Out-of-Doors
William Wordsworth
It is the first mild day of March, Each minute sweeter than before; The redbreast sings from the tall larch That stands beside the door.There is a blessing in the air, Which seems a sense of joy to yield To the bare trees, and mountains bare, And grass in the green field.
Welcome to this edition of The Pointer weather-wise it’s hard to predict. “In like a lion, out like a lamb” might well describe the changeable nature of our day to day experience, even if the proverb had its origin in astronomy. It seems to have begun as a reference to the constellations, where the month begins with Leo in the east at the beginning of the month and Aries in the west as March comes to an end. The poet William Wordsworth used the phrase “there is a blessing in the air …” to express his joy that winter is over and spring has arrived now that March has come.
In the church’s liturgical calendar it is perhaps one of the busiest months of 2024. Not only does Lent continue for a few more weeks, but also we pack in some festivals and highlights, as well as the solemn Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday. Then the joyous Easter Day when again we celebrate with the church universal the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He is risen. Alleluia! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
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Things in March that you don’t want to miss!
Healing Service 3rd
The first Sunday of each month at 7.00 pm in Kilbroney.
Mothering Sunday 10th
Traditional Holy Communion in Clonallon at ten o’clock, and the Family Service in Kilbroney at 11.30 am. Like all our services in each of the Churches, everyone is welcome. Family Service is a little shorter than the normal morning service and very suitable for all age groups.
Saint Patrick 16th and 17th
There are a number of events over these two days. The Downpatrick celebration led by Bishop David on 16th, and then on 17th there is a major Saint Patrick programme in the afternoon and the lighting of beacons at 7.00 pm that evening. Details in this issue of The Pointer, pages 3, 5 and 7.
Palm Sunday and Holy Week 24th —29th
Details of these services are on pages 3 and 19. Everyone is welcome!
Easter Day 31st and Saint Bronach’s Camino on 2nd April
All the details are inside on pages 3 and 7, and now … I’ve run out of space!
Have a truly blessed Lent and Easter. The Lord be with you.
Elizabeth Hanna
3rd March
10th March
Mothering Sunday
17th March
Saint Patrick
24th March
Palm Sunday
31st March Easter Day
Lectors
10.00 am 11.30 am
Warrenpoint HC
Dorothy Major
Mellissa Jeffers
Clonallon HC
Traditional Service
Rene Murphy
Elizabeth Hanna
Warrenpoint MP
Dorothy Major
Maurice McCabe
Hugh Tyrrell
Clonallon MP
Stephen Cooper
Rene Murphy
Evelyn Greer
Warrenpoint HC
Maurice McCabe
Mellissa Jeffers
Warrenpoint HC
7th April
Stephen Cooper
Elizabeth Hanna
Kilbroney HC
Timothy Alexander
Jonathan Heyhoe
Kilbroney Family Service
Serena Hylands
Pauline Coffey
Kilbroney HC
William Graham
Stephen Nash
Kilbroney MP
Shelagh Roberts
Alanah Donaldson
Susan Farrell
Kilbroney HC
Joan Thompson
Liz Farnan
Kilbroney HC
Myrtle Kerr
Jonathan Heyhoe
Christian Burial
We extend our prayerful sympathy to all who mourn, especially to the family and friends of
James (Jim) McCalmont
1937 - 2024
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
Saint Patrick’s Day
Kilbroney Parish Church
2.30 3.30 pm Rostrevor’s Children’s Choir, Cór na nÓg Caisleán Ruairí, will be singing and performing in Kilbroney Parish Church followed by talks on Saint Bronach (Susan Farrell) and Saint Patrick (John McCavitt). The talks will focus on their respective roles in the development of Christianity in our homeland.
7.00 8.00 pm a beacon in front of Saint Bronach’s will be lit during a short act of worship. All Church of Ireland Churches in the Diocese of Down and Dromore will simultaneously light beacons. The emphasis is on praying for a rekindling of the fire of faith that Patrick lit in Ireland almost 1600 years ago. Beacons will be lit at Warrenpoint Church and Clonallon Church, also at 7.00 pm
Parishioners in both parishes have been very generous over the past few months. In addition to Free Will Offering there have been donations to Prison Fellowship, the Poppy Appeal and Water Drops.
