Tidings March to May 2015 by St Matthias Church

March - April - May 2015

View online at www.stmatthias.ie

Tidings

Email us at stmatthiastidings@gmail.com

A Letter from the Rector

Dear friends This edition of Tidings covers an action packed three months of parish life including the most important celebration in the Christian calendar: Easter. But first there are other important occasions in our life together. Farewell to the Stratfords The first of these will be the Stratford’s last Sunday with us on March 1st. Niall came to serve as a deacon with Ian Poulton in 2007. On behalf of us all I would like to record my gratitude to Niall, Vivian, Nicholas, Robin and Amy for their friendship and ministry amongst us. We will miss them but we wish them God’s every blessing in this new season of their lives. Easter General Vestry The second major event before Easter will be our annual Easter General Vestry meeting (like an AGM). This will take place on Sunday 22nd March at 11am immediately after a shortened morning service. This is the time when we look back on the past year and begin to look forward to the year to come. Legally, it is the meeting when we sign off on our annual accounts. However, there will also be elections to the Select Vestry. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting but only those who have signed up for the Vestry Members’ list can actually vote or serve on the Vestry. (Anyone can be on the Vestry list so if you are not on it now please make sure you fill out the relevant forms for next year!) The most 2

important qualification for service in the church is a desire to follow Jesus and serve His Church. The work of the Vestry is a means to an end – to serve and facilitate the life and witness of the church by faithful stewardship of finances and other material resources. Please catch me if you would like to chat further about how you might serve in our parish. Your parish needs you!! For the lives we live Since the very beginning of Christian faith believers have met together, both formally and informally, to grow in knowledge and love of Christ. To this end I have identified three six week slots in our annual calendar in which we can be more intentional about our spiritual growth and development. We are currently spending six weeks looking at the mystery of the cross. From April 15th we will be preparing for Pentecost by exploring the person and work of the Holy Spirit (details below). I am entitling these evenings ‘The Holy Spirit in the Bible, Church and World’. During October and into November we shall embark on another six week study together – details will be announced nearer the time. In this way we will have a Lent, post-Easter and preAdvent programme. I hope very much that everyone will be able to prioritise at least one of these times together. These are not ends in themselves but are designed to encourage us, to inspire us, and to resource us for the lives we live. In Christ’s love William

Cecily writes Spring See! The winter is past, The rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; The season of singing has come; The cooing of doves is heard in our land. Song of Songs 2 v.11-12 Like the writer of Song of Songs, we too, have been eagerly looking for signs of spring’s arrival. Crocuses and snowdrops peeping out from the bare earth are welcomed with delight. The birds are shaking off the torpor of winter and have begun singing. Some are even beginning to search for nest building materials. Squirrels are seen out foraging for food as the days lengthen. After the darkness of winter days, the arrival of spring conveys a clear message of new life, new birth and new growth. Springtime also includes the celebration of Easter and its message of resurrection life and the ultimate gift of eternal life. St. Brigid’s day, the 1st of February, is traditionally regarded as the first day of spring. People living in rural areas hang a St. Brigid’s cross in the hall. Its purpose is to protect the family from illness, guarantee the fertility of the crops and ensure the health of the livestock. St. Brigid was quite a character. She was born about 451 A.D. near Kildare. Her father was a local chieftain and her mother was a slave who was also a Christian. She was baptised by Patrick, and refusing marriage became a nun, founding a double monastery for men and women. The fame of her settlement spread far and wide. She is still venerated in Portugal, Flanders, Alsace as well as Wales, Scotland and England. Evangelism, education, the scriptures and reverence for all life, hospitality for travellers and care for the sick were essential features of her foundation and very much in the Celtic tradition. Her name lingers on locally in Kilbride, Bride’s Glen and St. Brigid’s church in Stillorgan. February also sees the start of Lent. Lent comes from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning spring. Just as people do spring cleaning, so the church liturgical year provides an opportunity to do some spiritual spring cleaning before the arrival of Easter. In the early church, Lent was the time when new converts enrolled for compulsory pre-baptism classes in readiness for baptism at the Easter Vigil on the Saturday of Holy Week. In medieval times, Shrove Tuesday was the day when housewives cleared the larders of meat, eggs and dairy produce and made pancakes as they would abstain from eating these foodstuffs during the forty days of Lent. Some people make new year resolutions which fall quietly by the wayside before the end of January. Lent offers another opportunity to make new resolutions. Traditionally, people have used Lent as a time to give up something, but, why not consider taking on a project in Lent? Look at the example of the early church. Why not make a commitment to make prayer and Bible reading a daily practice. Or learn the names of the people who attend to you in the supermarket or petrol station. Or invite someone to lunch on Sunday - someone you have been meaning to ask for ages. So let us celebrate our gratitude for and enjoyment of spring and its promise of new life by doing something positive this Lent. 3

