Mullavilly News T he Ma ga z i ne

ON YOUR MARKS... for Mulla villy

Parish
GET SET....
Christmas 2009
Have you ever wondered what Mullavilly Parish Church might have been like
200 years ago? The church building and graveyard were in place, and had
been for some time. However, because the property belonged to the Count de
Salis and not to the Church of Ireland, it was not actually consecrated as a
church building. On 16th June 1809, the Count transferred the ownership of
the land to the Church of Ireland. (The document for this still exists in the our
headquarters in Dublin). It was now possible for Mullavilly to have its own offi-
cial place of worship and in September 1810, it was consecrated. It became a
place set aside for worship.
Thus, we are able to celebrate our bicentenary throughout the coming year.
Full details will be published with the next newsletter at the start of January but for now, please note the
initial events over the New Year.
First of all, we will be worshipping in Kilmore Parish Church on December 27th. The ten townlands of
Mullavilly Parish were originally part of the Parish of Kilmore. Before 1810, weddings and possibly bap-
tisms and many burials would have been in Kilmore and the rector of Kilmore was in charge. With the
consecration of our own building in 1810, the local people would not have had to travel quite so far. Our
service on 27th recognises this piece of history and brings us back to our “mother” church.
On New Year’s Eve, we will light a beacon to symbolise the light of Christ shining through the darkness.
For over 200 years, this site has been a place where people have found the comfort and strength of that
light in their lives, either at special moments such as funerals or weddings or in regular weekly worship
and prayer.
On New Year’s Day, we will do what many of our ancestors did and walk from Kilmore back to Mullavilly.
Its not that far and should take about 2 hours. I hope that plenty of parishioners will be able to join the
Revd Malcolm Kinston and myself on this journey, no matter what the weather.

With these three key events, we will be symbolising the importance of the presence of a church in Mulla-
villy. The building has meant so much to so many over those 200 years and we pray that it will continue
to do so.
Of course, the whole story started much longer ago. At Christmas time, we remember with many sym-
bols, the birth of Jesus. With holly, candles, gifts, parties etc, we recall that God became one of us. We
have been loved so much that God Almighty chose to send his Son to be a Saviour to us, to shine a light
into our darkness. It is for that reason that the Church exists. It is our purpose to worship God and the
church building symbolises our desire to do that.

Sadly, there are many examples of church buildings that become merely ruins. Populations have shifted
or apathy has set in. Many people no longer see the purpose of a Church or even the need for a Sav-
iour. Pews are empty and people have other places to be, other things to do. The symbols of Christmas-
tide—generosity, celebration etc—have become an end in themselves rather than a pointer to something
greater. We need to look beyond the symbols and catch a glimpse of those things that are of real and
deep importance.

Our church building is special not because it is old, not because it is well-maintained, not because it is
beautiful. It is special because it symbolises the presence of the light of Christ in our community. It is a
reminder to us of our bicentenary motto:

“Yesterday, today, for ever—

ever—Jesus is the same”
 IT’S ALL HAPPENING HER
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18th
COUNTRY CONCERT
8pm
Tickets (£10) from the usual outlets

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
A pantomime by Markethill Players
SATURDAY DECEMBER 12th

CINDERELLA
7:30pm

CHILDREN FREE/ADULTS £8 (concession £5)

Tickets from Yvonne 028 38841014 (after 6pm) or Monday and Wednesday at Parish centre 7-8pm

FOOD! RAMBLIN’ ROSE CHRISTMAS LUNCH

Thursday 17th 12:30

SUNDAY 20th
11am NATIVITY SERVICE
7pm CAROL SERVICE
CHRISTMAS DAY
24th 11:15pm Holy Communion
25th 8:30am Holy Communion
10:00am Family Communion
RE—DON’T MISS A THING
BICENTENNIARY CELEBRATIONS
www.mullavilly2010.org
Yesterday, today, for ever _ Jesus is the same!
SUNDAY DECEMBER 27th

BACK TO OUR ROOTS

Combined Worship at 11am in Kilmore Parish Church

[THIS SERVICE REPLACES ALL SERVICES IN MULLAVILLY TODAY]

NEW YEAR’S EVE

11:30pm
Service of Thanksgiving
followed at midnight by

LIGHTING THE BEACON

To begin our Bicentenary Year 2010
NEW YEAR’S DAY

SPONSORED WALK
From Kilmore Parish Church to Mullavilly (app. 6.5 miles)
Depart Kilmore at 10am
Soup and Sandwiches in Mullavilly for all participants and supporters.

