The Saturday morning bible studies will re-commence on Saturday 5th March in the Chester Beatty restaurant, commencing at 9am. These take place alongside Ashford Roman Catholic parish.
Parish News
27th March—Focus on Gender Violence
Mr Ian Mullen of Rossprint, who organises the printing of the Church Review, will be interviewed in Nun’s Cross church on Mothering Sunday, 27th March. He will answer questions about his family’s personal experience of gender violence. The new Diocesan President, Ada Lawson, will respond and speak, among other things of Mothers’ Union initiatives in this area.
20th March—Service of Light
In recognition of two years since the introduction of Covid 19 restrictions, the Service of Light on Sunday 20th March will recall the impact of the pandemic and remember those whose lives have been lost.
Something Different for Lent
Lent is a time for prayer and reflection. Something Different for Lent is a resource which helps to facilitate this. For each week of Lent there is a gospel reading with suggested tasks, prayers, reflections and thoughts for the week. The suggested time commitment is 5 to 15 minutes per day, which should be possible even for busy people.
Ash Wednesday Service
Topic: Ash Wednesday Service
Time: Mar 2, 2022 07:30 PM
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Service for Ash Wednesday 2 March 2022: The Beginning of Lent
The Gathering of God’s People
SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE
The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart you will not despise.
Psalm 51: 17
Lord, have mercy.
INTRODUCTION
Brothers and sisters in Christ: since the early days Christians have observed with great devotion the time of our Lord’s passion and resurrection. It became the custom of the Church to prepare for this by a season of penitence and fasting.
At first this season of Lent was observed by those who were preparing for baptism at Easter and by those who were to be restored to the Church’s fellowship from which they had been separated through sin. In course of time the Church came to recognize that, by a careful keeping of these days, all Christians might take to heart the call to repentance and the assurance of forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel and so grow in faith and in devotion to our Lord.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Lord to observe a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.
THE COLLECT
Silence is kept
Let us pray for grace to keep Lent faithfully.
Almighty and everlasting God
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we may be truly sorry for our sins
and obtain from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
THE PSALM
Psalm 51: 1-8
Refrain: Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned against you.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your great goodness; ♦︎
according to the abundance of your compassion
blot out my offences.
Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness ♦︎
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults ♦︎
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you only have I sinned ♦︎
and done what is evil in your sight,
So that you are justified in your sentence ♦︎
and righteous in your judgement.
I have been wicked even from my birth, ♦︎
a sinner when my mother conceived me.
Behold, you desire truth deep within me ♦︎
and shall make me understand wisdom
in the depths of my heart.
Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; ♦︎
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned against you.
THE GOSPEL
St. Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21
‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
ADDRESS
The Liturgy of Penitence
Let us now call to mind our sin and the infinite mercy of God.
THE COMMANDMENTS
Hear these commandments which God has given to his people, and take them to heart:
I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD: YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BUT ME.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. Matt. 22:37
YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF ANY IDOL.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
YOU SHALL NOT DISHONOUR THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD.
You shall worship him with reverence and awe. Heb. 12:28
REMEMBER THE LORD’S DAY, AND KEEP IT HOLY.
Christ is risen from the dead: set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. Col. 3:1,2
Lord, have mercy on us, and write these your laws in our hearts.
HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.
Live as servants of God, honour all people, love your brothers and sisters in Christ.
1 Peter 2:16
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER.
Be reconciled to your brother and sister: overcome evil with good. Matt. 5:24, Rom. 13:21
YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.
Know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 6:19
YOU SHALL NOT STEAL.
Be honest in all that you do and care for those in need. Eph. 4:28
YOU SHALL NOT BE A FALSE WITNESS.
Let everyone speak the truth. Eph. 4:25
YOU SHALL NOT COVET ANYTHING WHICH BELONGS TO YOUR NEIGHBOUR.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Love your neighbour as yourself, for love is the fulfilling of the law. Acts 20:35, Rom. 13:9,10
Lord, have mercy on us, and write all these your laws in our hearts.
THE LITANY
God the Father, creator of heaven and earth,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, giver of life,
have mercy on us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three Persons in one God,
have mercy on us.
Save us, good Lord, from all sin and wickedness, from pride, hypocrisy
and conceit, from envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness,
save us, good Lord.
From sins of thought, word and deed, from the lusts of the flesh, from
the deceits of the world and the snares of the devil,
save us, good Lord.
From fire, storm and flood, from disease, pestilence and want, from war
and murder, and from dying unprepared,
save us, good Lord.
From all false doctrine, from hardness of heart, from contempt of your
word and commandment, and from the evil of schism.
save us, good Lord.
In times of sorrow and in times of joy, in the hour of death, and in the
day of judgement,
save us, good Lord.
Saviour of the world, forgive our sins, known and unknown, things done,
and left undone; grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit that we may
amend our lives according to your holy word, and share with all your people
the joys of your eternal kingdom.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, Redeemer of the world,
give us your peace.
Silence is kept
Make our hearts clean, O God,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought, in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen.
