Dear Beloved Community,
On Sunday, we began Advent. Advent is the season of reflective preparation for the coming of the saviour. While Advent is certainly a time of celebration and anticipation of Christ’s birth, it is more than that. It is only in the shadow of Advent that the miracle of Christmas can be fully understood and appreciated.
Advent offers a space to acknowledge some of life’s struggles, which cannot and should not be cast to the side during the tinsel. It’s a gentle reminder that life is not perfect or easy, but it most fully lived in anticipation and hope. I leave you with these words from Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come.”
Blessings
Rob
Service for Advent Sunday 3rd December
8:30am: Holy Communion.
9:45: Sunday Morning @ the Gathering Grounds: Advent Celebration
11:00am: Advent Sunday Morning Prayer
Two things of note this Sunday. Firstly, at our 9:45 and 11am services, we have a guest speaker. Canon Maurice Elliot, the Director of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute will be out preacher. We have been blessed with lots of students from the Institute in recent years, and I hope to keep that relationship strong. Maurice is a great communicator, so please make every effort to come along this Sunday.
Secondly, we will be launching out Advent Bible Buddies adoption at the 9:45 service (see below).
Sunday Sermons Available online
We are now starting to upload an audio of the Sunday sermons onto the website. So, it you missed it on Sunday, or if you want to listen again or share with a neighbour, you can access them here – https://kilternanparish.ie/talks/ The Sunday sermon will be uploaded the following Tuesday.
The best way to keep in touch with what is happening is on the website. Details here:
Click to view our Upcoming Services
Click to view the full Parish Calendar
Click to view all Upcoming Events
Notes for this Week
Kilternan Parish Posada! Mary and Joseph’s Advent Journey
We are very excited to see what adventures Mary and Joseph will go on as they journey around Kilternan this Advent. Our Mary and Joseph little knitted figures (thanks to Evelyn Richardson)! will travel around the parish during Advent. Can you host Mary and Joseph in your home where they might take some time to rest with you, while others might take them to work, to school, to a Christmas party, to a hockey match, to choir practice, to Alpha, to Play Café Gets OWT! You can even take some photos if you like. They can visit any type of family/household in our parish family – large or small families, older couples or those living alone. The idea is that you will host Mary and Joseph in your home overnight, before delivering it to the next host household or meeting them in the Gathering Grounds. We look forward to Mary and Joseph’s journey around Kilternan before arriving back to Church in time for Christmas. If you would like to sign up for Posada, you can do so by adding your name and details to the POSADA ROTA in the Gathering Grounds from Wednesday or in church on Sunday.
Bible Buddies Advent Adoption & The Kitchen Table Project
We are delighted to have our third Bible Buddies Adoption Sunday, at the 9.45am service, with an exciting ‘Christmas Bible Buddy Reading Pack’. Advent Sunday is the perfect opportunity for those children who have yet to adopt one of our Bible Buddies to do so. The children, along with a grown-up, can choose and adopt their buddies and receive their pack after the service. All those children who have already adopted one are encouraged to bring theirs with them to church this week.
A gentle reminder that our Bible Buddies aren’t just for Christmas! With this in mind the Bible Buddies will enjoy joining any family who has signed up for The Kitchen Table Project’ which will be launched in January. In the meantime, each family who has signed up and those who might be interested in doing so, will be able to prepare ahead. We have put together a take home sheet, as you think about what you like to do together as a family, and what you might already be doing to nurture faith at home. Nurturing faith looks and works differently from family to family.
Tuesday Midweek Service at 11:30
Our midweek service meets on Tuesdays. As the weather gets a bit cooler, we will be returning to the Meeting Room rather than in the church. Looking forward to seeing you.
Christmas Cards
It may seem early, but these things need planning! Christmas Cards will be on sale in the Gathering Grounds and in the Parish office this week. They are €2 for a single card or €10 for 6. If you have not seen them already, I’d encourage you to have a look. They are stunning images of three of the church-stained glass windows.
Play Café Gets OWT (Outside with Toddlers)
We are fully booked up for this Wednesday’s session. As it looks like it will be quite cold, we’ll plan to be inside. We will be having a Play Café Medley with invitations to play, and opportunities for creativity with some of the themes we’ve enjoyed so far, construction, dinosaurs, and transport etc. Come dressed for the mess – we will have the paint, gloop, water and usual sensory bases and our homemade playdough out. If you would like to join the cancellation list, contact Lynn 0876957061
Bumps & Babes
It’s a joy to see this group growing and each Wednesday there’s a great buzz coming from couches in the Gathering Grounds which are reserved for the Bumps & babes’ group. If you are a new parent or parent to be, come join us to relax and enjoy a cuppa in company on Wednesday mornings from 10am-11:30am. An informal, friendly meet-up where you can chat and meet others in the community. So, if you’re expecting or have a baby from newborn to pre-walking, come alone or bring a friend. A warm welcome awaits you, no need to book. For more information contact Julie gatheringgrounds@kilternanparish.ie. or Lynn 087 695 7061
Santa Visits Kilternan Parish
Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa Claus is coming to town! We are delighted to announce that he is interrupting his busy schedule to return to Kilternan Parish and join us at our Christmas Market on Saturday 9th & 16th December. The Kilternan Parish elves are excited to welcome you and looking forward to seeing all the families who come to visit Santa in his grotto. As Santa is on a tight schedule and, to avoid disappointment and wait time, please prebook your family space (one ticket per family) at a time that suits you between 12:00 and 14:00 on wither dates.
The event is free, but we hope you might choose to donate on the day to for our chosen charities of St. Vincent de Paul and Bernardo’s Children’s Charity, Ireland. Suggested donation €5 per child.
Please note there will only be a very limited number of on-the-day spaces available from later in the day.
You can book your family space here:https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/santa-kilternan-parish-christmas-market-saturday-9th-16th-december-tickets-761898628307