At a recent Clergy Conference, the Rt. Rev’d. Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford, Archbishop-designate of York spoke to us about vocation. He observed that Jesus was, at times, the most ‘unavailable’ person in scripture; slipping away to mountains and wilderness to connect with God and leaving behind him villages of people who had drawn close to hear his words. He wondered if we did the same – made time for God in our daily and weekly routines and I must admit that I would be very quick to
promote the concept but also quick to get bogged down in administration and other things. In short, if we are not continuously refreshed by God, then how can we speak out or live out Christ in our lives?! I know what I am going to focus on in particular this Lenten time – the establishing of a more deliberate routine with the Almighty (the concept of which excites me no end). We are fortunate with the changing seasons within the church year to be reminded of these pockets of time in which to review and adjust the endless habits of our lives. What do you think you might take up or put down for Lent this year? Worth a thought…
I was delighted to be invited to the Church of Ireland Centre, DCU All Hallows Campus to the launch of a new book of prayers for primary school assemblies. The book was launched by the President of DCU on 6 February. A prayer from Powerscourt National school has been included in the book.
This book is an original compilation of new prayers, mostly written by pupils and teachers in the Church of Ireland primary schools and is designed to provide prayers for primary school assemblies as pupils and teachers mark the pattern of seasons and events in the school year. The project was coordinated by, and the book edited by, Jacqui Wilkinson, Church of Ireland Centre, DCU.
ECUMENICAL LENTEN SERIES
PEACE – Learning to Sit with God
- Written and lead by Rev. Cathy Hallissey
- Thursdays 5TH, 12TH, 19TH and 26th March
- Powerscourt Parochial Hall from 8:15.
Graveyard Clean-Up!
Following the storms of Winter and storms to come this weekend, We would be most grateful for your help to tidy the graveyard on Saturday 15th February at 10am.
Please come and join our team of willing volunteers (and bring a rake or brush!) Many thanks!
This Sunday:
POWERSCOURT MUSIC GROUP
We are very excited that this Sunday marks the beginning of our new style family service. With guest musicians and a group of enthusiastic singers, we promise to raise the rafters in this service of Joy designed particularly for young people. Our friend Copperpot will be learning about ‘Superhero’s’.
If you would like to join the singers, we will be meeting in the church at 10.00am on Sunday 9th before the service.
PARISH WEBSITE
We will be launching the new website very soon. Please watch this space.
CONFIRMATION NOTES 2020
CONFIRMATION SERVICE
In a different move to previously announced we will celebrate the confirmation of the Powerscourt Candidates after the service on Sunday 1st March during which the candidates will have received their first holy Eucharist. Tray bakes and cakes are very welcome for this celebration.
CONFIRMATION PARTY
We will co-host with the Kiltiernan Candidates a trip with picnic to Glendalough in late Spring/ early Summer. The date will be announced shortly.
FEBRUARY LECTORS SCHEDULE:
| FEB | service | Lector 1 | Lector 2 | Lector 3 |
| 2 | Holy Communion with Mustard Seeds | Barbara Molloy | Barney Austen | Rev. Cathy |
| 9 | Family Service | Lara Wall | Amelia Pullen | Rev. Cathy |
| 16 | Holy Communion with Mustard Seeds | Joyce Roe | Matthew Manning | Rev. Cathy |
| 23 | Morning Prayer | Judy Cameron | Lachlan Cameron | John Davis |
UPDATING OF THE REGISTER OF VESTRY MEMBERS
It is that time of year again as we prepare for the Easter General Vestry Meeting by updating our Register of Vestry Members.
Being a member of General Vestry for this parish gives you a voice and the right to nominate / vote (or to be nominated or elected) at Easter General Vestry meeting, in the election of Select Vestry members.
An alphabetised list of registered General Vestry members is held in the churches. If you are not sure whether you are already registered, please contact Judy Cameron on 01 2860122 and this can be checked for you.
If you wish to be added please fill the Form of Declaration available from the Parish Office or in the Churches.
Forms may be returned to Churchwardens or Select Vestry secretary (Barbara Davis).
If you are in the register and wish to be removed (e.g. if you are moving away and / or you wish to be added to the register in another parish) please submit your request for removal in writing to the Select Vestry Secretary or the Parish Secretary
EASTER GENERAL VESTRY MEETINGS
- Powerscourt Monday 27th April at 8pm in Powerscourt NS
- Kilbride TBC.
