The Rector writes……
We are delighted to welcome Revd. David Bowles as curate. He starts his ministry among us this month as a deacon. He will be ordained priest in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral on its patronal festival, Friday 25 September at 7.30pm. It is worth taking this opportunity to ask the simple question what is a priest? What are they to do and be? In the ordinal on page 565 if the Book of Common Prayer, the role and task of the priest is outlined. The charge by the bishop at the ordination service reads:
‘Priests (or presbyters) in the Church of God are called to work with the bishop and with other priests as servants and shepherds among the people to whom they are sent. They are to proclaim the Word of the Lord, to call those who hear to repentance, and in Christ’s name to pronounce absolution and declare the forgiveness of sins. They are to baptize, and to catechize. They are to preside at the celebration of the Holy Communion. They are to lead God’s people in prayer and worship, to intercede for them, to bless them in the name of the Lord, and to teach and encourage them by word and example. They are to minister to the sick and to prepare the dying for their death. They must always set the Good Shepherd before them as the pattern of their calling, caring for the people committed to their charge, and joining with them in a common witness, that the world may come to know God’s glory and love.’
Addressing the candidates the bishop says, ‘In the name of our Lord we ask you to remember the greatness of the trust now to be committed to your charge. You are to be messengers, watchers and stewards of the Lord; you are to teach and to admonish, to feed and provide for the Lord’s family, to search for God’s children in the wilderness of the world’s temptations and to guide them through its confusions, so that they may be saved through Christ for ever. Your ministry will be one of joy as well as of responsibility, of happiness as well as of diligence. Yet remember in your heart that if it should come about that the Church, or any of its members, is hurt or hindered by reason of your neglect, your fault will be great and God’s judgment will follow. So pray constantly for his mercy and for the grace you will need to fulfil your call.’
It is an awesome calling and no easy task! While priests in the course of their work are pulled in many directions, they are not primarily fundraisers, social workers, event managers or heritage consultants. I know that this is generally understood in this parish. Churches have got their priorities right when they let their priests be priests!
Parishioners are urged to make it a priority to attend David’s ordination service and support him in this new chapter of his ministry. We also welcome David’s wife Michelle and their two young children Harry and Hannah. We hope they settle in to life in Cork quickly, that Harry and Hannah enjoy their new school and that they all feel very at home among us before too long.
At the time of writing, final plans are in place for a special service in Holy Trinity Church, Frankfield on Sunday 30 August at which the Bishop will licence and commission Sabrina Cooke-Nivet as a diocesan lay reader. Sabrina will be assisting the rector at services in Frankfield on a regular basis into the future. She comes to us with much experience having assisted in a variety of ways at services in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. We look forward to getting to know her in this parish as she takes on this new role and ministry within the church.
Over the summer months, and despite the absence of a curate, the full schedule of five services each Sunday was maintained thanks to the generous help of many clergy and readers. They include Keith Roberts, Wilfred Baker, Tim Jackson, Derek Johnston, Pat Culleton and Rev. Bruce Pierce. Rev. Hazel Minion was available to respond to pastoral emergencies and other parish matters during my two week holiday in Scotland. For this I am very grateful. I hope that those who were attending church over the summer period enjoyed the variety of preachers that was provided.
Every blessing, Adrian.
Currently under the Tus Initiative Gordon Snow is doing some maintenance and construction work in our churches. In Marmullane in recent months the boiler house beside the church has been re-roofed. In Blackrock the ruined tool and equipment shed in the churchyard has been rebuilt and a new roof put on it. In addition a ramp has been constructed in the Old Schoolhouse so that the fire door from the kitchen is now wheel chair accessible. This has also involved the replacement of some of the underground pipes. We are grateful that under this scheme, the labour is provided at no cost to the parish and that all we have to do is pay for the materials. It means that some jobs which would have been put on the log finger have now been successfully completed to a high standard.
We thank Gordon Snow for his work in the parish to date and Gordon Jermyn who actts as a supervisor and coordinator on behalf of the parish. Gordon is very conscientious in this voluntary role and this is acknowledged and appreciated.
FRANKFIELD NEWS
On Sunday 20 September, Frankfield parish is holding a Cake Sale after the morning service. This event has run for several years now and over that time has grown in popularity. It also provides some much needed funds for the church. Parishioners from across our union of parishes are invited to attend the 10.00am service in Frankfield that day and enjoy some fellowship afterwards.
This year services of Harvest Thanksgiving will take place in St. Mary’s Church, Marmullane on Sunday 4 October at 7pm. The preacher at this service will be Canon Eithne Lynch. On the following Sunday there will be morning harvest celebrations in the other churches in our union at the usual times. Wilfred Baker will be preaching at Frankfield and Douglas. Revd. David Bowles will be preaching at Blackrock that day.
Following the summer break, Blackrock Lunches (on the last Wednesday of each month) resume on September 30 at 12.30pm in the Old Schoolhouse on Church Road. All are welcome to a nutritious three course meal for a donation of €7. As usual there will also be a sales table.
