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/
“… craftsman’s art and music’s measure for thy pleasure all combine.”
The section for children, page 23, reminded me that we humans are made in the image of God, able to create and produce beautiful objects, art, music, and so much more! Examples of this include the splendid stained glass windows in our churches, there’s a copy of one on page 10 from Warrenpoint Parish Church. Another example is the use of photography to record images of God’s creative handiwork from across the world. Just look at Jonathan’s picture on page 7. Hymnwriters, composers and musicians play their part in making this world more wonderful. The title above is from Francis Pott’s hymn, “Angel voices, ever singing round thy throne of light …” This is printed on page 22 and is a reminder that all the gifts we have come from God, and we use them for God’s glory.
A recent addition to the furnishing in Kilbroney Parish Church is the exquisitely crafted greenheart wooden stand for the ancient bell from Saint Paul’s Church. One of the Kilbroney Tower Bell Ringers, Alan, had the idea, and it became a reality as Richard and Mark Edgar designed and made the structure.
It was dedicated to the Glory of God by Bishop David on 23rd June 2024 and you will be able to read the history of the project, with the numerous folk who were involved on pages 11-13, as well as photographs of Bishop David’s visit on page 6. He was in Clonallon that morning for the first service and then travelled on to Rostrevor for 11.30 am.
If, over the next couple of months you happen to take a beautiful photograph, or craft something that gives you pleasure, or do a painting, or maybe compose a poem … or anything creative … please share it with the Pointer readers … then we can all give thanks to God for the gifts that have been given to us. If, on holiday, you visit a church, then a report, with pictures, would be very
May God bless us, every one!
Elizabeth Hanna (Editor)
The greenheart wooden stand for Saint Paul’s Bell.
L-R Alan Davis, Mark Edgar, Richard Edgar.
1
Lectors
Clonallon
Warrenpoint
Hugh Tyrrell
Rene Murphy
Emma Cooper
Clonallon
Kilbroney
Jonathan Heyhoe
Shelagh Roberts 28
Dorothy Major
Evelyn Greer
Rene Murphy
Clonallon
Dorothy Major
Elizabeth Hanna
Warrenpoint
Rene Murphy
Evelyn Greer
Emma Cooper
Clonallon MP
April Feng
Liz Farnan
Christian Burial
We extend our prayerful sympathy to all who mourn, especially to the family and friends of
Tom Weir
25th February 1945 30th May 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
‘I am the resurrection and the life,’ says the Lord. ’Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.’
John 11:25-26
Our parishes are committed to ensuring all children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm. We strive towards the highest standards in Safeguarding with children and vulnerable adults and our commitment is outlined in the dedicated Church of Ireland Safeguarding website: safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org
Timothy Alexander
Rosie Teggarty 25
Stephen Cooper
Hugh Tyrrell
Dorothy Major
Warrenpoint HC
Rene Murphy
Elizabeth Hanna
Kilbroney MP
Susan Farrell
William Graham
Myrtle Kerr
Jonathan Heyhoe
Shelagh Roberts
Lectors … Please Read This!
It is helpful if those reading the scriptures move to the lectern towards the end of the prayer/hymn preceding it. The readings at Morning/Evening Prayer end in silence and those at Holy Communion follow the responses in the BCP
Apart from the Gospel at HC, readings are usually introduced “A reading from … chapter … beginning at verse …”. (Never “taken from”!)
8:(1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Lectionary Year B
Two Harvest Services 2024
Kilbroney 11.30 am Sunday 13
Clonallon and Warrenpoint in Clonallon Church 3.30 pm Sunday 13th October A “Give Away” table at Warrenpoint Church on Monday 14th October
Crafters on Wednesdays
On holiday until September … but do keep crafting! 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 Bible Study
Back in October
Sunday Explorers
On holiday now until September but Family Services continue on the Second Sunday of the month.
Parish Prayer Time
10.00 am in the Parish Room Kilbroney
Each Wednesday
Everyone Welcome
Warrenpoint Parish Church
Open Church
From 11.00 am until Noon
Each Wednesday
Everyone is welcome to drop in for a bit of quiet.
Fiddlers Green Festival
Wednesday 24th—Sunday 28th July
Festival Praise
Sunday 28th July 11.30 am
Kilbroney Parish Church
Wholeness and Healing
No Healing Service in July and August.
Compline
No service of Compline in July and August.
Bishop’s Bible Week
Bishop Stuart Bell is the speaker.
Tuesday 27th August: Unvarnished realism (Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43)
Wednesday 28th August: Unfinished business (Luke 13:1–9)
Thursday 29th August: Unfair grace (Matthew 20:1–16)
Friday 30th August: Unforeseen consequences (Luke 15:11–32)
Bible Week will begin each evening at 7.45 pm in Saint Saviour’s, Belfast Road, Dollingstown, BT66 7JR.
