The Pointer May 2024

Area Dean

The Rev Canon Myrtle Morrison For emergencies only 028 4372 2439

The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of

Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore

Clonallon and Warrenpoint Facebook https://www.facebook.com/warrenpointcoi/ Kilbroney Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KilbroneyParishChurchRostrevor/

Our church buildings are full of imagery and symbols that enhance worship and lead us ever nearer to God. Think, for example, of the stained glass that we see, but sometimes take for granted.

The east window in Clonallon takes us to three passages of scripture as we spend time in reflection before the services begin. The image opposite is from the Gloine Stained Glass collection where you can access all the windows in the Church of Ireland. www.gloine.ie

The panels are: Christ with Mary and Martha on the left; Christ the Good Shepherd in the centre; and Christ blessing the children on the right. The Alpha and Omega above in the two trefoils are another reminder that Jesus is the first and the last, the beginning and the end. As Peter said, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” Acts 412

Later in this edition, pages 10-12, there’s an article on the baptismal registers in Kilbroney. The font there is surrounded by eight symbols: two doves, wheat, grapes, lily of the valley, roses and two IHS carvings.

The grapes and wheat are references to the other sacrament of the Lord’s Supper; Lily of the Valley can mean a number of things including purity, rebirth and renewal; and the roses can symbolise God’s love at work in the world. That just leaves the IHS.

This represents the name of Jesus. He is the one who said to those who followed him: “ 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 … “ Matthew 2819 .

IHS is an abbreviation of the Greek word ΙΗΣΟΥΣ or Ίησοῦς which is the word Jesus. Interestingly IHS appeared on coins at the end of the seventh century!

Of course, it is not only in our buildings that we have much to remind us of God whose presence is all around us. One of my favourite Psalms is 19. The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

May God give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and lips to tell how great is the God we adore!

Elizabeth Hanna (Editor)

5

Lectors

Warrenpoint HC

Rene Murphy

Maurice McCabe

Clonallon HC

12

19th May

26th May

Hugh Tyrrell

Evelyn Greer

Warrenpoint MP

Stephen Cooper

Dorothy Major

Rene Murphy

Clonallon MP

Maurice McCabe

Hugh Tyrrell

Evelyn Greer

Warrenpoint HC1

2nd June

Elizabeth Hanna

Stephen Cooper

Farewell

Kilbroney HC

Annie Hassen

Timothy Alexander

Kilbroney Family Service

Pauline Coffey

Serena Hylands

Kilbroney HC

Stewart Nash

Joan Thompson

Kilbroney MP

Alanah Donaldson

Susan Farrell

William Graham

Kilbroney HC Open Air

Kilbroney Centre

Liz Farnan

Saint Bronach’s Parish is sorry to have to say goodbye to Miriam as she moves on in her ministry.

May God’s blessing rest on you wherever the next step takes you.

Deadline for June 2024 Pointer Friday 24th May

Editor: hannamanor15@btinternet.com

Safeguarding Trust: the Church of Ireland Code of Good Practice for Ministry with Children is designed to enable all parties within the Church of Ireland to fulfil their proper responsibilities within this ministry:

To create a safe environment which will promote healthy and fulfilling participation of children in spiritual, educational and recreational activities and minimise the possibility of harm, either deliberate or accidental.

To encourage safe practices for those who work with children.

To set out the appropriate responses and procedures in the event of accident or abuse taking place.

To safeguard those who work with children from the consequences of unfounded accusations.

The Church of Ireland recognises that:

* the welfare of the child is paramount;

* all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all forms of harm or abuse;

* some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues;

* working in partnership with children, their parents/guardians and other agencies is essential for promoting the welfare of children.

Annual Parish Barbecue at the Kilbroney Centre on Saturday 1st June

Everyone is Invited

Lists will appear in the churches over the next few weeks so that we can get an idea of how many folk will join us. Any special dietary requests may be added to the list as all food will be supplied by Jan and the team. We will gather from two o’clock and there’s time to explore, play games, chat, relax before food is served mid-afternoon.

Lectionary Year B

This Barbecue is for Everyone! Clonallon and Warrenpoint, Kilbroney, An Cuan … all our friends and extended family! 11.30 am on 2nd June at the Kilbroney Centre.

Annual Open Air Holy Communion with “bring your own” Picnic.

We hope that as many as possible will gather for this popular short service of Holy Communion. There’s space for young folk to play, tables for the not-so-young to enjoy fellowship, and always lots of food to share.

Everyone is Welcome

On 5th, 12th, and 26th May we welcome Millie Bellew to our services in Warrenpoint, Kilbroney, and Clonallon. On 19th May, the Day of Pentecost, we welcome Bishop David to Warrenpoint and 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 30th May At 7.00 pm

Speaker: Joanna McCall

Gardening slot Ark Community Gardens

Ladies Bible Study

Next meeting in Warrenpoint Vestry

14th May 2024 at 10.45 am

Everyone Welcome

Sunday Explorers

11.30 am each Sunday

All young folk welcome!

Kilbroney Parish Room

Parish Prayer Time

10.00 am in the Parish Room Kilbroney

Each Wednesday

Everyone Welcome

1st Sunday each month

7.00 pm in Kilbroney Parish Church

This service will follow the liturgy printed in the Book of Common Prayer on pages 457 464. There will be an opportunity for the laying on of hands and anointing with oil for those who wish. When you come for prayer you’ll have a moment to tell God what it is that is on your mind … we don’t ask any questions! Your request is known to God alone. Everyone is welcome to join us.

