Dear Friends,Healing the Broken- Breath for the Dried Up.

It was reported on the radio that 1000 broken limbs were treated inhospitals during the icy weather in Co Cork alone. One thousandand rising as our own parishioners joined the queues in A&E! It isan understatement to say these have been trying times for all of usover the last few months - first the floods and then the freeze.Thankfully most of us escaped unscathed but to those who are stillnursing injuries we extend our prayerful good wishes.

Bones do ofcourse have aremarkable abilityto heal. Even be-fore you get to adoctor the healingprocess com-mences. Doctorssimply cooperatewith nature in theway they treatfractures. Andcooperation is

ultimately the quality that is required if our discipleship is to haveany depth, commitment and joy. Cooperating with God’s Spirit.

Breath of GodIn Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones ( a picture of God’speople, dried up and without hope) the prophecy came:“Dry bones hear the word of the Lord! I will make breath enter you,and you will come to life,” and in the vision, “there was a noise, arattling sound, and the bones came together …tendons and fleshappeared.”And with another prophecy “breath entered them.” (Ezekiel 37)

The Bible tells us that from the beginning of creation to the giving ofthe Holy Spirit at Pentecost, God longs for our willingness to coop-erate. Failure to do so leads to life becoming a drudgery and a formof slavery. Churches become moribund. Cooperation leads to life,healing and the pleasure of God. He longs to awaken the dead tothaw hearts that have become icy and indifferent to Him. He longsto make churches vibrant, caring bodies of grace, signposts of theKingdom of God in the world.

New Wine Visit – welcome back George Newell.We are delighted therefore to welcome to Carrigrohane Union theRev David McClay, the Leader of New Wine Ireland. New Winesimply tries to be a channel to encourage Christians to live the lifeof the Spirit and prioritise Kingdom living.. David and a team fromWillowfield Parish Belfast , including George Newell who sent sev-eral years here ministering in Blarney, are coming to run a specialprogramme to which members of other churches are welcome.

The details of the visit can be found on the back page of this issue

CARRIGROHANE UNION OF PARISHESCARRIGROHANE UNION OF PARISHESSt Peter’s, Carrigrohane St Senan’s, Inniscarra The Church of the Resurrection, Blarney

www.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.iewww.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie

SPANSPAN February 2010February 2010

of Span. Please pray that this will be a special time in the life ofthe Union for God to have His way with us.

LentA few days later we enter Lent which essentially is a season tocooperate with God to live the life of the Sprit by honing our spiri-tual disciplines eg; prayer, bible reading, fasting, meditation,solitude, and silence. As I listen to a doctor on the radio detailingwhat needsattention in Haiti following the terrible earthquake, the physical

injuries were to be treated immediately including many shatteredbones. Later would come the need for counselling to cope withthe trauma. Lent can be that time when all the knocks andbruises of life can be faced; the dried out bones of our lives andthe church herself, are restored and renewed.

With this in mind, this Lent sees us having a special focus be-tween Passion Sunday ( 21st March) and Palm Sunday (28th

March) when we particularly lay aside the routine business ofchurch life and stop to engage with God . Our busyness as aUnion of Churches is terrific, it reflects so much passion, but wealways need to ask the question; are we busy about the rightthings God wants for us? During this week we are asking God formore of Himself and a clear vision of His plan for us for the nextfew years. There will be further details soon.

SpringtimeIn the meantime, please pray that this Lent will be a spring timeof our life with God, that in the words of Ezekiel:“Dry bones hear the word of the Lord! I will make breath enter

you, and you will come to life,”

Every prayer and blessing Ian

Kingdom EngagePrayer Focus for February:Ivan McMahon, Dave & Chriszine Backhouse, Irene Helen &Helen Lane and all those who work and volunteer with the YMCAin Ballincollig and Cork City.Prayer needs:• For the new STEP intake of 10 young people (8 males and

2 females)• For the planned parenting course with PAKT (and Janet

Lane as she volunteers and co-facilitates)• For the planning that’s going into a new mentoring

programme for young people

Prayer cards from the YMCA will be available – to help us topray more personally for the recently started STEP with the 10young people in Ballincollig YMCA. This programme runs untilthe end of June and to have the backing of regular prayer wouldbe much appreciated.Copies of the Annual Report will also be available so we can allhave up to date information on the activities of the YMCA as wepray.

