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Breffni Holy Communion Service

Our Easter Breffni service of Holy Communion will be on Maundy Thursday March 28th at 2pm. Our April service will be on Thursday April 25th. As usual visitors are most welcome to join us.

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Youth Nights & Summer Madness

It was super to see a number of our young people in Newtowngore having some great craic and fun with young people from Arva and Killeshandra. The next joint meeting of our young people will be on Saturday March 9th in Derrylane hall. Can we once again encourage anyone of secondary school age to come along!
It was brilliant to see some of our young people at Summer Madness last year. The Christian festival is a great opportunity for teenagers to discover more of Christian faith in a really fun environment camping in the Glenarm estate. The diocese have a group booking so we will be finding out who wants to go very shortly! !

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Mothers Union

Owing to the Lent Service on 12th March our M.U. meeting in March is cancelled. March is a busy month with meetings and events, because of this our meeting will now take place in Newtowngore Hall on Tuesday 9th April. The subject will be Armchair Exercises. Our Annual Outing (to Ballymena) will take place on Saturday 11th May leaving Derrylin at 8:30am, travelling to Draperstown to visit gardens and receive refreshments, then visit a Moravian Village followed by shopping at Fairhill Centre, Ballymena and a meal at the Viscount Restaurant, Dungannon. If interested please contact Vi or Margaret with £10 deposit A.S.A.P. preferably before March 20th. Total Cost £26 or €31.

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Cash For Clobber

Ballyconnell Central School Parent & Teacher association are asking for fundraising help with a collection of unwanted clothing. Each kilogram earns the school 60 cents! If you would like a bag to collect up your unwanted clothing please ask a parent from the school. Filled bags will be collected from the school on 20th March.   De–Clutter for a good cause!!

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Bereavements

It is with sadness we extend our sympathies to the Pollock and Berry families following the death of Ivy Pollock. Ivy will be remembered with great fondness by many. As we remember Ivy there is so much in her life to give thanks to God for. May we be comforted in the sure hope of eternity and a life in all its fullness with our heavenly Father.

Bereavement Prayer
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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Easter Vestries

Our Easter Vestries will take place after Easter. Meetings are at 8pm on the following dates.

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Confirmation 2014

If there are any teenagers wanting to be confirmed in 2014 please let Richard know. A meeting will be organised very shortly to begin our confirmation journey.

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Jar of Grace

It was wonderful to see Beryl in Ireland last year for the first time. Her faith was inspiring and Bishop Ken rightly spoke of her as one of many unknown heroes of the Christian faith. Please remember that Beryl uses all that we give for medical supplies in the Chaco. I have no doubt our giving saves lives. As our Lent services have not up to now been as well supported as in previous years, I would ask that our loose collections on Easter Sunday go to Beryl Baker. If you are supporting Beryl through the grace jars please bring these to services on Easter day.

Your generosity is so much appreciated. Thank you.

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Ballyconnell Central School Enrolment

If anyone wants to enrol their child in Ballyconnell central school please contact the Principal, Mrs Lavinia Tilson by telephone on 049 9526055 or send an email to ballycns.ias@eircom.net
It would be most helpful to do this immediately as we are at our enrolment date.

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Newtowngore National School

Congratulations to Maria Lynch from the school for having successfully secured a First scholarship at Cavan Royal next year.

The Country Boy
Newtowngore N.S. will present ‘The Sliabh an Iarainn Players’ production of ‘The Country Boy’ written by John Murphy, directed and produced by Frank Cadam. Set in the kitchen of the Maher house in Co. Mayo in the mid-fifties, "The Country Boy" takes a penetrating look at the mores, the hopes and the dreams of the rural population regarding emigration and marriage in that era. For those of you who remember Ireland in the 1960s, welcome back to your youth. For those of you who are fascinated with what it would be like to emigrate and find a new life on foreign shores, forget the fascination. Please come along on Friday March 22nd at 8.30pm in the Newtowngore Community hall. Proceeds in aid of school funds.

Newtowngore National School Enrolments
Parents wishing to enrol their children in September 2013 parents are advised to contact the school 049-4333955 or email newtowngorenatschool@gmail.com for an enrolment form. Closing date for applications is April 8th...

