Aghavea Parish Church

Hi folks It’s been a long time since the  pandemic  started and the lockdowns - and Covid hasn’t really gone away! I had the dubious honour of getting Covid for the second time just before Holy Week, giving me the chance to think about ministry direction, both my own and in the parish. One of the original responses to the pandemic was to limit our use of the hymn books and our Prayer Books. At the beginning I produced a service sheet with all the relevant liturgy - which we used in the car park and when we returned to the church. Our “temporary measure” lasted almost three years - and it’s time to move on! Our Book of Common Prayer contains our unique identity - in fact the word “Common” doesn’t mean ordinary but that it shows our unity - the liturgy we hold in “common”. We will be returning to our BCPs from this weekend, the Second Sunday of Easter. We will be using Morning Prayer Two - and we will guide us through the service.  We look forward to seeing you in church or...

Hi folks It seems like no time at all since Christmas, then we had Lent, then Holy Week - and we're just through Easter Weekend! It has certainly been a busy start to the new year - which is already three months old!! Anyway...  Much as we've been busy so far - there is a lot more to come in the coming weeks. On Tuesday 18th April, our Annual Easter Vestry will be meeting in the Parish Hall at 8pm - and all can come to support our outgoing Select Vestry, and encourage the incoming members for the coming year. On Saturday 22nd April, we will be hosting a Parish Auction with bidding starting at 12pm noon. We will need helpers for the auction, some folks to help out with the catering (possibly burgers too!), and to handle the sales and collection of the items. On Wednesday 26th April, our parish will be hosting a Crosslinks Conference at 730pm, and you are all invited to join us to hear about the excellent work the charity does supporting hundreds of missionaries and ministries ar...

Hi folks This weekend sees us continue our journey through Jesus' encounters in the Gospel according to John - this time considering the wonderful story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan lady outside a village, and the possible scandal he risked in talking to her! How will it work out? Read John chapter 4. How does it affect us in today's world? Join us as we explore the ramifications! Our service starts at 11am on Sunday 12th March, and all are welcome either online via our Fb page - or, even better, in Super HD, 3D, in person! Blessings Johnny

Hi folks Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Another week has flown by, and we find ourselves at the mid-week worship again. This weekend we look at the third and fourth Beatitudes that Jesus shared with his followers at the Sermon on the Mount. Our short service of reflection and worship starts at 8pm, both in-person and online via our Fb page. All are welcome to join us. Blessings Johnny

Hi folks Another week has literally flown by - and we've already started the new month!  This Sunday's readings include the best known passage in the Bible, John 3 - the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. In this passage, Jesus sums up the whole Gospel message of love, salvation and eternal life in one verse, known to us all as John 3:16. Is this the most important verse in our Holy Scriptures? Possibly, but join us on Sunday to discuss the passage, and how it fits into the Christian life as we know it. Our service is Holy Communion Two, and our readings and passages are listed on our service sheets attached. Our service will be streamed on Facebook (all being well) and shared afterwards on our page if you can't join us live. Blessings Johnny

Well folks Happy St David's Day, and of course, the second Wednesday in Lent. Our service this evening considers the second and third Beatitudes as recorded in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5. We consider what Jesus meant by those who mourn, and those who are meek. In our worship we will gather to reflect on the blessings God has granted to us, and hold in our prayers all those who are in need at this time. Our service starts at 8pm, and all are welcome to join us. May God richly bless you. Johnny

Hi folks I hope you've eaten all your pancakes, decided what you're doing for Lent - we have officially started! Kim suggested that I should stop driving cars for Lent, but I started that last week anyway!! You'll be seeing lots of my motorbike in the wake of the accident with the car last Monday! As part of my Lenten observance, I'll be making a concerted effort to make more time for prayer and meditation, and part of that will be in sharing more thoughts both on this blog, and through short services online. I hope you might find them beneficial to your own observance of Lent. Today, as we start, let's consider why we "give something up". Most of us will consider giving up chocolate, sugar, coffee, or something that's bad for us. We might use it as the core of a diet, perhaps in preparation for all the chocolate we'll eat on Easter Day. We will see this as a period of being healthy, of perhaps treating our bodies better than we normally would. We ...

Hi folks It's been a while since we've been on the blog - having taken to Facebook for most of the news and messages. With Lent almost upon us, I'm going to resort to the "old fashioned" means do getting our news and views out. Lent is a special period of preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Originally a period of preparation for Baptism in to the Christian Faith, these days this is a period of denial and accountability to God. Some will give up something they enjoy - alcohol, chocolate, cake, biscuits - some will take on something else - reading their Bible, spending more in prayer, working for a charity, trying to be more "Christian" in a sense.  Personally, I believe that there are great merits to both sides - giving up and taking on more - but that is a personal choice. What I do ask is that you consider your own hearts and do what is right for you. Each Wednesday, starting on Ash Wednesday 22nd February at 8pm, there will be a short reflective serv...

Hi folks Last week was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the 70 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II - both the service and the lovely tea and cake afterwards (and yes, I managed to get two slices of the lovely cake - so much for my diet). This weekend we celebrate another fantastic occasion, on the Sunday after Pentecost which is always Trinity Sunday.  As we transferred our Holy Communion last week, we will celebrate the occasion with a celebration of Holy Communion. As we have now returned to "nearly normal", we now celebrate with both the bread and wine of Holy Communion.  As ever, there is no compulsion for anyone to receive in both kinds. If you feel in anyway uncomfortable with taking a sip from the chalice, just quietly indicate to the server (either the rector or David), and no more will be said about it! Similarly, if you feel that you cannot make it to the Communion rail, please let either Rebecca or Nuala know, and they will direct the server to come to you.  N...

