Aghavea Parish Church

Hi folks Thanks for continuing to support the church through your prayers - and we are delighted to continue to support each other. Here are links to the services for Thursday 30th April: Morning Prayer - Sixth Commandment Psalm 136 Exodus 20: 1-17 Matthew 5: 21-26 MP2 30-4-2020 Evening Prayer - Seventh Commandment Psalm 73 Deuteronomy 5: 1-21 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20 EP1 30-4-2020

Hi folks Thank you to those who continue to join us online, and leave comments on our Facebook pages.  For those who haven't been able to join us live, here are links to the services for Wednesday 29th April 2020. If you ever have any problems accessing the services, just let me know. Keep safe. Rector Morning Prayer - Fourth Commandment Psalm 34 Exodus 20: 1-17 Colossians 3: 1-11 MP 29-4-2020 Celebration of Wholeness and Healing - Fifth Commandment Psalm 72 Deuteronomy 5: 1-22 John 8: 21-29 CWH 29-4-2020

Hi folks Please find links to the Morning and Evening Prayer services on Tuesday 28th April 2020.  We continue our short series of contemplations on the second and third of the Ten Commandments.  I hope you'll find them enlightening, and possibly a challenge to how you understand their significance in today's world. Thank you for your patience and allowing me to conduct this morning's service with my dog in my arms.  Bruno suffers from fairly serious fits and convulsions from time to time, and when he does, he always wants his "daddy" to hold him, and clings to him the rest of the day.  At the time of posting, he has recovered well, but is sticking to me like superglue!  Thanks to all those who asked after him. Morning Prayer readings Psalm 98, 99, 100 Exodus 20: 1-17 John 4: 19-26 MP1 28-4-2020 Evening Prayer readings Psalm 71 Deuteronomy 5: 1-22 Hebrews 12: 14-29 EP2 28-4-2020

Hi folks Sorry for the delay in posting these services - I've been having more technical issues!  The services can only be shared onto the Aghavea webpage using software on my laptop - which has had a power issue, and wouldn't start until I managed to find the issue in the power supply following a nervous operation on Tuesday afternoon.  It's now running, and so are we!   A bad workman always blames his tools - so I'm not going to make any further comment at this point! Sunday Sunday's service is in two parts, as we had more than a few issues including a false start, a dead battery in one iPad and a fault in the settings in another!  We got there in the end! Readings for the Holy Communion Acts 2:14, 36-41 Psalm 116 1 Peter 1: 17-23 Luke 24: 13-35 Sunday HC 26-4-2020 Part 1 Sunday HC 26-4-202 0 Part 2 Monday On Monday 27th April, we embarked on a week-long set of services exploring the Ten Commandments. Readings for Morning Prayer Psalm 9...

My sincere apologies that I haven't been updating the website with links to the rest of this week's services.  They were still happening, but I've been trying to cut down my screen-time, as it has been getting out of hand recently!  Anyway, without any further ado, here are the links to the rest of the services from Weds 22nd - Fri 24th April 2020. I hope you are all keeping safe, and I look forward to the end of our current pandemic so that we can get back together again! Blessings Rector Weds Morning Prayer MP 22-4-2020 Psalm 16, 30 Exodus 16: 11-end Colossians 2: 1-15 Weds Healing Service Healing 22-4-2020 Psalm 33 Hosea 5:15 - 6:6 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11 Thurs Morning Prayer MP 23-4-2020 Psalms 5, 146 Joshua 1: 1-9 Ephesians 6: 10-20 Thurs Evening Prayer EP 23-4-2020 Psalms 3, 11 Isaiah 43: 1-7 John 15: 1-8 Fri Morning Prayer MP 24-4-2020 Psalms 57, 61 Exodus 18: 1-12 Colossians 3: 12 - 4:1 Fri Evening Prayer EP 24-4-2020 Psalm 118...

