Dear parishioners and friends,

Welcome to church this Sunday morning as we celebrate at 10:45 our family Easter Service. Easter is the great festival of the church, our most important celebration, when we celebrate the joy of the Resurrection. The death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday morning last brought great sadness to the worldwide Christian Church. His pontificate was significant, deeply pastoral, incisive and he will be remembered as a Church leader who shone light on so many dark areas in our world – from abuse scandals, poverty, unemployment, climate change, warfare, accountability, human rights and a myriad of other issues. We pray, that his work and legacy may continue and that his life and example may inspire church people of all traditions and denominations to work tirelessly for those whom society often neglects. We thank God for Pope Francis’ life and work and pray for the College of Cardinals who will elect his successor.

Holiday:   The rector will be away on holidays taking his post-Christmas and post-Easter break from this evening (Sunday 27 April) to Monday 12 May. The Revd Gary Dowd (087 9266558) will provide emergency cover from Tuesday 29 April to 12 May. For tonight, (Sunday 27) and tomorrow (Monday 28 April) please contact Canon Gillian Wharton at 01-2887118. The Sunday and Wednesday services will be conducted by the Revd Hilary Dungan.

Thank you:       Thank you to all who made our Lent, Holy Week and Easter celebrations so meaningful, especially our choir and organist, those who decorated the church so beautifully, and all who helped in any way.

Easter Tree:     You will notice a specially decorated Easter Tree at the door of the church this Sunday. In preparation for our Easter celebrations, you might like to write the name of a sick relative or friend, a loved one living abroad, the name of a departed loved, or a special thanksgiving note on one of the cards by the tree and attach it to a branch. Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection, new life and new hope and this will be a lovely way to remember our loved ones, or a blessing sought or received.

Easter Vestry: The Easter Vestry will take place in the church following the 10:45 service on Sunday 27 April.  All are welcome to join us. Those who do not wish to attend the meeting can go to the schoolhouse for coffee and those attending the meeting can have coffee in the schoolhouse afterwards..

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].  

Poems for Hope and Healing:    A four-week online reading group, held on Wednesdays May 7, 14, 21, and 28, 7:30pm – 8:30pm. Join the Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland this May for Poems for Hope and Healing. This is a slow and mindful reading group, to which everyone is warmly welcome. Each hour-long session will be an invitation to pause, reflect, and pray, and discover how reading poetry together can be a spiritual practice that helps us listen to our emotions, see the world in surprising ways, and open the doors of our own creativity. You will receive the poems & a worksheet in advance. Each session will feature: thoughtful conversation about the poems; time for journaling and creative reflection with prompts to inspire you; gentle questions that invite spiritual exploration. Our chosen poems, by Emily Dickinson, Wendell Berry, Denise Levertov, and many more, explore our relationship with the divine, the healing power of nature, and the emotions that shape our bonds with both God and one another. Book in via www.ministryofhealing.ie or search for us on Eventbrite.

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