MOTHERS’ UNION CHRISTMAS MEAL About 30 parishioners from across the Union came to Corbett Court, Ballyhea, to enjoy an early Christmas meal together. We are grateful to Vivian Wharton and Ruth Sherlock for organising such a happy occasion.
CHRISTMAS & EPIPHANY WORSHIP At the time of writing, we are looking forward to Carol services in preparation for Christmas – and one to celebrate the Christmas season on the Sunday after Christmas – as well as celebrations on the Eucharist on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in all three churches of the Union. We shall celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on Sunday 5th January with the usual morning services in Castletownroche & Doneraile; and a Christingle Celebration in Mallow at 4.00pm which will be followed by suitably festive refreshments. The Christmas celebrations will conclude on the feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple or Candlemas (2nd February). Worship on this day will mark this turning point in the Christian year, when “Christmas meets Easter on Candlemas day.”
CHRISTMAS CONCERTS A great deal of hard work and imagination went into this year’s Christmas concerts at St James’s, Mallow, to which we welcomed over 500 people, with new and familiar participants, all planned and coordinated in a spirit of collaboration by a new organising committee. We are very grateful to everyone who played their part: to the musicians who gave of their time and skill; those who provided refreshments; and to those who worked behind the scenes and cleared up afterwards. It was also a significant fund-raiser for the Union as a whole. The members of the Coordinating Group are Jillian Harris, Agnes Kitto, Mary St Leger, Lizzy Mackenzie and Valerie Ferguson.
MALLOW FIELD CLUB is the town’s historical and archaeological society and holds monthly lectures on a wide variety of topics. At its December meeting in the Hibernian Hotel, the Rector launched and introduced the Society’s annual journal. This year it includes articles about Doneraile Court, the Centenary of Mallow Racecourse, health and disease in Castletownroche at the start of the 20th century, Courteney Jephson’s expedition to Africa, the Shanballymore Carnival and Margaret Gibson from Mallow who taught Edith Cavell in a school in Peterborough Cathedral precincts towards the end of the 19th century.
CLIFF O’HANLON At the beginning of December we gave thanks to God for Cliff’s long and eventful life and commended him to God. Originally from London, Cliff moved to Ireland several decades ago and, with his wife Anna, regularly received communion at home. The large attendance at his funeral in St Mary’s, Doneraile, was a fitting reflection of Cliff’s wide interests and his many friends in the wider community.
BOOK LAUNCH a number of parishioners and people from the wider community were delighted to join Mallow parishioner, Mel O’Dea, for the launch of her book Ripples on the Lake at the West End Gallery in Mallow last month. It is published by the Forest Press and copies can be ordered through all good bookshops.
ST JAMES 2024 On Advent Sunday, a congregational meeting enabled many Mallow parishioners to reflect positively and thankfully on a year of celebration, growth and outreach as we celebrated 200 years since the consecration of St James’s Church. It has been characterised by collaborative teamwork, utilizing the skills and experience of long-established and new worshippers alike, always with an outward-facing focus. The ‘takeaways’ that were identified as strengths to develop for the future are the importance of offering a reflective and thoughtful act of worship every Sunday (with good music if possible), the growing confidence in engaging with the wider community and our ecumenical partners, and enabling the church and its attractive grounds to be open and welcoming to the wider community. We are especially grateful to the St James 2024 Coordinating Group, chaired by Jillian Harris, and all those who came on board to make this year such a positive and enlarging experience for everyone.
HOSPITALITY & REFRESHMENT A reminder that our Community Café is in full swing during the Farmers’ Market in the grounds of St James’s Church, Mallow, every Friday from 9.30am to 12.30pm. As well as great coffee and tea, you can sample St James’s Cake and other treats.