Group Churches

Ahoy there Mateys!!

Those of those you who are familiar with the Sci Fi program STAR TREK will know that well used phrase of Dr McCoy each time the crew of the Enterprise encountered a new life form; It’s life Jim, but not as we know it! Mackey and John are pictured at our recent Senior’s dinner in Kinawley and they treated us to their own rendition of the Hornpipe (a lively dance associated with sailors, typically performed by one person; The New Oxford Dictionary of English).	Well my caption for this photograph reads;   It’s dance Jim, but not as we know it!!
We had a truly entertaining and fun-filled evening, one which will be remembered for a long, long time. Thanks to everyone for all of the effort, work and attention to detail which went into making this a very special event in our group. Thanks also to everyone for the gifts which were donated and to Robert Wilson and Joe Hoey for the music on the evening. Incidentally, Robert has renamed John and Mackey’s rendition The Hosepipe!
	Some of the helpers and guests enjoying the festivities

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Completely bowled over!

By this I do not mean that we had strike after strike, but rather the evening was such a success!! 36 members of the group braved the winter weather and travelled to the 10-pin bowling alley in Cavan town and then on to the Derragarra Inn, Butlersbridge for some food. What a good evening’s craic and such a feed we all had!

Thanks to everyone for coming along and especially to Millie for organising the whole evening. Watch out for our next group social activity in the very near future.

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Young Couples’ Dinner

This was a huge success last year and has been organised again for this year on Friday 10th February 2006 in Shannon Keys Hotel, Rooskey. The meal will be followed by some entertainment (can’t guarantee that the three tenors will be performing this year!!) and dancing. This event is organised by the young families unit of Mothers’ Union and as such is for parents of children up to Secondary School, though I’m quite sure no one will be checking school photographs or birth certificates. This really was an excellent night last year and I would encourage young couples to give this a try. Contact either Vi Breen (0044 28 6774 8292) or the Rectory for tickets.

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Lenten services

These services proved to be a great success and blessing to both our group and the folk from Derrylin as we worshipped together in 2005. This year we are seeking to build on that success and intend to adopt a similar model. Our series will begin with a service on Wednesday 1st March, Ash Wednesday, in Tomregan Parish at 8 pm and will then rotate between Derrylin and either St Paul's, Kinawley or Tomregan, Ballyconnell. A detailed program will appear in the next edition of the Newsletter and the March edition of The Scribe.

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Subscriptions to the Scribe

Please note that these are now overdue, so please get any outstanding subscriptions to your Parish distributor as soon as possible to avoid any embarrassment.
Anyone who is not already receiving the Scribe and wishes to take up subscription should contact the Rectory and I will put you in touch with your Parish contact who will be only too glad to make the necessary arrangements.
Subscriptions for 2006 remain unchanged at £11 and €15.50 per annum.

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Advent Services and Carol Singing

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to each of the services in our group of Parishes, especially our organists and readers. I was very much encouraged by the high standard of reading throughout; good reading of the scriptures helps us to understand better what God is saying to us through them. Consequently, I will be arranging a rota of readers for each of our Parishes as I feel that this is something which I have neglected to attend to. If you would like to be part of leading our worship in this way, then please let me know and your name will be added to the list being compiled.
And a very big thank you to the children of Ballyconnell Central School who delighted us with their singing and tin whistle playing at the Breffni Residential Care home.
It meant so much to the residents and staff and I was delighted with the support of parents and parishioners who also came along to share the Good News through song.

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Kinawley Dance

Just under one hundred folk came along on Boxing night for a dance in Kinawley, some to dance off some of the excesses of the season and some to watch! Thanks to all who came and to Jemima and Leslie for all their work in organising the event. Just over £500 was raised for Parish funds.

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Classes starting in Kinawley Enterprise Park
	Course title	Start date	Times	Cost
>	English for speakers of other languages	23rd Jan	7.30-9.30	£10
>	Calligraphy	25th Jan	7.30-9.30	£38
>	Keep fit	26th Jan	7.30-9.30	£29
>	Introduction to computers	26th Jan	7.30-9.30	£40
Contact Roisin Hussey on 0044 28 6634 9936 for more details.

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A trip down memory lane?

You could be forgiven for thinking that this photograph is from the archives in the Rectory, but in actual fact the ladies of the Mothers’ Union, in their December meeting, had a bit of fun when they tried out various stylish hats!!
I’m not sure if any of them are still in use, but who knows, they could make a comeback! Naomi will not speak to me when she sees this!

