Newsletter November 2021

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

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

 

All Saints Tide  is sacred time as we remember with love those who were an important part of our lives but have passed to their eternal home. Their love touched our lives in a multiplicity of ways and we mark it in a number of different ways during the month of November.

There are many traditions, family gatherings, visiting graves and putting flowers on them is one such practice and its always lovely to see graves that are well cared for and equally sad to see those that are neglected.

On the 31st October, the eve of All Saints Day, Those parishioners who died in the past year were remembered as were those who had any connection with the parish and our parishioners during the morning service.

It was good to be able to welcome some of those families to the Holy Communion in Tralee with some travelling long distances, on what was a terrible morning with heavy rain and strong winds. The names were read and candles were lit in their memory, these candles were later taken home by family members.

Those remembered were : Jackie Rogers ,Joe Revington, Billy Revington, Yvonne Blennerhassett   

Cyril Hoffmann ,Eve Johnson ,Walter Long, Eamonn Bradley, Rev Michael Savage         

Jimmy Smith , Arthur Blennerhassett, Patrick Johnson, Ann Corbett and Eric McDonald.

Their names will remain on the memory tree during November.           

‘Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal’

Boys Brigade returned to the Teach an tSolais for their first meeting together after 18 months apart. 27 boys and girls began the season with enthusiasm and gusto.

Well done to Captain Collette and her fellow leaders, Rory, Daniel and Derek who give their time so generously on a Friday evening to the Boys and Girls .

The soup kitchen  reopened its  indoor dining since last weekend..

Harvest Thanksgiving.

Celebrations to give thanks to God for the harvest were held in all Churches in the parish in October. The celebrations were modest but whole hearted and we are thankful to all who so generously prepared the churches and took part in the services. It is important to give thanks and to focus on what we can do to ensure that we can do what we can to ensure that as long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.

Thanks again to those who took the time to prepare and decorate our Churches.

Sympathy: To Martin Murphy and Gerry on the death of Gerry’s brother Patrick in Dingle recently.

 

 

 

Mission Sunday,

This year Missions Sunday focus will be on a Bishops Appeal supported projects in Ethiopia which will encourage Water harvesting, provision of seeds for dry climates, support and advice for those who grow vegetables at home and the training of staff in clinics as they deal with Covid -19.

Bishops Appeal envelopes will be put on the pew to allow parishioners to contribute.

Bishop Kenneth and Jennifer.

We wish Bishop Kenneth and Jennifer well as they move from the diocese after seven very busy and eventful years in our midst. We are thankful to the bishop for his support and for the way in which he made time for parishes and any special occasions that they we were celebrating. His last visit to us was on the 3rd of October to officiate at our confirmation service.

On the retirement of Bishop Kenneth and Bishop Patrick (Tuam) on the 31st October the new diocese of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe has come into place and a new Bishop will be elected in due course to serve this new Diocese, which will be geographically large but numerically very small.

Other Voices

The 20th Anniversary of Other Voices will be marked with concerts in St James church Dingle on the last weekend in November. This has been a wonderful experience for the parish and it brings lots of people to Dingle on that weekend.

Circus Festival Performance,

Some performances will take place in our church this Saturday 6th November at 9pm

This artistic performance is in the form of contemporary arts.

St Johns is a beautiful church with plenty of space and its lovely to see it used in ways that are tasteful and affirm the creativity of the human mind and provide access to those who may never in other circumstances see the Church. The  one memory that I have from the last time it was held there, was the awe that some of the very diverse group had for the church.

COP26 Prayer vigil

A prayer vigil organised by St John’s Care of Creation Group was held in St Johns Castle Street on the 5th November

“This is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities -what we value, what we want, what we seek - and re-plan our future, committing to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of.

    The time to act, and to act together, is now.” Pope Francis.

The Season of Advent comes From the Latin word 'Adventus' meaning arrival. It is a time of waiting for the arrival of Christmas and the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. Advent is a time to celebrate light in the midst of darkness. It is a season that often gets pushed aside because we have more pressing priorities. Advent can be reminder that in the midst of preparations for the festival of Christmas, that there is another part of life that is waiting to be discovered. This often comes in the form of quiet time, prayer, counting our blessings, listing our priorities and finding hope in the midst of darkness and doubts.

Advent can prompt us to ask, What is the biggest darkness in my life at the moment?  Who or what might bring me a sense of light and hope in my life ? hopefully the answers to those questions can be found in the scriptures for the season and in the teaching and fellowship that we experience in our Churches.

I hope to lead evening prayer by zoom with a focus on the advent Gospel reading during that season, more details later.

Sometimes it is only when the fragility of life is laid bare that we manage to get our priorities in order.'