Aughaval Group of Parishes

  Today's gospel invites us to consider if we need to see in order to believe, or if like the official in this story we are able to take Jesus at his word, and be blessed. (See John 20:29.) Healing the royal official's son   by Joseph-Marie Vien, 1752. Public domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36944886 Today's gospel reading: John 4:43-54 When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honour in the prophet’s own country). When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival. Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine.  Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. T...

    God says,  'As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.' (Isaiah 66:13) The Gospel Reading      Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32 Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: Then Jesus said,  ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. H...

A few photos from Turlough on the Eve of Mothering Sunday. Thanks to Heather Fair for providing the lovely daffodils. (Everybody loves daffs!) Remember that the clocks ‘spring forward’ an hour tonight, and join us for worship on Sunday at 10am in Christ Church Castlebar and at 12 noon in St Mary’s Westport (for Holy Trinity Westport).  You’re welcome! @aughaval.tlk.ie

  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...