Farewell from…

My Dear Dear friends, Yes this is it - the final ‘A Word from the Curate of St Matthias’. The past few weeks, since my new ‘posting’ to the Rural Deanery of Taney was confirmed, have literally flown. I am sure that you are all familiar with the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 v 1- 8, but just in case anyone has momentarily forgotten same, it commences thus; ‘There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens…’ My family and I moved to St. Matthias’ in 2007. At that time I was on ‘parish placement’ during my period of study and training for the Ordained Ministry of The Church of Ireland. Even before we arrived, we were conscious of the prayerful support of this parish for my family and myself at a particularly tragic period in our lives. From the very beginning - you - the parishioners and community of St. Matthias welcomed us into your lives and worship. There have been many many milestones during the past number of years- too numerous to recount in this short message. I have chosen just a sample as follows; My ministry amongst you has consisted of 3 distinct periods. During my first number of years I had the privilege of sharing with The Revd. 4

Ian Poulton (now Canon Ian Poulton). I remember all too well his encouragement and example with regard to preaching. In those early years the thought of leaving aside the ‘written sermon’ was quite unimaginable. In the years that followed I have endeavoured where possible to write my sermon on the inside of my eyelids! My Ordination as a Deacon on 21 June 2009 took place in Christ Church Cathedral. I recall with gratitude the support from the congregation at this service and the wonderful reception that awaited us all in the parish centre afterwards. I recall how Ian so generously enabled my Dad & I to lead worship together for the first and indeed only time, here in St. Matthias’ on 28 June 2009. Only 6 months post ordination I alongwith you - the parishioners received the unexpected news of Ian’s departure from the parish. Here endeth the 1st period and behold I look back and say ‘It was Very Good’. During the ‘Vacancy’, as a newly ordained Deacon I found myself immersed in so many facets of parish life. The ‘Diocesan Life Boat’ was mobilised lest it be needed. Fortunately I managed to keep my head above water! I am immensely grateful for the wisdom and wise counsel of Dr Billy Marshall which he so graciously shared both then and to this day.

Farewell from… The successful ‘global exploration’ for the new Rector brought to an end the second period of my ministry and again I look back and say ‘It was Very Good’ The Institution of Dr William Olhausen was the commencement of another chapter in the life of this parish and enabled me to return to my academic studies. As my ministry role is effectively ‘voluntary’, I had to try and balance my secular ‘day job’ with family life and academic study. Not an easy task as I had missed the training course entitled; ‘How to become a Juggler in 365 easy lessons’! I had a mountain to climb in respect of my academic studies. I know that many parishioners were praying for me to be able to complete my studies and your prayers were duly answered when I completed same in 2013. This enabled my Ordination as a Priest to proceed on 1 November 2013 ( All Saints Day) in this parish. This was of course a most memorable occasion for myself and my family and also for the St. Matthias’ family. In particular I thank God that my Dad was able to be present and to take part in this service. I truly thank William for his encouragement and tireless arrangements for this occasion. During my time of shared and varied ministry with William if I were to choose but one highlight it would be the ‘Healing Ministry’ Services. Each of these services have been so powerfully moving and I have often spoken about how God is clearly ‘visibly’ at work on these occasions. I know I did say ‘one highlight’ but I am going to indulge and mention another highlight; and that was William’s stewardship of The ‘Alpha Course’ which literally broke down barriers and became fertile ground. I have very much valued the time of sharing with William

during the past number of years. Of course William may have an altogether different perspective! And so the third period of my ministry in this parish comes to an end on 1 March 2015 and I look back and say ‘It was indeed very Good’ . An integral part of my ministry has been and remains my own family. I say thank you; To Nicholas for all your work in respect of preparing literally thousands of ‘slides’ for use on the ‘Overhead’ screen, your professional ‘cueing’ of same and your photographs. To Robin for being such an enthusiastic Junior Church Warden and for being ‘The Curate’s Church Warden’ - always checking to ensure the Curate hadn’t forgotten anything! To Amy - for your reading, prayers, preparing my sermons! and your never ending cheerfulness. To Vivian for supporting me and reminding me to simply be in St. Matthias’ - for your work behind the scenes for ensuring I was here, even though I might not always have been there! And a very special ‘Thank You’ to each one of you - for all your warmth, your friendship and fellowship and for your prayers. We have shared some wonderful times together. ‘Thank God for the Blessings you have given to me during my time with you and I pray that your journey will be one of opportunity and a time of reward’.

