Bulletin for the Third Sunday before Advent, 10th November 2024

Welcome to the Aughaval Group of Parishes

Ruth and Naomi, St James, public domain

Collect Two
Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the king of all:
Govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Lectionary readings

Old Testament Reading Ruth 3: 1-5; 4: 13-17

Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, ‘My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it
may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working.
See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing-floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your
best clothes and go down to the threshing-floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has
finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his
feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.’ She said to her, ‘All that you tell me I will do.’
So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her
conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you
this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life
and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven
sons, has borne him.’ Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse. The
women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, ‘A son has been born to Naomi.’ They named him
Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Epistle Hebrews 9: 24-28

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and
again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he
would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared
once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for
mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of
many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

The Gospel Reading Mark 12: 38-44

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be
greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of
honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They
will receive the greater condemnation.’ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting
money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small
copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this
poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have

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contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to
live on.’

Notices
Regular events:

 Mid-week Holy Communion, every Wed at 10.30am in HTW, followed by tea/coffee (optional).
Bishop Michael will preside on Wed 11 Dec. Please join if you are able. Tea to follow.

 Open Churches: Christ Church, Castlebar - Fridays from 11am – 1pm;

HTW – open daily, morning to evening; St Thomas’s Dugort – open daily

Additional dates:
 Family & Children’s Cinema Trip: ‘Paddington in Peru' in Westport, Sat 16 Nov. Contact Shirley on
087 638 8503 to reserve seats. There are still a few left. The cost of the tickets is covered.

Paddington, by Zara, age 4, Christ Church Castlebar

 History of Christ Church Castlebar, Lecture, by Dr Michael O’Connor in the church, Thurs 21
Nov at 7.30pm, followed by tea. This is to mark the 200th anniversary of the decision to rebuild the
church. Free event, with members of the wider community especially welcome.
 Advent Sunday, 1 Dec – Speaker in CCC and HTW, Ruth Cooke, Christian Aid, with opportunity
to donate towards the COI’s Middle East 2024 Appeal. Similarly in Turlough on Sat 30 Nov at 7pm,
and on Holy Trinity Inishbiggle on Sat morning at 11am – as below.

Some Christmas concerts and services:

- ‘Almost Advent Carol Service’, Inishbiggle, Sat 30 Nov, 11am in the church. Sailing from Doran’s
Point, Ballycroy at 10am (Info., 083 8003233)
- Turlough Advent Carol Service, Sat 7 Dec at 7pm.
- Cor Mhaigheo Concert, Sun 8 Dec, in HTW. Please note change to 5pm, at choir’s request.
- Castlebar Community Carol Service, in Christ Church, with Holy Rosary Choir and Castlebar
Concert Band, Monday 9 December at 8pm.
- Louisburgh Voices, Medieval Christmas Concert, Wednesday 11 Dec, 8pm, Holy Trinity Westport.
- Advent Carol Service, St Thomas’s Dugort, Achill, Friday 13 Dec at 8pm.
- Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Holy Trinity Westport, with St Mary’s choir plus a surprise
contributor, Sun 15 Dec, 7pm.
- St Mary’s Westport Carol Service, Sun 22 Dec, 5pm. We are warmly invited.

Contact details for the Aughaval Group

Hon. Treasurers - Turlough, Karin Shaw

- Westport-Dugort, Barbara Strutt [email protected]
[email protected] Hon. Secretaries
- Castlebar, Trevor Ardill - Westport-Dugort, Benita Stoney
[email protected] [email protected]
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 - Castlebar, Trevor Ardill - Turlough, Fiona Kelly
[email protected] [email protected]

Giving: You can give securely towards the upkeep of the churches using the QR codes below.

1. Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes – Holy

Trinity Westport
and St Thomas’s Dugort,
with Holy Trinity Inishbiggle

2. Christ Church, Castlebar

3. Turlough Parish Church

Regular giving: If you donate to the churches we would love you to consider giving by Standing Order.
Also to speak with the Treasurer for your parish and to sign up to the tax efficient Charitable Donation
scheme which benefits the churches greatly without costing the donor anything. (See revenue.ie.).

For the children

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Pastoral care and enquiries: Revd Suzanne Cousins, 083 800 3233 [email protected].

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