CARRIGROHANE UNION OF PARISHESSt Peter’s, Carrigrohane

St Senan’s, InniscarraThe Church of the Resurrection, Blarney

www.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie021-4877260

Dec 2012 – Jan 2013

DECEMBER DIARY

Monday 3rd—LG/MU meet at 10.30am in the Parish Centre to wrapgifts for Rosenalee Nursing Home Carol Singing— which will beat 3pm on Saturday 15th. All welcome!

Friday 7th–Glow Max at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre

Saturday 8th—Blarney Christmas GIVE-AWAY 1-3pm

Sunday 9th—3.30pm Christingle Service in The Churchof the Resurrection, Blarney

Monday 10th—7.30pm Community Carol Service in theRoman Catholic church, Blarney.

Wednesday 12th– Seniors’ Christmas Lunch in the Parish Centre –beginning with Carol singing and a glass of sherry or non-alcoholic punch

at 12 noon (following a service of HC in the meeting room at 11.30am)

Friday 14th– Glow at 7pm in the Parish Centre

Sunday 16th—7pm Community Carol Service - St Senan’s, Inniscarra

Sunday 23rd—9am HC Carrigrohane; 11am A Service of the Word, Blarney;11.30am Morning Prayer, Inniscarra4pm Carol Service - St Peter’s, Church Hill, Carrigrohane,

followed by light seasonal refreshments in the Parish Centre

Monday 24th—Christmas Eve 11pm Holy Communion - St Senan’s,Inniscarra

CHRISTMAS DAY, Tues 25th—10am Holy Communion, St Peter’s Church,Carrigrohane

& 11am Holy Communion, The Church of the Resurrection, Blarney

Sunday 30th – 9am St Peter’s Carrigrohane—Holy Communion11am The Church of the Resurrection Blarney–United Carol service

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Dear Friends,More Red Letter Days

Recently in Carrigrohane Union, we have been blessed to gofrom one red letter day to another. In October it was the visit ofBishop Ken Good and his wife Mary. This month it was theweekend when we welcomed Robert as our Associate Ministerfor Blarney.

Both the Welcome Service and the United Celebration were joyful occasions,not least because we were joined by Robert’s family and friends who de-scended on Cork in large numbers! It is very rare for when a new ministerarrives, to have such an extended overlap between the giving and receivingparishes. We enjoyed their company and they ours. And now we can lookforward to yet another red letter day which we can share with others. In factnot just others but the world- Christmas!

Christian RootsBut it is not a red letter day because of the bearded gentleman wearing ared coat who squeezes into our chimneys delivering gifts. As fun as FatherChristmas maybe, it’s a red letter day because of the birth of Christ –“Emmanuel - God with us”. In fact the expression “Red Letter Day”originates from medieval church calendars. Illuminated manuscripts oftenmarked initial capitals and highlighted words in red ink for special festivals.The term came into wider usage with the appearance in 1549 of the firstBook of Common Prayer in which the calendar showed special holy days inred ink, including Christmas Day. The phrase “red letter days” has itsorigins in the church, like so much of what lies behind our society today forwhich we are thankful.

Vulnerable MothersNot that everyone is thankful for our Christian roots, and the currentconcerns over the State’s inability to protect women whose pregnancythreatens their lives, has its roots in a “Christian” society that in its defenceof the unborn child seemed heartless in its care of vulnerable expectantmothers. On this Red Letter Day that is Christmas, while we thank God thatMary safely delivered her child and so gave us such a love, the kind of whichthe world has never seen before, we also need to praythat we will make that love visible to the vulnerable – notleast expectant mothers. And in their case, love equalslegislation.

May Christ’s light and love shine for each and every oneof us and chase away the darkness.

Yours, IanPDF Creator - PDF4Free v3.0 http://www.pdf4free.com

THANKSTo everyone who helped with the leaf clean up in St Peter’s –many hands, brushes, shovels and coffee made light work – andit was fun for all ages!

INVITATION: - Advent retreat in the RC Church Station Rd, Ballincollig3rd to 5th December at 8pm—All welcome.

...in St Senan’s, Inniscarra on Wednesday evenings at8.30pm—to prepare for the Community Carol Service on

Sunday 16th December at 7pm.Please just come along and join us to rehearse if you’d

like to be in the choir.Also—thanks to the great progress on the extension therewill be 2 clean up work parties on Wed 12th & Thurs

13th Dec from 7.30pm onwards. All help most welcome!