May God richly Bless you all. Revd. Niall R Stratford 5

Parish and Diocese News

Thank you Niall

Fete Co-ordinator

The members of the Select Vestry would like to thank Niall for his service to St Matthias’ over the last seven years. Through the changes that our church has undertaken Niall and the entire Stratford family have always served tirelessly and with enthusiasm. We will miss Niall and wish him the very best in his future ministry and also our best to Vivian, Nicholas, Robin and Amy in their new church ‘home’.

The Select Vestry is looking for a volunteer to administer/co-ordinate this year’s summer fete. For the past 2 years Debbie Wilson has done this much-valued job excellently. She has also managed to rationalise the role to make it much more manageable. There is a large team (over 100 people) who are ready and able to play their part to make it a success again. Debbie has also very kindly offered to assist the new person/people in their work if needed. Ideally, we are looking for someone with good administration skills and, preferably, with experience of events management. This role is a volunteer post (ie unpaid). However, the person will earn much more than money – the affection and appreciation of the whole parish (especially the Select Vestry). It will also enhance any CV!! Please speak to the church wardens (Gillian or Ann) or to the Rector for an informal chat if you are interested. There is no time to lose!

Parish and Diocese News Post Easter Study Group Come Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit in the Bible, Church and World Beginning on Wednesday April 15th we begin a new six week study group: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Holy Spirit in the Bible, Church and Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Here are the details: Week 1 Wednesday 15th April 7.30-9pm (in the Rectory) The Breath of Life: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament Week 2 Wednesday 22nd April 7.30-9pm The Spirit of Fulfilment: The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus Week 3 Wednesday 29th April 7.30-9pm The Spirit of Salvation: The Holy Spirit at Pentecost Week 4 Wednesday 6th May 7.30-9pm The Spirit of Mission: The Holy Spirit in the Early Church Week 5 Wednesday 13th May 7.30-9pm The Spirit of Church: The Holy Spirit in the Pauline Epistles Week 6 Wednesday 20th May 7.30-9pm Come Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit Today

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Parish and Diocese News Epiphany Lunch Sandra Byrne Writes: Our second Epiphany Lunch was held after church service on 4th January. Over 40 people attended the 3 course Christmas meal. I would like to say a very big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped make the lunch such an enjoyable event for all.

Easter General Vestry Save the Date! This year’s Easter General Vestry Meeting will be held after morning worship on Sunday March 22nd. Everyone is invited and your input is very much appreciated. We will also be voting for new members of the Select Vestry Committee and anyone who is interested in joining the committee should speak to William. The Select Vestry Committee is made up of volunteers who have particular talents or experience they can share in the running of our parish.

Annual Parish Raffle

St Matthias would not be able to function without these volunteers (those on the select vestry and those who help out in other ways) and we thank them and encourage everyone to step forward if you feel you can help in any way.

As usual, our Annual Parish Raffle draw will take place at the Fete in June. Two books of tickets will be given to each parishioner in early May. If everyone sold their allocation the parish would make a minimum of €8,000! Last year the raffle made €2,700. This was €1,000 more than 2013. The reason for the increase was because we didn’t have to buy prizes due to the generosity of some parishioners who donated prizes. The printing of the tickets was also sponsored. I WOULD LIKE TO, ONCE AGAIN, APPEAL FOR SPONSORSHIP FOR RAFFLE 2015. If you can help please contact me by 5th April. Tickets must be printed and I need to know what prizes to advertise. Thank you in advance for your help. Philip Salter 2824072 philipsalter@eircom.net 8

From the Registers Congratulations to Lynn and Niall McCoy on the baptism of their daughter Zoë on Sunday 15th February.

