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St Mary’s Church Macosquin
The Parish of Camus-
December 2016
Rector’s Reflection The Church of Ireland Census
If you attended any of our Sunday services in November you were asked to take part in the Church of Ireland census. The previous census, three years ago, showed that throughout Ireland, almost 85% of people claiming to be members of the Church of Ireland did not attend any Sunday services in November. The majority of Church-
Some would argue that this has always been the case, however here in the Parish of Camus-
The findings of the 2013 census were a ‘wake up call’ for the Church of Ireland and the Bishops of every Diocese drew up programmes to address the problem of dwindling numbers’ If church attendance continued to decline as old-
In no way should we disregard the gravity of the situation, however there is another way to look at it. At the end of November, we are conscious that Autumn is past and the season of winter has begun. The shortest day of the year is imminent; but less that a fortnight later, 2017 will be upon us and days will lengthen again.
Despite the prophets of doom who bewail falling numbers and fear for the future of many churches, I do believe that God has not abandoned the Church of Ireland, for it is his church not ours. As its custodians our duty is to be involved, care for it, and hand it on to a new generation . December is the Advent season and the message of the Biblical prophets is about new beginnings, being forward-
Those prophets looked forward in faith and in hope to the coming of a Saviour who would transform the world. When he did come, as Emmanuel, ‘God with us,’ he brought in a new era. Is it merely coincidental that the birth of Jesus Christ took place at the time when a census was being carried out throughout the Roman Empire? Is there not also significance that the month of January was named after Janus, a Roman God who had two faces, one which looked back nostalgically to the past and the other which looked forward positively to brighter and better days in the year ahead?
Jesus has not gone away. He is still ‘God with us’ As Christians, and specifically as members of the Church of Ireland, we are called to be people of faith who don’t look back nostalgically or despondently to good days long past, but think ahead, plan for even better days in the future, and who say with confidence;
‘Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Mike Roemmele Looking Back
2016 in our Diocese has been ‘A Year of Opportunity,’ encouraging every parish to undertake new initiatives for three specific, vital aspects of the church’s work. Mission, Ministry to Children and Generosity -
The Year of Opportunity was preceded by a year of prayer and preparation as each Parish Development Team reflected and planned their programme and prayed that God would inspire and bless their initiatives in 2016.
Those prayers have been answered.. Throughout the Diocese, in so many of our activities, parishes have been richly blessed this year.
Highlights of 2016 in our parish
The Year of Opportunity, was launched in a spectacular event, attended by more than 1,000 members from all 52 parishes of our dioceses. At the Technical College in Letterkenny we heard about exciting plans for the year, and also things already accomplished in our Diocese. Among them was the remarkable achievement of our own Confirmation Group, whose members had raised £1,000 to buy the first cow for the Diocese of Butere in Kenya, where the ,ministry of the Anglican church was established 100 years ago by the son and daughter of a former Bishop of Derry and Raphoe As other parishes of our Diocese do likewise, the milk from the cows will make the Kenyan clergy of Butere self-
Since then, other activities have engaged the whole Macosquin church in a variety of enterprises, many of them worshipful. The Lent and Holy Week services involved different groups of church members, among them, the Sunday Club, the Confirmation Group, the Mothers’ Union, the Men’s Society and the choir, all of whom planned and conducted our worship in fresh and meaningful, soul-
For many of us, worshipful highlights of the year were the Parish Retreat at the Iosas Centre. ending at the Cathedral during the Confirmation Weekend, and ‘The All -
For regular church attenders, this was a very unusual form of service , but it met with an enthusiastic response from adults and children alike, and we plan to hold similar services in 2017, hoping that they will attract people who rarely come to church.
The Pilgrim Course-
Eating and chatting together around a table about things which really matter, is one of the best ways to learn. It is the underlying principle of a Pilgrim Course. During November parishioners have been enjoying each others’ company on Wednesday evenings, eating a light meal and discussing the different petitions in the Lord’s Prayer. They learned why Jesus gave that prayer to his disciples as a template for their prayers. We plan to arrange another Pilgrim Course early next Summer.
