The Pointer March 2023

The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore

Lent is living up to its reputation as a time of testing and temptation within my own life. For me, “Fear” has been the object through which I have been challenged. The body’s natural response to fear is that of Fight or Flight. We either dig our heels in to fight or we decide to escape.

Yesterday, saw the Gospel reading of Christ’s Temptations in the Wilderness and I have been reflecting on how Jesus responded to temptation. We find him drawing heavily on Holy Scripture. There is the need for us to know Holy Scripture sufficiently so that we can understand when it is being used out of context to justify, manipulate, or elicit a certain response. I have also found my mind is taken to the garden scene. There we see Jesus under such stress and turmoil, knowing all that lay before him, we are told he sweats drops of blood. We see his courage and hear his words in Matthew 26:39 ff. 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will”.

The words, actions and example of Jesus Christ have been an inspiration to countless numbers over the centuries who have found themselves contending with things they would rather not have to. I think of the early Christians who were “Condemned to the Mines” disfigured and forced to work until they died and yet there is evidence that they remained faithful with the symbols they left in the mines as a testimony.

I think upon Saint Francis who being confronted with a leper chooses not to avoid but rather moves towards and embraces. Michael Custo, OFM and Medieval Historian says the following of the encounter as being, “such a crucial turning point in his life because he (Francis) comes to recognize in the person of this decomposing human being, in front of his very eyes, the stench, the repulsive nature of this person, somehow through grace he (Francis) realizes that this is his fellow human being, his brother or his sister. That's the great insight of Francis in the encounter that all men and women, without exception, are brothers and sisters one to another. That's the founding insight of the Franciscan fraternity”. Interestingly the historian references something of the work of Grace in the life of St Francis. This work of grace would take Francis to the Middle East in July 1219 and shortly thereafter to the enemy camp and the Sultan al – Malek al – Kamil to try and encourage efforts towards peace building. We see the same work of Grace in the Apostle Paul’s life that takes him from his fanatical hunt and murder of Christians to becoming one of them, a Christian. We all have experienced the work of Grace in our lives. Oh, that we would partner more and more with our Lord in the outworking of this grace in each of our unique contexts.

Jesus words to his troubled disciples,

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Saint Brónach s Day Camino … Saturday 1 April 2023

3.00 pm Gather in Kilbroney Parish Church

3.30 pm Saint Brónach presentation and Celtic prayers.

4.00 pm Saint Mary’s Star of the Sea meet up. Short talk on Saint Brónagh’s Bell and prayers.

4.45 pm Meet at Kilbroney Old Graveyard. Short talk there on her history and the archaeology.

Closing blessing Rt. Rev Darren McCartney.

The Camino is suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied, and supervised, by parents/guardians.

Christian Burial

We extend our prayerful sympathy to all who mourn, especially to the family and friends of Isabella (Isobel) Clements

29th November 1926 - 1st February 2023

The Church of Ireland Marriage Council is hosting The Marriage Course, a series of seven online sessions designed to help couples invest in their relationship and build a strong marriage.

The course, which is free, gets underway on Thursday 20th April, and will run each Thursday from 7.30 – 9.30 pm. There’s no counselling and no group discussion involved. Nicky and Sila Lee, authors of The Marriage Book, developed The Marriage Course for couples looking for practical support to strengthen their relationship. The course is designed to help couples build strong foundations, learn to communicate more effectively and resolve differences well.

The course is hosted by the Revd Jonny Campbell–Smyth, rector of Ballynure and Ballyeaston (Ballyclare) and his wife Alison.

Booking information is on the Down and Dromore site.

The funeral was on 3rd February in Kilbroney with burial in Knotty Ash Cemetery.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They are blessed indeed, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labours.

Revelation 14:13

Church Services

Lectionary Year A

Easter

Kilbroney

Tuesday 28th March 7.30 pm

Kilbroney Parish Church

Clonallon and Warrenpoint

Thursday 30th March 7.30 pm Warrenpoint Parish Church Hall

Lent Services

Each Thursday at 10.30 am

Warrenpoint Church

Clocks go forward one hour

Bishops’ Appeal envelopes are available in all our church buildings for those who wish to contribute towards the ongoing work in Turkey and North Syria.

Holy Week 7.00 pm Wednesday Clonallon - Evening Prayer

Maundy Thursday

Warrenpoint – Holy Communion

Good Friday 2.00 pm

“The Way of the Cross” Starting in Kilbroney Parish Church Walk with Bible Readings and Prayers.

Saint Patrick’s Day 17th March

The special guest at this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations in Down Cathedral will be the Most Revd Laurent Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda. Our theme is ‘Reconciliation’, a topic familiar to Archbishop Laurent who has been at the forefront of helping many in Rwanda deal with the impact and aftermath of the 1994 genocide.

Bishop David says: “I have asked Archbishop Laurent to help us to look together at how we can deal with some of the pain that continues to be part of life and living for many of us because of what we call ‘The Troubles’. All of us have a responsibility to continue to support, understand and pray for those who have been impacted by loss and trauma and I hope that this special day of worship and prayer will be a source of healing for many.”

Clonallon and Warrenpoint Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/warrenpointcoi/ Sunday Services live streamed at 10.00 am.

Kilbroney Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/KilbroneyParishChurchRostrevor/ Sunday Services live streamed at 11.30 am.

Crafters on Wednesdays

This group continues to welcome all folk with crafts of any kind. We gather between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm in the Parish Room.

Tower Bells and Handbells on Thursdays

Tower bells 6:45 to 7:30 pm

Handbells 7:30 to 9.00 pm

Ladies’ Guild

23rd March 7.00 pm

Speaker: Stephanie Park

“A Faith Deepened Through Grief”

Deadline for April 2023

edition of The Pointer is Friday 24th March

Please keep sending in articles and photographs!

