Parish News

Peace by Rupert Brooke

 

Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His hour,

And caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping,

With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power,

To turn, as swimmers into cleanness leaping,

Glad from a world grown old and cold and weary,

Leave the sick hearts that honour could not move,

And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary,

And all the little emptiness of love!

 

Oh! we, who have known shame, we have found release there,

Where there’s no ill, no grief, but sleep has mending,

Naught broken save this body, lost but breath;

Nothing to shake the laughing heart’s long peace there

But only agony, and that has ending;

And the worst friend and enemy is but Death.

 

Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfrid Owen

 

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

—the monstrous anger of the guns.

the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

any voice of mourning save the choirs,—

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

bugles calling for them from sad shires.

 

What candles may be held to speed them all?

in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.

pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall;

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

At the end of October and early November, Glasgow will host COP26 (the 26th Conference of Parties, or UN Climate Change Conference). To have any chance of limiting warming to 1.5⁰C, global emissions MUST halve by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. The IPCC report earlier this year outlined how this can be achieved. Developed countries must help developing countries financially. Critically, the use of fossil fuels must cease. Irish people in theory support initiatives to mitigate against climate change. However, a recent Ipsos MRBI poll revealed that the majority of people polled do not support eight out of nine climate action measures, proposed to reduce carbon emissions, that would affect them personally (higher taxes on energy and fuel; higher taxes on air travel; risk of electricity supply interruptions; ban on building new data centres in Ireland; reducing the size of the national cattle herd; higher property taxes for homes that are not energy efficient; nationwide ban on burning smoky fuels like coal and peat; increasing cost of driving petrol and diesel cars). The tragedy and irony of this viewpoint is that by not making proactive changes to our lifestyles NOW will result in increased hardship in the not-too-distant future – escalating fuel and energy costs; increased floods, droughts and storms; food shortages. It is time now for action, not just lip service.

Plans for an Ashford Christmas Market have had to be scaled back due to ongoing Coronavirus concerns.

A joint Raffle is being planned with Ashford Parish with excellent prizes on offer.

It is also hoped to organise a cake sale and to be involved in carol singing in the village.

Provided there is no worsening in the Coronavirus situation, it is hoped to re-open the monthly Sunday 5pm Family Service and the joint Saturday 9am Bible Study with Ashford Parish in January 2022.

Thanks to the efforts of the wonderful band of volunteers and of the Tús workers, The Hub has never been busier. If you have not visited recently, please do drop in and see the wide range of clothes, gifts and books on display.

The next get together will be for afternoon tea on Monday 15th November at 11am in the Wicklow Methodist Hall. All welcome! Further information available from Linda Walsh: 086 8228378.

The Table Tennis Club will re-open on Thursday 4th November in East Glendalough School from 7.30pm—9.30pm. All Welcome! Thanks are due to Karen Norman for organising the venue.

 O’Hanlon Herbs of Ballyknocken, Glenealy, has a number of vacancies which they are seeking to fill. If you are interested, please send your cover letter and CV to@ohanlonherbs.ie

This year’s Remembrance Sunday service will be held on 14th November. There will be an Act of Remembrance and an opportunity to support the Poppy Appeal

Topic: Evening Prayer

Time: Nov 3, 2021 07:30 PM

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81958112661

Meeting ID: 819 5811 2661

The service leaflet is available here: Evening Prayer Wednesday 3 November 2021

or below here:

Wednesday 3 November 2021: Evening Prayer

 

PREPARATION

 

VERSICLES AND RESPONSES

O Lord, open our lips

and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

 

O God, make speed to save us.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

 

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.

 

Praise the Lord.

The Lord’s name be praised.

 

PENITENCE

Lord, you are gracious and compassionate.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

You are loving to all,

and your mercy is over all creation.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your faithful servants bless your name,
and speak of the glory of your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

 

 

Blessed are you, Sovereign God,

our light and our salvation,

to you be glory and praise for ever.

Now, as darkness is falling,

wash away our transgressions,

cleanse us by your refining fire

and make us temples of your Holy Spirit.

By the light of Christ,

dispel the darkness of our hearts

and make us ready to enter your kingdom,

where songs of praise for ever sound.

 

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever.

 

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful,

let us pray with one heart and mind.

 

Silence is kept.

 

As our evening prayer rises 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. Amen.

 

THE WORD OF GOD

PSALM

 

Psalm 51

1  Have mercy on me, O God, in your great goodness; ♦︎

   according to the abundance of your compassion

      blot out my offences.

