The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes
of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore
Jeremiah wrote those comforting words in the book of Lamentations following the destruction and the overwhelming loss of the city of Jerusalem in 586 BC. It is likely that he had been an eyewitness to the horrors of that time. However, through it all, he focused on the goodness of God that never changes. In our own lives, and in the life of our church family, three buildings one church, change is inevitable. Yet in it all, God remains faithful.
We look back with gratitude to the time that +Darren and Karen and Liam have been with us and ministered to us. We thank God for them and pray that the move to Saint Paul’s will be a further time of blessing to them and to the church family there.
We look back too over the centuries of worship in our churches, Clonallon, Warrenpoint, and Kilbroney and give thanks for God’s faithfulness to the people of God in these places.
Editorial
This hymn by Thomas O Chisholm (1866-1960) comes to mind as we move into our Church vacancy. Thomas, born in Franklin, Kentucky, was a school teacher before becoming editor of a local paper, the Franklin Favourite. Following a religious conversion he was ordained into the Methodist Church. It was during this period that he wrote many poems, of which “Great is thy faithfulness” is perhaps the most famous.
This hymn, based on passages from Lamentations and Galatians, reminds us of God’s enduring and faithful provision for us.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
As we enter this new era we pray for those tasked with the responsibility of finding a rector, we pray for the Rev Myrtle, our Area Dean, and we pray for ourselves, that we will be faithful to our calling and ministry as God’s servants in this area. Jesus’ last words to his followers apply to us today as they did to the first disciples:
‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:18-20
Elizabeth HannaAnd remember,
I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Come and Sing with John Rutter
Alanah, Elphie, Susan, and Flo all took part in the John Rutter singing workshop during the Charles Wood music festival in Armagh which was held in First
The objectives of the Festival and Summer School are:
To promote the music of Charles Wood and his association with Armagh.
To provide opportunities for people to develop and enhance skills associated with music in worship.
To present programmes of music to the highest achievable standard within both a concert and liturgical context.
It was a very intense session ranging from Amazing Grace to Ave Maria in Russian, and a Ukrainian prayer in the style of the orthodox a cappella singing. It was a wonderful experience.
Charles Wood Summer School and Music Festival
The festival celebrates the music of Charles Wood and seeks to give singers and musicians an opportunity to perform and develop their talents. We do this through events during the year and our annual summer school in August for singers, organists and choir directors. It is held in all the main churches in Armagh.
Charles Wood, the renowned musician and composer, was born at 11 Vicars’ Hill, Armagh in 1866 and received his early musical education as a chorister in the cathedral opposite his home. He later studied at the Royal College of Music and became a Professor there before succeeding Stanford, that other fine Irish musician and composer, as Professor of Music at Cambridge University.
When Wood died in 1926 he left behind a legacy of over 250 sacred works plus a large number of hymn tunes. His other compositions include songs, music for Greek plays and chamber music. But it is largely for his sacred music that he is remembered today and this is why the focus of the Summer School is music in worship.
The patron of the event is John Rutter who is world renowned for his sacred music loved by choirs because of its simplicity and musicality
Area Dean for Mourne
The Reverend Myrtle Morrison
Myrtle has been rector of Newcastle since October 2021.
Prior to that she spent 20 years leading Saint Saviour’s Craigavon, initially as Evangelist–in–charge and then as Priest–in–charge. Myrtle joined the Church Army in the mid–eighties and was ordained in the Church of Ireland in 2017.
Myrtle said of her appointment:
“I am grateful to Bishop David for the opportunity to serve as Area Dean for Mourne. I will be following in the footsteps of Bishop Darren McCartney who has led the deanery for the last four years. This will be a first for me and I look forward to learning the ropes and working alongside my colleagues.”
Myrtle’s contact number:
028 4372 2439
What’s the difference between a literalist and a kleptomaniac?
A literalist takes things literally.
A kleptomaniac takes things, literally.
Church Services
Harvest Services
Warrenpoint 10.00 am Sunday 1 October
Kilbroney 11.30 am Sunday 8th October
Clonallon 3.00 pm Sunday 8th October
American Dentist - "Try to relax. I'll pull your aching tooth in five minutes."
Patient - "How much will this cost?"
Dentist - "It'll be $2,000."
Patient - "That much for just five minutes work?"
Dentist - "Well if you prefer, I can pull it out very, very slowly."
Lectionary Year A
Thursday 7th September 2023 at 7.00 pm
The institution of The Right Reverend Darren James McCartney as Rector of Saint Paul’s Parish Church, Lisburn. 3 Ballinderry Road, BT28 1UD
Clonallon and Warrenpoint Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/warrenpointcoi/ Sunday Services at 10.00 am.
Kilbroney Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/KilbroneyParishChurchRostrevor/ Sunday Services at 11.30 am.
Prayer Time
10.45 am in Vestry Warrenpoint Church
Tuesday 12th September
Everyone, from each of our parishes, is invited to join us.
Crafters on Wednesdays
Yes Ladies! (and maybe gents!!), it's that time again to dust off the knitting or crochet needles as it's Kilbroney Crafters’ season.
Crafting will commence
Wednesday 6th September
in the Parish Room at 11.00 am to 1.00 pm. All levels of Crafters welcome. Tea, coffee, a biscuit and craic are obligatory! So please come along if you would like to pick up a new skill or resurrect an old one.
All are welcome
Tower Bells and Handbells on Thursdays
Tower bells 6.45 to 7.30 pm
Handbells 7.30 to 9.00 pm
Deadline for October 2023
edition of The Pointer is Friday 22nd September
Please keep sending in articles and photographs!