7.00 pm in Kilbroney Parish Church

Everyone is welcome to join us for this traditional evening service.

Ladies Guild

We were delighted to welcome David Charleton to our recent meeting on 25th April. Dorothy opened with the announcements, a reading and a prayer before handing over to David.

Thursday 27th June

Morning Coffee in F.E.McWilliams Centre. Tour of Hillsborough Castle. Early dinner at the Halfway House Restaurant

Travel by bus from Rostrevor or Warrenpoint. Cost, which includes everything, £50.

David told us how God called him to give of his time and building skills to Uganda, quoting these verses from 1 John:

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Over the years David has both led, and been a member of teams who have transformed schools, water supplies, medical centres, churches, and much, much more.

He illustrated his talk throughout with an interesting series of slides and colourful posters, giving us a little glimpse of the work that Fields of Life/Hope Builders are doing.

David introduced us to visionary folk on the ground who have been responsible for changing lives in places like Hope Village. These houses throw a lifeline to

Please book early with Dorothy Major who will supply menu details. If you’d like to join this trip and aren’t a member of Ladies Guild, that is possible, see Dorothy!

some of the poorest families. Every family arrives with nothing and is given a 4–room brick house with a separate latrine and wash house on a one and a half acre plot which they have to clear and cultivate. They’re also given basic furniture and utensils, a bull and 4 months worth of food.

Putting in a clean water source in many areas has been key to improving health.

Thank you David for a most inspiring talk, and for taking questions afterwards.

As always, the evening drew to an end with a cup of tea and some biscuits!

The May meeting is planned for Thursday 30th May at seven o’clock. Joanna McCall from Ark Community Gardens has planned to join us.

Details of the June outing are at the top of the page do plan to be part of this trip, even if you’re not a Ladies Guild member.

Supported by families and friends Bethlehem Low and David Beck were married at noon in Saint Bronach’s on Saturday 13th April 2024.

God of tenderness and strength, you have brought our paths together and led us to this day; go with us now as we travel through good times, through trouble or through change. Bless our home, our partings and our meetings. Make us worthy of each other’s best, and tender with each other’s dreams, trusting in your love in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Kilbroney’s first wedding kneeler was produced in white satin with intricate embroidery in the four corners. It was lovingly hand made by Mrs Margaret Mahood and formally gifted to the church in 2003. Sadly it was ‘lent out’ for a wedding sometime afterwards and unfortunately it was never returned. Mrs Lilly Patterson was upset and disappointed by this incident. So, with the help of Miss Denise Riley they ordered the tapestry design kit on the internet. Lilly had the tapestry constructed and made into the beautiful padded kneeler by her friend Laura, in Kilkeel. The second wedding kneeler was presented to Kilbroney Parish church in 2011.

For the wedding the Tower Bells rang out a joyful welcome to Bethlehem as she arrived at Saint Bronach’s. They gave further peals as David and Bethlehem, Mr and Mrs Beck, left the building.

As Bethlehem walked down the aisle, with her Dad, the Kilbroney Handbells played Beethoven's Ode to Joy!

The irate customer called the newsagent and demanded to know where her Sunday papers were.

"Ma'am," said the employee, "today is Saturday. The Sunday papers are not delivered until Sunday."

There was a long pause on the other end of the telephone, followed by a ray of recognition. "I'll bet that's why no one was in church today too."

Youth Project for Pentecost

The young folk, their leaders, and a couple of spare adults have been hard at work in a craft club designing a major art installation for Pentecost. There has been much glue, careful measuring, and materials as varied as pipe cleaners, tissue paper, and feathers! Folk at the after church coffee time will have noticed the growing pile of colourful items queuing up in the Parish Room. Watch this space!

A few photographs of the early stages will give you an idea of the amount of work that has been involved.

Warrenpoint

We finally managed to travel into both our project sites - Tuesday and Friday 23rd and 26th April. The roads were 'reasonable'. Both tanks are now complete - and both washed and cleaned out in readiness for clean and pure rain water. We had very good community meetings and both projects are now firmly in the hands of the local communities.

The lady trying to get the Maasai blanket onto me is called Alice. We were asking questions and I wanted to know about how they will go about distributing the water on an equitable basis. Alice said: 'That's easy … water is for sharing, not withholding.' That really summed it for me … Water is for those who need it. A huge thank you to all of you, for your part in getting water to those who need it. We just heard yesterday that it has rained incredibly hard over the past 2 days and both tanks are now full.

Bishop Gadiel Lenini

As you know water is life and every creature - human or animal - in the world relies on it. In Kajiado Diocese water is our biggest challenge. There are still people in many areas who trek more than 10 kms to fetch water – and often it is not clean nor safe to drink.

There is also a rise in human/wildlife conflict which often makes it unsafe for people to walk through the bush as they travel in search of water.

As animals mingle at water holes they often contaminate the water and make if unfit for human consumption. So I fully support the work of WATER DROPS and agree that we work in phases - also as per the availability of funds. As we move to start all this we are happy to offer the support of the office of the Bishop for all assignments and to receive the hand over of all projects after completion. I agree that we all pray and partner for these projects to assist the people of God. Many thanks to all those who may wish to support and fund these projects and I wish you all God's richest blessings. +Gadiel

Clean water ENABLES healthy children attend school regularly.