Teddy Bears Picnic and Bear Hunt
If you'd gone down to the back of Warrenpoint church on 25th June you would have been in for a big surprise. For this was the day Seaview Nursery School had their Teddy Bears Picnic and Bear Hunt, sheltered from the drizzly rain underneath the canopy of the mature Lime Tree Avenue.
The Select Vestry kindly agreed to let me, in my role as an Environmental Educator, to host the event. All three classes from Seaview were walked separately to the site for a Bear Hunt, where they had to help me find my wayward bear, ‘Broney’ as he ‘explored the forest’. All 70+ children then congregated on tarpaulins under the trees for their picnic, accompanied by their teddy bears.
All adult teachers and helpers involved were most impressed with the site which they had never been to before or even knew existed. They hinted at being able to use it more regularly to educate the children in a private outdoor space. The church grounds are a real jewel in the centre of Warrenpoint, conveniently placed opposite the library and beside the doctor’s surgery.
Unfortunately by some, the grounds are seen to be unused with locked gates and have become a bit of a dumping ground. In preparation the day before, myself and my daughter, filled a large bin bag of rubbish, mostly food takeaway containers and tied dog poo bags thrown over the back gates. I’ve often thought it would be such an asset to the church to have them open and used during the day for an area of thoughtful contemplation or private reading. If used more, perhaps they’d be respected more.
As I saw the children out through the gates on their departure, a local lady approached me from the street and said how lovely it was to see the church grounds being used and that she had suggested they could be left open for an hour on Wednesday mornings during ‘Open Church’; something I’d been thinking myself; ‘Open church and grounds.’
Canadian couple approached me and asked to see inside the church to look for a family plaque; ‘Harris’. They’d noticed my car parked outside and were waiting around to ask someone. I had to unlock the gates drive back in and open up the church. We didn’t find the said plaque but they were so grateful for my efforts to help them.
When people can be ‘present’ in God’s premises, who knows what outreach it can lead to?
I am very grateful to Clonallon and Warrenpoint Select Vestry for allowing me to use their lovely grounds and hope to make more use of them in future. Liz Farnan
Dedication of the New Stand for Saint Paul’s Bell, Kilbroney
Photographs from Ged McKinley … thank you!
The Kilbroney Handbellers opened our worship on 23rd June before the Churchwardens, Shelagh and Joan, led Bishop David and Canon Charlie Leeke to the porch.
There two of the young folk helped to uncover the new stand for the Saint Paul’s bell so that Bishop David could dedicate it to the glory of God. Each of the Explorers was invited to ring the bell a sound that has not been heard in many years.
Bishop David spoke of the importance of bells that call people to worship, and Ged McKinley got a picture of most of the Tower Bell Team who ring each Sunday before the service and who also practise every Thursday evening. Thank you Bishop David for being with us to dedicate this new stand for Saint Paul’s bell.
The Tower Bell Team
Exhibition of Landscape Photography Tuesday 23rd - Sunday 28th July. 11.30 am - 4.00 pm each day.
Kilbroney Parish
Church
An exhibition of Landscape Photography will be on display in the parish room in Kilbroney Parish Church from Tuesday 23rd to Sunday 28th July. Photography by William Graham and Jonathan Heyhoe featuring a mix of colour and black and white photographs taken in a variety of locations. Open from 11.30 am to 4.00 pm each day when one of us will be present to meet you.
William Graham’s location is a closely guarded secret waiting to be revealed in July!
Jonathan visited Yosemite National Park in May last year as part of a small group of five people who were guided by two experienced professional landscape photographers. It was a wonderful privilege to spend five days there and to view the spectacular scenery at different times of day, although ironically we were blessed with almost too much sunshine! A few clouds would have been very welcome at times. However, a storm was brewing one afternoon with thick clouds and lightning over the mountains.
Yosemite National Park is situated in the Californian Sierra Nevada south east of San Francisco, which is nearly 200 miles from the Yosemite Valley Visitor Centre. It covers a very large area (759,620 acres, 1,187 square miles) and we saw just a small portion of the park, mainly the Valley with its meadows flooded by the snowmelt waters overflowing from the Merced River, overlooked by towering granite peaks and waterfalls. El Capitan presents a challenge to climbers with its sheer cliff face rising up from the valley floor to a height of 7569 feet (2307 metres).
Ansel Adams is the photographer whose black and white photographs (taken on very heavy large format cameras) are most associated with Yosemite and I felt that I was following in some of his footsteps. My pictures include some black and white photos in homage to the master.
Jonathan Heyhoe
Ladies Guild
Our final Meeting this term took place on Thursday 30th was a good turnout of ladies which was encouraging especially for our visiting speakers, Joanna and Wendy from Ark Community Gardens, Newcastle.
Dorothy opened the meeting with Prayer and 2 short Bible readings, Genesis 1 v 11-13 where God created the plants, trees and fruit and saw that it was good. The second reading was from 1 Corinthians 3 v 5 there we find that Paul planted, Apollos watered but it was God that made it grow.
Joanna showed some slides and told us about the
their market garden.