Harvest Thanksgiving celebration
‘Awesome and inspiring’ are just two of the complimentary words which were used to describe this year’s Church Harvest Decorations and the Harvest Thanksgiving Service.
The decorated windows displays, planned and arranged by a groups of parishioners, represented different blessings, sacred and secular, for which we have cause to be grateful throughout the year. They included not only the harvest of land and sea and the skills involved in many occupations. but also the church’s involvement in family life, its ministry to children, its mission, worship and pastoral ministry.
You will see some of the photographs if you browse the Parish website.
2016 Commemorations
The 2015 Battlefield Tour group, accompanied by members of the congregation, attended a service of Remembrance at Fort Dunree on 29th June. This commemorated more than 250 people, Roman Catholic and Protestant from the Innishowen Peninsula who fought and died together in the trenches in France during the First World War.
In mid-
The pilot bailed out and landed safely, but the aeroplane fell from the sky and lay buried, but intact in the bog near Greencastle, until Jonny McNee excavated it.
It was a fascinating and moving story, which also had a connection with our church and our Presbyterian neighbours . The Spitfire recovered by Jonny McNee was one of twelve donated to the Royal Air Force by American Philanthropist, Garfield Weston. The recent renovation of the church in Englishtown and the replacement of our Church Roof were also partly funded by grants from the Garfield Weston Trust.
Farewell to Fr Charlie Keaney and Dean William Morton
‘The Lord bless their goings out and comings in.’
One of our late summer holiday activities was a Sunday afternoon walk in the Roe Valley Country park, followed by a picnic tea in the Rector’s garden. We were accompanied by Father Keaney of St John’s Roman Catholic Church in Killowen. Father Charlie was a good neighbour and very supportive friend of our parish. He is a native of Coleraine and has now gone to the United States for a year of study. He hopes to return to this diocese next Summer. We presented him with a copy of the Church of Ireland Illustrated History as a farewell gift from our Parish
Dean William Morton left Londonderry in October to take up his new appointment as Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, the Church of Ireland’s National Cathedral.
He will long be remembered for his leadership and many achievements during his19 years at St Columb’s. The historic building and its magnificent organ were completely refurbished. The Cathedral developed its ministry to visitors and is now highly regarded as a centre of culture and worship in the city. It was fitting that during his final service, Dean William dedicated the carved stone cross, which for generations had been fixed to the top of the spire. Now beautifully restored, its new role beside the cathedral is a permanent memorial to more than 1,000 the men from the city of Londonderry, who died one hundred years ago in the Battle of the Somme.
Commemorating the Faithful Departed
Every year at the Feast of All Saints’ and All Souls we hold services to remember and give thanks for the lives of people who were special to us and to pray for the bereaved. Such services unite us with those who have gone before, the living with the departed. In the words of the Book of Common Prayer ‘The Church Militant and the Church Triumphant.’
The significance of such services was highlighted in a poignant way this year on All Souls Day (2nd November), when we were joined at our Wednesday Mid-
The family moved to Macosquin in 1916 when Henry was appointed to the Richardson National School. He also played the organ in the Church. Their third child Vera was born in January 1919.
Sadly Helen died three weeks after Vera's birth. Henry died in September 1922. The children were then separated. Audley went to live with her grandmother in Scotland and Norman was looked after by an Aunt in Donegal. Vera stayed with the Forsythe family, who lived in the house opposite the school, now owned by Gunther and Mildred Budina. She grew up in Macosquin and attended the Richardson Memorial School all her childhood days.
Dear Canon Roemmele,
We were heartened by the warm welcome you and your parishioners gave us yesterday. The service in your beautiful church and the dedication ceremony in the churchyard gave an opportunity to commemorate the lives of our grandparents. After their deaths their young children were brought up separately. Yesterday we felt that their family was at last united and we appreciate that. Thank you very much.
