Christmas services begin at 7pm on Saturday, 24th December with Holy Communion at Seir Kieran.  This is followed by Borris-in-Ossory at 8.15 pm and Lacca at 9.30 pm.  On Christmas morning, we begin with Roskelton at 9.30 am and then have services at Annatrim at 10.30 am and Mountrath at 11.30 am.

Vintage Tractor and Car Run

Come along for fresh air and a great spectacle at the Vintage Tractor and Car Run assembling at Mountrath Mart at 11.30 am on Wednesday 28th December and departing at 12.30 pm.  Proceeds from the run are for Clonenagh National School.  Contact Joe Shirley for details.

Plough Sunday Farmers’ Service

There is an old tradition of the Sunday after the Epiphany being observed as Plough Sunday, the day on which there were prayers for the farming year. (Plough Sunday took its name from Plough Monday, the day when people traditionally returned to work after the Epiphany). We held a Plough Sunday Service on this Sunday last year, welcoming Mr Sam Harper as our preacher, and had a congregation of fifty. We will be having the service in Mountrath Church at 7 pm on Sunday, 8th January when Mr James Bennett from Lacca will be our speaker.  All farmers (and others!), whatever their parish or denomination, are invited.

The Mothers’ Union Diocesan Festival Service takes place in Mountrath Church on Wednesday evening.  Our preacher will be Bishop Ken Clarke from Kilmore Diocese, the Mothers’ Union national chaplain, and the celebrant will be Bishop Burrows.  Everyone is welcome at this service.  There will be a choir practice to prepare for it at 8.30 tomorrow.

Fifth Sunday

There are five Sundays this month, and, in two weeks time, there will be a group service in Roskelton at 11 am.  It is hoped that the attendance will be somewhat larger than that at the last group service in January, when just 26 people turned up.

Blessing of the Crops

Sunday, 29th May is Rogation Sunday, the day when the church traditionally prayed for God’s blessing on the crops.  This year on 29th May at 4.00 pm we are going to have an open air ecumenical service, to ask for God’s blessing, at Willie Clegg’s barley field at Kilbricken.  The field is on  the right hand side just past the old railway station.  There will be a note sent in to the Leinster Express, but do tell your friends and neighbours about the service.

If 4 o’clock is not convenient, we have a similar occasion up in Clareen at 7.00 pm at Margaret Grant’s land at Knockarlow.

Our Lent service this week is on Wednesday at 8pm in in Borris in Ossory;.

Our Lent services then continue as follows:

on 30th March, in Lacca;

on 6th April, in Roskelton;

and on 13th April, in Seir Kieran.

Our series is based on the Lent  course produced by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

ICA Anniversary Service

Borris in Ossory branch of the ICA celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.  To mark the occasion, there will be a service at Saint Mark’s Church on the Feast of The Annunciation, this Friday, 25th March at 8 pm.

Mothers’ Union Service

Our Mothers’ Union branch holds its annual Annunciation service on Monday, 28th March at 8 pm in Mountrath

Our services on Sunday, 26th December will  Morning Prayer at Annatrim at 10.30 am and Holy Communion at Mountrath at 11.30 am (The change in the time of the Annatrim service from 11.00 to 10.30 is to allow the Rector to take both services).

Vintage Tractor and Car Run

Come along for fresh air and a great spectacle at the Vintage Tractor and Car Run starting at Mountrath Mart at 12.30 pm on Monday 27th December.  Proceeds from the run are for Clonenagh National School.  Contact Joe Shirley, David Peavoy or Kieran Lilley for details.

Plough Sunday

There is an old tradition of the Sunday after the Epiphany being observed as Plough Sunday, the day on which there were prayers for the farming year.  (Plough Sunday took its name from Plough Monday, the day when people traditionally returned to work after the Epiphany). We will be having a service in Mountrath Church at 7 pm.  All farmers are invited.

The Newsletter for December came out last Sunday.

Saints’ Days Services

The next Saint’s Day is Saint Andrew’s Day this Tuesday, 30th November when there will be Holy communion in Mountrath at 8 pm.

Select Vestry Meetings

Clonenagh Parish Select Vestry meets on Tuesday, evening at 8.30 pm. The fundraising committee will meet immediately after the vestry meeting.

