Church re-opens for worship

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An emotional falter in the voice of the Rector as he closed yesterday’s service said it all: it was so good to be back together for worship in the St Paul’s church building after 16 weeks.
 What was already a very special occasion was enhanced by the music provided by three sisters. Eva Richards. Athena Richards, and our organist Caroline Barnes. Eva and Caroline had already become familiar to parishioners through their organ-cello duets, together but apart, at the end of our worship videos during lockdown. It was apt, on our re-opening day, that they were playing together in the church for the first time, joined by Athena on her viola.
  We hope everybody who was able to be in St Paul’s yesterday felt better for being there and that the procedures which have to be observed in accordance with government and central church guidelines did not detract unduly from the experience.
 Unfortunately for those of you at home who were expecting to join us remotely for the first service to be live-streamed from St Paul’s, there was the disappointment of the internet link crashing just as the service was about to start. You might have already had a chance to watch the recording here, but it had a few technical problems of its own, which we hope will be sorted by next week. Onwards and upwards …

Three sisters (from left) Athena and Eva Richards and Caroline Barnes, with the Rector, the Revd Gary Dowd, before the re-opening service

Church to re-open on July 5th

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St Paul’s will re-open for in-church worship this Sunday, July 5th, with one service at 10.30am. The service will also be livestreamed for the first time, so you can join in at home – or from wherever you are – provided you have access to the internet. More details to come before Sunday.

Building is closed but church is open

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Our Rector, the Revd Gary Dowd, continues to conduct a weekly act of worship that is recorded for parishoners to share in their homes on Sunday mornings. An accompanying service sheet is emailled out, as are twice weekly letters from the Rector during this time of togetherness apart. See the latest recording here. If you would like to be included on the mailing list, please contact us at stpaulsdub@gmail.com

Kisiizi Hospital on Covid-19 alert

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There are confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Uganda, which is now in lockdown, as well as in several neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. Kisiizi Hospital, as of last week, had not yet had any Covid-19 cases, according to our latest update from Dr Ian Spillman, yet the impact of the virus has still been massive.
 Normally this is the busiest time of year for visitors to the hospital, with many elective medical students and groups whose input helps the Good Samaritan Fund, which supports the poorest patients.
 Obtaining supplies from Kampala can no longer be done with public transport, so they have to send a vehicle after obtaining special permits.  As part of their contingency planning, the hospital management team have started renovations to create a triage and isolation unit.  They have also invested in supplies and reviewed their stock of PPE and their tailors have been making more gowns, scrubs and headgear. They have also produced some face visors, using laminating pouches which seem to work quite well! You can read the latest newsletter here.
 Meanwhile, if you have money jars from the Kisiizi Lenten Appeal, which seems so long ago now, please  hold on to them until we can finally return to our church building.
St Paul's Church | Glenageary | Co. Dublin