Prison Fellowship received £150 from the church, in addition to a number of other amounts which were sent directly.
(Molly Cooper)
The Poppy Appeal have also received £76.04 in the November collection (the area total = £13,868.43). (Myrtle Kerr)
Water Drops are very grateful to folk for their generosity during their recent visit to Clonallon and Kilbroney. (Ronnie and Maggie Briggs)
31st March, Easter Day don’t be late!
Church Services
10.00 am 11.30 am
3rd March
The Third Sunday in Lent Holy Communion Warrenpoint Holy Communion Kilbroney
10th March
The Fourth Sunday in Lent Mothering Sunday
17th March
The Fifth Sunday in Lent Saint Patrick
Holy Communion Traditional Service Page 180 Clonallon
Family Service Kilbroney
Morning Prayer Warrenpoint Holy Communion Kilbroney
24th March Palm Sunday Morning Prayer Clonallon Morning Prayer Kilbroney
31st March Easter Day Holy Communion Warrenpoint Holy Communion Kilbroney
7
The
17th March 2024
In front of each of our church buildings, Warrenpoint, Clonallon, and Kilbroney, there will be a short service at 7.00 pm when our beacons will be ignited. Those who attend Warrenpoint and Clonallon are asked please to divide into two groups so that there is a congregation at each beacon. Beacons and oil will be collected in Downpatrick on 16th. Please let the Rev Elizabeth or the Rev Mellissa know if you are planning to attend the Downpatrick service, as Bishop David wishes to have two people from each church present. We will be joining with all the churches in the Diocese for simultaneous beacon lighting. Please also arrange for photographs to be taken both for Diocese and for The Pointer!
Each Wednesday in Lent
11.00 am Noon Warrenpoint Church open for prayer
Palm Sunday 24th March
Morning Prayer with Liturgy of the Palms Clonallon 10.00 am and Kilbroney 11.30 am If you have a palm tree please bring some fronds with you!
Spy Wednesday 27th March
Evening Prayer (traditional service page 84) 7.00 pm Clonallon
Maundy Thursday 28th March
Holy Communion 7.00 pm Warrenpoint
Good Friday 29th March
Noon-3.00 pm Kilbroney Church open for private prayer with a short prayer led every quarter of an hour. You are welcome to drop in and stay as long as you wish. 7.00 pm Tenebrae in Kilbroney
Easter Day 31st March
10.00 am Holy Communion Warrenpoint 11.30 am Holy Communion Kilbroney
Crafters on Wednesdays
Crafting (or chatting) in the Parish Room
11.00 am to 1.00 pm.
All levels of Crafters welcome.
Tea, coffee, a biscuit and craic are obligatory! All are welcome
Tower Bells and Handbells on Thursdays
Tower bells 6.45 to 7.30 pm
Handbells 7.30 to 9.00 pm
Badminton
Warrenpoint Parish Hall
Mondays from 5.30 pm and Thursdays 5.30 pm until 7.30 pm
Join the WhatsApp group for updates.
Ladies Guild
Thursday 28th March 2024 at 7.00 pm Maundy Thursday
Holy Communion in Warrenpoint
Compline
At 7.00 pm in Kilbroney Parish Church
Third Sunday
Starting 21st April
Ladies Bible Study
Next meeting in Warrenpoint Vestry
12th March 2024 at 10.45 am
Everyone Welcome
Sunday Explorers
11.30 am each Sunday
All young folk welcome!
Kilbroney Parish Room
Deadline for April 2024 edition of The Pointer is Friday 29th March
Editor: hannamanor15@btinternet.com
Parish Prayer Time
10.00 am in the Parish Room Kilbroney
Each Wednesday
Everyone Welcome
Bishop David’s reflections on the message of the prophet Haggai continue each evening. These are available on the Diocesan website.
From the Crafters’ Corner
Whilst the Christmas decorations were being put up, an eagle eyed parishioner noticed that a hole had occurred in one of the pew cushions. It was unusual, as it was a pew that no one sits in, if they can avoid it. Yep, away up at the front where the Rector can get a good view of you in row number two!
Sunday Explorers
You may be wondering why there is a change in routine on a Sunday morning with the Explorers now coming in and joining with the Service after the Sermon.