PARISH SELECT VESTRY MEETINGS
- Powerscourt Tuesday 3rd March at 8pm in Powerscourt NS
- Kilbride TBC.
KILBRIDE NEWS
A number of fund-raisers are proposed for this year including a Table Quiz in the Powerscourt Arms Hotel (date to be confirmed). A very generous prize of €200 for the winning team has been kindly donated. Watch this space!! We are also going to hold our very successful “Strawberries & Cream” event – date also to be confirmed.
Congratulations in advance to all the confirmation candidates including Adam Johnston from this Parish.
Thank you to those who have donated towards the “flower fund”. There will be no flowers in the chancel during Lent but rest assured we will have flowers everywhere for Easter!!
Thank you to all the parishioners who take part in the lesson reading rota throughout the year. If you are not involved in this and would like to be please talk to Georgina.
We continue to remember in our prayers those who are sick at home or in Hospital at this time.
Submitted by Georgina Masterson
TABLE TENNIS
We are appealing for new members please to come along and join the small number playing on Monday nights in the Parochial Hall from 8p.m.
CHARABANC NOTES contact Marjorie Mold on 2083499.
We had great fun playing Bingo last week and as usual the prizes were very interesting, and we were delighted to have James with us, welcome James.
We were very sorry that Rose was not with us and hope you are back again soon Rose; we also miss Sheila and Anna and wish you both well. Hopefully you will all be feeling sprightly enough to come along when we have the big birthday lunch in March. We are of course in the hall each Friday afternoon from 2. 30 until 4. 30 and love to see anyone who is free to come and join us for tea and a chat, do come in.
Submitted by Marjorie Mold
PASTORAL CARE contact Joyce Roe 2862645 or Marjorie Mold 2863499.
We keep in our thoughts those who are ill at the moment and send our best wishes to you all. We send our deep sympathy to Anne Whelan and her family on the loss of Michael.
Hopefully as the days lighten so will your hearts.
Submitted by Marjorie Mold
WOMANS WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
This years’ service will take place in:
St Patrick’s Church, Curtlestown on Friday 6th March at 7.30 pm
PARISH VISITS
Please let us know if you would like a Parish visit by contacting Rev. Cathy on 086 3583104 or Mandy in the parish office on 2863862.
FLOWER GUILD contact Marjorie Mold 2863499
Our church flowers in February will be by Mrs. Cameron on 9th and 16th and by Mrs. Mold on 23rd and 1st March.
We are open for orders for wedding flowers and also the red carpet, and are more than happy to prepare memorial flowers for any Sundays If you would like to prepare them yourself or if you would like us to do so, just give us a call any time
Submitted by Marjorie Mold
ENTERTAINMENTS COMMITTEE contact Joyce Roe 2862645
Don’t forget to book your seat for the Saturday Dinner to be held on 29th February at 8 pm in the hall. The entertainment will be wonderful and the food great as always. Our bookings are coming in very quickly so hurry up and call Joyce or Marjorie. We can only take about 60 and we are nearly there. The cost is still only €20 each so is great value.
Submitted by Marjorie Mold
Enniskerry Gardening Club: Visit to Kilmacurragh
On Saturday 22nd February a group of us are meeting at 2.30 pm in Kilmacurragh, Kilbride, co. Wicklow to view the Spring Bulbs especially the blue crocuses in the Wildflower Meadow. As many of you will know, there are lots of other plants of interest there.
Directions: Going south on the N11 take exit 18 and the Garden is well signposted. There is also a very nice Café there.
For those of you who have not yet collected your programme for the year, on Wed. 4th March we will have a talk on Medicinal plants in your garden, on Wed. 1st April Oliver Schurmann will talk on summer planting and on the 1st July June and Willy Roe will host a social evening and plant sale in their garden. Please keep this in mind when you are splitting up, propagating or potting up plants so that we have a nice variety of plants on offer. More details will follow closer to the time.
The first meeting of the year is tomorrow night in the Bray PLC (behind Christchurch) at 8p.m. – we are having a “fun night” including a “beetle drive”. Many thanks to the ladies and gentlemen in the Bray Branch for making us so welcome. Anyone interested in joining the MU should get in touch with Georgina on 087 6716745.
