Donegal Group of Parishes

Sunday 18th August 2024

Heritage walk Friday 23rd, includes a visit to Lough Eske Church. Details in the poster.

Parish Update

A big thank you to everyone who came onboard our recent Waterbus outing in aid of Donegal Parish Church, especially to our kind sponsors and to the organising team. A total of €3,520 was raised for church funds and a lovely evening was had by all.

Great milestone 👏 🎂
Happy 200th to St.Ninian's Church

Service of Thanksgiving to mark the 200th Anniversary of St. Ninian’s Church Convoy will take place on Sunday 15th September at 4pm. Save the date and come join us in celebrating this special occasion. Preacher is Rt Rev Andrew Forster. Refreshments served after service in church hall. Everyone welcome.

Methodist Church Vintage Tea - this Saturday!

So it's Wednesday and our wonderful vintage tea of delicious home made treats and desserts in a lovely old-timey style tea room is this Saturday.
If you haven't got tickets yet please don't miss this great opportunity to treat yourself and enjoy a wonderful experience too. Tickets available for 2pm and 4.15pm. Well worth the price and time.

Another good event coming up in our neighbouring parish.

Beetle drive = guaranteed good fun 😃

🐞🎲Why not come along and join in the fun. To play couldn't be simpler - just throw the dice and the number you roll is the body part of the beetle you can draw but only in a certain order and the first one to draw all their beetle is the winner.🎲🐞

✅CAKE SALE & HERITAGE OPEN DAY✅
Two great events coming up at Donegal Parish Church, Donegal Town:
🍰On Saturday 24th August there will be a cake sale in the church hall. Doors open at 12.00noon and it would be advisable to be near the front of the queue!
📖On Sunday 25th August our Heritage Open Day returns. The church will be open all day, and from 2-5pm there will be some special displays and activities including:
- Puzzles and treasure hunts for children
- Books and artifacts from the church's nearly 200-year history
- Full sets of Diocesan Magazines from the 1950s-1970s
PLUS: opportunity to play the organ and ring the church bell. 🎶
All are welcome, no entry charge.
Offers of baking for Saturday and helpers for both days v welcome.

Join us on Sunday for church!

Open from 7pm tonight guys ☺️

Best wishes to Laghey's own Olympian Kelly McGrory

Kelly McGrory gets the nod to lead out Ireland in bid for Olympic final place The Tír Chonaill AC member will lead out the Irish Women's 4 x 400m Relay team, followed by Phil Healy and Sophie Becker, with Sharlene Mawdsley to undertake the final lap

✝️ Service for Karen Wray

Funeral of Karen Wray Funeral Service and Thanksgiving for the life of Karen Wray.Killymard Parish Church 5th August 2024.CCLI Licence No. 625104

Derry & Raphoe news:The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, says the violent scenes witnessed on the streets of Belfast and other cities in Britain, in recent days, are “the antithesis of Christianity”.

Speaking this morning on BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme, Bishop Andrew rejected any suggestion that those responsible for the rioting and destruction were acting in the name of Christianity. He urged listeners to see the humanity in others; welcomed the recall of Stormont this Thursday to discuss the recent destruction, racism and xenophobia; and said his prayers were with police officers who were having to “stand in line” to deal with the violence and the intimidation that it brought.

The recent rioting and destruction followed the murder of three girls, Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar in Southport a week ago. Bishop Andrew said the girls’ memory and their grieving families were ill-served by the violence.

“Like most people,” the Bishop said, “we’re appalled at seeing scenes of violence on the streets and scenes of violence that are really addressed against very vulnerable people. I find that heartbreaking. We have lived in a society where, in the past, we have seen the damage and division caused by violence on the streets; we know that only too well and we’ve seen how that destroyed relationships rather than built relationships.”

Bishop Andrew urged those involved to reflect upon their actions. “This is not the way to get a point over. This isn’t about protest. This is violence. This is racism. This is hatred and that just breeds division which destroys relationships that we rely on. It breeds hate, it breeds fear, it breeds danger and we have to stand against that, to check our own hearts about racism, to stand back from it, and to try and build a better future for everyone.”

