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warrior might hold his sword, and yet there is no comfort there. His hand returns to the floor greedily searching for more, and soon he holds in his hand a single match; he strikes it off the stone. His eyes hurt with the sudden surge of light. In that instant he glimpses the long corridor in which he is sitting. Carefully he introduces the match to the candle; a stronger light emerges, just in time, as the match spits and dies. Again he holds the candle aloft. This time he sees for the first time the ground around him. A small mouse dashes away. Larger eyes loom in the distance, but for now the light is enough. He has sat so long he cannot yet move and so he moves his candle around and identifies the sources of the noises that captured him earlier - the open vent where the breeze blew a sapling against the wall; the bars that rattled in the grate in the floor when the gurgling water rushed by underneath. In the distance he hears again the ‘swish-hisshh’ but the light of the candle doesn’t quite reach its source. “Another candle” he mutters “would give me light enough to see beyond the shadow” And there it is, on the floor in front of him, strong and firm. His hands introduce the two candles and the flaming light spreads… to a huddled shape, sitting on the stone floor, shoulders shaking as tears fall silently down a face, past a nose that threatens to drip until a swish-hisshh draws the mucus back up. The man scrambles to his knees and with both candles held before him he approaches the huddled shape. “Friend.” he calls, “Don’t be afraid anymore! You’re not alone! See, there is light enough here for two!” The tear stained face of a young man looks up in amazement at the approaching light. “O sir.” he says, “Thank God you’ve come. The dark and the noise near drove me made. Tell me, can you hear a noise down there for I’m afeared I can hear a terrible beast come yonder?” And there, in the distance, beyond the shadow, they hear faintly a swish-hisshh. The first man smiles, holds out his hand to the young man. “Come my friend; take hold of that candle that is on the floor in front of you. Introduce it to mine, we have work to do! Happy New Year, Baden. Thank you So much thanks to everyone who worked so hard over our Christmas celebrations - to our Flower Team, Choirs, decorators, readers, catering team and all who joined us in preparation for and celebration of Christmas. Thanks especially to Frances and Sheelagh Harte who organized the beautiful Classics by Candlelight Concert with the help of a great support team and to Joe Whitten and George Wilkin, and again their team, who raised over €800 from the Christmas Tree sale for charities. Congratulations To Rachel Alexandra and Rose who were christened on Sunday, 20th November; to Harry Brown who was christened on Sunday, 27th November; to Noel and Roma Brasil whose marriage was blessed on Thursday, 1st December. Our Sympathy We express our heartfelt sympathy and sorrow to the family of baby Jamie McCarthy, to his parents Brian and Jeni and his older brother, Daniel, in this time of deep loss. Dates for your Diary Sunday, 1st January – 8.30am Holy Communion 1; 11.00am Holy Communion 2. Sunday, 8th January – 8.30am Holy Communion 2; 11.00am Morning Prayer. Sunday, 15th January – 8.30am Holy Communion 1; 11.00am Holy Communion 2. Wednesday, 18th January – 8.00pm Select Vestry meeting. Sunday 22nd January – 8.30am Holy Communion 2; 11.00am Family Service. Tuesday, 24th January – Saturday, 28th January – One Act Drama Festival at the Mermaid Theatre. Sunday 29th January – 8.30am Holy Communion 2; 11.00am Christingle Service. Mothers’ Union Notes Members and friends enjoyed our annual Christmas Dinner n Sunday, 11th December; good food, good chat and great singing of Carols. Gifts donated by members for Nursing Home residents will be distributed before Christmas. Thank you to Helen, Hilary and Nicola who have finished their time on the Committee. We welcome Ann Mulligan as our new Enrolling Member and Esther and June to the Committee. Wishing a very happy Christmas to all and hoping to see you on Monday, 9th January 2012 for the first meeting of the year, weather permitting. CASTLEKNOCK AND MULHUDDART WITH CLONSILLA Rev Paul Houston. Tel: 8200040 Curate: Rev. Victor Fitzpatrick. Tel: 8212218 Reader: Stella Obe. Tel: 087 2237402 Parish Website: www.castleknock.dublin.anglican.org Parish Office: Jennifer McGrath (Mon- Fri 9.30am-1pm - 8200040). Email: castleknockparishoffice2@eircom.net Review Distribution: Beatrice Richards (8382590). Castleknock National School: Principal Mrs Sandra Moloney (8202611). Sunday Services in January Castleknock: 8.30am, 11.30am. Clonsilla: 10.00am Mulhuddart: 3rd Sunday of the Month Night Prayer 8pm. Wednesdays Castleknock Parish Centre: 10.30a.m. HC followed by coffee. The Journey My Dear Parishioners, In all the great religions, the idea of pilgrimage has played an important part. Alongside it, there has often been this idea of the Spiritual journey. Both of these ideas meet, it seems to me in the journey of the Wise Men and the manger at Bethlehem, which is celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany (6th January). All this was the subject of one of the best known poems of T.S. Eliot, which he published as a kind of ‘pamphlet of Christmas’ At the beginning very appropriately for this time of year – with these five lines:- A Cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey; The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter. What many people did not notice, was that those first five lines had quotation marks around them, unaltered form a seventeen century sermon of Lancelot Andrewes. It had in fact been preached on Christmas Day 1622, before the court of King James, when Andrewes was Dean of Westminster Abbey. There is no doubt that Eliot thought that these words were amongst the finest in the English language, not only of that time but any time. It greatly affected him personally. The journey of the magi is a poem about the painful necessity of rebirth for us all – which is itself a journey from Death to life. Eliot felt this deeply. It was a journey Eliot felt he had made himself. In this New year of 2012, perhaps those first five lines of Eliot’s poem may serve to remind us of that spiritual journey we all have to make – which is often quite painful – though ‘Journey’s end in lovers’ meeting , every wise mans’ son doth know’. Can I take this opportunity to wish you and your families a Very Happy and Peaceful New Year! Yours sincerely, Rev. Paul Houston Christmas Fair We would like to thank all those who worked so hard for the fair which grossed over €14,000.00. Particularly we would like to thank Evelyn Pender and Ada Lawson for heading up the Christmas fair committee. The weather remained fine this year. Thanks you to all who contributed and supported this event. P.H. Left: The Cake stall at this years Christmas Fair. Right: Christmas Fair Co-ordinators visiting Santa - Evelyn Pender & Ada Lawson. CHURCH REVIEW 29
AROUND THE PARISHES... Castleknock & Clonsilla Mothers Union carol singing in Blanchardstown Hospital. Castleknock National School & Black Santa Christmastime was a very busy time as always for the staff and students of Castleknock National School, with their Carol Service, school plays and the constant demands of the curriculum. However, that didn't stand in the way of the school's outreach to the less fortunate in our society. Despite already having given so much time and energy to filling many hampers of food, and buying presents for the St Vincent de Paul appeal, the staff and students once again rose to the challenge and made a huge contribution to the 'Black Santa' charity sit out at St Ann's, Dawson Street. On Monday, 19th December, the boys and girls of 6th Class along with Miss Kidney, Mrs. Moloney and Rev. Victor, braved the cold and bad weather and sang on the steps of St Ann's Church during the hectic lunchtime period. A very, very big thank you to all the other members of staff, the students, and their parents who helped make the day such a success. Also a very warm thank you to the many parishioners who came along to support us, especially those who popped along to Fixx Coffee Shop to keep us supplied with warm drinks! Rev. Victor Fitzpatrick Tiny Tots Would like to thank you all for the great donations of Toys for the Parish Sale, we had lots of fun on the day. Tiny Tots will be back after the Christmas break in the Parish Center on Friday January 13th. Happy New Year to you all. Roz Girls Brigade Notes Our Explorers finished up with their Christmas Party on the 10th December and the Juniors, Seniors & Brigaders had their usual “Sausage Night” on the 14th Dec. Well done to Grace Lynch who came 1st in the Girls Brigade Feis and to Jordan Ozatlar who was Highly Commended. They were in the 6 years and under category. Ros Garrett From the Registers – Holy Baptism 4th December: Zach Bobby Simpson Gorey & Alex Jade Oliver, St. Brigid’s. Our best wishes go to all their parents and Godparents. “Let the children come to me.” CLONDALKIN & RATHCOOLE Rector: Rev Alan Rufli. Tel: 087 9972401 Email: clondalkin.rathcoole@gmail.com Readers: Mrs Sylvia Armstrong, Mr Bill King and Mrs Barbara O’Callaghan. Services: Sunday – St John’s 8.30 am. H.C. and 11.15; Rathcoole 10 am Wednesday – St John’s 11 am. Holy Communion Advent Services The Advent service in St John's had a twist to it. During the service members of the National School handed out trays, oranges, tape, candles and marshmallows on sticks which, on the instruction of the Rector, we assembled into a Christingle. Sadly no Blue Peter badges were awarded to those who succeeded in making one. The services on the 4th took the form of a Blue Christmas Service with Holy Communion. During the services we remembered those who are no longer with us and who we will miss this Christmas. Parishioners who wished had the opportunity of taking home a Remembrance Candle. Mothers’ Union The Annual Branch Dinner will be held on Monday 9th January in the Red Cow Hotel. Members should contact Barbara for details. The “Little Grey Cells challenge” which should have taken place at our December meeting unfortunately didn't happen because so few members turned up, Those that did enjoyed Ann's mince pies. The Annual Carol singing at Cherry Orchard Hospital in December. We were joined by Alan & Barbara Melbourne and also by the Rector. Twenty Two shoe boxes were filling and passed on to the Darndale Crèche Project. The February meeting will have as our guest speaker, Sylvia Graham, the Diocesan Overseas Rep who will talk to us about Overseas Projects. This will be followed by a Bring & Buy Sale in aid of Overseas Relief Fund on Tuesday 14th at 7.30 in 80 Castleview Road. Please give this event your support by coming along. Remembrance Sunday The sum of €180 was sent to the Earl Haig Fund being the proceeds of the sale of poppies in November. Thanks Each year at this time we thank those who work behind the scenes to make the Parish tick, the people who decorate our churches each week and on special occasions with flowers, those who keep our churches and Parish Hall looking well inside and out, those who run our Parish organisations and those who read the lessons Sunday by Sunday. If you would like to become involved in any of the above please talk to the Rector/Church Wardens. Sadly there is no longer tea/coffee provided after the service in St John's and offers of help to reintroduce this would be much appreciated. Contact the Church Wardens. And Finally Just in case your New Year's resolutions involve dieting here is some words of help: Did you hear about the gourmet who avoids unfashionable restaurants because he doesn't want to gain weight in the wrong places? Is it true that a number of jokes about dieting can be referred to as ‘a binge of jokes’? A funny thing with a diet, the second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day you're off it. Jackie Gleason Do you call a person who has abandoned their diet a desserter? Never go back for seconds... get it all the first time. A great way to lose weight is to eat while you are naked and standing in front of a mirror. Restaurants will always throw you out before you can eat too much. After listening to some bedtime stories, Alex, a little boy, said to his father, 'Snow White was poisoned by an apple, Jack found a giant on a beanstalk, and just look what happened to Alice when she ate the mushroom. And you wonder why I won't eat fruit and vegetables.' 'My tummy is so big I'm embarrassed by it,' commented Will. 'Have you tried to diet?' 'Yes, but whatever colour I use, it still sticks out.' Happy New Year to all no matter what shape you are. CRINKEN CHURCH Rev Canon Trevor Stevenson. Tel: 01 2820150 Email: trevor@fieldsoflife.com Lay Reader: Stephen Gardiner Youth Worker: Neil Douglas. Mob: 087 6465281 Email: Neil@crinken.com Website www.crinken.com Dear Friends At our recent Church weekend away our theme was connections. We looked at how we need to be connected to Jesus, to each other and to the community. The passage we majored on was from John chapter fifteen where Jesus states “I am the true Vine”. The words remain and fruit kept coming up several times in the chapter. As we begin a New Year let us keep verse five of John chapter fifteen foremost in our minds in everything we do throughout this year of 2012. Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.” A very happy and blessed 2012 to all our readers. Trevor Stevenson 30 CHURCH REVIEW
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Page 4 and 5: A DECADE IN WHICH ANARCHY WAS LOOSE
Page 6 and 7: From the desk(s) of 3Rock Youth…
Page 8 and 9: Parish Readers Bring Gifts to the D
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