Vol 7.1   

Dec - Jan 2004   

Dear Parishioners ,

On reflection, the past year has gone very quickly and much has happened in the world. The Iraq War and its aftermath have been major news headlines for months and more recently the unity of the Anglican communion has been put under the microscope over the issue of human sexuality. Often there is little good news being reported. Little of the news lifts the spirit. There would seem to be much darkness in the world and little of the news is ‘gospel’. The word ‘gospel’ means good news and the good news is that God was made man in Jesus. An old monastic liturgy has this to say,

‘The Lord will come soon, will not delay.
The Lord will make the darkest places bright’.

It is no accident I’m sure that at the time we celebrate our Lord being made man on Christmas Day we have just turned the corner from the shortest day in the calendar towards an increase in the daylight hours. The Advent and Christmas seasons make much of the play between light and darkness and are rich in symbolism.

Please be supportive particularly of the special occasions that occur in the parish during Advent and the festive period. Since much work and energy has been invested in the preparation of them I’m sure it will be a great encouragement to all involved. We remember the reason for our celebrations, the coming of Jesus to be ‘God with us’, by worshipping together and recalling this great act in salvation history. We do this in the seasonal music, drama and the words of familiar readings from the bible. All this is offered with prayerful thanks for ‘thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory’ (from the General Thanksgiving).

As we anticipate our celebration of the wonderful mystery of the incarnation I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a joyous, blessed and peaceful Christmas and a happy and fulfilling new year.

Yours in God's service

Stephen Fielding

Bowling Club

The Bowling club has commenced the new season bowling on Friday evening from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm and Monday ‘practice’ night from 8.00 pm to 9.30 pm. We have started the new season with one new member. All new comers would be made most welcome.

In September, 26 members and friends had a four-day break in Donegal Town. Bowling, shopping, golfing and sight-seeing were enjoyed by those present.

On November 20th, 44 members and friends had a meal in the Templeton Hotel and afterwards travelled by coach to the Waterfront Hall for a night’s entertainment.

Later in the month we had our first visit of the new season to the Baker Stadium.

In December we will have our usual Christmas party night with a visit from our ‘resident’ Santa.


Isobel McCollam (Hon. Sec.)

St. John's Restoration News

It was cold and wet in the grounds of Upton Castle on Thursday 18th September when we began erecting the marquees for the Fete and we were more than a little anxious as to what the weather would be like for the Fete on Saturday. As it turned out, it was a glorious day. A huge number of children turned out for the Fancy Dress Parade and all the stalls and side shows did brisk trade on what was an enjoyable and memorable day.

You will know by now that the monies raised by the Fete, together with very generous donations towards the cost of the restoration, resulted in the Parish reaching its target and paying off the remainder of the cost of restoring St. John’s. With that the work of the Restoration Committee is now complete.

May I take this opportunity, on behalf of the St. John’s Restoration Committee to again express our very sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed in so many ways to the work of restoring St. John’s. It was only through your prayers, hard work, generous donations and support of numerous activities that we have succeeded in completing the task.

I recently re-read “A History of St. John’s, Donegore” by Margaret Bell. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who has not read it. There, Margaret relates that “the earliest written record of a church at Donegore is 1306”. What a privilege it has been to play a small part in maintaining this ancient site of Christian worship for future generations.

Christopher Lundy (Chairman))

Communion Rota for St John's

Scout News

Our new season is well advanced and all sections are looking forward to our Christmas activities.

The Scout troop recommenced this year with 12 Scouts led by Peter Lawther and Kim Gleave and with an exciting program planned.

Cubs are led by Alan Martin, Ruth McKee and Roger Wylie and have already had success by winning the District Unihoc competition. Congratulations to them! Beavers are again led by myself and ably assisted by Kate Shirley. Our ‘Big Beaver’ Richard Lusty is still recovering from a dislocated knee received playing tennis during the summer (his story!) and we hope he will be back soon. We have vacancies for new Beavers – ages 6-8 years.

Our AGM was held on 3rd November, our thanks to those who attended. Gail McCoy is continuing to serve as Chairperson, Ruth McKee will be Secretary and Peter Lawther continues as Treasurer. As GSL I would like to thank them for their support and all the parents who also help in the Group.

A Coffee Morning and Christmas Sale will be held on 29th November, together with the Guides and Brownies and our thanks to all who will have helped with this event.

Christmas parties and outings are already planned and we wish everyone a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Catherine Michael
Group Scout Leader

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:-

Human Sexuality

A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of the Church of Ireland
September 2003

Society is experiencing the breakdown of national, community and inter-personal relationships on a scale that none of us has experienced before. The problem is made more difficult because there is no universally agreed standard, religious or secular, social or ethical, by which to order our affairs.

One aspect of life in which this brokenness is most personally and painfully experienced is in the realm of human sexuality. While this has become the area of immediate concern, it is equally a matter of concern that the sexualisation of almost every area of life in today’s world has seriously damaged the potential for deep and lasting enrichment that comes from close personal friendships between and within the sexes that do not have any sexual expression. Life today has become greatly impoverished as a result.

