The Hub will re-open on Monday 15 June. There will be a Perspex shield around the counter, sanitiser at the entrance, personal protective equipment for volunteers and limits on those who may be in the shop at any one time to ensure safe operation.
Finances
The Parish is facing a significant drop in income levels this year due to the likely cancellation of its main fundraising event and the lack of monies from church collections. Scott Golden, Treasurer, has written to parishioners to outline the current financial position.
One method of assisting parish finances would be to join in the Planned Giving arrangements which are set out below.
Planned Giving
Please consider renewing or beginning your financial commitment to Killiskey Parish by way of Planned Giving. By doing this you can maximise the amount of money received by the Parish and greatly assist the Parish to meet its financial commitments. Planned Giving is making a pledge to donate an amount of money regularly over the course of the year whether weekly, monthly, quarterly or by a single donation. Under the tax regulations, the Parish, as a registered charity, can obtain a tax refund from the government for recorded donations from tax payers (PAYE and Self-Assessment) who contribute a minimum of €250 in the tax year. This is the equivalent of €4.81 per week. The parish can claim a further approx. 45% of the amount donated from the government. Cash donations on the plate, while very gratefully received, are not eligible for a tax refund. If you are contributing more than €250 over the course of the year through this method, you might like to consider Planned Giving.
Planned Giving can be done in any one of the following ways:
*The envelope system enables parishioners to donate regular cash amounts which can be recorded for tax refund purposes. Envelopes can be obtained from the churchwardens.
*By setting up a standing order with your bank for a minimum donation of €5 per week (or monthly or quarterly equivalent).
*A donation or donations totalling at least €250 can be made directly to the Parish Treasurer, Scott Golden, Malvern House, The Glebe, Wicklow Town.
Re-opening Of Nun’s Cross Church
Based on the Government’s current roadmap, it is planned to re-open the church for public worship on 26th July. Richard Henderson and Michael Norman have recommended that no more than 60 people can be accommodated and still allow for social distancing of two metres. Only every alternative row will be made available. Thought is being given to a system of one way into and one way out of the church.
Easter General Vestry
In current circumstances, it is still not possible to hold an Easter General Vestry. The existing Select Vestry, including churchwardens and glebewardens, will remain in place. As soon as circumstances permit, the General Vestry meeting will be held and a new Select Vestry elected.
Church Review – June
The June edition of the Church Review was again published online. Lesley Rue will organise to send these out by email. If you don’t have email, please let her know (087-2810478) and she will organise a printed copy to be delivered to your home.
Youth Clubs
Revd Jack and our area youth worker, Stephen Byford, are continuing to keep in touch with Youth in national and secondary schools via Zoom. If you would like further information please contact Jack.
The Earth Breathes Again
The Covid19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on human lives / activities across the world. Sadly, many of us know people who have lost loved family members: we remember them. Conversely, as humanity suffers, so Mother Nature has had a much-needed reprieve from humankind’s relentless onslaught. The air is cleaner, clearer, purer, fresher. Ditto rivers, lakes, canals. Traffic noises have reduced and once again people are rejoicing in the wonders of hearing birdsong. Post lockdown, as activities pick up, maybe we can all try not to revert to our old frenetic lifestyles of non-stop travelling; down time has been appreciated by many, including children who are learning some of life’s skills and pleasures (e.g. cooking, gardening, reading). The climate change problems we faced before the pandemic haven’t gone away and still need addressing. We’ve shown that reducing human activities reduces pollution, emissions etc., so it is incumbent on us all to continue to cut back on our patterns of wasteful consumption – don’t buy what we don’t need, don’t travel when we don’t need to travel, consider holidaying in Ireland rather than abroad, reduce hugely the number of flights taken. Buy as much local produce as possible (while also benefitting our economy). Think environment!
Thesis
Rachael Kinkead is a primary school teacher. She is undertaking a part-time Master’s at U.C.D., where she is undertaking the course: Scríobh agus Cumarsáid na Gaeilge. For the purpose of her thesis she would like to invite a small number of young adults (aged 18-30) from the Church of Ireland tradition to articulate their perspectives on Irish language and Irish identity in the context of their minority faith community. Interviews will take place through a video-conferencing platform and will be organised at a time that suits the participant, and will take no longer than 60 minutes.
Eligible and willing participants are encouraged to contact Rachael at rachael.kinkead@ucdconnect.ie for further correspondence.
Ecumenical Bible Week
Ecumenical Bible Week, which traditionally takes place from Pentecost Sunday to Trinity Sunday (31 May–7 June), has been postponed due to restrictions around Covid–19. However, there will be a number of opportunities to engage online (details on.bibleweek.ie). The theme for 2020 is ‘Faith in the Public Square’. On Tuesday June 2 at 10am there will be Morning Prayer with Julie McKinley, Development Officer of the National Bible Society of Ireland and her husband Philip, who is an ordinand in CITI.
On Thursday June 4 at 3pm there will be a webinar on the topic: “In light of the C19 crisis and the increased digital presence, where to from here for faith communities?”
On Sunday June 7 at 7pm there will be Evening Prayer with Martin Sauter and the Lutheran community.
Ecumenical Bible Week’s organisers have invited musicians and singers from all Christian traditions to record and share a hymn, song, piece of music or an original piece that speaks to the EBW 2020 theme and to people’s current experience of faith in this most different of public squares. These will be shared during the week.
Details, including registration information, can be found at www.bibleweek.ie