St Luke’s Home Education Centre Evening Courses
St. Luke’s Home Education Centre, based at Northridge House offers a variety of courses for those caring for the Older Adult with accreditation from QQI and An Bord Altranais. The Centre also will be offering evening courses in the autumn on Mindfulness(over 7 weeks) and Addressing Loss (over 5 weeks). Day Courses are also offered in Interviews Skills (for panel members and interview candidates), Wellness and a variety of Foundational Day Courses. Full details available at www.stlukeshome.ie/education-centre or by phone(021) 4536551. Follow us also on Twitter or Facebook
St Luke’s Home Education Centre, Mahon are hosting an Open Evening on Tuesday 1st September from 6:30pm – 9:30pm. The Centre at Northridge House, beside St Luke’s Home, provides a variety QQI and other Courses. Full Details on www.stlukeshome.ie/education-centre or call Claire at 021.4536551
PARISH BOWLS CLUB resumes on Wednesday 2 September at 7.45pm in the Canon Packham Hall. We wish them an enjoyable and successful season.
PARISH BIBLE STUDY GROUPS
Our Bible study groups resume this month after the summer break. Both are studying John for Everyone by Tom Wright, who explains difficult ideas in a simple way. He draws the readers’ attention to the various clues in St. John’s Gospel that show that Jesus is actually the promised Messiah.
The Blackrock group is full. I shall be contacting members shortly about our starting date.
There is room for new members in the Moneygourney group, which meets fortnightly on Thursdays at 7.30p.m.. We hope to resume in late September. Please contact me or the clergy if you would like more information. New members are always welcome.
Florence Binions ( 0861604544)
PARISH BOOK CLUB
The Parish Book Club will hold their first meeting of the new season in the Maryborough House Hotel on 8 September at 8.00 pm. This gives the members a chance to talk about all their holiday reading. The next meeting will be on 13 October when the nominated book is ‘Go set a Watchman by Harper Lee. This book club meets once a month in the Rectory and new members are always welcome. J. Wilkinson
A PRAYER FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Heavenly Father, thank you for the refreshment that the holidays have brought, for the people we have met and the places we have been.
At the start of a new school year, give us the energy to do our best, the desire to aim high and the ability to learn from our mistakes.
We pray for all pupils, parents and teachers. Bless and guide them, now and always. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
JUST FOR GIRLS!
‘Just for Girls’ is a fun activity event run four times a year on Saturdays for primary school aged girls. It is jointly organised by the Church of Ireland and Methodist Church and takes place in Ardfallen. All are welcome on October 3rd from 11am – 3pm for crafts, cooking, games and stories. Each time we take as our theme a woman from the Bible and learn a little about her. Booking forms or further information is available from Jacqui Wilkinson (087-6404724).
George Boole’s descendants visit Cork. On Sunday 30 August, a number of the descendants of Professor George Boole attended the 11.30 service in St. Michael’s Blackrock. While there, they viewed the wall memorial in the south transept erected to his memory as well as visited his grave in the adjoining churchyard. This is part of a year of events and activities to celebrate the life of one of Cork’s most famous adopted sons.
On 1 September a drama documentary called ‘The Genius of George Boole’ airs on RTE 1 at 22.35. You might want to record it to watch. It includes some footage shot in St. Michael’s Church in Blackrock earlier this year. You might even spot a well-known parishioner, heavily disguised in Victorian costume, who became an extra in this production!
SEMINAR on POPE FRANCIS’ EARTH ENCYCLICAL,
On Care for Our Common Home
with Fr. Donal Dorr
Wednesday 16th September 2015 (10.00 am – 4.00 pm)
SMA Community Centre, Wilton, Cork
Organised by the SHEP CARING FOR THE EARTH INITIATIVE
Fr Dorr is anxious that this be an ecumenical event, for a sharing of ideas between people of all churches and none. Further information at the back of the church.
Contact: 4666180 or e-mail socialandhealth@eircom.net
What If the Church saw blood and organ donation as part of its giving? The church is made up of millions of people who say yes to a life lived generously.
On Monday 24th August the Irish Blood Transfusion Service only had between 4 and 8 days’ supply (depending on blood group) in stock. A blood donation can be stored for, on average, 35 days. Some 3% of Irish people donate regularly, some of our parishioners among them. This is a gift that makes the difference between life and death for dangerously ill or injured patients.
However, as you will see from the above statistics, more donors are urgently needed. Have you discovered if you are eligible to give? The Munster Regional Centre in St Finbarr’s Hospital, open at various hours every Monday to Thursday, is conveniently nearby. Staff there will welcome you, answer your questions and support you through the process, if you qualify. Tel. 4807400.
Other options to consider are: platelet donation, registering for bone marrow donation and/or organ donation.
There are very informative websites at giveblood.ie and organdonation.ie
Prayer in Times of Need.
Are you or a loved one going through an illness or a life crisis? Would the prayers of the Parish Prayer Chain help? We are seven people who accept all requests confidentially and one of us will pray for you every day as needed.
Please pass on your request to one of the clergy, or put a note in the prayer box in the church porch. If your request is for another, please check with them beforehand.
JUST A THOUGHT:
I recently came across the text of this prayer. It struck me as very powerful. I hope you will be challenged by it too. Adrian
‘From the arrogance that thinks it has all the truth; from the laziness that settles for half-truths; and from the cowardice that fears new truths, Good Lord, deliver us.’