BOOK CLUB—Dec 12th at Blackrock Castle, ‘December’ by ElizabethWinthrop; Jan 9th at Helen’s, ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ by Harper Lee; Feb13th at Fiona’s, ‘The Snow Child’ by Eowyn Ivey

Boxes will be in the churches for the annual collection ofnon perishable foodstuffs - on Sunday 15th and

Sunday 22nd December. Goods will be shared between theCork Simon Community and Cuan Lee Women’s Refuge.

Gifts, Toys & Christmas Decorations to Give AwayAs-new items are needed for the Blarney Give Away

On Saturday 8th December

Please bring good as new gifts, toys & decorations toBlarney Church between now and then—

or leave into the Parish Office. Many thanks!

If you have the following stewardship envelopesfor your 2012 giving—please phone or email the office so we canput your name on the records and be able to receipt you or apply

for tax reclaim next year: -Purple envelopes 22 and 59

Orange envelopes 23, 25, 26, 35PDF Creator - PDF4Free v3.0 http://www.pdf4free.com

Parish Contacts:Rector: Canon Ian Jonas – 4871106 email: rector@carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie

Associate Minister: Rev Robert Ferris—4516620 email: rferris281@gmail.comParish Office: 4877260 (Mon-Fri mornings) email: parishoffice@carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie

Youth Workers: Matt Gould: 085 1080067 & Katie Gould: 085 1080030) email: mattandkatiegould@yahoo.co.ukParish website: www.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie

We change the answer machine message at the beginning of each week—and include the times of the services for the following Sunday.

A Word from the Rev Robert Ferris - Associate Minister, BlarneyAs I sit down in my new house, in a new place to write this article It wasbeen an extraordinary few weeks of change and getting used to acompletely new church context.

It is great to be working alongside such a committed parish team, doingso much within the community here in Blarney and the wider Union ofParishes. I very much am looking forward to catching up with parishionersand others from around the area.

I am also looking forward to working alongsidethe parish Vision Development Group as we setout over the months ahead to sense under Godwhat we as a Union need to be doing.

It is my prayer that the years ahead in Blarneywould need a building up of faith within theparish and that being displayed in our worship,in our Bible Study and in our prayer life.

I would also like to take this opportunity tothank all those concerned with preparations forme arriving in the parish - for vestry and the work parties who sorted outthe house, for those involved in preparing the welcome service and also

those who very warmly welcomed parishionersfrom my previous parish of St. Columba's aswell as family members - all of whom askedme to pass on their grateful thanks as well.

I look forward with expectation to the workand ministry in the months and years to come

Robert Ferris

Please note: Staff Members’ Day OffIan: Tuesday

Robert: WednesdayMatt and Katie: Wednesday and Saturday

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It may seem very early to be thinkingabout next summer but….

SLIGO 13Summer conference from 7-12 July 2013With speakers David & Hilary McClay, Mike Pilavachi,

Archbishop Henry Orombi & more…There’s a wide range of seminars & workshops—a 1st class

programme for all ages from babies and pre-school to youth, young adultsand adults with a learning disability. With a big emphasis on

creating spaces & places for people to gather, share & relax—you can takethe conference at a pace that suits you!

The super early bird conference rate ends on 30th November 2012...thenthere’s an early rate that ends on 30th April 2013.

See more information or book now on www.newwineireland.org!

BALLINCOLLIG SHOPPING CENTRECAROL SINGING AT CHRISTMAS

Thursday 20thDecember

From 7.30-8.30pm

A gathering for Second Level Students—but open to all.

Come & sing Carols & Christmas Songs.Please ring Bob Buckley(021 4962197/085 2739729) for more details

- especially if you would like to play an instrument!

CONNECT 2013After Connect 2012 there was a strong sense thatwe should do the same again, but with fewer eventsand with a shorter run in. So it’s good to know that

a number of people have signed up to be involved togive us a start—and come January we will have the full programme.Please pray about how you might be involved—and for the week itself.It will run approximately from 9th to 17th February—the mid term break.

