The first Pets’ Service in St Paul’s on Sunday, October 13th, was such a success it is sure to become an annual fixture. Some 39 dogs turned up in the church, along with a cat, a hamster and a guinea pig – not to mention a few two-legged creatures in tow. Rosemary Smyth (pictured below with the Rector and some young members of the congregation) gave the address, talking movingly about how she acquired her guide dog Clint and the difference he has made to her life.
This is a first for St Paul’s: in the month that remembers the patron saint of animals, St Francis of Assisi, you are invited to bring your pet to church next Sunday, October 13th, for an All Age Service of blessing and thanksgiving. An address will be given by Rosemary Smyth, a guide dog owner, with her dog Clint. There will be a retiring collection on behalf of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Also meet Nora, with her fundraising dog Maya, and Clarissa with her retired guide dog Fee.
A few rules: birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc. to be kept in cages, out of the way of cats, and cats and rabbits to be kept in cages, out of the way of dogs, and dogs to be kept on a leash at all times. Pooper scooper rules apply too!
The choir of St Paul’s has been invited to sing at the Harvest Festival in St Peter’s, Portlaoise, this Sunday evening, October 6th, at 7pm. So if you have family or friends in the area, let them know!
A reminder that if you want to be confirmed next year, please make contact with the Rector (garydowd@eircom.net) by the end of today, Monday, September 30th. Confirmation for our rural deanery will take place on Sunday 9th March 2014. Classes will begin in January 2014. The preferred age is those in second year at secondary school.
Our former rector, the Ven Gordon Linney, will be guest preacher at the Harvest Thanksgiving next Sunday, September 29th, at 10.30am. There will be a special collection at the service for the Bishops’ Appeal for Syria. The church will be decorated the day before, Saturday, September 28th, from 9am. All are welcome to come and help and have a cuppa (no experience necessary!). Donations of vegetables, fruit or flowers will be gratefully received and will go to the Capuchin Fathers afterwards.
Meanwhile, we also urgently need new volunteers for the weekly flower rota all year round. If you can help, please contact Harriet Greenlee on 0872247195 (again no experience needed).
We are delighted to announce that musician Ciaran Smith is joining our parish team. He will start this Sunday, September 22nd, at the Worship and Wedges service, which is at a new time of 5.30pm, in the Parish Centre. This in an informal, all-age act of worship, followed by a meal of sausages and potato wedges. (Please note, there will be a service of Evening Prayer as usual at 7pm in the church afterwards.)
Ciaran is urgently looking for people who can play an instrument or sing and is inviting them to come along this Sunday, at 4.30pm, for a practice before the service at 5.30pm. He can be contacted on 087 2260998 if you would like to chat to him beforehand about what you play or sing.
An estimated €3,000 was raised by the annual St Paul’s Dalkey Island Swim in aid of Kisiizi Hospital, Uganda, which took place on Sunday 8th September. Some 28 swimmers took to the water in reasonable conditions, although participants had to contend with a very strong current caused by the turning tide. One of the swimmers was Tara Doyne, daughter of the late Frank Doyne who came up with the idea in 1995. The money raised will help to pay the salary of a surgeon at the hospital. Due to its remote location, the hospital faces a constant challenge to retain suitably qualified staff. The parish is very grateful to the swimmers, their sponsors, and to those who provided and crewed the safety boats. A special thanks to Peter Craven who coordinated the event.
If you are a Facebook user, why not become a friend to Dalkey Island Swim on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dalkey-Island-Swim/163075003895396
Sing for your supper: There will be a short, informal service in the Parish Centre next Sunday, September 22nd, at the new time of 5.30pm, followed by the serving of sausages and potato wedges. Please note there will be a service of Evening Prayer in the church as usual at 7pm
Fortune favours the brave!
Thank you to everyone who supported our first attempt (in recent times anyway) at an outdoor service followed by parish family barbecue. It was a great success, with well over 125 people attending on what was a lovely, warm, dry afternoon. Worshipping outside, followed by social fellowship, was a very apt way to mark the end of what has been a fabulous summer and to start looking forward to autumn. Particular thanks go to Lynn and Frank Gunning and their crew who looked after all the cooking, and also to everybody who contributed “tray bakes” for the “afters”. We’re determined to make this an annual event – on the first Sunday after the schools go back.