So Crafters got the tally-ho and went up to inspect the damage, but really it was to see if they were able enough to repair it without experts being called in. After a quick tug to see if both sides of the hole would meet in the middle, it was decided that it could be repaired in-house, so to speak. Well after going home and cramming copious views of How to repair upholstery weave’ on YouTube, it was decided to go the simpler route of Back Stitch, to lock in the damage, followed up with a Ladder Stitch to amicably bring both sides back together again.
Not twenty minutes later the mission was completed. Not the prettiest repair, granted, but well able to cope with any abuse if there is a sudden rush to the front seats!
If you do see any more thinning on the pew cushions, do let Crafters know and as we are all aware, a stitch in time could well save twenty minutes.
Bishop David invites everyone to the Saint Patrick ’ s Day programme on Saturday 16 th March.
While the purpose of Sunday Explorers is to deepen knowledge of the Bible stories for the younger parishioners and the fact they don’t have to try and sit still through a long sermon and not disturb others. I have often thought removing the younger parishioners could be giving them the impression, subconsciously, that they are being pushed out of the service as if it is something distinctly adult and therefore not for them. So with few young person reappearing after being confirmed, it can be disheartening not only for us, the leaders, but also for other members of the congregation, as it appears we are not passing on the joy of worshipping to our younger church-goers. The difference how an adult encounters Church, and how a child encounters the same thing through ‘Sunday School’ is as similar as day to night. One is solemn and reflective, and the other fun with puzzles and noise. There is simply no cross over, and therefore no preparation for what being an adult member of Church means. And while the Family Service does try to fill the void, it is a simpler service in outlook.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 6 These commandments that I
Full details of available transport and information about the Rt Rev Jill Duff are on the Diocesan website .
Child Safeguarding Training (online 11th March)
Book Review
The diocese will run a Child Safeguarding training session online via Zoom on Monday 11th March 2024 from 7.30 – 9.30 pm.
It is vital that all parish volunteers and staff are trained in Child Safeguarding, either for the first time or as a ‘refresher’. Rev Elizabeth has signed up for this refresher opportunity … hopefully others, including Safeguarding Representatives, from both parishes will take this opportunity. It will be two hours well spent from the comfort of our own homes!
The current recommendation is that volunteer training is refreshed every three years.
Please register through Eventbrite using the link on the Down and Dromore website.
A Service of Wholeness and Healing 1st Sunday each month
7.00 pm in Kilbroney Parish Church
This service will follow the liturgy printed in the Book of Common Prayer pages 457 464. There will be an opportunity for the laying on of hands and anointing with oil for those who wish.
No questions will be asked, so you may come with your own requests, or on behalf of others, and your petitions will be known to God alone.
Please make this service widely known throughout the district as people from every tradition are very welcome to come for prayer.
What if those moments which we put down to coincidence are really the calling cards of God?
What if those pinpricks of light in the darkest places are beacons to guide us, telling of the agonizing love in God's heart?
What if God is calling to us, 'I miss you, please come home' ?
Lighting the Beacons seeks to expand our everyday horizons by daring us to believe that the realities of heaven can break through right here, right now.
Inspired by her own recurring vision of pinpricks of light being fanned into flame, Bishop Jill writes for a wide audience to kindle faith in our hearts, to light beacons.
Lighting The Beacons seeks to encourage those who are curious about the Christian faith, those who feel discouraged and those aspiring to be giants of faith and part of a transformed society.
Lighting The Beacons is illustrated throughout with stories from contemporary culture, Scripture and the writings of the saints. It makes an excellent gift for those who yearn to be transformed by God. With study guides at the end of each chapter, it is also ideal for group discussion.
“John Knox prayed, and the results caused Queen Mary to say that she feared the prayers of John Knox more than she feared all the armies of Scotland. John Wesley prayed, and revival came to England, sparing that nation the horrors of the French Revolution. Jonathan Edwards prayed, and revival spread throughout the American colonies. History has been changed time after time because of prayer. I tell you, history could be changed again if people went to their knees in believing prayer. Even when times are bleak and the world scorns God, he still works through the prayers of his people. Pray today for revival in your nation, and around the world.”
Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith
We had a new cappuccino machine. I thought that my wife was cleaning the dried milk off the steamer spout. She thought I was doing that. A year later, after enjoying coffee every morning, we found out that the cat was licking it off when we were at work!