St Matthias’ Clubs and Societies Book Club We all enjoyed the theatre outing to see “Wuthering Heights.” Thanks to Adele for choosing the book and for organising the theatre visit. We had a party of 12 including guests. Later we had a discussion at Susie’s house. Heathcliff’s character is still a mystery. Our next choice is “The Private Patient” by P D James, chosen by Audrey. We are invited to meet at Jean’s apartment on Friday 27th February. Stephanie will choose a book for the next period. For the bookshelf, 2 recent publications; “The Story of the Jews” by Simon Shama is a contemporary interpretation of Jewish history. The author has made excellent television programmes and the book is written in a relaxed style. “Salt, Sugar, Fat” by Michael Moss. This book will encourage you to read the labels on all processed foods, very carefully. Contact Bill: Tel. 282 4247

Whist Drives The Whist evenings have settled into a good natured pattern. We have regular players from both this and other Parishes and some local people also. We had nine Whist evenings in 2014 and these events earned 890 euro for Hall funds. We are grateful also to Parishioners who contribute to the teas and prizes. Our next whist drives are on Thursday 12th March, Thursday 9th April Thursday14th May

Scouts Sunday the 4th of January saw 47th Ballybrack’s annual Andrew Carroll Memorial hike. 68 enthusiastic hikers worked off their Christmas dinners by hiking around Glendalough. They were a mixed group of Cubs, Scouts, leaders, parents and dogs. A lot of fun was had by all. Upcoming family events include a table quiz and a family BBQ. Dates are to be confirmed but we’ll probably wait until Summer for the BBQ anyway!

St Matthias’ Clubs and Societies 55 Club News The 55 Club ended 2014 with three events and started 2015 with one event. In November the 55 Club were kindly invited to the Rectory to hear all about William’s sabbatical during the summer, you can read all about it in this issue. It was an enjoyable evening and we thank William and Tanya for their hospitality. We had another enjoyable Christmas Party at the Glenview Hotel on 5th Dec 14. 28 attended. It’s a venue we have been going to for several years now and they always give us a very warm welcome, smiling service, good food and a complementary glass of wine. With the kind invitation of the Book Club, the 55 Club attended two contrasting but thoroughly enjoyable productions; a black comedy by Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance, presented by the St Patrick’s Dramatic Society on 14th November at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire and, a deeply intense and powerful adaptation of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights at the The Gate Theatre, Dublin on the 5th of January. We are currently drawing up activities for the remaining term. Any ideas/suggestions always welcome. Please contact susie.tyler@me.com for any comments or queries. The 55 Club is open to all.

William’s Sabbatical Summer 2014 Back in November 2014, I had the pleasure of hosting the 55 Club at the Rectory to talk about my sabbatical (July-September 2014). So, in brief, this is how I spent it! In July Tanya and I went to France. We started in Dunkirk and drove all the way down, via the beautiful city of Vichy, to the Mediterranean. From there we spent a few days on the Costa Brava in North West Spain before meeting up with our daughters Charlotte and Fiona and driving back up the west of France, via Rochefort and Rennes, to St Malo in Brittany. There we were joined by our eldest daughter Rachel for a wonderful week staying Intra Muros (within the walled town) before heading back to Dublin via Tanya’s parents in Buckinghamshire. During August and September we were based back in Killiney welcoming family members (my Mum and my brother and his family) and I was able to study. I continued with a couple of writing projects: one a book entitled ‘Language, Philosophy and Theology’ based on my 2008 Liverpool doctoral thesis and the other a chapter for a book due out later this year on theological interpretation. I was so grateful to be given this precious time which has helped me enormously in my ministry – especially in my teaching ministry - preaching and teaching in the parish, teaching and engagement with the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, my work with the Archbishop as theological adviser, and the work of the Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland. One other area of involvement is my role as an advisor to the General Synod’s Select Committee on Human Sexuality in the Context of Christian Belief. It was perhaps this work which prompted the most discussion with the 55 Club! I hope very much that we will continue to explore our faith together during the post Easter study group as we look together at the person and the work of the Holy Spirit. 10