In the case of homosexuality, social attitudes range from complete acceptance through indifference to complete rejection. Within the Christian tradition, notwithstanding the pastoral care and compassion shown by many, the attitude has more often than not been one of non-acceptance and at times harsh condemnation. At its worst this has led to the demonising, demeaning and oppression of those who, by inclination or in practice, have found themselves attracted to others of the same sex.

This has meant, among other things, that a wholesome engagement with, and open discussion of, the issues surrounding homosexuality has for too long been side-stepped by the Churches. It is a basic assertion of the Christian faith that God has created all that is, and that in Jesus Christ he has entered fully into, and redeemed, a broken world. Despite that affirmation, it has often been people of no particular religious affiliation, or religious people unsupported or opposed by their own institutions, who have been to the fore in engaging with the issues in a way that should have been dealt with by the Churches.

The current debate within Anglicanism has shown that harsh condemnatory attitudes on both sides in the current debate have not gone away. There is still no unanimity on the question itself across the Churches. In trying to discern the mind of Christ, the bishops believe that the Church of Ireland as a whole ought to address the question prayerfully, humbly, carefully and generously.

The bishops have been engaging in this pastoral issue, both individually and corporately, in a process of consultation and research that began before the Lambeth Conference of 1998, and has been continuing ever since. The fact that little has been said collectively is an indication of the pastoral sensitivities felt by the Bishops, together with the complexity of the issue, and of a considerable range of viewpoints among the bishops themselves.

It is evident that no clear-cut solution will be found independently of Biblical reflection, mature thinking, and patient listening on the part of the Church as a whole. This process must involve prayerful and respectful consideration of views and insights within the Church and beyond it. The traditional Anglican concept of the consensus fidelium would seem to demand this.

Together the bishops:

• Affirm the centrality and authority of the Scriptures for all Christian discourse.
• Recognise that the interpretation of Scripture is itself an area of divergence among Christians.
• Hold that the study of Scripture must also engage with the God-given gifts of the cumulative insights of the Christian tradition, and of human reason.
• Remind the Church that since all people have been created in the image and likeness of God, no one should be understood solely, or even primarily, in terms of his or her sexuality.
• Encourage an attitude of respect for one another.

In general, four main viewpoints may be identified within the Church of Ireland with regard to same-sex relationships. They are not so much clear-cut, isolated points of view as relative positions on a spectrum, and the views of the members of the present House of Bishops are to be found across this spectrum.

• The witness of the Scriptures is consonant with a view that rejects homosexual practice of any kind, and that marriage between a man and a woman in life-long union remains the only appropriate place for sexual relations. This must remain the standard for Christian behaviour.
• The witness of the Scriptures is consonant with a more sympathetic attitude to homosexuality than has been traditional, but this would not at present permit any radical change in the Church’s existing stance on the question.
• The witness of the Scriptures is consonant with the view that a permanent and committed same-gender relationship which, through its internal mutuality and support brings generosity, creativity and love into the lives of those around, cannot be dismissed by the Church as intrinsically disordered.
• The witness of the Scriptures is consonant with the proposition that, in the light of a developing understanding of the nature of humanity and sexuality, the time has arrived for a change in the Church’s traditional position on affirming same-gender relationships.

There is general agreement among the bishops that the mind of the Church must be discerned in relation to sexuality in general. The same requirement also applies to any form of new definition or new pastoral practice in relation to the question of ordination, appointments to positions of leadership, or to the blessing of same-sex unions.

The quest for a common mind is not simply an academic exercise. It has long been tacitly if not formally recognised, that homosexual people have held positions of leadership, ordained and lay, within the Church. Their ministry has frequently been highly imaginative and characterised by great pastoral sensitivity that has deeply enriched the lives of those who have experienced it.

We believe that the search for a modus vivendi for the Church is more important than the assertion of abstract and disembodied decrees. This search should be undertaken regardless of the conclusions to which the exercise may take us all.

A process of understanding of these issues cannot be furthered without overcoming many of the fears and insecurities that surround this discussion. To that end, where there is discussion, it is most effectively undertaken in a safe space, where people are able to let go of their own agendas without betraying their deeply held convictions, where they are prepared to listen sensitively to one another, and where attitudes of condemnation are avoided.

Where it is felt that there is urgency for discussion to commence within the Church of Ireland, experience has shown that it is much more fruitful to spend time on learning how to listen and to grow in understanding than to move rapidly beyond that stage in a desire to reach conclusions as quickly as possible. For that reason, the conversation surrounding sexuality is not suited, at this stage, to large legislative assemblies.

Where there is dialogue within dioceses and between local communities, it should above all include those who are most immediately affected by the discussion. It cannot be sufficiently emphasised that the quest itself carries its own risks, and should not be undertaken lightly. This is an area of life where deeply held views, powerful emotions and the potential for causing great harm hold sway. We may have to learn how or whether we will be able to live peaceably and with integrity with very different viewpoints within the family of the Church and the household of faith.

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.

Rector

The Rev. Stephen A Fielding B.Sc., B.Th., M.A.

