You Tube Link for live streaming services: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw9yjPMe6ExEvlB8ycfktCg/videos?view=57
Dear parishioners and friends,
Welcome to church this Sunday morning, when at 10:45, we celebrate our June Family Service. Family Service is a simpler and more informal approach to public worship when we particularly encourage our younger families to come and join us. One church in London calls this form of worship a ‘shush free’ service. I would hope all our services are ‘shush free’ but our Family Service is a time when we actively encourage our young children and indeed babies to worship in their own particular style and if they want to run about or make noise then they are most welcome to do so! Sometimes parents tell me that they are so apologetic that their children make a noise in church, but what about it? How can young people get used to going to church if they are not brought and how do they feel at home in church if they do not feel welcome!
Monkstown warmly welcomes all generations to come and worship with us and we do hope you will accept our invitation to join us. Following our Family Service we will have refreshments available at the back of the church so please feel free to stay and chat and get to know other families.
Members of the Select Vestry are reminded that we will meet for our June meeting on Tuesday next 28 June at 7.30pm in the church robing room.
Blessing of the Animals: Following on from its two year absence we will hold our special service for the blessing of the animals on Sunday 4 September at 3:00pm. This is a very special and fun filled service when we are joined by our friends in the Irish Guide dogs for the Blind and the Blue Cross Animal Charity. During the service there is time to thank God for the whole of creation, time to reflect on how our pets are so much a part of our families, time to reflect on the themes of compassion and care for working animals and a time to remember pets that have died and that we miss terribly. Of course the whole service is punctuated by howling and barking and this adds to the character of the occasion! Please do put the date in your diary and join us.
Harvest Thanksgiving will take place on Sunday 9 October this year. At the time of writing we are not sure whether this will be an afternoon or evening event or incorporated into our morning services that day but as soon as we decide we will let you know.
Beginning next Sunday, our tradition of having a proper Offertory or Collection hymn will be reinstated. During the Covid-19 pandemic it was agreed that collections during services, where a basket would be passed around, could not happen. Guidelines on this have changed and the old custom of an offertory collection can begin again. For those who are new to our ways, it has been the tradition for hundreds of years that during one hymn in a service (usually the 2nd last hymn) a collection is gathered from the congregation. You may place your yellow offertory envelope in the basket or a donation in cash or coins. The money raised from church collections helps towards the costs of utility bills, insurance, church requisites, salaries, repairs and maintenance works. Needless to say, we trust that people will give generously to support the work of the church and parish and we thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Monkstown Art Exhibition. We invite artists to submit up to three original works of art for our exhibition to be held in the Knox Hall from Friday 26 August – Sunday 28 August 2022. Please contact Liz in the parish office is you would like an entry form for the exhibition. The proceeds of the exhibition will be devoted to the Schoolhouse restoration fund.
The Parish Auction in aid of the Schoolhouse Restoration Appeal will take place on Friday 16 September at 7:30pm. We are appealing for donations of antiques and collectables to sell on the night and we would particularly like antique furniture, floor rugs, silver, silver plate, jewelery, paintings, prints, ornaments, tea sets, vintage toys, enamel signage, transport related memorabilia, items of local interest, architectural salvage, garden benches, stone urns, vintage kitchenalia, stamp albums, cigarette card collections, military items including uniforms, medals, WW1 and II items etc, taxidermy, period costume…. Donations can be left at the back of the church or contact made with Chris Luby who can receive items at the church by arrangement. Please contact Liz for further information.
We continue our prayers for those known to us who are sick at this time. Please feel free to add names to the sick list at the door of the church. The names will be read during the intercessions at the Wednesday morning Eucharist.
Our parish office is now fully open and Liz is available Monday to Friday (10.00 – 1.00pm). The office number is 2147714.
Your financial support of the parish has been wonderful and we thank you for remembering that our work of ministry continues week after week and year after year. Collection baskets for envelopes and donations can be found at all church doors and we appreciate your generous and supportive giving. Our bank account details are: Monkstown Parish Church No. 1 Account. Account No. 11390021. Sort Code: 98-53-30. BIC: ULSB IE 2D. IBAN: IE18 ULSB 9853 3011 3900 21. Donations to parish funds may also be posted by cheque made payable to ‘Monkstown Parish Church’ and posted to me here at Winton Lodge if you do not have access to online banking.
Please continue to take care of yourselves,
with love, prayers and my very best wishes, Roy