Dear parishioners and friends,

Welcome to our special service of wholeness and healing this morning at 10:45. Our prayer is for healing, for ourselves and for those who cannot be with us. This morning, we especially remember parishioners and friends who are in hospital or ill at home. We pray that we and they will be strengthened by God’s blessing and by our continued prayer and good wishes.

Art & Craft Exhibition:    Our annual art exhibition is open this afternoon from 12.30 – 5.00pm. This is always a joyful and fun filled event where the artistic talents of parishioners and friends take centre stage.

Blessing of the Animals: Our annual pet blessing service will take place in Monkstown Church this afternoon Sunday 31 August at 3:00pm. The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Blue Cross Animal Charity will join us. Please do come along, with your pets and join us for this celebration with all its               associated chaos and fun!

Wedding:  Gessica Santos and Owen O’Gorman were  married in Monkstown Church on Friday 15 August. The church was filled with the spectacular sight of cascading flowers, happy guests and family from Brazil, Ireland and elsewhere. We wish Gessica and Owen every blessing for the future.

Heritage Week:   Simply put, the week was stunning with glorious weather and many happy visitors and friends coming along to visit the church and the schoolhouse. The festivities began on Saturday 16 August and the week closed on Sunday 24 August. Jean Boydell writes ‘The period classroom and  display of memorabilia, educational artefacts and photographs were extremely popular. Some visitors were also able to provide us with more information, photographs, names and items. The total number of visitors over the nine days to the church was 381, to the schoolhouse 421 plus 5 dogs and 56 people attended Julie Parsons’ talk. A big thank you to all those who helped welcome our visitors and those who made tea and coffee for them, many of you volunteering for more than one session. Without you it would not have been possible to open the buildings. Your help is very much appreciated.’ Of course, we must thank Jean herself for all her hard work behind the scenes, organising the rotas for helpers, putting up the displays in the church and being there daily to open and close the church and answer questions from our visitors. Our   sincere thanks also to Liz and Chris for all their help also and to the schoolhouse helpers who helped create the period classroom scene, welcomed visitors and made tea and coffee. The week was a triumph!

Julie Parson’s Talk:   Our sincere thanks to Julie for enthralling us on Thursday 21 August with her illustrated talk on her incredible family history. It was a fantastic lecture and filled with anecdotes, references to her family, family            connections, Irish history in general and local interest snippets. 56 people came to the event, and all were treated to tea and coffee afterwards with many enjoying it in the schoolhouse garden on the balmy evening that was.

Gardellino Flute Trio:   Another treat this Heritage Week was the flute concert on Sunday 24 August in the Schoolhouse. A sizeable audience gathered to hear the trio and enjoy music familiar and new. The wafting music streamed out the    schoolhouse windows into the churchyard and garden and created a wonderful atmosphere.

Note from Archbishop:  It was lovely to welcome the Archbishop on a visit during Heritage Week. He sent us a card following his visit and writes ‘Dear Roy, Thank you and the parishioners for a wonderful afternoon. To get the chance to see the schoolhouse and the church from entirely different perspectives was enjoyable and instructive. Renewed congratulations to everyone and good wishes for all that ensues.  +Michael’

Buildings Beo:    You may remember that during the Schoolhouse restoration project ‘New Departures Media’ was commissioned by TG4 to follow the restoration of six historic buildings, including Monkstown Schoolhouse. The series has now been completed and will be broadcast on TG4 from 18          September at 9:30pm. Monkstown Schoolhouse will have a complete programme to itself and feature in episode 5.

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].  . 

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