St Gall's Church Magazine March '24 Edition

Guide Report & Thinking Day Donkeys!

Finnegan Tools are working with Michelle

St Gall’s Guides enjoyed the Thinking Day Service with the Brownies and Rainbows on 11 February. We were very pleased that our cake sale went so well following the service and are delighted to announce that we made £285 for the donkey charity.

The funds raised will be used to ship our samples to various African Guide units and to buy baler twine and other material for them to weave more harnesses themselves. Thank you very much for all your support.

For those who missed our presentation, here is an explanation of the initiative that we are involved in:

Worldwide there are 100 million working donkeys, horses and mules. Donkeys are needed to help with transporting goods by carts, carrying water and food to market.

On placement in Africa, trainee vets from Liverpool University identified a need for better harnesses, to prevent wounds that they had been treating on the donkeys. The harnesses had to be cheap and made from materials readily available in Africa. They should be made using skills that could be taught to women and girls, so they could generate an independent income and mothers could earn enough to have their daughters educated, which is often a problem in these areas.

St Gall’s Guides are the first Guide unit worldwide to work with Paddy from Finnegan Tools. We are making samples of a few harnesses. This design allows the cords to take the pulling strain, rather than rubbing on the donkey. These samples are to be shipped to the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Lesotho and Tanzania,

Griffith from Ama Trac Uluntu, which is a charity aiming to improve donkey welfare and help with sustainable market gardening in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. They are linking with Guide units in the Eastern Cape and other areas to finish our harnesses and learn to make more. Then they can teach women how to make them, so that they can help their donkeys and earn money as a small industry. The Guides in Africa will work with Ama Trac Uluntu, who know how to make the Powerset hitching system designed by Dr Peta Jones, that works with our harnesses.

These harnesses will help keep the donkeys free from wounds and empower women in poverty to be able to care for their donkeys and help with their food security. Donkeys with these harnesses are able to pull carts, with water containers and crops that do not cause them strain.

Finnegan Tools have also developed wooden cartwheels and a self-balancing cart that are flat-packed from pallet wood. These frames are slotted and bolted together and then can be assembled in Africa. They will also be made locally too, adding a rubber tyre, and so making them practical on rutted land.

If you would like further info or wish to donate more, please speak to me at church.

St Gall’s Guides could occasionally do with an extra adult when we have a leader on shift work, now that one of our leaders is having a baby. If you are interested in helping a few times a year, please also speak to me.

Dear Folks,

The Rector’s Letter

The season of Lent is a gift to us from God. A time when the Holy Spirit of God calls out to us pray and to worship. The season of Lent is a time to draw close to the God who made us and who loves each one of us. The image of Christ himself setting off into the wilderness for forty days of time with God his Father is an evocative one. A spiritual example for each of us as we seek to live out lives of faith in our time.

At a recent lecture by Professor Brian Cox in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast he gave a fascinating lecture around the nature of our universe as understood by modern physics. It was an inspiring evening as a packed auditorium listened and learned from a brilliant communicator whose skill is to take the most complex of theories and distill them to engage with ordinary people. He spoke at length about those who had theorised before him. A history of physics touching people who had worked with very little actual hard data but were able to craft great theories of the universe.The joy of our times had been the various space probes and deep space telescopes that had allowed our age to look far beyond where these past figures had been able to look. Only to find that their theories had been correct and now could have a basis in fact. Rooted in reality and the discoveries of probes travelling to deep space and far planets.

Professor Cox spoke of a French physicist called Lemaître. He was The Reverend Monsignor George Lemaître. A priest and physicist who was challenged as to how he could be both a man of science and of faith. He said that he believed that there where two roads to the truth - science and faithand that he walked both. It was Lemaître that first proposed the “Big Bang Theory” of the origin of the universe, calling the ‘hypothesis of the primeval atom’ and later calling it ‘the beginning of the world’.

