The Re
ctor writes……
At our united service recently, a new baptismal banner was dedicated in St. Luke’s Church and placed in the baptistery. This is the work of Stephanie Giltinan and we are very grateful for the many hours she put into the design and creation of this work.
It contains many appropriate symbols and will be a useful visual aid for many years to come. Prominent on the banner is a Celtic Cross, to remind us of the sign of the cross in baptism as well as the deep roots of our Christian heritage. Celtic crosses were always designed to tell the story of faith through the elaborate carvings on them. It reminds us that we are to tell the story of our faith in our generation. The banner is blue, with fabric specifically chosen to catch the light and shimmer like water. A baptismal candle represents the light of faith being passed on. The baby in the picture has a hand outstretched which is being held by a larger hand of a parent or godparent. The fabric here is deliberately chosen to be soft and tactile so that when children touch it, they feel the gentle care of the adult. Water flows from a scallop shell, a symbol of pilgrimage. The border of the banner will be changed to match the liturgical colour of the church seasons. This is to remind us of how we encounter the events in the life of Christ, year after year as we follow the ebb and flow of the liturgical calendar. The banner is designed to be viewed best when people are looking at it from the pews as they witness a baptism. The water appears to flow from the scallop shell into the font. On closer inspection, almost hidden in the water fabric are a series of Christian names. These are the names of children who were chosen at random from the baptism registers by the pupils of junior infants. Included is ‘Sarah’. Sarah Williams was the first recorded baptism in St. Luke’s Church in 1789. This banner therefore reminds all who look at it, of the links we have to the past and of our living faith today. Please take time to look at it in more detail when you are in St. Luke’s Church next.
This issue of Parish Matters covers the summer period when most of our parish organisations have ceased their activities. Many parishioners go away or use the opportunity to stay in their holiday homes or caravans at weekends. Congregations reduce in size on Sunday mornings. However, we do have visitors from time to time and if you are reading this as a visitor, I hope you were given a warm welcome to our parish. For those who go away on holidays, I hope you will enjoy worshipping in other churches while you are away. Don’t forget to bring me a service leaflet or parish newsletter from the church you visit! I wish all parishioners and readers of this newsletter a very restful summer.
Yours in Christ, Adrian.
St Luke’s School Notes:
The final term in the school year is always busy and this year is no exception in St Luke’s School. All our classes have been on ‘On Tour’. We have been to Rumley’s Farm, Crafty Hands, Go Safari, Nemo Sports Club, Kinsale Pottery, Oysterhaven and Cappanalea. 6th Class organised a very successful Cake Sale in aid of their trip. Congratulations to Hailey Figueredo who won 3rd prize in Douglas Tidy Towns Poster Competition entitled ‘Pride in our Woods’. Our choir took part in a singing afternoon with Mr Peter Stobart in St Finbarres’ Cathedral. We have all been keeping fit this term. We have a 1km Run designed by Rang 6 and Ms Guinane, a red line has been painted around the playground and if you run this distance 6 times you will have completed 1km! Our athletes obviously did plenty of running as they came 2nd in the Inter School Sports this year. Our new Junior Infant parents came for an Information evening recently,we look forward to having 28 new pupils in September. We were delighted to welcome Commandant Mary Lane from the Irish Navy on our Water ‘Day of Action’ to celebrate the of raising our 3rd Green Flag for water. Earlier in the day the Junior classes enjoyed water games and the Senior classes took part in a water quiz. Our PA organised a Family Barbeque in Garryduff which was enjoyed by pupils and parents. We want to say a big thank you to Archdeacon and Jacqui Wilkinson who organised workshops for all classes to go to the church and to explore the stained glass windows there. Mrs. S. Colton
Churches Together in Douglas Enterprise Village
The organisers of the Douglas Expo in Nemo Rangers on 20th – 21st May took as their motto ‘Ag obair le chéile’ They included the churches alongside sports, businesses and community organisations. The manager of the local Bank of Ireland made contact through the Douglas Churches Together stand in the shopping centre during Holy Week, and a small band of volunteers designed, installed and manned a stand in the exhibition. From the Library to a lighting company, from Junk Couture to previews of the hurling and football championships, gymnasts, St Columba’s choir, a business panel and many more, all locals, were there. We enjoyed working together with St Columba’s and the Methodist Church and the opportunity to engage with the local community outside of our usual stamping grounds.
Douglas Churches Together are currently planning our next activity in the autumn; watch this space for an interesting event. Please speak with the clergy if you might be in a position to help. Rev. H. Minion
Sea Sunday Sea Sunday is generally highlighted by the Mission to Seafarers on the second Sunday in July. On 10 July a special United Service will take place in St. Mary’s, Marmullane at 11.30am to mark Sea Sunday. We also hope
to have those of our parishioners who are students at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Ringaskiddy involved in this service too.
Each year we use this as an opportunity to have a ‘walk to church’ Sunday. It is hoped that some parishioners will again choose to walk to church to attend the United Service journeying along the old railway line and passing the harbour in Passage West as a result. Of course the presence of the pontoon in Passage West since last year, means that it is now possible to sail there, berth your boat and walk the short distance up the hill to get to church. We hope this event will prove popular with people of all ages again this year. Ven. A. Wilkinson
Heritage Week: As part of National Heritage Week on Saturday 27 August, Dr Aoife Bhreatnach, will give a talk on the history of St. Luke’s Church under the title ‘From Georgian to Gothic: 1816 to 1916 in St Luke’s Douglas’. Last year her lecture on the burials in the churchyard in Douglas was very well attended and so we hope to build on this success. Please note the date and invite your friends. Ven. A. Wilkinson
A Matrimonial Murder has been announced!
A note for your diary. Mr George Barry cordially invites you to the wedding of his Daughter Miss Mary Barry and Frederick Learmont, 7th Earl of Mahon. The wedding will take place on the evening of the 22nd (and possibly 21st) of October in the Canon Packham Hall. Please dress appropriately!
Help needed in the form of people to sell (and buy) tickets, find wedding presents (raffle prizes) and help with the catering, (as Freddie is a bit broke!). There will be a reading of the script in early September so anyone who is interested taking a part (on the top table) or any other role please contact Rev. David Bowles on (089) 2364969. We hope that if proves to be an eventful and entertaining evening for all! Rev. D. Bowles
In Need of Prayer?
If you are going through difficult times and would like the Parish Prayer Chain to include your name in their prayers, just leave a note in the prayer request box at the back of your church, or give it to one of the clergy. For a month, or as you request, each day one of them will pray for you; their prayers do not take holidays! Rev. H. Minion
Parish Barbecue
The sun shone, the food was plentiful and delicious and the ice cream van arrived on time! It was good to see over 130 parishioners of all ages attend the parish barbeque which was held after our united service on Sunday 29 May. We thank Diane and David and their helpers who provided the food as well as the organising committee who set up the tables and chairs outside and coordinated the event. Ven. A. Wilkinson
A Prayer for Summer Holidays
Lord you reminded your disciples of the need for times of rest and refreshment from the stresses and strains of the day. We thank you for every opportunity to travel and enjoy new experiences. Watch over our journeys. May our time away be one of warmth and love, so that we return refreshed in body, mind and spirit to continue in your service. Amen.
