Vol 11.1  

Dec 2007 - Jan 2008  

The Vacancy Ends

Since 17 April 2007 we have been without a Rector. For many the only difference has been the presence of a new face in the pulpit each week. Behind the scenes it was a different story.

The fact that all our services have continued as normal and we had preachers each week is due to the Diocesan Curate, Canon K Ruddock - he who introduced us to the Baptism service.

The parish team of four parochial nominators had the task of finding a new Rector. That they have accomplished this task, in such a relatively short time, is testimony to the time and effort that they invested.

Finally, their recommendation was made to Bishop Alan and the Reverend Jennifer Bell, presently of St Nicholas Church, Belfast, was appointed to be our new Rector.

Her Institution, by Bishop Alan, to which you are all invited, will be in St Patrick’s Church at 8.00 pm on Thursday 3 January 2008. Following the service, there will be refreshments in the Parish Hall.

Bowling Club   The bowling club continues to meet on Friday evening from 7.30 pm until 10.30 pm and on Monday evening from 8.00 pm until 9.30 pm. In September this year, 26 members and friends had a four day break in Ballina, Co Mayo. Bowling, shopping and sightseeing were enjoyed by those present. The Hotel this year were very generous with their prizes for our bowling competition. The Bowling Club celebrated its 20 th anniversary this year and to mark the occasion, 38 members and spouses enjoyed an anniversary dinner in the Templeton Hotel, which was enjoyed by everyone present. We had a visit from the Rock Bowling Club on Friday 23 November 2007, with a good turn out of members on both sides. On Tuesday 11 December 2007, we have our first outing of the season to the Baker Stadium. Friday 21 December 2007, is our Christmas party night and our ‘resident’ Santa will be in attendance. New members would be made most welcome, so come along and enjoy an evening of bowling. Isobel McCollam (Hon. Sec.)

Sunday Club - SCLUB4 The Children have had a busy time in the run up to Christmas and the Christmas play. We have lots planned for the New Year, so make sure you don’t miss them! This year we have decided that our Advent appeal will be for the Kindfund, which our very own Leader, Catherine Lucas had the privilege of supporting earlier this year, in June, (read all about it in this issue of the magazine!). The appeal will run from Sunday 2 December to 20 January 2008. A big thank you to the Mums and Dads for their help, assistance and support with the Christmas play, it is very much appreciated. May we take this opportunity of wishing the Children and their Families a Merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year. Some useful dates for your diary:- 2 Dec Rehearsal for play and singing – 10.30 am Start of Advent Appeal – Kindfund 9 Dec - Pre Christmas AAW, Christmas Play & Collection of Gifts – 11.30 am Rehearsal for play – 10.30 am 16 Dec - No Sunday Club 23 Dec - No Sunday Club Carol Service - 7.30 pm. 25 Dec - Christmas morning service 11.30 am 30 Dec- No Sunday Club 2008 6 Jan - No Sunday Club 13 Jan - All Age Worship and Christingle Service 20 Jan - Sunday School Resumes Return jars for Kindfund appeal Gail

Communion Rota for St John's

Safeguarding Trust

In accordance with the recommendations in 'Safeguarding Trust - The Church of Ireland Code of Good Practice for Ministry with Children', a Parish Panel has been appointed (operating since June 1998) to implement some of the responsibilities identified in the Code.

The Panels responsibilities include:

• interviewing persons willing to serve as workers in the parish
  
• advising workers on their responsibilities in respect of the Code

• advising the Select Vestry in respect of its responsibilities
  
• being an immediate contact point for workers when a suspicion, complaint or allegation of child abuse is made about a worker or on parish premises in accord with the procedures set out in these guidelines.

The Parish Panel Members are:-

Kenyan Trip 2007

We were very privileged and excited to be going out at the end of June to work with a local charity called Kindfund in Northern Kenya. Kindfund was set up by our good friends Pamela and Ken Dobbin from Kesh, Co Fermanagh in 2004.

