Newsletter June 2021

A spontaneous round of applause was heard at the beginning of our A spontaneous round of applause was heard at the beginning of our first service back in Church on the 16th May, it was really a clap of praise or shout of praise to the lord that we were able to gather around his table in his house once again for prayer and praise.

It was the only service in our group on that day and it allowed us as a community to say thanks to and make a presentation to the Rev Phyllis and Keith Jones following Phyllis retirement at the end of January.

Phyllis and Keith now live in Tralee where they are enjoying a much-deserved retirement. Phyllis will help out when the need arises at Sunday services.

The Wednesday service has also resumed in Church; however, we probably will do something on Zoom as we had additional people who are not able to join us physically.

Looking forward to have coffee with this group outdoors this Wednesday when the Ashe Hotel reopens.

Our churches should be some of the safest places to gather in, as we practise social distance, wear masks and keep to the required distance in our pews, they are also large an airy and allow for plenty of air to circulate.

A subcommittee of the diocese has recently proposed a motion which will be brought before the Diocesan Synod in the Autumn, on the formation of ' Ministry Areas'. The diocese will be divided into five such areas and Kerry will become one ministry area.

The subcommittee believe that the organisation of the Diocese into these areas will have certain benefits:

1. Closer, working and sharing of ministry and resources within proposed areas.

2. Another strong recommendation is that each group will be transformed into a union which means that this parish which has currently two select vestries could become one union. However, if this comes to pass each area will still need to have a local committee made up of the same people who make up the current SV who will retain control of their own finances and make their own decisions. 

The reason that we are urged to move towards a union is because of increasing demands of administration around, Governance, Safe Guarding Trust, Charities Legislations and other legislative requirements that are coming down the tracks.

This means that each parish will have just the one Tax and Charity Number, One Governance folder. One set of accounts one set of documents for safe guarding etc. 

Duplication of all these documents and procedures across a number of SV' is onerous and time consuming for parishes and clergy.

We are urged to give careful consideration to these proposals to become one union to deal more effectively with these governance issues while still retain local committees who will look after the business of the local church in their areas.

Bishops Appeal envelopes have been distributed in the five churches, If you need one please ask the church wardens or if convenient just make your donation online. The project this year is Connect4creation. www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org

Easter Vestries

The Tralee and Ballymacelligott Easter Vestry was held on the 1st June in Teach an tSolais. A new select vestry was elected. The Camp and Dingle Easter Vestry will meet this Tuesday night (8th June) at 7.30pm in Kilgobbin Church.

The Easter Vestry gives me the opportunity to reflect on how many people are involved in keeping the parish going, The list is quite long, which is a good sign and it includes everyone from the Church/Glebe Wardens, Secretaries, Treasurers, Flowers arrangers Those who look after our Church  grounds, those who look after the website and Facebook page, those who play the CD’s, play the organ, readers, singers musicians, links ladies, Sunday Clubs, Boys Brigade, Teach and tSolais committee, Distributor of Newslink and the Gazette, those who count the envelopes and of course our Lay Readers and retired clergy. If I have forgotten someone please forgive and remind me.

As Rector of the parish, I am most appreciative of those who serve the parish in so many ways and I am most grateful for their generosity and commitment to their church community.

Church Silver Camp and Dingle

When Rev Phyllis was moving from Camp Rectory, she came across some silver from churches on the Dingle Peninsula, which are now closed, these include Clahane, Ventry, Dunquin, Kilmakedar, Ballynacourty (Anascaul).

They had become tarnished with the passage of time and Helen Martin very kindly took the time to polish them. It has been suggested that we might display them in Dingle if that Church is renovated in time. They are part of the history of the parish and are tangible reminders of the people who worshipped in these Churches in former times. The silver could be a starting point for a little history of those parishes if someone was interested, it might suit a transition year student.

Businesses reopening. 

I would like to take this opportunity to extend  my prayerful good wishes to all those businesses in our community that are reopening. I can only imagine how difficult the lockdown period has been for them and I wish them a successful summer season.

Leaving Cert Students. 

Best wishes to all our leaving certificate students in the days ahead. Just remember that you have done the hard work and be confident that you will be able answers the questions to the best of your ability.

Good luck to all our students who are looking for or beginning summer jobs and to graduates as they prepare to enter the work place.

Sympathy.

We extend our sympathy to the family of the late Catherine Doherty  wife of the late Rev Raymond Doherty who was Rector of Tralee during the late 1970's and on into the 1980's

Many of our long-standing parishioners would remember Catherine fondly as a kind and gentle lady who served the parish in many ways, in the mother’s union and as a leader in the Brownies.

We extend our sympathy to her daughter Imelda and son Kevin and their families. Catherine resided in Ennis where she remarried following Raymonds sudden death while he was Rector of Ennis.

Unwell, Heavenly Father we pray for all who are receiving treatment and are on a journey to recovery, that they will know your love, seek strength from you and find peace and healing in your presence.  Amen

This weather is challenging once again for our farmers as ground is damp and the silage is delayed, we remember them in the words of the rogation tide prayer.

Almighty God, whose will it is that the earth and the sea should bear fruit in due season: Bless the labours of those who work on land and sea, grant us a good harvest and the grace always to rejoice in your fatherly care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen