Newsletter August 2023

Parish website:  www.traleedingle.ardfert.anglican.org           Email: stjohns.ashestreet@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Tralee-and-Dingle-Group-of-Parishes-680304582052423/

Rector: The Rev Jim Stephens @ 087 0529107

Hello Summer Family service,

This will be an All-Age service in St Johns on the 30th August and it will be followed by fun and fellowship in teach an tSolais, please bring a picnic and tea and coffee will be provided. There will be activities for the children.

Collections

We are gradually going back to the way we did things before covid, but not entirely, we have learned how to do somethings better and more efficiently.

One of the big changes was in the way we contribute to the parish.

Many of you have combined all your giving, your sustentation and what you would place on the plate to either envelopes or direct debit or EFT for the maximum benefit of the parish. This is an efficient and relatively painless way of giving, its beneficial in that it does not have to be counted and lodged in the bank, It is automatically recorded and all donations over 250 attract a tax benefit to the parish of an additional 31%. €250 becomes €362 and €500 becomes €725 and so on.

 

Collection baskets are returning slowly in our churches, Ballymac and Ballyseedy and Camp are happy enough at the moment with the basket at the back of the church. Dingle have been using the plate since Christmas to facilitate visitors.

Tralee SV members feel the time is right to return to passing the basket from this Sunday the 30th.

 

I am hoping that those who have changed to EFT and Direct Debit will stay with that system so when the basket comes to you, just simply pass it on if you so wish.

Many thanks for your generosity to the parish.

 

Changes to the service rota, August only.

There will be a service of Holy Communion in Dingle on the 6th August, at the earlier time of 11am.

 

There will not be services in Ballyseedy or Ballymacelligott on the 20th August, this is to facilitate and encourage those who might like to meet the roses in Tralee and to support St Johns on that Sunday morning. Bishop Michael Burrows has kindly agreed to preach at the service, The Kerry Chamber Choir will also share in the worship. So please come and celebrate the roses and all that the festival means to Tralee, To Kerry and to our Diaspora.

The service will be followed by tea and fellowship in Teach an tSolais after the service.

Wedding,

Congratulation to Giles Hoffman from Anascaul and Marie O’Connell of Ballinskelligs who were married in Ballinskelligs Church on the 15th July. The wedding service was followed by a reception at the Sneem hotel. They will reside in Anascaul.

 

Sympathy

To the family of the late Blanche Rutland of Chapel Street Tralee whose funeral service took place in St Johns on the 5th July, she was buried in Killaha burial ground in Glenflesk.

To the family of Richard Swindell of Tullaree Castlegregory who died on the 20th July and whose funeral service took place in Kilgobbin church this Saturday morning the 29th July.

He was buried in Killiney church yard.

Supporting Recovery Haven,

Parishioners Cillian and Jennifer Keating will be abseiling off Thomond Park on 26th August in aid of Recovery Haven in Tralee. Both are huge rugby supporters and attend Thomond Park regularly, so to be able to take on this challenge whilst supporting Recovery Haven is right up their street, should anyone feel like supporting them and donating…please follow the link.Recoveryhavenkerry.enthuse.com

Baptisms in Ballymacelligott.

James Patrick and Thomas George, the twin sons of Trevor and Maureen Poff were welcomed into the Christian family at their baptism in Ballymac church on the 29th July. Trevor is originally From Killorglin and now resides in Boston. They have bought a home in Flemby and it was lovely to be able to conduct the baptisms in the church where his grandfather was baptised and in the area from where the Poffs come from.

 

St James Dingle

An ecumenical service was held in St James on the feast of St James to remember and honour all those buried in the grounds there. The service was followed by a very interesting tour of the graveyard by the Archaeologist Lar Dunne who brough the stones and the memorials to life. He was able to tell us that there was a church there since 1307 and its clergy were appointed by the abbot of the Augustinian Priory at Killagha near Miltown, Situated about 1km from the George McAuliffe roundabout and off the old Kiillorglin Road. Its well worth a visit if in the Milltown area.If you want a tour, I can give you one, as I live near enough to it. Lots done in Dingle and a whole lot more to be done in terms of history.

 

Concerts in St James Dingle: with Eoin Duignan are continuing on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays of each week.

 

History and Tourism Project in St Johns.

St Johns continues to be opened to visitors on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons until the end of August. The Kitchener Bible has been returned to the church and is now on view.

We are considering broadening the opening times as we have had a lot of interest. Thanks to those who already volunteered as guides.

 

Parishioners in Hospital

If you or someone known to you is in any of the hospitals in Tralee, please let me know.

At present and because of GDPR the hospitals are not allowed to give patients names.

I will only be too happy to visit, as part of my job is to provide pastoral care to Church of Ireland patients in the hospitals. UHK and the BONS.

 

Remember

‘God speaks to us in two books. One is the little book of scriptures and the other is the big book, the book of creation’ ~John Scotus Eriugena