It was established to further the gospel of Jesus Christ and to relieve poverty in the remote Samburu and Turkana region of Northern Kenya. Kindfund presently supports over 800 children and adults and has financed a building with 2 permanent classrooms, a kitchen and store plus many other projects. They are hoping to build a home for 48 orphans in Wamba in the near future.

After our long flight and the dusty 5 hour drive north in our old 1979 Land rover we finally reached our destination in the bush at Ngaremara. The reception we received was so warm and special, something we will never forget, so many smiling faces that had so little in worldly terms.

Whilst in Kenya we taught at the local nursery and primary schools, helped with the daily orphan feeding programmes and helped distribute bags of maize to the ‘old mamas’. We also visited the deaf and blind schools where Kindfund sponsor 8 children. We were overwhelmed by all the lovely children we met who had suffered so much as a result of AIDS and malaria, they just wanted some TLC and a chance to feel loved.

We thank God for the privilege of allowing us to see Him at work and to share His love with them. We would like to thank everyone who remembered us in their prayers while we were away and those parishioners who kindly gave us donations and gifts to take out with us.

For more information see - www.kindfund.com

Daphne and Catherine Lucas

Saints of the Church

Nichols, Bishop of Myra
6 December -- Lesser Festival -- Bishop -- White
Nicholas was a fourth-century bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (southern Turkey). His reputation as a worker of wonders was enhanced by a ninth-century author of his hagiography and he is now best known through these stories. Many of them concern his love and care for children, how he fed the hungry, healed the sick and cared for the oppressed. He saved three girls from a life of prostitution by providing them with dowries and so developed the tradition of bearing gifts to children on his feast day, a practice appropriated by the Christmas celebrations. Nicholas is also one of the patron saints of Russia.

Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr
26 December -- Festival -- Martyr -- Red
In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen is described as one of the seven deacons whose job it is to care for the widows in the early Church in Jerusalem. His eloquent speech before the Sanhedrin, in which he shows the great sweep of Jewish history as leading to the birth of Jesus, the long-expected Messiah, and his impassioned plea that all might hear the good news of Jesus, leads to his inevitable martyrdom by being stoned to death. As the author of Acts, Luke's description of Stephen bears direct parallels to that of Christ: for example, the passion; being filled with the Holy Spirit; seeing the Son of God as the right hand of God, as Jesus promised he would be; commending his spirit to Jesus, as Jesus commended his to the Father; kneeling as Jesus did in Gethsemane and asking forgiveness for his persecutors. Witnessing to Jesus by acting like Jesus in every way is thus seen by Luke as of the essence of the Christian life.

John, Apostle & Evangelist
27 December -- Festival -- Apostle-- White
Whether or not John the Apostle and John the Evangelist are one and the same, the Church honours on this day the one who proclaims Jesus as the Word made flesh and who is 'the disciple whom Jesus loved'. John was one of the sons of Zebedee, along with James and Peter, who followed Jesus. John was there at the of Jesus on the holy mountain; he was there with Jesus at the last supper; he was there with Jesus in his agony in the garden; he was there with Jesus and his mother, standing at the foot of the cross; he was there with Jesus as a witness of his resurrection and 'he saw and believed'. John was a witness to the Word, he proclaimed the Word and he lived and died witnessing to the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, who loved him and whom he loved.

The Holy Innocents
28 December -- Festival -- Red
Herod 'the Great' was appointed King of the Jews by the Roman authorities in Palestine and he proved to be ruthlessly efficient in his thirty-three years of dealing with his subjects. In Matthew's gospel, he tried to persuade the Magi, to whom he played the host on their journey seeking the one 'who has been born king of the Jews', to bring word of where they had found him. His desire was to eliminate Jesus and, when he realised that the Magi had tricked him and left the country, Herod poured out his wrath on all the male infants in the land. These were God's 'innocent' ones, paralleling the story of Pharaoh slaughtering the Hebrew children in Egypt.

