P ARISH I NFORMATION N EWS

S HEET
Parish of Newcastle and
Newtownmountkennedy
with Calary
CHRISTMAS
December 2009/January 2010

Please send any items for inclusion in February PINS to:

Rev. William Bennett mobile: 087 9480317 email: revwilliambennett@eircom.net
Clodagh Jennings mobile: 086 8558886 email: info@newcastleparish.org
Items need to be received by Wednesday 27 January for publication on Sunday 31st
th

For further information visit: www.newcastleparish.org,

www.newtownmountkennedyparish.org or www.calaryparish.org
If you would like a lift to anything happening in the parish, please don’t hesitate to contact
us at the numbers above.
Please note that the time of services and events can vary, particularly at festival
times! If you loose your copy of PINS remember that service times and events can be
checked on the parish website on the ‘Calendar of Events’.

DATE CHURCH TIME SERVICE READING

Sunday 6th: Malachi 3:
S.S. & Crèche Calary 9.30am Morning Prayer 1-4
St. Matthew’s 10.45am Morning Prayer Philippians 1:
S.S. & Crèche Newcastle 12 noon Morning Prayer 3 - 11

Sunday 13th: Zephaniah 3:

S.S. & Crèche Calary 9.30am Holy Communion 14 - 20
S.S. & Crèche Newcastle 12 noon Holy Communion Philippians 4:
St. Matthew’s 7.00pm Carol Service 4-7

Saturday 19th: Calary 8.00pm Carol Service

Sunday 20th: Micah 5: 2 - 5

St. Matthew’s 10.45am Morning Prayer Hebs.10:5-10
Newcastle 12 noon Nativity Play and Holy Baptism
Hospital 3.00pm Carols at Newcastle Hospital

Monday 21st: Newcastle 7.30pm Carol Singing in aid of

Village St. Catherine’s Special Services

Thursday 24th: Newcastle 11.30pm Holy Communion Isaiah52:7-10

Christmas Eve Hebs.1:1-4

CHRISTMAS Calary 9.30am Holy Communion Isaiah9:2-7

DAY St. Matthew’s 10.45am Holy Communion Titus2:11-14
th
(Friday 25 ) Newcastle 12 noon Family Christmas Praise

Sunday 27th:
Calary 9.30 am Morning Prayer
Newcastle 12 noon United Service Morning Prayer
Holy Communion is celebrated every Wednesday, with prayer for the
sick, at 10.30 am in St Matthew’s followed by a cup of tea and chat
in the McLean Room. All welcome!

Services in January

DATE CHURCH TIME SERVICE READING

rd
Sunday 3 : 2 Samuel 2
S.S. & Crèche Calary 9.30am Morning Prayer 18 - 20, 26
St. Matthew’s 10.45am Morning Prayer Luke 2:
Newcastle 12noon Holy Communion 41 - 52

Sunday 10th:
S.S. & Crèche Calary 9.30am Morning Prayer Isaiah 60:
St. Matthew’s 10.45am Holy Communion 1-6
S.S. & Crèche Newcastle 12noon Morning Prayer Ephesians 3:
Newcastle 5.00pm Youth Service 1 - 12

Sunday 17th: Acts 8: 14 - 17

Calary 9.30am Family Service Luke 3:
St. Matthew’s 10.45am Morning Prayer 15-17,21-22
Crèche Newcastle 12noon Family Service with Holy Baptism

Sunday 24th; Isaiah 62:

S.S. & Crèche Calary 9.30am Holy Communion 1-5
St. Matthew’s 10.45am Family Service 1Corinthians12:
S.S. & Crèche Newcastle 12noon Morning Prayer 1 - 11

Sunday 31st: 1Corinthians1:

S.S. & Crèche Calary 9.30am Morning Prayer 10 - 18
St. Matthew’s 10.45am Morning Prayer Matthew 4:
S.S. & Crèche Newcastle 12noon Morning Prayer 12 - 23
 MAY GOD GRANT YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL
CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR!

