News and Upcoming Events
Please find below an archive of the News from this and previous months.
« Return to previous page.- 01/11/09 17:25
A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME
At the Family Service on 18th October, we were introduced to the team of young people who will be going to India, in partnership with the Leprosy Mission, early in the New Year. This is the third trip of its kind organized by Ian Horner, our Parish Youth Worker. Like all of these short-term mission trips, a journey of a lifetime to India can be a life changing experience. It is our hope and prayer in the Parish, as our young people venture into the unknown, that they may know God’s leading in their lives and the lives they touch in India.
MAGGIE WITH US
Earlier this summer our Parish Intern, Cathy Lewis, left to pursue her studies at Queen’s University, Belfast. She left a big gap in the children’s and young people’s work. In October Maggie Kane, from Cavan, took up the rôle as intern. Like Cathy she will be working with children and young people. She will bring her particular stamp to her rôle and we look forward to all that God will do in and through her, during her time in Kill.
[Please see youth section where Maggie tells us about herself.]
HARVEST THOUGHTS
Harvest in a suburban setting is hard to pull off. Thus autumn we celebrated the Harvest through the lens of Fields of Life, an Irish Christian charity working in East Africa, in education and health. The Voices of Life Choir of Ugandan school children lifted the roof in a concert attended by young and old. Our guest speaker on Harvest Sunday was the Rev. Trevor Stevenson, the Director of Fields of Life, who preached on sowing seeds. Immediately after the service there was a sumptuous lunch, enjoyed by several hundred in the Parish Centre; a harvest fellowship. The celebrations concluded with the school Harvest Service, held in the church.
TESTING TIMES
There have been testing times in education, especially in the primary school sector. At the recent A.G.M. of Kill National School P.T.A., which was very well attended, the Principal, Mrs. Hilary McBain, and the Chairperson of the Board, the Rev. Ferran Glenfield, alluded to the difficulties but highlighted the accomplishments of the past school year. In all the difficulties it is easy lose sight of all the attainments the school made in so many areas of the curriculum and beyond. As one speaker put it, “Education is what is left, when all that has been learned is forgotten!”
Missing Blair
Blair Halliday, one of our long-serving and faithful Lay Ministers, has been missing around church life. Blair had a hernia operation in October, and after a hiccup or two is thankfully on the road to recovery. We wish Blair a full recovery and hope to see him back in the prayer desk soon.
We are in Partnership with …
For many years, Kill has been in partnership with various mission agencies and people active in mission. Currently we partner with C.M.S. Ireland and the Yei Diocese in Sudan; with Oasis/Crosslinks and Gillian and Carlos Olaaka’s work in Uganda; with the Leprosy Mission and a team visiting India early in the New Year. We also help the work of John Reid, working with CONCERN, and Sandra Orr and the prison and orphanage ministry in Russia; to name but a few.
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Robert and Sharon, with Sam
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For the past number of years they have been studying, teaching and living in Oxford, both completing PhDs in theology. They are committed to use this training to train others in the growing church of the majority world in Tanzania. Through the Heaneys we as a Parish are contributing to the growth and depth of Christ’s Church in East Africa.
We were pleased to have welcomed Robert, Sharon and Sam to the Parish on Sunday 25th October, when Robert preached so effectively on Psalm 87.
For others
In the run-up to the Christmas period three small but helpful schemes are in place to help us think of others:
Ø The first involves Kill National School, who are once again taking part in Operation Christmas Child, a scheme whereby children in Ireland pack a shoe box of presents, which is given to another child, as an unexpected Christmas gift.
Ø The second involves the Parish in partnership with the Dún Laoghaire Lions. Every Christmas time, the Lions give out Christmas hampers of foodstuffs to needy families and individuals. Up to ten of these full hampers are distributed within Kill Parish. If you can help in providing non-perishable foodstuffs, tins, cereals, confectionery, etc., please leave them in the box marked “Lions” in the Parish Centre. Every little bit helps and could bring someone unexpected Christmas cheer.
Ø The third is the Parish Support Fund, overseen by the Rector and Rosemary Knight, whereby money is given to individuals or families with particular needs. During the year, funds of around €2500 have been focussed onto those who faced redundancy, or reduced incomes/pensions, helping to pay bills and especially the necessities of children. If you would like help in supporting others in need, you can contribute to the Parish Support Fund, which is ring-fenced to provide help to needy situations.