Today's Gospel Reading, Sunday 31 August

 

This weekend in the Aughaval Group of Parishes:

Back to School Sunday, with Blessing of the Backpacks

  • Saturday, 7pm in Turlough Church
  • Sunday, 10am in Christ Church Castlebar
  • Sunday, 12 noon in St Mary's Westport (for Holy Trinity Westport and friends), followed by tea in Carrowbeg House
  • Sunday, 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill, with Holy Communion



Photo by Brad Thien, Castlebar
August 2025



The Gospel Reading Luke 14: 1, 7-14


On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.


When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. 


‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place”, and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’


He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’




The United Methodist Church
Facebook post, 29 August 2025



Sacred Space

You can find a helpful prayer guide and reflection here:




Christian Art






Photo by Brad Thien, Castlebar
August 2025


Notices

Subject to change. 


  • Westport Sunday Club (Sunday school) restarts on 7 September, kicking off at 12 noon in the church service (in St Mary's which continues to host the Holy Trinity Westport congregation temporarily) and moving next to Carrowbeg House for activities, a Bible story and lesson, music and song, and snacks. 

    

Sunday Club is run in accordance with the Church of Ireland's Child Safeguarding regulations. For information on how to introduce your child to Sunday Club, please call Steffi (089 941 8165) or the rector (083 800 3233). 



  • Castlebar Select Vestry Meeting, Tues 9 September at 7.30pm in the church.
  • Westport-Dugort Select Vestry Meeting, Wed 17 Sept, 8pm in Carrowbeg House.
  • Turlough SV meeting, date tbc.



  • Harvest services in Castlebar, Westport and Achill will be on Sunday 14 September:

Guest speaker, Mr Alan Cousins, SAT7, and guest singer, Mr Hubert Francis (in Castlebar and Westport).

  • 14 Sept, 10am in Christ Church Castlebar. Harvest gifts and displays may be brought to the church the day before. For help, please speak with Netta or one of the church wardens (Susie or Trevor. Numbers on request via 083 800 3233). 
  • 12 noon, 14 Sept, for Holy Trinity Westport, in St Mary's Church, South Mall, Westport. There is a wedding in St Mary's on the day before, on the 13th, so please bring any gift items - fruit, veg, flowers, etc. - in baskets or other containers for easy carrying and display, and leave them in the corridor room from where the bells are rung. The entrance is off the street, through the door to the left of the main church entrance (- when facing the church and river behind you).  For help, please speak with a church warden (Steffi or George. Numbers on request via 083 800 3233 ).
  • 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort, Achill. Harvest gifts and displays may be brought to the church when convenient. For help, please speak with a church warden (Kirsty or Willem. Numbers on request.).

  • Harvest service for Turlough - Sat 20 September. Harvest gifts and displays may be brought to the church on the day. For help, please speak with one of the church wardens (Lynn or Peter. Numbers on request via 083 800 3233 ).

Guest speaker, Ms Valerie Raitt, Pioneer Ministry, Diocese of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe 

  • 7pm in Turlough Parish Church



  • Community event, Castlebar:

Friday 19 September, from 7pm

Christ Church will be one of several the venues for the Margaret Burke Sheridan Trail, sponsored by the Linen Hall and Mayo Co Council. Details online or see poster in church.



  • Also for the diary: Sat 4 October, Blessing of the Animals, Murrisk Carpark



Pastoral care and enquiries:  


Revd Suzanne Cousins  083 800 3233    

Email  aughaval@tuam.anglican.org

Aughaval Parishes' Website   aughaval.tlk.ie



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