Today’s gospel in Advent, Thurs 18 Dec. Joseph's dream

 

Please scroll down for notes and notices.


A word of thanks

A word of sincere thanks to everyone who came along to the Community Carol Service in Christ Church Castlebar on Monday 15 December, or who supported in other ways. The event was so joyful, and it raised 600 euros towards the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, Castlebar Daycare Centre. Details from the Hon. Treasurer, Trevor Ardill. (Contact details on request.) 



Joseph's dream
by Toros Roslin
Walters Art Museum, Public domain, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18849896


Today's gospel reading    Matthew 1: 18-24

 

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

   and they shall name him Emmanuel’,

which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife


The Dream of St Joseph
Philippe de Champaigne, 1642- 1643
Public domain, via https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91912829



Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-1-18-24-2025/



Sacred Space

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-12-18



Notes and Notices

Holy Communion at Home    If you or your loved one would like to receive Communion at home before Christmas, please contact the rector (details below). 
Next Sunday:


Sunday 21 Dec, 11.30am, 'Crib Service' (All-age Nativity) in Holy Trinity Westport with participation by Westport Sunday Club and children of Holy Trinity National School. All are invited and welcome. Info: Steffi or Shirley (numbers on request), or the rector.
Visitors are especially welcome.


Chapel Street Gospel Choir concerts, Sunday 21 December, 5pm and 8pm, in Christ Church, Castlebar. Info., Roslyn Potter, Turlough (number on request).


Westport - St Mary's-and-Holy-Trinity-Together - A Shared Celebration - Sunday 21 December, 5pm, in St Mary's Church. 

Please note that regular times (see below) apply for other services during this Advent period.


Christmas Communion Services
'The First Communion of Christmas'
(Subject to change)

St Thomas's, Dugort: Christmas Eve (Wed) at 12 noon

Turlough Church: Christmas Eve (Wed) at 6.30pm

Christ Church, Castlebar: Christmas Day (Thurs) at 9am
                    
Holy Trinity Church, Westport: Christmas Day (Thurs) at 11am




Services on the weekend of 27-28 December (subject to change):

Saturday 27 December
  •     7pm, Turlough, Evening Prayer

Sunday 28 December:
  •     10am, Christ Church, Castlebar 
  •     11.30am, Holy Trinity, Westport


A Public Celebration 
of the Reopening of Holy Trinity Church, Westport,
and Blessing of the Work,
with the Rt Revd Bishop Michael Burrows TLK.

Friday 23rd January at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church. 




New Year Social and Fundraiser for HTW repairs:

Table Quiz, Friday 20 February 2026, in Clew Bay Hotel, 7.30 for 8pm start.

Info: Babs Strutt or Henry McKinney. Contact details on request. 
Donation of prizes for raffle will be much appreciated.




Regular Service Pattern 

in the Aughaval Parishes

(subject to change)


Turlough

Saturdays Weekly at 7pm:  

- Holy Communion on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.

- Evening Prayer on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.


 

Castlebar 

Sundays Weekly at 10am: 

- Holy Communion on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.

- Morning Prayer on 2nd and 4th.

Open church every Friday from 11am - 1pm.


*Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No.  20206867


 

Westport     

- Sundays Weekly at 11.30am, in HOLY TRINITY WESTPORT (except on 11th and 18th Jan 2026, during repair works), Holy Communion or Morning Prayer

- Wednesdays at 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee in Cornrue. 



Dugort, Achill: October - April inclusive

- 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion


Inishbiggle    As announced. The next service in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle, will be in the New Year. 


Online Prayer and Bible Reading every Wed at 8pm, via Zoom.  Link:





Giving towards the upkeep of the churches


The work and upkeep of the churches requires ongoing funding to meet costs. 


For one-time donations: You can securely give towards these costs and the upkeep of the churches using your phone or electronic device using the QR codes (below) which will direct you to the parishes’ iDonate pages. 


Regular giving can also be by standing order. If you are a tax-payer, a tax refund on your donation can be made to your parish at no additional cost to you.


For help or more information, please contact one of the Hon Treasurers (contact details on request) or the Rector (details below), or see 


https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2025/11/giving-towards-upkeep-of-churches.html .


Thank-you and bless you +



Westport-Dugort Parishes
(Info. Babs Strutt, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request) 



     Christ Church, Castlebar    
(Info. Trevor Ardill, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)
Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No.  20206867     



Turlough Parish Church

(Info. Karin Shaw, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)



Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) 

CRA status of the Aughaval Group of Parishes, United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland: 

    Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No.  20206867

    Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes and Turlough Parish are in process of applying for their own CRA registration numbers. In the interim the parishes are included in the CRA registration of the TLK Diocese, as outlined below by the Diocese:

The United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under No. 20015237 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7241. The United Dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under No. 20015688 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7327.  On 1st November 2021, the dioceses amalgamated to become the Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe. The Diocesan Councils remain separate.


For further information on the above, please contact Mrs Lorna Sharpe at  limerickdiocsec@gmail.com, or Mr Damian Shorten at admin@tka.ie. 




Pastoral care and enquiries:  


Revd Suzanne Cousins 

Aughaval Group of Parishes, 

United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland 

Tel. 083 800 3233   

Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org
Aughaval Parishes' Website  aughaval.tlk.ie

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes 


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