Editor: hannamanor15@btinternet.com
Compline on Facebook 9.00 pm
Each Sunday evening.
Ladies Bible Study
Next meeting in Warrenpoint Vestry Tuesday 10th October at 10.45 am
Badminton
Warrenpoint Parish Hall
Mondays and Thursdays from 5.30 pm
Join the WhatsApp group for regular updates.
Sunday Explorers
11.30 am 3rd September
All young folk welcome! Kilbroney Parish Hall
Ladies Guild
September
Speaker and time to be announced
Opportunities for Volunteering
Monday 18th September
2.00 -3.30 pm followed by a cup of tea. Welcome to anyone interested in joining us for prayer and also to hear of opportunities from Grace, Volunteer Coordinator with PFNI.
3, Old Hall Court, Rostrevor. BT34 3TA Tel. 028 4173 7658
The Sunflower Woods
121 Ballymoney Road, Banbridge.
Open from 11.00 am Tuesday Sunday
Used Stamps
Royal National Institute of Blind People
We will begin again to collect used postage stamps. Please cut/tear a small margin of paper round each stamp (about a centimetre) . These will be sent to RNIB twice a year.
Christian Burial
We extend our prayerful sympathy to all who mourn, especially to the family and friends of the Reverend Niall Griffin
23rd January 1937 - 12th July 2023
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
Gerry’s devotional piece at Niall’s Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 16th July 2023.
I want to give thanks to God our Father, Jesus our Saviour and Good Shepherd and the Holy Spirit, giver of life, for helping and guiding us throughout our lives but especially during the last year.
For this Thanksgiving Service I thank Bishops Darren and Harold, Brother David, Father Mark, Reverend Ian, our son Sean, Paul and Sharon, Shelagh, Ken and the Bell Ringers, Pauline, Elfie, the flower arrangers, Rosemary and Bernie, our immediate family, my siblings and their families, Niall’s siblings and their families, the staff in Carlingford Lodge and Ardmaine Care Homes and Daisy Hill Hospital, all our praying friends throughout the world, our caring neighbours and all of you for attending this Service this afternoon.
Psalm 118 v 24
“This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
During the last 6 months I have been going to see Niall in hospital and Care Homes almost every day and the Scripture I was given to help is: “ My grace is sufficient for you.”
Although Niall was gradually more sick, less mobile and less able to communicate, it was a precious time in which we could prepare for his leaving us Niall himself prepared me by telling me he was not going to live long.
There were moments when Niall was clear and his sense of humour burst through on several occasions eg. when Bernie asked him “ Would you like us to sing together?” he looked straight at her and said, “ As long as you sing in tune.”
On another occasion he was looking around towards the ceiling so I asked him what could he see he replied, “ I see a fabulous blonde.” and again in the midst of unclear words, he said, “ You’re the best wife I’ve ever had.” where are all the others I wonder?
Niall had a joyful, peaceful acceptance of going to be with Jesus and clearly said recently, “ I’m on my way up.”
There were three things Niall enjoyed during the last few months; singing praise songs in his room, having the Bible read to him and very cold milk!
In the morning of 12th July, the day he died, I read the verses for that morning in a little book called, “Daily Light” and those verses turned out to be the last thing he heard, because he died 3 hours later after I had gone home. I will read these verses to you and I feel sure that the Lord will speak to many of you here today through them.
Exodus 33 v 14
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Deuteronomy 31 v 6 and 8
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you…The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Joshua 1 v 9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged , for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Proverbs 3 v 6
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Hebrews 13 v 5-6
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence,’ The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’
2 Corinthians 3 v 5
“Our competence comes from God.”
Jeremiah 10 v 23
“I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.”
Psalm 31 v 15
“My times are in your hands.”
Sermon
The Rev Ian C Ballentine
I'm sure you're all familiar with Niall's background. His father was an archdeacon, his grandfather was a Church of Ireland rector, so was his great-grandfather – and so too were some of his uncles – so it was not surprising that he followed a call to ordination –perhaps more remarkable that his brothers Peter and Keith didn't also follow that route, but maybe you thought one in the family was enough.
But this path led Niall from Kerry to Dublin and a 2nd curacy in Armagh where he met Gerry. Niall went on to serve in Jamaica, so the courtship was continued by letter –‘snail mail’ it's called today – and Gerry visited Niall in Jamaica in time to return home with him as an engaged couple, to a curacy in Shankill Parish Lurgan –where later I also served a curacy. Now, I didn't know Niall at the time but I understand it was a Norton Motorbike for the parish rounds in Jamaica and a Mini-Cooper S for Lurgan. From there it was into the Royal Air Force as a chaplain for 16 years – a variety of postings including Germany and Singapore. As I said I didn't know Niall and Gerry at this stage, so I have to take Gerry's word for it when she tells me that although Niall was a clergyman, he wasn't a very good one – and especially when serving in RAF Valley in the mid 70s, he was at a spiritual low, even perhaps in a spiritual depression. And that was when one of the two life-defining events of Niall's life happened. It was – a jumble sale!
