St Catherine & St James’ Church Service of the Word Trinity Sunday 26 May 2024

The Greeting

As we come to worship and praise

Father God, we welcome you!

As we come together in friendship

Father God, we welcome you!

As we come to listen and learn

Father God, we welcome you!

As we bring our worries and problems

Father God, we welcome you!

Lord, we invite you into our church,

We invite you into our minds,

We invite you into our hearts.

Hymn 321 Nicaea

Penitence

Almighty God, my heavenly Father, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong this week, which have pained your heart of love. I am sorry for the unkind things I have said or done, that have hurt my family and friends. Forgive me Lord for the times I’ve let you down, or let myself down, or let others down, and help me to be the best that I can be. Amen.

Forgiveness

May the God of love forgive us, lift our burdens from us,

heal and strengthen us by his spirit; that we may journey in love

to live our lives freely and lightly, Amen.

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; for you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.     

His vision in the Temple

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory.’

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 6.1-8

Psalm Afferte, Domino (29)

1  Ascribe to the Lord, you powers of heaven, •

   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2  Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; •

   worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3  The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;

      the God of glory thunders; •

   the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

4  The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation; •

   the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.

5  The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; •

   the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6  He makes Lebanon skip like a calf •

   and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7  The voice of the Lord splits the flash of lightning;

      the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; •

   the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8  The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe

      and strips the forests bare; •

   in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’

9  The Lord sits enthroned above the water flood; •

   the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.

10  The Lord shall give strength to his people; •

   the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

A reading from the Epistle of St Paul to the Romans.

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Fa ther!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.      Romans 8.12-17

The Gradual Hymn 319 Rievaulx

Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ, according to St John.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Nicodemus visits Jesus

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3.1-17

What do we Believe?

We believe in God the Father, the source of all life, by whom every family in heaven and earth has been created.

We believe in God the Son, our friend and brother Jesus, who lives in our hearts through faith and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with his power, and makes Jesus known in the world.

We believe and trust in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Hymn 316 Laus Deo

We say our Prayers

As brothers and sisters in one loving family, together let us pray to our heavenly Father.

We pray for the Church throughout the world; may God’s kingdom come in our daily lives as we live Christ’s Gospel of love.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for people whose lives are shattered by war or violence; may God’s kingdom come through the efforts of those working to bring peace.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the sick and all who suffer; may God’s kingdom come through the love and compassion of those who visit and care for them.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the homeless and jobless; may God’s kingdom come through our love for one another as we offer help to those in need.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving Father, make us grow in love for you and one another, and give us the courage and strength to do your will on earth, so that your kingdom may come.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven:

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory

for ever and ever. Amen.

We pray together

Be with us Lord, as we go out into the world.

May the lips that have sung your praises always speak the truth;

may the ears that have heard your Word

listen only to what is good;

and may our lives as well as our worship

be always pleasing in your sight,

for the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

The Blessing

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love,

defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace:

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn 652 Mannheim

The Parish of Saint Catherine & Saint James with Saint Audoen

Canon Mark Gardner Tel: 01 454 2274 Mobile 087 266 0228

Email: markgardner300@gmail.com

Diocesan Lay Reader: James Kilbey

Parish Reader: Cletus Ogbata

Organist: Olesia Borsuk

Review Distribution: Margery Bell Tel: 01 4542067

Website: stcatherineandstjameswithstaudoen.ie

St Audoen’s Cornmarket, 10.00 Eucharist (every Sunday) with Hymns and Anglican Chant. Organist, Olesia Borsuk. Access on foot through St Audoen’s Park. Cars may be parked between Francis Street and Christ Church. The Church and the OPW Visitor Centre are open every day.

St Catherine & St James, Donore Avenue, 11.30 Service of the Word (Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month). Organist, Olesia Borsuk. Cars may be parked in the Churchyard.

Diary Dates

Thursday 13 June, St Catherine’s Church Thomas Street, School end of year concert. Saturday 15 June Belfry practice, St Audoen’s, 2.30 Holy Baptism, St Catherine & St James. Monday 24 June, School Assembly, St Catherine & St James.

