President of Ireland to give Address at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin; Journalist priest at Cork Conference; New edition of SEARCH; Ministry of Healing Dublin Diocesan Service; Discovery Community Worship Evening; BB Founders’ Day Service; Connor Institution; Diocese to support Kenyan school; Clogher Friends service; ‘Unexpected’ Resource on alcohol misuse; Remaining diocesan synods; ‘Building Blocks’ in children’s ministry; Media review – Irish census; Abortion clinic opens; NI adoption ban on gay couple is unlawful
President of Ireland to give Address at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, will give the address at the Annual Service in Commemoration of Jonathan Swift to be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin on Sunday 21st October at 15.15.
The President will be accompanied by his ADC and his chaplain will be the Chancellor, the Revd Canon Patrick Lawrence.
Journalist priest at Cork Conference
Occupy: One Year On. The lessons learnt is the theme chosen by Giles Fraser for his talks at the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Clergy Conference which iwas held this week in Ballylickey, Co Cork. Giles Fraser famously resigned as a Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, London at this time last year following the decision of the Cathedral Chapter to evict the Occupy protestors by force from the cathedral precincts.
Giles Fraser is a priest and journalist, currently serving as Priest-in-Charge of St Mary, Newington near the Elephant and Castle. Before that he was the Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral and director of the St Paul’s Institute, responsible for the cathedral’s engagement with the City of London and the relationship between ethics and modern finance.
He was the founder of Inclusive Church that lobbies for full inclusion of lesbian and gay people at all levels of the church. He has been nominated as the 2012 Stonewall “Hero of the Year”.
His academic training is in philosophy, gaining a PhD in the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, and going on to be a lecturer in Philosophy at Wadham College, Oxford. His general interest is in ethics and aesthetics and currently is a regular lecturer on moral leadership to soldiers at the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. His publications include Redeeming Nietzsche, Christianity and Violence and Christianity with Attitude.
He has written widely as a journalist in such diverse publications as The Socialist Worker and the Daily Mail, and currently writes the Loose Canon column for the Guardian. He also is a regular broadcaster on Radio 4’s Thought for the Day and Saturday Review.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2012/oct/14/occupy-right-church-go-home
New edition of SEARCH
A multi–faceted consideration of Church of Ireland approaches to the Decade of Centenaries as initiated by the recent Ulster Covenant celebrations heads up this autumn’s SEARCH – A Church of Ireland Journal, which is out now. A trio of articles consider the series of mould–breaking events: Bishop John McDowell, who chairs the C of I’s Historical Commemorations Working Group, opens with an overview of the Decade, urging that we “listen carefully to the whole story”. There follow reflections relating to the events of 1912 – 1922 from two different perspectives, with Wilfred Baker of Cork diocese reminding us of the respectable unionist tradition in the South and Aengus Dwane of TCD noting the positive attitude to the 1916 Rising expressed by Church of Ireland preachers in the jubilee year of 1966 . Sexuality controversies dominate the next section of the journal. The material is designed to foster thoughtful discussion of the current church–dividing issues, rather than polarisation. Bishop Michael Mayes’ article charts his own journey through the territory in relation to the biblical texts and the community issues. The Revd Ron Elsdon poses questions from the conservative side to those who support the LGBT agenda; and Dean Tom Gordon, stating and then setting aside his personal situation, offers some important social analysis from recent surveys. Three further articles explore the challenge to Christian mission of changing contexts (Revd Keith Scott); then the value and practice of “pastoral supervision” for ministers (Diane Clutterbuck); and finally, marking 350 years since the 1662 Prayer Book, Revd Dr William Marshall offers a concise summary of our common worship since the Reformation.
SEARCH has a new treasurer and subscriptions manager, Mr Michael Denton, formerly administrator of Christ Church Cathedral, who has taken over from Dean Stephen White. He urges subscribers to update their subscriptions, a serious number of which remain unpaid for the current year, putting the journal in a very difficult position.
subscriptions@searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org
Ministry of Healing Dublin Diocesan Service
The Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland will hold its annual Diocesan Service in Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday October 21 at 3.30 pm. The preacher will be Archbishop Michael Jackson. All are welcome to attend.