Hi folks I’ve had one of those “smack on the heads” moments when I was praying earlier. I’ve been streaming services on Facebook, and they are all there, but I have been increasingly concerned that not everyone has the privilege or technology to stream services online. Not everyone has the means to go online, and I’ve been praying for direction, and God have me the obvious answer that I’ve been missing. If anyone who doesn’t have the means to go online (and I realise the irony of putting this on our website) perhaps you could ask them to contact me and I can call them on my phone and let them listen while I’m streaming. I can handle 5 calls on my phone at once. If they have an iPhone (even an old one), I may be able to use FaceTime to let them see it live too. This means that you will have to contact them and advise them about this service. I hope you can think of someone who might like this. I am happy to give it a go, and no offence will be taken if people don’t want it al the ...

Morning Prayer One (p84, BCP) I apologise for the sound quality - the wind started just as I started to record the service.  With the direction it was blowing, the area where I was seated became a wind-tunnel!  I'll find somewhere better for this evening's service! Readings : Exodus 15: 22 - 16: 10 Psalms 5, 6, 8 Colossians 1: 15-end MP One 21-4-2020 Rector

Evening Prayer One (p85, BCP) Readings : Deuteronomy 3: 1-21 Psalms 139 Colossians 1: 1-14 Evening Prayer One 20-4-2020 Enjoy the service and remember that we will be hosting our first online prayer and healing service on Wednesday evening at 530pm. Rector

Morning Prayer Two (p101, BCP) Readings : Exodus 15: 1-21 Psalms 2, 19 Colossians 1: 1-14 MP2 Monday 20th April Rector

This is the latest service from Aghavea Parish Church.  There seems to have been a little issue with the sound in this recording, so don't go blaming your own equipment - the fault is all on our side! There were three readings and a psalm as follows: Easter 2 Holy Communion Acts 2: 14a, 22-32 Psalm 16 1 Peter 1: 3-9 John 20: 19-31 Please enjoy the service - and our normal weekday services continue tomorrow. Rector

A Service of Evening Prayer One (page 84 in the BCP) Our three readings were Psalm 107, Song of Solomon 7:10 - 8:4, Luke 8:41-end. EP1 17-4-2020 Our next service will be on Sunday 19th April at 11am. Blessings Rector

Follow the link to find the latest service of Morning Prayer from Aghavea Parish Morning Prayer 17-4-2020 It's a public video, so you don't need a Facebook profile to view it.  I'll update it later again with the next video. Rector

When the world and ourselves are facing such a catastrophic pandemic such as COVID19, it seems strange to be composing this post tonight.  I suppose that it's another part of our ministry that needs to considered and addressed. Even though the world is upside down at the moment (or right-side up perhaps), there are still bills to pay, and obligations to meet.  I've had some contact recently from concerned parishioners about their weekly giving and offerings - and that they haven't had the opportunity to bring them to church during this period of isolation. Let me be very clear about this first!! YOUR SAFETY AND LIFE IS MORE VALUABLE TO GOD AND TO OUR PARISH FAMILY THAN YOUR MONEY!!  DO NOT CONSIDER PUTTING YOURSELVES IN ANY DANGER OR RISK DURING THIS TIME!! I hope that makes my first point very clear.  Our church treasurer and his assistant are still able to take your offerings and envelopes, but you will need to make us aware that you have some to give....

After three weeks in "quarantine", we have almost forgotten what life was like when it was "normal".  We have taken our liberty and freedom for granted for far too long, and haven't appreciated what we had!  We have had time to relax and reflect on many aspects of life, and what is important to us, and what isn't. We are still in the middle of the Covid19 coronavirus pandemic - but while we are still in isolation, it is vital that we take the time to look at our lives and think about what we are going to return to when we get the green light.  I have a strange suspicion that the old "normal" and the new "normal" will look different. We have an opportunity, and an obligation, to take the best of what we had before, and add it to the important things that we now enjoy and value - and find a way to become better versions of ourselves.   In many ways, that's what the Christian is all about - constantly looking at our lives and tryin...