Family Retreat

For accompanying photographs see the Holy Trinty CSI Congregation Facebook page. 𝐏𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏 By the grace of God, the Family Retreat for this year was held on the 4th May 2024 at the Holy Trinity CSI Congregation Dublin. The retreat was titled Pebblestones and was based on Roman 12:5. Sharing few moments of the sessions by Rev. Dr. Jobymon Skaria, Adjunct Lecturer at Maynooth University – Myself and Sherin Jacob Jenu. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 Sessions for the children of our congregation was conducted during the family retreat. Thanking the Sunday School HM, Blessy Varghese and all other teachers and youth members for helping our little kids. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑 This was an interesting part of the retreat, where families were asked to mirror charade a message that are important for the transformation in our family life. We have Great Actors! 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟒 We made ‘Tree of Pebbles’ (a mark of memory of the  Family Retreat 2024 – Pebblestones), together with a touch, ‘beautiful touch’. It means a lot. 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟓 Talent evening was also conducted as part of the Family Retreat. Thanking all the participants for the performances. 𝐏𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 – 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 Family Day worship service with Holy Eucharist was held on family retreat day. A special Fund, titled ‘Parsonage Buying Fund’ was declared open by the vicar during the service. The first contribution towards the fund was made by Mrs. Leeba Koshy.

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Tailor’s Hall (opposite St Audoen’s)

The 300-year-old council-owned building in the Liberties, leased to An Taisce, has been at the centre of a dispute over planning. At Tailors’ Hall on High Street, a new pub and beer garden – opened in late 2022 in the building that was An Taisce’s headquarters at the time – is now closed. The building, originally a guild hall and more than 300 years old, is a protected structure and a former meeting place of the United Irishmen. In 2022, An Taisce sublet the basement and ground floor to Liberty Renaissance Ltd, and the company did them up and opened a pub and beer gardens. The closure of the Tailors’ Hall Tavern comes after the council issued a planning enforcement notice, which they say was converted from community space to a pub without their consent. Planning consultants advised Liberty that the work on the grounds of the building was exempted under an amendment to the planning law, which allows for disused pubs to be converted for housing.

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St Audoen’s Church Cornmarket

St. Audoen (or Ouen), Bishop of Rouen in Normandy, flourished in the 7th century, and a Church was dedicated to him in Dublin by the Anglo-Normans after they had seized control of the city. A new Church was erected in 1190 on the site of an older Church dedicated to St. Columcille. The Parish was one of the most prosperous in the city, and the Parish Church was for many years frequented by the Lord Mayor and Corporation.

At the Reformation the Parish Church became Anglican, while most of the inhabitants of the Parish remained Roman Catholic, and were served by priests and friars, often in secret, over the following centuries. The prosperity of the Parish declined towards the end of the 18th century, when many of the wealthy residents moved out, a process hastened by the Act of Union of 1800. In his ‘Historical Guide to the City of Dublin’ (1825) GN Wright reported that ‘Divine service is performed here every day at the usual hours. There are very few Protestants in this parish, though the number of inhabitants amounts to upwards of 5,180 and the number of houses to 468’. One family, now resident in Enniskerry, merchants in the High Street in the 17th century, retains a link with St Audoen’s Church to this day.

Towards the end of the 20th century an extensive restoration project was carried out. St. Anne’s Chapel was re-roofed and is now a visitors’ centre in the care of the Office of Public Works, as are the unroofed parts of the Church and the grounds to the South of the Church. That Chapel dates from the time of Henry VI, who in 1430 authorised the erection of a Chantry here, dedicated to St. Anne. Its founders and their successors formed the Guild or Fraternity of St. Anne which survived the Reformation by many years.

In the Church porch is preserved an early Celtic gravestone, kept here or nearby since before 1309, when Jon LeDecer, Mayor of Dublin, erected a marble water cistern in Cornmarket and placed this stone against it. It was said to have strange properties, and merchants and traders used to rub it for luck. It was stolen more than once but always found its way back! In 1826 it disappeared for twenty years, until found in front of the newly-erected Catholic Church of St Audoen in High Street.

In the porch lies a 15th century monument of Sir Roland Fitz-Eustace, Earl Portlester (died 1496) and his wife Margaret, buried at Cotlandstown, County Kildare.

Among those interred in the Church are Sir Thomas Molyneux and his son Capel. The street of that name stretches North from the River Liffey, boasting some of the oldest houses in Dublin. The monument (defaced by the followers of Cromwell) of Bishop Edward Parry (who died of the plague in 1650) and his descendants is in the clergy vestry.

The massive tower (one of a group of five medieval survivors in the city) its upper stories rebuilt in the 17th century, houses six bells, three of them among the oldest in Ireland, dating from 1423. Unringable in a cracked tower by 1898, which was braced in concrete in 1983, they are now rung every week. An early 20th century Bürk electric clock drives a large external face, both of them brought here from St. Peter’s Aungier Street, closed in 1975 and lamentably demolished. Memorials from St Peter’s have been restored and re-erected in St Audoen’s. On the site of St Peter’s stands the YMCA building, in which the East window from the recently rebuilt Church of St Nicholas without and St Luke now hangs.