Tralee and Dingle March 2021

Even though we are in the middle of a pandemic Parish life continues, Sunday and Midweek services are either recorded in our Churches or take place on zoom as do parish meetings. We keep in contact with one another by telephone, email, WhatsApp, letters and cards have also received a new lease of life as a way of keeping in touch.

Many thanks to those who keep us connected and to those who share the services over the phone with family and neighbours.

Service this Sunday at 11am live from Ballyseedy thanks to the Ballymacelligott Community Alert.

Sunday 14th Mothering Sunday , Recorded service from St Johns.

Our buildings also need ongoing care, walls still crumble, roofs can still spring an unexpected leak. With so many buildings and burial grounds in our parish the next challenge is never far away. Ongoing Issues and preventative maintenance keep clergy and Select Vestries busy. This is an opportunity to prepare and to take stock, which brings me nicely on to lent.

Lent is that time when we are called to reflect and take stock of our own lives and our attitude to others as we prepare to celebrate easter. It can be a time of waiting and we are very much in a waiting phase at the moment. Many are waiting to see a loved one, children after a long wait are returning slowly to school, young adults long to resume their social lives and of course we are all waiting for the vaccine.

In Tralee and Dingle, we generally support Bishops appeal projects during lent, two years ago we supported the project pennies for plastic which was a project run by women in the Gambia in west Africa. Waste Plastic is collected and recycled and made in to floor and roof tiles. This provides employment and empowerment for women, it reduces the amount of waste plastic in the environment, resulting in cleaner water and less flooding due to plastic blocking drains and water ways, money is also kept in the community.

This year Bishops Appeal have proposed another project on Bee’s which I hope other parishes in the Diocese will adopt during Lent, it’s called

Connect4creation,

wander and wonder,

with a focus on Bees this lent.

It’s a very attractive and relevant project, it reminds us of our interconnectedness with God, with one another and with the environment.

St Johns Boys Brigade Captain and group have been proactive with their Bee wall in St Johns Ashe Street and a wild flower area was established last year with Bee friendly plants.

This project aims to help us to:

·        Have an awareness of God’s creation and how we can do little thongs to improve our areas.

·        Plant Bee friendly plants in our gardens.

·        Get a Bee hive if space and time allows

·        Pray for those affected by climate change

·        Offer support to communities in Zimbabwe where Bee hives form a crucial part of a complex flourishing eco systems,

·         that contains Bee’s crops, woodland and people and each has to play their part so that the whole community can flourish.

Sympathy to the Blennerhassett family on the death of their uncle Arthur in Dublin. Arthur left Glenageenty, Ballymacelligott over 80 years ago on a scholarship to Kings Hospital, following school he worked in Dublin where he raised his family. However, like all Kerry men and women the kingdom was never far from his heart and he returned regularly to connect with family and friends.

We also remember the Bradley family of Arabella on the sudden death of Eamonn, Eamonn who was a good neighbour and always kept an eye out on the church at Ballymacelligott. Our sympathy to Ann and his family at this time of sadness and loss.

Prayer for those who are bereaved.

Heavenly father grant to all who are bereaved, the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience. Be with them through these times of loneliness and loss and help them to draw strength from the treasured memories that they shared together with their loved one. Amen

 

The Girls and Boys of the Boys Brigade While not meeting physically are completing various tasks virtually. December saw members making sock snowmen and snow girls. In January members were asked to draw a self-portrait and I have to say we have some very good artists in our company. In February members were challenged to build a scarecrow and the winner received a Smyths voucher and certificate. It was almost impossible to decide on a winner as the standard was incredible. The pictures can be found on the parish website and Facebook page. Well done to all the Boys and Girls and to Collette for being so imaginative. They have setup a gofundmepage to help with funds at this time as insurance etc still has to be paid. If any former BB members or their parents who have happy members of their time in the Tralee BB would like to contribute a little please go to: ·  https://gofund.me/aaac54f6

Congratulations to:

Alex and Kay Hoffman on the birth of their son. Congratulations to proud grandparents Robert and Sandra In Anascaul.

John and Carol Mason on the birth of their grandson who was born to their son Niall and his wife Deirdre in February.

Rev Phyllis and Keith Jones on the birth of their great grandsons in the UK.

Prayer.

Heavenly father, we remember how the birth of Jesus brough such joy to Mary and Joseph. We give thanks for the babies that have born in our midst. Bless them now and in the years to come, and may they grow up healthy in body and strong in spirit, through the grace of our lord Jesus Christ. Amen