Spring is approaching and the snowdrops have already appeared in Kill Churchyard!
At the time of writing, in Cootehill Group of Parishes, we have been thinking of the presentation of Christ at the Temple in Jerusalem as mentioned in Luke 2:22 – 40. It is a story about faithfulness, displayed in the participants in the story, both human and divine.
God shows his faithfulness by keeping the promise he made in Malachi 3:1 ‘And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple.’ At the Presentation, the Lord did indeed suddenly return to the Temple in Jerusalem, albeit in the surprising form of the baby Jesus, for the first time since his glory had departed in the days of Ezekiel.
Human faithfulness is shown, firstly in the obedience of Joseph and Mary to Scripture, in bringing Mary for purification forty days after Christ’s birth (Leviticus 12: 3 – 4) and in dedicating Jesus to God as their firstborn son (Exodus 13: 2 &12). And secondly, in the faithfulness of Simeon and Anna, who had prayed, sought God and awaited the coming of the Messiah in the ordinariness of everyday life over many decades. Their faithfulness and obedience allowed them to be the first people who recognised the coming of the Lord to his temple once more.
Luke 2:25 tells us that Simeon was ‘waiting for the consolation of Israel.’ The word translated consolation here can mean ‘comfort’, ‘encouragement’ and can even be used to talk of an advocate in court who comes alongside us to give evidence in court.
In most of our lives there are things for which we need consolation, comfort or encouragement. Maybe you have experienced a disappointment, a loss or an injury in your life? Maybe you have an unfulfilled dream or hope in your life? Maybe you are struggling with a bad habit or addiction, but feel you can’t just seem to break free?
The good news of the Gospel (John 16: 4 – 15) is that God has sent the Holy Spirit to come alongside us, to help us, console and encourage us. The accompanying psalm for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is Psalm 24, which says ‘be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in…’ Why not take a few minutes to pray today and choose to open the doors of your heart and let the ‘King of Glory come in’ so that he can come alongside you to bring fresh consolation, hope and healing to the parts of your life that need it most?
Confirmation Classes.
Confirmation classes began on Thursday 5th February at Cootehill church hall at 8pm. The classes consist of a joint group of eight young people drawn from Cootehill, and Bailieborough Groups of Parishes, and are overseen by Revd. Michael Kenning and Archdeacon Ian Berry. Each week we will be following the Nua Origins course from Scripture Union, which includes watching a video and having a discussion. Please pray for the participants that they will have an enjoyable time and learn more about what it means to be a Christian. The confirmation service will take place on April 26th with Bishop Ferran (venue to be decided).
General Vestry
The Register of General Vestrypersons for each of our three parishes was opened and reviewed at the end of January. It is important to check if you are on the general register if you want to vote for members of the Select Vestry in a parish, especially in this year of triennial elections. If you are not sure if you are registered and want to check, please contact Revd. Michael Kenning before the Easter Vestry meeting.
Bible Study
The Bible study is continuing in the Rectory in Cootehill (H16 TH98) on Wednesday nights at 8pm. Please note the move back to Wednesday nights to accommodate the confirmation classes! We have started the Bible Study Course, a twelve-week easy introduction to the whole of the Bible developed by the Bible Society. Each week there is an interesting half-hour video followed by a short group discussion. Although the course has started, it’s not too late to join us and we always welcome new people!
Bicentenary Celebrations
Congratulations to our neighbours at St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church in Kill, who celebrated their bicentenary on Sunday 1st February. It was a wonderfully celebratory occasion, and a strong sense of community was in evidence. During the bicentenary service, Bishop Martin Hayes highlighted in his address, that the ancient roots of Christianity in Kill go back to the early Irish hermit, St Finncheall. He founded an oratory at Drumhurt and his spiritual legacy is the two churches of St. Brigid’s and St Mark’s Church of Ireland, which stand in such close neighbourly proximity to each other.
(Photo courtesy of Seamus Smyth: L-R Fr. Moses Malachy, Fr. Yusuf Bamai (Kill PP), Revd. Michael Kenning & Fr. Michael Alanga).
Parish Prayers
We remember the following parishioners who have been unwell in our prayers:: Norman Foster, Patricia Smyth, Susan Deacon, Gwen Crowe and Marion Deane. May the Lord bless them with his healing touch and help them to regain strength and fully recover.