The meeting finished with a nice cup of tea and some biscuits.
Annual Outing
plants; sprinkle some pebbles round the compost and finish off with a solar light. Put the smaller pot on top at a tilt and there you have a lovely decoration for the front door or
All our names were put in a bag and Mary Cassidy was the winner.
The wheels on the bus went round and round on Thursday 27 we went on our outing to Hillsborough Castle.
young people who have various problems can find support and comfort, a place where they can work together, be able to share and talk about their problems.
The Ark Garden started small with a few plants and flowers, but it grew, and now they have a farm shop and coffee shop. There is also a workshop, Market Gardening and a Craft Group. They have created a Biblicial Garden where flowers mentioned in the Bible are planted. A beautiful place to walk around or have a quiet moment.
Wendy showed us how to make a beautiful two tier planter using two flower pots. A large pot and smaller pot. There were three techniques in planting .... thriller, spiller and filler. Of course you all know that anyway.
Start with the thriller which is the taller plants at the back; then add the spiller which is the trailing plants and then come in with the filler which are the smaller
We were delighted to welcome our regular friends and some new friends on our outing. The first stop was at the F.E. McWilliams Gallery/Studio for our morning coffee.
Then it was on the road again to Hillsborough Castle, where we had a wonderful guided tour.
Unfortunately, the showery weather prevented us from appreciating the lovely gardens. Some of the 'hardy travellers' walked to the Visitors’ Centre. The rest of us took the mini bus.
Back on the bus again to the Halfway House for our evening meal. It was delicious there wasn't much left on the plates.
Finally, the tired but happy travellers arrived safely back in Warrenpoint at 5.30 pm. A huge thank you to
Dan, who was our driver for the day. We give thanks to Almighty God for his hand of blessing and his protection on our outing.
Also “thank you” to the Select Vestry for allowing us the use of Warrenpoint Church grounds for parking and to Bill for being Car Park Attendant for the day. Those biscuits from Hillsborough were delicious and the beautiful little coasters will remind me of our lovely day out together. Thank you so much.
Our new term will run from September 2024 to May 2025, thus leaving the month of June free to accommodate all the other end of year events. We meet on the LAST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH at 7.00 pm (except in the Winter months when we meet in the morning at 11.00 am) meetings are in the Parish Room, Rostrevor Parish Church. The fee for the term is £20 and this will be collected at the September Meeting.
26th September 7.00 pm Lynda Quinn The Price is Right
24th October 7.00 pm Karen Harding Quirky Bottles
October meeting a week earlier due to Hallowe’en and please bring a bottle and £2 to cover extra materials.
28th November 5.30 pm Christmas Dinner
No meeting in December
30th January 11.00 am Yvonne Dalzell The Gideons Good News for Everyone
27th February 11.00 am Brian McCalmont Old Warrenpoint Forum
27th March 7.00 pm Julie-Anne Hanna Home Start Newry & Mourne
24th April 7.00 pm Michael Gilsenan Eye Care Lee Opticians
29th May Annual Outing To Be Arranged
So until September, we commit each other into God's gracious careThanks we give and adoration for your gospel's joyful sound. May the fruits of your salvation in our hearts and lives abound. May your presence, may your presence, with us evermore be found. AMEN
Love, God Bless and take care Dorothy Major Xx
Warrenpoint Parish Church South Nave Window
The 1915 window by Heaton, Butler & Bayne, London, was added to the church in memory of Roger Hall.
The window depicts the angel greeting the women at the tomb on the first Easter morning.
Luke 24
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
To the barefoot man, happiness is a pair of shoes. To the man with old shoes, it's a pair of new shoes. To the man with new shoes, it's more stylish shoes. And of course, the fellow with no feet, he'd be happy to be barefoot. Measure your life by what you have ... not by what you don't have.
Saint Paul’
s Church Rostrevor 1733-1821
Bell Project
Alan Davis is one of our bell ringers in Saint Bronach’s tower, Kilbroney Parish Church, Rostrevor. This is his account of the project.
In early February, Timothy Alexander and I, Alan, were standing at the entrance porch of the Church and I asked him about the history of the bell sitting on the floor and how long it had been there. Tim’s reply was the same as most people I asked, in that they could read out the typed inscription attached to the bell noting its history, but no one knew how it came to be placed there or for how long it had sat on the flagstone floor.
Having chatted with Tim, Paddy Jameson and Shelagh Roberts, I suggested it might be a plan to hang the bell and see what the sound was after 200 years of not ringing. The bell had been tried the previous winter by Paddy and Tim, and rang true, but this had required a sturdy individual to hoist it clear of the ground while a second person struck it. This was neither convenient nor practical. There had been some discussion of finding a way to hang it but the cost and technical challenge relegated that suggestion to 'nice to have' rather than 'do-able'.