Sunday Club News Sunday Club has run with a new format this year. We have a once a month meeting, an All Age Service and other children’s activities built around the Church year. We get together to catch up with one another and to learn a story or theme to present and share in the next All Age Sunday service. This new calendar of children’s activities has been designed to enable parents to see more clearly when services and activities are planned for children. This pattern of meeting works with the number of leaders we have available to lead and run our children’s work. It is also hoped that we will have a greater attendance when we meet so that the children can build relationships with one another. The current team are - Alistair Doyle, Shameela Lyons and Tanya Olhausen. James and Kathy Malseed support us with technical and music support for services. Bryan Unger has committed to a year of service with Sunday Club under his TY Gaisce programme and Jessica Smyth (another Sunday Club graduate) helps out each week too. This is a big encouragement to us but we are always looking for more help from parents (subject to Garda Vetting). December was the highlight of the year so far. We had a wonderful Christingle Service (with a 5ft Christingle made by Sunday Club!) and a fantastic Sunday Club party afterwards. Parents enjoyed mulled wine and well-known performer, Reuben, entertained mince pies while the children. It was a wonderful occasion and lovely to see families able to catch up with one another before the busy-ness began. Lots of people dressed up for our annual Crib Service the next week and we even had an Advent Pass-the-Parcel going round the church with a shared box of Celebrations chocolates to finish! The Candlelight Carol Service followed and then Christmas Day itself when the church was packed with families and excited children. Alistair and Bryan gave a wonderful presentation of the Christmas message using candy canes as excellent, and tasty, visual aids. We have started 2015 by looking at the life and Christian witness of our patron saint, Brigid. The children made St Brigid’s crosses and brought them to the All Age Service the following week to help illustrate the story and prayers that were read by Sunday Club members. GKNS choir kindly joined us to sing and lead worship. This was a wonderful morning and much appreciated by both visitors and regular church members. We look forward to our year ahead and ask you to pray for us all as we share the good news of Jesus with our young people.

Charity News Update from Vanya Kavanagh Our fundraising for St Matthias Gahogo continues to be put to good use. Below is a recent email and photos from Rev. Berchmas:

Greetings from Rwanda, and from Gahogo Saint Mathias Parish! We hope that you had good time at Christmas and we wish you happy New Year 2015. With this we wanted to let you know that we are doing well, and we had good time in Christmas days with our Bishop, on the same he confirmed 43 people. Most especially we wanted to give greetings from vulnerable women whom you are supporting. They are happy to be empowered and are trying their best in order to get developed. With this email you see some photos of them in groups, sharing ideas on the way to the future, One of their deals is saving and credit program, which is helpful in developing small business. You have also photos of children in Gahogo parish celebrating their Christmas. And we are planning again to make tours in homes of vulnerable women and visit their business, after that we will share with you more information and more Photos. Please send our Greetings to Rev William and to your church and your family members. May God bless you and watch over you. Yours in Christ, Rev J.Berchmas MUTIMURA Over the next couple of months we will hear more we will have more news on how their programs are developing and hopefully how they are progressing with their kindergarten building project. 12

Charity News ‘Prepare a Place’ Bishops’ Appeal Dublin and Glendalough’s ‘Prepare a Place’ Appeal for Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City has received almost €65,000 in donations to date. The organising committee is very grateful for all the contributions that have come in via Bishops’ Appeal so far and wishes to thank everyone who organised coffee mornings and other special events to raise funds to help the dioceses reach its target of €150,000. Their thanks also go to the many parishes and schools who donated the proceeds of collections at various services over Christmas and to individuals who remembered the Gaza appeal at their family gatherings over the festive season. Donations to the ‘Prepare A Place’ Appeal can be made either by using the Bishops’ Appeal envelopes which are available in all parish churches or by electronic transfer to IBAN: IE31BOFI90001749839499 BIC: BOFIIE2D (reference Gaza). Cheques may be sent to: Bishop’s Appeal, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 or you may simply hand your donation in an envelope marked Gaza Appeal to your Rector.

Giving Thanks We received a cheque for €271 from Tesco in January following the community “blue token” appeal. The parish also received a generous donation from the Whist Drives and thanks and appreciation to Bill Fleeton for organising this. Thank you to all the parishioners who donated during the Christmas period to the aforementioned Bishops Appeal, we gave €680 to this cause and also €660 was raised at the Carol Service and donated to the worthy Simon Community for the work they do with the homeless. 13

