Aghavea Parish Church

 Hi folks Advent has started in auspicious terms this year, heralding the start of the first full week of our second circuit breaker session.  Some shops are closed, others deemed as necessary (garden ornaments in the grip of winter, really?) and we have been advised to stay indoors as much as possible! We are not going to let any legislation get in the way of our daily services, and as planned, they start this evening, Monday 30th November.  This week we will look through the Gospel according to Matthew, reading a few chapters each day as follows: Monday - Matthew 1-5 Tuesday - Matthew 6-10 Wednesday - Matthew 11-16 Thursday - Matthew 17-22 Friday - Matthew 23-28 Our service will take the following format: Introduction Prayer Reading Pause for Thought Prayer (including Collect of the Day) The Lord's Prayer and Grace I specifically want to keep the readings as the most important part of the daily services, as they explain and record Jesus' birth, ministry, passion, death and re

Hi folks The old hymn "Advent tells us Christ is near" is a traditional hymn that we associate with Advent Sunday - the beginning of the penitential period leading up to Christmas.  It is a period of preparation to allow us to examine ourselves. our lives, our values - in preparation to meet the risen Christ when he returns, rather than to prepare ourselves for "Christmas" itself! This year, Advent Sunday will be celebrated in different circumstances.  This year our service will be Online Only , due to the Coronavirus C19 restrictions.  A small team of four people will be in church , streaming via Facebook - myself, David and our wives, Kim and Nuala respectively. Kim is responsible each Sunday for the video and audio in church, and Nuala is a dedicated choir member - and both will read a lesson on Advent Sunday to symbolise the inclusivity of the event - Christ will return for us all.  David, our Parish Reader, will lead the service, as well as the third lesson, an

Lockdown 2.0 - at least that's what some are calling it!   With many of the small, independent businesses being closed for a two week "circuit breaker", it seems unfair that the many larger businesses are allowed to open - often using loopholes to class themselves as essential businesses. Similarly, while we could meet inside a supermarket or inside a large shopping centre, it does seem very strange that we have to close our places of worship!  It may be that many will feel that the devil is getting his way in closing churches - be clear, we are not closing CHURCHES , but places of worship .  Jesus clearly identified the Church as the people of God, not a particular building or location!!  Church buildings may close, but the Church is more open than ever! This year has forced us to look at the way we conduct church.  Personally, I believe that the previous year, that we spent in the Parish Hall while the renovations were being carried out, has helped our parish to cope wi

Hi folks We often remember the great times we've experienced with God, and treasure them.  We often yearn for them, particularly when times are rough - much like most of 2020!! Here's a different take on things.  I came across this poem shortly after I started Trinity College, and was missing my family during the week, then had a very serious accident on my motorbike - and all was getting to me.I was starting to feel like I had been abandoned by God - but when I read this poem, it gave me a renewed strength to keep going. As a result, I printed this poem and it hung on my noticeboard in my room for the three years I was there. I actually still have that original copy! I hope it gives you some encouragement in your dark hours too! The poem is "In the Valleys I grow" by Jane Eggleston. God bless you all. Johnny

 Hi folks Last year, we observed Advent by reading a chapter each day of the Gospel according to Luke, which conveniently took us through to Christmas Eve 2019.  I don't know about anyone else, but I found it quite difficult - only that I wanted to read on each morning/evening! With that in mind, and also that our circumstances are completely different this year, I'm setting us all another Advent Challenge!  I want us all to read a "Gospel a Week".  Don't panic, it's very achievable if we break it down into smaller parts.  In fact, I've prepared a poster for that very objective! Each day throughout Advent, our daily service will take a different form that our usual Morning or Evening Prayer.  We will start with a prayer, read our passage, a very short reflection on the passage we've read that day, then finish with a prayer/prayers.  This simple format will concentrate our thoughts upon the Gospel - the Good News - of Christ without the distraction arou