As I worked for Forestwood Agencies, I suggested that I would source timber and see if we could manufacture a frame to suspend the bell. I knew there were marine fenders from the ‘Old Town Dock’ refurbishment sitting in Warrenpoint Port. These were made of greenheart timber, which is extremely dense and often used in heavy duty marine and freshwater construction. These fenders were approximately 200 years old and had been removed from the old dock and stored within the port site. Having made contact with Warrenpoint Harbour Authority the C.E.O. David Holmes quickly got on board with the project and donated the timber to Kilbroney Parish Church.
Next needed was someone with the expertise and craftmanship who could turn a 200-year-old dock fender into a custom-made wooden bell support. Forestwood had supplied timber in the past to Edgar Sawmills, Downpatrick, so I was aware that Richard Edgar who had over 50 years’ experience and with his son Mark were machining timber and producing bespoke luxury items.
I contacted Richard and told him of the history of the bell and the timber involved and he was enthusiastic to be involved in the project. Greenheart is one of the heaviest timbers around and because of its density, it has a high blunting effect on cutters!
We got the fender transported to Downpatrick and it was quartered into 150mm x 150mm sections. Richard came up with the design that would be able to support the bell while also match in with the Church timbers. He also suggested we should do mortise and tenon joints with glue and timber dowels as this method would have been used when the bell was first mounted in 1733. When the stand was completed, it was oiled with Danish Oil as this enhances the grain and colours of the aged timber.
When finished, it was then transported back to Rostrevor in my truck.
In early June, a group of members from Rostrevor Men’s Shed carefully carried the heavy greenheart timber stand from the parked vehicle, up the front steps and placed it in the Church hallway. The bell was suspended and set in place at the top of the frame where it is able to swing very slightly when struck. A sling was fastened to the clapper, enabling the ringer to give the bell a firm strike.
Men’s Shedder, Connor Sweeney then used the CNC machine and engraved the original description of the bell onto a section of mahogany. This piece of wood was attached above the headstock, partly by Ken Roberts, Stuart LeCornu and Shelagh’s pal, ‘Scots John’.
Saint Paul’s church bell now sits proudly, and looks very much in place with the surroundings, in the church porch.
Research is now underway to establish the 1733 manufacture history of the bell from Saint Paul’s.
Kilbroney Parish Church is extremely grateful and thankful for the magnificent gift of materials and of the volunteering of many man hours, in the completion of this fabulous project. We thank you all most sincerely.
Alan Davis, Forestwood Agencies, David Holmes CEO of Warrenpoint Port, Richard Edgar and Mark Edgar of Edgar Saw Mills, and the Rostrevor Men’s Shed.
The original Warrenpoint Port was first constructed in the late 1770s. Today this is Northern Ireland’s second largest Port by tonnage. The modern Warrenpoint Port was completed in 1974 and is now expanded to its current size of approximately 60 acres.
Forestwood Agencies are timber importers, wholesalers of wood and construction materials since 1995. It is led by directors Stephen and Daphne Cargill. The company is based in Belfast, with a warehouse in Carnbane industrial estate, Newry.
EDGAR SAW MILLS ; Richard Edgar says, ‘I left school at 15 with no qualifications and then attended Downpatrick Technical College, where I studied carpentry and joinery for two years. I served my apprenticeship in two different joinery shops.
On June 28th, 1981, I became self-employed, making windows, doors, and stairs from a garage. In 1995, I built several sheds and a yard. By 1997, I had moved into timber machining, and my wife began working with me.
As the business grew, we were machining and processing articulated lorry loads most days.
In 2020, we brought on our son, Mark, to lighten the workload. However, ten weeks later, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and there was no work. We managed to recover, but in 2022, the war between Ukraine and Russia severely impacted our business because we relied on Russian timber. The government embargo on Russian timber forced us to diversify the business. Now, Mark is milling native logs.’
Rostrevor Men’s shed is a community space for men to converse, connect and create. Established in 2015, their aim is to promote the well being of its members through social engagement with the community and personal activities. Shelagh Roberts and Alan Davis
Explorers enjoyed the excitement of the dedication of the new stand for the bell, which they then rang.
Churchwardens Shelagh and Joan at the dedication of the new stand.
Kilbroney Integrated Primary School
Elizabeth was one of three guests at an assembly in June. The other two were Harry Lockhart, the Cricket Coach, and Aisling Gibson from the Cancer Fund for Children.
I spoke to the children about how we all follow rules in our lives and I used sports like cricket and football as examples This was then expanded using the numbers 1 10 for the Ten Commandments. These numbers were turned into images to help us to remember what the commandment is about. The children participated eagerly.
Aisling Gibson arrived to receive a cheque for £240 which the school raised during the recent ‘hats and shades’ day for Daisy Lodge. Aisling explained to the children all the different types of things Daisy Lodge could now do with the money in order to treat the sick children and their families. She was extremely grateful for our kind donation to the charity.
Harry came in as the children all received their Smash It gear and to let the boys and girls know he will be choosing a Cricket Star to receive an award in next week’s awards ceremony.