Articles of Interest Jeff brownlee writes about his trip to South Africa with the Niall Mellon Project. Niall Mellon has now changed from building houses to Mellon Educate projects. In early November 2013, volunteers were to go to Nairobi in Kenya to build a 2 story 16 classroom school and a medical centre. Unfortunately, as we were having our briefing session on Saturday 21st September 2013, with two thirds of the Kenyan Embassy staff in attendance, (2 People), in the Royal Marine Hotel, the Westgate Mall shopping centre in Nairobi was attacked with the loss of 67 lives with many injured. Niall had to quickly make a very difficult decision as to the safety of sending the volunteers to Nairobi. Within 4 days it was decided to cancel the Kenya trip. With this cancellation what was going to happen to the projects? After many discussions Niall decided to use his permanent South African foremen with local Kenyan labour to build these two projects. All have now been completed and handed over to their respected governors. A decision had to be made as to where the volunteers would work on the new Mellon Educate projects. It was decided to go back to Cape Town between 22nd and 29th of March 2014. The usual arrangement of transport was put into operation, flying overnight by Virgin and British Airways to Cape Town, arriving Sunday morning. It had been decided to split the volunteers into two groups; one group was to stay in Cape Town and the other to fly onwards to Kokstad in the Eastern Cape where three further projects were carried out. I stayed in Cape Town and travelled out to the school at Imizamo Yethu Township with 14

220 volunteers on the Sunday afternoon. I was given the job of looking after a female painting team whose job was to paint an existing classroom, inside and out. This classroom was no ordinary classroom, it was built of shipping containers which were sited in a square with the classroom in the middle with an apex roof over the whole structure. The containers were used as teachers’ offices. We built six new classrooms and a toilet block, refurbishing existing blocks, replacing their floors and roofs. It was a sight to see the slates being taken off a classroom with a daisy chain of one hundred people passing the slates from one to another ‘Chinese style’ to their final resting place. The whole school, which has 1,300 pupils, was painted

Articles of Interest from top to bottom, with some beautiful murals painted on the gable ends giving a very bright cheery look to the school.

Wednesday afternoon, the area was a hive of activity with residents rebuilding new shacks.

There was an open piece of scrubland beside the school that was turned into a rustic playground for the children, with swings, slides, ropewalk ways etc. Our hand over of the school back to the principal and the 350 children invited, all in school uniform, was at 2pm on the Friday. It was great to see the excitement on the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s faces when they saw the new playground, which they immediately started to use; I think the new classrooms came second in their eyes. The principal, was in tears seeing the work that been done to her school in only five days.

The mandatory Wrap Party was held on Friday night in Cape Town with the volunteers from Kokstad arriving late due to a delayed flight.

Regrettably after finishing work on the Monday evening, a fire started in the township beside the school. Twenty five shacks were burnt to the ground with a lady dying in the blaze. I and the rest of our team visited the devastated site on the

I decided once again to stay on at my own expense until the following Thursday night. 70 Volunteers also stayed on. On the Monday a wine trip had been arranged which turned into an enjoyable Irish style day out, sampling many bottles of wine with a sing song on the way back. We visited the final prison from which Mr Mandela was released. On the Wednesday I took a trip to Cape Point and The Cape of Good Hope which is the most Westerly point of South Africa also taking in the Botanical Gardens which are situated on the back of Table Mountain. A trip to the top of Table Mountain is a must, (bring warm clothes as it is a thousand metres high!).

Articles of Interest Christ of Saint John of the Cross Salvidor Dali 1951 Maria Waters Christ of Saint John of the Cross is a painting by Salvador Dalí made in 1951. It depicts Jesus Christ on the cross in a darkened sky floating over a body of water complete with a boat and fishermen. Although it is a depiction of the crucifixion, it is devoid of nails, blood, and a crown of thorns, because, according to Dalí, he was convinced by a dream that these features would mar his depiction of Christ. Also in a dream, the importance of depicting Christ in the extreme angle evident in the painting was revealed to him. The painting has this title because its design is based on a drawing (shown here) by the 16thcentury Spanish friar John of the Cross (Saint John of the Cross was a major religious figure who was canonized in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII. He is an interesting person who could warrant an entire article of his own! He is the author of the Spiritual Canticle and the Dark Night of the Soul, which are widely considered masterpieces of Spanish poetry.) The composition of Christ is based on a triangle and circle (the triangle is formed by Christ’s arms; the circle is formed by Christ’s head). The triangle, since it has three sides, can be seen as a reference to the Trinity and the circle represents Unity. Dalí explained that the inspiration for the painting came to him in a dream and in order to create the figure of Christ, he had a Hollywood stuntman suspend from an overhead gantry, so he could see how the body would appear from the desired angle. The painting was acquired for Glasgow Corporation in the early 1950s by Tom Honeyman, then the Director of Glasgow Museums. Honeyman got the painting for £8,200, a price considered high at the time. The purchase was controversial and a petition by Glasgow students of art argued that the money should be spent on exhibition space for local artists. This controversy caused Honeyman and Dalí to become friends, corresponding with each other for many years after the original events. In 1961, a visitor attacked the painting with a stone and tore the canvas with his hands. It was successfully restored over several months by conservators and returned to public display. The painting now hangs in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum In Glasgow. Recently the Spanish Government offered £80 million for it but this offer was turned down, being thought too low. In 2006 it was named as Scotland’s favourite painting, perhaps this is the reason why the Scots love it so much! 16