Editor: hannamanor15@btinternet.com

Programme

9.15 am Holy Communion at Saul

Preacher: The Very Revd Henry Hull, Dean of Down

10.15 am Pilgrimage from Saul to Downpatrick

11.45 am Festival Service in Down Cathedral

Preacher: The Most Revd Laurent

Mbanda, Archbishop of Rwanda

1.00 pm Wreath laying ceremony at Saint Patrick’s Grave

1.15 pm Complimentary

‘Picnic in the Pews’

Kilbroney Parish Church Prayer Group

Wednesdays 10.00 am to 11.00 am

Ladies Bible Study

Warrenpoint Vestry

Tuesday 14th March at 10.45 am

Everyone Welcome

Compline on Facebook 9.00 pm

Sunday

Kilbroney

Tuesday

Clonallon & Warrenpoint

Badminton

Warrenpoint Parish Hall

All new members welcome Mondays and Thursdays beginning at 5.30 pm

Matthew 19:14

‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’

Ash Wednesday and Lent

During the season of Lent services of Holy Communion will be held in Warrenpoint Parish Church each Thursday at 10.30 am. Everyone is welcome to join us for this time of reflection … and there’s a chance to catch up with each other after the service when refreshments are served.

Some photographs almost lend themselves to a caption competition! Suggestions welcome!

You can tell that the refreshments were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Following the service of Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday, most of the congregation gathered for tea and coffee in the vestry and enjoyed a vast selection of treats, as well as fellowship together. Thank you for that, and we look forward to gathering together each week in Warrenpoint.

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

The Lectern in Warrenpoint Parish Church.

An article about Kilbroney Handbellers in last month's issue jokingly ended by saying that I was really entering the team for the percussion ensemble class in Warrenpoint Feis to win a cup.

Well, win it we did!

My main aim was to get a professional, musical critique from an adjudicator. We were awarded a very respectable 85 marks from Mr Donal McCrisken, BMus. for our performance of two contrasting pieces of our own choice, namely Pachelbel’s Canon and Mountains of Mourne. Mr. McCrisken, a tutor in music performance at Queen’s University Belfast, had only heard handbells once before in the northerly Scottish town of Wick. I am so proud of each and every one of our team, some of whom have never performed on a stage before, but also acknowledge absent friends who got us this far by ringing with us in the very beginning, seven years ago.

When asked to accept the cup on behalf of the team on stage I held it high above my head, relishing the moment and our achievement. Kilbroney Handbellers

will be perpetually engraved as the 2023 winners on the cup which has to be returned within a year.

Our next major challenge will be to perform in the percussion ensemble class at Newry Feis in April for the same adjudicator. On this occasion we will have more competition in the form of African Drums and Samba band, so we will have to up our game!

A much more imminent performance will be to open Kinship of Difference’ event at An Cuan on Saturday 4th March, 7.30 pm at the invitation of Tommy Sands.

No resting on laurels for this team!

Kilbroney Music Group

February was the debut of the new Music Group in Kilbroney Liz, Chiago, Annie, David and Bethlehem. Can you believe that we forgot to take a photograph? There were lots of visitors in church and the young people, helped by all of the Music Group, stuck hearts over all the worries that the paper people had. A reminder that God’s love surrounds us, even when there are problems.

Liz Farnan

Ladies Guild

Our February meeting took place the morning after Det Ch Insp John Caldwell was shot in Omagh. Perhaps it was divine intervention that Siobhan Fitzpatrick was our speaker. She told us about her life journey, her work in early years education and reconciliation. There was opportunity for those attending to share personal experiences, ask questions and have conversation on the topic of reconciliation and how this can be approached as part of early childhood education.

Siobhan grew up in Rostrevor and remembers the time before the troubles as a happy childhood where neighbours from different backgrounds would have helped each other and the generation before were educated together. Siobhan attended the Convent of Mercy and then Our Ladies, Newry where she had a positive experience and was encouraged to “do whatever you can to make a difference in the world”. She went to University in England and studied Social Work before moving home to take up a post in her chosen field.

She had worked a few years before family life took over. Siobhan had a daughter followed one year later by twins. She found that this time grew her inner strength and resilience and also changed her career path. A group of mums in Rostrevor established a mum and tots group. Canon Jameson was instrumental in securing the Lecture Hall as a venue and also provided much encouragement.

Siobhan undertook a distance learning degree in Early Childhood Development from Strathclyde and started work as an Early Year Developer. This role saw her helping communities, who came together across any community divide, to set up early year education groups and programmes. Siobhan eventually worked her way up to Chief Executive Officer of Early Years and there was an ethos that early years education needed to be organized on a non sectarian basis. The Early Years organization supports 40,000 children and families and provides support, training and quality assurance for 12,000 staff in the early years sector in Northern Ireland.

Following the Good Friday Agreement, there has been key investment from Europe, 100 million provided to date and Early Years Education has been one of the main areas benefitting from European financial input.

In 2001 a piece of research was commissioned with Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University called

“Too Young to Notice”. This research paper set the trend for the next 30 years of Siobhan’s work. The research confirmed that 3 year olds were developing prejudicial attitudes. These attitudes were developed primarily from what children saw and heard at home. The decision was taken by the Early Years organization to move from an ethos of non-sectarian to one of anti-sectarian. This meant that there became a focus on providing materials and programmes to give teachers the skills to work with children in the area of reconciliation. As part of this work a major random controlled trial was completed. It was called Peace Plus and measured the change in sectarianism, prejudice and racism when using the early years reconciliation program.

In 2001 Siobhan attended an Early Childhood conference in Athens discussing the power of early childhood services. A decision was taken at this conference to set up the International Network on Peace Building for Young Children for which Siobhan is the Chairperson. There are currently 20 countries represented on the network which includes professional and academic representatives from both sides of conflicts around the world. It has a focus on developing programmes using the learning from the work in Early Years on respecting difference and peace building. One of the publications developed has been “From Conflict to Peacebuilding” which contains case studies of early childhood initiatives from around the world along with a recent update of these case studies.

Siobhan has travelled many times to Israel and Palestine to support and engage with colleagues there. She mentioned that the town of Nablus where the story of the Good Samaritan is said to have taken place and how the night before 10 people had lost their lives. She shared a little of how the reconciliation program works in these different contexts.

She has recently been appointed Vice Chair of ECPC which meets in New York and focuses on policy and trying to influence governments. One other area of work lately for Siobhan has been the Toolkit: Nurturing the Spiritual Development of Children in the Early Years which was launched in Rome in November 2022. This was funded by a Japanese philanthropist. She will travel to Jamaica at the end of this month to

help with the development of Early Childhood programmes there.