Ladies Guild
Once again at the time of preparing the Pointer notes, our Meeting hasn't taken place … just the way the date has fallen. However, we are looking forward to hearing Michelle Wilson from Crawford Rock Seaweed Products Kilkeel who will be our Speaker. This will be an interesting talk when we will hear of the benefits of these products.
We'll fill you in next month.
Just to remind you all that there is NO MEETING IN MARCH as it will be Holy Thursday and Church Organisations don't meet during Holy Week. However, you are encouraged to attend your own Church Services. Our Maundy Thursday Service is in Warrenpoint Parish Church at 7.00 pm. It will be a Service of Holy Communion. You are all welcome to attend. You don't have to take Communion. So don't let that put you off from coming. We could sit together as a group if you wish. (The Wednesday service of Evening Prayer will be in Clonallon Church at 7.00 pm, and Good Friday Tenebrae in Kilbroney, also at 7.00 pm).
So, our next Meeting will be THURSDAY 25th APRIL AT 7.00 PM. Our Speaker will be David Charleton of Fields of Life. David is no stranger, he has been with us before and we look forward to hearing him again.
The month of May is our gardening slot and then in June it will be our Outing … and that's it!
Glad to report that Joan is doing well. Hopefully she'll be home by the time this goes to print. We wish her God's Blessing and trust she'll soon be back with us again.
The morning Meetings seem to go down well. Over the next few months please have a think and do pray if we should consider having all of our meetings in the morning or afternoon. I am conscious of going out in the dark evenings and then night time driving. Getting a speaker for the earlier time could be difficult ... anyway just something to think about. That's all for now.
All Ladies are most welcome to come along to the Guild.
Dorothy MajorA teacher gave her P4 class a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written quiz, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I am strong and attractive. I pick up things. What am I?" When the papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word "Mother."
Camino of Saint Bronach
Easter Tuesday, 2nd April 2024
The Third Annual Camino of Saint Bronach for the entire Rostrevor community, and beyond, is planned for her saint’s day, 2nd April. Participants are encouraged to make their own way along the route, making sure to observe all safety precautions as you would on any other walk. You may wish to begin your Camino with a picnic at the shore and then arrive at the first of the information stations for two o’clock. There will be three gathering points when pilgrims are invited to assemble for information and prayer.
1 Kilbroney Parish Church: 2.00 pm. Short talk on Saint Bronach in relation to the history of Kilbroney Parish Church and prayers led by the Rev Elizabeth. Afterwards pilgrims are invited to make their way to Saint Mary’s, Star of the Sea.
2. Saint Mary’s, Star of the Sea. 2.45 pm. Assemble in the church for short talk on Saint Bronach’s Bell. The director of the children’s choir, Rós Ní Dhubháin, is planning to have some of the Children’s Choir, Cór na nÓg Caisleán Ruairí, to sing.
Kilbroney Old Graveyard. 3.30 pm. We will meet in Kilbroney Old Graveyard for the final part of the talk and closing prayers.
Susan Farrell
Saint Patrick
“I am Patrick. Yes a sinner and indeed untaught; yet I am established here in Ireland where I confess myself Bishop. Am certainly in my heart that ‘all that I am’, I have received from God. So I live among barbarous tribes, a stranger and exile for the love of God.”
In this quote Patrick tells us that he suffered as a stranger and an exile in Ireland. Patrick wrote his book “Confessions” which is the source of many quotations.
Patrick was a young man when raiders took him from his wealthy family in Roman Britain and brought him to Ireland. He suffered humiliation and hardship as a captive, working alone outdoors as a shepherd. During that time he turned to God.
“The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”
After six years he was told, in a dream, it was time to leave, so he escaped and walked 200 miles to the coast, to a boat going home.
In his ‘Confession’ Patrick tells of a dream when he was told to return to Ireland as a missionary.
“I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: ‘The Voice of the Irish’. As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea - and they cried out, as with one voice: We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”
And so Patrick prepared himself for ordination and eventually returned as a missionary and a bishop. (The year Patrick became Bishop is recorded in the list of Bishops as 444.) He was not the first missionary. He replaced Piladius who arrived 5 years before him.