Hi folks it has been almost three years since our last Confirmation in 2019 - partly due to the Coronavirus pandemic, partly due to the vacancy due to the Bishop moving, and partly due to a gap in ages in our young adults. Confirmation is the stage in which our young adults take on the responsibility for their faith, fulfilling the baptismal promises made for them by their parents and sponsors. It is therefore with great joy that we can announce that Bishop Ian has agreed to come along to our parish on 16th October to confirm some of our young adults.  You will find an application form here, or you can pick one up from the church. Please print this form out and bring it with you to church or email it to me at revdjohnny@gmail.com We also encourage you to invite any sponsors who shared with the baptismal promises for your child, as this service concludes the promises they made when the children were young. With the summer almost upon us, we will hold our classes in September and ear...

Hi folks Please find our latest service sheets for Sunday 15th May, our family service for the 5th Sunday in Easter. We are delighted that the Sunday School will be present with us in our service, and will be singing for us as well!!  Our sermon will look at how we identify as Christian, and how people will identify us without us having to tell them first! There's a colouring page, hymns and the service sheet - join us either in person at 11am, or online via our Facebook page.  If you, or the children, colour in a page, please take a pic and send it to me and we can share it via our Facebook page - folks love to see them. Sunday evening will be a special night in Fivemiletown, joining their congregation for an evening of praise, worship and Bible study. Canon Kyle will be playing the piano, Johnny will be playing guitar and/or bass, and Naomi and Elliott will be leading our singing. The service starts at 7pm, and we hope you will be able to join us. Regards Johnny

Hi Folks This Sunday sees us into April - already a quarter of the year gone!   As we start the new month, our service is Holy Communion, in which we consider service as a vital component to Christian life - not as a servant obeying a master, but as people worshipping God. Next Sunday will be Palm Sunday, kicking off our Holy Week services - and it's also our Family service, and an exciting one at that!  Our Sunday School children will be taking part in our service as we celebrate Jesus' triumphant entry to Jerusalem. Here are the sheets for Sunday, as ever, all are welcome at our services. Blessing Johnny

Hi folks Our service this week is Morning Prayer One - in the traditional language.  Now, before you turn off, the language shouldn't be a barrier to joining in the service, the liturgy is beautifully written and has been virtually unchanged sine the early 1600s! The fourth Sunday in Lent is also Mothering Sunday - so we look forward to celebrating Mothers and all those who care for others during the service.  Being a mother is not just a matter of biology - but a sign of care and love! Oh yes - one last thing - if you don't put your clock forward, you'll arrive at the very end of the service! All are welcome to our service, either in-person or online. Blessings Johnny

Hi folks With one thing and another, it's been a long week - but we're back to Sunday again! This week our readings direct us to Christ's central message - Repent or perish!  If this sounds a little radical, there's good reason for that - it is radical!  The message is simple - there are no grey areas in the judgement to come - repent or perish!  If this message offends or alarms you, then this Sunday's message will be an important one to hear! Our Family service starts at 11am, all are welcome to join us in person in Aghavea, or online via our Facebook page. Blessings Johnny

Hi folks We are looking forward to the return of our Sunday School during our service. All are welcome to join us - and if some of our parents would be willing to volunteer to help out, we would be very grateful to accept your help! Anyway, in our service we will be considering the relationship between foxes and hens - and see how we are still in the middle of the tension between the two in our world today. See you soon. Johnny

Hi folks It's hard to believe that we're through another week, which brings us almost to the end of the second month! This week, we approach Lent, with Shrove Tuesday on 1st March and Ash Wednesday on 2nd March.  Before then, we have our Sunday before Christmas service - and remind ourselves that Jesus is not just (or even, not only) a good man, but the eternal God - at all times. This week has seen the biggest military action in Europe since the end of the Second World War - with Putin ordering his troops to invade Ukraine.  We will include prayers for peace in Ukraine, where it seems only a miracle can bring peace to the area. Here are the service sheets for Morning Prayer One (in the Traditional language) with our announcements and hymns. Blessings Johnny

Hi folks This Sunday is traditionally themed as Creation Sunday - which shows us that Jesus is not just Lord of Heaven, but Lord of All Creation. This Sunday also brings great news regarding our fight against Covid, and a possible start towards a return to normality! I hope you can join us either online or in-person, starting at 11am. Blessings Johnny

Hi Folks It's amazing to believe that this is already February! This Sunday sees the 70th anniversary of the ascension of a young Princess Elizabeth to the throne, following the death of her father.  She promised to serve her country for the remainder of her life, and that's exactly what she has done ever since.  Our service will include prayers for her life and work - recognising the work and dedication she has shown. Please find attached the latest copy of our service sheet, including the hymns and liturgy.  Our service is Holy Communion Two - and, as usual, all are welcome to join us eith in-person or online via Facebook.  I hope you can continue to worship with us through these difficult times, and will continue to know God's blessing and protection on your lives. Blessings Johnny

Hi folks Wednesday 2nd February is Candlemas, during which we celebrate the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. This year our service is Online Only at 1130am, from the church. Our service sheet is attached below, please join me to worship God on this special day.  Blessings Johnny

 Hi folks Sorry it’s so late, but please find the service sheets for Sunday 30th January 2022. Service starts at 11am. See you all then.  Regards Johnny