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Bible study notes/ Home Groups

One of my priorities for 2006 is to encourage parishioners in their reading and understanding of the Bible. The vision within our group regarding the approach we should take in grappling with these two essential areas is through Home Groups and Daily Bible study notes.
You will doubtless be aware that Home Groups have already begun in two homes in the Group, one in the Templeport area and one in the Kinawley area. These groups are not “Little Holy Huddles” but rather people who have a desire to grow in knowledge and faith and seek the support and encouragement of other like-minded people as they do so. They are for EVERYONE in our group so please do not feel that this is not for you. Please contact me if you are even marginally interested but have reservations for whatever reason and I would be only too pleased to come and discuss these with you. Don’t leave growth to the rest of the Church, let’s grow together.
Daily Bible study notes are designed to give people a little thought for the day ahead or passed, depending on when you read them. They take up little of your time, about 5 minutes, so no one can say that they have not got time. If you have not got 5 minutes to spare each day for God, then you really do need to re-evaluate how you are living your life. I have re-produced a typical reading and reflection, with the kind permission of The Word For Today, in order that you might get a taste of what the notes are like.

Mon Jan 9                 Keep pressing on!
“I press on…” Phi 3: 14
When the bottom falls out what should you do? Blame somebody else? That only makes you bitter. Wallow in self-pity? That only paralyses you and alienates those around you. When David returned from battle and found his home burned to the ground and his family taken prisoner, he cried till he had no tears left to cry. But then we read, “…David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam 30: 6). That’s it! You have got to learn how to get alone and give yourself a good talking to! You have got to learn how to pray for yourself and quote God’s promises to yourself. Here is one worth quoting: “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Ps 30: 5). Did you get that? Joy is coming! Help is on the way! You must learn how to rise up and say, “What does not destroy me will only make me stronger. No day lasts forever. This too shall pass. In the meantime I will let it drive me closer to God.” Come on – start talking to yourself!
Your weakness can be the discovery point for strengths you never knew you had. It is the biggest battles that produce the biggest victories. When Joseph recalled the worst time of his life he said, “God turned into good what you meant for evil…”(Gen 50: 20). Others do not control your destiny, God does, and He is not like others! You will come out of this a better person. Look beyond the pain and you will find perspective. The word for you, today, is – “regroup, refocus, and keep pressing on!”

Free copies of The Word For Today can be obtained by writing to:
	UK	Republic of Ireland
	PO Box 650,	PO Box 5784
	Belfast,	Edmondstown
	BT1 2AP	Dublin 16
or by contacting the Rectory and your name can be added to our list of subscribers.

Getting Closer, Growing Stronger, Moving Forward

I am very pleased and excited to announce that we will be having a short Lenten Mission in Tomregan Parish Church on Thursday 16th, Friday 17th and Sunday 19th March 2006. Bishop Ken Clarke will be our speaker on each occasion and he will bring along a small team to assist him in this ministry. Please do make these services a priority as we seek to Get Closer, Grow Stronger and Move Forward together. This is for the whole of the group and I would really encourage everyone to make a special effort to come along. Watch the next edition of the Newsletter for more details.

Now for some lighter reading Cookery Corner This is a new feature to our Newsletter and we hope that it will become a regular feature. Please do let us know how you get on with the recipes and send in your own recipe for inclusion in the next edition. The following recipe appeared in a back issue of HOME & FAMILY, the magazine of the Mothers’ Union. RASPBERRY MUFFINS Muffins are an old English food which are enjoying a resurgence of popularity in their North American form – more like a bun that the traditional English muffin. This recipe comes from Jeannette Appleton, the Enrolling Member of St Michael and All Angels in Newton, on the Wirral, who lived for a time in Canada. Ingredients    ( Makes 12 small or 6 large muffins)     2 cups plain flour 1 egg     ½ cup caster sugar 1 cup milk     1 tbsp baking powder ¾ cup raspberries* (coated in a little flour) Mix together the three dry ingredients. Mix together the four wet ingredients. Add the wet to the dry and stir until evenly mixed. Fill muffin cases three quarters full. Bake at gas mark 6/400 degrees F/ 200 degrees C for 20-25 minutes. *(or substitute blueberries, or shredded apple with ½ tsp cinnamon. HAPPPY BAKING AND EATING!! +++ Some Humour I’m sure you have heard the one about the man who was so tight that he would wrestle a bear for a penny! But have you heard the one about the man who was seen running through the streets of Cavan after a bus. The driver stopped the bus, but the man refused to get on. The driver enquired of the man why he would not board the bus. The man replied: “I’m running after the bus in order to save 50p”. “In that case”, the driver said “why don’t you run after a taxi and save yourself a couple of quid!!” +++ And then there was the Irishman who wrote to a landlady in England asking for a booking for the twelfth week in July. The landlady promptly wrote back saying that in England, July only had four weeks! And the same Irishman moved to England and was tired of being asked “Are you from Ireland?” So he decided to attend an Elocution class to cover up his accent. Later, he walked into a shop and in a very polite accent asked for “A loaf, half a dozen eggs and a pound of bacon”. The shopkeeper duly served him and in the course of conversation said, “You’re from Ireland, aren’t you”. The man was astounded as he felt that he had perfected an English accent and asked “How did you know?". The shopkeeper replied “This is a hardware shop!!”

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