Rector's Musings

Occasional musings of the Rector. 

Think,Question,Believe Rector's podcast

The Think, Question, Believe podcast looks at the Christian faith from a progressive and inclusive perspective - and that means taking the Bible seriously but not literally, honouring the past, but looking to today and into the future, and seeking to build an affirming church that serves all people with love, tolerance and acceptance. Coming from Canon Kevin O’Brien, Rector of St Nicholas Church, Adare, Church of Ireland - a progressive and inclusive church. We feature in the feedspot list of most popular religious podcasts in Ireland: https://blog.feedspot.com/ireland_church_podcasts/

Returning to church amid Covid-19

We are delighted that we shall probably be able to worship together in church from 5th July. Because of the amount of work involved in making a church ready for worship amid a continuing risk of infection from Covid-19, for the moment only one church in our group of parishes will open: St. Nicholas, Adare, at 10:30am on Sundays. Everyone from any of the parishes is invited! Even though we can worship in person again, it would be wrong to expect to be back to ‘normal’ immediately; as long as the risk of infection remains, we need to change some of our ways of doing things.

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Meals provided in Adare

Owing to the generosity of Adare Manor Hotel we are now able to offer simple meals to those in our local community who are unable to travel and have no family member in a position to shop for them & find themselves cocooned during this Covid 19 emergency. These will be prepared by Chefs from Adare Manor.

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All services cancelled

Upon advice and direction from the Bishop, I have decided to cancel all worship services, including the ones that we had planned to have in Adare on 22 and 29 March. As the Bishop pointed out, we would have to clean all the surfaces regularly, and we would not really be able to maintain 'social distancing’ in the church. So I am sorry to say that the services are cancelled.

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Notice from 13 March about cancellations

On 12 March, An Taoiseach issued new regulations and guidelines with respect to the coronavirus, Covid-19. We are facing a new situation that is changing each day, and so we are adapting.

As pointed out by our Bishop, we must all follow the advice from the HSE, which can be found HERE. This guidance is updated daily.

I have decided, after speaking with wardens and Lay Readers, and after hearing advice from our Bishop, to cancel the worship services in Croom, Kilpeacon, and Kilmallock on 15 March and for at least the next two weeks (through 29 March). …

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Covid-19: Lent is happening to us

Below is the sermon from St. Nicholas Church, Adare, on Sunday, 15 March 2020, the Sunday following restrictions being imposed on public gatherings in Ireland because of Covid-19.

My husband, Kirk, and I have a saying, or a joke, about the season of Lent. It is that Lent happens to you whether you plan for it to or not. Even if you had not thought of giving up something, or taking on something for Lent, Lent will still happen to you.

Right now, Lent is happening to us all. The purpose of Lent is to reveal to us what it is that gets between us and God, what in our lives needs to change, especially in our relationships with God and each other. Lent is happening to us because of the Covid-19 virus. Its appearance in Europe pretty much coincided with the beginning of Lent on February 26…

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Change in Sunday service times

I have gradually come to realise that the Sunday service times we have among our four parishes do not work as well as perhaps they did at one time. Adare, being at 12.00, is too late for having a Sunday school, and people are often rushing home for Sunday dinner. The optimum time for church seems to be at 10.00 or 10.30, but even these times can be difficult for some.

I have been talking with the Lay Readers and with each of the Select Vestries about making some changes to the usual schedule. Beginning in November, we will make some changes…

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Second Fridays

On the second Friday of each month, we will hold some special event, generally a social outing or a special worship service. These events are for the entire Group of parishes. It is a way to get together and also a way to have occasional worship services at times other than Sunday mornings. 

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Diocesan Review available

For the past six months or so, two experienced priests have been conducting a review of our United Dioceses, at the request of Bishop Kenneth Kearon and the Diocesan Council. Their report is now available. 

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