It is fascinating to hear the story of the theories that explain our universe. But on the night it wasn’t an idea or words that made the lasting impression on me. It was a picture, projected across the whole front wall of the Waterfront that stayed with me. An image taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter looking back from Mars orbit to take a picture of the Earth and the moon hanging in space, both half brightly

lit by the sun. It was a beautiful image that would remind me of the famous ‘Earthrise’ photo taken from the moon by astronaut William Anders of the Apollo 8 mission. In that 1968 image the Earth and all it’s people rise over the Moon horizon. The photo was described at the time as the “most influential environmental photograph ever taken.” That was then. Perhaps in our time it will be these images taken from Mars that will inform our thinking.Who knows what comes next in the exploration of what makes up our universe. If Professor Cox is there to tell us the story as it emerges then hopefully we’ll all feel wonderfully inspired.

I think I was fortunate to be at the Brian Cox lecture. I’ll tell you something. A week or so before the lecture I got an email from Ticketmaster to remind me of the up coming event that I had purchased tickets for. I had know idea what they were talking about. I had completely forgotten booking the tickets. I must have booked them ages ago. Long before I could have considered sitting in a packed auditorium a real possibility.

In this season of Lent we are always looking for inspiration.

The Rector’s going on a Sabbatical

A sabbatical is a break of three months that is offered to clergy from time to time. I have applied to the Bishop and been accepted to take a sabbatical through April, May and June of this year. I shall be adding on the month of July as annual leave. After nearly twenty four years as Rector it’s a good idea to take some time to pray and reflect. I am looking forward to that.

During the time that I am away Bishop David has agreed that the Venerable Rod Smyth will take charge of the day to day running of the parish. It is lovely that the parish will be looked after by someone so well known to the families of St Gall’s. My thanks to Rod for offering to help in this way. I know that he will do a super job of keeping the parish running smoothly.

Speaking of St Patrick and a beacon of Light

So we are setting fire to things on Sunday

17th March. That is really happening. I have the full risk assessment ready to go. We shall have a lovely St Patrick’s Day evening service at 6.30 p.m. and then after that outside to light our beacon. Every church in the diocese will be doing the same thing with Bishop David asking all churches in his diocese to light a light of hope and faith. A fitting reminder of Jesus the light of the world and St Patrick his faithful evangelist in Ireland. If you can come along it will be a lovely experience as we move towards Easter.

Our Family Service this Month…..10th March Mothering Sunday

This month our family service will be happening on the 10th March and very wonderfully we shall be having a service on Holy Baptism along with our Mothering Sunday service. If you know any kids who would enjoy church but with added giggles bring them along. It promises to be a memorable service.

Our Annual Easter Vestry Meeting 2024

Our Annual Vestry meeting will be held following our Sunday morning service on Sunday 17th March. Please make a big effort to stay following our 10 a.m. service that day. We shall be meeting to elect our new Select Vestry for the coming year.This is our church management committee who drive the life of our church. From keeping the lights on, to cutting the grass, to making sure our bills are all paid. The work of our Select Vestry is key and we are very thankful for the time and energy that our outgoing Select Vestry have given over the last year. A number of folks have made it clear that they would be keen to stand down after many years of very faithful service. This means that we are looking to elect some new folks on to our vestry. We are lacking representation from our young families. Could this be your time to offer to help? Say a prayer and think about serving God in this way. Is this something that you would consider? Have a chat with myself or the Churchwardens if you are interested in this.

Peace be with you

We have started 2024 with a slightly new programme of dancing and so far it seems that the change we have made has been very popular with the dancers.

We decided to dance every Friday night and not to have any more Super Saturday Super dances. There were a variety of reasons for this and although some dancers were disappointed to have to rearrange their Saturday night dances, the Friday night dancing numbers have been increasing. As Friday nights also include a teaching slot, this means continuity is maintained and the programme for introducing new dances or revision is much more cohesive. It also means we have relinquished our call on the hall for the first Saturday in the month.

At the end of January we received an E mail from a contact in England telling us about a new dance that was sweeping across the country – The Ria Bachata!

This was a new one on us – “What’s a Bachata – that didn’t feature in any of our training”!!!! – is it something to do with bread derived from baguettes or ciabatta? Research and investigation needed!