Yours sincerely, Winsome (nee McLain), Robin Kilpatrick, Wendy McLain
Reflection on Ordination Selection for Training -
Canon Mike has asked me to outline the process by which the Church of Ireland encourages, selects and trains its ordinands. What I will describe below is explained in much greater detail on the website of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute; you are welcome to access it at www.theologicalinstitute.ie
When I talk to clergy, they often ask how my studies are going in Dublin. Then, at some point in the conversation, they invariably smile and say, “It’s all changed since I was there!’. It’s true, the means by which the Church of Ireland trains its clergy and lay readers is constantly evolving—the current system of training has only been in place since 2012. But there are certain core elements to our training which have always been in place, and will remain so. It is the aim of the current process to equip ordinands with the pastoral and professional skills to face ministry in the 21st century, while providing a solid background in Biblical studies and systematic theology.
If you are exploring a call to ordained ministry, the earliest, most tentative steps are always taken at a local level. Conversations with your Rector might lead to a meeting with the Diocesan Director of Ordinands. If, after a lot of thinking and praying you wish to test your vocation further, you will meet with the Bishop, who might, or might not recommend that you be considered to enrol on a Foundation Course—a year long correspondence course through a Church of England seminary, St John’s Nottingham, and the University of Durham.
Through this Foundation Course emerges the opportunity to attend weekend residential courses at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin, and to meet others from all parts of Ireland who are exploring a similar calling.
Completing the Foundation Course paves the way for more conversations with your Bishop, and more prayerful discernment. If the Bishop is satisfied that your vocation should be tested by the Church, he/she will sponsor your attendance at a Selection Conference—these are held annually, usually during Lent. This is a 48 hour residential course involving prayer, worship and interviews with various panels of bishops, priests and lay people. Prior to Selection Conference, you will already have attended a separate psychological assessment.
Depending on the outcome of Selection Conference, you might be offered a place to study on a full (three year) or part time (currently six years; although this is being reviewed) basis at the Institute, beginning each September.
At the Institute we study a variety of practical and academic disciplines, including Liturgy, Biblical Studies, Anglicanism, various aspects of Theology and Homiletics (preaching).
The first two years are fully residential; the third year is a ‘Deacon internship’
—Ordinands serve in a parish under a training rector for three weeks each month, and attend the Institute for one week each month.
During this time we are required to complete a Master’s dissertation of around 20,000 words. Ordinands who have completed the academic course and satisfied the various vocational requirements are, God willing, ordained Priest.
On paper the process can appear daunting. True, it is neither easy nor short, but by necessity one which allows time for personal reflection and prayerful discernment of God’s calling at each and every stage. But to be involved in it is a blessing and privilege. I would be delighted to talk to anyone who has any questions or would like to know more about any particular aspect of our training.
Perhaps in a future edition of the Parish Magazine I might outline our weekly and daily routine at the Institute.
In the meantime, I would value your prayers, as would my colleagues at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. A Prayer for Ordinands
Almighty God, you have entrusted to your Church a share in the ministry of your Son our great high priest: inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many to offer themselves for the ministry of your Church, that strengthened by his power, they may work for the increase of your kingdom and set forward the eternal praise of your name; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Mission through Generosity
During 2016 our Parish has contributed to a number of worthy causes and the missionary work of the church. The following are a few examples: Organised by Janet Kennedy we made a substantial donation to the Leprosy Mission. Our annual collection for Christian Aid was held in May. The Millen family arranged the annual Mission to Seafarers’ Coleraine Collection in August. In October we collected over £1030 for the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal, and once again Joy White coordinated the Poppy Appeal collection for the Royal British Legion. As our Missions and Charities Coordinator, Janet Kennedy also commended a selection of other Missionary Societies and charitable causes to the Select Vestry for our support
Select Vestry Business in 2016 -
Having restored the church clock faces, redecorated the church, and replaced the chairs in the Minor Hall with more comfortable seating, the Select Vestry’s next objective is to renew the church lighting in the very near future with an efficient and more economical system.. With the continuing help of our volunteers the church, parish halls and graveyard have been immaculately maintained throughout the year and most recently, Tommy Daly has replaced cracked and broken panes in the Church Porch window.
