What is life like for us in Carlow, Ireland? Well, each day is different. There is the Sunday morning worship service, starting at 11 and ending, after tea and biscuits and chatting, at around 1:00 or 1:30. Then we have had the opportunity to go to lunch with several different church people, mostly to their homes. That lasts until early evening. On Tuesday mornings I lead a Men’s Bible Study in a local restaurant on the Sermon on the Mount. There is a Wednesday evening Bible Study on the Parables of Jesus which I lead, beginning at 8 and ending at 10 or 11. Finally, there is a home Bible Study that Nancy and I attend on Friday evenings. The study is lay led and we are looking at Nehemiah—a surprising book to study but one which, with the help of a Scripture Union guide, has been surprisingly relevant and engaging. Those are the regular commitments. Besides them there have been occasional events we have attended—a youth rally in a barn and a picnic (with children doing Irish folk dancing) and meeting focusing on prayer for the persecuted church.


In between these anchors Nancy and I have toured the area, had lunch with different people and become familiar with Carlow, its people and its sites, including the Brownshill Dolmen (a 5,000 year old granite portal dolmen--the largest in Europe). I spend time preparing for the services and studies, and have visited in the hospital as well. We (particularly Nancy) walk into town almost daily, which means a 20 minute stroll. We go to the local supermarket (TESCO or Dunnes), the barber shop, and various other stores. I try to get out on my bicycle every day, or at least every other day, and am pretty successful at it. The manse is at the north edge of the developed part of town and a right turn takes me under the grand stone arches which used to mark the beginning of the grounds of a large landowner’s property. From there on the back roads pass through farm lands, climb nearby hills (including Mt. Leinster), and pass through little villages.

Carlow County is one of the smallest counties in the country, but is known for its gardens, so we have visited several of those which are on a tourist loop. The gardens vary from grand estate grounds to garden shops with some displays, and often have a delightful tea room for a lunch or tea. There are castles to visit, small villages to stop in, and picnic spots tucked in here and there. We have been to Kilkenny (major tourist town—kil means church, kenny is a form of the name of the founder of the town), Cashel (major tourist center for its church and buildings on a rocky platform), Wexford (south east port city—destroyed by Cromwell), Tintern Abbey, the high cross at Moon, and many more places.
And we have gone to a hurling match—fast moving and interesting Irish sport! This weekend we will be in Dublin visiting the church we were in last summer, then be taking several days to get to know the north and west coasts.

Last night, the 2nd of July, we hosted a 4th of July pancake feed at the manse. We couldn’t do it on the 4th because of the Bible Study we attend, but at the same time couldn’t abandon a 30 year old tradition, so we made do. It was a joyful gathering with lots of pancakes, chat and all, with the background of American patriotic songs and a waving flag—compliments of a Microsoft Screen Saver and iTunes downloads. Since the Irish wrested their independence from the British as we did, we felt a bit of camaraderie.


All in all we are grateful to God for the opportunity to be here in Carlow. We genuinely sense that the people appreciate what we are doing, and also that our short ministry is needed just now. And we are genuinely grateful to the people for their warm welcome and ongoing hospitality. Ireland is a remarkably mixed land just now. Last Sunday, for example, among the 50 adults attending the service, there were people from Germany, Northern Ireland (UK), South Africa, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and, of course, the United States. In such a blend of people we feel like we fit in and are becoming a part of the community of faith. And that is what the church is all about, isn’t it? It is one body, the body of Christ, unified by the Lord of that body—and called to worship and serve in his name. That is Carlow Presbyterian Church—and it is every church everywhere.