Aughaval Group of Parishes

  The Gate of the Year Dear Friends, At the close of the year and the threshold of another, a prayerful good wish for a Happy New Year to each and all - a continuation of the Blessing which we have been sharing during this Christmas season, and a well-known poem, The Gate of the Year (below).   Blessing May the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas [and New Year]; + and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen. I said to a man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."  And he replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way. So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me t...

  You are warmly invited to join Bishop Michael (pictured, July 2023) on Wed 1st January at 10.30am in Holy Trinity Church, Westport, for a New Year's Day Service of Holy Communion, an opportunity to mark the incoming of 2025 with personal and shared prayer and thanksgiving and to recommit ourselves to God's love and service. This will be a short service followed by tea/coffee. All welcome.   

  You can access the bulletin here, containing the day's lectionary readings, Collect and notices.  https://www.scribd.com/document/809406506/Bulletin-for-the-Aughaval-Parishes-Christmas-IC-29-Dec-2024 A  missing notice on the bulletin is that bishop Michael will be presiding at Holy Communion on New Year’s Day in Holy Trinity Westport, at 10.30am. He would love to have your company if you can make it. Followed by tea/coffee.  Bishop Michael Burrows addressing the children of Holy Trinity National School,  in October 2023, during his Peregrinations.

  Christmas-New Year Letter from the Rector     Dear Friends,              ‘Emanuel, God with us’ I hope at this Christmastime that, whatever your circumstances, you are experiencing the “comfort and joy” of the good tidings of God’s coming to us and dwelling with us in our Lord Jesus Christ.    Sincere thanks  Sincere thanks to everyone for all the behind-the-scenes work in the churches and parishes in preparing for the many Advent and Christmas services and events which took place, and especially to those who helped with the children’s activities, Crib services, music and readings. We were especially blessed in the area of music this year, with magnificent musical contributions from many gifted artists.  See:  https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2024/12/magnificent-music-brought-depth-and.html   Scripture, Comfort and Joy  This time of year can be difficult for many people. We hold in love and prayer all who are ...

Christmas Day visitors to Westport, Rachel and Jonathan Services this weekend, which includes a ‘fifth Sunday’ (in the month): Sat 28 Dec, 7pm in Turlough Church, Evening Prayer Sun 29 Dec, 10am in Christ Church, Castlebar, Morning Prayer Sun 29 Dec, 11.30am in Holy Trinity, Westport, Holy Communion, followed by tea/coffee  Next week: Wed 1 Jan 2025, 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, with Bishop Michael  Sat 4 Jan, 11am – 12.30pm, ‘Messy New Year Christingle Sat 4 Jan, 7pm in Turlough Church, Holy Communion We'd love to have your company!  

We were truly blessed to have so much professional input to our Christmas services this year in the parishes, including singers James Kilbane ( James Kilbane Music ), David Durham (see https://mayomalevoicechoir.ie/david-durham/ ) and Hubert Francis (see https://hubertfrancis.com ), Chris O'Malley (Westport Festival of Chamber Music), and organists John Dexter and Siobhan Kilkelly. Sincere thanks to them all for the musical depth and sparkle that they brought to the services.  In the Service of Nine Lessons & Carols in Holy Trinity Westport, we were delighted again this year to have the Choir of St Mary's Westport sing for us and with us (sincere thanks to Dan Delaney), and that our own Barbara Sheppard ( Parish Reader, Westport) brought a beautiful rendition of Don Oiche Úd i mBeitheal  accompanied by Chris O’Malley and Westport Traditional Irish Musicians.  See also: https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes/posts/pfbid0uBUerDk8UFFPpYqPnxXaS92wpBMErM5hKzXDAhLVeU8KMh...

  Today, 26 December, we celebrate Stephen, who was a deacon in the New Testament church in Jerusalem and the first Christian martyr.   St Stephen, by Giacomo Cavedone, 1601 Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7934119 You can read the account of Stephen's speech/ sermon and his martyrdom, in Acts chapter 7, and more about him here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen   Acts 7 (NRSV, Oremus) Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are these things so?’   2 And Stephen replied: ‘Brothers  and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, “Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.”  4 Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living.  5 He did not give him any of it as a heritage...

  Turlough Crib Service 2024 Holy Trinity, Westport St Thomas's Dugort Christ Church, Castlebar,  Christmas morning, 2024

  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Christmas Eve, Feast of the Nativity (Christmas Communion): 7pm in Turlough Parish Church, and 11pm in Holy Trinity Westport.  Christmas Day, Feast of the Nativity (Christmas Communion): 9.30am in Christ Church Castlebar, and 11am in Holy Trinity Westport. You're welcome!

  This is Steffi and Paul, a.k.a. Mary and Joseph (see Crib Service, 22nd December, below), who last weekend celebrated the first anniversary of their wedding which took place in southern India. Steffi and Paul lead the Sunday Club children’s ministry in Holy Trinity Westport, and we are blessed to have them! Let's pray for them in their lives and ministry. 