Church Finances
Few parishioners know that the cost of maintaining the church’s ministry in our parish amounts to almost £1500 per week, and that most of that money comes from generous members of the congregation in their weekly or annual giving.
This year, Kenny Mc Afee (our Parish Treasurer) has reported to the Select Vestry at every meeting that our weekly income from most of our parishioners has remained constant and continues to meet our needs. Nonetheless, we are also aware that a few church members give very little and very rarely attend services. Some have not contributed to the upkeep or work of the church in the past two years. In effect, this means that their membership has been subsidised by others, and because of this we will not issue their Freewill Offering envelopes for 2017, unless they apply for them. It should also be noted that when they reach age 18, children are no longer regarded as ‘subscribing members,’ unless they make their own contributions to the church .
End of Financial Year
All Churches and Charitable organisations are legally required to close their annual accounts on 31st December. This means that any income and expenditure transactions for the year must be completed by that date. The last Sunday we can receive any 2016 Church Freewill Offering envelopes or contributions by cheque is 25th December if they are to be recorded in the audited Financial Report for this year. Remember that our Bank only accepts cheques which are made payable to ‘Camus-
Church wardens Responsibilities
Church wardens are responsible for the annual verification and update of the Church’s Inventory. The following items and their inscriptions have been registered by the RCB in Dublin. and have been accounted for by the churchwardens:
Alms Dish Brass 1965 ‘Presented in memory of Henry and Susan Mc Math by their children Ellis, Nancy and Susannah.
4 Brass collecting plates
Chalice silver Parish Church of Macosquin 1838
Chalice silver (2) ‘Presented in loving memory of June Caroline Dunn by her daughter Jane Anderson Dunn 1967'
Chalice silver plate x 2 ‘Presented to St Mary’s Church Camus-
Paten Silver 1962 Made in London.
Paten silver. ‘Parish church of Macosquin 1838'
Paten silver ‘Parish Church of Macosquin 1938Baptismal shell silver plate To the glory of God and in memory of W. Bro Ellis McMath WOM Macosquin District LOL No 6. 8th July 1979'
Chalice ‘Camus Parish Church Easter 1907 DK McLernon’
Flagon silverplate ‘1794 Parish Church of Macosquin 1838'
Flagon silver ‘1996 Marshall family’ Cruet set silver plate ‘1966 Marshall family’
Bread box silver ‘Parish of Camus-
Died 7th August 1962 aged 11years’
Baptismal shell silver. ‘Marshall family 1996'
Looking ahead
The Diocesan Year of Opportunity 2016 will finish at the end of December.
In 2017 the Diocese will prepare for a new initiative in which the focus in every parish will be ‘Christian Stewardship’ and how we could use God’s gifts more effectively for his glory. This is much more than a mere ‘money-
Rather it is about planning exciting new initiatives and future development within the parishes of our Diocese. In recent years, here in Macosquin we have shown time and again, that where people share a vision, and work together to achieve it, they are blessed with the resources to do so. ‘Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God’
Safeguarding Trust
Looking after the well-
Ordinand’s Placement in Macosquin
Part of the training for ordinands is spent in different parish churches where they take part in the worship and see the different styles of leadership and administrative organisation. In a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service, a visiting preacher said to us some years ago, ‘We can only learn from people who know something that we do no know.’
During his placement with us Ian Mills has preached at services, and assisted at Home Communions with the house-
CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES AND CHURCH SERVICES
The Mothers’ Union
After several well attended meetings with some fascinating speakers, the 2016 programme will finish with a Christmas Party evening in the Old Rectory Long Room on Tuesday 20th December. We thank Joy and Stanley White for providing the venue.