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Stories of Hope

At the time of writing we have had two very memorable weeks in Kinawley with our Catholic neighbours.
Stories of Hope began in St Paul's. We were delighted to have around fifty in attendance to hear Dean Kenneth Hall and Canon Peter O’Reilly speak about the Queens visit to Enniskillen last year with great gentleness and humour. We all laughed when we heard how Peter, the Catholic Priest, had found himself inviting the representative of the Orange Order to meet the Queen in the chapel - surely a first!

Richard and the visiting clergy in St Paul's after hearing about the Royal Visit to Enniskillen

I believe we were all struck by the difference the Queen's visit made to Enniskillen. It changed the atmosphere when the 25th anniversary of the Enniskillen Bomb was never far from people's minds.
It was significant also to hear how the Queen had encouraged the continued building of relationships between the two church traditions beyond her visit resulting in a great shared Christmas service.

Our second week took place in St Naile’s chapel. It was a great night with around seventy in attendance. Ian Bothwell from the Crossfire Trust shared a little of his story of faith and loving perseverance in South Armagh. He shared a number of examples of steps he had taken to share the message of God's love to all, sometimes at great cost to himself and his family. Ian helped us to think about the word 'sorry', a word that means so much and changes so many relationships yet is so often absent. Ian also helped us think about the depth of God's grace. His welcome is truly to all, whatever we may have done, there is always hope and a way back if we turn to Christ.
Stories of Hope continue in Kinawley throughout Lent and everyone is welcome to the services.

Tuesday 12th March St Naile’s 8pm The Plastic Bullet
Richard Moore will be speaking in St Naile’s. Richard has an incredible story having been shot by a plastic bullet causing him blindness. He was then a young boy in the early years of the troubles. Recently he met the soldier who fired that bullet, the subject of a BBC documentary.

Tuesday 19th March St Paul's 8pm - Died in my place
Sam Seed will share his story in St Paul's. Sam is now a church warden in Kilkeel Church of Ireland. Married to Hazel, their daughter Samantha is with Mission Africa in Nigeria. Sam's story is one that shares of great loss in the troubles and the discovery of faith and hope.
Stories of Hope encourages us to think about our own story. On Palm Sunday Swanlinbar Parishioners will have a gentle and thoughtful opportunity to respond to the Stories of Hope in their own 10am service in St Paul's.

On Good Friday at 10am there will be a short service in Kinawley at the Enterprise Centre. After this (weather permitting) a cross will be taken to the summit of Benaughlin for noon.

Beacon Sunrise Service
Park at Kinawley community centre around 6.30am. Don't forget the clocks go forward! Please bring Wellingtons as we will walk a little way to get an easterly view. We will gather at the beacon at 6.45 with sunrise at 7am. Following the service there will be breakfast in the community centre.

Each evening begins at 8pm and ends with light refreshments.

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Remaining Lent Services in the Group

As Rev. Andrew Quill, the speaker for our Lent services this year recovers from knee surgery Rev Brendan will speak on the remaining Parables of Jesus on Thursday evenings at 8 o’clock. There are two services left, please come along and remember Beryl with your prayers and with your financial help.

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Swanlinbar Kildallon Group Holy Week

This year we will again seek to come to Jesus reflecting on his great love and sacrifice in a fresh way. There will be three memorable evenings starting at 8 o’clock in Holy week.

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Easter Communion Services

	Day	Venue	Time
	Easter Saturday 30th March	Templeport	8pm
		Swanlinbar	9.30pm
	Easter Sunday 31st March	Tomregan	9am
		Newtowngore	10.30am
		Kildallon	Noon

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Art Exhibition

Two parishioners are involved in an exciting local event this week. Molly Richardson, of Newtowngore celebrates her first Joint Art Exhibition at the Solas Art Gallery, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. This exhibition for emerging artists, “FOUR”, will be opened by Jennifer Richardson, the well known Newtowngore photographer on Friday 15th March at 7.30pm.
The member artists chosen for this years’ show are Molly Richardson, Newtowngore; Jim Richard, Shercock, Co. Cavan; Isabella Bazzani, Blacklion, Co. Cavan; & Stephen Costello, Cloonfad, Co. Roscommon. This exhibition is an interesting mix of four completely different types of art: sculpture; photography; paintings in oil and watercolour. Molly Richardson’s oil paintings are a calming group of flowers, land and seascapes. Everyone will be welcome!