We wish all staff and pupils a safe and relaxing summer break, and very best wishes to those moving on to Secondary Schools. Thank you for letting us be part of your school journey.
Later in the month, Liz Farnan took the P7 pupils for an exciting adventure in the Kilbroney Centre.
Elizabeth Hanna
Easter Day Memories
Many years ago, when Canon Malcolm Graham was with us, “someone” thought it would be a good idea to have Holy Communion and a blessing for the children on Easter Sunday morning at 8.00 am up at the Cloughmor Big Stone.
In those days we had quite a few children in Sunday school and this would be something they would always remember. This plan, of course, led on to other possibilities. Perhaps bringing a few sandwiches, or packed lunch, as even in those days it was possible to drive up to the car park and walk up the rest of the way.
Anyway, Mr Barry Edwards, a parishioner who was a great organiser, and in the catering trade, decided a “proper breakfast“ would be a great incentive to encourage folk to get out of bed early to pray up at the Big Stone.
Well, the idea took hold and folk were unearthing their picnic stoves, tea flasks, Calor gas rings, etc. I have a vivid memory of Barry struggling up the steep hill carrying a big blue two gas ring picnic stove and muttering about who was the nut who thought this thing up! One of his small sons was trailing behind him carrying two big black frying pans!
After the prayers and a short sermon was over, with the early morning sun just appearing, everyone had brought their own fry up ingredients and soon the appetising smell of bacon and sausage was overpowering! Prayers, food, and memories, God was among us, what a combination!
Joan Toase
Kilbroney
Centre Intern Programme
While Rachel, Jani and Shannon complete their many Instructor Assessments including Climbing Wall Instructor and Paddlesport Instructor, we’re already looking for a new group of interns.
If you know someone who might be interested in finding out more about our GAP YEAR INTERN scheme starting on the 24th September then email booking@kilbroneycentre.com for more information and an application pack.
At the end of the summer we will say goodbye to the interns, Shannon, Jani and Rachel. Thank you for being part of Saint Bronach’s when you were free. Best wishes & God’s blessing for your futures.
Sermon Mark 5:21-43
21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. 22Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ 24So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ 29Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ 31And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ 32He looked all round to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’
35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ 37He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ 40And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ 42And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
This story is about two women, both Jewish, both daughters of Israel. Mark uses their stories to highlight the message of the Kingdom of God. In both cases there’s considerable risk for the adults
* for Jairus - a risk to his religious credibility, his social standing. What will people say if they see him kneeling before an untrained and unlicensed preacher; and
* for the unnamed woman - the risk of further rejection. Already doctors have failed to help her and society has turned away from her, so, what will this holy man do if he discovers that she has deliberately touched him?
Mark encourages us to see what Jesus does. The three years Jesus spent with his disciples were teaching years teaching by example as well as by word. What he was teaching those first disciples also applies to us in the twenty-first centaury.
The young girl is rich, born into the privileges of the ruler of the synagogue’s home; the other lady is poor, having spent everything she had on medical attention.
The young girl has (or will have) considerable status because of her family; the other lady is deemed to be an outcast of very low status because of her illness, a condition that meant she could not even attend public worship.
The girl is young with her future before her; the older lady can see no hope for the future at all.
It is a stylized story, characteristic of Mark. One story begins and then gets interrupted by another event.
Jesus is first approached by the father of a gravely ill girl. His help is needed; and he agrees to go. But, on the way , Jesus is interrupted by an older woman who is also in need of help.
Jesus delays, responding to the first request, even though it is on behalf of a rich young woman who is at the point of death. He stops his journey to deal with a woman who is so determined to get his attention that she breaks the socially accepted practices of the day.
The daughter of Jairus is a woman of privilege. Just twelve years old, with the promise of womanhood ahead of her, she has lived in the comfort of affluence. Her father is a ruler of the synagogue, one of the powerful and the wealthy. She has an advocate in her father who approaches Jesus for help.
In contrast, the older woman who stops the journey has suffered for those same twelve years. Her future has been "spent". She, too, is a "daughter" of Israel, but she is nameless and destitute. She has no one to speak for her, she has no advocate. So she must take her salvation into her own hands. This meant breaking the bounds of what was both
socially and religiously appropriate: an outcast and a woman, she touches a man in public.
Will Jesus allow himself to be bothered by this unknown, and unnamed, person while on an important errand on behalf of the rich and famous?
Not only does Jesus attend to this second woman, he singles her out for her faith and perseverance. His delay in responding to the first request teaches a powerful a lesson. A lesson to the disciples who are learning every day from the Master. A lesson to us who read the story afresh today. We too are called to have faith and perseverance
It was also a message to Jairus. Jesus reassures the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
With Jesus no one is outcast, no one is beyond the bounds of his help. He is never too busy with other things to be bothered by anyone. With Jesus there is always time for us, no matter who we are, rich or poor, outcast or establishment.
The outcast woman with the medical problem is just as important to Jesus as the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue.