Mothers Union Diocesan Christmas Tree Festival
St Columb’s Cathedral 14th -
The Senior Citizens’ Christmas lunch
Wednesday 14th December at 12.30pm, ending with Christmas music by Macosquin Primary School Choir. The maximum number we can seat is 60. Tickets (price £6.00) are only available from the Parish Office. After a Christmas Holiday break for the cooks and helpers, the weekly lunches will resume on Wednesday 11th January 2017
Illumination of Village Christmas Tree Wednesday 14th December at 6.00pm, followed by refreshments in the Minor Hall and Carol singing around the village for the Northern Ireland Hospice, ending with a Hot Supper at Mary Pat’s.
Sunday Club Nativity Service Sunday 18th December at 10.30am
The Festival Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday 18th December at 7.00pm followed by seasonal refreshments
Sunday Club Christmas Party
Wednesday 21st December 4.00 -
The Christingle Service Wednesday 21st December at 6.30pm
This is a very popular informal service of Christmas readings and carols attended by children, mums and dads, godparents and grandparents. We send a personal invitation to the families of all children, baptised in the past 10 years
The First Communion of Christmas A candlelight service with carols and a short address beginning at 11.00pm on Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
9.00am Holy Communion 10.30am Family Worship with Communion
Post Christmas Break The Rector will be away from the parish after services on Christmas Day for the following 10 days. In his absence pastoral care will be arranged by Lorna Doherty with support from local retired clergy if required.
Canon John McCammon will celebrate communion at the midweek service on Wednesday 28th December at 10.00am and at 9.00am and 10.30am on 1st January.
Church Rotas
Keeping the wheels of Parish Life turning involves a considerable number of people, most of whom play several roles in the church throughout the year. New rotas have now been prepared for 2017 and are displayed on Church noticeboards.
The people involved should check the following Rota Lists, note the dates, and inform Lorna Doherty or Janet Kennedy as soon as possible if any do not suit them, so that changes can be made: Sanctuary Flowers, Church Cleaning, Lesson Readers, Sidespersons, Refreshments after church.
Looking further into the future 2017
The Rector is already planning the special services which will be held between New Year and Easter.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017
Crossing Barriers
He has invited a former army chaplain colleague to come and preach on Sunday 22nd January during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Fr Danny Hernandez is a Gibraltarian, and is currently based in Lisburn, but is no stranger to this area, having served in Ballykelly.
During Lent
Lent has been called the Springtime of the soul. It is a season of the church year when we delve deeply into our faith in Jesus Christ and how the word of God in the Bible influences the way we live as the Holy Spirit works within us.
At our Wednesday evening Lenten services in March and April we will have a series of addresses by visiting speakers all of whom have a special interest. The Theme will be Faith in the Bible as it relates to each speaker’s own profession.
These include , Science, Medicine, the Law, Politics, Journalism and Education.
At our Holy Week services in the week before Easter, we will have visiting clergy, some of them recently ordained. They will speak about Courage, Discipline, Loyalty, Integrity, Respect for others, and Selfless Commitment.
These are not only the Core Values and Standards of the British Army, but are particularly notable in the story of our Lord’s Passion and the Way of the Cross.
The Annual General Vestry Meeting 2017
The routine management of a Church of Ireland parish is entrusted to it Rector, Churchwardens and Select Vestry in the appointments made at the annual General Vestry Meeting by the registered General Vestry Members. If you are aged 18yrs, or over, and not already a Registered General Vestry Member, and wish to take part in the Annual General Vestry Meeting, you must complete a Registration form before the Select Vestry revises the list at its February meeting.
Every parish is a member of the family of churches which make up a Diocese, and the administration of each Diocese is the responsibility of its clergy and the lay Synod members who are appointed for three year terms at the parish Triennial Annual General Vestry Meeting.
2017 is a Triennial year, and at the annual General Vestry Meeting on 6th April, in addition to the annual appointment of Church wardens, Glebewardens and the election of other Select Vestry members , the following positions have to be filled by people who will be in post for three years:
Two Diocesan Synod Representatives (and two Supplementals)
Four Parochial Nominators (and four Supplemental Parochial Nominators).
For all of these positions you will need to give very careful consideration to the people you nominate, or elect.
