Aughaval Group of Parishes

  Date for the diary: A Mini-Pilgrimage on Achill Sunday 20th July 2025, starting at 3pm at St Thomas's Dugort. Link for details and to book:  tlk.ie/spiritualtourism/ Details may be found at the link or via the QR code provided,  or email Valerie at spiritualtourism@tlk.ie . The event is free-of-charge. Pastoral care and enquiries:   Revd Suzanne Cousins   Phone 083 800 3233   Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org   Website aughaval.tlk.ie   Please see also the Aughaval Parishes Facebook page.

  Bell Rock Lighthouse From A Biographic al Sketch of the Late Robert Stevenson: Civil Engineer 1861, Public domain via Wikimedia Matthew 7:21-27 [Jesus said] ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat agains...

  A wolf from Wolfert's Roost, Keppler, 1904 Public domain, via Wikimedia.commons https://www.loc.gov/item/2011645533/ Today's gospel      Matthew 7:15-20 [Jesus said] ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. Sacred Space You can find a simple and helpful reflection here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-06-25/ Christian Art https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-7-15-20-2025/ Little Red Riding Hood by Jessie Willcox Smith, 1911 From A Child's Book of Stories Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://co...

  Today's gospel, 24 June, The Birth of John the baptist The name John means 'God is gracious'.  The Naming of Saint John the Baptist by Francis Angelico, ca. 1450, public domain Luke 1:57-66, 80 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. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire ...

  Sanctuary Sunday 2025 “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”    Matthew 25: 35-36 Look who came to church on Sanctuary Sunday in the Aughaval Parishes! It was a lovely surprise following the service on Sunday 22 June in St Thomas's Dugort -- after thinking and praying during the service about Refugee Week, the meaning of Sanctuary and the implications for us as part of God's church and as individual Christians -- to hear a knock on the church  door and on opening to see our very favourite refugee character - P.B. - Paddington Bear! Paul Kirubakaran, Revd Suzanne and George Keegan in St Mary's Church, Westport  (where the Holy Trinity congregation continues to meet pending repairs to HTW). Over the Sanctuary Sunday weekend,  in Castlebar,...

On Saturday 21 June some of us from the parishes gathered at Turlough Community Centre for this year's Holiday Club, an afternoon organised and run by the Sunday Club and Holiday Club Team with our parishes' children in mind. The afternoon included games, a Bible-based lesson on the theme of God's love, music and movement, a walk to the play park in the beautiful grounds of the National Museum of Ireland, a craft activity back in Turlough Centre, with snacks and drinks and a closing prayer before the children received goodie bags and the families left for home. Well done and sincere thanks to the team and volunteers for putting on such a successful and happy event, and thanks to parents and grandparents who brought their children along. All our events are run according to Church of Ireland safeguarding regulations. Please see below for more events and services to come and on an ongoing basis. You're welcome! Anastasia, Hazel, Cora, Fiona, Oliver The children enjoyed S...

  Children's craftwork at the Parishes' Holiday Club Today's gospel      Matthew 7: 1-5  [Jesus said] “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.   Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your neighbour, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye. Sacred Space You can find a prayer guide here: https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-06-23/ Christian Art You can find a helpful reflection on the gospel here: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-7-1-5-2025/ A song 'Judge Not', song by Bob Marley,1962 https://youtu.be/yzN2m2C-D2c?si=7IdRTUdoMPGhyMjG Collect God, the strength of all th...

Summer Evening Friendship Walk, at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough  A few of us gathered on Sunday evening, 22 June, for a walk at the National Museum of Ireland. We were delighted that Valerie Raitt, TLK Diocesan Pioneer Ministry, was able to join us. Between Valerie, Susie and Dorothy, the rector learned a much of interest about the locality, while enjoying the good companionship.  Valerie Raitt (Pioneer Ministry TLK), Susie Fry (Castlebar), Dorothy Shaw (Turlough) Saint Brigid sculpture The conservatory  Contemporary sculpture Summer Dates and Service Patterns Saturday 21 June Holiday Family Club, 2-5pm at Turlough Community Centre This is for everyone in the grouped parishes, with special fun activities for the children. Sunday 22 June Summer Sunday Evening Friendship Walk, meeting at 7pm at Turlough Country Park gates, in Turlough village. Friday 18 July Summer Evening Prayer and Praise at Knappagh, gathering in the churchyard at 7pm, with music by James Ki...