Saint Patrick faced many difficulties and challenges in bringing the people to believe in Christ. In her book “Lighting the Beacons: kindling the faith in our hearts” Bishop Jill Duff tells of a defining moment that occurred: ‘In AD 433, … a fire was lit in honour of the sun god Bel by the High King and druids of Ireland, who commanded that there should be no other flame lit in the land during the time of their festival. But in direct defiance, Patrick courageously lit a fire to celebrate Christ, the high king of Heaven and light of the world.’
By tradition, Patrick came to Armagh. He asked the local chieftain, Daire, for the top of Druím Saíleach, the Hill of the Sallows, to build a church. After an initial refusal he was given the site and built his first church in the year 445. It was this church that was the origin of the Damhliagh Mór or Great Stone Church mentioned in the Annals of Ulster in the ninth century.
But already, by the seventh century, Armagh was recognized as Saint Patrick’s see and the premier church in Ireland.
Subsequently Brian Boroimhe (Boru), the High King of Ireland, confirmed Armagh’s supremacy in 1005. Saint Patrick is buried in the graveyard of Down Cathedral (Church of Ireland) in Downpatrick. Every 17th March people gather around his grave.
There are two Archbishops in Armagh and also two Cathedrals : the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Cathedrals. On Saint Patrick’s Day in 1999, Archbishop Brady preached in the Church of Ireland Cathedral, the first Roman Catholic archbishop to do so since the Reformation. Today, services to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity alternate between the two Cathedrals. Their common life in Christ is expressed through the Armagh Cathedrals Partnership.
The prayer called Saint Patrick’s Breastplate (a piece of armour worn in battle) is also known as The Lorica of Saint Patrick. A Lorica in the Irish (Hibernian Scottish) monastic tradition is a prayer recited for protection.
Saint Patrick wrote a prayer in AD 433 for divine protection before converting the Irish King Leoghaire and his subjects from paganism to Christianity.
The Lorica reflects the spirit with which Saint Patrick brought our faith to Ireland and inspired the hymn 322 entitled the Breastplate of Saint Patrick beginning bind unto myself today the strong name of the Trinity by invocation of the same, the Three in One and One in Three.’
This Saint Patrick, this exile, this stranger, this foreigner brought our ancestors to faith in Christ. We celebrate him and his belief in the Trinity, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in churches of all denominations, usually on 17th March or the nearest Sunday.
This year we celebrate Saint Patrick on Sunday 17th March, expressing our thanks that he was sent by God to us. We will remember his courage by lighting a beacon at each church that evening, as Bishop David has directed.
Rev Mellissa Jeffers
Saint Patrick’s Day 2024
2.30—3.30 pm in Kilbroney Parish Church
Rostrevor’s Children’s Choir, Cór na nÓg Caisleán Ruairí, will be singing and performing in Kilbroney Parish Church followed by talks on Saint Bronach (Susan Farrell) and Saint Patrick (John McCavitt), focusing on their respective roles in the development of Christianity in our homeland. This will be followed by afternoon tea with traditional music, Irish dancing and the children singing in the clubrooms from about 4.00 pm in Saint Bronagh’s GAA club rooms.
Collect
Almighty God,
in your providence you chose your servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of your Word: Grant that walking in that light we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Post Communion Prayer
Hear us, most merciful God, for that part of the Church which through your servant Patrick you planted in our land; that it may hold fast the faith entrusted to the saints and in the end bear much fruit to eternal life: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Patrick’s grave, Downpatrick Cathedral. Also Saint Brigid and Saint Columba are said to be buried here.
Happitots Playgroup Warrenpoint
Almost forty eight years ago, on Monday 30th August 1986, Happitots Playgroup Warrenpoint, opened its doors for the first time.
The previous year my late husband Brian and I had bought a house in Gt. George’s Street. There was a large (700 sq.ft) building at the back of it which could be accessed from a separate entrance in Mary Street. It wasn’t in great condition at the time and we wondered what we could, or should, do with it.
Chatting about it one evening we decided that, if renovated, it would be an ideal size for a playgroup.
This was in early June and we aimed to open at the beginning of the new school year in September. So much to do in those few months apply to NIPPA (The Northern Ireland Preschool Education Authority) for registration, get the building ready, get furniture, equipment and toys, find out how many children we could accommodate, advertise, get insurance, staff etc. … and so the list went on!