Discovery Community Worship Evening
A time to reflect, to praise, to focus and engage – Discovery Worship creates a space for people to meet with God and share with others through prayer, music reflection and intercultural worship. This is for everyone. (A Third Saturday monthly event). The next Discovery Worship takes place on Saturday October 20 at 7.00 pm in St George’s and St Thomas’s Church, Dublin.
BB Founders’ Day Service
The Annual Boys’ Brigade Founders’ Day Service takes place in St Ann’s, Dawson Street, Dublin, on Sunday October 21 at 3.30 pm.
Connor Institution
The institution of the Rev Paul Jack as rector of the Parish of St Thomas, Eglantine Avenue, Belfast, took place on Wednesday October 10.
A native of Belfast, Paul has a primary degree in Biochemistry from Queen’s University, Belfast, and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from University College, Galway. He worked in industry for a number of years prior to training for ministry in Dublin. He was curate assistant in St Patrick’s, Jordanstown, Diocese of Connor, for two years before moving to Seagoe Parish in the Diocese of Down and Dromore where he was curate assistant for almost six years. In May 2007 he moved back to Connor Diocese as rector of the United Parishes of St Simon and St Phillip. Belfast. Paul is married to Claire and they have three children, Susannah, Patrick, and Katherine. He succeeds Canon Walter Lewis who has retired.
Diocese to support Kenyan school
The Tuam, Killala and Achonry Diocesan Synod of 2011 expressed the need for the Diocese to have a wider mission in the world. As a result, a group was convened in May 2012 to consider adopting, on behalf of the Diocese, a suitable charity with which all could identify. The group considered projects put forward by CMS and recommended that the Diocese support a Kenyan girls’ secondary school for women from the Maasai tribe for the following reasons:
• This is a new initiative and is the first school of its kind in the region; • A modest donation of a few thousand Euro will have a significant impact; • The project is accessible for site visits; • It is a short term project (3 years); • The project is tangible and well defined; • The project is consistent with the sentiments expressed at Diocesan Synod 2011.
Clogher Friends service
Sunday 21st October – Friends of Clogher Cathedral service in St Macartin’s Cathedral, Clogher at 3.30pm. Preacher: The Very Revd Raymond Ferguson, Dean of Kilmore accompanied by the choir of Kilmore Cathedral.
‘Unexpected’ Resource on alcohol misuse
On Friday 2nd November – ‘Clogher Diocesan Board of Social Theology in Action launch ‘UNEXPECTED’ of its new resource which looks at the Misuse of Alcohol and some of its possible consequences. Time: 8.00pm: Venue: St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall, Enniskillen. Everyone is invited to attend particularly rectors and those involved in youth work.
Remaining diocesan synods
Wednesday, 24th October – Derry & Raphoe in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey. Tuesday 20th November – Armagh in Alexander Synod Hall, Armagh
‘Building Blocks’ in children’s ministry
Ballymena Times – A children’s ministry conference is happening on Saturday, November 17, in Wellington Presbyterian Church called ‘Building Blocks.’ This is a joint initiative between the Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, the Church of Ireland and Scripture Union.
Key Note speaker is Bob Hartman, a very gifted children’s storyteller, who brings bible stories to life.
There are also a range of seminars that you can make use of on a wide range of topics from children’s day services to working with children with special needs.
You can register for the event using a booking form downloaded from www.buildingblocks.ie The conference costs £25 which includes lunch and conference materials.
MEDIA REVIEW
Protests as Ireland’s 1st abortion clinic opens
http://news.yahoo.com/protests-irelands-1st-abortion-clinic-opens-115723765.html
Inquiry call over abortion clinic
The Northern Ireland Attorney General calls for a Stormont investigation into the opening of the first private clinic in Belfast to offer abortions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19990900
Gay couple NI adoption ban unlawful
A ban on gay and unmarried couples adopting children in NI is unlawful, a High Court judge rules.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19991196