Well the jumble sale was part of it! - Let me explain –you know that every self respecting jumble sale, among it's many attractions, has a 2nd hand book stall. And this particular one was in the hands of the late Jill Peatie – sifting through the pile she came across a book – Nine O'clock in the morning by Dennis Bennet – an episcopal priest in the USA – the book tells the story of An Episcopal priest, a spiritual wilderness, and a couple who shared the fire that led to a longed-for renewal - the fire of the Holy Spirit filled Dennis Bennet and changed his life and the life of his congregation. Jill thought this might be appropriate for Niall, but a little shy – she thought it would be better coming from Gerry so Gerry had a look at it, thought yeah, Niall could do with a bit of a gee-up, and passed it on to Niall – who devoured it, and looked to God for the fulfilment of Jesus' promise that the Father would give the Holy Spirit more and more to those who ask in faith. He discovered that God is faithful and responds to those who hunger and thirst for the Living God.
Niall was baptised/inundated/filled to the measure, full and running over with the Spirit of God and newly empowered for ministry – a different sort of ministry from what had gone before – a ministry – not thinking
out good plans and programmes – but a ministry following God's plans - trying to keep up, an exciting fulfilling ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit –seeing God's intervention in people's affairs, God's willingness to heal in so many circumstances, God's willingness to speak into people's lives in ways that could only be thought of as Miraculous at times.
Of course all this exciting stuff makes some people nervous – fear of what God might do, might ask of them, how he might change them.
Niall's choice of reading includes John chapter 1:
10 He (Logos – word, Yeshua) was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
And being “born again”, having “believed in the name of Jesus”, having “received” him, it's God's intention that we should also receive this infilling of the Holy Spirit which so changed Niall's life.
We need to understand that God is love –
1 John 4:8 God is love – important to understand.
Love is not merely an attribute of God, one of his qualities, it is part of his very being. God is not merely loving; at his core, he is love. To be filled with God, to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with love.
Life in the Spirit is a love affair with God.
This whole experience of being born again and filled with the Spirit – a love affair with God - is summed up by Noel Richards c 1994
Overwhelmed By Love, Deeper Than Oceans, High As The Heavens.
Ever Living God
Your Love Has Rescued Me.
All My Sin Was Laid
On Your Dear Son, Your Precious One. All My Debt He Paid, Great Is Your Love For Me.
Of course Gerry was still lagging behind at this stage, somewhat aghast at the change in Niall and the direction their life was taking, but Niall patiently explained, quietly prayed, gently led and kindly waited until Gerry soon joined him and entered into this new and exciting ministry in the Spirit and with a new understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation and life in the Spirit – because of course denominations are no barrier to God's Spirit and he was filling “all
who are thirsty”, right across the denominations, across doctrinal differences, and right across the variety of churchman ships and so unity was found in one Spirit one Lord, and I would say in one church –that's not the fallible visible church, but the invisible church, known really only by God – of the born again Spirit filled.
Niall's last posting in the RAF was to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland and from there he and Gerry, Sean and Patrick joined the community of the Christian Renewal Centre (CRC) in Rostrevor led by Cecil Kerrfrom 1984-89 with it's joint ministry of Renewal and reconciliation. This too, was a period which saw remarkable action of God – in touching and turning around people's lives, in powerful healings. Our little group from St Patrick's well remember, not without a little embarrassment, approaching Niall at one of the early Bible weeks to ask for a bandage for a really badly sprained ankle, turning black and not able to be walked upon – have you prayed about it he asked and promptly proceeded to lay hands and pray – of course the ankle was healed almost immediately – still black but no pain and able to bear weight. Some nurses present then insisted on bandaging it but the pain immediately returned so off went the bandage and thanks be to God.
Also in those troubled times, with many Christians praying, including those in the Renewal centre, there were bombs which failed to explode, plots which were uncovered, and evil plans which failed, and perhaps most tellingly – a civil war which didn't happen.
It was during this period that God began to show Niall his next area of ministry. On a visit to Israel with Cecil – on Mount Carmel he had a series of mental pictures [visions] ministering to people of African or Asian appearance which later made sense when He and Gerry were asked to set up SOMA in Ireland – a small ministry taking teams to Anglican dioceses abroad to teach and minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. From 1988 – 2005 Niall and Gerry led teams to a great variety of African countries especially in west Africa with numerous visits to Nigeria, and I was privileged to join with them on one to Katsina in the North. In the late 80s and 90s conditions were often primitive –the local diocese provided accommodation for teams and in my experience, that rarely included running water or modern toilets – and sometimes dangerous –we arrived in Katsina to the cathedral with the Army guarding the compound against the threat from local Islamists to burn it down – they had burned 400 churches across Northern Nigeria the year before, with over 100 people killed - but the testimonies of lives changed, and healings experienced went on and on. When I later became responsible for Soma in Ireland and led missions to some of the dioceses Niall
and Gerry had visited, it was remarkable how grateful they were for their ministry. One bishop, who had been a priest in the diocese at the time, some 10 years earlier, told me that their mission had brought renewal to the diocese and they hadn't looked back since. Many stories could be told – and of their later call to minister in India – ask Brother David about his experiences – but I want to come back to the Renewal Centre for a moment.
I said earlier there were two life – defining events for Niall and I would like to tell you about the 2nd. It's not so much one moment, although there is a “crisis” point which I'll come to.
The experience of forgiveness and especially the reality of God's love, something so real that you cannot doubt, is something which focusses our faith in God upon the question of who he is! Who is God? There are different religions which claim to worship God – Who is the God in whom we place our trust? And the answer for a Christian – a born again, Spirit filled Christian – can only be one thing – he is the God of the Bible – the creator God – the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob – the God who reveals himself in his dealings with mankind – and principally – with the Children of Israel.