Rural Dean

The Rev. Paul Redfern

7 Rectory Road, Doagh, Co Antrim, BT39 0PT

(028 9334 0225    

CHURCH OFFICE BEARERS

Rector's Churchwarden:(St.Patrick's)
Mr S Clendinning, Templepatrick

People's Churchwarden:(St.Patrick's)
Mrs A Millar, Templepatrick

Rector's Churchwarden:(St.John's)
Miss Y.Hutchinson, Doagh

People's Churchwarden:(St.John's)
Mrs M Bell, N'abbey

Rector's Glebewarden:Mr D Mawhinney, Dunadry

People's Glebewarden:
Mr M Cooke, Dunadry

Supplemental Glebewarden:
Mr S Clendinning, Templepatrick

Select Vestry: (Meets 2nd Monday in month at 8.00 pm)
Mrs R.Barnes, Mrs M Bell, Mr H Cinnamon, Mr S Clendinning,
Mr M Cooke, Mrs Y Hutchinson, Dr C Lundy, Mr D Mawhinney,
Mr P McCausland, Mrs I McCollam, Mr S McCollam, Mrs G.McCoy, Mr T Michael, Mrs A Millar, Mr R Montgomery, Mr N Shirley,
Mr A Walbridge, Mrs M Walbridge

Parish Diocesan Synodsmen:
Mr E Cinnamon, Mr H Cinnamon

Diocesan Synodsmen:
Mrs M Bell, Mr R Montgomery

Honorary Secretary:
Mrs M Bell, Newtownabbey

Honorary Treasurer:
Mr N Shirley, Templepatrick

Honorary F.W.O. Recorder and Envelope Secretary:
Mrs I McCollam, Templepatrick

Covenant Secretary:
Mr M Cooke, Dunadry

PARISH PANEL:-
The Rector; Mrs M Bell; Mr S Clendinning; Mr M Cooke

Parish Organisations and their Leaders:-

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm.

St Patrick's Organist and Choirmistress Mrs D.Martin, Parkgate

St John's Organist Mrs S Cotter

Sunday School Coordinators: Mrs G McCoy, Mrs V Brady
Helpers: Miss C Lucas, Miss S McCollam, Miss C McCollam

Crèche (Sundays) Mrs Judith Collister, Mrs Julie-Ann Logan

Youth Group Mrs Valerie Brady

Sacristan: Mrs R Barnes

Hall Secretary: Mrs I McCollam

CofI Gazette Secretary: Mrs M McConnell

Bible Study Notes Secretary: Mrs D Lucas

Christian Aid Secretary Mrs L Lynas

Parish Webmaster Mr Alan Walbridge

Magazine Producer Mrs Gail McCoy

Youth Organisations

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm

Rainbow Guides (4-7 years): Tuesday 2.15-3.15pm
Mrs D Reid

Brownies (7-10 years): Wednesdays 6.00-7.30pm
Miss Elaine Lamont, Mrs A Millar

Guides (10-14 years): Wednesdays 7.30-9.00pm
Mrs Ann Forsythe

Squirrels (4-6 years): Thursdays 4-5pm
Mrs C Michael

Beavers (6-8 years): Mondays 6.30-7.30pm
Miss K Shirley

Cub Scouts (8-10years): Tuesdays 6.45-8.00 pm
Mr Alan Martin

Scouts (10+ years): Mrs Kim Gleave

Parents and Toddlers Group Wednesdays 10.30am-12pm Mrs Geraldine McIlroy

Adult Organisations

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm

Indoor Bowling Club : Fridays 7.30pm
Secretary: Mrs I McCollam

Ladies Fellowship 3rd Tuesday in the month, 8pm.
Secretary:Mrs D Young

Parish Ramblers meet occasionally

RCL
Full texts
available

First Reading
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

Pre-Christmas All Age Worship
Gift Service & Christmas Play Rev C. Irvine

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

Isaiah 11: 1-10
72 : 1-7
Romans 15 : 4-13
Matthew 3 : 1-12

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

2 Chronicles 24: 20-22
119: 161-168
Acts 7: 51-60
Matthew 10: 17-22

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

Isaiah 60: 1-6
72: 1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3: 1-12
Matthew 2: 1-12

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

Technology - Some Puzzles

Sometimes we all need a break from technology. It seems the norm in newspapers to provide you with puzzles to solve as you rest over Christmas, so here is a selection.

