Dear parishioners and friends,

This Sunday we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving and the beauty of creation and God’s wonderful gifts to us at both our 09:00 and 10:45 Eucharists. We warmly welcome our guest preacher at both services this morning, the Revd Lindsay Llewellyn MacDuff. Lindsay, and her husband Douglas are our nearest neighbours, having just moved into the schoolhouse apartment. Lindsay is the new dean’s vicar in Christ Church Cathedral, and we are delighted that her first foray into the wider dioceses is with us in Monkstown!

Thank you most sincerely to all who helped decorate the church so beautifully and to all who gave donations of non-perishable foodstuffs to fill the hamper baskets at the front steps. During the week ahead these baskets will be sorted, and the contents given to Alice Leahy Trust and the Storehouse food bank, Crinken. Both charities, whom we support throughout the year, greatly appreciate our donations and they will be put to very good use.

Bishops’ Appeal       Bishops’ Appeal envelopes are available at all Harvest services, and we encourage our parishioners and friends to place their envelope with their donation enclosed in one of the collection baskets. Please use a Bishop’s Appeal envelope for all Bishops’ Appeal donations (or an ordinary envelope clearly marked Bishops’ Appeal). The Harvest appeal will remain open until Sunday 27 October. At the Diocesan Synod, held in Taney last Tuesday, the annual parish donations to the Bishops’ Appeal were listed in the book of reports. It was wonderful to note, that out of 47 parishes in the United Dioceses, Monkstown’s giving to the Appeal was in 7^th place. In 2023, Monkstown parish subscribed €3,550.60 to the work of Bishops’ Appeal. This is an incredible achievement, and we thank all those who subscribed so generously.

Funeral:   The funeral of the late Arleen Barr nee Hartigan took place in the church on Tuesday 1 October. Arleen had been a resident for the past few years in the Royal Hospital Donnybrook but died peacefully in the wonderful care of the staff of St Vincent’s Hospital. Some parishioners may remember Arleen from schooldays in Monkstown National School. Her father and uncle carried out many remedial repairs and maintenance jobs on the church over the years and the family were well known in Monkstown. We extend our deepest sympathy to Arleen’s children, Stephen and Rachel, and the wider family circle at this sad time for them. Following the funeral service in the church Arleen was buried in Deansgrange cemetery.

Schoolhouse Opening:   The Archbishop of Dublin will visit, celebrate, preach and officially open the schoolhouse on Sunday 27 October at 10:45. Due to the size of the building we will have two opening events. The first, with the Archbishop, being for our parishioners, and the second at a later date for the local community, people involved with the project, public representatives, diocesan representatives and others. On Sunday 27 October the 09:00 Eucharist will take place as normal with the rector and the Archbishop will preside at 10:45. The opening ceremony will be followed by tea and coffee. All parishioners are most welcome to attend.

Schoolhouse Garden:    Donations in aid of this work may be left with the staff in Howbert & Mays in Monkstown. The subscriptions raised will be used by Valerie and Caroline to purchase suitable plants for the garden.

Parish Sale:      Our annual parish sale will take place on Saturday 16 November. Donations of good quality bric-a-brac, books, gift sets, toys, jewellery, collectables etc will be gratefully accepted and may be left at the back of the church.

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.

Cabinet of Curiosities: The glass cabinet at the back of the church contains antique and collectable items and we are selling these in aid of the schoolhouse restoration fund. New items are added as they are donated to us, so please keep an eye out, as the stock changes frequently. Please ask one of the churchwardens or Liz if you would like access to the cabinet. Money from the sale of items should be placed in the wooden schoolhouse donation box.

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