Hi folks Well, here's a first for me! In normal years, I would normally write a letter and circulate it with the Church Envelopes for next year, but as they are already out, my letter will be circulated separately.  While our parishioners will receive a "hard copy", I trust that our many friends will be satisfied with the digital one! Our Christmas letter highlights some of the different achievements in the parish throughout the year, and this year's letter is no exception.  There's no surprise that the pandemic is mentioned, and it's effect on our parish - but it's not all negative! Please have a look, and I'd like to thank everyone - throughout our parish, and throughout our new Facebook friends - for all the support and encouragement you have all been to me, my family, and to our parish this year! May God receive all the glory! Johnny Rector

Hi folks The Sunday before Advent marks the end of our Liturgical Year.  This year most of our Sunday Gospel lessons have been from the Gospel according to Matthew.  The last Sunday before Advent is also known as Christ the King Sunday.  We had been challenged by the Bishop to use the opportunity to use the occasion as a Mission Sunday, looking at the work of a missionary or Christian society - but our Covid-19 restrictions put paid to most of our early plans.  I had hoped to have a representative from the Bible Society with us, but that can wait until another time. Our service this week is also our last for two weeks due to the Government's plans for a circuit breaker.  The infection levels in Northern Ireland are steadily increasing, and the bed occupancy rate in our hospitals in at or over the full capacity.  It makes sense to have a circuit breaker, although having it in October when the schools were off might have made more sense!  I'm just delighted that I'm not an ML

Hi folks Apparently the Oxford English Dictionary has made “lockdown” its word of the year - and with the circumstances this year, I think that any word connected to the “Coronavirus” “Covid-19” “pandemic” “restrictions” could make sense to use as the Word of the Year!  The reality is that any of the words above are difficult to live with. The news that was announced on 19th November will result in our church (and all other places of worship) being closed for two weeks.  Much as this is disappointing news, it brings us into line with our brothers and sisters in the Republic of Ireland who haven’t met as congregations in many weeks. I hope that we can understand the reasoning behind our obedience to the rules that were announced.  Our region in Northern Ireland is one of the most badly hit areas at the moment, and it makes sense that we should face the same restrictions as the rest of society. The church building will be closed on 29th November and 6th December - the first two Sundays o

 Hi folks Our Sunday services continue this Sunday with the parable of the "Talents of Gold".  It's a particularly challenging parable, so it's worth coming along to our service at 11am, or watching live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/johnny.mcloughlin If you'd like to follow along in your Book of Common Prayer, the service will start on p101 - alternatively, you could print out the first two pages shown here. The next pages are colouring pages for our Nativity Service.  I'm hoping as many young people (or indeed, young at heart people) will colour the pages and send them back to church by 6th December.  You could always scan and email them, take a photo with your phone, or just pop them through the rectory door.  MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THEM!!! God bless you all. Johnny    

With Advent and Christmas just around the corner - our Sunday School children should be rehearsing for their Nativity Sunday service.  This year hasn't been a normal year, as I'm sure you'd understand!  Our Sunday School hasn't been able to meet yet, but we still consider them as a vital part of our church, and wish to have some input from them this year at our Nativity Sunday - whether they can be there or not! I have managed to find some colouring pages that I'm going to ask our children to colour in.  I have three groups - pre-school, early primary and older primary/secondary.  Having said that - anyone can colour in any or all of the pictures if they wish!  Even the adults are welcome to submit a coloured picture.  Just select the image, print it out, send it in to me! Simples! Make sure you put your name on the page, and have it back to the church, or to the rectory by 6th December.  You can bring it to church, scan and email it, you can take a photo on your ph

  Hopefully you'll have seen the photos on Facebook of our great Two Wheeled Adventure.  It was a fantastic day, both weather-wise and adventure-wise! It was an absolute privilege to ride with Kenny, Iain, Raymond and Adrian around Lower Lough Erne.  I was totally impressed by their strength and determination to complete the circuit - and I was exhausted just watching them! I would like to thank the team for their co-operation and support of our Building Fund.  I would also like to thank Hazel, Yvonne and Kim for their provision of a meal at the end of the journey.  I would also like to thank both everyone who donated to the adventure - and so far we've raised over £2000! Congratulations to everyone involved! Rector