For centuries, the church persecuted the Jews, and even taught “replacement theology” ie., that all God's promises are fulfilled in Christ and that the church replaces Israel in God's plans. The big story of Christianity then is – Creation, fall, Jesus' death and resurrection leads to redemption, and we go to heaven to be with him. So that's the 1st 3 chapters of Genesis then skip to NT.
But all Niall's experiences were telling him to trust God's Word – all of it!
The God we believe in is the God of Creation but he is also the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the God of Israel – the God who made covenants with Israel –and God doesn't break covenants.
During his time at CRC Niall was hearing testimony from Messianic Jews such as Johannus Fascius & Ari Ben Israel and was very interested.
Then Niall almost died! In 1999 he had cancer of the bowel which approached bursting stage and a an emergency operation in Daisy Hill Hospital saved his life – although fervent prayer may also have had something to do with it. During his recovery Niall had an experience of the Holy Spirit just as powerful as his first!
In this experience the Holy Spirit spoke to Niall about the nation of Israel and the Jewish people and showed him the importance of Israel in his plans – Our God is still the God of Israel. When the Son of Man comes he
returns not to London, Belfast or New York but to Jerusalem. For too long the church has tried to expropriate all the blessings to itself apart from Israel. So Niall has been very involved with support for God's work in Israel – Let me tell you of two.
TJCll. 1st in Acts 15 – the 1st Ecumenical Council – what to do about Gentiles [like us] who want to follow Jesus – must they become Jews? [be circumcised] No
But as the church became more and more Gentile and even Hellenistic – Jews had to stop being Jews – time to rethink!
Abraham Heschel - Sometimes Israel itself is a messenger who has forgotten the message – not speaking about the merits of the current administration of the State of Israel- talking about God – who has a purpose for a covenant people, and who in his sovereign will and freedom of choice elected to identify his name forever with the Jewish people
Close to Niall's heart also has been support for MAOZ –a Messianic Jewish congregation in Tel Aviv – a dynamic congregation which is writing new worship songs in Hebrew, translating theological and inspirational books into Hebrew and spreading the Good News of Yeshua to the people of Jesus. It is to this cause that Gerry asks you to give any donation that is on your heart today but even more it is to this God and to Jesus that Niall would ask you today to give your very heart – in the name of God – Amen.
Crossword Clues
3 Underground literature (including Christian books) circulated in the Soviet Union (8)
4 Lo, mash (anag.) (6)
5 The Bible’s shortest verse: ‘Jesus ’ (John 11:35) (4)
6 ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her and have no compassion on the child she has borne?’ (Isaiah 49:15) (6)
7 Can be seen in a dying fire (Psalm 102:3) (6)
12 ‘Send me, therefore, a man... experienced in the of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem’ (2 Chronicles 2:7) (3)
14 Second city of Cyprus (8)
15 United Nations Association (1,1,1)
16 One of the women who first heard that Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark 16:1) (6)
17 Braved (anag.) (6)
18 of Evangelism, outreach initiative in the 1990s (6)
20 ‘Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and in their own sight’ (Isaiah 5:21) (6)
21 ‘Neither nor depth... will be able to separate us from the love of God’ (Romans 8:39) (6)
23 What Jesus shed in 5 Down (4)
Across
8 Where the Ark of the Covenant was kept for 20 years (1 Samuel 7:1) (7,6)
9 One of the parts of the body on which blood and oil were put in the ritual cleansing from infectious skin diseases (Leviticus 14:14–17) (3)
10 Uncomfortable (3,2,4) 11 ‘Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have ’ (Malachi 1:3) (5)
13 Where Paul said farewell to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:17) (7)
16 ‘Jesus bent down and to write on the ground with his finger’ (John 8:6) (7)
19 Prophet from Moresheth (Jeremiah 26:18) (5)
22 Comes between Exodus and Numbers (9)
24 and 2 Down ‘Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy ministered before the Lord under the ’ (1 Samuel 2:11) (3,6)
25 There was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7) (4,3,6)
Down
1 Rough drawing (2 Kings 16:10) (6)
2 See 24 Across
A four-year-old was at the paediatrician for a check up. As the doctor looked in her ears, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?"
The little girl stayed silent.
Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?"
Again, the little girl was silent.
Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heartbeat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?"
"Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."
Ginger Cake
INGREDIENTS:
8 ozs Self-raising Flour
½ teaspoon of Baking Soda
½ teaspoon of Mixed Spice
½ teaspoon of Ground Ginger
2 ozs Sugar
2 Eggs
4 ozs Butter
4 ozs Treacle
4 ozs Syrup
¼ pint Milk
METHOD:
Line a 2lb Pyrex loaf tin with a grease proof paper “cake liner”.
Sift flour, baking soda and spices into mixing bowl, stir in sugar.
Hollow out centre of flour mixture with wooden spoon and drop lightly beaten eggs into well in flour.
Heat butter, syrup, treacle, and milk together in saucepan until ingredients blend well.
Pour warm, NOT HOT mixture unto beaten eggs.
Beat all together to make a thick smooth batter.
Pour into prepared loaf tin and put quickly into preheated oven – 175˚C for 45 minutes.
Saint Bronach's, Kilbroney Parish Church, will be participating in the European Heritage Open Days again this September. The Church will be open on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th for this event from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm each afternoon. During these hours visitors are most welcome to take a walk around the inside of the church, to view its special stained-glass windows, Major General Ross' Memorial, a reproduction of the Book of Kells and other historic memorials along with an available tour guide, namely Mrs Shelagh Roberts and Mrs Pauline Coffey.