During a time of questions and sharing Siobhan noted that geomapping shows Northern Ireland has become a more divided community and that more work needs to be done in the area of reconciliation. She shared that often young children are feeding into what they are hearing and seeing and this leads to certain behaviour. Children are affected by what is said and not said and that often parents are not aware of how they are influencing their children.

The Early Years curriculum was developed to be explicit and has 5 puppets a Catholic child, a Protestant child, a Chinese child, a Nigerian child and a Traveller child. She explained that often people are afraid of what they do not know and that the puppets are used to describe and explain the culture of each child including Orange marches and 12th July, Saint Patrick’s day etc with a contextual and respectful approach.

Parents provide consent for their child to be involved in the programme and there are also parent workshops. During the workshops there are times to reflect on personal experiences, deal with own stereotypical views, develop understanding of different cultures including experiential learning opportunities.

Parents are given storybooks and finger puppets and supported to continue the work at home with their children. Towards the end of the programme parents are encouraged to attend a community activity linked

with a different culture which they would not usually attend. Often parents say “I didn’t realize how prejudiced I was”.

Success of the programme was measured during the random trial by recording the attitudes to others, willingness to include children who were different. There were qualitative measurements of attitudes before and after involvement in the programme. Another measurement which was very interesting was the confidence of teachers to speak on this difficult topic and to deliver the programme.

At the time when the programme was developed only 13% of traveller communities went to preschool. When engaged, traveller parents said “We are not sending our children to that school because they won’t love them”. Siobhan shared that once we begin to show deep respect for a community trust can be built. The stories developed for the programme have to be positive stories about traveller culture and traditions.

Another resource developed is the “Respecting Difference Programme” which are 5 one minute cartoons. The work continues and it is important to remember that in our situation many people have been traumatized and still carry that trauma. It is now intergenerational trauma and is still affecting us today. Karen McCartney

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’

4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the temple. 6 ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written:

‘“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’

7 Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 ‘ All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’

10 Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Robert Louis Stevenson penned the unforgettable story about a Dr. Jekyll and a Mr. Hyde. I am quite sure many of you know something of the story well.

Dr. Henry Jekyll was well respected in his community. He has some secret vices that he kept carefully hidden from the public. With a desire to practice the vices without endangering his standing in the community, the doctor concocted a strange potion that allows him to transform his physical features. He is free to move around town and practice his vices without damaging his reputation.

During the day, he was the respectable Dr. Jekyll, respected within the community. At night he is transformed into the sociopathic Mr. Hyde caring for no one and wreaking havoc everywhere he goes.

Initially, Dr. Jekyll is able to control these transformations, but such unrestrained evil could not be kept in check for long. One night in his sleep, without any intent on his part, he is transformed into the infamous Mr. Hyde. The evil monster goes on to dominate his life and eventually takes over completely. Dr. Jekyll disappears leaving only Mr. Hyde.

Stevenson’s point being that there is a battle going within each of us. We all carry around within us a little of Mr. Hyde and if we do not pay constant attention to our character, we too, can be dominated by our lesser selves.

A First Nations elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: “Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most.”

Once again Easter approaches and with it our thoughts will turn to the events that lead to the closing chapters of our Lord’s life. We refer to this season as Lent.

It has two main elements.

One is giving something up, by a period of self-denial and self-restraint.

The other is giving something out, by acts of self-sacrifice and deeds of kindness. There is no greater demonstration of this than what we see in Christ’s ultimate death on the Cross.

Our word ‘Lent’ has its origins in the old Anglo-Saxon words encten foesten, meaning spring fast.

Liam has been all business about the fact that there are lambs in the field beside the rectory. He has been keeping an eye on them and giving Karen and I his reports. It has been so nice to see the first signs of Spring. Spring is the time when we start to see signs of new growth and life appearing after the long months of winter. It is a time of hope, aspiration, expectation, and a promise of new life to all.

Lent is a time of fasting or abstinence for the forty days from Ash Wednesday continuing to Holy Saturday, in commemoration of the forty days fasting by Christ in the wilderness.

It is a time of fasting, of going without food, when Jesus withdrew himself from the world and remained detached from it.

Fasting, in Holy Scripture, has nothing to do with a good incentive to lose weight, but rather a period of abstinence for the purpose of sharpening spiritual focus and awareness.

The time that Jesus spent was a period when the Holy Spirit was working significantly in his life. Matthew 4:1 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness Jesus emerges after a period 40 days in the wilderness to commence his earthly ministry.

Lent can be a time of preparation for greater works of ministry.

Like it was for Jesus, these 40 Days can be a time of severe testing and temptation.

The Oxford Dictionary says that a temptation is “The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise”. Other dictionaries introduce the concept of evil, so temptation is the desire to do some wrong, unwise, or evil.

Interestingly in the Holy Scripture the word for tempting can also mean testing. I read, what I thought, was a funny quote that illustrates this: “I didn't break it; I was administering a robustness test and it failed”.

Perhaps you noted in the news last week? A small blue sculpture, the glass Balloon Dog valued at $42,000 (£35,000) by the renowned artist Jeff Koons has been broken at the opening night of an art fair in Miami by a woman who gave it a little tap.

The incident took place at the Bel-Air Fine Art gallery during the VIP-only opening of the Art Wynwood contemporary arts fair on Thursday 16th February.

triumph of hearing the heavenly voice.

The devil comes and tests Jesus at his weakest pointhis hunger - by tempting him to turn stones into bread and break his fast.

Jesus resists the devil’s temptations by drawing heavily on the “Word of God” to help him find his strength and perspective in his testing and temptation.

It is a time from which Jesus emerges and begins his teaching ministry and the calling of his first disciples, Matthew 4: 12, Matthew 4:18.

It appears that Jesus time in the desert has a significance in his life and he emerges with a clear sense of direction and purpose.

It would be great if we were to use this time, this season, for:

spiritual refocus and awareness a time of spiritual refreshment and empowerment and of victory over temptation.