The Synod Representatives you nominate, or vote for must be:
Individuals who you know to have a genuine interest in the well-
Parochial Nominators
Four of the people you appoint as Parochial Nominators, or Supplemental Nominators will work with the Diocesan Nominators and the Bishop in the selection of a new Rector if a vacancy occurs during their years in office.
It is essential that they are people of integrity whose judgement you respect
They must be able to work as a team, fully understand their own responsibilities and the work of a Rector. They need a detailed knowledge of the parish and the kind of ministry it will requirde form the incumbent they ask the Bishop to appoint.
They must have the ability to research strengths, weaknesses and qualities of candidates. They also need good interviewing skills.
Not least must they be able to work confidentially, never discussing any aspect of their work with another person, even after the appointment has been made.
You will entrust the people you nominate, or vote for as your Parochial Nominators, with the responsibility of choosing your next Rector because you know them to be:
1 Committed, subscribing members of the Church of Ireland in this parish
2 Regular communicants, attending one or more of our weekly services
3 Knowledgeable about the forms of worship which are appreciated by our worshippers and liturgies that will help the congregations continue to grow.
4 Supportive of the church and the Rector in recent years, as elected members of the Select Vestry, or have a proven recent record of loyalty and commitment to the church in other ways
5 Well versed in the responsibilities and the leadership role of a Rector
6 Fully informed about all aspects of parish life, and areas of ministry that they hope will be maintained or developed, and able to promote (sell) the parish to any applicants for the post of Rector.
7 Willing to serve on the Select Vestry if elected, and thereby give their utmost support to a new Rector, at least in the initial years, following an appointment.
Monthly Bookings of Organisations which meet in the Parish Halls
The Macosquin Women’s Institute (Minor Hall)
2nd Wednesday 7.30 -
The Macosquin Senior Citizens’ Club (Upper Hall)
4th Wednesday October -
‘Memory Lane Band’ Rehearsals (Upper Hall)
Other Wednesdays 7.30-
The Mums and Toddlers Group (Upper Hall)
Tuesdays 10.30 -
The Cantemus Choir (Upper Hall)
Thursdays Oct -
The Mothers’ Union (Minor Hall)
3rd Tuesday September -
Foyle Maritime Society (Minor Hall)
3rd Friday October -
Knitting and Crochet (Minor Hall)
Mondays Oct -
We are always looking for groups wishing to use our Halls. They must have their own public liability insurance, be willing to pay the £10 per hour fee to cover the cost of heating and leave the hall clean and tidy for the next users.
Mildred Budina manages our bookings.
From the Parish Registers
Holy Baptism
30th October Jake Curry
Christian Burial
11th September Thomas Rankin Campbell (Interred in Ballywillan cemetery)
28th September Rita Balmer (Brethren)
23rd October Sally Clarke (Killowen)
CHILDREN’S PAGE
The Birth of Jesus word search
Joseph, Mary, Bethlehem, baby, born, wrapped, clothes, manger,
room, inn, shepherds, watch, flocks, , angel, appeared, afraid, sign ,
glory, peace, earth
Bible Memory Verse
"This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12
Silence is golden
One of the most beautiful things about many churches is the peace you often find during a service. However there are other churches where few people know how to be still in the presence of the Lord and some folk even chat to each other during services.
This is a good motto to keep in mind when you come to church:
‘Before the Service, speak to God .
During the service, listen to God as he speaks to you
After the service, speak and listen to each other!’
Some Advent and Christmas Reflections
Old fashioned, Spiritual Christmas?
"What has happened to the old fashioned, spiritual Christmas? The cause is our disregard of Advent. The church set aside this four week pre Christmas season as a time of spiritual preparation for Christ’s coming. It is a time of quiet anticipation.
If Christ is going to come again into our hearts, there must be repentance. Without repentance, our hearts will be so full of worldly things that there will be ‘no room in the inn’ for Christ to be born again.…We have the joy not of celebration. Which is the joy of Christmas, but the joy of anticipation."
Memory Awakens Hope
"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope.
The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…
It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope."
