April sees the return of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. People can organise a clean up in their local area, be it urban or rural, by contacting nsc@antaisce.org or logging on to www.nationalspringclean.org. Participants will be supplied with rubbish bags (which will be collected), litter picks and hi-vis vests. Alternatively, there is a “2 minute street clean”, where people are invited to spend about two minutes picking up litter any time they are out, information available on www.2minutesstreetclean.org. Both initiatives really do make a difference to your locality – isn’t it uplifting to see clean stretches of rural roadside verge, bedecked with wild flowers rather than discarded wrappers, coffee cups, bottles etc. and nice clean streets in urban areas. Rubbish begets rubbish while people may, just may, hesitate to throw litter in clean areas. Why not take the opportunity to encourage friends, family and neighbours to get involved – also, litter picking with other people can be a rewarding community activity. Furthermore, the spring clean might inspire some of you to help with either the Tidy Towns or Wicklow Pure Mile year-round litter picking schemes. The results are well worth the effort.
Parish News
World Day of Prayer
World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who welcome you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. The Nun’s Cross NS service on Friday 8th at 10am will concentrate on the theme, ‘Come Everything is Ready’, provided by the World Day of Prayer. That evening at 7.30pm adults are invited to the local gathering which takes place in St Patrick’s Church in Wicklow Town.
Ashford Tidy Towns
A donation of two benches has been made to Ashford Tidy Towns from the proceeds of last year’s Ashford Country Fair. They were recently erected on the bridge in the village and look out over the river.
The Ashford Tidy Towns Annual General Meeting takes place in Ashford Community & Heritage Centre on Tuesday 26th February commencing at 8.30pm. All are welcome! New volunteers are always needed.
Ashford Country Fair
The Country Fair committee will soon be in full swing. This event takes place on the May Bank Holiday Monday. If you can help in this or any other way with this important fund-raiser, please contact Bernadette Glover, Amanda Mooney or Lesley Rue.
Tea/Coffee Money
Most Sundays there is an opportunity to socialise after church while sipping a cup of tea and coffee or a glass of juice. Many thanks to all those who organising and serve refreshments.
Donations are requested towards costs. Overt the last few years, apart from paying for the tea/coffee and biscuits, the monies raised have paid for a large water urn and flask as well as mince pies and mulled wine. Thanks to all our donors!
Climate Change
The United Nations has held yearly conferences on Climate Change Conferences since 1995. The 24th Conference was held in Katowice, Poland 2-15 December 2018. It was an international meeting to try and forge agreement on ways to reduce the rate and effects of climate change. Negotiators from 196 countries and the EU worked on The Katowice Rulebook, implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement. Means to effect positive change in three main areas (technology; human; nature) were agreed.
Why is it important? In the words of Sir David Attenborough: “Right now we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale, our greatest threat in thousands of years: climate change. If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.” Additionally, 15 year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addressed the summit, begging politicians to take action for the future of the planet. Former US vice-President Al Gore told delegates they faced “the single most important moral choice in the history of humanity”. In our own small way, we can each contribute to tackling this issue. We can review and adjust our own lifestyles, discuss positive change with family and friends and lobby politicians.
Alchemy Concert
Alchemy Music opens its 2019 season on Saturday February 16th, 8pm at Nun’s Cross Church. For further information go to: www.alchemymusic.ie and https://www.facebook.com/AlchemyMusicPoetry/
Revision of list of Parishioners
A Select Vestry meeting will be held on Thursday 7th February. On the agenda is an update of the list of General Vestry Members (i.e., registered parishioners). If you would like to be added to the list, please speak with Rev Ken.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually between 18th January and 25th January.
To mark the week, Pastor Martin Sauter will be the guest preacher in Nun’s Cross church on Sunday 20th January. He is a non-stipendiary pastor in the Lutheran Church in Ireland, formerly lecturer in history, sociology and intercultural studies. He was ordained in January 2015 in St. Finian’s Lutheran Church, Adelaide Road, where he is mainly looking after the small English-speaking congregation. He is also the ecumenical officer of his church and involved in ecumenical bodies both at City, All-Ireland and European level.
Leading Prayers in Nun’s Cross
Would you be interested in leading prayers from time to time in Nun’s Cross church? You could start by reading prayers from the Book of Common Prayer or another suitable prayer book or material produced by local clergy. Alternatively, you could write your own prayers and receive suitable instruction, as required. If you are interested, please contact Rev Ken.