So take heart my friends, better days lie ahead. For now we need to keep each other and ourselves safe by following all the advice and directives we have been given. Please continue to pray for all who are sick or suffering; for all whose lives or livelihoods have been affected by this coronavirus; for all who work puts them at risk; for those who are tasked with leading us or finding effective treatments and a vaccine against Covid19, and for all who are lonely or anxious. And as the Lord often answers our prayers through us, please reach out by phone to those who might be glad of hearing a friendly voice or an offer of help.
A message from the Rector
My Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you well and safe. The longer the current restrictions go on, I know the harder it will be to adhere fully to them – please continue to be strong and resolute in this regard and to trust the advice and directives given by the experts. Take heart – this too shall pass!
How strange it is to not have any gatherings during what is usually the busiest week of the year for clergy! More than that, it is THE most important week of the year for all of us who call ourselves Christians. Often, the busyness of life, the demands of work and the opportunities of leisure prevent us from engaging much if at all with the various liturgies of Holy Week. This year, most of us will have ample opportunity to commit some time to doing this, and I encourage you all to try and access the various services online or on television.
On Good Friday I will broadcast A Service of Meditation on the Cross at 3pm – a quiet, reflective service as we remember our Lord’s agony and death – all of which he endured for us.
I will be broadcasting morning service at 10.30am on Saturday.
The services can be watched live or later on the parish Facebook page or online at
https://www.facebook.com/clontarfparish/.
The order of service for Good Friday can be found here.
Please do keep in touch and if you would like prayer suppport for yourself or a loved one, let me know.
Very importantly, if you have been adversely affected financially by this crisis and are struggling to pay bills or meet household expenses, please contact me directly in complete confidence at either 087 9091561 or at revlesleyrobinson@gmail.com.
I will be in touch again on Saturday dv and will provide Easter Sunday’s order of service then.
Stay Safe & God Bless
Lesley
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) – Guidelines for Attending Services
Please note that for the foreseeable future, Holy Communion will be administered in one kind only, i.e. the bread. Only the Celebrant will receive from the Chalice. The celebrant will use hand sanitiser before administering the bread.
The ministers will not shake hands with people as they leave the church, as is their custom, but will remain available at the door to greet and converse with people.
If you have symptoms like a cough, sneezing or a fever, you should refrain from attending services and avail of the televised or streamed services instead.
As per all the HSE guidelines, good hand and respiratory hygiene is essential to prevent the widespread transmission of the virus.
As the situation evolves and new guidelines/directions are given by the HSE, decisions will be made about whether certain events will go ahead or be postponed. Please note that there will be NO service in St. Patrick’s Nursing Home, Baldoyle, until further notice. Please continue to pray for all who are affected in any way by this outbreak of Covid-19.
Clontarf Parish retreat 2020
‘Journeying in Faith – a Walk with Christ’, led by Rev. Cecil Hyland on 27th-29th March at Mount Saint Joseph’s Abbey, Roscrea, County Tipperary.’
Cost €160 (includes full board, reception, retreat and course book)
Contact the Rector for more details – closing date for bookings 28 February.
Who let the Dads out?
Who Let the Dads Out? returns on Saturday 25th January from 10-11.30am upstairs in the Parish Centre, for all dads and their pre-schoolers. Join us for banter, fun and rasher sandwiches!
Revision of Register of General Vestry
Each January the membership list of the Parish – the Register of the General Vestry – is revised. Anyone aged 18 or over who is a member of the Church of Ireland and who lives in the Parish or regularly attends services and who is not already on the register should contact the Rector.
The registered members of the parish, along with the clergy, constitute the general vestry, which meets annually to hear the Rector’s report and to elect the churchwardens, the glebewardens, and the members of the Select Vestry.
Celebrating our Global Parish Family
Over the past few years our parish has become wonderfully diverse with members from all around the world.
This Pot Luck Supper on Saturday 9th November from 6pm to 8pm will include food and music and a chance to celebrate our unity in Christ and to stand up against racism or xenophobia. Admission is free but everyone is asked to bring food to share from their country of origin – including Ireland!
Tearfund Pedal Against Poverty
Thank you to all who have contributed to Tearfund’s Pedal Against Poverty campaign by donating to parishoner Dave Lynch’s sponsored cycles throughout the Summer. Dave successfully completed his astounding 1,800km target over July and August with the 150km Boyne Valley Tour last Saturday.
The idonate web page is still open for anyone who would like to make a donation or alternatively, Dave will have a sponsorship card with him at church on Sunday 8th September. You can read about Tearfund’s Self Help Ethiopia project here.
Wildflower Garden
Work on our biodiversity area/wildflower garden will continue on Saturday 21 September at 11am when volunteers are needed to bring along rakes and small trowels to prepare the ground for more planting. Please come along if you can as many hands make light work!
Sunday Club returns on 8th September
Sunday Club returns on 8th September at 10:30am in the Maxwell Room in the Parish Centre. Age appropriate Gospel-based lessons, crafts, prayers and songs for your child from age 4 up to enjoy while you enjoy worshipping in church.