God our Father,
the strength of all who put their trust in you,
mercifully accept our prayers;
and because, in our weakness,
we can do nothing good without you,
grant us the help of your grace,
that in keeping your commandments
we may please you, both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Gracious God and Father,
you have given your Son for us all,
that his death might be our life
and his affliction our peace.
We pray for THE SUFFERING
the hungry …
the refugees …
the prisoners …
the persecuted …
all who bring sin and suffering to others …
all who seek to bring care and relief …
In darkness and in light,
in trouble and in joy,
help us to trust your love,
to serve your purpose
and to praise your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Lord our God,
grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
and so finding, may love you;
and so loving, may hate those sins
from which you have delivered us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Evening Prayer 23 Feb 2022
Topic: Evening Prayer
Time: Feb 23, 2022 07:30 PM London
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Evening Prayer
23rd February, 2022.
Preparation
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Psalm 1
Blessed are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the assembly of the scornful.
Their delight is in the law of the Lord and they meditate on his law day and night.
Like a tree planted by streams of water bearing fruit in due season, with leave that do not wither, whatever they do, it shall prosper.
As for the wicked, it is not so with them; they are like chaff which the wine blows away.
Therefore the wicked shall not be able to stand in the judgement, nor the sinner in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Opening prayer
That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind.
As our evening prayer rises like incense before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon us to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and for ever.
The word of God
St. Luke 14:25-35
Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
‘Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’
Address
Anthem: No more sorrow
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
And there shall be no more death,
Neither sorrow nor crying,
Neither any more pain,
For the former things are passed away.
Will Todd
Prayers of intercession
Prayers may be offered:
for peace
for places of conflict
for individuals & their needs
for the mission of the Church worldwide
for all who work in food production and conservation
for all who work in education
for those who mourn the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a way of life
for the work of aid agencies throughout the world
for those living in poverty or under oppression
Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
The Conclusion
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
A LATE EVENING OFFICE – Wednesday 16th February 2022
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A LATE EVENING OFFICE – Wednesday 16th February 2022
Blessed be our God for all time, now and for evermore. Amen. Glory to you, our God, glory be to you, Holy Spirit, Comforter, treasure of all goodness and giver of life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from all sin, and in your love, bring us to salvation. Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
Psalm 103
1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever, Amen.
Reading – Luke 11: 37 – 52 – Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law
37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
Few thoughts
Meditation on the Reading
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.
PRAYERS
Let us pray to the Lord with all our heart and with all our soul, Lord have mercy
Let us pray for all Christian people, that they may live in love and truth and particularly the people in our parishes, Lord have mercy
Let us pray for all ministers of the Church and for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world thinking especially of those who are worshipping in fear, Lord have mercy
Let us pray for peace throughout the world and for all governments that they will rule with justice and compassion, Lord have mercy
Let us pray for our neighbours and friends, Lord have mercy
Let us pray for all sick people, for the sorrowful and the dying………………………………………… those known to us, Lord have mercy
Let us remember our brothers and sisters who have entered into eternal rest
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord
Let us continue to pray in few moments of quietness,
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
Lord almighty come and scatter the darkness of our hearts by the light of your presence, that we may know you the Light of the world and the true God, blessed this night and for evermore. Amen
Let us bless the Lord Thanks be to God
May the Almighty and Merciful God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us this night and for ever. Amen
Valentine’s Day Poem: O Where Is Love?
O, where is love? You’ll find it in the pain
That binds a mother to her newborn child;
In bitter-broken friendships reconciled;
And in the kiss of lovers in the rain;
In being kind and offering a smile
To hardened hearts too cynical to care;
In making right something that was unfair_
And taking time to go the extra mile.
O, where is love? A Golden Rule? A creed?
It’s close at hand and isn’t hard to find._
It’s in our heart, our soul, our strength, and mind,
A counterpoint to selfishness and greed.
To love your neighbour is not hard to do;
Just do what you would have them do to you.
James A Tweedie
Afghan Refugees
Ten young women who fled Afghanistan are being housed and fed by the Dominican Sisters in Wicklow until March 2022. However, they lack spending money. Thanks to a gift from a local developer, Revd Ken Rue was able to bring them vouchers to purchase items for themselves. A further allocation was made from parish funds.
Climate Change And Developing Countries
It has been easy to see the recent impacts of climate change here in Ireland and in Europe, from heatwaves and forest fires in summer to storms and flooding / snowstorms in winter, but what about developing nations? Across sub-Saharan Africa, increased temperatures are causing desertification, resulting in subsistence farmers losing valuable land, which is exacerbated by overgrazing. Famines are more widespread and rapid migration from rural to urban areas is leading to overcrowded slums, through which diseases, such as covid, run rampant. The poverty gap between rich and poor nations has become wider, with the latter unable to fund necessary infrastructure to withstand the ravages wrought by climate change. Pacific islands, too, are particularly affected, with rising sea levels of major concern. Without financial backing from wealthier nations, poorer countries suffer from reduced food production and thus increased hunger levels and general human hardship. The climate crisis may not seem so critical to our lives, but our actions dictate what happens to millions of people, especially in the global south. The onus is on us all to try and reduce our carbon footprint.