Bulletin for 29-30 March, including Mothering Sunday
Welcome to the Aughaval Group of Parishes
Lent IVC, 30 March 2025
The Fourth Sunday in Lent
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday
offers a brief and welcome retrieve from the seriousness of Lent
with colour, flowers and celebration.
Hymns are from this group:
528 - The Church's one foundation
Children’s song: 570 - Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
587 - Just as I am, without one plea
231 - My song is love unknown
112 - There is a Redeemer
Collect Two
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Saviour gave his back to the smiters and did not hide his face from shame: Give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present time with sure confidence in the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The First Reading Joshua 5: 9-12
A reading from the book ‘Joshua’, chapter 5, beginning at verse 9:
The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.’ And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.
While the Israelites were encamped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm Psalm 32
The Second Reading 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Prodigal Son
Eduard von Gebhardt, 1925
The Gospel Reading Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32
Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable:
Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ”
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’
Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, circa 1668
Post Communion Prayer
Father, through your goodness we are refreshed through your Son in word and sacrament. May our faith be so strengthened and guarded that we may witness to your eternal love by our words and in our lives. Grant this for Jesus' sake, our Lord.
Collect Of The Word
God of compassion, Slow to anger, and full of mercy, welcoming sinners who return to you with penitent hearts: receive in your loving embrace all who come home to you, and seat them at your bountiful table, that, with all your children, they may feast with delight on all that satisfies the hungry heart. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Notices (subject to change) Please also check the website: aughaval.tlk.ie
Easter Vestry Meetings 2025 (‘Annual Meeting of the General Vestry’)
· Westport-Dugort Union Mon 31 March, 7pm in St Mary’s (Carrowbeg House)
· Castlebar Parish Tues 8 April, 7.30pm in the church
Confirmation Prep Session 4, Friday 14 March, 7.45pm in the Rectory
Lent, Holy Week and Easter dates (subject to change)
Wed 26 March 8pm OnlinePrayer https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1
Wed 2 April 10.30 am Holy Communion and Reflection, in St Mary’s Westport.
Please note: No evening online prayer on 2 April
Palm Sunday, 13 April: The Liturgy of the Passion, with The Mark Drama which is being organised by Kenn McLaughlin, Castlebar Parish, with others from across the parishes. If you are interested in getting involved in this ‘low key’ production, please get in touch with Kenn on +353 85 715 4139.
Monday in Holy Week,14 April:
- 11am, Monday on the Mountain. Meet in Murrisk carpark for a gentle walk to the St Patrick statue, and prayers. Suitable for all ages.
- 8pm Compline in Christ Church Castlebar
Tuesday in Holy Week, 15 April 8pm Compline in the Rectory
Wed in Holy Week (‘Spy Wednesday’)
- The Eucharist, 10.30am, St Mary’s Westport
- Online Prayer and Bible Reading in Lent, with the Litany. 8pm https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82781900766?pwd=b2YEVeJHqhnprNxoLHjd5sqg492wbn.1
Maundy Thursday, 17 April
- Last Holy Communion before Easter, 6.30pm in St Mary’s, with Washing of Feet. The Right Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop TLK, will be presiding.
- Tenebrae, 8pm in Christ Church Castlebar
Good Friday, 18 April
- The Hours – 12 noon in St Mary’s
- Ecumenical Good Friday Walk of Witness, Westport, 6pm
Holy Saturday, 19 April
- 7pm in Turlough, early All-age Easter Vigil and Easter Communion
Easter Day, 20 April
- 10am Christ Church Castlebar
- 12 noon for Holy Trinity Westport, in St Mary’s
- 3pm St Thomas’s Dugort
Easter Monday, 21 April
Return to Inishbiggle (‘tbc’). Leaving Dorian’s Point Ballycroy at 10am. Please contact the rector if you wish to come along.
Confirmation, Sunday 27 April, 10am in Christ Church, Castlebar. Please plan to come along and support the Confirmands as they are presented to the Bishop and take up their baptismal promises to follow Christ.
Pastoral care and enquiries:
Revd Suzanne Cousins, 0838003233
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
For urgent pastoral care from 1 – 7 April, contact Canon Andrea Wills 086 261 7572
