10 Years ... Where has the time gone?

 A couple of days ago I realised that 10 years have passed since I arrived in Carrigrohane Union - they seem to have floated by in an instant! 

Maybe now is the time to get back into blogging - its been a while. 

Look back and looking forward is something I've encouraged others to do quite a bit as part of sermons but its something when we live in the present that I know I don't do all that often but well ... here goes. 

In the past 10 years ... my word has seen so much change - so many mountain-top experiences and some deep valley lows as well 

From arriving here in Blarney and building up a whole new set of friends, parishioners, colleagues, and acquaintances & obviously meeting my beloved Noelle. 

There have also been so many developments - in the parish down through the years there's been lots - from simple things to grand projects 

Then there are obviously those difficult, dark days of sorrow on the death of loved one's both family and friends. The challenging days of Covid and other things 

10 years is quite a while to reflect upon 

10 years of sermons, Bible Studies, conversations, emails, coffee cups, staff meetings, vision groups, phone calls, keeping in touch, walks, car journeys, shopping trips, Facebook posts, meals ... 

It's incredible to think about what has been accomplished but also the amount that still needs to be done. 

All in all - I'm so thankful to God for his call to be in this place - with all its highlights and also the people I get to call family and friends

I'm thankful for the times he has brought/carried me through. 

What a privilege .... and looking forward so much to the years ahead 

Loads of stuff to do. 

Let's begin blogging again - Family Ministry (if that's even the right term)

 The past few years haven't seen this blog do very much other than sit here.

It's not that nothing has been happening - by no means - there seems to have been too much! and too little time but maybe now is the time to get started again. 

This week in our wee corner of the world - I've had the privilege of being part of various meetings & conversations looking at the topic of what we are doing for families of all sorts in the Parish. 

Toddlers, youth stuff, our ukrianian friends and a few other things thrown in. 

I love meeting people with the creativity, insight, faith and time to devote energy, enthusiasm and heart into current and new ministries. 

I'm looking forward to seeing what comes from these encounters over the next few months and even years. 

How the church welcomes families, kids and others is vitally important. 

Earlier today, coming from a meeting about this I was struck by something I heard on the radio about kids and church and how people were saying that they shouldn't be in funerals and wedding and when it came to other church services they just don't know if they should be there at all. 

I'm glad I was driving or I might have been tempted to ring into the station and give a bit of my mind 

I very much want to say in this parish - Children are very welcome! 

Jesus himself said - Let the Children come to me - for such belongs the Kingdom of God. 

Yes, parents need support to be able to feel they can come and go but they do need to feel welcome and supported in church. 

I love this image I came across a few years ago: 

A little bit of a rant but all are welcome in any of our services in the union of parishes. 

As are any age of people!

RF