Today's Gospel, 6 Sept. How DID Jesus treat 'Gentiles and tax-collectors' ?


Welcome!  Please scroll down for today's Gospel reading, notes and notices.




Jesus Calls Levi
by William Hole, 1900
from the book, The Life of Jesus of Nazareth, Eighty Pictures
 Public domain, via Wikimedia  
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3223050



Season of Creation
After the Outdoor Service at St Thomas's, Knappagh, 5 Sept 2026.
Pictured: Susie Fry (LLLM), James Kilbane, 
Fr John Kenny, Bishop Michael Burrows


Today's Gospel Reading            Matthew 18: 15-20

[Jesus said] ‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. 


Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’


Sacred Space

You can find a gentle reflection and prayer guide here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-09-06/



Mindful Christianity, 6 Sept 2026


Notes and Notices

Today, Sun 6 Sept:                                                      

   

Back to School All-age Services, with Blessing of Schoolbags and their Bearers


    - 10am in Christchurch Castlebar
    - 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport

    - 3pm in St Thomas's Dugort


Yesterday at Knappagh:

 https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes/posts/pfbid0kGw95s8GBu3HNZdkroF38HbZnHAwuEZhb66uBvLRPYpp33x4cusV4cgUfG92hwnDl?wa_status_inline=true&ref=1


In memoriam

The Funeral of Olive Fair, faithful Turlough Parishioner, took place at Turlough Church on 3 September. We keep Olive's family in our prayers and thank everyone from the parish and wider community who have shown kindness to Olive's family over the last few days, and previously, to Olive herself. 

May she rest in peace and rise in glory +

Prayer needs and requests: If you have prayer requests, please email us at aughaval@tuam.anglican.org. 

Prayers at this time are especially for: 

- The recently bereaved family of Olive Fair, Turlough Parish;
- The recently bereaved Bennett family, Castlebar Parish;
- All who have recently returned to a new educational year - students, teachers and staff - and especially our own Holy Trinity N.S.;
- The people of Nepal in their distress and need;
- For God's blessing on the Season of Creation (1st Sept - 4th Oct) 



  


Westport Festival of Chamber Music, 2026, in HTW:
  • Friday (evening) 11 Sept, 8pm 
  • Saturday (afternoon) 12 Sept, 2pm
  • Sunday (afternoon) 13 Sept, 3.30pm

Booking is online through the WFoCM website.



 Sat 12 Sept  A warm invitation to Turlough Church


Turlough Harvest Festival of Flowers, church open from 4pm 

and Turlough Harvest Thanksgiving Service, 7pm, with guest ecumenical preacher, Fr Charlie McDonnell, Athenry (formerly Westport).



Friday 18 Sept   Culture Night Concert, by Mist, in Holy Trinity, Westport, at 7pm. 


Mist will be back with us in HTW to perform on the evening of Friday 18 Sept, for a very special Culture Night concert. A note in advance, from Mist's director, Ian Leslie (pictured): 
"This will be a unique opportunity to support diversity and inclusion in our community and we are delighted that Holy Trinity will be the first to host such an important event in Westport."


              


Photos: Ian Leslie director (right), and members of Mist.




Sunday 20 Sept    Commissioning of new Diocesan Readers


Bishop Michael will be commissioning new Diocesan Readers on 20 Sept at 5pm in St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe. Amongst those to be commissioned is Alan Cousins (LLLM - Lay Local Liturgical Minister, pictured). 


This will also be the occasion for the Certificate in Christian Studies Graduation. This course has recently been completed by Barbara Sheppard (LLLM) and by Alan. Congratulations to them both, and may God continue to bless and use them to bless and nourish God's church and people.


 


Thursday 24 September, at 8pm. Chamber Choir Ireland, 'Forgotten Peoples', concert in Holy Trinity Westport. 



Friday 25 September
Youth Pizza (/food!) and Bowling Night, 7pm, Castlebar. Contact Steffi and Paul (+353 89 941 8165) for details. 

  


Friday 2 October - Save the date!
Quiz Night and Auction in aid of Holy Trinity Church, Westport, funds. 
In Clew Bay Hotel, Westport. 


Sat 3 October   Annual Blessing of the Animals, 2pm in Murrisk Carpark


Sunday 4 October   Harvest Thanksgiving, Castlebar 10am - Guest preacher, Diocesan Reader, Alan Cousins 

Sunday 4 October    YOUTH PRAISE Night - for the Young and Young at Heart!
7pm in Holy Trinity, Westport. For all in the community. All welcome.




Harvest Thanksgiving Services  

Sunday 4 October   
  • Castlebar 10am - Guest preacher, Diocesan Reader, Alan Cousins

Sunday 11 October  Harvest Thanksgiving 
  • Westport  11.30am - Guest preacher, Revd John Wesley
  • Dugort , Achill  3pm - Guest preacher, Revd Carole Reynolds


Regular times of Services

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.

*Turlough COI Parish is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20207056.
 

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, followed by tea/coffee.
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, followed by tea/coffee.

- Wednesdays, September-June inclusive, at 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee (from 11.05am)  in the Clew Bay Hotel. These gatherings are valuable and uplifting times of fellowship and friendship. You're welcome to drop in!

Dugort, Achill 
April - September inclusive:
- Services weekly at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion
October - March inclusive:
- 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion
Services are followed by tea/coffee occasionally. 


Online Prayer and Bible Reading
September-June inclusive        
Every Wed from September-June inclusive, at 8pm, via Zoom. Link:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1



Giving towards the upkeep and restoration 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 - their own or that of the Diocese (of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe) - 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 link or 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 +

QR codes and links

Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes
- includes Holy Trinity Westport, St Thomas's Dugort, and Holy Trinity Inishbiggle. 


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

*Westport-Dugort Union of COI Parishes are registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under the Tuam, Killala and Achonry charity No. 20015237 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7241.

Sponsorship invited: 
If you are able to contribute to the fundraising efforts towards the next stage of repair works to 'HTW', or if you would like information on the project, please contact the Rector (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org) or the Hon Treasurer (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the link or Westport-Dugort QR code (above). 
Thank you for all donations and support received to date. 


Christ Church, Castlebar  



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


Turlough Church of Ireland Parish Church


Turlough Parish Church*
(Info. Karin Shaw, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)

*Turlough COI Parish is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20207056.

Congratulations, thank you, and well done to the Turlough CRA team who succeeded in obtaining this important status for the parish. 



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 is in process of applying for its own CRA registration number. In the interim the parish is 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. 



Pastoral care and enquiries:

Revd Suzanne Cousins
Rector, Aughaval Group of Parishes 
United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland  

Tel. +353 83 800 3233  / +44 77 1303 7447 

Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org

Aughaval Parishes' website  aughaval.tlk.ie

Facebook page for the Aughaval group: https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes 
Facebook page for Holy Trinity, Westport    https://www.facebook.com/
Facebook page (new) for Christ Church, Castlebar: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592320012165
 

 


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