The Coming of the LightChristmas celebrates the dawn of the Light of the World. The powers of darkness are overcome by his coming to share our life. The long reign of sin is ended and grace has been poured out upon the earth. The Sun of Justice has arisen, and evil is vanquished."
Perhaps the hardest thing to remember about Christmas is this. "It celebrates the incarnation, not just the nativity. The incarnation is an on going process of salvation, while the nativity is the once for all historical event of Bethlehem.
We do not really celebrate Christ’s ‘birthday,’ remembering something that happened long ago. We celebrate the stupendous fact of the incarnation, God entering our world so thoroughly that nothing has been the same since. And God continues to take flesh in our midst, in the men and women and children who form his body today. And the birth we celebrate is not just the past historical event but Christ’s continuing birth in his members, accomplished by the power of the Spirit through the waters of baptism.
"…What we celebrate is our redemption in Christ and the transformation of all creation by the presence of the divine in our midst."
The Church of Ireland Gazette is our own weekly Church Newspaper which can be delivered to every parish church by annual for little more than 40pence per issue, or for £35 per annum you can download the e-
Every issue tells of activities happening in Dioceses and parishes throughout Ireland and in other parts of the Anglican Communion. If you would like to see copies of recent issues or become a subscriber, please speak with the Rector
Church News Ireland
This Church Website is updated every day by Dean Houston Mc Kelvey using material gathered from a host of sources. It is packed with information and comment not only about the Church of Ireland but other Christian denominations in Ireland.
The Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Website
Our Diocesan Press Officer, Paul McFadden is a well known Journalist and frequent broadcaster on radio and television. He also manages and updates our Diocesan website every week. If you visit it regularly, you will read Reports of the Diocesan Synod, the Bishop’s plans for the future and what is happening in the different parishes of our Diocese. Contrary to the perception of the ‘Gloom and Doom’ merchants who want you to beleive that the church is on its last legs, you will see from the Website that the Church of Ireland is very much alive in this Diocese.
Parish Website
Alfie Hunter updates our own website regularly but to do so, he needs photographs and material from the different groups that are involved in the life of our church. Every organisation, the Sunday Club, Mothers’ Union, the Men’s Society, the Select Vestry, the Church Choir should have a member who is responsible for emailing him information and pictures about their most recent activities.
Facebook
Don’t know what is happening in the Parish or the people involved? Nowadays people no longer rely on local newspapers or ‘Word of mouth’ to spread news, they are inconstant communication with their friends, sharing information on Facebook.
If you want to spread the word about anything happening in the church, or the people involved, tell Jill Oliver, so that she can put it on Camus-
WHO’S WHO IN THE PARISH (The Office Bearers of the church)
Rector Rev Canon Mike Roemmele Parish Reader Lorna Doherty
Parish Secretary Lilian Davis
Parish Treasurer Kenneth McAfee Stewardship Recorder Harry Caskey
Church Wardens Kenny Campbell, Pearl Mullen
Glebe Wardens Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Oliver (Co-
Parish Administration Lorna Doherty, Janet Kennedy
Other Members of Select Vestry: Shirley Baird, Collete Cuckoo, Russell Doherty, Greg Duddy, Maureen Jamieson
Parochial Nominators
Lorna Doherty, Gordon Kennedy, Russell Kennedy, Tommy Oliver,
Supplemental Nominators
Garry Anderson, Kenny Campbell, Alfie Hunter, Janet Kennedy
Diocesan Synod Representatives
Stuart Bredin, Janet Kennedy
Supplemental Synod Representatives
Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Oliver
Safeguarding Trust Parish Panel
The Rector, Clara Heaton, Shirley Baird, Kenny Campbell
Sunday Club Leaders Alfie Hutchinson, Lynne Ballentine, Isobel McAfee
Mothers’ Union Branch Leader Bertha Madden Secretary Janet Kennedy
Men’s Society Rector and Kenny Campbeell Mums and Toddlers Mary Campbell
Church Organist Erin Teacy
Parish Website: www.camus-
Face Book Page: Camus Connections -