A vision of the heavenly city (see Revelation 21) depicted in the West Window in Saint Editha’s Church, Tamworth (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Patrick Comerford
The churches in this group of parishes re-open, with a mixture of caution and joy, in July: Askeaton and Tarbert on Sunday 5 July and Castletown and Rathkeale on Sunday 12 July.
If you feel vulnerable, or you are in the ‘at risk’ category, or you have recently been in contact with someone who has had Covid-19 symptoms, you may find comfort instead in reading the Sunday sermons and intercessions on-line.
Some pews have been roped off or marked in each church to help us maintain social distancing. The names and contact details of people attending will be kept for 14 days, only for the purposes of contacting and tracing.
On the first two Sundays, the Parish Eucharist will be celebrated to mark this special landmark in the life of these parishes. But after those two Sundays, we shall return to the normal rota of Sunday services in each church, hopefully.
To reduce the amount of time we are indoors, we are having only two readings and two hymns each Sunday at the moment.
No prayer books or hymnals are available, there is no exchange of peace, to reduce contact risks, and for these first few weeks there is no hymn-singing. But laminated service sheets are being prepared, and we can sit and thoughtfully listen to the two recorded hymns.
The Holy Communion will be administered only in one kind, and there is no shared common cup, for health reasons. At first, we may find that the administration of Communion is awkward or difficult. But be assured we are all in Communion with God and with one another.
Hand sanitising facilities are available at each church. Please do not bring your own prayer book or hymnal, and please remember to take home everything, including your tissues.
‘Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house’ (I Peter 2: 5) … a cross carved into a corner stone at the church in Vlatadon monastery in Thessaloniki (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)
Sunday 5 July (Trinity IV):
9.30 a.m. The Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2): Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Co Limerick
11.30 a.m. The Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2): Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Co Kerry
Liturgical colour: Red
Readings: Revelation 21: 9-14; Psalm 122; Matthew 21: 12-16
Hymns:
325: Be still, for the presence of the Lord (CD 20)
338: Jesus stand among us (CD 20)
Sunday 12 July (Trinity V):
9.30 a.m. The Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2): Castletown Church, Kilcornan, Co Limerick
11.30 a.m. The Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2): Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick
Liturgical colour: Red
Readings: I Peter 2: 1-10; Psalm 121; John 10: 22-29
Hymns:
330: God is here! As we his people (CD 20)
374, When all thy mercies, O my God (CD 22)
Sunday 19 July (Trinity VI):
9.30 a.m. Morning Prayer (MP 2): Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Co Limerick
11.30 a.m. The Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2): Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Co Kerry
Liturgical colour: Green
Readings: Genesis 28: 10-19a; Psalm 139: 1-11, 23-24; Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43
Hymns:
657, O God of Bethel, by whose hand (CD 38)
336, Jesus, where’er thy people meet (CD 20)
Sunday 26 July (Trinity VII):
9.30 a.m. Morning Prayer (MP 2): Castletown Church, Kilcornan, Co Limerick
11.30 a.m. The Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2): Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick
Liturgical colour: Green
Readings:
Genesis 29: 15-28; Psalm 105: 1-11, 45b; Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
Hymns:
544, O perfect love, all human thought transcending (CD 31)
95, Jesu, priceless treasure (CD 6)
Saints’ Days in July:
3 July: Saint Thomas
22 July: Saint Mary Magdalene
25 July: Saint James the Apostle
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