Brian was a skilled joiner and could turn his hand to most jobs, which was fortunate as we were working on a limited budget. He did the renovations with help from a friend and then made the child size tables, chairs, seesaw, slide, cooker, sink and cupboards for the kitchen area and what proved to be the most popular of all a lovely red telephone box.
I ordered a small trampoline, Lego, Stickle Bricks and various other essential items … and then ‘borrowed’ most of the toys belonging to my three young children, who were not very impressed at the time!
Suddenly the summer was over and having recruited my sister and two other staff, Happitots was ready.
The next thirteen years were probably the most enjoyable and rewarding of my working life. It was wonderful to watch shy, timid little three year olds and some not so shy or timid come anxiously through the door in September and make new friends, learn new skills, gain confidence and have lots of fun.
They loved story time, rhyme time, craft time and endless playtime. They enjoyed making Hallowe’en and Christmas decorations and mixing the batter for pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, while singing ‘Pop a little pancake into the pan.’ I would then cook the pancakes on my electric frying pan (at a safe distance!) and we would all eat them with lemon juice and sugar.
Down through the years we had children from various religious backgrounds (and none) and many with additional needs, both physical and intellectual, but in Happitots that was never an issue. It was lovely to watch friendships being established, though I used to feel a little sad when June came and I knew that, come
September, they would be heading off to different schools.
I sometimes regret that I didn’t keep a journal back in those days, as quite often the conversation between the children was quite profound.
I remember one occasion in particular when a few of the boys were talking about what their fathers worked at there was a painter, a solicitor and several others when one said “well my daddy’s in heaven and he helps God every day.”
I still occasionally think about that little boy, who would now be a man in his late forties. The memories of my Happitots days are very precious.
Rene MurphyWere you, or was your child, in Happitots? Can you identify yourself, or your child, in any of the photographs? We’d love to hear from you to do a follow-up if you would like to contact us, please! Your piece could begin, “I remember … .”
Elizabeth Hanna at hannamanor15@btinternet.comThe Pancake Song
I know that you’re dying to know the pancake song! You’ll find it on YouTube … here are the lyrics, there are a number of different versions. You can thank me for the earworm later!
Pop a little pancake into the pan.
Pop a little pancake into the pan.
Pop a little pancake into the pan.
That’s for my dinner today.
Shake a little sugar with a shake, shake, shake! (x3)
That’s for my dinner today.
Squeeze a little lemon with a squeeze, squeeze, squeeze! (x3)
That’s for my dinner today.
Toss a little pancake up in the air! (x3)
That’s for my dinner today
Eat it all up with a yum, yum, yum! (x3)
That’s for my dinner today.
https://youtu.be/-KxMhQAfJ_Y?
si=BY4Tlw50scMcLJ6g
Sleeping Beauty
The recent pantomime in Warrenpoint saw a number of parishioners involved … we managed to “borrow” a few photographs of them and the huge group of pupils from Saint Mark’s High School … where you’ll see one of our young folk!
Across
1 Made from the fruit of the vine, symbol of the blood of Christ (4)
3 ‘You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on ’ (Joshua 8:4) (3,5)
8 Seep (4)
9 Celebrated by Jesus on the night of his betrayal (Luke 22:15) (8)
11 One of the supposed sites of Christ’s burial place in Jerusalem (6,4)
14 ‘A city on a hill be hidden’ (Matthew 5:14) (6)
15 He inherited Elijah’s mantle (2 Kings 2:12–13) (6)
17 Where Jesus prayed ‘Not as I will, but as you will’ (Matthew 26:36, 39) (10)
20 ‘Only in his home town and in his is a prophet without honour’ (Matthew 13:57) (3,5)
21 Sail (anag.) (4) 22 How Jesus was punished before his crucifixion (Matthew 27:26) (8)
23 Eye sore (4)
Down
1 Can’t grow (anag.) (5,3)
2 A servant girl to Peter, ‘You also were with that , Jesus’ (Mark 14:67) (8)
4 Well-being (Proverbs 3:8) (6)
5 Pentecostal denomination, of God (10)
6 One of the ‘obvious’ acts of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19, 21) (4)
7 ‘I preached that they should repent and to God’ (Acts 26:20) (4)
10 ‘ , the world will not see me any more, but you will see me’ (John 14:19) (6,4)
12 He betrayed Jesus: Judas (Luke 6:16) (8)
13 Jesus to Peter: ‘ of my sheep’ (John 21:16) (4,4)
16 The centurion said, ‘Surely this man was of God’ (Mark 15:39) (3,3)
18 Baked bread (Mark 8:14) (4)
19 ‘Blessing and honour, glory and power, be Him’ (Handel’s Messiah) (4)
When I was younger, my dad found out I had an imaginary girlfriend. He said, "You know, you could do better." "Thanks dad, that means a lot," I replied. He said, "I was talking to your girlfriend."