May we receive renewed strength and perspective from God’s Word to live out our faith before the world, within the context we find ourselves in.

The Apostle Paul’s final exhortation from Philippians 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Iwillsayit again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Donotbe anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We discover that following Jesus’ baptism he is led into the wilderness by the spirit to be tempted by the devil. He has just heard the words ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ Now Jesus must face a test, it is not a test that is intended to break Jesus, it is one that is intended to prove him. To prove that Jesus is up to the task of bringing salvation to humanity.

We shouldn’t miss the parallels with the Old Testament. God's chosen people faced the wilderness immediately after the triumph of escape from the Egyptians, and Jesus will face the wilderness after the

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

— if anything is excellent or praiseworthy

— think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be withyou.

+Darren

Familiar Proverbs … a Quiz

1. Scintillate, scintillate asteroid minified.

2. Members of an avian species of identical plumage congregate.

3. Surveillance should precede saltation.

4. It is fruitless to become lachrymose over precipitately departed lacteal fluid

5. Freedom from incrustations of grime is contiguous to divinity.

6. The stylus is more potent than the claymore.

7. It is fruitless to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative behaviour.

8. Eschew the implement of correction and vitiate the scion.

9. The temperature of aqueous content of an unremittingly ogled saucepan does not reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Neophytes serendipity.

11. Male cadavers are incapable of yielding testimony.

12. Individuals who make their abode in vitreous edifices would be advised to refrain from catapulting petrous projectiles.

13. All objects that coruscate with resplendence are not truly auriferous.

14. Where there are visible vapours having their province in ignited carbonaceous material, there is conflagration.

15. Sorting on the part of mendicants must be interdicted.

16. A plethora of individuals with expertise in culinary techniques vitiates the potable concoction produced by steeping comestibles.

17. Exclusive dedication to necessary chores without interludes of hedonistic diversion renders Jack a hebetudinous fellow.

18. A revolving lithic conglomerate accumulates no diminutive glaucous bryophytic plants.

19. The person representing the ultimate cachinnation possesses, thereby, the optimal cachinnation.

20. Missiles of ligneous and of petrous consistency have the potential of fracturing my osseous structure but appellations will eternally be benign.

Answers on page 16.

The toughest part of a diet isn't watching what you eat; it's watching what other people eat.

The Borrowed Days

According to the old story 'An tSean-Bhó Riabhach' , the old brindled cow boasted that even the rigours of March could not kill her, whereupon March borrowed three days from April and using these with redoubled fury, killed and skinned the poor old cow. Henceforth, the first three days of April traditionally bring very bad weather and these are then known as Laethanta na Riabhaiche, the Reehy Days, the Borrowed or Borrowing Days, the Skinning Days, and other names.

Amnhhlaoibh O Súlleabháin wrote the following in 1827:

"This the 12th day of April, is the first of the three days of the old brindled cow, namely three days in which the weather of March took from the beginning of Old April.'

An old ballad tells how capricious March begged generous April for a loan and then rendered the three days awful:

The first of them was wind and wet, the second of them was snow and sleet, the third of them was such a freeze, it froze the birds' claws to the trees.

Superstitions surrounding the "borrowed days" endured well into the nineteenth century and throughout the British Isles. They were dangerous days, fraught with taboos and the spectre of bad weather. After King James I died at the tail end of March during a storm that battered the Scottish coast, a contemporary writer mourned that this would be " long after remembered as the storm of the Borrowed Days." An earlier document, titled Complaint of Scotland, laments that "the boreal blasts of the three borrowing days of March had chased the fragrant flowers of every fruit-tree far athwart the fields."

Adapted from an article by Bridget Haggerty

A young man is being trained as a steamship helmsman. In his first time at the wheel, the mate gives him a heading and then orders, "Come starboard." Pleased at knowing immediately which way starboard is, the young man leaves the helm and walks over to his instructor. The mate suggests gently, "Could you bring the ship with you?"

Symbols used in Churches

Chi Rho

It’s all Greek! Here’s the alphabet.

the risen Christ who said, “12 ‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End”. Revelation 22:12-13.

As you see in the central image above, sometimes the Chi Rho and the Alpha and Omega are combined. Another symbol which uses Greek letters is the fish.

In the sanctuary of Warrenpoint Church there are fine mosaics depicting both the Chi Rho and the Alpha and Omega symbols as shown in the photographs above. These symbols appear in other places including windows, in carvings and embroidered on furnishings.

Chi Rho: in translation these letters are “Ch” and representing the name “Christ” which in Greek is

The word “Christ” means “anointed” and this became the term used to refer to the Messiah who was promised in the Old Testament.

In Matthew 16 there is one of the references to Jesus as the Messiah/the Christ:

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ 14 They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ 15 ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ 16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah {Christ}, the Son of the living God.’

Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The inspiration for this comes from the book Revelation. The Apostle John had a vision of

Ichthus is the Greek word meaning fish”. The first appearances of the ichthus in Christian art and literature dates to the 2nd century and it spread widely in the 3rd and 4th centuries. It has been claimed that Christians used it to recognize churches and other believers during a time when they faced persecution in the Roman Empire. It is an acronym or acrostic for:

An early depiction of ICHTHUS from Ephesus. Elizabeth Hanna

Ladies Bible Study

Seven of us gathered round God's word on Tuesday 14th February when we continued with our theme 'Women who met Jesus', and that day we met the widow of Nain. We followed the story in Luke Chapter 7 verses 11-18.

Like so many women in the Biblewe don't know her name we don't know her age

We know thatshe was a widow her only son had died

People in the town would have stopped what they were doing and joined in the procession. When Jesus saw her it says in verse 13 "His heart went out to her". The KJV says "when the Lord saw her he had compassion on her.

Compassion is a very strong word.

When you have sympathy - you feel sorry for what someone is experiencing

When you have empathy - you feel the pain of what someone is experiencing because you yourself have experienced the same

When you have compassion - the pain and sorrow goes deep and drives you to do something about it.

Jesus had arrived at a time of this widow's need. We know that the Lord has a heart for widows. We don't know if she had heard about Jesus but Jesus knew her and his compassion for her drove him to do something about her situation.