The Vicarage, 926 Antrim Road, Templepatrick, Co.Antrim,

BT39 0AT

(028 9443 2300    E-mail: templepatrick@connor.anglican.org

CHURCH OFFICE BEARERS

Rector's Churchwarden:(St.Patrick's)
Mrs M. Walbridge, Templepatrick

People's Churchwarden:(St.Patrick's)
Mr D Mawhinney, Dunadry

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 R Barnes, 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)
Mr R.Barnes, Mrs R.Barnes, Mrs M Bell, Mr H Cinnamon,
Mr S Clendinning, Mrs M Coe, Mr M Cooke, Mrs Y Hutchinson, Mr J Jones, Mr C Lundy, Mr D Mawhinney, Mr T Michael, Mrs I McCollam, Mr S McCollam, Mr B McMeekin, Mr N Shirley,Mr A Walbridge, Mrs M Walbridge

Diocesan Synodsmen:
Mr E Cinnamon, Mr H Cinnamon

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:
Mrs P. MacKean, Loughanmore

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

Parish Organisations and their Leaders:-

Choir Practices on Thursdays at 8pm.

Organist and Choirmistress Mrs M.Irvine, The Rectory, Killead

Sunday School Coordinators: Mrs G McCoy, Mr B McMeekin. Leaders: Mrs V Brady, Mrs D Gaffney, Miss R Laird. Helpers: Miss C Lucas, Miss S McCollam..

Crèche (Sundays) Mrs Judith Collister, Mrs Julia Fielding

Youth Group Mr Philip Lusty, Mrs Valerie Brady

Building for Generations & Swedish Link Rep: Mr S Laird

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 Ann Forsythe, Mrs D Reid

Brownies (7-10 years): Wednesdays 6.00-7.30pm
Miss Elaine McConnaghie

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
Mrs C Michael

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

Scouts (10+ years): Contact Mr P Lawther

Parents and Toddlers Group Wednesdays 10.30am-12pm Mrs Hayley Cunningham

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 A Kerr

Parish Ramblers meet occasionally

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

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL
Full texts
available

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

RCL

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle
Gospel

Looking forward to BCP 2004

The General Synod last May marked the completion of the legislation needed to secure the contents of the new edition of the Book of Common Prayer. The forthcoming Book of Common Prayer will replace the BCP of 1926, the Alternative Prayer Book of 1984 and the Alternative Occasional Services of 1993, and will comprise the main services of the Church of Ireland in both traditional and contemporary language. The traditional services will be almost identical to the services in BCP 1926, save for the substitution of "Holy Spirit" for "Holy Ghost", the "who" form of the Lord’s Prayer and some simplification of the rubrics. The contemporary services see a mild revision of the provision in the Alternative Prayer Book and the Occasional Services Book in the light of the experience and use of the last 30 years. More radical is the provision of the Initiation material and the Ordinal which reflects much international attention on these liturgies since the earlier publications.

Since the meeting of the General Synod in May, I have been seconded on a part-time basis for 18 months to oversee the introduction of the new BCP. My role as Central Liturgical Officer will also be to develop a structure for on-going liturgical formation and education for the Church of Ireland, which will continue after the period of the appointment. As CLO, I began work on 1st August and I see the period of office as having three phases.

Phase 1 is the current period up to the appearance of the book from the publishers, which is believed to be in March, 2004. During that time background training conferences will be held throughout the dioceses for worship leaders to prepare for the book. These will be facilitated at local level by the appointment of Area Liturgical Officers who will work closely with me as CLO. Later on, two provincial training teams will be recruited for more detailed work and as a resource to the ALOs. It is important that we approach the new BCP in an enlightened manner. This should mean that every parish is using the Revised Common Lectionary so that it is easy to use both traditional and contemporary liturgies with a continuity of approach to the Ministry of the Word. The Psalter in the new book is the Common Worship Psalter and some preparation work in familiarisation and possible musical celebration in a variety of styles suitable for accomplished and not so accomplished choirs and congregations needs to be done. It is important to remember that Anglican worship is characterised by a definite structure, which allows great freedom and creativity within that structure. Not always have we grasped that opportunity in the past and our period of preparation for the new BCP should help make us aware of many new possibilities to make our worship more alive and relevant.

The Internet         

.Nixtieklek Milied       

Mince Pies, like Christmas Pudding, were originally filled with meat such as lamb rather than a dried fruit mix as they are today. They were also first made in an oval shape to represent the manger that Jesus slept in as a baby, with the top representing his swaddling clothes. Now they are normally made in a round shape and are eaten hot or cold.

In our church each year we have a nativity play performed by our Sunday schools, and there is a crib at the entrance of the church on the font. But what are their origins?

The first Nativity Play was in a cave by Monks in Italy. St. Francis of Assisi and his followers acted in the first play in 1223 to remind the local population that Jesus was born for them, as he was born into a poor family like theirs and not a rich family.

St. Francis told the part of each character in the story himself using wooden figures in the play. After a couple of years, the play had become so popular that real people played the parts of the characters in the story. Songs were sung by the people taking part and they became what we call carols today!

By following the links on our Christmas pages you will be able to explore more about Christmas and its celebration around the world
Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Alan

Puzzle