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The Marriage Coursewill run again in the Parish Centreon Wednesday nights beginning14th April.If you’d like to know more about it,come along to the Marriage Course Dinner Party in theCentre on Wednesday 10th March at 8pm. Couples whohave attended courses in the past are very welcome tocome along to the party—and bring friends who might beinterested. Please phone the Parish Office (4877260) orPatsy (087 6413559) to book places at the party by Sun 7March.

Carrigrohane UnionYouth February 2010

Our Youth group nights for national school(3rd to 6th class), ‘Glow’,and for secondary school age, ‘Glow MAX’ meet on Fridays asfollows:

Glow: Feb 5th / Mar 12th / Apr 16th

Glow MAX: Feb 26th / Mar 19th / Apr 23rd

Sunday PM - will meet every week except 14th and 21stof Feb for half term.

Other dates for our diaries…

• Sat 6th Feb—CDYC 5 a-side soccer for +13 year olds• On March 5th at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre—

'The Best Desserts in Town'Following on from 'The Best Breakfast in Town' last year, this is atraining and support evening (with delicious desserts!) or everyoneinvolved in children or youth work in the parish. The training will belooking at the different things that children and young people needfor healthy development and helping us to think how we can be partof this for the young people we serve in our parish.Contact Katie for more details 085 1080030

Making summer plans? Maybe you want to think about includingsome of these exciting events.

• Blarney Holiday Club leaders preparation day 19th July• Blarney Holiday Club 20th-23rd July• Summer Madness 4-7th July• New Wine in Sligo 11th-16th July• Scripture Union Camps & Holidays for 2010—see

www.scriptureunion.ie, phone 01-2802300 or emailinfo@scriptureunion.ie for more details of family weeks,parenting weekends or camps for young people of 10-12,13-15 & 16-19 years old.

Youth Leaders Training Weekend

Last weekend the Cork Diocesan Youth Council held their annualyouth leaders training weekend in Inchydoney Hotel. There wereabout 45 youth leaders from around the diocese.From Carrigrohane Union Heather Lane, Caitlin Jonas and Matt andKatie (and Charlie!) were there.It was an encouraging time of meeting with other youth leaders andhearing about the other youth groups starting up and growing in thediocese. We also had some time for the beach in the best sunshineof the year!

Matt’s mobile: 085 1080067Katie’s mobile: 085 1080030

SPANSPAN

Recipe for a happy marriage…1 cup consideration

1 cup courtesy2 cupfuls flattery carefully concealed1 gallon faith and trust in each other

2 cupfuls praise1 small pinch of in-laws

1 reasonable budget, a generous dash of cooperation3 teaspoon pure extract of "I'm sorry"

1 cup contentment1 cup each confidence and encouragement

1 large or several small hobbies1 cup blindness to the other's faults

Flavour with frequent portions of recreation and a dash of happymemories. Stir well and remove any specks of jealousy, temperor criticism. Sweeten well with generous portions of love andkeep warm with a steady flame of devotion. Never serve withcold shoulder. Anon

Tearfund Ireland and CambodiaAn evening with Bill & Janet Lane

on their recent trip.Saturday February 27th,

7pm, Parish CentreEveryone welcome!

For a week in January while Ireland froze Bill & Janettravelled with a group from Tearfund Ireland to understand

the work Tearfund sponsors in Cambodia.It was an inspirational trip where we saw an impoverishedcountry being helped to its feet by local church organisa-tions living out their faith in deeds and words. Trafficked

children care, HIV/AIDS education and terminal care,teenage drug abuse rehabilitation, mother and baby care,income generation, schooling for disabled and able bodied

children and more besides are all being undertaken byTearfund supported local faith based organisations.