Clean water SUPPORTS healthy adults to work productively.

Clean water RESULTS in better health for all.

Ronnie Briggs ACK =

Anglican Church of Kenya

The Cradle Roll in Kilbroney Parish Church

Vestry Meeting 17th September 1881 …’Mr Barker asked for permission to erect a new font which was granted and the design inscription submitted by him was approved of with text, ‘Suffer little children to come onto me’ with a dove carved onto two panels

Church’s nave to remind believers of their baptism as they enter the church to worship, and to honour the fact that the rite of baptism served as their initiation into the church.

the Armagh Road, Newry. He married Joan Patterson whose parents were the first tenants of ‘Old Hall’ Apartments. The Patterson’s were members of Saint Patrick’s, Newry. The Horner’s had three children, Janet, Tanya and Simon.)

Kilbroney has a Cradle Roll, (on the wall behind the font) which lists all the Baptisms since 1960. The first two children, twins Sarah and Michael Hannon were grandchildren of Archdeacon Gordon Hannon and were baptised on the 30th January. Joanne McFall was baptised on Sunday, the following day.

Thirty nine years later, with one hundred and twenty three names, the cradle roll was completed in 1999.

Kilbroney’s second cradle roll was produced in 2001 by our local artist, illustrator, and a Kilbroney parishioner, Mrs Heather Cirefice.

The names of those baptised at the font are recorded on the Cradle Roll. The beautiful calligraphy has been completed mostly over the years, by Gladys Mulligan. Kilbroney Parish Church is extremely grateful and delighted as Gladys has very recently updated the second roll with new names but also very kindly restored faded lettering on the first roll. These rolls are now valuable historical Kilbroney documents.

The Baptistry in Kilbroney was created in 1929, through a bequest from Mary J. Vandeleur, of ‘Old Hall’, who died on 4th December 1928. Some of the pews were removed at the west end and the floor was tiled. Her legacy also provided electric lighting throughout the Church.

1966 ‘Select Vestry minutes’, ‘… it was agreed that the cradle roll, (Mr. Horner’s last piece of carpentry work undertaken for the Church) be hung in the Baptistry.

(NB. Miss Vandeleur was a connection of the Needhams – Kilmorey Estate, Kilkeel. Mr Donald Horner (English) came to Rostrevor after the war to manage ‘Chivers’ Jam & Preserve factory on

One of the great joys of the cradle roll is when visitors come to the church that perhaps they knew in earlier times. Folk who have been baptised here can see their name and know that they will always be part of Kilbroney Parish Church. It is particularly pleasing when they find their name and draw it to the attention of their

family and to also wonder and speak of other names they recognise on the roll.

This link will tie them to KPC for ever. We sincerely hope they will return more frequently and rejoin our community.

The Kilbroney Parish Church Cradle roll, was designed by Cicely Mary Barker (28th June 1895 – 16th February 1973) She was an English artist and illustrator, best known as the creator of the famous ‘Flower Fairy’ children’s books.

Cicely was the second daughter of Walter and Mary Barker born in Croydon, England. She suffered from epilepsy as a child and was cared for at home by her parents and her older sister Dorothy. Remaining physically delicate for most of her life, Cicely spent much time on her own, reading and drawing. In 1908 when she was thirteen, her father enrolled her at the Croydon Art Society where they both exhibited work. At sixteen Cicely was elected a life member and was the youngest person ever to receive this honour.

Cicely was influenced by the huge popular interest in fairies which developed from the Victorian enthusiasm

for fairy stories. In 1911 when she was fifteen, four of her fairies and flower designs were printed for greeting cards, and from then she was able to sell her work to magazines, to postcard & greeting card manufacturers, and later, to book publishers. This money helped towards the family finances as her father died when Cicely was just seventeen years old.

Cicely always used real-life models for her paintings. Most of the models came in later years, from the kindergarten her sister Dorothy ran in the back room of the house in which they lived. She also painted the children and relatives. Cicely always asked the child model to hold the flower, twig or blossom of a particular fairy, for she wanted to be sure of the accuracy of her depiction of the shape, texture and form of the plant. Cicily’s only alteration was to the size, she enlarged the flower to make it the same size as the child.

Her flowers are always botanically accurate. If she could not find a flower close at hand, she enlisted the help of staff at nearby Kew Gardens who would often visit with specimens for her to paint.

Queen Mary did much to encourage the vogue for fairy paintings during the 1920s by frequently sending postcards depicting fairies to her friends. This popularity saw the publication of Cicely Mary Barker's Elves and Fairies postcards in 1918.

The Barker family were deeply religious and she retained a strong Christian faith producing religious themed works throughout her life. Cicely published eight postcards and five guardian angels for ‘The Society of Promoting Christian Knowledge’ in 1916 and in 1923 respectively.

There were Christmas cards designed for ‘The Girls Friendly Society’ for a 20 year period, and the first three designs sold out a combined printing of 46,500 in 1923. Her faith informed all of her work, religious or

secular, be it in her cards, children’s book or decorating the churches with which she was affiliated.

In 1940, the Barkers' live-in maid retired, and Dorothy Barker closed her kindergarten school at the back of the house. Cicely continued to supervise the household, and to give both her mother and sister the care they needed. Dorothy and her sister collaborated upon only two books: Our Darling's First Book and the Christian-themed, He Leadeth Me.