Jesus points to a day when all will be attended to, and no one would be ignored.
Jesus has time today for me and for you. That is the message of the reading for today. As we seek to follow Jesus’ example, let us make sure that we have time for the people around us who are in need. We won’t have to look too hard to find them.
Jesus comes to heal today as he did in first century Palestine. Jesus brings wholeness to a broken world, he restores our souls, and he sends us out as his ambassadors. The dismissal at the end of each service reminds us to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”. Those are not empty words. They are a regular reminder of our commission as sons and daughters of the king.
The Kingdom of God is at hand – a Kingdom of love, joy, peace and justice, where everyone is equal, where no one lacks for anything because we all share and we all make sure that no one is in need.
This is the Kingdom we must make known to the world as followers of Christ. We do this by the way we serve each other and society, as well as by the way we treat other people.
A quotation attributed to Saint Teresa of Avila. Christ has no body but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours, yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Elizabeth Hanna
Across
1 Relating to the Jewish day of rest (10)
7 Point of view (Matthew 22:17) (7)
8 20th-century Brethren philanthropist whose construction company became one of the UK’s biggest, Sir John (5)
10 Girl’s name (4)
11 Peter was accused of being one in the courtyard of the high priest’s house (Luke 22:59) (8)
13 The fifth of the ‘seven churches’ (Revelation 3:1–6) (6)
15 ‘Now the famine was in Samaria’ (1 Kings 18:2) (6)
17 Banned by the seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) (8)
18 Insect most closely associated with itching (1 Samuel 24:14) (4)
21 Bantu tribe which gives its name to tiny landlocked country in southern Africa (5)
22 Familiar material in churches that use an overhead projector (7)
23 Last book of the Bible (10)
Down
1 The young David’s favourite weapon (1 Samuel 17:40) (5)
2 ‘Your vats will over with new wine’ (Proverbs 3:10) (4)
3 Once yearly (Exodus 30:10) (6)
4 Milled it (anag.) (3-5)
5 Region north of Damascus of which Lysanias was tetrarch (Luke 3:1) (7)
6 Comes between Philippians and 1 Thessalonians (10)
9 Lake where the first disciples were called (Luke 5:1–11) (10)
12 Abusive outburst (8)
14 Are loud (anag.) (7)
16 Printing errors (6)
19 ‘Take my yoke upon you and from me’ (Matthew 11:29) (5)
20 Jacob’s third son (Genesis 29:34) (4)
What it's like to be Irish
• Being unable to stand and leave without first saying “right”.
• Not hearing someone for the third time, so just laughing and hoping for the best.
• Saying “anywhere here’s fine” when the taxi’s directly outside your front door.
• Having someone sit next to you on the train or bus, meaning you’ll have to eat your crisps at home.
• The horror of someone you only half know saying: “Oh I’m getting that train or bus too”.
• Waiting for permission to leave after paying for something with the exact change.
• Saying hello to a friend in the supermarket, then creeping around like a burglar to avoid seeing them again.
• Being unable to pay for something with the exact change without saying “I think that’s right”.
• Deeming it necessary to do a little jog over zebra crossings, while throwing in an apologetic mini wave.
• The overwhelming sorrow of finding a cup of tea you forgot about.
• Realising you’ve got about fifty grand’s worth of plastic bags under your kitchen sink.
• “You’ll have to excuse the mess” – Translation: I’ve spent seven hours tidying in preparation for your visit.
• Indicating that you want the last roast potato by trying to force everyone else to take it.
• “I’m off to bed” – Translation: “I’m off to stare at my phone in another part of the house”.
• Running out of ways to say thanks when a succession of doors are held for you, having already deployed
‘cheers’, ‘ta’ and ‘nice one’.
• Staring at your phone in silent horror until the unknown number stops ringing.
• Hearing a recording of your own voice and deciding it’s perhaps best never to speak again.
• The relief when someone doesn’t answer their phone within three rings and you can hang up.
• Filming an entire fireworks display on your phone, knowing full well you’ll never, ever watch it again.
• Shut the door do you want to heat the whole street?
Hello everyone and I hope you're enjoying this fine summer weather!
Maggie and I are going back to Kenya again towards the end of June. We hope to complete two projects.
We are trying a new idea this time by excavating what we call a shallow dam, and it'll catch rain water for use by all the livestock in that area. We installed a borehole in this same area but the water is only sufficient for the needs of the people - hence the need for this dam.
I had an idea which I hope you could help me with … we will use a rather large excavator to carry out the digging. It'll cost us £50 per hour to hire it, and we'll need it for 80 hours. I was thinking maybe we could sell the hours so I came up with 'buy an hour' challenge could you buy an hour, or a friend, or a family member maybe or even take the challenge to your church or workplace - and see how many hours we could sell! That would get the job done for sure. If you want to find out more about the project, use this link. https://waterdrops.uk/our-projects/ current-projects/imaroro-community-shallow-dam/
We'll also install ten of our Boma Tanks. A number of you have already contributed towards these so look out for a full report when we get back. For anyone wanting to know more about these tanks please go to this link. https://waterdrops.uk/our-projects/current -projects/the-boma-tank/
Imaroro lies about 50 miles east of Kajiado Town in south east Kenya and is set amongst rolling hills and open savannah grassland. The community historically belonged to a Group Ranch which is a designated area where people lived a semi nomadic lifestyle moving their families and livestock annually in search of food, water and grazing land.