So what did he do? Well… he did four things -

1. He interrupted the funeral

If we go back to the to the beginning of Chapter 7 we see that Jesus had been in Capernaum where he had healed a Centurion's servant. Now he was in the little hillside town of Nain. His Disciples were there and a large crowd was following him.

This would have been unheard of as according to the customs and manners of the time funerals took place quickly after death because of decomposition and there was no method of preserving the body and so to interrupt a funeral would have been insensitive.

2. He spoke to the widow

He said to her "Don't cry" or "Weep not" as it says in the KJV. How could she not weep? She had lost her husband and now she lost her only son, who would have now been her only provider. Now she was helpless, desolate. What was going to happen to her?

Note - Jesus didn't tell her to stop crying. Jesus was going to take action to stop her tears or at least turn her sad tears into tears of joy.

Luke 6 v 21 says - Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh.

3. He touched the coffin

As He came into he town he encountered a funeral. It was of the only son of a widow. According to the tradition, the widow would have led the procession.

By doing this, as we would say, Jesus contravened the Health Regulations of the day. These cleanliness laws existed to prevent disease from spreading. Anyone touching a coffin or deceased person would have been classed unclean and wouldn't have been allowed to enter the Temple for up to a week. You can read these regulations in Numbers 5 v 2 &3 and Numbers 19 vs 11-22.

Painting by: Michael Spencer Parker

According to these Laws, Jesus would have been deemed unclean and wouldn't have been allowed to enter the Temple, Yet, he was willing to take that risk of being unclean for this poor widow. He wasn't concerned that his actions could lead to him not being allowed to enter the Temple. He had the Power to Life and his love, concern and compassion was for the widow.

4. He spoke to the boy

"Young man, I say to you get up".

What! Was Jesus going to raise the widow's son from the dead? Up until that time it had been hundreds of years from such a happening. Those following the funeral and probably the widow knew the stories of how Elijah and Elisha raised people from the dead1 Kings 17 vs 17-22 and 2 Kings 4 vs 32-35

That was ancient history. Surely, that wouldn't happen now ... but it did.

Jesus spoke life to the boy and brought him back to life. The dead man sat up and began to talk and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Her hope and joy was restored. Her sadness turned to joy.

What a witness and testimony to the mourners (vs 16 &17) They were blessed. They were encouraged. They were filled with awe. They praised God. They recognised and believed that God had come to help his people.

The verse of a well known and loved hymn by Charles Wesley comes to mind:

He speaks and listening to his voice new life the dead receive, the mournful broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe.

Over and over again we read of Jesus having compassion -

He had compassion on the crowd and He healed the sick. Matthew 14 v 14

He had compassion on the two blind men and he restored their sight. Matthew 20 v 34

He had compassion on the leprosy sufferer and he made him clean. Mark 1 v 41

He had compassion on the hungry crowd and he fed them. Mark 8 vs 1-9

In this study we heard that he had compassion on the Widow of Nain and he raised her only son from the dead.

The God of compassion in the Old Testament and the God of compassion through Jesus in the New Testament, remains the same today.

Lamentations 3 vs 22 and 23

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great is Thy Faithfulness.

Hebrews 13 v 8

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.

Let's be encouraged - no matter what we are facing, the God of compassion will meet us just at the right time and will take us through.

It was his love and compassion for us, led him to the Cross to die for our sins.

What a God we have. Amen

Our next Bible Study is

TUESDAY 14TH MARCH AT 10.45 AM IN THE VESTRY WARRENPOINT CHURCH.

ALL LADIES ARE WELCOME

Look forward to seeing you all.

Love, God Bless and stay safe

Dorothy Xx

Children’s Choir Concert

Saint Brónach’s Day

Sunday 2nd April at 4.00 pm

Cross Community Peace Event

In celebration of the life of Saint Brónach and the influence she had in helping to establish the Christian faith in this area, the choir, comprising pupils from all three schools in the district, will put on a concert in Kilbroney Parish Church.

This will be a mix of liturgical music, instrumentals including handbells, drama, and readings.

The Children’s Choir (Cor a nÓg Caisleán Ruairí) has a long and distinguished history in the community and continues to attract children from each of the schools.

Familiar Proverbs … Answers

1. Twinkle, twinkle, little star

2. Birds of a feather flock together

3. Look before you leap

4. Don't cry over spilled milk.

5. Cleanliness is next to godliness

6. The pen is mightier than the sword

7. You can't teach an old dog new tricks

8. Spare the rod, spoil the child

9. A watched pot never boils

10. Beginner's luck

11. Dead men tell no tales.

12. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

13. All that glitters is not gold.

14. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

15. Beggars can't be choosers.

16. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

17. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

18. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

19. He who laughs last, laughs best.

20. Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

Memories

The distinguished retired Colonel, Military Cross, Order of the British Empire, a prominent member of Kilbroney Parish Church, lived at Killowen and marched in proper military style to Rostrevor, immaculately dressed, rain, hail or sunshine, every Sunday morning, in very good time for morning service.

He had filled every possible role in Church life other than preacher or organist, but that did not deter him from overseeing the sermon or the music!

If the sermon exceeded the time that the Colonel thought it should finish at he thumped his walking stick loudly on the floor once every few minutes, much to the consternation of fellow parishioners, and embarrassment, should there be a visiting preacher! He had an intense dislike of the Litany and when the Rector started it he kicked the back of the pew in front of him! (I know, as we sat in that pew!)

The Colonel loved a good old fashioned hymn, especially “Onward Christian Soldiers “which he sang lustily, and out of tune, to a marching beat, regardless of the organist and choir trying to keep time.

When the Colonel, called to higher service, passed away, there was much sadness at the loss of one of our oldest, faithful and colourful parishioners.

Joan Toase

I'd grow my own food if only I could find bacon seeds.

I think people who use the wrong word should have the humidity to admit it.

"Vacation" is when you get away from it all. Then you come back to find that "it all" is just waiting patiently on your desk.

Thank You from Kilbroney

A big thank you to Patsy Morgan and his helper Liam, who did a superb job of collecting manure, delivering it and putting it down in the flower beds between the roses.