In 1954 Dorothy died of a heart attack. Cicely was unable to pursue her art to any significant extent following her sister's death, as all the care of her aged mother devolved upon her, but she did manage in 1962, to begin planning a stained glass window design in her sister's memory for Saint Edmund's, (Pitlake Mission), Croydon. This church was founded in 1881 and sadly closed in 1964.

(‘Out of Great Tribulation’ 1949. The essential meaning appears to be that after the suffering and trials of WW2, there is a general reconciliation with Christ. This image was as a main feature in the now demolished Norbury Methodist Church was hidden in the Town hall vaults for many years. It is currently Saint Andrew’s Church, Croydon.)

Cicely’s mother died in 1960. The following year Cicely, sold and moved from her family home into an apartment but then her health began to deteriorate. She was in and out of nursing and convalescent homes, and was tended by relatives and friends.

Cicely Mary Barker died at Worthing Hospital 16th February 1973, aged 77 years.

Shelagh Roberts

Saint Andrew’s gives the following information about the above painting:

This painting, which is a highly emotive one, represents hope rising from sadness. Some of the characters are taken from the local community: Barker’s mother stands by the right of the Christ figure; the airman is Albert Warren, whose parents owned a greengrocer’s in Southbridge Place; the elderly gentleman behind the airman is probably a dentist named Mr Allen.

Apparently, each model received £5 for sitting for Miss Barker and received one of the preliminary pastel sketches.

Postscript

Having read Shelagh’s article I, Elizabeth, reached into the bookcase beside me and pulled out a seventy year old book Our Darling’s First Book! It was a prize from Ballymartin afternoon Sunday School in 1954.

It was frequently read, and dearly loved. I had no idea that the illustrator over whose images I poured was a famous artist. Elizabeth Hanna

Out of Great Tribulation 1949

Eamonn’s Soda Bread Scones

Makes about 20 small scones

Ingredients:

640 g Soda Bread Flour

(or Self Raising Flour + 5 g Baking Powder + 5 g Bicarbonate of Soda)

350 ml Whey or Buttermilk (with 10 ml of lemon juice added)

2 Medium Eggs

50 ml Rapeseed or Sunflower Oil

2 TbSp Sugar

Preheat your oven to 220 oC

Mix together the Flour and Sugar in a large bowl.

Pour the Oil into a jug and break in the two eggs and mix together.

Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour the buttermilk and Egg/Oil mixture in at the same time. Mix thoroughly together.

Flour a large board and spoon all of your mixture on to it. Sprinkle flour on top.

Using your hands flatten the mixture on to the board until it is about 1" thick.

Using a 2" diameter cookie cutter cut out rounds and place them on a floured metal tray suitable for the oven.

Place in top shelf of oven, turn down to 200 oC and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Place on a tray or basket and let cool a little. Serve while slightly warm.

Due to the small amount of Oil, they can be frozen and reheated.

If you wish to make Currant or Raisin Scones then add a large handful (120 g) to the dry ingredients and mix through before you add the liquids.

For a slightly lighter scone, just before you put them in the oven, pierce each scone a few times with a fork. If you wish to have a more brown top then brush the surface of each scone with egg and/or milk before placing in oven.

TIP: Use plenty of FLOUR on your board before putting the mixture on it and then once you have patted the mixture down, sprinkle a good coating of flour on top. This will prevent sticking and make the scones easier to cut out.

Thank you Eamonn for this tasty and useful recipe!

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to ‘Honour your father and your mother,’ she asked, ‘Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’ Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, ‘You shall not kill..’

Eamonn O’Connor

Rostrevor Men’s Shed

The Ladies met for Bible Study on Tuesday 9th April. There were two apologies but four of us enjoyed fellowship as we gathered around God's Word and continued the journey through Esther. Now we are into Chapters 6 and 7.

Last time we left wicked Haman feeling smug. He had the gallows all ready for Mordecai.

If Haman had a good night with the knowledge that Mordecai would be soon out of the way - whether he slept well or whether he was too excited to sleep we don't know.

However, we do know that King Xerxes could not sleep (Ch 6 v1), there was obviously something bothering him. Shakespeare once wrote "uneasy lies the head that wears the crown". It could have been said that the King had eaten too much or drunk too much wine before going to bed. That wasn't the case here … it was something much deeper. God was dealing with the King.

There was another King in the Book of Daniel who couldn't sleep. King Darius couldn't sleep after having Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. What did the King do? He got up and went to the lions’ den only to find Daniel unharmed.

What did King Xerxes do? He sent for the Royal Record Book to be brought and read to him. Only God could have directed the King to this. When the Book was opened Mordecai's name was found and it was recorded that he had exposed the two officers who were planning to assassinate the King.

The Book Revelation talks about such books. John in his vision (Rev Ch 20 vs 11-15) talks about the books being opened and then there's the Lamb's Book of Life and it too will be opened … will it be opened where our name is written? I expect the Lord will know exactly where it is.

It was then the King found out that Mordecai had neither been recognised or rewarded for what he had done. (Ch 6 v 3). Why wasn't Mordecai recognised before now? Well, God was in charge and God had selected the day for him to be recognised. God is never in a hurry. God is in charge of schedules.