If we've ever needed any indication as to the idea of the "global village", then we could surely say that the predicament that we're in at the moment is it!  Coronavirus Covid-19 is one of the most universal diseases that we've encountered in living memory.  It has attacked people and countries all over the world without discrimination of creed, colour or background.  Our responses have been varied, but the one constant is in our prayers for healing and comfort to those affected. Within our own parish of Aghavea, I'm already aware of families and people affected by Covid-19, and the experts predict that it's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better - indeed, they even predicted a "second wave" for later this year.  Who knows what will happen, even for tomorrow? One positive thing for me to come from this season of attack is that I have now connected with Christians all over the world online.  I have been conducting online services e...

We are well used to the news changing daily, and although it was expected at some stage, the Bishop's announcement about the suspension of services in churches throughout the diocese and then throughout the island took us all by surprise. Suddenly, our whole mission to the world took on a different outlook.  We will be forced to look at our very core as we imagine new ways to connect with our parish over the coming days, weeks and months.  Perhaps this will change how we connect with our faith and practices for a very long time, we will have to wait and see. While I am well aware that we are facing rapidly changing circumstances - I am relieved and grounded in the knowledge that the God that we serve doesn't change at all! Hebrews 13: 5-9 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper;  I will not be afraid.  W...

Please find the text of Bishop John's public message on the subject of the Coronavirus outbreak in which he cancels all Sunday services for the foreseeable future. Clogher Diocesan Response Guidance Bishop’s Pastoral Message As you will be aware, coronavirus is presenting major challenges to the whole of society on the island of Ireland, including to the Churches. It is important that we respond responsibly and proportionately to these challenges. You will have seen that as well as the Diocese, the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church have also issued guidelines today. Undoubtedly we will all have to do things differently, at least during the period of this emergency, and possibly beyond that time. However we need also to remember our calling to worship God not only “with our lips but in our lives” as we say in the General Thanksgiving. Governments and the public health authorities, North and South, have provided us with very useful guidance, which they will continue to ...

I have often talked and written about "random acts of kindness" - simple acts that make a difference to someone's day or life.  I think the best act of kindness that I've seen recently was the advert from the Portaferry Hotel, which offered to supply meals to those who had been isolated through the Covid-19 outbreak - at their own expense!  I commend their action as a means to survive this current difficult time. The current news is obviously worrying everyone - and probably rightly so!  It will alter our outlook and our participation in society in the short-term, and there could be a chance that our long-term outlook and opinion could be changed too. I think we have two main options - either become islands, working and looking after only ourselves, or we can allow the current circumstances to make our communities stronger.  In rural Fermanagh we pride ourselves in being community-minded, living together side by side, looking after each other, and being ready to ...

As the rector of the parish, I have tried to keep life and pastoral obligations as normal as possible during recent days - while keeping the news of the Coronavirus Covid-19 in the back of my mind.  In the rural Co Fermanagh, there was a suspicion that the virus would be limited to the big towns like Belfast, Lisburn, Londonderry/Derry - but recent news has brought that much nearer home! With the news that there have been several positive cases of the virus in the nearby area, we have been forced to consider our situation and response to the outbreak.  It was a difficult decision to cancel the St Patrick's Stew Night at the 11th hour - and I would like to pay a great tribute to Reuben Acheson (chef), Robert Gallagher (butcher) and to all the ladies of the parish who had agreed to bring desserts for their understanding and acceptance. We will have to look at all our other practices too - and the first thing I have reluctantly had to do is to cancel our midweek Lenten servic...

As the news about the pandemic starts to intensify and get more and more serious - the Church of Ireland has released the following advice.  As a result, we will be making a few changes in church for a time until things get better - we won't be shaking hands on the way out, we will only be sharing the bread at Holy Communion, and we will be sharing the message about hygiene at every service!  I hope that everyone will cooperate and understand the circumstances/ Johnny Church of Ireland Guidance in relation to Novel Coronavirus (Covid–19) The following advisory guidelines for the Church of Ireland’s response regarding the novel coronavirus (Covid–19) reflect previous advice provided by the Church as a response to pandemic flu.  The guidelines offer a general framework to parishes, subject to further approval or other advice that may be considered appropriate by the diocesan bishop. 1. Follow all public health guidance provided by state authorities – the Publi...