Thank you too to Shelagh who keeps a close eye on pruning so that we have a magnificent display in Kilbroney each summer.

Insults from a Bygone Age

"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; Bring a friend, if you have one." George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill. "Cannot possibly attend first night, I will attend the second ... if there is one." Winston Churchill, in response.

"He had delusions of adequacy." Walter Kerr

"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it." Moses Hadas

"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." Stephen Bishop

"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." Samuel Johnson

"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." Paul Keating

"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" Mark Twain

"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." Mae West

"He has Van Gogh's ear for music." Billy Wilder

This painting in the National Gallery is known as the Mond Crucifixion. It has an interesting history, because Ludwig Mond, the German born scientist and industrialist, offered to lend the painting to the Gallery in 1892. The trustees, for some reason, declined the offer. Ludwig Mond was undeterred and at his death in 1909 he bequeathed to the Gallery over 40 paintings. It was an amazingly generous gift, and included this Crucifixion by Raphael.

It belongs to the artist’s early years and was painted when he was just 20, for a church altarpiece in Urbino in 1503. On Good Friday we hear those words from Lamentations, ‘Is it nothing to you who pass by? –look and see.’

We might look on the cross of Jesus and see a sign of agony and death. But here in the Mond Crucifixion, all seems serene and still. It is a far cry from the harshness and cruelty of the Gospel accounts. Look at

the angels with their ribbons and feet resting on the clouds, the hands and feet of the four bystanders so delicately painted, and beyond, the softly lit Umbrian landscape with a river, trees and low hills stretching away into the distance.

It is as if Raphael has frozen this moment of death on his canvas to tell us that here is an enduring message of love and generosity for Mary, John, Mary Magdalene and Jerome gathered below. Our Lady and John look at us, inviting us to discover there the solemn beauty that moves their lives and that can move us.

In our worship on Good Friday we encounter this paradox of the cross – a sign of suffering and death, but a sign also of generosity.

We can think of the generosity of Ludwig Mond, the generosity of Raphael sharing his gifts with us, but above all the generosity of our Prince of Glory. Here, in the words of Isaac Watts’ hymn, we see how ‘love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.’

Rev Michael Burgess

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

‘Celebration of Discipline’ has helped more than one million readers discover a richer spiritual life infused with joy, peace, and a deeper understanding of God. It explores the 'classic disciplines' of the Christian faith. Foster shows that it is by and through these practices that the path to spiritual growth can be found.

Dividing the disciplines into three movements of the Spirit, Foster shows how each contributes to a more balanced spiritual life. The inward disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, and study offer avenues of personal examination and change. The outward disciplines of simplicity, solitude, submission, and service help prepare us to make the world a better place. The corporate disciplines of confession, worship, guidance, and celebration bring us nearer to one another and to God. ‘Celebration of Discipline’ will help to motivate Christians everywhere to embark on a journey of prayer and of spiritual growth.

Adapted from an online review

When I was nearly three, I knocked a bucket of tadpoles all over the patio. Those unfortunate creatures must have been collected to educate my brother and I on where frogs came from, but a toddler can’t just stand by and watch. Can I see up close? Or maybe I was ‘helpfully’ moving it to another place. I just remember doing something I shouldn’t have done, and tadpoles on the ground. I was sad that I wouldn’t get to see those creatures grow up.

I might have been great at destroying things when I was a child (my family would probably say I still am), but I absolutely love watching living things up close. The more I learn, the more my sense of wonder grows. For a tadpole to become a frog, large sections of its gut, salivary glands and muscles must die, as well as the gills. The cells in those tissues are programmed to curl up and disintegrate, and are swallowed up by a specialised kind of white blood cell. Legs grow from small sacs of cells on the tadpole’s body, and one of my textbooks says that ‘The nervous system is also remodelled’ – which I suspect is a bit of an understatement.

This knowledge removes a little of the mystery of how a tadpole turns into a frog, but there is plenty more to discover. These few details also reveal the cleverness of the process. Metamorphosis is surprisingly common in the animal kingdom. How is that an efficient way to grow up, or is efficiency not the most important thing for an animal?

Scientists are essentially grown-ups who are still very much in touch with their inner two-year-old self. They refuse to stop asking questions, even when finding an answer becomes decidedly more awkward than opening a textbook.

Many scientists are people of faith, and this also drives their questioning. They believe that God created a world that was very good, that the purpose of all Creation is to praise him, we are made in God’s image, and that we are tasked with looking after Creation. So Christians, of all people, should be enjoying and investigating our surroundings. These are the bones of a Theology of Science which serves some of us very well, and keeps us looking into things like buckets of frogs – that is, until a two-year-old comes and knocks them over.

Dr Ruth M.

Bancewicz,

Church Engagement Director at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion in Cambridge.

The whole world paused this morning. Do you know why? Because an 8 year old’s tank was empty.

The boys had already started their school day at their desks and I was preparing to leave for work when I noticed my littlest standing in the bathroom wiping his face.

I paused at the door and asked if he was okay. He looked up with tears silently dripping and shook his head. When I questioned if something happened, again he shook his head.

So I sat on the side of the bath and pulled him onto my lap. I told him sometimes our heart tanks feel empty and need to be refilled.

He cried into my chest and I held tight. I asked if he could feel my love filling him up?

A nod, and tears stopped...

I waited a minute...

‘Has it reached your toes yet?’

He shook his head no ...

‘Okay man. We will take as long as you need. Work doesn’t matter right now. School isn’t important either. This right here, is the most important thing today, okay? Filling you back to the top. Is that good?’ *nods*

One more minute...

‘Is your heart full of Daddy’s love now?’

‘Yeah...’

*looks in his eyes* ‘I see it shining in there, you’re full to the top, and you’re smiling!’

You may not be 8 - you may be 28, 38, 48 or whatever - but ALL of us run on empty just like he did. His week was so busy and so full and his little soul was just dry!

We all have to pause, and take a moment to refill with the good things: prayer, sunshine, laughter, friends, hugs. Refill the empty, or you’ll find those emotions (tears, anger, snappy words) overflowing with no reason why.

Take a moment. Refill. It’s the most important part of your day!