Psalm 31 v 15 reads - My times are in your hands, deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Just then Haman arrived all ready to get the King's permission to hang Mordecai. As soon as the King saw Haman he called out to him and invited him into his quarters. Haman must have felt so confident and when the King asked for his advice on a personal matter this must have increased Haman's ego even more.

So the King proceeded "what should be done to a man who the King delights to honour"?

Well, Haman must have swelled with pride. He thought the King was talking about him. So Haman thought about all the things he would like for himself and it would be of the very best!

Haman suggested that this person be given one of the King's robes to wear; to ride on one of the King's horses and someone important to lead this person through the city announcing to everyone "this is what is done for a man whom the King wants to honour".

(Ch 6 v 4-9).

The King thought this was a great idea and he ordered Haman to take the robe and horse to Mordecai and lead him through the city. Haman got the "quare gunk"! The tables had turned. Haman was now to give honour to the very man he despised. (Ch 6 v 10 & 11).

When Haman returned with Mordecai, Mordecai went back to his normal duties at the King's gate but Haman hurried home full of shame. When he told his wife and friends what had happened, they realised that Haman was now fighting a losing battle and warned him if Mordecai was a Jew, Haman would not be able to harm him and it would be Haman himself who would fall. (Ch 6 v 12 & 13). It was as if God was giving him a chance to change his ways. God was sounding an alarm but unfortunately Haman refused to heed.

Just then the servants arrived to take Haman to Esther's Dinner Party and things were about to change. When God sounds the alarm, it pays to stop, listen and obey.

It was while they were at Dinner, Esther bravely told the King of Haman's evil plan. Not only to kill her people but kill her as well. Without Esther saying anything, the King began to twig the nationality of Esther. Haman, his "blue eyed boy" plotted the whole thing and tricked the King into consenting to murder Esther, his own wife. (Ch 7 v 1-6).

The King went out in a rage to the Palace Garden. By now Haman was terrified. He threw himself on Esther's sofa begging her for his life. How those tables were turning, here was Haman begging for his life from a Jew. It was too late for Haman. One of his servants told the King that Haman had prepared the gallows for Mordecai. The King ordered that Haman should be hanged on it. (Ch 7 v 7-10).

In other words Haman had gathered enough rope to hang himself he arranged his own death warrant. Proverbs 11 v 8 reads - The righteous man is rescued from trouble and it comes to the wicked instead. Haman had planned to get rid of Mordecai but it was Haman that perished instead.

Even with Haman out of the way, it still didn't solve the problem. The King's decree to kill the Jews was still effective and could not be changed or could it? But God is sovereign and he hasn't finished yet. We can take comfort that no matter what we can still be assured -

God is still on the throne, and he will remember his own; tho' trials may press us and burdens distress us, he never will leave us alone; God is still on the throne, he never forsaketh his own; his promise is true, he will not forget you, God is still on the throne.

Our next Bible Study is TUESDAY 14th MAY AT 10.45 AM IN THE VESTRY WARRENPOINT CHURCH. All ladies are welcome to come along. Looking forward to seeing you all. Love, God Bless and stay safe. Dorothy Major Xx

Some Sounds I Haven’t Heard in Years

The clanging of an iron gate.

My uncle on the farm going to feed the wee piglets with a bucket of feed in each hand, the noise my sister and I woke up to when staying at our Granny’s in Monaghan.

Remember the noise of glass milk bottles from a crate, delivered to your front door step very early in the morning?

Remember the noise of the steam roller tarmacking the road?

Remember the noise the fog horn at Greencastle made on a foggy night?

Remember the noise the young neighbour made when he first got the powerful motorbike?

Remember the noise the last bus made drawing away after you just missed it?

Remember the first song of the cuckoo in spring?

Remember the sound of the machine cutting silage on a summer’s evening half a mile away?

The ding ding of a cash till.

The ping of the typewriter.

Remembering the sound of Kilbroney Parish Church bells playing on a still Sunday morning, we could hear them in Killowen!

and thank God for the gift of hearing.

Joan Toase

Sunday School teacher, Miss Ritter was teaching her class about the difference between right and wrong. "All right children, let's take an example," she said. "If I were to get into a man's pocket and take his wallet with all his money, what would I be?"

Trevor Trouble raised his hand, and with a confident smile, blurted out, "You'd be his wife!"

Golf balls are like eggs … they are both white, sold by the dozen, and a week later you have to go out and buy more.

I don't have a train of thought. I have seven trains on four tracks that narrowly avoid each other when the paths cross, all the conductors scream at each other.

An elderly gentleman passed his granddaughter's room one night and overheard her repeating the alphabet in an oddly soft, sweet, reverent way. “What on earth are you up to?" he asked. "I'm saying my prayers," explained the little girl, "But I can't think of exactly the right words tonight, so I'm just saying all the letters. God will put them together for me, because God knows what I'm thinking."

Sermon

21st April The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Around nineteen years ago at one of my first services in Willowfield Parish Church I was preaching at a Baptism. During my sermon I referred to the child that had just been baptised (now I did not do the baptism) I was the preacher. However, there was a problem – I said the wrong name every time. I have to say the girl’s mother let me know at the end of the service what I done. Of course, she was correct, our names are important to us.

