The Rector writes……
This year, New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday. In our church calendar, 1st January is always set aside as the day when we remember the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. No doubt like all young parents, Mary and Joseph looked forward to the future with joy and excitement as they held their baby in their arms and gave him the name Jesus. As we journey together into 2017, we remember that the Holy Family also experienced vulnerability and uncertainty as well as joy and hope. The same is true for each of us in our daily lives.
In John’s Gospel, we read that ‘the Word became flesh’ and in Matthew’s Gospel one of terms used to herald the birth of Jesus is ‘Emmanuel, which means God is with us.’ It is easy for these familiar passages to wash over us when we hear them read year after year at Carol Services and on Christmas morning. But if we take time to ponder the significance of what is being said in a few short phrases, our whole perspective on life and world view is transformed. A poem written anonymously and published by Christian Aid a number of years ago, seems to make a profound point. I quoted it in the churches where I was preaching on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning. I reproduce it here by request.
‘Blessed art thou,
O Christmas Christ,
that thy cradle was so low
that shepherds,
poorest and simplest of earthly folk,
could yet kneel beside it,
and look level-eyed into the face of God.’
Remember Jesus knew what it was to experience life as we do with all its joys as well as with its challenges. As you journey into 2017, may you know the presence of God with you in all that you do.
Finally, I am very grateful to all in the parish who were involved in our worship on Christmas Day and throughout Advent. Carol services do not just happen without the involvement of visiting choirs and our parish choirs, organists and other musicians, the Sunday School teachers and children, as well as the input of decorators, readers and caterers.
Happy New Year!
Yours in Christ, Adrian
CPE Course. This month the Revd David Bowles is starting a twelve-week course being run from St Luke’s Home in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). It will involve 2.5 days study and placement each week. He is not the first curate to avail of this training opportunity but he is the first to take this on while I also have the additional responsibilities of being Archdeacon. I am very grateful to the Revd Hazel Minion who for the next couple of months has made herself available for an extra day a week and to the Bishop who has approved this temporary arrangement.
Frankfield Vestry Meeting: The next meeting of Frankfield Vestry will be on Monday 16 January at 8pm in the Sunday School Room. (Please note the change of day from the date proposed at the last meeting).
Douglas Union Select Vestry: The Select Vestry will meet on Friday, 3rd February in the Canon Packham Hall at 8pm.
Douglas has ‘Pride of Place’. Douglas Community Association was selected by Cork County Council to enter an “All Ireland Pride of Place” Competition. Four members of DCA attended a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Belfast Waterfront Hall on 26th November, over 1,000 people attended representing various clubs and associations throughout Ireland. The Mayor of Cork County, Councillor Seamus McGrath was there representing Cork County and giving support to those selected from the County. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Brian Kingston welcomed the guest. Music and dining followed and between courses category results were announced. As the evening rolled on and almost at midnight our category “Population Category over 5,000” was announced the winner of that category. The members of Cork County Council and Douglas Community Association were delighted and overwhelmed with our success. A trophy was presented and a monetary award followed. A profile of St Luke’s Church and the various parish and school activities was included in the initial presentation as one of the active community groups, so we can modestly bask in a little reflected glory. We congratulate the Douglas Community Association on this wonderful award which is a recognition of all that they do to facilitate ‘pride of place’ in our locality.
Cork Theology Forum in Douglas. On a cold evening in November people from our local churches gathered in Douglas Library for a talk by Dr Anne Francis. After tea and introductory chat we heard about the experiences of the ecumenical group known as Cork Theology Forum. Dr Francis is a gifted and entertaining communicator who gave us an excellent overview of the variety of topics covered over the past number of years.
Douglas Churches Together
Tue. 14th February at 11.30 am in Douglas Library. Dr Anne Francis will lead a discussion on the question: ‘What’s the Church for?’ The intention will be to discuss what people say about the Church, what the Bible says about the Church,and what part ordinary individuals have in the Church. Where the discussion goes will depend on who turns up. So if you have any opinions about what the church is for, or where it is going, do come and share them, or simply come to hear what others are saying about it. Coffee and tea will be served from 11am.
Are you thinking about Confirmation? Would you like to learn a little more about the Christian Faith? Remember being confirmed is an important decision and you will need to think about it carefully. In order to help in this process, each year in this parish we run a preparation course for young parishioners. We meet one evening a week between January and Easter. If you are an adult who is thinking about Confirmation, separate arrangements are made so please talk to the Rector about this.
A meeting for the parents of all young people considering confirmation will be held in the Canon Packham Hall on Tuesday 10th January at 8pm. This meeting is an opportunity to outline some of the practical arrangements for the classes.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity runs between January 18-25 each year. This year the local service will be held in Cork Methodist Church, Ardfallen on Sunday 22nd January at 7.30pm. The title of the service is Crossing Barriers and the material has been prepared for worldwide use by the churches in Germany based around the verses 2 Corinthians 5:14-20. It is important that as many local churches come together for at this annual event.
Thank You: The annual Christmas Coffee Morning at the Rectory last month raised over €800 for UCC Surgeon Noonan Medical Aid for Africa. The UCC Surgeon Noonan Society is a registered charity whose aim is to provide medical aid to Africa, through fundraising and volunteerism. Each year they aim to raise over €100,000 which is exclusively used to provide medicines and equipment for hospitals and clinics in rural Africa. This year Gary Wilkinson is one of 49 medical students, who at the end of their 4th year, will spend part of their summer working there. This month he will find out his placement country and hospital. It is important to note that none of the money given to this charity is used to subsidise student travel or other administration costs. Thank you to all those who supported this fundraising venture before Christmas.
Charity Collections. The collections taken at the evening ecumenical carol services before Christmas were as follows:
St Mary’s Church, Marmullane €240
St Michael’s Church, Blackrock €1700
The money raised has been divided equally between the St Vincent de Paul and the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal for overseas aid and development.