Ian Treacy

Saint Patrick’s Breastplate

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me and before me. Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in hearts of all who know me. Christ in mouth of friend and stranger, Christ in quiet and in roar.

Love, blessed Trinity of three, bound in unity who guides my journey. I will arise with strength of heaven trusting in Your light to guide my journey shine before me lead me home.

Power to guide me, might to hold me, wisdom teach me, watching o’er me. Ear to hear me, hand to guard me, love to conquer every fear.

Emma Townend, Joseph Townend and Stuart Townend Copyright © 2018 Townend Songs (Adm. by Song Solutions www.songsolutions.org). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

The story behind this song

Stuart: ‘Christ be with me’ is a hymn in a more traditional choral style. It is based on ‘The Prayer of Saint Patrick’ (sometimes known as ‘Saint Patrick’s Breastplate’), which recognises the closeness of Christ in every part of our lives. He is within us, beside us, in those around us, and we can call on him to provide us with all the protection and resources that we need in our daily walk with Christ. I hope that this hymn will be useful to churches from many different streams, denominations and musical styles, and may be particularly useful for those congregations and choirs that love to sing in harmony.

Emma: ‘The Prayer of Saint Patrick’ was originally a prayer for protection in battle, but we have expanded that to be about battles of many forms, including battles in mental health and other daily battles people face. Its premise is this idea of being surrounded by God from every single angle, and the protection that He brings us in every area of life. The chorus is a

proclamation and a cry of gratitude to the Trinity

Father, Son and Spirit – in the way that they offer us protection and love.

Joseph: The invocation of the Trinity is a central part of the original prayer, and we thought it was important to declare God’s triunity in the chorus of the song. God is three Persons, and he isn’t bound by anything. It could be said, however, that his three-ness is bound by the three Person’s unity of Nature; God is three Persons, and one Divine Nature. We felt that ‘three-ness bound by unity’ was a biblical, helpful and succinct way of declaring the mystery of who God is. As we journey through life, contemplating that mystery is itself a life-giving and worshipful activity, and our hope is that this song will help to lift our hearts and minds to the mystery of who God is.

In the Church Hymnal Saint Patrick’s Breastplate is number 322. The image below showing scenes from the life of Saint Patrick is in Down Cathedral.

Prayers During Lent

The Israelite prophet Micah said: "What does the Lord require of you? Only to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

God of mercy and source of justice, pour on your people such love and compassion that we cannot remain silent, we cannot tolerate injustice and poverty.

As your grace fills our hearts so may we be stirred into action to demonstrate your love for all the world and for all creatures that live and move on this earth.

Prayer of Confession

Forgive us Lord for our apathy, for our lack of courage to speak out. Forgive us when we walk past and don't offer help. Forgive us when we get it wrong. We confess that we are afraidwe don't want to overcome our hidden doubts and prejudices in order to be alongside those who are different from ourselves.

We ask that you would lead us into action: give us strength to be a voice crying for justice and peace.

Help us to step into another person's shoes, or if they have no shoes then not to be afraid to take off our own, peel off our preconceptions and assumptions, uncurl and spread out our toes, and tread in their footprints.

May we be a liberating presence and offer love, compassion and whatever is needed to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.

Prayers for others

God of mercy and love let us serve you in our world

We pray for desert people, who live in a dry, parched land who lack water who travel constantly so that they might live. Give them living water. Let the deserts bloom into flower. We pray that those who work on climate change may find solutions so that the erosion of soil may be halted or reversed.

We pray that water and other vital supplies might not be used as a weapon of war in countries where resources are scarce.

God of mercy and love let us serve you in our world

We pray for countries where justice seems far away, where human rights are ignored.

Let us remind those in power that prisoners are not forgotten.

We pray that the dignity of life is respected and remember those who have lost that dignity through age or infirmity or neglect. We pray for situations where the sex of a baby may lead to abandonment, where women are not offered the same opportunities, or are actively demeaned or mutilated.

May we act to challenge injustice and seek to affirm your love for all humankind.

God of mercy and love let us serve you in our world

We pray for those who have no peacefor those who are troubled and torn apart by lack of self esteem for those who torment and victimise the vulnerable.

We pray for men and women affected by violence in the home and for those who live by violence.

We pray for those who are trafficked and for those who organise and profit from selling other humans.

May they learn of your love and somehow come to newness of life even in the midst of despair.

God of mercy and love let us serve you in our world

Loving Lord let us not stand aside and tolerate lack of basic human resources, dehumanising practices, or the use of violence to disempower your people.

Give us strength to act and challenge hatred, and instead bring your justice and mercy. In your name we humbly ask that we may be a channel for your peace and love.

Amen.

From The Methodist Church

Church of Ireland Irish Language Development Officer

In January 2023, Suzanne Pender wrote in ”The Nationalist”:

Former Carlow resident and well poet and writer Dr Rita Kelly appointed Irish language development officer for Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (Irish Guild of the Church of Ireland).

Dr Kelly is an acclaimed and well established poet and writer in both Irish and English and for almost five decades has been involved in many Irish language developments and activities, both culturally and literary.

These involvements mean that she has travelled to all corners of Ireland, making friends as she went, connecting and reconnecting with many common threads.

A native of Galway and associated with East Galway in particular, Dr Kelly has lived in many different places –Germany, Manhattan, Waterford and along the River Barrow near Carlow, to name but some of them. She now lives in Birr, Co Offaly. It is an ideal location for travelling to all corners of the country – in this position of development officer, she will be working with the Church of Ireland community of the entire country, North and South, to promote the use of Irish.

This new position allows Rita to bring people together, to connect people to one another, people who speak wonderful Irish, people who are members of the Church of Ireland since childhood, but don’t often get the opportunity to use it, or the opportunity to worship in Irish.

This position of development officer is funded by Foras na Gaeilge. Rita hopes that people will contact her to seek whatever help she/the cumann can provide to support them in the promotion of the use of Irish within the Church of Ireland community.

Useful Baby Names!

