Aghavea Parish Church

Hi folks Harvest Celebrations are a vital part of the rhythm of a rural parish - with the evidence of the harvests all around us in the farms and fields.  Aghavea is no different in that respect, with our farmers working hard during the "shut down" that society faced during the year.  There were no furloughs for our farmers and for many others in our communities, and this should have been a celebration of all their hard work - whereas it will be a slightly more muted service than usual! We would like to thank all our farmers and their assistants for everything they do for us, and just because our church won't be as decorated as usual, just because our hymns won't be sung with just as much gusto, just because we won't be packed into the building like sardines - our appreciation and thanks to God will be just as sincere. We are looking forward to our Harvest Celebrations on Sunday 4th October - at 11am in the church and at 4pm in the church car park for a Drive-in H...

Hi folks Once again, our world has changed and the Covid regulations are starting to bite!  Whilst none of our parishioners have been diagnosed with the virus, more than a few can now name those who have tested positively, or are currently under investigation!  While we have long considered this as a "town" virus, it is starting to make its presence known in our own communities! We still have a target of being back in church for our Harvest Celebrations on Sunday 4th October at 11am.  This might change in the coming week, but we fully intend to be back in if we are allowed! Each and every day brings new challenges and changes, but this is how life is at the minute!   We have two options as far as I see: firstly, we can complain and refuse to cooperate with the changes, or do so only reluctantly; or as a second option, we can accept that life is difficult at the moment, but understand that we are only making these changes in order to keep each other safe and acce...

The R Rate of the Covid-19 pandemic - the infection rate - continues to climb, and the Northern Ireland numbers are slowly getting out of control and is currently over 100 people per 100,000 population ( figures released by the NI First Minister, 21/9/2020) .  Our alert level has once again been recommended to be upgraded to Level 4 - Infections rising exponentially, so taking no action at all is no longer an option! We seriously need to be careful how we interact and live with each other.  Please continue to wash hands, wear masks, and keep your distances from each other when we are out!  I have personally witnessed the decrease in the numbers of people wearing masks when out and about - which shows the decreasing level of anxiety towards the coronavirus. The other step we are going to introduce is to limit the exposure we have in church. Whilst we are still going ahead with our services on Sunday 4th October - we are going to limit our exposure by cancelling the Bible F...

Hi folks We will be meeting together for Drive-In church on Sunday 13th September at 11am in the Parish Car Park.   Our Annual Easter Vestry will be held on Tuesday 15th September at 8pm in the Parish Hall.  All are welcome to join us, although it will be held under strict social distancing rules, including wearing masks unless there is a valid reason for not doing so.  It will be a little shorter than usual to ensure that our possibility to exposure is kept at a minimum, and in a break to normal custom, there will be no refreshments afterwards. Please find attached our service sheets for Sunday morning's service. If you can't join us, please feel free to print out the sheets to follow the service - there are no copyrights to worry about if they are for personal or church worship.  As usual, the service will be streamed at 11am on the rector's Facebook page - just  click here .  All are very welcome! Johnny

 We had a wonderful discussion based around our Bible passage in Genesis 27.  In this passage Isaac promised his final blessing to his favourite son, Esau.  Esau was dismissed to hunt game to be cooked and shared with his aging father, following which the final blessing would be presented. His wife Rebekah overheard the conversation, and was determined to obtain that blessing for her favoured son, Jacob.  Be under no illusion - this was Esau's proper place and gift to receive!  He had been tricked out of his birthright, having sold it for a bowl of lentil stew (yuck! Rector's honest opinion).  Having lost his claim to the worldly possessions of his father, this blessing would more than make up for it.  However, Rebekah convinced the younger son to deceive his father - thus obtaining the blessing dishonestly. Taking their own young goats, Rebekah prepared them in a manner that was agreeable for her husband, and dressed her son in their outer skin to foo...

 Hi folks The recent walk around Colebrooke was a fantastic event, and we were delighted to welcome over 70 walkers who enjoyed a leisurely walk around the estate. By popular demand, we have managed to arrange another event, this time for 30th September, which should be a lovely walk through Ashbrooke estate.  We will meet again at Colebrooke Parish Hall, and the walk will be slightly further than last time, but should still be a leisurely walk.  We are meeting up slightly earlier - 630pm - so that we can get around before it gets too dark.  If anyone gets lost - we should be able to find them on the next morning!  Haha!  Joking! We will still be meeting under the strict guidelines - no toilets or refreshments, but we will be awarding spot prizes on the evening!  Come along and enjoy another lovely evening. See you soon! Johnny

 Hi folks September!  The month when the kids return reluctantly to school, churches restart their Sunday School classes, GFS groups, Bowls, Mothers' Union meetings!  The month we get back into the routine of services after summer!  We start thinking about Harvests, Remembrance, Advent and Christmas!  How life has changed this year! Our kids have been delighted to return to church this year following almost six months of isolation at home.  Our groups cannot meet up at the moment, and there are no plans to start them in the foreseeable future! Harvests and the other memorial events will happen this year - but what form they'll take is still to be decided. In the meantime, our services will be remaining in the car park for the next few weeks, although it is inevitable that we will have to return to church in the near future - although some major decisions still need to be taken on this plan. Please find below the latest service sheets for Sunday 6th Septembe...