Mothering Sunday 10th March 2024
Mothers’ Union and Mother’s Day
The Mothers’ Union (MU) meeting every week in Portadown where I was brought up was the highlight of my mother’s week. My maternal grandmother, Nana Wylie (Susan), my namesake, was also a lifelong member. I still have her membership card.
MU has moved closer to what International Women’s Day is about, this is their aims
The MU had their 2022 annual conference in Saint Anne’s Cathedral Belfast. There, as a choir member of Kerygma, I was reminded of the importance of the MU as an aspect of parish life seeing women from all around the world coming together to celebrate. Many were accompanied by their husbands. This would not have been the case in my mother’s or grandmother’s time.
The organisation has changed from church based fellowship across the globe, they still do that, towards an organisation concerned with ‘Ending violence, ending poverty, and ending injustice.’ It is a global Christian movement working with people of all faiths and none to develop communities, strengthen families and advocate for change.
Members are active in 84 countries and they work tirelessly to serve their communities, to build a future where everyone thrives.
Mothering Sunday, the 10th March, and International Women’s Day, 8th March, are so close together this year.
Traditionally on Mothering Sunday/Mother’s Day we get flowers and are taken out for Sunday lunch. The
Either way, flowers, chocolates and meals out are good ways to celebrate the role of women and mothers in society.
Susan Farrell
The Mothers’ Union Prayer
Loving Lord,
We thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray for families around the world. Bless the work of the Mothers' Union as we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening and support of marriage and family life. Empowered by your Spirit, may we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as your hands across the world.
In Jesus' name.
Amen
Sermon Reflection
Maggie and I (Ronnie) were delighted to be able to join with the congregations of Clonallon and Kilbroney for their morning services on Sunday 11th February, thanks to the kind invitation from the Rev Elizabeth Hanna.
We were previously working as Mission Partners with CMSI and our contract with them came to an end in 2019. Shortly after that we set up a new charity called Water Drops Partnership which aims to support remote communities in the Anglican Diocese of Kajiado to have access to clean and safe drinking water.
We began our talks by asking the congregations a question: ‘How far do you have to walk to get clean drinking water?’ After a moment’s thought it was obvious that the answer was ‘only a few feet.’ So, for most of us it is just the distance from our living room to the kitchen.
We then asked another question: ‘How far would you go to find clean drinking water?’ The answer to this one was a bit more difficult but the reality is that we would go as far as was needed, because we all need drinking water for our very survival. It is difficult for us here in the west to understand what it might be like to have to walk any distance to find clean water.
However, we went on to explain that amongst the Maasai people of Kajiado Diocese in Kenya the average distance people have to walk to find drinking water is
10 miles! We tried to imagine where 10 miles would take us if we started from church – the answer was all the way to Newry! Imagine having to walk that distance with 20 litre water containers, and then carry them back full of water! This is the reality for people in Kajiado. What Water Drops is essentially trying to do is to reduce this distance by as much as possible and bring clean and safe drinking water to within easy reach for many remote communities.
Searching for drinking water in Maasai culture is the role of women and teenage girls. It is a full day’s work so the girls are not able to go to school and so lose out on the life opportunities that they should expect. Bringing a water source closer to home allows these girls to regularly attend school and opens up a more positive future for them. We have already seen the impact of this in many communities where girls are now competing with boys on an equal level and doing well in their end of year exams.
Water Drops works alongside the Bishop of the Diocese and he enables us to have access to these remote communities. The Bishop is always looking for opportunities to establish new congregations across his diocese, which is even bigger than Northern Ireland and has a very poor road network, making travel to these areas a challenge. The Bishop told us that Water Drops really helps him in his ministry.
Water Drops depends on various partnerships in order to make our work a success, and there is always room for more people and churches to partner with us–together we can make a difference.