Offerlane Parish Select vestry meets on Thursday, 2nd December at 8 pm

Midweek Services

At our midweek service at Borris-in-Ossory on Wednesday at 8 pm we have our postponed look at ‘Once in Royal David’s city’.

Holy Communion for All the Family

Our weekly Holy Communion for all the family continues through December

The success of the plan depends upon the recognition that unity is strength—if, on one Sunday, someone comes from another church to ours, then we are prepared to go theirs on the next Sunday. If the plan works it will mean each of the four churches will have a large congregation at least once a month and that we’ll have an opportunity for regular teaching.

Christmas Market

Clonenagh Parish holds its Christmas market on Thursday, 9th December at 7 pm. Everyone welcome (and all offers of help welcome!)

Community Carol Services

We are having carol services to which we are inviting all the community at Borris-in-Ossory on Wednesday, 15th December at 8pm, at Seir Kieran on Sunday, 19th December at 4 pm and in Mountrath on Wednesday, 22nd December at 8 pm.

Nativity Service

The Nativity Service for Clonenagh National School is on Sunday, 19th December at 7pm . We hope there will be a good turnout from the parish as there was at the school harvest.

Midweek Services

At our midweek service at Borris-in-Ossory on Wednesday at 8 pm we begin a series on favourite carols with a look at ‘Once in Royal David’s city’.

Holy Communion for All the Family

Our weekly Holy Communion for all the family continues next week at Mountrath at 1130

The success of the plan depends upon the recognition that unity is strength—if, on one Sunday, someone comes from another church to ours, then we are prepared to go theirs on the next Sunday.  If the plan works it will mean each of the four churches will have a large congregation at least once a month and that we’ll have an opportunity for regular teaching.

Saints’ Days Services

The next Saint’s Day is Saint Andrew’s Day  on Tuesday, 30th November when there will be Holy communion in Mountrath at 8 pm.

Select Vestry Meetings

Clonenagh Parish Select Vestry meets on Tuesday, 30th November at 8.30 pm.  The fundraising committee will meet immediately after the vestry meeting.

Offerlane Parish Select vestry meets on Thursday, 2nd December at 8 pm.

Christmas Market

Clonenagh Parish holds its Christmas market on Thursday, 9th December at 7 pm.  Everyone welcome (and all offers of help welcome!)

Our confirmation service is in Lacca at 11.00 next Sunday, 21st November. The bishop will be at the church for the rehearsal at 2.00 pm on Saturday.

Newsletter

Ivor Clegg is away at the end of the month so the Christmas edition of our parish newsletter will appear next Sunday. Material for inclusion should be with Ivor as early as possible this week.

Midweek Services

At our midweek service at Borris-in-Ossory on Wednesday at 8 pm we conclude our series on psalms with a look at Psalm 23 we shall be looking at Psalm 23. On Wednesday, 24th November we begin a series on favourite Christmas carols. Attendances at our midweek service continues to be in the mid-teens, which would be a very encouraging attendance for a midweek service in the big city parishes, so is especially encouraging in our small community.

Remembrance

Ian Poulton is taking a group to visit Flanders and the Somme next June.  Our plan would be to fly from Dublin to Charleroi on the evening of Sunday, 5th June: visit the Somme on Sunday, 6th June and to be at the Island of Ireland Peace Park and at the Menin Gate for the remembrance ceremonies on Tuesday, 7th June and visit Flanders on Wednesday, 8th June before flying home.  The group would be led by Major Ian Gumm, an experienced battlefield guide and historian.  We have already a number of people interested and if anyone outside the parish would be interested in joining us, please contact Ian Poulton.  The cost would be around €400 for bed and breakfast accommodation and transport and the guide; the additional cost would be the Ryanair fare and lunch and evening meals. Let him know if you would be interested in going

Holy Communion for All the Family

Today is the second of our ‘all age’ Holy Communion services—we had a congregation of 51 last Sunday; 33 adults and 18 children.. The plan is that each Sunday there would be a service where we could have teaching for people of all ages. The line up this month continues as follows:

21st November—Roskelton at 0930

28th November—Mountrath at 1130

The success of the plan depends upon the recognition that unity is strength—if, on one Sunday, someone comes from another church to ours, then we are prepared to go theirs on the next Sunday. If the plan works it will mean each of the four churches will have a large congregation at least once a month and that we’ll have an opportunity for regular teaching.