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Tomregan Quiz

For those of you who like the challenge of Quiz questions Tomregan Parish have a quiz sheet available for only €2. The proceeds will be put towards the refurbishment of Tomregan Hall. Phyllis Cassidy is the quiz coordinator. .

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Thoughts to Ponder

God is not concerned about status and 'show', He is concerned about our hearts. He is not concerned about the size of our wallets, He is concerned about the size of our hearts'

'Life is not a competition which we have to win. It is not supposed to be a rat race. Life is a huge privilege and an opportunity. God has trusted us with gifts and abilities, which he wants us to use. He is faithful to us and he expects us to be faithful to him

"For those who honour Me, I will honour" (1 Samuel 2:30). '

(Nicky Gumbel)

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Wedding Joy

Congratulations to Caroline Berry and Killian Farrell upon their wedding in Kildallon on 1st March. It was a wonderful day and the celebration was given even greater significance as we recognised the significance of the date. Caroline's parents Sandy and Selena were also married on 1st March, forty years ago! Congratulations to Sandy and Selena on this great landmark. Please pray for couples young and a little older in their continued lives together.

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Time Change

Please remember that the clocks go forward by one hour to summer time on Saturday night 29th (or early on Easter Sunday morning 30th) March. .

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I am a Christian

When I say that "I am a Christian," I am not shouting that "I am clean living." I am whispering "I was lost, but am now found and forgiven."
When I say that "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say that "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say that "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success. I am admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say that "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it.
When I say that "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say that "I am a Christian," I'm not holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow. .

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Thank You God for Little Things

Thank you God for little things that often come our way -The things we take for granted but don't mention when we pray. The unexpected courtesy, the thoughtful kindly deed - A hand reached out to help us in the time of sudden need to make us more aware dear God of little daily graces .That come to us with sweet surprise from never dreamed of places.

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Grandma's Beauty Tips

• My Gran used to always say: “Take a glass of cooled boiled water last thing at night and first thing in the morning. Helps to clear the system and gives beauty from within!”.
• A glass of hot water with a dash of lemon each morning cleanses the inner body.
• Smiles make beauty shine.
• "Granny's peaceful heart finds beauty in all things."
• A 21st century Granny uses modern scientifically proven No. 7 beauty serum to banish 'laughter lines' (wrinkles)!
• Keep smiling and always look happy and cheerful.
• Use garlic to make nails strong. Massage nails with garlic 2-3 times a week.
• Remove all makeup before retiring to bed.
• When washing hair use rain water for final rinse to make it shine.
• Skin treatment for face: use membrane from the inside of an egg shell and smooth over the face until completely dry.
• To give a healthy glow to the skin, try a tea bag rather than expensive fake tan products. Much more ecologically friendly!
• Freckle treatment: soak fresh elderberries in water overnight. Strain and use liquid for face washing daily! Or mix a tablespoon of milk with a teaspoon of freshly grated horseradish. Stand for 1 hour. Apply to face daily!
• "Be happy, keep smiling."
• For beautiful hands, use lemon juice and olive oil. Put a small teaspoon of olive oil in the centre of your palm. Add a small teaspoon of salt. Massage both into your hands for several minutes. Then wash off. Removes dead skin and leaves your hands lovely and soft.
• Aloe Vera Remedy: Cut off a ripe leaf from an Aloe Vera plant with a sharp knife. Apply the clear liquid to irritated or dry skin. Keep the leaf for up to 2 weeks in the fridge and cut off a section to release more healthy liquid!

Submitted by Vi Breen

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Time for a Smile! Granny's Tips & Sayings: Praties in before Paddy's Day will out before Billy's Day! Why has a milking stool only three legs? Because the cow has the udder one! Mark a cross on the soda bread to make four quarters as a sign of thanksgiving and Christ’s Crucifixion! Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan, if you don't eat up your boxty you'll never get a man! When churning butter, adding carrot juice will bring back its colour. The true sign of a gentleman is that he will use his butter knife even when dining alone. Buttermilk will remove iron stains from linen.

Submitted by Vi Breen & Simone Christie .

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