2  Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness ♦︎

   and cleanse me from my sin.

3  For I acknowledge my faults ♦︎

   and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against you only have I sinned ♦︎

   and done what is evil in your sight,

5  So that you are justified in your sentence ♦︎

   and righteous in your judgement.

6  I have been wicked even from my birth, ♦︎

   a sinner when my mother conceived me.

7  Behold, you desire truth deep within me ♦︎

   and shall make me understand wisdom

      in the depths of my heart.

8  Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; ♦︎

   wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

9  Make me hear of joy and gladness, ♦︎

   that the bones you have broken may rejoice.

10  Turn your face from my sins ♦︎

   and blot out all my misdeeds.

11  Make me a clean heart, O God, ♦︎

   and renew a right spirit within me.

12  Cast me not away from your presence ♦︎

   and take not your holy spirit from me.

13  Give me again the joy of your salvation ♦︎

   and sustain me with your gracious spirit;

14  Then shall I teach your ways to the wicked ♦︎

   and sinners shall return to you.

15  Deliver me from my guilt, O God,

the God of my salvation, ♦︎

   and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.

16  O Lord, open my lips ♦︎

   and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

17  For you desire no sacrifice, else I would give it; ♦︎

   you take no delight in burnt offerings.

18  The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit; ♦︎

   a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

19  O be favourable and gracious to Zion; ♦︎

   build up the walls of Jerusalem.

20  Then you will accept sacrifices offered in righteousness,

the burnt offerings and oblations; ♦︎

   then shall they offer up bulls on your altar.

 

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.

 

A READING

John 13: 31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

 

MEDITATION

 

THE GOSPEL CANTICLE

MAGNIFICAT                       The Song of the Virgin Mary        Luke 1: 46-55

The righteous will shine like the sun

in the kingdom of their Father.

 

1    My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;  ♦

he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2    From this day all generations will call me blessed;  ♦

the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his name.

3    He has mercy on those who fear him,  ♦

from generation to generation.

4    He has shown strength with his arm  ♦

and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5    Casting down the mighty from their thrones  ♦

and lifting up the lowly.

6    He has filled the hungry with good things  ♦

and sent the rich away empty.

7    He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,  ♦

to remember his promise of mercy,

 

8    The promise made to our ancestors,  ♦

to Abraham and his children for ever.

 

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.

 

The righteous will shine like the sun

in the kingdom of their Father.

 

PRAYER

Let us pray.

 

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

Show us your mercy, O Lord,

and grant us your salvation.

 

Let your ministers be clothed with righteousness

and let your servants shout for joy.

 

O Lord, save your people

and bless those whom you have chosen.

 

Give peace in our time, O Lord,

and let your glory be over all the earth.

 

O God, make clean our hearts within us

and renew us by your Holy Spirit.

 

COLLECTS AT EVENING PRAYER

O God

from whom all holy desires all good judgements

and all just works proceed:

Give to your servants

that peace which the world cannot give,

that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments,

and that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,

may pass our time in rest and quietness;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

 

Lighten our darkness, O Lord, we pray

and in your great mercy defend us

from all perils and dangers of this night;

for the love of your only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us make our prayer in the power of the Spirit,

looking to Jesus the pioneer of our faith.

 

That with the noble fellowship of the prophets

we may discern the signs of your kingdom in our midst,

we pray to you, O Lord.

 

That with the glorious company of the apostles

we may proclaim your gospel throughout the world,

we pray to you, O Lord.

 

That with the white-robed army of martyrs

we may be ready to suffer for the truth’s sake,

we pray to you, O Lord.

 

That with all who are anointed by your Spirit

we may bring good news to the poor and freedom to the oppressed,

we pray to you, O Lord.

 

That with the saints in light

we may bind up the brokenhearted and comfort all who mourn,

we pray to you, O Lord.

 

That within the whole company of Christ’s pilgrim people

we may come to the inheritance of the saints in glory,

we pray to you, O Lord.

 

In communion with all the saints,

let us commend the world to the mercy and protection of God. Amen.

 

 

OPEN PRAYER

A period of open prayer follows for those who are known to be in need

 

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

 

Almighty God,

you have knit together your elect

in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:

give us grace so to follow your blessed saints

in all virtuous and godly living

that we may come to those inexpressible joys

that you have prepared for those who truly love you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Uniting our prayers with the whole company of heaven,

let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:

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.

 

THE ENDING

BLESSING

May Christ, who has opened the kingdom of heaven,

bring us to reign with him in glory. Amen.

 

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God. Amen.