Bishop Forster took issue with those violent protesters who purported to be acting in defence of Christian values. “Shutting roads, spreading hate, burning shops and intimidating people, it’s the absolute opposite of Christian values. A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ and Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger. He says I was a stranger and you welcomed me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is all about whenever he’s asked, ‘Who is our neighbour?’ Jesus chooses an enemy – the Jews and Samaritans were traditional enemies – he chooses an enemy to say, ‘This is your neighbour’.

“For me, that speaks into my heart. It should speak into all of our hearts about how we look at people who are perceived as being different from us because, in fact, they’re not. We’re all made in the image of God. We’re all human beings. We’re all loved by God. We’re people who can offer love and receive love, and we’ve got to look at each other in a different way because if we don’t it tends to breed this distrust and this hate and so on. And what we’ve seen are these protests moving into something that’s absolutely not a protest, it’s violence and that just breeds heartache and pain.”

Bishop Andrew said he appreciated that churches no longer had the influence they once did and that for a lot of those involved in the disturbances it didn’t matter what the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe said, but he wanted to appeal to people’s better nature. “Is this really what we want to see on our streets? Do you really want to watch your news and see people’s livelihoods destroyed, people frightened in their homes, is that what we want for our future? And there are young people involved in this…who are being manipulated, who are being groomed into this sort of violence. They’re going to end up with criminal records and if they end up with criminal records what does that do to their future?

“I appreciate that people don’t really listen to the church and church leaders the way they used to but yet for all of us, we can look into our own lives to see are we building a better future or are we living in a way that destroys our future for generations to come.

“I’m really glad that the Assembly’s being recalled. I think that’s a really important step, and I would want to acknowledge the unanimity amongst our political leaders at the moment regarding this. That has spoken very strongly into the situation that we see ourselves in. My prayers are with our political leaders. My prayers are also with the police force and those who are having to stand in the line and deal with the violence and the intimidation that that brings.”

https://www.facebook.com/528414856142420/posts/815627830754453

Sunday 4th August
Join us for communion services at church. ✝️

Sincere condolences to the family & friends of the late Karen Wray whose funeral service takes place on Monday at Killymard.
God is our refuge and strength - Psalm 46:1

The death has occurred of Karen Wray, née Hutchinson, Orbeg, Donegal Town, F94 H6H2, and late of Headers Hair Salon, Donegal Town.


Peacefully at Donegal Community Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.


Predeceased by her father Robert and recently by her mother Martha.


Deeply regretted by her loving husband Albert. Sadly missed by her brothers and sisters Sandra (Michael), Helen (Gregory), Mervyn (Caroline), Lynda (James), Alan (Marie), Samantha (Paul), and brother in laws William (Aideen) and Roland (Sheila), nieces and nephews.


Reposing at her late residence, Sunday 4th August from 2pm to 9pm.


A one way system will be in operation for the wake, approaching from Killymard and exiting via Newtown and Ballydevitt.


House private at all other times please.


Funeral service in Killymard Parish Church at 2pm Monday 5th August followed by burial in Old Edrim, New Cemetery.


Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu, if so desired, to Solace Cancer Support Centre, Donegal Town, care of any family member.

Apologies there is no online prayer time today (2nd August)

❕️Just a few days until our Waterbus outing on Saturday - have you got your tickets?
Message us or call in to Hendersons Hardware or George Irwin Hardware to get yours.
€25 includes finger food & entertainment on board.

⛴️ Donegal Parish Church Waterbus Outing.
Saturday 3rd August 2024. Boarding 6.30pm for 7pm Sailing. Finger food will be served. BOARDING BY TICKET ONLY Tickets €25 from any vestry member, Henderson's Hardware or Irwin's Hardware.

✝️ Sunday 28th July
Church services in the morning + barn service in the evening.
All are welcome!

Brilliant times at the children's and youth events this week.
Thanks Donegal, Ballintra and Inver Methodist Circuit
and Irish Methodist Youth & Children's Team 🙂

Praise the Lord for he has done great things.
Today was the final day of our summer mission and the final night of our drop in. 21 young people came along to join in the games on the lawn at the back of the church and enjoy s'mores (roasted marshmallows between two chocolate digestives). Great banter, lots of laughter and good connections made.
Timothy shared some of his story of faith and the team shared the coolest thing about their relationship with Jesus. It was a great time of sharing and hearing stories of faith.
Prayers have been answered throughout this week. Let's keep praying for these young people to see what can happen for them next.
Lord, open our eyes to see what you want us to do. Amen.