Last year's event was quite memorable as it lashed rain for the entire weekend; but a number of brave souls ignored the weather and took a wander into the church building, with a few on a mission to say they had seen all there was to see in the European Heritage Open Day guide.
If this is new to you, "EHOD 2023 is taking place over the weekend of 9th -10th September 2023. It is a once-a-year opportunity for curious families, architect lovers and heritage enthusiasts to explore buildings and exclusive sites rarely open to the public." Dept of Communities Website
Various buildings and gardens are open over this weekend when normally they would be closed to the public. Most are free to enter and even offer free guided tours. Further information can be found on which properties are open in Northern Ireland at the Department of Communities Website or the Discover Ireland Webpage. Just search for the EHOD web app.
The Cobbler
Frederick William MacMonnies 28th September 1863 – 22nd March 1937 American
Some Boyo!
Do any Rostrevor folk remember James Woods? James was a cobbler (a person who mended shoes you young folk!) years ago shoes mostly had leather soles and it was very swanky (“with it”) to have shoes with rubber soles!
The cobbler had large sides of leather which he expertly cut up to patch the hole, or replace the whole sole, if needed. Well, James was a good cobbler but he had mental health issues, having been wounded in the First World War. He worked from home which was a wooden hut on the hill, then a green field, where in later years the Boys’ Primary School was and is now Saint Bronagh’s Youth Club, just opposite the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant. A roughly hand painted sign (probably by him) on an old bit of wood told us it was called Fort Belvedere.
James, when he reckoned that he had worked enough for one day (usually very early afternoons) always walked down the street, still wearing his big leather work apron and carrying his heavy blackthorn walking stick, to the Corner House Bar. He was partial to a wee drop or two!
We, the local youngsters, to my shame now, used to ride our bikes up close to him and shout, “Jamesy, Jamesy, will you shoot us now?” or “Jamesy, where’s your gun?”
James would chase us down the street and try to knock us off our bikes with his big stick, which he cocked like a gun, shouting, “we’ll get you yet.” we thought this was great fun. I hope children are kinder now.
Joan Toasemany times with your HiVis jackets !
Fiddlers Green Festival … you were spotted
carried out litter picking every day during the
Thank you to the folk from An Cuan who
Education Advisor Bishops’ Appeal
Hilary McClay has been appointed as the new Education Advisor for the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal for World Aid and Development. The Bishops’ Appeal exists to encourage members of the Church of Ireland to engage with, walk alongside and support those people groups and parts of the world who are dealing with the impact of poverty, violence, climate change and suffering.
Through the generosity of members across all the dioceses, Bishops’ Appeal supports life–changing development work which helps people to live more of their lives to the full.
For over 20 years Hilary worked in community development in Northern Ireland, supporting local churches to engage with issues of poverty and deprivation as part of their Christian mission and outreach. She has also visited several countries where extreme poverty and climate change has had such a severe impact on the lives of people, and has seen what churches in countries such as Ethiopia and Nepal are doing and how the support of agencies working on the ground such as CMS Ireland and Tearfund makes such a difference.
Speaking about her appointment to Bishops’ Appeal, Hilary said: “Taking up this role at this time, when the media is reporting on how cuts to the UK’s overseas aid budget will hold back the potential of people living in poverty, is a stark reminder that all our actions have consequences. As Christians we have a particular responsibility to campaign, advocate, respond, give and walk alongside the most vulnerable in our world –which is what Bishops’ Appeal is all about.”
She added: “I am looking forward to learning more about what Bishops’ Appeal does to support the work of Christian agencies on the ground, and to bring positive change to people’s lives.”
Welcoming Mrs McClay to the post, Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Chair of the Bishops’ Appeal Advisory Committee, said: “Hilary comes with a passion for the Church, a track record in community development, and wide experience of the global south. She is ideally
placed to be the advocate for the vital work of Bishops’ Appeal in the Church of Ireland.”
Bishops’ Appeal has been operating since 1972, when it was set up by the Church of Ireland’s bishops in response to the commands in the Bible to bring good news to people living in poverty and relief to the suffering.
In 2022, Bishops’ Appeal paid out €788,704 in grants (equivalent to around £675,000) with 78% of donations going toward disaster relief. The most significant recipient country was Ukraine, in response to appeals by Christian Aid, Tearfund and Habitat for Humanity, although sustained support for projects in Africa continued, especially in East and Central Africa. Bishops’ Appeal also supported projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Nepal, Bangladesh, Haiti and Honduras.
It is a registered charity in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, and its aims are to:
- educate the Church at home about the needs and concerns of people in the less developed world and the causes of poverty;
- encourage Church members to examine the reasons for the problems facing the less fortunate in the world and to consider what we can do to change conditions;
- reach out in God’s name to those who need our help; encourage informed prayer and prayerful action aimed at strengthening the poor; and
- raise the funds needed to allow Bishops’ Appeal to support development projects and alleviate the suffering caused by disasters, both natural and man–made.
The role will involve clarifying, strengthening and supporting Bishops’ Appeal’s strategic vision and aims, consulting with the Advisory Committee regarding best practice when funds from the Bishops’ Appeal are to be allocated, and liaising with and advising aid and development charities supported by the appeal as they make funding applications. Hilary McClay succeeds Lydia Monds who moved to a new position in the Church’s Ministry of Healing in January this year.
“Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change.
Prayer is a conversation you have with God about things God can change.”
For non-native English speakers:
“read” is pronounced like “lead” and
“read” is pronounced like “lead”.