What we all know for sure is that clean water really does change lives.
He said: ‘Water Drops makes my role of spreading the Gospel easier, as I can go with the Bible in one hand and a cup of water in the other.’ This follows along the lines of what the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1: 3–5, when he thanks the Philippians for their ‘Partnership in the Gospel.’ A partnership that meets the spiritual needs of people as well as their physical needs – this is a practical outworking of our faith.
A reflection on Philippians 1: 3 - 8
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that
he who began a good work in you will carry it on to co mpletion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Paul is writing to the Philippians with prayer and thanksgiving. In verse 4 he is praying with joy as he remembers them and the reason he gives is ‘because of your partnership in the gospel.’ v5.
The phrase ‘Partnership in the Gospel.’ In this context has two meanings:
Firstly, Paul is thanking the Philippians for helping him to spread the gospel. That is indeed, the role of the church and it is something that we too, can identify with as we come to church every Sunday and participate in all the various activities that are organised for us. Being part of sharing the gospel is at the core of our identity as Christians.
Secondly, Paul is thanking them for helping to raise some funding to send back to the Christians in Jerusalem who are less well-off, and are in need of some practical support.
Bringing these two elements together are at the heart of our Christian life and service – a truly holistic approach. This is very evident in the Diocese of Kajiado and the approach that our Bishop takes. When Bishop Gaddiel visits some of the remote parts of the diocese he is essentially sharing the gospel with the people there and encouraging them to respond with faith. However, while he is speaking to them, he sees some who are very poor, some children who do not attend school, again some who are clearly not very well and in need of medicine. Someone once said that ‘hungry stomachs have no ears.’ And that is the experience that we have across all corners of Kajiado. If we cannot meet the physical needs of people, it will be very difficult for them to hear the gospel being preached, and respond to it. The spiritual and physical go hand in hand and both must be given equal value.
That is where Water Drops comes in – we help to provide some of the physical support that people need in terms of providing clean and safe drinking water for them.
In verse 7 Paul says: ‘It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart..’
Who are the people that we keep in our hearts? It’s the people that we love and who are near and dear to us. We hold them in our hearts because care for them and they too, are a blessing to us.
That’s exactly what we in Water Drops want for the people across Kajiado. We don’t want to be an organisation that comes in, builds a tank and then just leaves. We want to develop a relationship with them, know who they are and be able to say that we hold them in our hearts.
Partnership hands
Water Drops depends on partnerships to fulfil our aims. We need partners – and as the photo shows there is room for your hand to join with us to bring clean and safe drinking water to those who need it the most – and clean water really does change lives.
Many
Boma Tank
The Boma Tank project will supply the following:
1. Provide a 3,000 ltr plastic tank to selected Bomas.
2. Place it on a concrete base to keep it safe and make it easy to draw water.
3. Fix a lockable tap to the tank.
4. Place the tank beside a house so that gutters and a down pipe can be fixed to harvest rainwater.
Each tank takes around three days to fit and costs £500.
The Boma Tank is a new and exciting initiative being set up by Water Drops. ‘Boma’ is a Swahili word meaning small village or homestead where maybe three or four related families of up to 30 people live together.
WATER DROPS uses tailored water solutions according to the particular requirements of each community.
Water Tanks – Catch rainwater from guttering on the roof of any building and have an external tap to draw water from.
Natural Springs – Protecting an existing spring by constructing a firm concrete base for containers to be filled with water.
Catchment Areas – Constructed on a hillside to direct water into underground storage tanks. These also require a water distribution point so that people do not access the tanks directly.
Boreholes – In certain circumstances a borehole may be the only sustainable solution. This is legally registered with the local Authorities and a storage tank built for water distribution. Solar power will be used to pump water if at all possible.
Check out our website at www.waterdrops.uk for more information on how you can help and to read of the real difference clean water can make to people’s lives.
November 2023
Those ten women were selected by their communities to be the recipients of Boma Tanks.
The syphon system for the underground tank at Olasho
Thank you and God bless.
Ronnie & Maggie BriggsBoth Rev Mellissa and Rev Elizabeth have bank details of how to give to Water Drops Partnership Ltd. directly rather than through the online facility. This saves a little money as the online giving app takes a small percentage for running costs!
