September 2018

www.groomsportparishchurch.org

For how great is His goodness, and how great

His beauty! Zechariah 9:17

Groomsport Parish Church

The Rector Revd Duncan Pollock 028 9146 4476

The Rector’s Warden Helen Parkinson 028 9147 9984

The People’s Warden Hester Kelly 028 9146 3541

R Glebe Warden Billy McAnneney 07812 042833

P Glebe Warden Tony Anderson 07803 282200

Treasurer Wesley Quinn 028 9145 6472

Secretary to SV Heather Pentland 07834 771075

Gift Aid Secretary Ian Sloan 028 9145 7092

Sunday School Maggie Townsley & Helen Carter

07748 208649

Verger/Caretaker Susan Moore 028 9185 7509

Organist Stuart Tanner 07411 178230

Parish Office Elaine Lester 028 9127 1311 07791 569432

Parish Officials

Administrative enquiries please contact: Elaine 028 9127 1311 or gpcoffice@btinternet.com

Church Hall bookings please contact: David McKnight 028 9127 3130 or linden.lodge@btopenworld.com

For Hall problems, please contact: William McAneney (07812 042833) or Tony (07803 282200)

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Please note that the Rector will be available in the Vestry office on Tuesdays from 6.00pm – 7.00pm, for short meetings to sign passports, driving licence documents etc., or to arrange a lengthier meeting for another time.

Whilst our Rector is always available to his congregation at all hours of every day, it is hoped that, where possible, the period between lunchtime Friday and Sunday Services may be void of contact so as to allow him family time, quiet reflection and preparation for the week ahead; emergency requirements and visits excepted.

Rector’s Hour Rector’s Recess

by St Paul as the “Body of Christ”. He goes further and explains that “we” are the Body of Christ: the congregation, the casual visitor, the occasional helper at church functions and events, the housebound with their ministry of prayer. We are the agents of God’s love, with other Christians, in this place and beyond. It is through us and our conduct and interaction with others that the truth of the Gospel will be realised.

What I want to understand, or rather explore, is how we can use this marvellous gift of a beautiful Church building as a tool in our ministry; and I mean “our” ministry. The six, nearly seven, month sojourn in the Canon Tyney Hall has shown me, and I hope you as well, that we are all in this enterprise together. As Paul writes, we all have different gifts to share, and I have been humbled by the way people have pulled together, using their gifts to make Sundays “work”. How do we build on that sense of commonality, that deepening sense of friendship and fellowship?

Our architect was given two over riding conditions as he set about considering the refurbishment of the Church building: the first was, don’t interfere with the essential feel of the place, that sense of holiness and the presence of God; secondly, whatever is done must last for at least fifty years. As we prepare to take back our Church building, God give us grace to ensure that our part in the ministry of the Gospel will still be as fit for purpose in fifty years as our sacred building.

Duncan

October 28th; October 28th, eight more weeks until we return to our Church. I know that many, like me, can’t wait to get back into the building. Our Church Hall has proved a more

than adequate substitute, but I suspect there will be few complaining about the pews as a form of seating once we return! The hall can be overly warm, something that you could never say about the Church. And it lacks “atmosphere”, that feeling of other-worldliness that our Church building has in spades. A sixth sense tells me that our Church building is a place that has been prayed in, and the walls of the building speak silently of the prayers of previous generations of Groomsport people. However well the Canon Tyney Hall has been adapted to our weekly worship, it lacks that essential feeling of “prayer”. It is a space that I find difficult to remain still in.

I talk about the “Church” building, rather than the Church. I have this summer tried to concentrate my thoughts and prayers on what the “Church” is. Clearly the building is vital to our prayer life, our worship and our ministry. If it isn’t, why would we be spending all this money on the place? The building shapes our prayers, it gives us a sense of God’s dignity and majesty, and it speaks of, hints at the beauty of heaven.

But, of course, the Church is more than just a building, however beautiful and special that building might be. The Church is defined

From the Rector

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8.30am Holy Communion

10.30am Service of the Word

6.00pm Evening Prayer (sung)

8.30am Holy Communion

10.30am Morning Prayer

6.00pm Holy Communion

8.30am Holy Communion

10.30am Morning Prayer

6.00pm Compline

8.30am Holy Communion

10.30am A Family Service a new school year*

6.00pm Evening Prayer (sung)

* Coffee after 10.30am service in Church Hall. All welcome! Hosts Dorothy Anne Crawford, Bert Smith, Norma Parsley & Jenny Craythorne.

8.30am Holy Communion

10.30am Parish Communion

6.00pm Compline

Sunday 16 September– Trinity 16 Welcome Team: Walter and Mae Burke Reader: Bert Smith

Sunday 23 September – Trinity 17 Welcome Team: Trevor and Jenny Craythorne Reader: Marian Cinnamond

Sunday 30 September – Trinity 18 Welcome Team: Tony and Eleanor Anderson Reader: Wesley Quinn

Sunday 2 September – Trinity 14 Welcome Team: David and Dorothy McKnight Reader: Valerie Boyd

Sunday 9 September – Trinity 15 Welcome Team: Barry and Caroline Greenaway Reader: Peter Osborough

Note: The Office of Compline is said every Tuesday at 7.30pm

Holy Communion is celebrated every Thursday at 11.00am

Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Wednesday of the month at 10.30am in the Chapel at Mt Stewart House.

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Church Services Summer

7.30pm Compline

11.00am Holy Communion

8.30am Holy Communion

10.30am A Family Service for Harvest (with Holy Baptism)*

6.00pm Evening Prayer (sung)

* Coffee after 10.30am service in Church Hall. All welcome! Hosts tbc.

10.30am Holy Communion, The Chapel Mt Stewart

Tuesdays

Thursdays

The Rector is in the Parish Office each Tuesday evening before Comploine (6pm – 7pm) for a chat, general enquiries and the sign- ing and endorsement of passports and other applications.

Sunday 7 October – Harvest Thanksgiving Welcome Team: Kate Murray and Pauline Harrison Reader: Joan Haddick

Occasional Services Wednesday 5 September

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Holy Matrimony

Births, Deaths, Baptisms Marriages & Announcements Holy Rest

Ashleigh is the grand-daughter of Ian Jones, who was a longstanding member of our Parish until his passing earlier this year. Simon and Ashleigh live in the family home on The Brae. We wish them God’s blessing on their life together.

Simon Hanley and Ashleigh Dawson

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After so much work to the Church Building it is right that we thank God for His providence and the blessings of our Church. On Advent Sunday, a year after the Church’s 175th anniversary service, we will be welcoming many friends and guests to Church for a service of re-dedication led by our Bishop, The Right Reverend Harold Miller.

After the service there will be a reception and light buffet lunch and it is hoped that as many parishioners as possible will join with our guests at this family event. To help with the planning, tickets for the lunch (free) will be available from 30 September and there is a proforma for ticket applications in this month’s “Contact”

Groomsport Parish Church Community Annual Shopping Trip to Newbridge Silver Outlet and Kildare Village Outlet - Saturday 2 February 2019

This event is designed for parishioners, villagers, family and friends and seats are allocated on a first come first served basis.

The bus has been booked with McAvoys (toilet on board) and the annual shopping trip will take place on Saturday 2 February 2018.

Further details later in the year

Heather Pentland

Advent Sunday – 2 December 2018 The Re-Dedication of Groomsport Parish Church

Advance Notice

Walking for Softies

Well , Walking for Softies will soon be starting their programme of walks for the Autumn.

The first walk is along Strangford Dyke in Newtownards, starting at the floodgates.