Newsletter – Mar / Apr 2023

Ballymoney National School Spring has arrived, and we have sown some seeds and are looking forward to planting them into our outdoor raised beds when the temperatures begin to rise. We are going on a school tour to visit Darrara Agricultural College to meet the new arrivals in March. We are also going to visit Clonakilty Black pudding Visitor Centre to get an insight into how their famous black pudding is made. Our Green School Committee has been working hard on our second Green Flag on the theme of Water. After midterm Cathy Sweetnam will start teaching six weeks of dance classes to both classrooms. The senior classroom is about to begin Ukulele lessons with Melissa Craig and the junior classroom are going to begin musicianship lessons. We are currently enrolling pupils for junior infants in September 2023. Please contact the school if you would like an application form or to request a tour of the school.

Mother’s Union The speaker for the 14th March meeting will be Esther Kingston from the Drimoleague Food Bank, who will be giving an insight on how and what they do. The meeting will start at 8.30pm in St. Paul’s Parish Centre, Ballineen. If people would like to make donations of non-perishable goods on the night, it would be very much appreciated. Tuesday 11th April will be the closing service in St Paul’s Parish Centre, Ballineen at 8.30pm. It is hoped to arrange an outing sometime in the summer months. We send our congratulations to Rev. Ivan Ruiters on his appointment as Chaplain to the Mother’s Union in our Diocese and look forward to his involvement in the future.

Bereavement Our condolences go the family, relatives, neighbours and friends of Dorothy Patterson (née Forde), Churchill, Enniskeane who passed away peacefully at Bushmount Nursing Home, Clonakilty on 7th February 2023. Burial took place at Killowen Graveyard, Enniskeane on Friday 10th February 2023.

Tractor Run Bandon Grammar School are holding Tractor Run on Sunday 2nd April 2023 in aid of a fundraiser for a new ASD Special Class. Registration from 11.00am in the top Car Park at the school and departing at 1.00pm. Cost is €20 per vehicle. There will be refreshments and a raffle on the day.

Further information can be found by visiting the Bandon Grammar School Facebook page; web page www.bandongrammar.ie or by dialling 023 88 41713. Anybody wishing to donate can use the following link: https://www.idonate.ie/cause/bandongrammarschoolasdspecialclass

Congratulations to Lorna Buttimer and Thomas Matthews on their wedding in Kilmeen Church on 30th December.

Congratulations to Caelan Clair Helen who was baptised on 1st January in St. Patrick’s Church, Farranthomas. Caelan is the son of Sinead and Jolyon Helen and grandchild to Thomas and Serena Helen. We step forward and offer our support and prayers as we welcome new life into our Church Community and into the family of the worldwide Church.

Select Vestry The next meeting will be on Thursday 9th March in St Paul’s Parish Centre at 8.30pm. As this meeting will be the last before our Easter Vestry then the select vestry will be checking our list of registered vestry members. This year is also a triennial year for selecting Synod Members and Nominators. We remind you that only vestry members can vote at this Easter Vestry; so please contact Rev. Ivan if you are interested in becoming a vestry member and taking a more active part in the running of the union.

World Day of Prayer is on Friday 3rd March 2023 in Ballineen Methodist Church at 8.00pm. The service this year has been put together by the people of Taiwan. All welcome.

Bishops’ Appeal

The Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal for World Aid and Development has launched a call for donations to help the people of Turkey and Syria following the earthquake on Monday 6th February which has resulted in over 47,000 deaths. Bishops’ Appeal has immediately released €10,000 from its reserves to Christian Aid for its work in the area and is encouraging parishes to contribute to this appeal in support of Christian Aid over the coming Sundays.  All details about how to give are provided below. In a joint endorsement of the appeal, Archbishops John McDowell and Michael Jackson said: “The disastrous earthquake which has so suddenly overtaken and overwhelmed the people and resources of Turkey and stretched beyond breaking point the already ravaged infrastructure of Syria, requires a swift response from aid agencies in the Western world. “Of course, much more is needed, and we would encourage parishes to make a special appeal sometime over the next few weeks to supplement this initial contribution by Bishops’ Appeal. Equally we would encourage prayer that the God of all comfort would be very near to all who are suffering through injury, bereavement, and anxiety, and for all relief workers.”

What is needed?
The main needs according to the field teams are:

a) Winter kits including blankets, mattresses, food parcels and heating material – partners had already procured 40,000 of these kits prior to the earthquake and have started distributing these immediately
within collective shelters.

b) Preparing shelters to help people find some safety indoors from the weather.

c) Working with other local organisations to remove debris and continue rescue efforts.

d) Providing basic food, water and sanitation, shelter and healthcare, education and mental health support, particularly for children and young people.

How can we help?
Donations can be made, in euro or in sterling, in the following ways: An online donation at https://www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/give

A direct lodgement into the Bishops’ Appeal bank account (details of which are provided on the Bishops’ Appeal website at the link provided above);

Sending a cheque, payable to Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal, to: Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal, Church of Ireland House, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 CF67;

We shall be placing envelopes in each church during the period of Lent for parishioners to place their donation in. These envelopes should be placed in the collection basket. Direct payments should be sent to – Treasurer, Kinneigh Union, Castleview, Derrymeeleen, Ballineen, P47 FK51, marking your envelope “Bishops’ Appeal”.

ACC Meeting in Ghana

The Dean of Cloyne, the Very Rev. Susan Green has travelled to Ghana to be one of the representatives of the Church of Ireland at the Eighteenth Meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC). The role of the ACC is to facilitate the co-operative work of the churches of the Anglican Communion, exchange information between the provinces and churches, and help to co-ordinate common action.

Fair Share The Select Vestry wish to inform you that our contribution to the above scheme is due and should be paid by Friday 26th May 2023; thereby avoiding any interest and or penalties. The amount due this year is €51,494 which is approximately a 2.3% increase on last year’s figure. The overall budget for the Diocese has been reduced for this year; however, the number of churchgoers as per the Diocesan Triannual Census of 2020 (which is what is used to calculate the overall figure for the allocations) has
significantly reduced which consequently leads to an increase in the Fair Share figure which we need to pay. As has been previously mentioned we are one of the smaller unions being subsidised by the larger unions. The Select Vestry is recommending a figure of €570 per church member to meet our liability. We are very aware that this amount may not be possible for some, therefore we ask that you pay what you can afford and those who are able to pay more do so.

Ways to make your payment:

1. Details for bank counter service – Bank of Ireland, Account Kinneigh Union Sustentation Fund, Sort Code 962610, a/c No. 27034796. Kindly put you name for a reference. Cheques should be made out in the name of the account.
2. Cheques by post to “Treasurer, Kinneigh Union, Castleview, Derrymeeleen, Ballineen, P47 FK51”.
   Again, made out to Kinneigh Union Sustentation Fund.
3. Internet/Telephone or Electronic Banking – a/c Name as above, BIC – BOFIIE2D IBAN – IE35 BOFI 9026 1027 0347 96
   Please enter your name as a reference
4. Hand your contribution, to any church warden/treasurer, or place the envelope on the collection plate/ basket at a service. Please mark on the envelope Fair Share and your name. The Select Vestry would greatly appreciate your support and should you have any queries then please speak to Graham Garland or any Select Vestry member.

March Services