Nothing to do with bread! It’s a dance style that originated in the Dominican Republic. It’s a basic 3 step with a Cuban hip motion followed by a tap of the 4th beat. Sounds very technical but in fact it’s very easy and there’s plenty of videos on the internet including the Ria Bachata sequence dance. We have taught it and the dancers love it. It’s easy to dance and the music is quite slow so its not energy intensive - no wonder it’s so popular! It seems like it will be on the St Galls dance list for a while too.

Bobby and Phyllis Magill

THE AFTERNOON GROUP

Our meeting in February was very well attended - we had 38 ladies (a record!) who enjoyed some lighthearted poetry by Lyn Cumberland and ate delicious pancakes made by our own Diane. Thank you to both ladies.

We meet again on Monday 4th March when we welcome Roisin Scott from West Church. She will tell us a little about the charity “Fields of Life.” Do try to come along to hear Roisin and enjoy a cuppa and a chat.

Doreen and Anne

INDOOR BOWLING CLUB

VACANCIES

There are currently a number of exciting vacancies for those wishing learn and expand their life skills and knowledge in our club. No references required. Training and equipment will be provided on site. Don’t miss this great opportunity. Those interested contact: Gary Ballentine 07733616229

Services and Events in March

Christ has been raised from the dead: the firstfruits of those who sleep. For as by man came death, by man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

28th February Wednesday

10.30 a.m. Holy Communion

3rd March The Third Sunday of Lent

8.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10 a.m. Parish Communion

6.30 p.m. Evening Prayer

4th March Afternoon Group meeting

6th March Wednesday - 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10th March Mothering Sunday - 4th Sunday of Lent

8.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10 a.m. Family Service with Holy Baptism

6.30 p.m. Holy Communion

12th March Tuesday - 12noon - Friendship Lunch Sign up sheets available

13th March Wednesday - 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion

16th March Festival Service at Downpatrick See elsewhere in this magazine for info!

17th March St Patrick’s Day - 5th Sunday of Lent

8.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10 a.m. Morning Prayer

With the Easter Annual General Vestry Meeting following our 10 a.m. service. Please make a special effort to attend this important meeting in the church’s year.

6.30 p.m. Festival Evening Service with the lighting of the Down and Dromore beacon fire! Pop along for a beautiful service focusing on St Patrick followed by the lighting of our parish beacon! And hot chocolate after!

20th March Wednesday - Coffee Morning 10 a.m. - 12 noon. Drop in!

20th March Wednesday - 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion

24th March Palm Sunday

8.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10 a.m. Morning Prayer

6.30 p.m. Palm Sunday Service of Readings and Music. A service of beautiful music and reflective readings as we look to Holy Week

Holy Week 2024

With our speaker the Very Reverend Rod Smyth

• Monday 25th March at 7 p.m at West Church Presbyterian Church

• Tuesday 26th March at 7 p.m. at West Church Presbyterian Church

• Wednesday 27th March at 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion at St Gall’s

• Wednesday 27th March at 7 p.m. at Bangor Methodist Church, Rathmore Road

• Thursday 28th March at 7 p.m. at Bangor Methodist Church, Rathmore Road

• Good Friday 29th March at 1.30 pm. to 3.05 p.m. Vigil Service at St Gall’s

• Good Friday 29th March at 7 p.m. at St Gall’s

31st March Easter Sunday

8.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10 a.m. Easter Communion

6.30 p.m. Evening Holy Communion

3rd April Wednesday - 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion

7th April The 2nd Sunday of Easter

8.30 a.m. Holy Communion

10 a.m. Parish Communion

6.30 p.m. Evening Prayer

The Collect for Easter Day

Almighty God, through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ you have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Dates for your Diary

Family Service

10th March at 10 a.m.. Mothering Sunday!

Family Fun Day

1st June - Saturday - Lots of advance notice with this one!

The Choir Table Quiz

13th April - Saturday at 7 p.m.. More details next month.

At 8.30 a.m. each Sunday morning there will be a service of Holy Communion.

At 10.30 a.m. each Wednesday morning there will be a service of Holy Communion. Prayers are said at this service for the sick. If you or someone who you know would like us to pray for them at this service please write their Christian name in the book beside the lamp at the back of church.