Saints’ Days Services

It was very encouraging to break into double figures at our Holy Communion service for All Saints’ Day at Mountrath on Monday 1st November, having had 49 people at the service the previous evening. The next Saint’s Day is Saint Andrew’s Day on Tuesday, 30th November when there will be Holy communion in Mountrath at 8 pm.

At our midweek service at Borris-in-Ossory on Wednesday, 10th November at 8 pm we shall be looking at the psalm probably best known to Church of Ireland members in times past; not Psalm 23, but Psalm 95—the psalm that  was sung every Sunday at morning prayer as the Venite.  We conclude our series on psalms on Wednesday week with a look at Psalm 23. On Wednesday, 24th November we begin a series on favourite Christmas carols.

Remembrance Day

At 11 o’clock this Thursday, 11th November, we hold  a Remembrance Day Service in Borris-in-Ossory Church.  Everyone is welcome at the service.

The Rector plans to take a group from the parish—and anyone else interested—to the Western Front for a short visit in June next year.  Let him know if you would be interested in going

Holy Communion for All the Family

Having no Sunday School in our parishes, we need to have some way of teaching our faith to our children.  The plan is that each Sunday there would be a service where we could have teaching for people of all ages.  The line up this month continues as follows:

14th November—Annatrim at 1100
21st November—Roskelton at 0930
28th November—Mountrath at 1130

The success of the plan depends upon the recognition that unity is strength—if, on one Sunday, someone comes from another church to ours, then we are prepared to go theirs on the next Sunday.  If the plan works it will mean each of the four churches will have a large congregation at least once a month and that we’ll have an opportunity for regular teaching.

Saints’ Days Services

The next Saint’s Day is Saint Andrew’s Day  on Tuesday, 30th November when there will be Holy communion in Mountrath at 8 pm.

Hey Folks!

On Sunday, 21st February, we are holding a massive event in aid of our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are in such despair.

We have a huge day planned with some top entertainment on hand. The venue is The Bentleys Complex- all the upstairs and downstairs rooms AND The Brazen Head next door. It’s going to be a great day out and for a great cause.

We’re gonna kick off around 3 in the courtyard with Jon Kenny and Mike Finn on hand as acting ringmaster ‘s for the day.

To ease you into it local outfit; The Downtown Dixieland Jazz Band will start, followed by a live Magic Show for the kids. Late afternoon, The Varadys,a family band with some serious talent will take the mainstage.

Around 6pm, The Brazen head next door will open and house such acts as The 54 club The Half Yards, and Joe Brown and The Durty Dawgs.

As all this is going on there will be various performers blipping around to entertain, Ballon Artistry and Fire Breathing, there will be food, of all sorts, a barbeque! On the top floor of Bentleys, in The Board Room will be a healing area. With a range of Complimentary Health Therapy and a nice place to sit and relax.

In The Piano Bar in Bentleys Nick Carswel will kick off procceedings and will be followed by a succession of Jazz Cats. Many from The Limerick Jazz Workshops.

The Grown ups will have the building all to themselves after 7pm, and from 9, downstairs bar Isaac Taylors will be taken over by a troupe of Limerick finest DJ’s; Tokin White Boy, Cian Frawley, Roots Factory, Phil Wade, Paul Tarpey and Dan Sykes to name a few, will be taking turns in spinning vinyl in aid of Haiti on the night.

All of the money raised by this event will be suggested donation and will go to The Irish Red Cross. A Charity we took great care to choose and is doing great work on the ground in Haiti.

Check them out here
http://www.facebook.com/l/aa6e1;www.redcross.ie/

Please spread the word about this one folks, Its going to be huge we are looking for as much support as possible from all of you!

Email us on hurtforhaiti@gmail.com if you can think of anything you would like to do to help, at the very least could you post this event to your page for us and help us spread the word!
Thanks a Million folks!*