All of them are possible. Unlike trying to find an even number greater than five that is not the sum of two prime numbers. Let me know if you do and we can share the prize money. (Incidentally 1 is no longer considered to be a prime number)

Coconuts

This problem is to prepare you for the next one.

Three sailors come upon a pile of coconuts. The first sailor takes half of them plus half a coconut. The second sailor takes half of what remains plus half a coconut. Similarly the third sailor also takes half of what remains plus half a coconut. Left over is one coconut that they toss to the monkey. How many coconuts were in the original pile? If you arm yourself with 20 matches you will have ample material for a trial-and-error solution.

More Coconuts (Lots more!)

Five sailors survive a shipwreck and swim to a tiny island where there is nothing but a coconut tree and a monkey. The sailors gather all the coconuts and put them in a big pile under the tree. Exhausted, they agree to go to wait until the next morning to divide up the coconuts.

At one o'clock in the morning, the first sailor wakes up. He realizes that he can't trust the others, and decides to take his share now. He divides the coconuts into five equal piles, but there is one coconut left over. He gives that coconut to the monkey, hides his coconuts (one of the five piles), and puts the rest of the coconuts (the other four piles) back under the tree.

At two o'clock, the second sailor wakes up. Not realizing that the first sailor has already taken his share, he too divides the coconuts up into five piles, leaving one coconut over which he gives to the monkey. He then hides his share (one of the five piles), and puts the remainder (the other four piles) back under the tree.

At three, four, and five o'clock in the morning, the third, fourth, and fifth sailors each wake up and carry out the same actions.

In the morning, all the sailors wake up, and try to look innocent. No one makes a remark about the diminished pile of coconuts, and no one decides to be honest and admit that they've already taken their share. Instead, they divide the pile up into five piles, for the sixth time, and find that there is yet again one coconut left over, which they give to the monkey.

What is the smallest amount of coconuts that there could have been in the original pile?

Unusual Paragraph

This is a most unusual paragraph. How quickly can you find out what is so unusual about it? It looks so ordinary that you would think that nothing is wrong with it at all, and, in fact, nothing is. But it is unusual. Why? If you study it and think about it, you may find out, but I am not going to assist you in any way. You must do it without any hints or coaching. No doubt, if you work at it for a bit, it will dawn on you. Who knows? Go to work and try your skill. Good luck!

What is unusual about this paragraph?

The Planets

Perhaps astronomy is more for you. Four words add up to a fifth word numerically:

Each of the ten letters (m, a, r, s, v, e, n, u, t, and p) represents a unique number in the range 0 .. 9. Furthermore, numbers 1 and 6 are being used most frequently

What number does neptune represent?

Nineteen Numbers Net

The nineteen circles have to be filled with the numbers 1 up to (and including) 19. These numbers have to be placed in such a way that all numbers on any horizontal row and any diagonal line add up to the same sum.

There are many horizontal and diagonal lines, which have a different number of circles (3, 4, or 5), nevertheless all these sums have to be equal!

How should the nineteen numbers be placed in the net?

The Round Table

Yesterday evening, Helen and her husband invited their neighbours (two couples) for a dinner at home. The six of them sat at a round table. Helen tells you the following:

• "Victor sat on the left of the woman who sat on the left of the man who sat on the left of Anna.
• Esther sat on the left of the man who sat on the left of the woman who sat on the left of the man who sat on the left of the woman who sat on the left of my husband.
• Jim sat on the left of the woman who sat on the left of John.
• I did not sit beside my husband."

What is the name of Helen's husband?

Jump & Pile

Below are ten coins in a row. The goal is to make five piles of two coins. You must, however, jump over two other coins (these can be two coins next to each other, but also two piled coins!) to place a coin on top of another coin. You may jump only with coins that have not been piled yet.

Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Alan

Puzzle