Chief officer’s retirement; Lecture on the Historic Windows of Christ Church Cathedral; Revival 12 Evening Celebration at The Odyssey Arena; Loyalist band stopped from passing Church; Scottish Irish Conversations on Sectarianism; Parents of suspended Leaving Cert pupils to take legal action; Why Katie believes God fights in her corner; Newgrange is Ireland’s favourite heritage site
Chief officer’s retirement
On Friday the staff in Church of Ireland House will mark the retirement of Denis Reardon from his post as Chief Officer and Secretary of the Representative Church Body. An accountant by training, he joined the staff of Church of Ireland House in 1997 as Head of Finance and in 2002 succeeded Robert Sherwood as Chief Officer. His time as Chief Officer has been largely overshadowed by the effects of the economic crisis on church finances which have involved tighter budgets and fewer staff but he has presided over this new regime with forbearance, equanimity and occasional flashes of humour.
Lecture on the Historic Windows of Christ Church Cathedral
Lesley Whiteside, author of ‘The Stained Glass of Christ Church Cathedral’, will present a discussion on the fascinating history and significance of the historic windows of Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday August 21 at 1.00 pm.
Revival 12 Evening Celebration at The Odyssey Arena
Revival ‘12 is a special evening of celebration and praise on September 28, featuring one the most influential Christian leaders and speakers in the world today,Nicky Gumbel of The Alpha Course as well as Ireland’s premier Christian song writer and worship leader, Robin Mark. Tickets are free and Revival ‘12 is open to anyone and everyone.
In the United Kingdom alone, over 2 million people have taken what is called The Alpha Course, a ten week course exploring ‘The Meaning of Life” from a Christian perspective. Nicky Gumbel has pioneered the course and globally millions of people from India to Indiana have taken up the Alpha Challenge. Bear Grylls is among a growing number of celebrities who have undertaken the course and for him it has proven to be life changing ( check out his story online “Bear Grylls: I did Alpha“).
Robin Mark has written some of the most well–known Christian songs in the contemporary music scene. He tours abroad extensively and this summer will see him return to Nashville and the United States.
Songs such as “The Days of Elijah” and “The Lion of Judah” have made Robin a household name. Not only gifted in songwriting, Robin’s concerts are renowned for their audience engagement and contemplative edge. Recently he and has band were invited back to Willow Creek Church in Chicago for their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations where they played to over 19,000 people in one weekend. If you have never heard Robin Mark in concert, you need to! He is one of Ireland’s greatest exports (www.robinmark.com).
Revival ‘12 is an event sponsored by Revival Network UKI, a group of interdenominational churches and leaders who share a passion and heart for God’s work in Ireland, north and south.
For more information, please visit :www.revivalnetworkuki.com
Loyalist band stopped from passing St Patrick’s Church
BBC News – A loyalist band filmed playing tunes outside a Catholic Church on the Twelfth of July has been prohibited from marching past the same church. The Parades Commission have banned the Young Conway Volunteers band from marching past St Patrick’s …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19305863
Scottish Irish Conversations on Sectarianism–Edinburgh Festival of Politics
Slugger O’Toole – I was joined on the panel by historian Professor Richard Finlay of the University of Strathclyde and Rev Dr Alan David Falconer, former Minister of the Cathedral Church of St Machar, Aberdeen, and a former director of the Irish School of Ecumenics.
http://sluggerotoole.com/2012/08/18/scottish-irish-conversations-on-sectarianismedinburgh-festival-of-politics/
Parents of suspended Leaving Cert pupils to take legal action
Irish Times – The parents of more than 100 former pupils at a Dublin fee-paying school say they will take legal action over the suspension of nearly the entire Leaving Cert class shortly before the exam this year.
Some 113 of the 120 sixth-year pupils at the High School in Rathgar were suspended on May 18th after an incident on May 4th in which they locked themselves into the sixth-year common room for 55 minutes and played dance music.
No alcohol or drugs were consumed during the incident, which the principal Andrew Forrest described in a letter to parents as a “pre-planned disturbance” and “an act of gross misconduct”. More at:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2012/0818/1224322386260.html
Why Katie believes God fights in her corner
Independent – How the thriving Pentecostal church in Ireland inspired its most famous member, Katie Taylor
http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/why-katie-believes-god-fights-in-her-corner-3203076.html
Newgrange is Ireland’s favourite heritage site
The Meath site pips the Cliffs of Moher and Glendalough as the nation’s favourite site, as National Heritage week kicked off on Saturday.
http://www.thejournal.ie/newgrange-ireland-heritage-site-560306-Aug2012/