I’m told research has shown that laughing for two minutes is as healthy as a twenty minute jog. So I’m sitting in the park laughing at all the joggers!
Following the services of Holy Communion in Clonallon, and Morning Prayer in Kilbroney, parishioners from all three churches gathered in Warrenpoint Parish Hall to bid farewell to +Darren, Karen and Liam.
A finger buffet supplied by Diamonds was served by an enthusiastic team from Clonallon and Warrenpoint as folk gathered from the entire community.
A few short speeches followed with a gift to +Darren (in a brown envelope!) with a framed photo collage of the church buildings. Stephen Cooper, rector’s churchwarden, made that presentation on behalf of all the parishioners from the three churches.
Steward Nash, rector’s churchwarden, reflected on the time that the McCartney family have been with us and he also thanked the catering team for the meal we enjoyed.
Elizabeth Hanna presented a gift to Liam on behalf of all the churches.
Two presentations were made to Karen: Joan Toase on behalf of the Ladies Guild, and Dorothy Major representing the Ladies Bible Study Group.
Photographs were taken well over two hundred so the pages that follow will give a flavour of what was a most enjoyable time, albeit also a sad one, for our parishes.
Darren spoke to the gathered community:
Thank you for being here this afternoon. Thank you to those who sat down and planned this reception, and to those who made it happen. Thank you to those who reached out to wish us well and to many others who sent apologies for not being present with us.
Thank you too for your generosity, but most importantly, thank you for your friendship over these last four years. You have welcomed Karen, Liam, and me into your communities, into your homes, and into your lives.
You have remained committed throughout some very challenging times, and for this I am so grateful.
We will miss you, and we will miss the beauty of your surroundings. We pray that we will visit many times in the months to come, and keep in contact with many of you.
Blessings,
+Darren
Being Boring
Wendy Cope'May you live in interesting times,' Chinese curse
If you ask me 'What's new?', I have nothing to say Except that the garden is growing.
I had a slight cold but it's better today.
I'm content with the way things are going. Yes, he is the same as he usually is, Still eating and sleeping and snoring. I get on with my work. He gets on with his. I know this is all very boring.
There was drama enough in my turbulent past: Tears of passion-I've used up a tankful. No news is good news, and long may it last. If nothing much happens, I'm thankful. A happier cabbage you never did see, My vegetable spirits are soaring. If you're after excitement, steer well clear of me. I want to go on being boring.
I don't go to parties. Well, what are they for, If you don't need to find a new lover?
You drink and you listen and drink a bit more And you take the next day to recover. Someone to stay home with was all my desire And, now that I've found a safe mooring, I've just one ambition in life: I aspire To go on and on being boring.
A truck loaded with thousands of copies of Roget's Thesaurus crashed yesterday losing its entire load. Witnesses were stunned, startled, aghast, taken aback, stupefied, confused, shocked, rattled, paralyzed, dazed, bewildered, mixed up, surprised, awed, dumbfounded, nonplussed, flabbergasted, astounded, amazed, confounded, astonished, overwhelmed, horrified, numbed, flummoxed, speechless, perplexed, and gobsmacked. Meanwhile, those waiting for the shipment were at a loss for words.
Washington Post: The physical and mental health benefits of singing with others.
Choirs are large families, said the paper. Singing in them promotes social bonding and joy. Choir members are more optimistic, less lonely, more likely to contribute positively to community. A sense of achievement comes from creating notes with the body and working together to master a work. The text is often inspiring and beautiful, so despite the day’s travails, choir members leave rehearsals feeling “this is a very positive thing that I can be a part of.” The Bible knew that all along. Choirs are a biblical part of God’s scheme of worship! Don’t miss it in your church!
Ladies Bible Study
Where has the summer gone? While we took a break from our Bible Study … we met instead for a prayer time. This has been a very special time but we were missing you … the congregation, and vestry members. Delighted that one lady was able to come along to our first meeting. It is holiday time and holiday plans are made and that is OK. This prayer time was a 'one off special' maybe not, the Lord might have other plans. Anyway, you are all invited. We meet in the Vestry and if there is a spill over then we can always move into the Church. If you say "I can't pray; I wouldn't know what to say" well you are in good company, the disciples had to ask Jesus to teach them to pray. If you say "I'm not good enough" well you are still in good company. Now, you can say "Amen" after prayers that's a prayer so there's nothing stopping you. We are on the threshold of a new season in our Church, we don't know what is in store, but let's come before the one who does know, let's ask him to prepare our hearts for changes, to embrace anything new and leave ourselves open to his will.
Our next prayer time is Tuesday 12th September at 10.45 am in the vestry.
How good is the God we adore Our faithful unchangeable friend Whose love is as great as his power And knows neither measure nor end.
'Tis Jesus the first and the last Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home We'll praise him for all that is past And trust him for all that's to come.
Amen
Our Bible Study will recommence DV on Tuesday 10th October. More details later. All ladies will be warmly welcomed.
Love, God Bless and stay safe
Dorothy xxCrossword Answers
ACROSS: 8, Kiriath Jearim.
9, Toe. 10, Ill at ease.
11, Hated.
13, Miletus. 16, Started.
19, Micah. 22, Leviticus.
24, Eli. 25, Mary and Joseph.
DOWN: 1, Sketch. 2, Priest.
3, Samizdat. 4, Shalom.
5, Wept. 6, Breast.
7, Embers. 12, Art.
14, Limassol. 15, UNA.
16, Salome. 17, Adverb.
18, Decade. 20, Clever.
21, Height. 23, Tear.