Bray, Powerscourt and Kilbride Mothers’ Union 2020 ProgrammeTheme- Building Hope and Confidence
February 6th Thursday Holy Communion in Christchurch Cathedral
February 10th Monday Fun evening in the PLC
March 9th Monday Rev Baden and Bethany talk about their trip to Israel
March 22nd Sunday Mothering Sunday Service
April 20th Monday Talk about climate change and bees
May 11th Monday Domestic violence how can we be supportive?
June 13th Saturday Outing
September 14th Monday Opening service Holy Communion in Kilbride Church
October 12th Monday Habitat for humanity, Powerscourt Parochial Hall
November 9th Monday Shoeboxes for Darndale, Powerscourt Parochial Hall
December 6th Sunday Meal in Old Conna Golf Club
Mother’s’ Union prayer
Loving Lord,
We thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world.
Bless the work of the Mothers’ Union as we seek to share your love through the
encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life.
Empowered by your Spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and
service reach out as your hands across the world.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
SUNDAY COFFEE LIST
Contact Joyce Roe 2862645 or Marjorie Mold 087 6472668.
Those on list for the coming weeks as follows:
| Sunday 9th February 2020 | Tim & Gay Weldon |
| Sunday 16th February 2020 | Naomi Gillespie |
| Sunday 23rd February 2020 | Johnnie and Sadie Honnor |
| Sunday 1st March 2020 | Wenda White with Friend |
| Sunday 8th March 2020 | Gillian and Douglas Gleasure |
| Sunday 15th March 2020 | Althea Chandler with Marjorie Mold |
| Sunday 29th March 2020 | Elizabeth Mahon and Dorothy O’Rourke |
Should you not be available on any of your days please call Marjorie or Joyce.
AND FINALLY….
Our next News from the Pews will be issued on February 28th, 2020.
We would welcome news or articles on events or stories you may have and wish to share with the community. If you would like to be included in this Newsletter please contact Mandy Berkeley, School and Parish Secretary, at (01) 2863862.
KILBRIDE WORSHIP TIMES AND SERVICES
| Sunday | 10.00 am |
| 1st Sunday of the Month | Holy Communion One |
| 2nd Sunday of the Month | Family Service |
| 3rd Sunday of the Month | Holy Communion One |
| 4th Sunday of the Month | Morning Prayer Two |
| 5th Sunday of the Month | Service of the Word |
POWERSCOURT WORSHIP TIMES AND SERVICES
| Thurs | Morning Eucharist |
| 10:00am | Holy Communion and Prayer for the Sick |
| Sunday | |
| 8:30am | 11.30 am |
| 1st Sunday of the Month | Holy Communion Two |
| 2nd Sunday of the Month | Family Service |
| 3rd Sunday of the Month | Holy Communion Two |
| 4th Sunday of the Month | Morning Prayer |
| 5th Sunday of the Month | Service of the Word |
| Parochial Hall Organisations – Bookings Marjory Dalton 086 160 1721 | ||||
| Monday | Brownies | 5.45 – 7.00 | Betty Prender | 087 6860260 |
| Table Tennis | 8.00 – 10.00 | Joyce Roe | 086 8191209 | |
| Tuesday | Zumba Gold | 09.30 – 10.30 | Susan O’Brien | 087 2449875 |
| Zumba | 09.30 – 10.30 | Susan O’Brien | 087 2449875 | |
| Bridge Club | 7.30 – 10.30 | Vonny Kelly | 086 7956355 | |
| Wednesday | League of Health | 10.00 – 12.00 | Carol MacNeaney | 01 2824463 |
| Lego Club | 2.30 – 4.30 | Karl Quinn | 089 2544784 | |
| Gardening Club | 8.00 – 10.00 | Ethni Seymour | 086 8092211 | |
| Tai Chi (2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Wednesday) | 7.30 – 9.00 | David Marshall | 087 2072792 | |
| Thursday | Parents & Tots | 09.30 – 11.00 | Carol Bird | 01 2767807 |
| Entertainments Committee | 8.00 – 9.30 | Joyce Roe | 086 8191209 | |
| Yoga | 7.00 – 8.15 | Mel | 086 2210567 | |
| Friday | Charabanc | 2.30 – 4.30 | Marjorie Mold | 01 2863499 |
| Saturday | Irish Dancing | 10.15 – 12.15 | Breeda Finnerty | 087 4198988 |
| Sunday | Local Crafts | 10.00 – 6.00 | Ray Cranley | 086 0779514 |