Over the last few decades, the Group Ranch has been divided into individual farms with families now holding title deeds to personal land that allows them to settle into permanent dwellings and a more stationary lifestyle.
The Imaroro community has around 500 households with a total of about 3,000 people – all of whom now access clean and safe drinking water from the recently installed borehole and storage tank by WATER DROPS
However, the volume of water available from the borehole has not been sufficient to satisfy the requirements for the people and the livestock.
The community have agreed that they will use the borehole water entirely for domestic use and put plans in place to excavate a shallow dam to be used for the livestock. There are very few options within this area for livestock watering points so the plan is to construct the dam within the same area as the existing borehole.
The people of Imaroro have had to change their semi-nomadic lifestyle to meet the demands of settled living, however not having a sustainable source of clean water is a constant daily struggle. Now that they have a source of clean and safe drinking water for the use by people, they are turning their attention towards a water source for their cattle, sheep and goat herds.
Ronnie and Maggie Briggs
We're looking forward to the trip so I hope you'll keep a keen eye on our progress with the work … see you soon in Kenya.
Imaroro Community Shallow Dam
This was literally a ground breaking day as we headed off to the project site. We were accompanied by Bishop Gaddiel and a few of the local community also joined with us. The Bishop said a prayer of blessing on the work ahead of us and then the digger got stuck in.
Associated with provision of a water source is the concept of WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). This is an initiative put in place by the UN to recognise that there are health implications when a new water source is brought to a community where there has never been one before. Issues of health and hygiene need to be addressed and WATER DROPS is now fully on-board with this concept.
Therefore, for projects such as this we will provide:
1. A two-door pit latrine built – with a minimum depth of 6m, in an agreed place nearby to the dam.
2. Organise & facilitate a workshop for the community to cover topics such as good practice in terms of water use, personal cleanliness and health and well-being.
Cost!
1. Excavation of shallow dam – £6,000
2. Fencing the dam area – £1,800
3. WaSH – 2 door pit latrine – £3,000
4. WaSH – Training workshop – £500
Total – £11,300
‘Beach scene’ by Degas
‘Mindfulness’ seems to be the ‘in’ word. In a world where people are moving faster and faster, we are called to slow down, to attend to the present moment and enjoy it for its own sake, whatever the pressures of work and family around. For Christians it is a call to live a simple and sacramental life, and an invitation to attend to what is holy there in front of us: it might be a meal, the countryside, a piece of music, family and friends, a pet or a painting. They are all avenues for God’s refreshing grace to touch us.
In July some are possibly planning our holidays. It may be in this country, or abroad. Sometimes a holiday can be a frenetic rush of journeying and queues, or it can be a ‘mindful’ time, when we can relax and allow the days to refresh and renew us. Degas has captured that sense of rest and enjoyment in his painting of 1870 which is in the National Gallery: ‘Beach Scene.’
He is famous for his studies of ballerinas and racehorses, but he was also fascinated by the advent of the snapshot camera. This painting is like a holiday photograph. We see a maid combing the hair of a young girl. Her hat and swimming costume are nearby, and we can see bathers in the distance where the shore meets the sea. Families and a dog, yachts and a steamer: they are all captured in this moment.
The sky looks misty but warm, and for those on the beach, it is a time to lie and relax, to bathe and swim –to live simply, enjoying the sun above and the sand beneath. The ordinariness of a restful day calls us to be patient and enjoy the good gifts of God’s creation. Wherever we are on holiday this summer, I hope we find
time to savour the delights of the world around, as we see young and old doing exactly that in this painting.
Rev Michael Burgess
Edgar Degas 1834–1917
In 1834, Hilaire-GermainEdgar De Gas was born in Paris, who would later go on to become the famous and celebrated Edgar Degas. Classified as an Impressionist artist, Degas found fame through his iconic pastel drawings and oil paintings which focused particularly on movement. This was further emphasized by the subject matter in his artworks, as Degas concentrated primarily on dancers and ballerinas. Known as “Degas dancers”, these artworks brought him much fame and confirmed his status as an artist worthy of praise.
Degas displayed an artistic inclination from a young age. The eldest of five children, Degas began to paint early on in life and by the time he turned 18 years old, he had turned a room in his house into a fully-fledged artistic studio.
Once he had graduated with a degree in literature, Degas became a copyist in the Louvre Museum in Paris, despite his father wanting him to pursue a career in law. Later on, he declared that working at the Louvre was the foundation for any real artist.
