Dear parishioners and friends,

BBQ:         A barbeque is planned for Sunday 29 June around 12 noon in the Schoolhouse garden.  All members of the parish are welcome to come along – please put your name and contact details on the list at the back of the church by today (Sunday 22 June) in order that we know how many to cater for.  Burgers and sausages will be provided along with a vegetarian option.  Soft drinks and tea/coffee available. Bring a bottle if you would like to. If you would like to bring a salad or dessert, please talk to Valerie Duncan after church or you may contact her on 087 6400542. There will be tea and coffee in the Schoolhouse as normal after the 10:45 service.

Congratulations:     Our congratulations to Lewis Thornton who has recently been awarded the Rebecca Little award at Newpark School. Every year the first-year students vote to decide the recipient of this annual prize for a 6^th Year pupil who has demonstrated great kindness to the 1^st Year student body as a whole. Lewis was voted the kindest 6^th Year pupil, which will come as no surprise to us in Monkstown.  Well done Lewis!

50^th Wedding Anniversary:    Carol and David Reynolds were married in Monkstown Church on 12 July 1975 by Canon Billy Wynne and the Revd Brian Snow. Carol and David will be coming to the 10:45 Eucharist on Sunday 6 July to celebrate their 50^th wedding anniversary. We wish them every blessing on this wonderful milestone.

New Parish Website:      Donal Byrne writes “As you may know, we have been working on a revamp of the church website and are now nearing the end of the project. One of the weakest areas on the current website is the images and photographs, with many of them being out of date. As part of the revamp process, we will be updating the imagery and will have a photographer with us for the 10:45 service – and the barbeque afterwards – on Sunday 29 June. The photographer, Henry Simpson, will be accompanied on the day by Donal Byrne and he’ll be taking various shots before, during and after the service. If for any reason, you would prefer not to be photographed, just let Donal know on the day and he will ensure your wishes are respected. It’s intended that the photography will be as unobtrusive as possible. I would encourage everyone attending church on the 29th to join us for a group photograph at the door of the church after service, as it would be nice to show our congregation as a community. Again, if you do not wish to participate in this photograph, please feel absolutely free not to do so.”

Crescent Pedestrian Gate:      The pedestrian gate near the memorial garden is currently closed due to a car crashing into the wall and gate on Wednesday 14 May. The Carrickbrennan pedestrian gate may be used to access the church grounds if the front gates are closed.

Schoolhouse Coffee Dock:      The coffee dock area in the schoolhouse is now open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:30 to 12.30 and you are warmly invited to drop in and have a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. It is also open on Wednesday and Sunday mornings after the 10:45 services. Pamela Iyer Friel would be delighted to hear from any parishioner or friend of the parish who would like to help on the volunteer rota and she can be contacted on 0876624514 or [email protected].  

National Heritage Week 2025:        This runs from Saturday 16 to Sunday 24 August. For this period, we plan to open both the Church and restored Schoolhouse to visitors each afternoon between 3pm and 5pm. In the church information sheets will be in the vicinity of many of the monuments and windows with a couple of treasure hunts available for children. In the schoolhouse we are planning on setting up an example of a Victorian classroom at one end of the main hall as well as having on display memorabilia, educational artefacts and photographs of school pupils. We will be looking for help to welcome visitors to both buildings during that week – volunteer sheets will be available nearer the time. 

The Sick:  We continue our prayers in the parish for all who are unwell and the recently bereaved. We also remember those who are in hospital currently and those who are recovering at home from serious illness. Our hearts go out to all who are in need of our continued prayers and support, and we pray that you may have a real sense of the love that surrounds you.

On-line Banking: It would greatly assist our parish treasurer if you would please fill in the line describing what your donation is for and your name also. Sometimes donations are given online without any information provided and it is very difficult to work out who the donor is.

General Financial Support: Thank you for your continued financial support of the parish and for remembering that our work of ministry continues week after week and year after year. We appreciate your generous and supportive giving. There is a collection at every service in the church. Donations to parish funds may also be posted by cheque made payable to ‘Monkstown Parish Church’ to me here at Winton Lodge if you do not have access to online banking. Our Bank of Ireland bank details are: Account Name: Monkstown Parish Church Business Current Account. Account no: 86014381. IBAN IE 17 BOFI 9011 8386 0143 81. If any of our envelope subscribers wish to talk to Ruth Carnegie, she may be contacted at 087 4339367. We now have a direct payment button on the parish website for those who would like to utilize this facility

With love and prayers  Roy