A Lent Coin Collection Appeal to fund a surgeon at Kisiizi Hospital in south-west Uganda will be launched at the 10.30am service this Sunday, March 3rd,designated ‘Kisiizi Sunday’. The speaker will be Stu Garrett (photographed above), a physiotherapist, who, along with other Irish healthcare professionals, founded the not-for-profit organisation CHEEERS Developing Healthcare Together, which is a multidisciplinary, professional volunteer-sending organisation.
 St Paul’s has had a very strong link with Kisiizi Hospital (above) for almost 60 years. In that time the parish has provided funding and expertise to help construct a two-storey children’s ward and maternity ward (completed in 2008) and operating theatres (officially opened in May 2011).  Since the completion of the theatres we have been covering the annual salary of Dr Robert Mugarura, a surgeon at the hospital.  Thankfully a surgeon’s salary in Uganda is a lot lower than one closer to home!  We currently have €9,000 in funds but require a further €3,000 to continue with this important project for this year.  
 Over the next six weeks you are invited to throw any spare coins you may have into a jar that we will provide and these will be collected and counted after Easter. This is fun way in which parishioners of all ages can help maintain the vital services offered at Kisiizi Hospital.
 Stu first travelled to Uganda when he was 16 years old as part of a Transition Year programme at St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock. Whilst studying to become a physiotherapist at University College Dublin (UCD), he also got involved with UCD Volunteer Overseas. Stuart has led several groups of UCD students to Uganda where they have undertaken their elective placement at Kisiizi Hospital.

 For people who give to St Paul’s through standing order but feel uncomfortable at collection time because they have nothing to put on the plate, there are now cards on the table at the back of the church that can be taken to use as a symbolic offering during a service.
 Meanwhile, if there is anyone who uses the envelope system and wishes to change over to standing order, please contact David Pain 087 219 7512, who will supply you with the relevant details.

A Service of Confirmation, to be conducted by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Rev Michael Jackson, will take place in St Paul’s on Saturday, February 9th at 7 pm. The nine candidates for confirmation are Josh Baker, Rebecca Bowers, Holly Hewson, Emily McDonnell, Julia McEvoy, Ellen Mitchell, Robyn Murray, Sophie Poole and Daniel Russell. All welcome.

All children aged four and upwards are invited to come along to Sunday Club, which begins again this Sunday, January 27th, and will meet on the second and fourth Sunday of each month.
 Children are encouraged to come to the church for the start of the service at 10.30am before leaving for Sunday Club in the Parish Centre during the singing of the second hymn (after approx.15 minutes). We are grateful to Charlotte Blennerhasset and her team of volunteers for enabling Sunday Club to get up and running again for our younger parishoners.

Application forms for admission to Glenageary Killiney N.S.  in autumn 2019 will be available for collection from the School Office on Monday, January 14th, 2019 to Friday, January 25th, 2019 between 8.30am and 2.15pm.  Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 2.15 pm, Monday, January 28th, 2019.

All are invited to join us at 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve for a very short service to mark the turning of the year. Then the  chimes will ring out at midnight and drinks will be served.

The traditional Nine Lessons with Carols by Candlelight  will be held at 7pm this Sunday, December 23rd, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Parish Centre afterwards. In the morning, an all-age Christingle service will be held in the more informal setting of the Parish Centre at 10.30am.
  The church will be decorated for Christmas this Saturday, December 22nd, from 9.30am. All are welcome to come and help and donations of foliage etc. would be gratefully accepted. If you wish to donate a poinsettia in memory of  loved ones, please put €5 per person in an envelope clearly marked with the names of loved ones, and give to the Churchwardens, the Rector or Harriet Greenlee 087 224 7195 by December 21st.  A list of names will be included in the service sheet on Christmas Day.

The St Paul‘s Folk Group is reuniting to lead the music at our worship this Sunday, December 9th, at 10.30am, as part of our 150th anniversary celebrations. The service will be Parish Communion.

The rest of the St Paul‘s programme for Advent and Christmas includes:
December
23^rd Christingle Service 10.30am in the main hall of the Parish Centre
23^rd Nine Lesson and Carols by Candlelight 7pm
24^th The First Eucharist of Christmas 11.30pm
25^th Christmas Day 8.15am Holy Communion and 10.30am Family Service

The now traditional joint service of Advent Lessons and Carols with our neighbours in St Patrick’s, Dalkey, takes place on Sunday, December 2nd, at 7pm, in St Patrick’s. The joint choirs will lead the music. There will be no evening service in St Paul’s that night.

 The rest of the St Paul’s programme for Advent and Christmas is as follows:
December
9^th St Paul’s Folk Group re-union, to mark 150th anniversary; the group will provide the music at 10.30am service
23^rd Christingle Service 10.30am in the main hall of the Parish Centre
23^rd Nine Lesson and Carols by Candlelight 7pm
24^th The First Eucharist of Christmas 11.30pm
25^th Christmas Day 8.15am Holy Communion and 10.30am Family Service

Tickets for the performance of Handel’s Messiah in St Paul’s this Saturday, November 17th at 7.30pm can be reserved through stpaulsdub@gmail.com or bought at the door on the night from 7pm. It is part of our 150th anniversary celebrations and to raise funds for Focus Ireland. The Occasional Singers, under conductor Robin Moore, will be joined by soloists Judith Lyons (soprano), Sarah Luttrell (contralto), Luke Horner (tenor), David Corr (bass), with Will Palmer on trumpet and Charles Pearson on organ. Tickets €15 (concessions €10). Please spread the word about this concert to neigbours and friends.