Intercessions
BCP pages 459-460
The seven o’clock healing service in Kilbroney Parish Church on the first Sunday of the month will begin again on 1st September.
Everyone is welcome to join us.
God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being.
We praise and bless you, Lord.
Lord, grant your healing grace to all who are sick, injured or disabled, that they may be made whole.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to all who are lonely, anxious or depressed a knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant to all who minister to those who are suffering, wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Mend broken relationships, and restore to those in distress
soundness of mind and serenity of spirit.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Sustain and support those who seek your guidance and lift up all who are brought low by the trials of this life.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Grant peace and a holy death to those who are dying, and uphold by the grace and consolation of your Holy Spirit those who are bereaved.
Hear us, Lord of life.
Restore to wholeness whatever is broken by human sin, in our lives, in our nation, and in the world. Hear us, Lord of life.
You are the Lord, you perform mighty wonders. You have declared your power among the peoples.
With you, Lord, is the well of life and in your light do we see light.
Hear us, Lord of life, heal us, and make us whole.
Let us be silent before God.
silence
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Christian, even in his darkest hour, can find added comfort in the truth that the darkness that hides God from us does not hide us from God (Psalm 139:12).
Bernard Mobbs in Our Rebel Emotions (1974)
Angel Voices
1 Angel voices, ever singing round Thy throne of light; angel harps, forever ringing, rest not day nor night; thousands only live to bless thee and confess thee, Lord of might.
2 Yea, we know that thou rejoicest o'er each work of thine; Thou didst ears and hands and voices for thy praise design; craftsman's art and music's measure for thy pleasure all combine.
3 In thy house great God, we offer of thine own to thee; and for thine acceptance proffer, all unworthily, hearts and minds and hands and voices in our choicest psalmody.
4 Honour, glory, might, and merit, thine shall ever be, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, blessed Trinity. Of the best that thou hast given earth and heaven render thee.
Francis Pott
Francis Pott (29th December 1832 - 26th October 1909) was an English hymnwriter and Anglican priest. He is noted as the author or translator of a number of popular Christian hymns including "Angel voices, ever singing" and "The strife is o'er, the battle done".
Francis Pott was born in Southwark, London, the great-grandson of the surgeon Percivall Pott. His father was the proprietor of the family business, the Pott’s Vinegar Factory and he grew up next door.
Pott studied classical languages at Brasenose College, Oxford graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1854 and obtaining his Master's degree in 1857. In 1856 he was ordained into the Anglican priesthood.
In 1891, Pott was forced to resign from active work as a priest due to his increasing deafness. He went to live at the Birchetts, Speldhurst in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where he continued in his hymn-writing work.
Pott took an interest in the hymn tunes used to set his words to music; in particular, he expressed a dislike for the tune Angel Voices written by Arthur Sullivan for "Angel Voices, Ever Singing", which Pott considered a "trivial, pretty but altogether unfit tune". Pott subsequently made it a condition of publication of this hymn that it should not be set to Sullivan's tune. The hymn is more commonly sung to another tune of the same name by Edwin George Monk
"I came in to make an appointment with the dentist," said the man to the receptionist.
"I'm sorry sir," she replied. "He's out right now, but ..."
"Thank you," interrupted the obviously nervous prospective patient. "When will he be out again?"
It was John's turn to drive the car-sharing into town on a day when a new member was joining him for the first time. As they travelled he began to be suspicious of his new passenger.
John checked to see if his wallet was safe in the pocket of his coat that was on the seat between them, but it wasn't there. He immediately slammed on the brakes, ordered the fellow out, and said, "Hand over the wallet!" The frightened passenger handed over his wallet before John drove off, leaving him alone at the side of the road.
When John arrived home that evening, he started to tell his wife about the experience. Just as he started to recount the whole story, she interrupted him, saying, "Oh, that reminds me, John. Do you know that you left your wallet at home this morning?"
The older I get, the more I regret all the people I've lost over the years. Maybe being a forest trail guide was not the best career after all.
Dad: "Come on, you guys are LATE!!!"
11yo: "You should have started YELLING at us earlier!"
10yo: "How many more cookies can I have?"
Mom: "How many have you already had?"
10yo: "Stop living in the past."
I lead the after-school drama club at my kid's school. A Primary One Child asked, "Can you teach me how to act like I'm listening when my dad talks?"
Mom: "I read a story today about why we should buy fewer presents at Christmas and do more things together instead."
4yo: "I'm glad I can't read!"
ACROSS: 1, Sabbatical. 7, Opinion. 8, Laing. 10, Olga. 11, Galilean. 13, Sardis. 15, Severe. 17, Adultery. 18, Flea. 21, Swazi. 22, Acetate. 23, Revelation.
DOWN: 1, Sling. 2, Brim. 3, Annual. 4, Ill-timed. 5, Abilene. 6, Colossians. 9, Gennesaret. 12, Diatribe. 14, Roulade. 16, Errata. 19, Learn. 20, Levi.
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