PRESERVING THE PAST. BUILDING THE FUTURE.

This June marks the 120th anniversary of Belfast Cathedral’s consecration.

The Cathedral are kindly asking for your support to celebrate this moment in their history. Become a part of #BC120 by donating to the Cathedral’s Chairs Appeal

The anchor point of Belfast’s globally-renowned Cathedral Quarter, Belfast Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of St Anne, has been the location for countless important commemorations, funerals, weddings, celebrations and civic events, across the years, notably the recent Service of Reflection for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attended by King Charles III and then Queen Consort Camilla in September 2022. We are proud to be ‘the Cathedral at the heart of the city, with the city at its heart’, and have a strong ethos of welcoming all guests, no matter their walk of life or religious background.

Offering a ‘seat at the table’ for worshippers and the wider public since its consecration in June 1904, Belfast Cathedral is preparing for a year of celebrations, commemorations, and special events to mark 120 years. These events will highlight the colourful history and important role it has played historically and continues to play in the lives of Belfast’s faithful from all denominations and, indeed, civic life in Northern Ireland.

Our Chairs Appeal aims to raise £75,000 before the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving on 2nd June 2024 to replace the existing wooden chairs in the Cathedral’s nave, which have been in continuous use for 120 years. One iconic photo taken inside Belfast Cathedral depicts soldiers seeking reprieve during the Second World War, seated in uniform in the simple wooden chairs with weapons nearby, highlighting the important role they

have played for over a century. Following 120 years of use, the chairs have offered a place for faithful parishioners who have gathered for weekly services and private prayer, for civic leaders and foreign dignitaries who have attended important commemorations and memorial ceremonies, and a multitude of events. Unfortunately, time has taken its toll and it is time to invest in the future of our Cathedral and the comfort of our guests. New chairs will serve as a symbol of our continued community growth and service for generations to come.

We are inviting families who lost a relative during the Covid-19 pandemic, or who wish to commemorate a loved one, to consider donating in their honour. Marking the many funerals that unfortunately could not take place due to the restrictions in place to stop the spread of Covid-19, we believe that many people may wish to donate a chair to memorialise a loved one within the space of our beloved Cathedral.

Donors are encouraged to give what they can, with donations of £150 or higher + gift aid to dedicate a chair in honour of a loved one, with their name and dates etched in a commemorative display within the Cathedral.

‘BC120,’ an ambitious plan, spearheaded by the newly-formed Belfast Cathedral Foundation, will run from 2024 – 2027 will raise new funding to secure the future viability of the Cathedral for the coming years. The mission of ‘Preserving the past, building for the future’ will underpin the strategy and actions of the Foundation.

Find the Belfast Cathedral Chairs Appeal on crowdfunder.co.uk

HOLY WEEK 2024

The Sights and Sounds of Holy Week

25th – 29th March beginning at 7 p.m.

With our speaker the Very Reverend Rod Smyth

Monday – The Crowd

Tuesday – The Temple

Wednesday – Spy Wednesday – The Trial

Thursday – Maundy Thursday – ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Good Friday – The Centrality of the Cross

Holy Week 2024 - Where and When?

Monday 25th March at 7 p.m at West Church Presbyterian Church

Tuesday 26th March at 7 p.m. at West Church Presbyterian Church

Wednesday 27th March at 10.30 a.m.

Holy Communion at St Gall’s

Wednesday 27th March at 7 p.m. at Bangor Methodist Church, Rathmore Road

Thursday 28th March at 7 p.m. at Bangor Methodist Church, Rathmore Road

Good Friday 29th March

at 1.30 pm. to 3.05 p.m. Vigil Service at St Gall’s

Good Friday 29th March at 7 p.m. at St Gall’s

TERRIFIC EVENING WITH SIMON GRAY OF ULSTER WILDLIFE

It was super to welcome Simon Gray to the parish for an evening back in February to talk about his work with Ulster Wildlife and particularly the pea tland habitats of Northern Ireland. A good crowd gathered and with Lough Neagh much in the news at that stage his timing was spot on. He promised the audience that the Questions and Answers session at the end of his talk would be the time to ask anything.