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
James Baldwin‘Vase of Flowers’ by Jan Davidsz de Heem "Mauritshuis, The Hague."
‘
He gave us eyes to see them’: Flowers – the beauty of the Lord
In this month of September, we give thanks for God’s blessings in all that the earth yields us. Those blessings are focused in this wonderful painting of Jan Davidsz de Heem. He was born in Utrecht in Holland in 1606 and studied art under his father’s guidance. De Heem then moved to Antwerp, where for the rest of his life he created paintings of such beauty and depth that one of them – a portrait of Prince William III surrounded by blossoms and fruits - received the highest price ever paid for a painting at that time.
In the ‘Vase of Flowers’ de Heem has gathered together a bouquet of variegated flowers and plants for our delight. Time stands still in his painting in two ways. First, these thirty-one blooms could never have flowered at the same time, but through the magical touch of the artist, they do for us. Caught on canvas,
they are as fresh and vibrant as the day they were painted in 1645.
But there are signs that the gifts of nature do wither and die, as we look closely and see on the marble slab a snail. Nearby is a salamander eyeing his next meal as a spider hangs on a thread from one of the flowers. In the centre, another snail looks at his food, the beautiful and rare red and white tulips. Yet we look again and see also signs of new life: the reeds of wheat are symbols of the Eucharistic bread; the caterpillar and butterfly on the striking white lily at the top are signs of resurrection; and the peas in their pod and the blackberries mark out the fruitfulness of creation.
The artist shows us a glorious range of flowers - some well-known, others more exotic and brought back to Holland through the colonial expansion of the 16th century. Tulips and poppies dominate, but to the left are some small-scented roses.
Each is a testimony to the beauty and goodness of the world we live in.
A 100 years later, Christopher Smart wrote in ‘Jubilate Agno’: ‘For the flowers are great blessings for the flower glorifies God for the flowers are peculiarly the poetry of Christ.’
And 200 years later Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote: ‘I do not think I have ever seen anything more beautiful than the bluebell I have been looking at. I know the beauty of our Lord by it.’
And we, in our own century, can echo poet and painter as we praise God, the author of such flowers and plants that make up a world of ‘all things bright and beautiful.’
Murder Most Foul
A dirty wet night, and the three of us girls who lodged in the Methodist Hostel for Girls on the Antrim Road, Belfast, many years ago, were bored stiff. We didn’t fancy going into town to any of the clubs or dances Saturday night was the big night and only “creeps” went there on Friday nights!
Georgie (Georgina) suggested we get the bus for the three stops up to the Floral Hall at Bellevue, where it is situated in the lovely gardens, next to Belfast Zoo. Friday night was the night all the hopeful “would be” groups played for the dancers, who were usually very critical of their music. Better than nothing, we thought! So raincoats on and off we went. Actually, the music wasn’t bad, but then the band packed up, saying that they had another important gig to go to. The next replacement group were AWFUL. We thought, this is enough, let’s just get a carry-out and go home to our rooms.
We went outside the Hall to find that the little bus which usually takes folks down the long steep hill to the main road wasn’t there. As I said before, it wasn’t a pleasant night but there was nothing to do but walk it!
The walking path was lined with bushes on either side, blocking out light from the street lamps. The three girls in their light clothes and high stiletto heels were not happy bunnies!
Down two stairs, two flat steps, two more stairs, two flat steps all the way to the bottom of the hill. Still a dirty and overcast night, but at least the heavy rain had passed over. Like Brown’s Cows, one behind the other, we tried to go carefully in case of falling on the slippery wet path. Half way down the steep path Georgie passed the remark that it was like a night somebody could be murdered … cheering us up no end.
Next morning we heard the awful news that Patricia Curran, a lawyer’s daughter, had been murdered not half a mile from where we had walked down that long steep hill.
Joan ToaseOne day a man saw a beautiful horse. He wanted to buy the animal and said to the farmer: "I think your horse looks pretty good, so I'll give you £500 for him." "He doesn't look good, and he's not for sale," the farmer replied.
"I think he does, I'll give you £1,000!" he insisted. "He doesn't look so good," the farmer said, "but if you want him that much, he's yours."
The next day the man came back raging mad. He screamed, "You sold me a blind horse! You cheat!" The farmer calmly replied, "I told you he didn't look so good, didn't I?"
Proverbs
A primary one teacher had twenty-five students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb.
1. Don't change horses . . . until they stop running.
2. Strike while the . . . bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before . . . Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of . . . termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but . . . How?
6. Don't bite the hand that . . . looks dirty.
7. No news is . . . impossible
8. A miss is as good as a . . . Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new . . . Maths
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll . . . stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust . . . Me.
12. The pen is mightier than the . . . pigs.
13. An idle mind is . . . the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's . . . pollution.
15. Happy the bride who . . . gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is . . . not much.
17. Two's company, three's . . . the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what . . . you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and . . . You have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as . . . Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not . . . spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed . . . get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you . . . See in the picture on the box
24. When the blind lead the blind . . . get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand . . . is going to poop on you.
The teenager had just received a brand new driving license.
To celebrate, the whole family climbed into the car for the inaugural drive.
Dad immediately headed to the back seat, directly behind the newly minted driver.
"I'll bet you're back there to get a change of scenery after all those months of sitting in the front passenger seat teaching me how to drive," said the beaming teenager.
"Nope," came dad's reply, "I'm gonna sit right here and kick the back of your seat while you drive, just like you have been doing to me for sixteen years."
You have heard of Murphy’s Law?