Summer FĂŞte

Parish Centre News Our Parish Centre continues to be busy and well-used. We have a number of regular groups who rent the spaces alongside Parish groups, Church activities and community groups. A week in our centre offers... Montessori nursery classes, Karate, Playball, Yoga, Pilates, Unislim, Badminton, Bowling, Whist, ICA, St John of God Friendship Club+Spirals Youth group as well as many private parties and social events. We are currently looking at offering new slots for Adult Ballet classes and children’s tennis lessons. The Montessori nursery launched in September 2014 and is doing very well. They love our great facilities, ample parking spaces, good road access and location. Eve Berea, who runs the school, has recently written to thank the Select Vestry for allowing her to run her business from our premises. She hopes to build on her success this year and is looking to expand the number of classes that she can offer from September 2015. St Matthias’ church uses the rooms for Select Vestry, Prayer meetings, mid-week Communion, 55 Club, Sunday Club, Sunday coffee and tea. We also have regular social events and fundraising activities including our annual fete. Brownies, Guides and Rangers are in from 6pm every Friday and Dun Laoghaire Girls’ Brigade hold their annual celebration in our parish centre. Killiney Lions Club come in to pack their hampers during December with help from our Guides. The Lions then hold their annual lunch in January using our centre. The Church of South India in Dublin use the new foyer room for monthly prayer meetings and occasional church events. We continue to look at improvement and maintenance of the facilities. The roof between the kitchen and sports hall has been fully repaired to prevent future leaks. The kitchen cupboards have been extended to include taller units for cleaning equipment. As planned, an attractive wall has been installed in the foyer to provide a new meeting place and we have received a generous offer to provide blinds and furniture for this space. Temporary sound absorption materials are in place in the Old Hall and more permanent solutions will be sought if these are felt to have improved acoustics. We plan to have a full audit of storage in all areas of the hall in the Spring in order to improve the use of these. As a result of the increased use of this wonderful facility, we have many more people coming through our doors and we are therefore able to connect more widely with the community around us.

Parish Centre News Ballybrack/Killiney Montessori Preschool We have been in full swing for the past few months in our beautiful spacious room. Our class has grown by 3 more children and another 3 are set to join very soon. This month the children have been learning all about their bodies and their families. They have also loved playing doctors and nurses. I think the Royal College of Surgeons will have a rush on enrolments in about 15 years! As everyone knows, young children can test the limits with their behaviour both at school, at home and even in the supermarket! It can be extremely stressful for parents, grandparents and carers alike. In the classroom we use positive reinforcement as our preferred method of behaviour management. It has been proven that positively reinforcing desired behaviour is a lot more effective than punishment or giving out in the long term. We use high fives, a hug, a positive comment such as “you are great at sitting on your chair nicely” or a preferred activity such as putting on music to dance to positively reinforce behaviours in the classroom. We can use positive reinforcement in our everyday life too. If we reward ourselves for sticking to our diet by buying a new pair of jeans, praise our spouse for taking out the bins or give a dog a treat after they sit, we are positively reinforcing a behaviour that we want to happen again. The only things to remember when using positive reinforcement are that the reward/praise has to be immediately given after the behaviour, it has to be consistent and it has to be meaningful to us. Why don’t you give it a try! Why not like us or share us on facebook. We’d really appreciate it! www.facebook.com/ballybrackkillineymontessori