Simon was able to talk us through the state of play for nature in Northern Ireland and some of the work that was being done to restore the damage caused to peatlands by various industries. Whether through the extraction of peat for fuel or horticulture. Or through the draining of bogs. Different government policies at different times had often caused more harm than good. With farmers being paid to, at one point, to dig drains and damage sensitive peat bogs.

Now in 2024 they were being told to block up those same drains to allow the bog to recover and nature to thrive again. While the message was clear - that a lot needed to be done. The message was also hopefulthat environmental scientists had time and again been able to demonstrate bogs could heal and native flora and fauna were quick to return and re-establish themselves.

For more information on the work of this local charity go online to their website.

www.ulsterwildlife.org/

The work of Ulster Wildlife was clearly valuable. Trying to hold government and industry to account and protect what were often very fragile environments.

THE CHURCH ACCOUNTS IN A NUTSHELL

Year End 31/12/2023 Accounts in a Nutshell - Commentary

Headlines

(1) A Breakeven year with total Income and Expenditure broadly equal.

(2) As a result, Cash Reserves remained largely unchanged at some £96,500.

This may seem a satisfactory outcome but it is due to the receipt of a £10,000 legacy during the year from the estate of a deceased parishioner. Without this exceptional income item we would have realised a £10,000 deficit on the year. As opportunities for growing Income beyond present levels are limited, and expenditures experienced this year were fairly standard, this is an indication of the results we might expect over the next 4 years or so until our Building Development loan, which costs us some £42,250 per year, is paid off. This could see our reserves falling to £50,000 or less over that time frame but life should be financially more comfortable once that milestone is reached.

Income

Parishioner Voluntary Giving, basically FWO Envelopes and Standing Orders, at over £93,000 remained on a par with 2022, still some £10,000 to £15,000 down on pre Covid levels. These sort of values would appear to be the new norm.

Halls Usage Rentals/Contributions and Fundraising Events. The return of good levels of usage of our halls by parishioners and members of the local community continues and is most welcome for much more than financial reasons. It is good to see our Church at the heart of the local community. Fundraising events like the Art Exhibition and our Parish Fun Day proved very popular and raised over £8,000 whilst contributions towards the use of our Church Halls from a great variety of users produced over £14,000. Other popular initiatives such as Pauline’s Coffee Mornings and Friendship Lunches, amongst others, generated close to £6,000

Expenditure

We have been fortunate in recent years to have had no major exceptional expenditures on repairs, or necessary equipment updates/ replacements. However we do anticipate some significant electrical work in 2024. The big expenditure headings this year were standard staffing costs, Diocesan levies and New Development Loan Interest and depreciation charges over which we have little control. Gas/electricity costs have continued to rise. Our remaining New Development Loan amount outstanding at year end has now been reduced to £148.7k (from an original £325k in 2018.)

Going Forward

As things stand, we will struggle annually to match income to expenditure over the next few years, especially if we have major repairs and maintenance issues. We do have good Reserves as a result of Government Covid grants (some £70k in total over the past 3 years) but, as indicated these could be depleted very quickly until the Building Loan is repaid. Still more returning/new members needed!

Finally, thanks to all who support the Teasurer’s work especially counters and lodgers William and Steve. Also Derrick and Lyn

ST. GALL'S PARISH CHURCH - ACCOUNTS IN A

- YEAR TO 31/12/2023

REPORT FROM SOUTH SUDAN

February 2024

Over the past year we have been hearing and seeing horrific reports of the war between Ukraine and Russia. More recently, we have listened and watched the dreadful developments in Israel and Gaza. It is all heart break-ing. These situations are indeed dreadful and sadly they take the focus off other places around the world that are also suffering. South Sudan is one of those places and it has provoked the UN Aid Agencies to launch a fresh humanitarian appeal for the area.

There is a huge humanitarian crisis with huge needs. Of a population of 50 million, 25million need human aid of some kind and 18 million suffer from acute food deprivation.

Many countries around the world are cutting down on aid relief therefore hunger grows, suffering grows and instability grows.