Youth Work Project ReviewSince August 2006 our Union of Parishes has benefitedfrom its own Youth Work Project. The Select Vestry has asub-committee which has now begun a structured reviewof the work to date. As part of this process, it wouldwelcome feedback from parishioners on the strengths andweaknesses of this work. All contributions will be recordedconfidentially and anonymously. They should be sent bythe end of February to Cesca Tyrrell, Currahaly,Farnanes or by e mail to cesca.tyrrell@gmail.com.

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SPANSPANToddler groups

No Toddlers in 1/2 term week• Tues 16th Feb in Blarney

• & Fri 19th Feb in CarrigrohaneOne of our very dedicated helpers Heather Daly has just stepped down from

Carrigrohane Toddlers after 5 years and we thank her for all her help and committ-ment over the years and in particular for her willingness to stay on long enough forthe new team to become established. We are now looking for at least one newhelper. If you can't commit to every week or even all morning (Fridays 10am to12pm) it would be great to have someone who could help us tidy up at the endfrom 11.15am to 12pm. For more information please contact Lucia O'Donovan 0872942285. Thank you.

Parish Contacts:Rector: Rev Ian Jonas – 4871106 email: revianjonas@yahoo.co.uk or rector@carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ieCurate: Ruth Jackson – 4383103 email: rjblarney@eircom.net or curate@carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie

Parish Office: 4877260 (Mon-Fri mornings) email: parishoffice@carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ieYouth Workers: Matt Gould: 085 1080067 Katie Gould: 085 1080030 email: mattandkatiegould@yahoo.co.uk

Parish website: Parish Website: www.carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ieWe change the answer machine message at the beginning of each week—and include the times of the services for the following Sunday.

Our sympathy and prayers are with Herbie andthe Calvert family following Heather’s death;Jim & Sarah Casey, Darrell & Simon and all

their family following Gordon’s death and Lucia& Michael O’Donovan and their family follow-

ing the death of Michael’s mother, Mary.

April and Ruth have beenreviewing the Lighthouse andgave parents and leaders a questionnaire in January. The results

have been really encouraging – the Lighthouse is a real hit. Comments include‘Kids love it...Great for families together....Non-cringy way of sharing Biblestories...good to being doing something in church with the kids... Fun andworship together’. As a result of this process, the structure of the afternoon willchange slightly and the time has moved to 3.30 – 5pm. We were hampered withthe weather in January but it is important that the news about this club is gossipedaround. April particularly puts a lot of hard work into preparation and ‘if kids come,

they will want to comeagain’. So, would you beinterested in comingalong – or bringing somechildren along to give itago. Invite yourneighbours or friends – itreally is open to every-one. The next Lighthouseis on Sunday, 21st Febru-ary, 3.30-5pm, when wewill be telling Hannah’sstory. Helpers are alwayswelcome, especially men.

...have been received from theIrish Guide Dogs for the Blind forthe great collection of €435.00 atthe Carol Singing in Ballincollig.

...and from many of the charities who received do-nations from the parish annual charity giving at theend of 2009.The retiring collection in the churches for the special

Bishops’ Appeal for Haiti raised €1090.00The regular Bishops’ Appeal giving for the parish

over the Christmas season raised €1222.00

Also thank you to everyone who helped so much atthe parish Ladies’ Lunch in the Parish Centre—especially the young volunteers who came along tohelp—we really appreciate you taking the time andhelping us out!

Stewardship envelopes are available foruse in 2010. Please take a box from any of the churches,and sign the list to let us know which box number belongsto you. The information is kept confidential and is onlyused to keep records to apply for the annual tax reclaimfor the parish. If you would prefer to set up a direct debitfrom your bank account to the parish—forms are alsoavailable.