If something can go wrong, it will go wrong. Have you heard of Cole’s Law?
No, what is it?
Thinly sliced cabbage!
Visit a Church
If you're away somewhere and visit a church please take some photographs and find out what you can about it. We’d love to have a series of these in the next few Pointers.
Hope Christian Fellowship
It was interesting to learn that the first church on this site was built during the time of King Offa (757-796). Then, after a period of Danish control, Aethelflaed, the daughter of King Alfred the Great, rebuilt the defences in 913 and rededicated the church to the Anglo-Saxon Saint Editha.
This is a busy parish “Four buildings — One Church”. Saint Editha's, Tamworth, Saint Chad’s, Hopwas, Saint Andrew’s, Kettlebrook, Saint Francis of Assisi, Leyfields, with services in each of them every Sunday plus many events during the week.
serves God, and the community in and around La Marina (San Fulgencio)
This is a Church I visited while on holiday in La Marina in June. I was made very welcome and invited to sit with some of the ladies.
The service began with lots of singing ... hymns and worship songs. Then, there was a time of prayer when we were encouraged, but not pressured, to pray aloud.
Pastor Bryan Lowry was recovering from hip surgery, so the service was led by Pastor Keith Browne and the preacher was Hardy Schilitz.
Evelyn GreerSaint Editha’s, Tamworth
The church of Saint Editha is the largest parish church in Staffordshire. Most of it dates from the mid to late 14thcentury. This was an amazing place.
The bell ringing was wonderful I could have listened to them all day!
MON: Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight.
TUES: Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print labels on medicines. Helllloooo!!! Bottles won’t fit in typewriter!!! After work I was trapped on the escalator for hours – power went out!!!
WED: Tried to make flavoured drink mix wrong instructions … 8 cups of water won’t fit in those tiny packets.
THURS: Tried breaststroke swimming contest –learned later the other swimmers cheated – they used their arms.
FRI: Got locked out of my convertible car in rain storm – car was swamped because the roof was open.
SAT: The capital of California is “C” – isn’t it???
SUN: Baked a turkey for 4 ½ days – instructions said 1 hour per pound, and I weigh 108 lbs. Then I couldn’t call 911 – duh! – there’s no eleven button on the stupid phone!
Whew – what a week!!
Love Never Fails
Anne Heelis writes:
I am preparing to visit Israel again in September and I have the privilege of going to Mauritius to represent Love Never Fails with Rosie Ross at a Commemoration of the Detention of Jewish Refugees by the British on the island from 1940-45.
programme will include a visit to the Beau Bassin Jewish Detainees Memorial and Information Centre and the Jewish Cemetery of Saint Martin (where detainees who died on the island are buried), a visit to the Beau Bassin prison where the detainees were imprisoned, the concert Hall in Rose Hill, the synagogue in Curepipe and other sites of interest on the island.
Rosie Ross (Repairing the Breach) and Anne Heelis (Nachamu Ami) have the privilege of representing Love Never Fails. We have been assured that we will be given time at the closing ceremony to say a few words and present a framed copy of the letter from Love Never Fails written for the Jewish Detainees Memorial Museum.
Please pray for all the delegates travelling to Mauritius, especially for the elderly former detainees travelling from Israel, that they may be strengthened and receive comfort when faced with difficult memories of their time in detention on Mauritius.
Anne HeelisOn Searching for a Book of Stamps
check in wallet check once more hunt through bag look in drawer
The itinerary :
Friday 1st September arrive early morning in Tel Aviv after overnight flight from Dublin.
I stay the weekend with an Israeli friend Michal and her mother Rachel in Jerusalem.
Monday 4th September travel overnight from Tel Aviv to Mauritius with Rosie.
PRAYER REQUESTS for Commemoration and Reunion in Mauritius 6-8 September 2023
“… 1,580 Jewish refugees who fled Nazi-controlled Europe in late 1940, survived a long voyage to Haifa, and then were deported by the British Mandate authorities in Palestine to the British colony of Mauritius. The detainees spent four years and seven months in the Beau Bassin prison before leaving the island in August 1945. With the deportees’ departure, the site and the story all but disappeared from collective memory.”
Thirty-four former detainees and their relatives are expected to attend the commemoration, plus more than 30 diplomats, including representatives of memorial sites and other dignitaries.
The British diplomat will be the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Mauritius, Ms Charlotte Pierre. The delegates will be transported by bus and the
feel coat pockets peer in pot rifle desk find them not
shake out shoes lift up hat inspect fridge ask the cat
scour the shelves peek in purse turn out cupboards
swear and curse
go to shop
buy new stamps put in wallet
next to stamps
Did I offer peace today?
Did I bring a smile to someone’s face?
Did I say words of healing?
Did I let go of my anger and resentment?
Did I forgive? Did I love?
These are the real questions.
Brian BilstonI must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and in the life to come.
Henri NouwenAs part of the Fiddlers Green Festival Saint Bronach’s was open for visitors. One family had a tour of the bell tower and Shelagh, using a wooden model, explained the bell ringing mechanism to a spellbound audience.
Liz Farnan and the handbell team also held a popular workshop for folk who had no previous experience.
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
Special Offers All Year Round
Groceries, Toys, Capper Coal, Blocks, Turf, DPD Pickup, Plants (including pots & window boxes) 028 4173 8662
David C McCabe & Son Funeral Directors
Formerly W. J. McCabe Warrenpoint (Established 1949) FOR A CARING & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Telephone 028 3883 2988 Mobile 07595 600777
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