Thankfully while I might get your name wrong God does not and that is really important as we turn to this morning’s reading in John’s Gospel chapter 10

Jesus is talking about sheep and their shepherd and just before this he has had a run in with the religious leaders because he has healed a man of blindness, and this then sets the scene for this morning’s story. A story about sheep and shepherds which would have been familiar to those listening Jesus, as sheep farming was an important part of the economy.

As one who comes from the country, I know a wee bit about sheep and they are not that easy to lead; they often do silly things and can wonder off very easily into danger and not know it.

So, in this story we are depicted as the sheep – how flattering is that! Jesus is the Shepherd, in fact if we read on he calls himself the Good Shepherd v11. Again, this would have rung bells with his listeners as there is rich imagery in the Old Testament of Shepherd and their sheep. Most obviously in our reading from Ezekiel 34 where the false leaders of Israel are described by God as Shepherds who have taken the people away from him.

Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? ... My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. Ezekiel 34

God promised judgement on them, he will shepherd this people, he will send a true Shepherd: the Messiah.

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. 34:11

So, in John 10 Jesus is laying out to all who would listen, including the religious leaders, that he is the Good Shepherd sent from God. The one Ezekiel prophesied about and to follow him is truth, everything / everyone else is lies.

And he sets this all out in imagery of the sheep pen where sheep were kept at night for safety and then led

out by the Shepherd to the pastures in the morning.

More than one Shepherd’s sheep could be in the pen but the shepherd knew their sheep, even had names for them, so Jesus uses this to illustrate a profound truth about the God and his relationship with his creation.

Using the analogy of the Shepherd and his relationship with the sheep he demonstrates to his listeners, and to us, what he means to follow him, to be known by him.

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

John 10 v2-5

I really only want to focus on one thing from these passages this morning.

Jesus calls us by name.

As I said at the beginning our names are important to us, and Jesus calling us by name is really important, it comes with great benefits.

As we are known by him, we get to know his voice for ourselves, he then leads and guides us through life, in fact he brings us out into new life.

We read in verse 10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Others might tell you how to really live life to the full, culture and society may push us to follow their ways and patterns on how to live life and where we will find happiness and fulfilment. They may try to Redefine for us what is right and wrong, what is permissible and what is not.

However, Jesus tells us, those who follow him will not listen, they will know truth from falsehood.

But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

We know truth because the Holy Spirit now dwells within us, we are born again of the Spirit of God. What is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit? To lead us into all truth. John 16:13

It is the Holy Spirit who makes the Bible become the living Word of God to us, he who makes us recognise the voice of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd promises to guide us through this life, to lead us when the going is good and through the more difficult times. This is spelled out for us in this morning’s Psalm 23. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing … .

That great promise to lead and guide us through life and then walk with us in death into life eternal. You see not only does God knowing our name shape our lives now it shapes our lives for eternity

We read something very important in Revelation when it comes to names, a picture of end of time as we know it: And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. ... And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. … And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:11-15

This reading paints for us then a picture of what is to come, when we walk through that dark valley. We get a picture of God on his throne and books opened. Books full of names and what each of us has done in life, and one book we all want to find our names in, the ‘Book of Life’. This Book of Life is mentioned through scripture and not to have our name in it means eternal separation from God and his Kingdom, an eternity of pain and suffering.

God’s heart is that we would come to him, that we would all know him and be known by him. The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Ps103:8 He has opened wide the door to a Spirit-filled life through the cross. am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. V.11. Jesus is pointing out to his listeners that he would lay down his life on the cross for the sin of the world, your sin and mine which opens the door to life in all its fulness. Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The gate was the only way into the pen. Jesus is telling them it is by me, and me alone, that you can find God, anyone else is a thief or a robber.

We see that spelt out in our reading from the book of Acts 4. Just before this Peter and John have healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus, the religious leaders, the false shepherds, have them thrown in prison overnight. Then in our reading they are brought before the leaders to explain themselves and Peter goes for it and makes this proclamation that we in the church, and the world, needs to know.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

Sheep often lie asleep on the warm tarmac road in the evenings. As you go towards Hilltown over the Cairn Braes at night you come across them and notice that they are totally unaware of the danger that they’re in!

I think describing us as sheep is not far off the mark, without the Shepherds’ leading and guiding, without his voice to follow, we walk into danger and don’t really know it. We think we are okay, but in reality, we are not; we are in fact in grave danger. So, this morning do you know the Good Shepherd, do you know his voice and are you following him?

No one or nothing else can you lead through that dark valley of death to eternal life in heaven other than him. No amount of our good deeds, or church attendance, no amount of giving to the poor, good as these things are, they will not get your name written in the Book of Life. Knowing about the Good Shepherd is not enough either, we need to know him, give our lives to him.

He calls us by name and when we answer our names are written in that great Book of Life, this morning are

Watercolour by Ruth Nolan

A Miracle over Jerusalem

Saturday, 13th April

Following the Iranian multiple missile attack on Saturday 13th April, an Israeli scientist who works for the security system and is a doctor in physics wrote the following words to his Rabbi:

I wanted to share with the rabbi something that is much more than a feeling, that on Shabbat night something happened here on the scale of the splitting of the Red Sea.

I am a doctor of physics and I worked for several years in the defence industry in Israel, in projects that are still the cutting edge of the State of Israel. When I look at what happened on Saturday night on a scientific level, it simply cannot happen. Everyone, and I mean everyone, acted as one man in overall unity.