The Parish office would be very grateful if the peo-ple who used boxes 54, 30, 28, 27, 24, 23, 22, 21 &31 (for 2009) would identify themselves for the re-cords. Just leave a message on the office phone ordrop us an email:parishoffice@carrigrohaneunionofparishes.ie

THANK YOU!

...usually meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. We meet in one another'shomes and each member of the group gets a chance to suggest books for discus-sion. January meeting was cancelled so...• February 10th we will meet in Joan Hales' house to discuss Eat, Pray, Love

by Elizabeth Gilbert• March 10th we will be with Joanna Gill to discuss Let The Great World Spin

by Colum McCann• April 14th we're at Hilary Jenkinson's discussing Guernsey Literary and Po-

tato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann SchafferAll welcome. Contact Fiona Giles 0872220419 for more details.

The Diocesan Magazine...is now distributed by Jean Patterson, so pleasepay your €20 subscription to her for the 2010editions as soon as possible. If you don’t receivethe magazine but would like to order a copy, pleaselet Jean know. (4304812 or 087 2853242)

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SPANSPANSome more dates

for 2010

Ash Wednesday (17th Feb) service of Holy Communion in StPeter’s, Carrigrohane at 11.00am

Holy Week 2010Beginning Palm Sunday—Sunday 28th March—visiting Preacher Rev Charles Combe -Retired Dean of Kilmore andformerly Rector of St Mark’s Portadown.

Carrigrohane Union of Churches….Doing the Doable with Jesus in

the Church and Community

Friday 12th February - NEW WINE CORK CELEBRATION EVENT

8.00pm in the Church of the Resurrection, Blarney.An evening of worship, testimony and ministry.

Preacher: Rev David McClayLeader of New Wine Ireland with members of the Willowfield Church of Ireland Parish, Belfast

Sat 13th - ‘FAN INTO FLAME’Carrigrohane Union Parish Centre, Church Hill, Carrigrohane

10.15am - Coffee….10.45am - David McClay, George Newell and team invite us

to “Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you”And seminars:

Growing as a Worship GroupPraying on the streetsHand in hand – faith in the familyPraying and listening to God together

1.15pm - LUNCH TIME please bring you own lunch - tea/coffee provided.

2.00 to 4.00pm — The Church on the Streets - Kingdom Engage.Stories of how the Good News of the Kingdom is taken into the neighbourhood.

No charge- offerings welcome. No advance booking required.NB: offers of hospitality ( two nights) for the team of six would be much appreciated.

Please ring the office who will have details in due course.

The following article appeared in the Muskerry News:Blarney Community Playschool was the recipient of a pre-Christmas fundraising event organised by Blarney Growth Group.The group is an inter-church bible study and prayer group thatmeets in The Church of the Resurrection in Blarney on Thursdayevenings. They have just finished a course called 'Just People'which was all about justice and the needs of people in both ourlocal and international communities, part of which to do some-thing practical to help a local community organisation. The grouphad heard Sheila Barrett talk about her work in the CommunityPlayschool and its needs, and they unanimously decided to runa jumble sale to raise funds for the playschool. The jumble salewas held in Scoil Mhuire gan Smal. The Church of the Resurrec-tion also hosted a wonderful concert in December. The re-nowned City of Cork Male Voice Choir very kindly donated theirtime and considerable talents to the church for the concert whichalso raised funds for Blarney Community Playschool.

Our prayers & best wishes go with Martyn & NaomiTyrrell as they move to live in England this month.

We will miss them!We congratulate Trevor &Diane on the safe arrivalof Amy—and rejoice withthem and the wholeMartin family.

Some of us from Carrigrohane are already booked to goto ‘Unstoppable’ – the Sligo Summer New Wineconference from 11-16 July. See www.new-wineireland.co.uk for more details. Early bookingdiscounts still apply until 31 March and we havebooking forms in the Parish office if anyone would likeone.

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