Parish News

Please pray for:

*The Archbishop and clergy of the United Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough

* Those who were recently baptised in Nun’s Cross church

* Safety in our church and parish shop

* The smooth re-opening of churches in Rwanda

* Peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan to prevent destruction and loss of lives and to live in harmony for the good of their people.

* The witness of our church and church members in our local community

* Constructive discussions between the EU, UK concerning new trading relationships

* Those developing plans for the re-opening of schools

* Conscious consideration of what we have learnt during the health crisis which might improve our lifestyles

* All involved in care ministries, including hospital staff and social workers

A retiring collection will be organised in support of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) at the back of Nun’s Cross church on 2nd August. Please try and support this worthy cause.

Details of the re-opening plan have been posted to the website and on Facebook. It
has also been sent by email to those who receive newsletters. If you would like a
copy, please ask Rev Ken.
Sunday Services are now returning to Nun’s Cross church. They will be recorded
and posted on Facebook so that those who are unsure about coming back to church
as yet may view them online.
The Wednesday evening service, held jointly with Wicklow Parish, will continue to
ben held online via zoom. A link is provided in advance on the parish website,
together with the service leaflet.
If you would like service leaflets delivered to you either by email or to your home,
please contact Rev Ken

The July/August edition of the Church Review will be 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. The September edition will revert to being printed.

Advice is awaited from the Department of Education and Skills concerning the reopening of schools in late August/September. A plan to re-open Nun’s Cross NS
will be developed based on this advice by the Board of Management.

The incredibly dry and often sunny weather experienced since early March allowed
many in Lockdown to appreciate the joy of gardening. For some, it was an
extension of their normal spring-time ritual, for others it was a newly acquired
activity. The satisfaction of watching flowers grown from seed come into bloom
and of eating one’s own produce cannot be overestimated and it is hoped that
people new to gardening will continue this practice in future years. Seedlings,
however, need water. Rainwater can be collected from house, garage and shed
rooves. This prevents excessive use of water, from wells or mains, and also
rainwater is often better for plants than tap water. Many predict longer, drier and
hotter summers in the future due to climate change, so water collection will
become increasingly important. So, too, will water preservation. When running a
tap for hot water, the cold water can be saved into watering cans; ditto unused
jugs of table water, water bottles etc. Water saved in basins from showers can be
used to wash clothes, then to flush toilets or water flowers. Water saving sounds
extreme to some, but will become a way of life if wells run dry and mains supplies
are interrupted, as happened in the 2018 drought.

Ruth Gyves is a Diocesan Lay Reader and Assistant Lay Pastor in Holy Trinity
Rathmines. She has written a booklet for anxious times which brings together
scripture and prayers in an accessible manner. The booklet is easy to keep close
and read throughout the day and has proved to be a great source of comfort and
hope to many people of all ages. If you would like a copy, please let Rev Ken

The Hub is now open most days of the week and it is hoped that a rota of
volunteers can be put in place to allow for six day opening. Many additional items
have been donated since the shop re-opened and trade has been good.

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.

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.