St Peter's Church of Ireland, Drogheda

Condolences

We were saddened to hear of the death of Henry St. George Smith, late of Piperstown, who passed away in England on 15th December last. Henry was a staunch parishioner of Ballymakenny and latterly St. Peter’s. It is hoped that a Memorial Service will be held in St. Peter’s which will be announced in the weekly service sheet.

We were also shocked by the sudden death of Ann Eager in the early morning of Christmas Eve. Ann was such an integral part of life in Kilsaran Union and was well-known to so many people in the wider area, as attested to by the huge congregation at her funeral in St. Mary’s, Castlebellingham on Tuesday 27th December. She was laid to rest in the graveyard adjoining the church following the service.

As noted by the Revd Joyce Moore the last time we, as a church, saw Ann was when she joined with other members of the congregation to sing carols in St. Oliver’s Nursing Home in Dundalk on Mon 19th Dec.

Our prayers are with the families of Henry and Anne and all who mourn the loss of loved ones at this time.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Congratulations to:

Angus Newett and the other Dundalk Grammar School members of the award-winning senior science quiz team.

Prayer Circle

The Kilsaran Union Prayer Circle will meet on Tuesday 10th January at 8.00 p.m. in the home of Harry and Olive Newett

The February meeting will take place on Tuesday 7th February at 8.00 p.m. (location to be confirmed). All are most welcome.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Runs as always from 18th – 25th January. There will be an Ecumenical Service in St. Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda on Thursday 19th January at 8.00 p.m. All welcome.

The parishioners of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Kilsaran have kindly invited members of our congregations to a Taizé Service to be held on Sunday 22nd January at 8.00 p.m. Once again all are welcome.

United Service

The next “5th Sunday” will be on Sunday 29th January when parishioners in our various churches will join together in worship.

There will be one service held on this day in St. Mary’s, Ardee at 10.00 a.m.<

No other services will be held in Drogheda, Ardee or Kilsaran Unions on that day.

Kilsaran Union Gift Day

The Kilsaran Union Annual Gift Offering may be made during the month of February. Gift Envelopes are available in each Church in the Union and Parishioners’ gift donations can be made on any Sunday during the month.

Registers of Vestrypersons

The Register of Vestrypersons for Drogheda, Ardee and Kilsaran Unions of Parishes will be revised by the Rector and the Churchwardens following the Morning Services on Sunday 26th February 2012 in the Vestries of Collon Church, Dunleer Church and St. Peter’s, Drogheda.

Any person who is not already Registered as a Vestryperson of one of the Unions of Parishes, and who satisfies the criteria laid out in the Constitution of the Church of Ireland (see the notice boards for details) may be included on the Register. The current Register may be checked with the Churchwardens or the Rector.

Forms and criteria for registration can be found at the back of the Churches and may be handed or posted to the Rector or one of the Churchwardens on or before the date and time specified for the revision of the Register.

If you are a parishioner of Drogheda, Ardee or Kilsaran Unions of Parishes, aged over 18, you should become a “registered vestryperson . Only those who are so registered are entitled to vote at the Easter General Vestry Meeting.

It is one of the privileges of membership of the Church of Ireland to be on the Register and to participate fully in the Easter Vestry meeting when Office Holders and the Select Vestry of each Union are elected.

There may be some confusion in people’s minds as to what it means to be a “Registered Vestryperson” in a Parish or Union of Parishes. As you will be aware, the Church of Ireland is run on representative grounds largely by the members of the Church themselves.

Every member of the Church of Ireland who has reached the age of eighteen years and who attends the parish church, is entitled to be registered as a member of the General Vestry of the parish in which they worship. Those who are so registered are known as “Registered Vestrypersons”, and the list of such people is updated annually.

The General Vestry of the parish meets annually to elect the Select Vestry from among the parishioners. This meeting takes place around Easter time each year, hence the name “Easter Vestry” which is often given to the meeting.

The Select Vestry is the small group of parishioners, usually 12 in number plus other ex officio members, who actually manage the affairs of the parish on a day-to-day basis. They are responsible for the administration of the parish finances and care of the buildings and make all the decisions as to how these various areas of parish life are managed. (Note that the Rector is not in any way responsible for any of these functions: he or she simply chairs the various committees of the parish. His or her primary responsibilities are the pastoral care of the people of the Parish or Union and the leading of worship.)

So, by becoming a Registered Vestryperson of a parish, you are thereby enrolled as a member of the General Vestry and are entitled to attend the Easter Vestry Meeting to vote for and elect the members of the Select Vestry, who actually run the parish on behalf of the parishioners.

If anyone wishes to be included as a Registered Vestryperson and has not yet completed a form, please see the Rector or one of the Churchwardens before the dates specified when the Registers will be finally closed for 2012.

Select Vestry Meetings

February

Drogheda Union – Wednesday 1st February  at 8.00 p.m. in the Vestry of St. Peter’s (to be confirmed)

March

Kilsaran Union – Tuesday 6th March at 8.00 p.m. in the Hall, Kilsaran.

Drogheda Union – Wednesday 7th March  at 8.00 p.m. in the Vestry of St. Peter’s.

Ardee Union – Thursday 8th March at 8.00 p.m. in St. Mary’s, Ardee.