The likelihood that everything works out just as it should does not exist in complex systems like the defence systems that were operating. They have never, I mean never, even beyond the state of Israel, been tried in real time. I took a pencil and dove into the calculations to check the likelihood that such a result would materialise.

The large number of events that had to be handled at precisely the right time doubles the chance of making a mistake.

With all the high technologies, the expectation was for a breach in the defence of the skies of the State of Israel. Even if we got 90% protection it would be a miracle. What happened though is that everyone, I mean everyone - the pilots, the systems operators, and the technology operators - acted as one man at one moment in total unity. If this is not an act of God, then I no longer know what a miracle is.

The doctor marvels and adds, “This is sharper than the victory of the Six Day War or the War of Independence. There it can be explained according to nature. The rescue that took place for the people of Israel on Shabbat night is impossible naturally.

I believe that this miracle saved the lives of many people from Israel1*. If the defence system had failed to intercept a number of these missiles, the result would have dragged us into a very complex campaign. I wouldn’t bet that next time it will work like this without divine supervision. The simple proof of what I said is that the managers of the security industries who develop and manufacture these systems guarantee no more than 90%2** success!

“Since the day you came out of the land of Egypt we have shown you wonderful things!” Happy Holidays!”

That’s how he ended his words.

1* The number of casualties recorded was one, a seven year old Bedouin girl, seriously wounded from falling shrapnel.

2** In fact, accuracy was a stunning 99%.

Reported on Telegram by Amir Tsarfati, from Galilee, Israel.

Molly Cooper

The Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, showing the lights of the missile interceptions.

Across

1 One who owes money, goods or services (Isaiah 24:2) (6)

4 ‘A good measure, pressed down, together and running over’ (Luke 6:38) (6)

7 Continuous dull pain (Proverbs 14:13) (4)

8 This bread contains yeast (Amos 4:5) (8)

9 ‘But take heart! I have the world’ (John 16:33) (8)

13 And the rest (abbrev.) (3)

16 What Paul was accused of by Tertullus, the high priest’s lawyer, in his trial before Felix (Acts 24:5) (13)

17 Rap (anag.) (3)

19 Founder of the Jesuits in 1534 (8)

24 ‘For where your is, there your heart will be also’ (Luke 12:34) (8)

25 The first word written on the wall during King Belshazzar’s great banquet (Daniel 5:25) (4)

26 ‘We all, like sheep, have gone ’ (Isaiah 53:6) (6)

27 One was given in honour of Jesus in Bethany (John 12:2) (6)

Down

1 ‘The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the hear, the dead are raised’ (Luke 7:22) (4)

2 Conduct (Colossians 1:21) (9)

3 In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the body of a saint or his belongings, venerated as holy (5)

4 ‘Like a of locusts men pounce on it’ (Isaiah 33:4) (5)

5 Very old (Genesis 44:20) (4)

6 In Calvinist theology, one who is predestined by God to receive salvation (5)

10 How Nicodemus addressed Jesus when he visited him one night (John 3:2) (5)

11 Sea (Psalm 148:7) (5)

12 ‘I will you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever’ (Psalm 145:1) (5)

13 One of the groups of philosophers that Paul met in Athens, who disagreed with his teaching about the resurrection (Acts 17:18) (9)

14 Barred enclosure (Ezekiel 19:9) (4)

15 ‘Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in with the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:25) (4)

18 Cares (anag.) (5)

20 Garish (Ezekiel 16:16) (5)

21 ‘So God said to Noah, “I am going to put to all people”’ (Genesis 6:13) (2,3)

22 Just (2 Corinthians 6:13) (4)

23 ‘The of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (Proverbs 1:7) (4)

A Prayer

Everlasting Father, you love your people and when we see no solution you have one long since planned.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth, for whom nothing is too hard, and who has a plan for all people.

A teacher in Primary School asked the children in her class to complete the second half of some well known proverbs … this is the result!

Don't bite the hand that … looks dirty. You can't teach an old dog new … Maths. If you lie down with dogs, you'll … stink in the morning. An idle mind is … the best way to relax. Where there's smoke there's … pollution. Happy the bride who gets all the presents. A penny saved is not much. Don't put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and You have to blow your nose. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded. If at first you don't succeed get new batteries. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way.

We worship in awe as we see you fulfilling your purposes. Though the way sometimes leads through fear and distress, darkness and anguish, you do not abandon us.

We put our trust in you.

God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. So we commit ourselves, and all those for whom we pray, to God’s loving care, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Adapted from Prayers by M. Basilea Schlink

Still Life with a Bowl of Strawberries, a Spray of Gooseberries, Asparagus and a Plum

Adriaen Coorte c. 1683 - 1707

The 6th Sunday of Easter, 5th May 2024, is traditionally Rogation Sunday, when we give thanks for the fruits of the earth and pray for all who work on the land. Churches celebrate nature’s cycle from seeds sown to crops harvested.

Jesus in his teaching pointed out the miracle of that cycle in the seed. It is sown in the soil, but springs up to new life; a small beginning that becomes a great plant; a single seed that is multiplied. In May the early strawberries are ripe and asparagus is harvested as June approaches. Then the gooseberries mature in July and the plums in August.

The National Gallery writes: Compositions which belied seasonal availability in this way were common in Dutch still-life and flower paintings. There was a long tradition of artists working from studio drawings and oil studies, and they were adept at reusing the same references. Indeed Coorte painted what seems to be the same bunch of asparagus several times – there is a version in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, for example – and the bowl of strawberries appears in at least two other pictures.

