Put a Hippo in your Tank !

At All-Age Worship in June the Rector gave away free water hippos to every family in church, as the parish launched PROJECT H20.

The water hippo, easily installed in the lavatory cistern, will reduce the water consumption of the toilet by up to 3.5 litres - and still flush the toilet effectively!

PROJECT H20 is St Molua's attempt to remind the people that water is a precious gift that should not be taken for granted. The simple and straightforward campaign which is being run for several months will enable the parishioners to give particular attention to their use of water, and also to focus on the dire need for water in other parts of the world.

Each of us in the UK uses up to 150 litres of water every day, and we do so without even thinking about it. We use it for drinking, washing, cooking, flushing the toilet, watering the garden, washing the car. But over one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion people don't even have anywhere safe to go to the toilet.

Want to know more?

Take a look at www.wateraid.org

This is the website of WATER AID, the UK's only major charity dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene to the world's poorest people.

The Diocese of Down & Dromore has a new Website

Take a look - it will keep you occupied for hours ! There is so much to see on this well managed site; we guarantee you'll learn something new about our own diocese www.downanddromore.org

Squashing the berries to get at the seeds was the task set by a visitor from Conservation Volunteers. This involved getting messy - something that Explorers just love ! But this was also a very important educational exercise, as our kids were taught a lot about native trees, and just how badly off Northern Ireland is for tree cover- almost at the bottom of the European league table.

Our Explorers can now identify the fruit of many native Irish trees, and they understand that trees are important components of the natural landscape. They can tell you how and why trees spread their seeds over all the earth, and they can summarize the results of many different kinds of seed experiments. Explorers know why the colour green is so important in nature, and they can even list the reasons why trees are so vital for life on earth. What interesting meetings our Explorers have !

Bible Exhibition gets thumbs-up from wide range of Visitors

People came to our recent Bible Exhibition from a wide variety of churches, and for those of us on duty, it was a pleasure and a privilege to meet them and talk with them. Many positive comments were made, and it was clear that a large number of people had gained some benefit from our efforts. We were particularly pleased that the Bible Society took up our invitation to set up a writing station for their "Handwritten Bible" Project. This proved very successful, and the writing chair was hardly never empty !

The Good Book Shop again supplied a range of books, CDs, DVDs and Bible reading material which proved popular with the punters, and we were delighted that Doko Media (Israel) and Questar Inc. (USA) happily gave us permission to show their DVDs at the Exhibition.

The three monologues performed in the minor hall was another new innovation, which received excellent reports from all. These were executed by Raymond (in several different guises), Dorothy as Mrs Alexander and Frances as Fanny Crosby.

As well as these things, about thirty people provided a continuous reading of the Holy Scriptures throughout the Exhibition, ten people manned the bookshop, a whole rota of people served tea and coffee to our visitors, Caiaphas the High Priest was on duty at the door, and other members of staff were available to explain and answer questions.

And as if this wasn't enough, Stephen and Duncan were our resident carpenters, Malcolm was our sound and video technician, and Andrew looked after the computer equipment, which was another "first" for the Exhibition. All-in-all, a very large number of people gave of their time and talents to put the exhibition on. Thank you and well done to all - and also a big thank you to those who were interested and supportive enough to come along.

A Busy Saturday

One Saturday in May was a very busy one for many parishioners. In the morning, Betty Drennan supervised 109 children who sat theory of music exams in the Hamilton Hall. Then in the late afternoon, some of our ladies fed and watered a large group from Antrim Parish, who had been visiting the nearby Parliament Buildings. A big thank you to all involved.

'Explorers' Takes Off with Membership of Twenty

Explorers, our new organisation for young people of primary school age, began its meetings during April when twenty youngsters turned up for the first session. Leaders Judith C, Colin, Judith S, Stephen and Catherine as well as the Rector were there to greet them, and an excellent programme had already been prepared for the first evening. This is a big step forward for our parish, and you'll be hearing and seeing a lot of 'Explorers', because the members will be playing a full part within the life of our parish family.