Lawyer's daughter: Sue

Thief's son: Rob

Lawyer's son: Will

Fisherman's daughter: Annette

Hairdresser's son: Bob

Gourmet chef's son: Herb

Sound stage technician's son: Mike

Hot dog vendor's son: Frank

Exercise guru's son: Jim

Astronomer's daughter: Skye

Painter's son: Art

Iron worker's son: Rusty

Movie star's son: Oscar

VENITE a deirtear nó a chantar. Salm 95

1 Téanam agus canaimis don Tiarna; ■ déanaimis gairdeas do charraig ár slánaithe.

2 Druidimis ina láthair le haltú buíochais; ■ déanaimis pléaráca do le hamhráin mholta.

3 Óir is Dia mór é go dearfa an Tiarna; ■ is rí mór é os cionn na ndéithe go léir.

4 Is ina lámha atá duibheagáin na cruinne, ■ agus is leis mar an gcéanna na hardsléibhte.

5 Is leis an fharraige, óir is é a chruthaigh í; ■ agus is iad a lámha a dhealbhaigh an talamh tirim.

6 Téanam, go n-adharfaimis agus go sléachtfaimis; ■ feacam ár nglúine i láthair an Tiarna a chruthaigh sinn.

7 Óir is é ár nDia é, agus is sinne ■ pobal a pháirce agus caoirigh a láimhe.

Glóir don Athair, agus don Mhac, ■ agus don Spiorad Naomh; mar a bhí ar dtús, mar atá anois, ■ agus mar a bheas go brách, trí shaol na saol. Áiméan.

Oops!

While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch. After finishing their meal, they left and resumed their trip. When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table and she didn't miss them until they had been driving about twenty minutes.

By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around, in order to return to retrieve them.

All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy old man. He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated he became.

To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. As the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, her husband yelled to her, "While you're in there, you might as well get my hat and the credit card."

Two guys walking on the beach found an old brass lamp. The first guy immediately started rubbing it and, sure enough, a Genie popped out! Before he could say anything at all, the Genie turned him into a crab. The other guy was horrified and shouted, "Why did you do that?"

The Genie said, "Aww, he just rubbed me the wrong way."

A reflection on The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:1-18

Our Father in heaven, please help us. We, your children, learn slowly.

So often we say nothing when your name is mis-used. Often our lives do not reflect your ways, Mostly we do what we want on earth, And this can make heaven unimaginable. We expect so much more than we actually need each day.

Sometimes we think we don’t need forgiveness, Sometimes we think we are unforgivable, And we forget that other people make these same errors of thinking.

When it comes to temptation, we find our own ways, We are confused about what is and is not evil, We are confused about deliverance, We are confused

And here is the wonder, the grace and the mystery, That you know us completely, Our failings, our secrets, And still love us forever and ever, Amen.

Daphne Kitching

Spring in Our Steps

Spring is a delightful time in nature marking the end of the cold, dark winter and celebrating the return of light. It’s a hopeful season with new life emerging; snowdrops are often the first to bravely peep overground leading the way for other blooms to follow. For me, this transition from darkness into light marks a gentle awakening of nature and is a reminder that despite whatever is going on in the world, the seasons keep moving along to a reassuringly regular beat. Experiencing nature’s familiar rhythms and learning from the predicable patterns of the natural world has for many years provided some of my biggest spiritual lessons.

has helped me become alert to the Divine rhythm in my spiritual life, with each season providing a new opportunity to deepen my relationship to God. By following nature’s cues, we appreciate that it’s not only natural to rest, but it’s essential to take time in the dark, barren edges to retreat or hibernate before the light shines through. Sometimes we need to press the pause button, spending time alone and resting in stillness, actively awaiting God’s wake-up call. This can seem at first counter-intuitive in a world that seems to be always ‘switched on’. All too often we’re constantly busy in a state of do-ing and we too are always ‘on’. Sometimes there’s a subtle shift required to consciously move from a ‘human-doing’ to our more natural state of ‘human-being’. To be fully receptive in awakening to God’s unconditional love, we must be in God and rest in the Divine. There’s a time and place for each of us to awaken to this special journey. Nature is a great reminder that we can too easily become multi-taskers, doing too many things. Perhaps just as nature hibernates and rests, we may give ourselves permission to rest in God, taking time to pray and ask God where and how we need to take a break in our own life.

Trusting the natural cycles of my own spiritual life has enabled great insights and opportunities to grow and ignite my spirit. Sometimes I feel the need to go into a ‘spiritual hibernation’, letting go of all expectations, resting simply in my faith and making space to receive. In order to truly awaken we must first take time to rest: this has been a crucial lesson for me. Trusting this spiritual slumber and knowing that like the certainty of the arrival of spring, God will provide my wake-up call and the perfect time for spiritual transformation and growth awaits me. But in order to fully bloom, one must detach from the busyness of the world, or – as nature reminds us in winter – to practise the art of pause.

Creating a daily practice of pausing, allowing space to rest in a receptive state in order to receive the grace of God has been a pure gift. Like the transition from winter to spring, I become alive and alert to allowing the presence of God to bloom in my daily life, gently awakening to the fullness of my faith and my own spiritual spring. When you press pause with purpose you’re allowing yourself to be open and alert to “waking up” to God in every aspect of your life.

I always think the arrival of spring is the perfect time to plant new spiritual seeds which then become daily practices. Entering into the flow of the natural world

The experience of “intimacy with God” is that sense of involvement that allows the fullness of our being to be in harmony with all of nature and the world. The evolution of the seasons from winter to spring is as apt a metaphor as we’re likely to find for the journey inward. To find ourselves in tune with the Divine, we have to be willing to engage in a reverse process – of undoing and resting. Could you take a cue from nature to practise this pause?

Andrea Hayes

Family support charity

If you have a few hours to spare and would like to give practical and emotional support to a family in your area, please get in touch. Full training provided and all out of pocket expenses paid.

Please telephone: 028 3026 6139 or 028 4176 4120 Find us on Facebook.

‘The Book Well' New and Second-Hand Christian Books, Bibles Children’s Books, Church Stationery Items, CDs, Cards and gifts ... Free UK postage over £10. Orders can be shipped all over the UK and Ireland, or collected from 27 Belmont Road, Belfast. BT4 2AA Products may be purchased by telephone or online. 07581 143596 info@thebookwell.co.uk

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