From the Rector

Many things amaze me about life and people. We can take much for granted, that not only
applies to the wonder and beauty of nature surrounding us all the time, but applies to the
great number of people who cross our paths and impact our lives at various levels. In
parish life we all enjoy the services of many people in various ways and perhaps seldom
ask who provides those services.
Week by week we have clean churches, each beautifully enhanced by colourful floral
arrangements and there is always a warm welcome by the Church Wardens. We have
always had the services of committed organists, pianists or other instrumentalists such as
guitarists or a cornetist to lead us in our worship. Individuals organise readers for each
service and in Newcastle someone ensures there is a parishioner to lead the prayers
(whenever the Rector remembers to ask them!) and large groups of people give their time
to serve on the Select Vestries, social committee, building committee, parish choir and
Sunday School. Coffee/tea is provided each Sunday and Wednesday after the St.
Matthew’s service and once a month we enjoy refreshments after the Calary service.
Coffee/tea and goodies are enjoyed each Tuesday morning and each month a delicious
lunch is served to all who come to the Cottage on the third Thursday. Many of the young
mums enjoy the P&T group on a Monday morning and good times of learning and
discussion are had at ‘Time Out’ on Monday evenings. We are well served by our Lay
Readers who are not just ‘fillers in’ when we are desperate for help but have a very
important part in the life and ministry carried out in our parish not only for the
parishioners but are colleagues which support and encourage me in the work and ministry
we endeavour to do.
In supporting your parish the easy thing, and perhaps not so easy, is to feel that giving is to
do solely with monitory contributions, but, I believe the most important thing we can give
is ourselves and that is our time. You may not have noticed that I have not mentioned any
names so far. This list is not exhaustive and there are more duties carried out in the parish
day by day and week by week by faithful people who give their time. Sincere thanks to
you all and may we look forward to serving God together with whatever gift he has given
you.
If Christmas is about anything it is about God giving himself, the greatest gift ever. Jesus
did not come with great gifts of property or money but he gave all he had and that was
himself. May we enjoy His peace this Christmas by giving what we can, ourselves, to him
and may we know his blessing throughout 2010.
A Happy Christmas to you all and may we have a healthy and happy 2010 as we enjoy
God’s blessings and serve him and each other.
William
 Calary parish are holding a New Year dinner for parishioners in the Church Room. The
date has yet to be confirmed but it will probably take place in early February. More details
in February PINS!
Carol Services
Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy Carol Service will be on
Sunday 13th at 7.00pm in St. Matthew’s.
The Carol Service on Saturday 19th at 8pm in Calary Church will
be a celebration of Christmas with the Capella Choir of 30 voices
with congregational participation.
Tea and mince pies will be served in the Church Room. Contributions of mince pies would
be appreciated!
Newcastle Hospital Carol Service will be on Sunday 20th at 3.00pm.
Community Carol Singing
All members of the community are invited to wrap up warmly and gather together in the
middle of Newcastle village at 7.30pm on Monday 21st to sing in aid of St. Catherine’s
Services. (Please note not to meet at Newcastle Church as stated in November PINS)

Decoration of Churches for Christmas;

Newcastle Church will be decorated on Friday 18th from 10.00 am or if that
time does not suit you some people will be decorating that evening. There is
a desperate need for new help in Newcastle as some regulars are no longer
available. Those that remain would really, really appreciate some more help
and contributions of decorations.
Calary Church will be decorated on Saturday 19th from 10.00 am approximately and this
year the children are invited to come along and help decorate the tree.
St Matthew's will be decorated from 10 a.m. on Monday 21st December. Any help
and/or decorative material gratefully received.

Sunday School
This year we decided to use our weekly collections to purchase animals and sponsor a
child through the Fields of Life Charity. We are pleased to advise that we were able to
send 10 hens, 2 pigs and 2 turkeys to deserving families in Uganda. We also hope that
Harriet, the girl we are sponsoring, will benefit from the letters and photos we will be
sending.
Sunday School Christmas Party - Saturday 12th from 2pm to 4pm. All
welcome for crafts and games.
Rehearsals are now under way for the Nativity Play on the 20th
December. Can all children participating in the play make every effort to
attend Sunday School for these rehearsals.
Sunday School will recommence on the 10th January after the Christmas break.

Youth Service
While everyone who wishes to come is welcome to the Youth Service on Sunday 10th
January, it is intended for those young people who play sports on Sunday mornings and
are unable to come to the morning service. Supper will be served in the cottage after the
service.
The Stedfast Band
The St. Francis’ N.S. Parents’ Association is delighted to host a Christmas Concert by
this great 20 piece brass band. The concert will be in Newcastle Church on Sunday 6th
December from 4pm. Tickets are €10 each or €25 for a family and are available from any
member of the P.A. Bring your friends - it will be terrific!
FAMILY NOTICES

Baptism; On Sunday 15th November in Newcastle Parish Church, James Alan Greene,
son of Paul and Julie, 11 Racefield, Newcastle.
Congratulations to Paul and Julie. We welcome James Alan to our congregation and hope
he will bring lots of joy to his home and honour the promises made for him at baptism.

Burial; 19th November, Stewart Fleming, Garden Village, Kilpeddar.

Stewart passed away peacefully on Sunday 15th at Clevis House,
Leopardstown where he had been very well cared for in recent months.
We express our sympathy to his wife Maureen, their son Ian and also to Heath,
John and Paula.

Tuesday Club
We had Dara from HOMELINK to speak to us about their services at our November
meeting. This service has only been established during the past year but already the
membership is growing fast which is hardly to be wondered at as it seems to be a most
practical and sympathetic service for senior or housebound people especially.
Membership is FREE and practical help is available in the way of community, electrical,
home repair and gardening services. If desired, Homelink staff will undertake to call
members on a regular basis to check that all is well or even just for a friendly chat.
We have some leaflets with the telephone numbers available and will leave some at the
back of all three churches and in the Rectory Cottage if anyone should be interested or
know someone who might appreciate having the information to hand.
Our Christmas Party will be held on 8th December, commencing at 2.30pm in the
McLean Room at St. Matthew’s Church. As usual, please bring a present for ‘Santa’s
Sack’, value not to exceed €5.
We hope to see all our ‘regulars’ and maybe even some new friends.

