Own Words

In the School Nativity the children were asked to express the story in their own way. The acting inn keeper told Mary and Joseph that there was no room at the inn but then immediately added “Come in for a drink anyway!” 

+++

+++

* * * o0o * * *