D.C.U. at St Molua's

The parish choirs of the Diocese of Down made a return visit to St Molua's on Sunday 27th February for their Annual Hymn Festival. They were last with us five years ago, when Bishop Edward Darling introduced some of the hymns from the then new Church Hymnal. The choirs combine several times a year to form Down Choral Union.

The chairman of DCU is our own Rector, the Vice Chairman is the former Dean of Down, the Very Revd Hamilton Leckey, the Honorary Secretary is Mrs Sadie Calvert, Organist of Groomsport, and the Treasurer is Mr Eddie Griffith, one of our own parishioners. The service on the 27th was on the theme "The Biblical Titles of Jesus" and the singers were conducted by our own Jim Drennan.

More news from Stephen McWhirter, one of our former Parish Readers

I've had my first Christmas in a new parish; this always makes you feel much more at home. With this of course came the news of how we'll be loosing our Rector, David, to the Scottish Episcopal Church as the new Bishop of St. Andrews. This is a strange time of transition for us all. David has the anxiety of all that needs taken care of in such a big move. The parish has the sadness of loosing a leader who has been with them for nearly twenty years and the expectation of a new rector. Paul, the curate, and I have the changes of added duties and responsibilities.

The centre of all this is in response to calling. In Matthew Chapter 4 we hear of how Jesus begins his ministry. What comes across most strongly is how the actions of the first disciples are actions of faith. These disciples simply drop what they are doing and follow Jesus. Living the Christian faith is the same for all of us. Rarely are we called to leave all we have but often we are called in little things. The problem with all of this is that in the little things we can find a multitude of ways to hide from what God wants in our lives. If we find things we hear or see working on us we have a responsibility to act.

The Rector in any congregation steers the great machine that a parish is, but what keeps the machine moving are the tireless efforts of lay people who act on the calling in their lives. They teach in Sunday School, sing in the choir, arrange flowers, welcome people, clean the church, make tea, cut the grass, count the free will offering envelopes, sit on the Vestry and many many other jobs. Mostly and most importantly they pray, and in praying for ourselves and each other we uphold each other as a great parish family.

God Bless us, each and every one.

Stephen

Healthcare Sunday at St Molua's

At Morning Prayer on Healthcare Sunday this year, the Rector interviewed Margaret, one of our parishioners and a District Nurse based in a local Health Centre. During the interview Margaret outlined the work of a District Nurse and informed the congregation of many developments concerning the Healthcare Team

The Lessons at the service were read by Jean, a former Matron of the nearby Ulster Hospital and, in fact, the last Matron in Northern Ireland. Many healthcare workers and former healthcare workers were also in church that morning including Alison, Judith, Helen, Peggy, Kay and Noreen some of whom had been on the nursing staff when Margaret did her training.

St Molua's Voices Aired on BBC Radio Ulster

The BBC radio programme "Good Morning Ulster" featured five members of our Select Vestry one Tuesday during November. They were asked their views on matters centred on the Consecration of gay American bishop Gene Robinson - it being the day after the Windsor Commission had issued its report. The five acquitted themselves very well indeed, giving a variety of views representing the diversity within the unity of Anglicanism and were worthy ambassadors of St Molua's.

Parish Dinner is Great Success

What a great night we had at the Clandeboye Golf Club on Thursday 30th September. Excellent venue, excellent food, excellent fellowship ! And the satisfaction of the people was apparent by the huge amount of babble - and the volume at which it was produced ! Our special guests for the evening were the Revd Michael and Mrs June Houston, former parishioners, now living in Portaferry, County Down where Michael is Rector of Ballyphilip and Ardquin.

Michael spoke of the efforts and successes of the people of Portaferry, especially in the area of ecumenism. He said how nice it was to see some old faces at the dinner, but also so many faces he didn't know - a sign of St Molua's growth and development over the nine years since his departure. As the evening drew to a close we were treated to some excellent light entertainment by members of the choir. Our thanks are due to Wilson and Ann for securing the venue, to Ann, Lynn and Sheila for their organisation, as well as to those who provided lifts for some of our people.

