Aughaval Group of Parishes

Please scroll down for notes and notices. Today's gospel      Luke 1:67-79 Then his [John's] father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,    for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty saviour  for us    in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,    that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors,    and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,    to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness    before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;    for...

  Please scroll down for notes and notices. Z echariah writes down the name of his son Cappella Tornabuoni,  Fresco, Santa Maria Novella, Florence between 1486 and 1490 Public domain via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10615291 Today's gospel   Luke 1:57-66 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.  ...

  You are most welcome to join us for the Celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Service times and locations below. Visitors are especially welcome! Adoration of the Shepherds Photo by Lordring, 2017 Creative Commons Share, via Wikimedia Commons  CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64286285 Adoration of the shepherds Christmas Communion Services  'The First Communion of Christmas' St Thomas's, Dugort: Christmas Eve (Wed 24 Dec), 12 noon Turlough Church: Christmas Eve (Wed 24 Dec), 6.30pm Christ Church, Castlebar: Christmas Day (Thurs 25 Dec), 9am Holy Trinity Church, Westport: Christmas Day (Thurs 25 Dec), 11am All our services are child-friendly.  A prayer for those alone this Christmas Loving God, whatever happens, be with me this Christmas, especially when I find myself alone. Be with those whom I hold in my heart, whether they are near or far away. Help us all to hear the good news of the...

  Please scroll down for notes and notices. The Meeting of Mary and Elisabeth Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1866 Public domain via Wikimedia Commons Luke 1:46-56 And Mary  said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord,    and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me,    and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him    from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,    and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things,    and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel,    in remembrance of his mercy, according to the p...

  Please scroll down for notes and notices. Services on  Sunday 21 December,  The Fourth Sunday in Advent:     -  10am in Christ Church Castlebar,  Holy Communion     -  11.30am in Holy Trinity, Westport, Crib Service (all-age Nativity)      -  5pm in St Mary's Church, Westport, Ecumenical Carol Service Today's gospel      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 ...