Today's gospel, 6 Feb. A tale for our times?

 

Please scroll down for notes and more notices. 




Johannes der Täufer (John the Baptist)
by Matthias Grünewald, 1512-1516
Fragment of Isenheim Altarpiece 
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=152341


Today's gospel    Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptiser has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ 

And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ 

She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 

Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 

When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.


Sacred Space

A recommended prayer guide, with a short inspirational thought-for-the day:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-06


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-28-16-20-2026/



Brown Bag Films

The story retold, from the mouth of children:

https://youtu.be/TxotrR3KQwU




Notes and Notices

This weekend in the diocese and parishes: 'Living Faith'

Saturday 7 Feb

Revd Frank Bernardi, Rector of St George's Anglican Church, Tunis, and Associate Mission Partner with the Intercontinental Mission Society (ICMS) will be with us this weekend in TLK at the invitation of Bishop Michael with the Church of Ireland Council for Mission, as below:

Part One 
An opportunity for listening and conversation over refreshments, in the Rectory, Westport. A focus will be on ministering and living the Christian faith in a minority context.

Sat 7 Feb, 2-30pm - coffee and gather for 3-00pm start.
Venue, The Rectory, Newport Road, Westport F28 HK31

Everyone welcome. Please contact us (083 800 3233 or email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org) if you plan to attend.

Part Two
An opportunity to hear Revd Frank preach in the context of the Service of Holy Communion in Turlough Church (7pm). 

You are warmly invited to both or either parts of the day, the relevance of which lies not least in the increasingly diverse contexts in which we live and serve.


Services this weekend

Revd Frank will also be the preacher at these services, below, with Bishop Michael presiding at Holy Communion/ The Eucharist:

Sat 7 Feb;   7pm Turlough - followed by tea/coffee

Sun 8 Feb:  10am in Christ Church, Castlebar - with blessing of the new 'KidSpace'

                    11.30am in Holy Trinity, Westport - with blessing of the new 'KidSpace'                         and Sunday Club. Followed by tea/coffee

Sun 8 Feb:    3pm in St Thomas’s Dugort, Achill. Followed by tea/coffee

Everyone invited and welcome.




Special note for all in the parishes:
As previously advertised, the General Vestry Registers for each of the parishes will be updated this weekend after the services. If you have not yet had your name added and wish to do so, please contact Revd Suzanne by end of Sat 7 Feb. 

The Annual Meetings of the General Vestries ('Easter Vestry Meetings') will take place before Easter. Dates to follow. 


YOUTH
From the diocese:


Diocesan Youth Senior Day Trip to Dublin on Saturday the 21 February 2026. 
For more info, please contact Revd Suzanne 083 800 3233


In the parishes  

Sunday 8 February, Sunday Club, starting in Holy Trinity Church, Westport, at 11.30am, and moving to Holy Trinity N.S. for activities, music, Bible lesson and snack. All children welcome. For info., please contact Steffi (+353 89 941 8165) or Revd Suzanne (+353 83 800 3233).


'KidSpace': Children’s spaces in Westport and Castlebar 

Since reopening Holy Trinity Westport we have been pleased to put in place an area, a Kids’ Corner/ KidSpace, recognising the children’s needs for a suitable and comfortable space to enjoy during services and to call their own. This will be supervised most Sundays by our Sunday Club leaders. For info., please contact Steffi or the Rector.  

A similar setting up of a space for the children has been brought about in Christ Church Castlebar, thanks in part to a generous grant received in 2025 by the Church of Ireland Priorities’ Fund, and thanks to the practical help of Select Vestry members. 

We plan similarly to put in place a KidSpace in Turlough, with the help of the Turlough Youth and Children's team, parents and helpers.  

The bishop will bless these spaces on Sunday 8 Feb during the services.

  


Holy Trinity Westport KidSpace 


KidSpace, Christ Church Castlebar

 

Confirmation Class

The next Exploring Confirmation session is on Sat 21 Feb, 10-11am in the Rectory, Westport.



New Year Social and Fundraiser for HTW repairs:

Table Quiz, Friday 20 February 2026, 7.30 for 8pm start, in the Clew Bay Hotel.
Info: Babs Strutt or Henry McKinney. Contact details on request. Donation of prizes for raffle will be much appreciated. Please note that sponsorship from local businesses is invited and will be greatly appreciated! 





Spring CONCERTS 
(Subject to change, and more to follow)
  • A partnered concert by Cór Mhaigh Eo and a visiting choir from Competa (near Malaga), Spain, in Holy Trinity Westport, on the afternoon of Saturday 18 April. 
  • A Social and Fundraising Event for St Thomas's Dugort is being planned for Friday 24 April, details to follow. 
  • Christ Church, Castlebar: Bella Capella, on Saturday 6 June. Details to follow.
  • Blue Jazz Festival Service: Sunday 7 June, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport
  • Louisburgh Concert:  Wed 27 May, 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport



Regular Service Pattern 
in the Aughaval Parishes
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 Sundays of the month.
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; 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

May-September inclusive
- Services weekly at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion


Inishbiggle 

As announced. The next service in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle, will be in the New Year (2026). 



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

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1





Giving towards the upkeep of the churches

The work and upkeep of the churches requires ongoing funding to meet costs. Each of our Church of Ireland parishes has charity (CRA) status - please see note below. 

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 
Regular giving can be by means of the weekly envelope system (-information on request), or by standing order. 


Tax refund on donations
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 for your help, and bless you +



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



If you would be willing to contribute to the fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the recent repair work to the ceiling of 'HTW', completed on 16 Jan, please contact Hon Treasurer, Babs Strutt (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the Westport-Dugort QR code (above). All help is gratefully received. Thank you for all donations and support received to date. 


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, please contact Diocesan Secretary, Mrs Lorna Sharpe at limerickdiocsec@gmail.com, or Assistant Diocesan Secretary, Mr Damian Shorten at admin@tka.ie. They will be happy to help you and to answer your questions.




Go raibh maith agaibh go léir!  

A sincere expression of thanks at the start of 2026 for financial support of the churches, their upkeep, ministry and mission. 



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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