Disabled People Get New Rights

October 2004 was momentous for people with disabilities in the UK because it was when the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) came fully into force. Part IV of the Act requires all "service providers" to make "reasonable adjustments" to any physical feature which makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for those with a disability to have access. While the Act poses some challenges, not only to small traders but also to voluntary bodies, many valuable changes can be made without great expense or compromising a building's special interest.

Christians should of course be among the first to adopt the principle that people with disabilities should have dignified access to worship and fellowship. At St Molua's we already have tarmacadam ramps in position at the main doors to both the church and parochial hall. A few years ago we installed a loop system in the church to facilitate those with hearing aids, and large print hymn books / service sheets are available on request. Work is currently in hand to provide special toilet facilities for those with a disability.

St Molua's Choir sings at ancient Dublin College

The Chapel of Trinity College Dublin was recently filled with the sound of St Molua's Choir when they went there to sing the Eucharist on Sunday 21 September. The Choir were invited by the Dean of Residence at Trinity, the Revd Dr Alan McCormack, when he preached at St Molua's last year. The music they sang included the Communion Service in F by Harold Darke, and William Byrd's "Ave verum corpus." The organist was Jonathan Drennan.

Travelling to Dublin on Saturday, the Choir enjoyed a meal at the famous Orwell Lodge, and then stayed overnight at the Church of Ireland Theological College. After the service, a small reception was held at Trinity.

Trinity College was founded in 1592 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, and is the oldest university in Ireland. It has a list of alumni that includes Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift and the Rector of St Molua's !

Indulge in some Fairly-traded Chocolate

Every time you open a box of Traidcraft's new Fairtrade chocolates you are joining the campaign to provide a better life for some of the most poorly paid employees on the planet. These fine Belgian chocolates contain Fairtrade cocoa from Ghana and sugar from Costa Rica. As well as delivering on the taste front, they are bringing real benefits to farmers and their communities. Lucy Mansa, a cocoa farmer in Fenaso Dobeabra village, near Kumasi, says: 'Previously when the government bought out cocoa, we were not being paid promptly so most of the time our children could not go to school. But because Traidcraft pays a premium to Kuapa Kokoo, we are able to send our children to school.'

Fairtrade is only a small part of Kuapa Kookoo's sales, but has had a huge effect. The fair trade premium has paid off organisational loans, given farmers a bonus and funded a range of development projects, for example, helping to deliver clean drinking water. Traidcraft has been committed to fighting poverty since 1979. Buying Traidcraft chocolate means you are helping disadvantaged producers in the developing world. You can buy Traidcraft chocolate (Ref: 126622) from Traidcraft on +44 (0)191 4901 0591 and order it via credit card. Or visit their website at www.traidcraft.co.uk

Organists queue up for big Demo

Members of the Ulster Society of Organists and Choirmasters packed into St Molua's on a Saturday afternoon in February 2002 to hear Stephen Hamill demonstrate the five-manual Phoenix Digital Organ which he had built himself. It took a day to get the organ into the church, and all night to get it out again ! But it was well worth the effort - both to hear Stephen's excellent playing and to hear demonstrated the latest technical developments in organ building. USOC members commented favourably on our beautiful church, its acoustics and on the warm welcome they received from some of our own parishioners who kindly came along to help with arrangements.

Harvest with a difference

Heat-reflective panels, water pipe insulation, low energy light bulbs and hot water cylinder jackets were displayed side-by-side with flowers, fruit and vegetables at last year's Harvest Thanksgiving Services. This was to show how God requires us to make proper use of his gifts in creation, and not to waste valuable resources - a theme of the special service held at 10.30am on that day. The children of the Sunday School produced a moving piece of drama, symbolising the Creation, and gifts of water and energy were offered up at the altar together with the fruits of the earth. Members of the Environmental Stewardship Committee played a prominent role in the service by reading lessons and prayers, as well as assisting the Rector in receiving the gifts.

Choral Evensong was sung on the same day, allowing us to again achieve our aim of providing public worship across a wide spectrum. After the services, flowers and fruit were distributed to the sick and housebound while the remaining fruit and vegetables were sold the next day and the proceeds given to Christian Aid for the Afghan Refugee Appeal.