Aughaval Group of Parishes

  In today's gospel and parable, Jesus contrasts two attitudes in prayer, and in life: pride and humility.  The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican,  stained glass by Daniel Cottier,  made by Field & Allan, 1865.  From Trinity Church, Irvine, Ayrshire CCO (public domain) Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for ...

 Easter Monday 2025 The next service in Inishbiggle Church (‘Holy Trinity Inishbiggle’) is planned for Easter Monday, 21st April, at 11.15am. Those wishing to travel across by ferry (currach) should gather at Dorian’s Point, Ballycroy, at 9.45 for a 10am departure, returning around 3pm. All plans are weather and sea conditions permitting. More information to follow, but please get in touch by email (aughaval@tuam.anglican.org) if you wish to book a place on the boat.  The service will be A Service of Wholeness and Healing, with Holy Communion. At the old school on Inishbiggle, on 15 February 2025,  following a Celebration of Holy Communion in the church,  at which Bishop Michael Burrows presided.

St. Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he [Jesus] had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, ...

Welcome to the Aughaval Group of Parishes  Lent IVC, 30 March 2025 The Fourth Sunday in Lent   Mothering Sunday Mothering Sunday  offers a brief and welcome retrieve from the seriousness of Lent with colour, flowers and celebration.   Hymns are from this group: 528 - The Church's one foundation     Children’s song: 570 - Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning 587 - Just as I am, without one plea  231 - My song is love unknown  112 - There is a Redeemer   Collect Two Lord God, whose blessed Son our Saviour gave his back to the smiters and did not hide his face from shame: Give us grace to endure the sufferings of this present time with sure confidence in the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sin...

  Good Shepherd Unknown artist Free image, Pixabay Luke 11:14-23 Now he [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.  But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and o...

  Matthew 5:17-19 [Jesus said] ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter,  not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks  one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Sacred Space You can find a gentle devotional aid with today's gospel here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-03-26/ "God's revelation about himself and what he was asking of us came only gradually over a very long period. The keeping of the law and the prophets could never be enough to redeem and save us. Christ alone could do this, but by living according to the law and the prophets the people of God were being prepared for the later ac...

  Midweek Holy Communion in Lent Wed 26 March at 10.30am in St Mary's Church, South Mall, Westport with tea/coffee afterwards in the Clew Bay Hotel. You're welcome! Photo, Alan Cousins

  In today's gospel in Lent, the birth of Jesus is foretold.  The Church celebrates this event, the Annunciation, on 25 March, nine months before Christmas Day! The Annunciation  by Fra Angelico, 1433  Public domain. Wikipedia Luke 1:26-38  In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’  But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jaco...