Ten years to the day after his service of institution in St Paul’s on June 28th, 2005, the Rev Gary Dowd was surprised at the end of yesterday’s 10.30am service with a presentation by the Select Vestry, on behalf of the parish, to mark his first decade among us.
Rector’s churchwarden Geoff Barry made the presentation, thanking him for his first 10 years of ministry in St Paul’s. He also presented the Rector’s wife, Pamela,with a bouquet of flowers in acknowledgement of her supportive role in the parish.
In thanking the congregation, the Rev Dowd recalled how leaving Carlow after 15 years was a big wrench but the first time he stepped into St Paul’s church, he felt it was the right move. Their two children, Suzanne and Andrew, had grown up here very happily, he added

Since a 2013 change in legislation, PAYE workers and self-assessed tax individuals who donate €250 or more to the church over the whole year can help the parish to benefit further through tax back on these donations.
 For instance, if you give €250 over 12 months – that’s €4.81 a week – the parish will get another €112.32 in tax back, bringing the value of your donation up to €362.32.
  To be eligible for tax back, the donations need to be made in recorded giving ie through the stewardship envelope scheme, bank standing order or cheque, rather than loose cash on the collection plate. We recently circularised any qualifying subscribers for whom we do not have an ‘in-force’ tax form. If your donation was in 2014 or 2013, we are asking everyone to complete the five-year ‘CHY3 Cert’ that we sent.  If your donation was in 2012 or 2011, we are asking only the PAYE taxpayers to complete the one-year ‘CHY2 Cert’. Please return the forms to Evan Roe (2806360), before the end of June if possible.

Barbecue to carols: dates for your diary 

The “extra curricular” activities of the parish have nearly all wound up for the summer – although Bible Study on Monday evenings continues for the time being, along with  pay-as-you-play badminton on Tuesdays (see right). However, the schedule of services remains constant throughout June, July and August,with opportunities to worship at 8.15am.10.30am and 7pm every Sunday and 11am Holy Communion on Wednesdays.
We will mark the end of summer with an outdoor service and parish barbecue on Sunday, August 30th, from 10.30am. Here are some more dates for your diary:
Friday, October 2^nd Parish Social Evening, Royal St George Yacht Club, 8pm
Sunday, October 4^th Pets Service 10.30 am
Sunday, November 1^st Remembrance and Thanksgiving Service for Loved Ones 7 pm
Sunday, November 8^th Remembrance Sunday
Sunday, December 20^th Service of Nine Lessons with Carols by Candlelight 7 pm

After nine months of ministering amongst us, our first intern deacon, the Rev Abigial Sines, will finish up this Sunday, June 14th. She will preach at the 10.30am service, after which a presentation will be made to her in the Parish Centre over tea and coffee. We wish her well in her new post with the Christ Church Cathedral group of parishes, which she will take up in September, and thank her for all her hard work in St Paul’s. She has left her mark through her creative, cheerful and energetic approach to worship – particularly evident in her stewardship of the monthly Worship & Wedges (at which she is pictured at below).