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T
HE
R
ECTOR
’
S
L
ETTER
Dear Friends,I wish each one of you who read this magazine a very happy and holyChristmas.The period of Christmas is usually marked by the rushing aboutand buying of presents for our loved-ones.This is indeed good andreminiscent of what Christ has done for us — the ultimate gift — himself.Let us just for a few moments rest and consider what makes this seasonreally special.Think on the fear and awe as the shepherds sat amid thedarkness of those fields outside Bethlehem anticipating a quiet night caringfor their sheep.Think on the apprehension of Mary and Joseph as theyseek shelter so that she might bear her child.Most of all think on God andwhat he was planning for us — his beloved ones.The joy of that Christmas-tide is tinged with the knowledge that this Baby born in poverty wouldturn this world on its head.He would meet anger with love,disease withhis healing touch and our loneliness with the knowledge that he is alwaysthere,right beside us.May God bless your preparations for this wonderfultime when we celebrate Jesus
’
coming to earth as a helpless babe.We have traditionally given donations of money and toys as a Parish tothose less well off than ourselves.This year our gifts will be given to thechildren of St.Joseph
’
s School for children with Visual Impairment.St.Joseph
’
s Primary School is the Republic
’
s only school for children withlittle or no vision.The school has 39 pupils,aged 4 to 12.All the childrenhave a severe loss of vision and many have other additional disabilities.Although located in Drumcondra,the school
’
s catchment area extends tothe whole of Dublin and a number of other counties.It is with this in mindthat I am asking you to purchase a gift for one of the children.There willbe a list of the children in the Church.Please bring the wrapped gifts withthe child
’
s name attached by Sunday 14th December.This will be the All-Age Worship Service with Nativity.As many of the children have multipledisabilities the list will give an indication as to the appropriate agedpresent.As the children are either partially or totally blind I have beenasked to give some ideas concerning presents.Musical gifts such as CDs
S
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OHN THE
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APTIST
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and CD books,musical teddies,trucks with sound,microphones thatchange as you sing into them,little walkmans,scented soaps and perfumesand,of course,sweets are great favourites.Footballs would also suit someof the boys.Play-Doh and musical instruments are also very popular withthe partially sighted and the blind.Please check with the Church Wardensand then tick the name off the list.This is a most worthy group and I amdelighted to help them this year.They are most grateful for our support.If some parishioners would prefer to give a gift of money then this willbe collected on any Sunday in December.It is hoped to divide this moneybetween Christian Aid,in the form of Gift Aid,and the Laura LynnChildren
’
s Hospice Foundation.Please mark such envelopes as Giving Treedonation and put it on the plate or drop it into the Rectory.In the last number of years we have seen much activity in the sale of theold Parish Hall and the building of our Parish Centre.There is a sensearound the Parish that our finances are stable and full.This is far from theactual situation.The Parish Centre broke even after its first year which isa testament to the incredible work of our hard-working PCMC (Bruce,Ronan,Clive and Mark).When we look at the Church
’
s finance we see avery different picture.In 2007,our finance were strong with a largeamount of income coming from interest on the monies from the sale ofthe old hall.This year shows a very different position with an estimateddeficit of 27,000 euro.As we look to 2009 it is important for us toconsider how we should approach this situation,especially with a view tothe work needed on the Church such as re-guttering,new drainage systemand discerning the status of our roof.The Select Vestry is in the process ofdiscussing these issues.Many of you will remember the visitation of theChristian Stewardship teams a number of years ago.It is hoped that wewill begin these visits in the new year with a view to re-opening that meansof communication again.The present financial situation in which we findour Parish can be worked through if we all pull together.One of the funds that has fallen into abeyance is that of the SustentationFund.This was a once-off annual donation to the Parish to assistparticularly with the cost of its ministry.In recent years this means ofraising much needed finances has almost disappeared.As we approach the
 
end of our year perhaps you might consider this.My appreciation isrecorded for all the work Ronan Kelly,our Honorary Treasurer,and SandraStirling,our Christian Stewardship Co-Ordinator,do on our behalfthroughout the year.It is with great joy that I bring to your attention the forthcoming visit ofthe Conway Valley Carol Singers.They will be holding a concert entitled
‘
An Evening of Christmas Songs and Tales
’
.This is due to take place onSaturday 3rd January at 8pm in the Parish Church.The following morningthey will be joining us for the 10.30am Service and will assist us with ourmusical worship of God.Thank you to Robbie and Pam Watts and also JohnRowden.It was with great sadness that I learned of the fire which destroyedENRG play place,owned by Clive Jackson.From its opening Clive has beenmore than willing to allow the Parish’s many youth organisation use ENRGfor parties,etc.The thoughts and prayers of the entire Parish Family arewith you Clive and also with the 45 staff who lost their jobs as a result.May God continue to bless you and your family,and may the joy of theChrist Child indwell in each one of you this season.Derek
Giving Tree
There will be red and gold baubles in the tray onthe table beside the tree.If you wish to give a giftplease hang a red bauble on the Christmas tree.This year our gifts will be given to the children ofSt.Joseph
’
s School for children with VisualImpairment.St.Joseph
’
s Primary School is theRepublic
’
s only school for children with littleor no vision.It is hoped to divide money gifts betweenChristian Aid,in the form of Gift Aid,and theLaura Lynn Children
’
s Hospice Foundation.
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