As we’ll be walking on the road, this is a 14+ event only. Sponsorship forms, if desired, are
available in the Church porch. You do not need sponsorship to take part.

2011 Calendar
In 2010 we will be publishing a 2011 calendar which will be illustrated with photographs of Mullavilly and the 2010
events. We are therefore asking all photographers – of any experience – to send in original pictures. The subjects
can be anything that has any connection to Mullavilly and the surrounding area: people, landscapes, animals – and,
of course, the church and the 2010 celebrations. The twelve best photographs will be printed in the calendar and
every picture submitted will be included in a photographic record of the year. We hope that at least three pictures on
the calendar will come from budding photographers under the age of 16. The closing date for submissions is 1 Oc-
tober 2010, but pictures can be sent at any time to photos@mullavilly2010.org or left in the vestry in an envelope
marked “Mullavilly 2010 Photos”.
 The Magazine for
Mullavilly Parish

DATE FLOWERS CHURCH MICE SCRIPTURE NOTES

Nov 15th Evelyn Shortt Tanya Heather Harper 11am Holy

Communion

Nov 22th Geraldine Carolyn Leslie Irwin 7pm Holy

Thompson Communion

Nov 29th Caroline Ann Carolyn Mayes

Whitten

Dec 6th Leona Whitten Pauline Helen 11am Holy

McClenaghan Communion

Dec 13th Heather White Jonathan Jean McClelland Last day for gifts

Dec 20th Muriel Bebe 11am NATIVITY

7pm CAROLS

Dec 27th ALL SERVICES COMBINED

11am IN KILMORE PARISH CHURCH

Baptism Anniversaries MOTHERS UNION

November: November Tuesday 17th Visitors Night with Linda Nielands.
Nathan Rafferty (4th); Linda is a well-known story-teller and everyone is welcome to a very
December: entertaining evening.
Dale Garner (4th); Callum Crawford
(4th) December Tuesday 15th Making Christmas decorations.

CHIT CHAT
November 12th Bible Study
November 19th “Get Real in Worship”. An evening in Greenisland with Bishop Ken Clarke and others.

We celebrated one baptism in October on 25th. This was Alex Robert Paul, son of Contacting the
Mark and Dawn Topley and baby brother of Holly and Ethan. clergy
Our sympathy is extended to the families and friends of those whose funerals have
taken place recently. On October 21st, the funeral was held for Elsie Palmer, late Home 028 3884 0221
of Dawson’s Grove. Elsie had been a friendly face on her daily visits on the family
grave. The service was held at Poot’s Funeral Parlour and the burial in Mullavilly. Mobile & 07989 743545
On 22nd, the funeral service of Billy Jenkinson was held at Roselawn Cremato-
Office & 028 3884 1918
rium, where his wife, Grace and sons Kenny and Brian and their families were sup-
ported by many of their friends. Sam 028 3834 3267
On 23rd, the funeral was held in Mullavilly of Myrtle Nelson. Myrtle had died in Ne-
wry Hospice after a brief illness. The burial was in Tullylish graveyard. She will be email mullavilly
missed by her husband Jim and by her many friends.
post 89 Mullavilly Road
On November 6th, there were two weddings in Mullavilly. These were Alan Over- Tandragee
end and Emma Parks at 12 noon, and Ian Howard and Eimer Murray at 2pm. BT62 2LX
The wedding of Erin McKee and Niall Nixon is planned for December 21st.