Spring Cleaning! We are planning to spring clean the parish centre, de-clutter the cupboards and the area on top of the cupboards in the sports hall soon. If you have any equipment or articles stored in the hall or kitchen, which you would like to keep, hold of; please let the Glebe Wardens know. We cannot be responsible for any items unknowingly disposed of. Thank you. Rob Waters 087 415 9000 or Pat Unger 087 223 8255. 19

Articles of Interest Let’s Talk! Let’s talk is a voluntary, community based support framework for parents and carers of tweens to teens. Founded by two Mums, Layla and Clare, they provide a space where those who are caring for teenagers can come along and meet others, share stories and gather information. They invite guest speakers to cover topics relevant to raising teenagers in today’s society. Some of the issues covered are, eating disorders, bullying, drugs and alcohol, mental health, and many more topics that may relate to raising teenagers today. Also included are topics to support the well-being of the parent and the family as a whole, which they feel is important in these busy times we live in. See Poster for details and dates of future talks and topics. These talks are held on a bi-weekly basis during school term time, in Shankill Football Club (beside Shankill cemetery). They are free to attend. Let’s Talk is in the planning stages of providing a drop-in information service in Stonebridge Community Facility in Shankill. They hope to have this service running from early Spring. For more information on news, events and talks please feel free to contact Let’s Talk or Follow them on Facebook & Twitter. Contact Details: Email: Letstalk.shankill@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/letstalksupport Twitter: @LetsTalkDublin Telephone: 0861544348 20

Health & Nutrition Immune Boosting Foods Eating and drinking in excess during the winter months can put a strain on the body. Sugary foods in particular can compromise the immune system. Springtime is a perfect time to boost the immune system ensuring its soldiers are fully armed so there are no disruptions to detox or gym regimes! Strengthen your defences naturally, so you can fulfill your vows to lose those extra couple of pounds or climb Killiney hill more regularly. Here are my top tips: Watch the Sugar: Sugar reduces the effectiveness of the immune system. It competes with vitamin C and stops it entering into white blood cells. These cells act like soldiers, migrating to areas of infection to fight bacteria. Lack of vitamin C reduces the rate by which white blood cells travel to where they are needed. Foods that are high in sugar such as chocolate, biscuits, sweets and pastries are also lacking in nutrients. Aim for foods that are naturally sweet such as grapes, melon or dried fruits. These will also provide fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for an immune boost. Garlic has been shown to be effective against many bacterial infections. It acts as a natural antibiotic. Aged garlic can be bought as a supplement but simply adding raw garlic to your food will have the same effect. Try crushing a clove of garlic and downing it in a glass of water. Just remember, take it in the evening time especially if you tend to work in close proximity with others during the day! Vitamin C, D, Zinc and Selenium Vitamin C supplementation is advisable for the prevention and at the onset of a cold. It is a very powerful antioxidant that increases antibodies and white blood cells. Vitamin C is found in fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly berries, citrus fruits and dark leafy

greens. Unfortunately vitamin C is very easily destroyed by heat and light. Much of the fruit and vegetables in the supermarkets have been picked before they are ripe and have travelled many miles. As a result their vitamin C content can be depleted before they reach our table. Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is deficient in many living in Ireland. No surprise there! Our body makes vitamin D on exposure to sunlight, and it is vital for modulating the immune system. It is also found in foods such as oily fish, egg yolks and fortified foods such as super milk. If you have been tested by your GP and are low in vitamin D supplementation is advisable. Zinc and selenium also provide an immune boost. Zinc lozenges are effective at the first sign of a sore throat. Juicing is a great way to get a nutrient hit, add some ginger for extra immune fighting qualities! Good bacteria, such as those found in live yoghurt, line the digestive system. These friendly bacteria protect us from incoming bad bacteria. The bad guys enter the body through the air that we breathe and the food we eat. It is highly recommended to take a probiotic supplement after taking an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill off the bad bacteria, but they can also upset the balance of friendly bacteria in our gut. Increase your good guys by eating natural live yoghurt, mix it into porridge, enjoy a dollop in a smoothie or use it as a topping over fresh fruit sprinkled with flaked almonds. Other factors that have a negative impact on the immune system are stress, poor sleep and lack of exercise. Relieve stress by taking time out for yourself, simply talking to someone or taking a bath. This will also encourage better sleep. Once you are rested you will have more energy for the much anticipated spring Ciara BeaugĂŠ, Nutritional Therapist. Sandyford Wellness Centre 21

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