Open Doors is a registered charity which works through local church part-ners in Sudan to strengthen persecuted Christians and recently they reminded us that “Sudan was one of the good news stories for the persecuted church in recent years but sadly there has been another step back…..and Sudan is, once again, in the top ten countries where Christians risk everything to follow Jesus.”

It goes on to tell us that “unrest in Sudan continues and, after a transitional government that made steps towards religious freedom, power is back in the hands of the military. It is feared that positive steps will be further un-done...for instance, the death penalty for leaving Islam was abolished, but there are concerns that it could be reinstated.

The past year has seen violence and pressure against Christians worsen.”

It is very difficult for us in the Western world to understand how vulnerable these people are. For us, going to church is not a big risk. Owning a Bible isn’t a big risk. Even sharing the gospel with friends, family or neighbours isn’t a big risk but for millions of our brothers and sisters around the world that isn’t true. In the Bible we read about ordinary people who were asked to do seemingly impossible things, but with the help of God they stepped out in faith and ac-complished much more than they could ever have imagined possible.

Charles Haddow from Omagh, Co. Tyrone was one of those people and his memory is still held in great esteem in Maridi where he brought Christianity in a meaningful way by setting up “small tree schools” which developed into the school we have supported through some of our many projects there. And which I had the privilege of visiting in 2005.

Emma Lutton, Communications Coordinator, with CMS Ireland recently wrote about “Authentic Expressions of God on the ground”. She highlighted how families come together to learn about God in Rwanda, how the hand of hospitality, outstretched by those broken by the pain of loss in Nepal, spills forth kingdom treasure. And we learn how our partners in South Sudan, DR Congo and Uganda are drawn to God in special ways as their source of sus-tenance and renewal.”

As we move towards Easter we, in the Sudan Support Group, ask you all to pray for peace to prevail in Sudan and that God will guide the rulers to estab-lish lasting respect for human rights. Pray also for the church leaders, includ-ing our own Archbishop Justin, to have constructive dialogue with their Muslim counterparts.

I have also been following with interest the progress of Andrew and Joanne Quill who are Mission Partners in training. Their commissioning will take place on Sunday 18th February @ 7pm in Christ Church, Primacy, Bangor. They are going to Ibba, which is not far from Maridi. Andrew’s father, Canon Quill, was the Rector in Castlederg [my home town] for many years and on my trip to South Sudan in 2005 Andrew was one of a group of people we met on our journey. Small world. We pray for them and are grateful for ordi-nary people like them who can do extraordinary things.

Once again this year, the Support Group is hosting our Easter Breakfast to raise much needed funds for South Sudan projects. Anne Thompson will be giving further information in our magazine and on our service papers each week. There will be sign up sheets in the porch and welcome area and we do hope you can come along. If you can help us with the catering that morning we would really appreciate another pair of hands!

Together, with God’s help, we can make a difference.

THE EASTER BREAKFAST ‘24

Join us for an Easter Breakfast to help raise funds for South Sudan.

Come along on Easter Sunday morning, 31st March. Enjoy fruit juice, a choice of cereals, including ever popular porridge, croissants and toast with butter, marmalade and jam, plus tea/ coffee.

We will serve breakfast from 8.30am - plenty of time for you to breakfast then head to Church.

We are a very small group of parishioners and have been unable to raise many funds for South Sudan to date, so we would appreciate your support at this venture. Thank you.

WHAT WILL MARCH BRING?

MENTAL HEALTH IDEAS FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES

DIRECTOR AT THE FARADAY INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND RELIGION IN CAMBRIDGE. RUTH WRITES ON THE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND CHRISTIAN FAITH.

Getting outside

Time outdoors in a natural environment is very good for you – and you can’t argue with the happy hormones produced by exercise. Attending to the details of nature can also inspire awe, which has been linked to positive mood, and increased life satisfaction. Enjoying creation can also help us connect with God.

Looking outside

If you are truly stuck indoors, try putting bird feeders outside your window so creation comes to you. This is also an act of kindness (see below)!

Lament and praise

The Psalms are a rich resource to help us express both our grief and our thanks to God. Try reading one or two each day.