They fruits and vegetables are signs of the fruitfulness of nature which are depicted in this painting which was given to the National Gallery (received 2015 and on display from December 2017) by the Dutch collector, Willem van Dedem. It was painted in 1703 by Adriaen

Coorte and measures 35.7 × 42.8 cms. We know little about him apart from the fact that he lived in Holland and has left us a garland of canvases, all displaying what has been called ‘a wondrous tenderness.’ He was highly skilled at rendering the textures of natural surfaces, like the translucence of ripe gooseberries, the tiny pocks in the skins of the strawberries and the musty sheen on the plum. The curled, bug-nibbled edges of the leaves are also depicted with painstaking delicacy.

This painting is an ordinary, unpretentious scene. There is no moral lesson here, no symbolism: simply a depiction of the beauty of creation in miniature. The bowl of strawberries and the bunch of asparagus lie on a stone ledge with some gooseberries and a plum. Each a gift of nature to enjoy and share, and to find there a token of God, the giver of all good things.

‘For everything there is a season,’ and in this month of May with Adriaen Coorte, we give thanks for this bounty of the earth and we pray for farmers and agricultural workers. But more than that, as the hymn tells us, ‘we thank thee then, O Father, for all things bright and good.’

Adapted from information on the National Gallery website and the Revd Michael Burgess.

Collect for Rogation Days

Almighty God and Father, you have so ordered our life that we are dependent on one another: Prosper those engaged in commerce and industry and direct their minds and hands that they may rightly use your gifts in the service of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer for Rogation Days

God our creator, you give seed for us to sow and bread for us to eat. As you have blessed the fruit of our labour in this eucharist, so we ask you to give all your children their daily bread, that the world may praise you for your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions at Rogation

Let us pray to God the almighty, the King of creation.

God said, ‘Let there be light.’ Eternal God, we thank you for your light and your truth.

We praise you for your fatherly care in creating a universe which proclaims your glory. Inspire us to worship you, the creator of all, and let your light shine upon our world.

God of life: hear our prayer.

God said, ‘Let there be a firmament in the midst of the heavens.’

We thank you for the vastness of the universe and the mysteries of space. We pray for all scientists and astronomers who extend the boundaries of our knowledge. As we contemplate the wonder of the heavens, confirm us in the truth that every human being is known and loved by you.

God of life: hear our prayer.

God said, ‘Let the waters be gathered together, and let dry land appear.’

We thank you for the beauty of the earth, for the diversity of land and sea, for the resources of the earth. Give us the will to cherish this planet and to use its riches for the good and welfare of all.

God of life: hear our prayer.

God said, ‘Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day and the night.’

We thank you for the warmth of the sun, the light of the moon, the glory of the stars. We praise you for the formations of clouds, the radiance of dawn and sunset. Save us from wasting or abusing the energy on which all life depends. Open our eyes to behold your beauty, and our lips to praise your name.

God of life: hear our prayer.

God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth living creatures, and let birds fly across the sky.’

We thank you for the teeming life of the seas, and the flight of the birds. Help us to protect the environment so that all life may flourish.

God of life: hear our prayer.

God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind.’

We rejoice in the variety of animal life. Grant us grace to treat all animals with respect and care; to protect endangered species, to preserve the variety of habitats, and to honour the delicate balance of nature.

God of life: hear our prayer.

God said, ‘Let us create human beings in our own image.’ We pray for the human family. We exult in its diversity and giftedness, we repent of its sins, divisions and violence. By the power of your Spirit, restore your image within us, through Christ who came to remake us by his death and resurrection.

God of life: hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that, rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Kilbroney Handbellers in Warrenpoint

At the recent Artisan Market in Warrenpoint the Handbell team took to the stage for an hour to entertain traders and shoppers. Thanks to Annie for getting this picture keep an eye on the paper as Jed was taking photographs too!

Why Sing?

"Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak and pray the same Word at the same time; in other words, because here they can unite in the Word. There should be singing, not only at devotions, but at regular times of the day or week. The more we sing, the more joy will we derive from it, but, above all, the more devotion and discipline and joy we put into our singing, the richer will be the blessing that will come to the whole life of the fellowship from singing together.

It is the voice of the Church that is heard in singing together. It is not you that sings, it is the Church that is singing, and you, as a member of the Church, may share in its song. Thus all singing together that is right must serve to widen our spiritual horizon, make us see our little company as a member of the great Christian Church on earth, and help us willingly and gladly to join our singing, be it feeble or good, to the song of the Church."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What do dentists call their x-rays? Tooth pics! What did one ocean say to the other ocean? Nothing, it just waved.

Saint Bronach’s Camino

2nd April 2024

Some of the pilgrims who travelled with Susan and Elizabeth on the annual Camino of Saint Bronach. This year we had three gatherings on the route. First in Saint Bronach’s for a short talk and some prayers. We then made our own way to Saint Mary’s, Star of the Sea where there was further information and a chance to ring the famous bell.

The Camino ended up in Kilbroney Graveyard with some short talks and final prayers and blessings.

Two windmills are standing on a wind farm. One asks, ‘What’s your favourite kind of music?’

The other replies, ‘I’m a big metal fan.’

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