A WEEKEND OF WELCOME DIVERSITY The Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of May was busy in St James’s Church, Mallow. The fine weather saw large numbers coming to the Farmers’ Market (and the church’s own community café) that has its weekly base in and around the church. The Mothers’ Union Branch held a very enjoyable evening at which the Revd Canon Elaine Murray gave a most informative talk on a recent trip to the Holy Land (above). On the Saturday, our Christian brothers and sisters of the Syrian Orthodox Church were led by their Bishop in a colourful two-day celebration (see below). On the Sunday, we welcomed a capacity audience for a concert by the Welsh choir, Cân Aderyn Singers, for a hugely enjoyable concert of rock, pop, folk, Gospel and other music (see also below).
CELEBRATING THE GOSPEL IN THE STREETS The Syrian Orthodox community in Mallow, which meets for worship at St James’s Church, celebrated the feast of St George in Spring over the first weekend of May, as it falls on 6th May in their liturgical calendar. The Cathedral in Damascus, which is home to the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, is dedicated in the name of St George, the Middle Eastern martyr of the 4th Century, who is also Patron Saint of Georgia, Ethiopia and several other countries. The Syrian Orthodox Bishop Thomas Mor Alexandrios presided at the Divine Liturgy to mark this significant day, before leading the large congregation in a joyful and colourful procession down the Main Street in Mallow and back to St James’s. Several regular worshippers at St James’s, along with the Rector, joined in with the worship. Afterwards we were treated to a sumptuous lunch, prepared by the Syrian Orthodox community, many of whom come from Kerala in India.
CORK CHORAL FESTIVAL IN MALLOW We were delighted that Cân Aderyn Singers (‘Birdsong’ in Welsh) came to give a concert in St James’s Church as part of the ‘Sacred Trail’ that is a feature of the Cork international Choral Festival. This choir of over 70 female voices from the South Wales Valleys sang rock, pop, gospel and folk to a capacity audience, which generously donated nearly €700 to the mission and ministry of St James’s Church. They were welcomed in Welsh, Irish and English. The blessing was given in Welsh at the end as the choir prepared for their journey home via Rosslare. It was a hugely enjoyable occasion that drew people from far and wide. It enabled us to invite the wider community, once more, to enjoy the church as a place of welcome and to work in partnership with the Cork International Choral Festival.
FAITH & SCIENCE Two regular worshippers at St James’s, Mallow, Dr Mary Lehane and Professor Marcel Jansen, are part of the Church of Ireland’s Faith and Science group, responding to the Lambeth call on Science and Faith, chaired by the Bishop of Clogher. We are grateful for their representation on this important All-Ireland forum as the Church seeks to engage with wider society.
FUNDRAISING SUPPER Well over 100 people enjoyed a supper in the Community Hall in Castletownroche at the beginning of May at which over €3,500 was raised for church maintenance funds. It was a great occasion for church and community – and we are very grateful to everyone who gave their time and skill to prepare, to make people welcome, and who cleared up afterwards.
ART(S) FESTIVALS We look forward to participating in two great festivals over the coming weeks and months. The annual ‘Doneraile Art FesT’ will be held on June 26th-29th and the Mallow Arts Festival will be held on July 23rd-27th. St James’s Church will, once again, be a principal venue for the Mallow Arts Festival, as we host four concerts. Further details can be found on the website www.mallowartsfestival.com
SUNDAY CLUB offers activities for our younger worshippers at St James’s, Mallow, on Sunday mornings. After a break for the Easter holidays, they have resumed gathering in the Parish Hall, adjacent to the church, each Sunday. They rejoin their families in church about an hour later, giving them an opportunity to share their morning’s activities with the rest of the congregation. It allows them to explore the weekly readings from the scriptures and make connections through craft activities, storytelling and in many other ways. We are grateful to the leaders and parents who enable this to happen every week, always in a safe environment.
GREEN SPACES AROUND OUR CHURCHES Group of volunteers continue to work hard to make the grounds of our three churches attractive, inviting and welcoming spaces for all. Gates of our churches are open, too, which allows visitors and locals to enjoy the space. This reinforces the message that our churches are open, welcoming and hospitable worshipping Christian communities.
HOSPITALITY & REFRESHMENT A reminder that our Community Café continues to welcome regulars and newcomers during the weekly 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. The Church is also open to provide a quiet space for reflection and prayer.