Journaling

Keep a journal of thoughts, experiences or practices you have engaged with during the day. Constructing a personal narrative or story is now recognised as a very powerful psychological and spiritual tool for building resilience. It is also a vital learning tool that we can go back to when tough times return in the future.

HOLY WEEK 2024

The Sights and Sounds of Holy Week 25th – 29th March beginning at 7 p.m. With our speaker the Very Reverend Rod Smyth

Monday – The Crowd

Tuesday – The Temple

Wednesday – Spy Wednesday – The Trial

Thursday – Maundy Thursday

Acts of kindness

Helping or encouraging someone else is obviously a good thing to do in itself, but it also has a very positive effect on the giver – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Whichever way you look at it, finding new ways to show kindness to others can be a very effective way to help ourselves feel better too.

Gratitude

Gratitude is another natural drug – in a sense – that can help us feel better. Try keeping a grateful diary, adding a few things each day.

Laugh, sing, make music, dance

All of these activities are deeply rooted in our physical and mental makeup. You may have forgotten how great they feel, especially in times of sadness, but we can learn from children who do them very naturally.

I hope these ideas may help bring us closer to God, each other, and His creation.

‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Good Friday – The Centrality of the Cross

Holy Week 2024 Where and When?

Monday 25th March at 7 p.m at West Church Presbyterian Church

Tuesday 26th March at 7 p.m. at West Church Presbyterian Church

Wednesday 27th March at 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion at St Gall’s

Wednesday 27th March at 7 p.m. at Bangor Methodist Church, Rathmore Road

Thursday 28th March at 7 p.m. at Bangor Methodist Church, Rathmore Road

Good Friday 29th March at 1.30 pm. to 3.05 p.m. Vigil Service at St Gall’s

Good Friday 29th March at 7 p.m. at St Gall’s

LAUGHTER LINES

It was Palm Sunday, but because of a sore throat, five-year-old Bobby was kept home from church with his grannie. When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds and Bobby asked them what they were for. “People held them over Jesus’ head as He walked by,” his father explained. Bobby was aghast. “I don’t believe it! The one Sunday I don’t go, and He shows up!”

**

Flight time

A couple going on holiday for Easter were amazed when the airplane pilot came on and advised the passengers that he had lost his way. He explained that the radar was not working, the radio beam could not be picked up, and the compass had broken. “But,” he added soothingly, “you will be glad to know that we are making very good time.”

**

Noah had problems, too

When Noah sailed the waters blue, he had his troubles same as you. For 40 days he drove the Ark before he found a place to park.

**

St Patrick’s Day groaners

Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day?

Regular rocks are too heavy.

Why can’t you borrow money from a leprechaun?

Because they’re always a little short. How can you tell if an Irishman is having a good time?

He’s Dublin over with laughter!

What would you get if you crossed Christmas with St. Patrick’s Day?

St O’Claus!

**

St Patrick’s Day

Moses and climate change

When Moses went up the mountain one day to meet with God, the Lord said he had both good news and bad news for him. Moses asked, “What’s the good news?”

“I married an Irishman on St Patrick’s Day.” “Oh, really?”

“No, O’Reilly!”

**

Pewsheet notice that went wrong….

This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

**

God replies, “Moses, I shall visit plagues upon the Egyptians. I shall cause their rivers to run red with blood. I shall cause frogs to infest their houses, and lice to infest their bodies. I shall cause flies to swarm upon them. Their cattle shall die; boils will infect both man and beast. I shall cause hail to destroy their crops; and locusts shall devour anything green that is left in their land. Darkness will cover their land for three days and nights. I shall then lead you through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud by day, and pillar of fire by night. I shall split the waters of the sea. I shall feed you with Manna that forms upon the ground until the children of Israel reach the Land flowing with milk and honey.” Moses replied, “That’s GREAT, Lord! What

could possibly be the bad news?”

“You, Moses, shall write the Environmental Impact Statement.”

**

Missing socks in your life

What does it mean when all the socks in your laundry match, with none left over?

You’re now losing them in pairs!

**

Don’t interrupt!

Sir Winston Churchill rehearsed his speeches at every opportunity. A true story about him relates how one morning, when Sir Winston was in his tub, his valet heard his voice above the splashing. Opening the door, he asked; “Were you speaking to me, sir?”

