All parishoners, friends and neighbours are invited to gather on the church steps at 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve, for a brief reflection on the year past and the year to come before the ringing in of 2018 – the 150th anniversary of the building of St Paul’s. Refreshments will be served afterwards.
Two moods of Christmas are captured between “Still the Night” of the First Eucharist of the Nativity, starting at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, and “Come, Join the Celebration” of our Christmas Day worship starting at 10.30am. Please join us to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Here is the full line-up of Christmas services
Sunday 24th, Christmas Eve
8.15 am Holy Communion (One)
No Service at 10.30 am or 7 pm
11.30 pm The First Eucharist of the Nativity
Christmas Day
8.15 am Holy Communion (One)
10.30 am Christmas All Age Worship
Sunday, December 31st
8.15 am Holy Communion
10.30 am Parish Communion with Carols
7 pm No Service
11.45 pm Ringing in the New Year
All are welcome
Our traditional, very special Service of Nine Lessons with Carols by Candlelight will be held this Sunday evening, December 17th, at 7pm. There will be a retiring collection for the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People, Bow Street, Dublin 7.
After the service, all are welcome for mulled wine and mince pies in the Parish Centre.
Meanwhile before that, at 10.30am, there will be a Christingle service for all ages. All present will be encouraged to make a Christingle, which can be brought home after the service. All the materials required will be provided. Do come along.
The origins of the Christingle service lie in the Moravian Church which has its roots in what is now Germany and the Czech Republic. The first recorded use of a Christingle was in December 1747 during a children’s festival in Marienborn, Germany (near Frankfurt). Christingles are made from an orange decorated with red tape, sweets and a candle. Each piece of the Christingle holds special symbolism to help us understand the importance of Jesus and the Gospel, and its relevance at Christmas time.
Our speaker at the 10.30am service this Sunday, December 10th will be Rhonda Willoughby (pictured below with Bishop Pat Storey). For two years she has been involved in the “Good for the Sole” project in the Diocese of Meath and Kildare in partnership with the Leprosy Mission. Leprosy still exists in parts of the world and particularly in India and so far €25,000 has been raised to buy sandals, made out of recycled tyres. Sandals help protect the feet of those who suffer from leprosy.
They are now moving into the second phase of the project – to raise money for foot surgery that costs €50 per patient, which includes medical care, hospital stay and aftercare. For a leprosy sufferer this surgery means that they can work again and earn a living.
Rhonda, who lives in Naas with her husband Tim (son of a former Rector of St Paul’s, Noel Willoughby) and daughter Christina, has produced a cook book to raise funds. She will have copies available to buy this Sunday, they cost €10 and would make a nice Christmas present. Why not extend your recipe repertoire and change someone’s life!
Meanwhile, Sunday Club meets in the Parish Centre during this service.
The choirs of St Paul’s and St Patrick’s, Dalkey, will combine for an Advent Carol Service in St Paul’s this Sunday, December 3rd, at 7pm. It’s a new “tradition”, which was started last year by the parishes’ two music directors, Nathan Barrett of St Paul’s and Matthew Breen of St Patrick’s. It is an authentic and most enjoyable way to mark the Advent countdown to Christmas. All very welcome.