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NEW WINE TALKS—2012

Listen to Bishop Ken Clarke—our Connect2012 speaker. The talks from last summer’s

conference are now available on dvd for just 2 euro from Ger Dunne.Please email Ger: geddunne@gmail.com and he will make you a copy.Here are the list of talks:

MORNING BIBLE TEACHING:‘Lesser Knowns—Greater Things’ - 5 Bible talks by Bishop Ken Clarke

EVENING CELEBRATIONS:• Can these bones live—David McClay• Presence—listening to God—Judith Cairns• Don’t kid yourself—Passion for the Oppressed—Brian McConaghy• When miracles happen—Julian Richards• Taking it home—Noel Kenny

SEMINARS:Stream 1• Healing ministry training 1 & 2—Margaret Saunders & George Newell• Hearing God’s voice—Mark Aldridge• Power evangelism—Julian RichardsStream 2• My passion, my life—Andrew Brannigan• My passion, my life—Brian McConagh• My passion, my life—David ‘Packie’ Hamilton• My passion, my life—Noel KennyStream 3• Rising to the challenge—Chuck Owens (including powerpoint)• Spiritual growth for leadership—Mark Bailey• Where are all the leaders—Andrew MastersStream 4• Life changes—Roland & Susan Heany• Managing your money 1 & 2—Chris Cupples• What now? - Andrew MastersStream 5• Face to facebook—Judith Cairns & Graham Hare• Marriage; pulling together, not pulling apart—Mark & Karen Bailey• Starting again—Mark Aldridge• The birds and the bees—Judith Cairns & Graham Hare

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Stream 7• Peace—Karen Bailey• Single, not sad—Ali Calvin• Together we are stronger—Spud MurphyStream 8• Church planting—Ken Good, Andrew McNeil, Mark Forsyth• Dealing with loss—Helen Clarke• Winning men—Spud MurphyStream 9• Worship workshop—Stephen Mayes

CORK DIOCESAN YOUTH COUNCIL—CHRISTMAS ‘BASH’

In the Trident Hotel, Kinsale on 15th DecemberMore information from Matt Gould

or Matthew Watson

Looking forward to next year…

YOUTH LEADERS’ WEEKENDin the Quality Hotel, Clonakilty from 25-27 January 2013

Anyone involved in youth work is welcome.

XPERIMENTALFrom 5.30-7.30pm in the Parish Centre on

Sunday 27th JanuaryEVERYONE WELCOME for informal worship, chat & food!

If you’re approaching or have reached retirement…You are invited to the

Christmas Lunch in the Parish Centreon Wednesday 12th December

Following a service of Holy Communion at 11.30am in themeeting room—the festivities will begin with carol singing and

a glass of sherry or non-alcoholic punch at 12 noon,with lunch being served at 12.30pm.

If you’d like to book a place for you and/or friends, please phone theParish Office (4877260) by Friday 7th December. Late bookings will also be

welcome—but having a good idea of numbers would be most helpful!PDF Creator - PDF4Free v3.0 http://www.pdf4free.com

STEWARDSHIP ENVELOPESFOR 2013 (pink!)

will be available in the Churches from midDecember. If you take a box of envelopes, pleasewrite your name beside the appropriate number on

the sheet provided. Thank you !

Living Faith 2013Living a resurrection life in the midst of pain & suffering

Saturday 16th February from 12pm to 5pmIn Ardfallen Methodist Church, Douglas Road, Cork

‘Life isn’t always easy. We get wounded in ways that make us feel raw. Wefind ourselves staggering along the misty pathway of pain, unable to make

sense of how we’ve ended up there. We’re quick to develop a theology of thesupernatural, but slow to discuss suffering. Why do we experience pain?

Can so much devastation and so much delight coexist in one community andone soul? Christians have fabulous hope: but what does that look like and

how do we share that with those who are hurting? This conference will pro-vide a biblical basis and practical response to these questions and provide aforum for discussion for our role as Christians in bringing God’s healing tothose around us. Speaking and helping facilitate the conversation will beBishop Ken Good. Please make sure you come along if you would like to

learn and hear more, especially on this tricky and confusing area!’

With Video talk from the Dublin Conference byBishop Ken Good

Seminars: ‘Light in the darkness’; ‘From abuse to hope & healing’;‘Healing the broken hearted’; ‘God on mute: Getting the best out of

the worst’; ‘Hope in chains’

WHO IS IT FOR?More of a conversation than a conference, it’s all for all!

Leaders. Followers. Young. Old. Everyone.All Christians passionate about seeing God transform Irish societystarting with them—whether church leader, stay at home mum

or business person.

(15 euro early bird booking before 18 Jan or 25 euro standard booking& 15 euro unwaged/student ) Registration forms are in the churches & the

parish office —or book on-line at www.tearfund.ie/donatePDF Creator - PDF4Free v3.0 http://www.pdf4free.com