“Not at all,” Churchill replied, annoyed at the interruption. “I was addressing the House of Commons.”

**

LESSON READERS MARCH 2024

3 March

10 March

17 March

24 March

7 April

Derrick Conn

Sam Anderson

Rosemary Anderson

Paul Blamphin

Tanya Blamphin

Claire Farmer

Neil Farmer

Anne Thompson

Susan Cathcart

Derick McCambley

Maureen Jenkins

Various (7 Readers)

Nanette McCoy

SAFEGUARDING AND ST GALL’S

The Church of Ireland is committed to ensuring all children and vulnerable adults are protected from harm. We as a parish strive towards the highest standards in Safeguarding with children and vulnerable adults.There is a dedicated website for Safeguarding within the Church of Ireland.

You can find more information here:

https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/ We have a Parish Panel who carry the responsibility of ensuring the Safeguarding Trust policy is fully implemented and communicated to the parish community.

If you have questions or concerns regarding a Safeguarding issue you can contact the parish panel. Our team are:

WHO’S WHO

Rector:

Canon Michael Parker, Tel: 9185 3366 carnalea@down.anglican.org

SELECT VESTRY

Rectors Churchwarden: Tanya Blamphin

Rector’s Glebewarden:

Hon. Secretary: William Tennis: 9146 6950

Gary Ballentine

People’s Churchwarden: sTeve

People’s Glebewarden: Hon.Treasurers:

Steve Garland Bertie Thompson

Noel McKeown 9146 6192

Janis Dunn Claire Farmer Pauline Smyth

Christine Grey Mervyn Henry Chris Houston James Hanna

Nanette McCoy Jim Noble

Diocesan Lay Reader: Doreen Tennis 9146 6950

Parish Reader: Nanette McCoy 9145 9756

Director of Music: Children and youth worker:

Parish Administrator:

Parish Office: Open 10am-12noon; Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Telephone: 028 91853810

Parish Office Address: 171 Crawfordsburn Road, Bangor, BT19 1BT

E-mail: stgallsmail@gmail.com

Parish Website: www.carnalea.down.anglican.org

CONTACT INFORMATION YOU MAY NEED

Rainbow Guides 6:30pm 12thbangorrainbows@gmail.com (4-6 yeats old)

Brownies 6.30 pm Jennifer Leonard..........07855 684075 (7-10 years old)

Afternoon Group 2.00pm Ruth Garland...................9146 8891 (1st Monday of month)

Elizabeth Pollock.............9146 8472

Sequence Dance Class 2-4.00pm Bobby & Phyllis Magill..07870892269

Monday Practice

Tuesday

Ladies Bowls 2.00pm

Bridge Club 10.00am Nanette McCoy ...............9145 9756 (1st & 3rd weeks)

Wednesday

Coffee Morning 10 a.m- Pauline Smyth.............07973 934781 (3rd Wednesday of the month) 12 noon

Squirrels (4-6 years old) 5.30pm Simon Brown gsl9thbangor@countydownscouts.org.uk

Beavers (6-8 years old) 6.30pm Daphne Haslett...........02891 459810

Choir Practice 7.15pm

Thursday

Indoor Bowls 7.00pm Gary Ballentine .........91456818

Guides 7.00pm 12th.bangor@gmail.com

Friday

Sequence Dance

Workshop 7.30-10pm Bobby & Phyllis Magill...07870892269

Friday Cubs (8-10 years old) 6.15pm Emma Orr..................07564 348135

Scouts (10-14 years) 7.30pm Jack Denvir.................07994 510620

Group Scouts Leader Simon Brown.....GSL - 9th Bangor gsl9thbangor@countydownscouts.org.uk

Sunday

Morning Worship 8.30am & Canon Michael Parker.......9185 3366 10.00am

Sunday Club 10.00am Christopher Ballentine...07572 384479 (During morning worship)

Prayer Focus Group 5.30pm Helen Williams..................9146 2175 (1st Sunday of month)

Wednesday 10.30am Holy Communion facebook.com/CarnaleaBangor