Parent and Toddler Group

The P&T group continue to meet every Monday in the Rectory Cottage from 10.30
until 12.30. On Monday 21st Father Christmas has very kindly promised to call in
and visit us but he is very busy at this time of year so if you want to see him be
sure to be there by 11!
After that the next meeting will be on Monday 11th January after the school has
re-opened. As usual anyone with a baby or preschool child is welcome to join us
for tea, chat and play.

Coffee in the Cottage

Coffee mornings in the Rectory Cottage will continue every Tuesday until Tuesday 15th.
There will be none during Christmas week but everyone is very welcome on Tuesday 29th
and every Tuesday after that from 10.30 to 12.30. All ages welcome!
Leisurely Lunches
The next lunch in the Rectory Cottage on Thursday 17th will be our Christmas lunch. We
would love to see as many of you as is possible to fit in the cottage - if possible just let
Karen or Clodagh know if you intend to be there. (€5 per head)
The first lunch of 2010 will be on Thursday 21st January! All welcome.
REMINDERS

Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy Select Vestry meeting on Wednesday 13th

January at 8pm in the McLean Room.

A rota for cleaning Newcastle Church in 2010 will be put up in the porch if any
volunteers would like to put their name down. Thank you to all those who have kept the
church clean during the past year. It is much appreciated.

St. Francis’ National School

The school Carol Service will be held in Newcastle church on Tuesday 22nd December at
11.00 am. Family and friends are welcome to attend. School will close for the Christmas
holidays after the service.

(Presuming that assembly will be held in church on Friday 29th January, tea and coffee will
be available in the Rectory Cottage from 8.30 am for anyone waiting to attend the service).

Fields of Life
Fields of Life are now starting to drill water wells with their own drilling rig thus
reducing the cost of each well. Where they have drilled wells Fields of Life have noticed
that the children miss less school because they are now so much healthier. Enclosed with
your pins is a Gift of Life leaflet and we hope you will do some Christmas shopping with
us. Last year we were able to help over 500 families with various gifts as seen in the
leaflet. This has proved life transforming to those who received the gifts. Many thanks for
all your support throughout the year. June Roe (Calary)
Fields of Life
Thanks to everyone who contributes to the Fields of Life Sponsorship in
Newtownmountkennedy. We received letters from all the children sponsored and some of
them are now in College and hope to qualify in their chosen careers, in the next couple of
years. If any other person would like to commit themselves to sponsorship, no matter how
much or how little, we would be delighted to hear from them. It costs €18 per month to
sponsor a child for his or her education, uniform, etc. but any amount, great or small, is
very helpful, as any amount soon adds up. Tony Noonan (St. Matthew’s)

Readers
Thank you to all our readers in Newtownmountkennedy. If there are any
other people willing to read on Sundays or Wednesdays please let us
know. Their welcome is assured! J.N.
Christmas Charity Envelopes:
 An envelope is enclosed for your donation to a charity of your choice. We know
things are very tight for some this Christmas with the economic situation but
this means things are even tighter for those whom we support through the
envelopes. Please remember those not so fortunate at home and abroad this
Christmas. It would be appreciated if the envelopes would be returned by
th
Sunday 13 so that the money can be distributed to the various charities before Christmas.
Sustentation - Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy
Many thanks to all who have already given to the sustentation fund, particularly those who
have maintained or even increased the level of their contributions in spite of the hard
economic times. Year to date the fund is running over 30% behind last year - a stark
reflection of the difficulties many of you are facing. With this level of reduction it would
be appreciated if the Sustentation envelopes which went out with PINS last month could
be returned as soon as possible. Any further contributions however small will be most
gratefully received. M.P.

PINS 2010
To avoid the waste of printing unwanted copies of PINS, if it does not suit
you to collect your copy from church would you please choose one of the
following:
¾ To have it posted to you; please forward €5.00 (to cover postage) to;
Clodagh Jennings, 66 Seacourt, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow
¾ Nominate someone, who attends church regularly, who would be
willing to collect it on your behalf.
¾ If you no longer wish to receive PINS just drop me a short note to
cancel it.
¾ PINS is now available to view online every month at www.newcastleparish.org

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

North Wicklow Country Market is held in Newcastle Community Centre every

Saturday from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. There you will find cakes, biscuits, delicatessen
fare, vegetables, eggs, plants, flowers, jewellery and pictures, all produced locally.
At this time of year, there are lots of lovely Christmas goodies available.

Greystones Active Retirement Association

Membership Fees will be taken on Fridays only 10.30 - 11.30am for month of November
Line Dancing Class Thursdays 11a.m to 12p.m at Scout Hall, Trafalgar Road.
Christmas Lunch 16th Dec. Cost 25 Euro. Booking Tuesdays only 10.30 to 11.30 a.m.
ALL ABOVE BOOKINGS AT TIMES AND DAYS STATED AT KILLIAN HOUSE
ONLY