Christmas Services of Holy Communion (The Eucharist)  in the Aughaval Parishes: - Sunday 22 December, 3pm in St Thomas’s Dugort, Achill - Christmas Eve, 24 December, 7pm in Turlough -  Christmas Eve, 24 December,  ‘Midnight Christmas Communion’, 11pm in Holy Trinity, Westport - Christmas Day, 25 December, 9.30am in Christ Church, Castlebar and 11am in Holy Trinity Westport All are welcome to come and celebrate the Nativity and God's great gift to us all.

Watch Bishop Michael’s message here  or, follow this link:  https://youtu.be/ynypD1-KvI0?si=A8iD1FTE7azeg--5 .       

  Holy Trinity Westport Crib Service, 22 December 2024  Children gather round the manger, with Mary and Joseph The third of this year's Crib Services took place on Sunday morning, 22 December, in Holy Trinity Westport. Children (and adults!) had been invited to attend dressed in simple Nativity costume (- dressing gowns, towels, tea towels, etc.) or to borrow a costume from the Nativity dressing-up box which had been placed in the church for the occasion. We were delighted that the 'cast' included: two angels, a donkey, two wise men, Mary and Joseph, and of course, the baby Jesus. The service included eight short readings telling the Christmas Story, and parts of nine carols. (See below for details.) There was a sense of joyful worship and remembrance, and refreshments were enjoyed in the church after the service.  Our thanks to everyone who contributed or supported by one means or another. Next service in HTW: Christmas Eve Holy Communion, 11pm; Christmas Day Communion, ...

On Friday 20th December, in Holy Trinity Church, Westport, we gave thanks for the life of Frank Martin, Clogher. May he rest in peace and rise in glory, and may his beloved family know the comfort and strength of Christ the Good Shepherd. 

A coffee morning was held in Holy Trinity Westport on 18th November, following morning worship, to raise funds towards a new ambulance for the Order of Malta Westport Unit. The event was well attended and a cheque for 830 euros was handed over to the Unit by Mr Steve Brickenden on 20th December. Thanks to everyone who supported the effort.   

Well done and thank you to the children and staff of Holy Trinity N.S. on their thoroughly enjoyable and impressive Christmas Concert, featuring plays and performances by all of the students.  Happy Christmas to them all! Well done to all the children for playing their part in our Christmas Concert yesterday. The Middle room started with a brilliant performance of 'The Golden Goose', Senior room pupils entertained us with 'The Legend of Labhri Lynch' and finally the Junior room children stole the show with their performance of 'Are we nearly there yet?'. We also enjoyed some beautiful songs by Laura's singing group. Many thanks to parents and families for all your support and for providing refreshments afterwards. Happy Christmas everyone🎄🎄🎄

A Christmas Thank-you message to the Aughaval Parishes from Tear Fund, in appreciation of our support:  

Wed 18 Dec, 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion in HTW, followed by coffee in Cornrue Bakery (beyond Lidl). All welcome. Advent Prayer and Bible Study: Wed 18 Dec, 7.30pm in the Rectory, Westport, with online option, link below. (You most likely will not need to use the Meeting ID and Passcode, if you have a Zoom account.) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1 Meeting ID: 827 8190 0766 Passcode: 747477 Sat 21 Dec, 7pm, Turlough, Holy Communion Sun 22 Dec, 10am, Castlebar Morning Prayer Sun 22 Dec, 11.30am in HTW: All-age Crib Service. Children (and adults!) are invited to come in simple Nativity costume, or items may be borrowed from the dressing-up box in the church. Sun 22 Dec, 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort – as below Sun 22 Dec, 5pm, St Mary's Westport Carol Service. We are warmly invited. Sun 22 Dec, 5pm and 8pm, Chapel Street Gospel Choir Concerts, in Christ Church Castlebar. Info., Ros Potter, Turlough. Christmas Communion: Sunday 22 Dec, 3pm ...

We were delighted that this manger was kindly made for us by a member of the local community. Oíche mhaith! Thank you!

Holy Trinity Westport, ready for the All-age Crib Service, on Sunday 22nd December at 11.30am. Children (and adults!) are invited to come in simple Nativity costume (- dressinggown, tea towel, etc.). Followed by tea/coffee and baked goods. All welcome!

Recent renovations to the vestry roof of Holy Trinity Church, Westport included repair of the finial.

Sunday coming, 15th December, 10am, is our Crib Service (all-age) in Christ Church Castlebar. Come along for this simple and joyful Nativity. You're welcome!

Friday 13th December was a holy and happy night in St Thomas's Church, Dugort, Achill, with the traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Photos and insights to follow. Oiche mhaith!

A few images from the Crib Service in Christ Church Castlebar, on Sunday 15 December. Special thanks to the children and young people who took part and to their parents.