Getting Your Kids through Church without them Ending up Hating God; St Mark’s Newtownards hosts 600 local schoolchildren; Theology Circle Hold Final Lecture of the Year; Limerick synod; Ford ‘treated harshly’ by own church
Getting Your Kids through Church without them Ending up Hating God;
Care for the Family are holding an event ‘Getting Your Kids through Church without them Ending up Hating God’ on Thursday 9th May 2013 in St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall, Enniskillen from 7.30 – 10.00pm (doors open at 6.45pm). Featuring Rob Parsons with worship led by Abi Williams.
Every year, thousands of young people leave the church and for many of us, this is a personal concern. However, many of them don’t actually turn their back on God, but on something else.
This event is an opportunity for parents, church leaders and youth workers to join together as we discover what that “something’ might be – and try to change it.
Topics include: • God has no grandchildren – how children find a faith of their own • The jelly-mould syndrome – there is no “one size fits all” • Facing up to “the Big Five” – the main killers of faith • Creating a sense of belonging – making sure our kids feel they fit in • Giving our children a vision • Handling the three disappointments that come to all of us
International speaker and best-selling author, Rob Parsons has brought insight and inspiration to thousands of families since founding Care for the Family. With passion and humour, Rob will help us understand what we can change in our homes, our churches – our hearts – which will make it less likely that a generation will be lost to the church.
Abi Williams has been leading worship for over 15 years in her home church and has had the privilege of leading worship in other churches and conferences throughout the UK. She has written a worship programme for young worship leaders and is passionate about seeing them develop their gifts. Abi will help us seek God’s heart through music and worship.
There will be an opportunity to browse through a wide range of relevant resources and information in our resources area.
Tickets: £5. To book go to www.careforthefamily.org.uk/gyktc; tel 028 9262 8050 or available at the Real Life Bookshop, 8 Dublin Road, Enniskillen
Care for the Family has been supporting and encouraging families in the UK since 1988 through training courses, seminars, resources and other initiatives.
St Mark’s Newtownards hosts 600 local schoolchildren
“Get into gear for Jesus” was the message hundreds of children heard in St Mark’s Parish Church, Newtownards as they came from all primary schools within the parish boundaries on 23 April for their annual Schools’ Celebration.
Around 600 pupils, principals, teachers and staff packed into the church for a morning of praise, prayers and readings from 1 John.
A rowdy welcome was given to all the participants from Londonderry, Model, Regent Prep, St Finian’s, Victoria and West Winds primary schools who cheered when their schools were called out. The children were taught the new song for the morning, “Shine, from the inside out” led by Tim Vaughan (Youth Intern, St Mark’s), Laura Ewing (Youth Pastor, Regent St Methodist Church) and Jonny Frazer (Assistant Minister, Regent St Presbyterian Church).
Favourite songs such as “Wide and long and high and deep” and “I’m gonna jump up and down” were interspersed with readings from 1 John read by representatives from the schools. These helped everyone focus on what it means to put Jesus first.
“There was an amazing buzz and enthusiastic atmosphere in the church throughout and it was a blessing to see so many young people enjoy worshipping and praising God together,” said Stephen Doherty, Youth & Family Director, St Mark’s.
Tim was loaded up with a backpack, heavy coat, sports equipment and balls and sent on hilarious journeys (or sprints) as an illustration of how busy our lives are with all the activities and groups we attend week by week. Then a heavy Bible was added, reminding us that we need to re–organise our lives so that Jesus fits in much better than He already does…a message for young and old alike.
After the Talk, the praise took on a more reflective tone as prayers were led by some children from Victoria Primary. Prayers were also said for St Mark’s Rector and his family on the passing of his father, for Fr Martin (Parish Priest) on the death of his father, and for all at St Finian’s on the recent sudden death of their Principal, Mr O’Prey.
The service concluded with an amazing rendition of “Shine from the inside out” before the attendees were invited into the Parish Centre where a small team of parishioners had juice, biscuits and crisps (scones, tea and coffee for the staff)…a massive task managed extremely well with loads of compliments coming from the visiting children and adults alike.
“As we continue to reach out and become more of Christ’s presence in our communities, it is a true blessing from God that School Principals continue to not only agree to their schools attending the service year by year, but attend themselves,” said Stephen. This simply strengthens the church’s role within schools and the presence of Jesus within our ministries, for which we are extremely thankful.
Theology Circle Hold Final Lecture of the Year
The Dublin & Glendalough Theology Circle, the association of past participants in the Archbishop’s Course in Theology, is preparing for its fifth and final session of the academic year.
This year the circle’s study sessions have focused on the origins of the Holy Communion Service.
The final session will take the form of a lecture on Tuesday May 7 at 8.00 pm in The Chapter House at Christ Church Cathedral. Professor Liam Tracey will speak on “Eucharistic Praying: Learning and Forgetting from Early Christianity.”
All are welcome and the theology circle would particularly like to encourage people who have done (or are currently doing) The Archbishop’s Course to come along.
Members of the circle meet five times a year. They do some reading in preparation for each study session and volunteer to do a short presentation on a relevant article or document.
Next academic year they plan to take Eco–Theology as their study topic. During the 2013–14 year they will be meeting on the first Tuesdays of October, November, February, March and May.
Limerick synod
The annual ordinary meeting of the Diocesan Synod of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert will be held in Kenmare, Co. Kerry on 15 June 2013.
Motions to be brought forward to Synod must be lodged, in writing, with the Diocesan Secretariat no later than 17 May 2013.
Ford ‘treated harshly’ by own church
BBC news – Lord Alderdice has said Alliance Party leader David Ford has been ‘treated harshly’ by his church over his political support for gay marriage.
Lord Alderdice has said his successor as leader of the Alliance Party, David Ford, has been treated harshly by his church over his political support for gay marriage.
Earlier this month, Mr Ford stepped aside as an elder at Second Donegore Presbyterian Church.
His position on the controversial issue is to be examined by the church.
Lord Alderdice said Mr Ford’s faith was very important to him and that this would be a difficult time for him.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence programme he said: “He is elected by the electors of his constituency to represent all their views and yet what’s been suggested, more than suggested, is that he has got to take a very particular line on a piece of legislation.
“I think that’s an extremely difficult position for him and it seems to me that the way that he has been treated has not been characterised by the kind of brotherly love, concern and thoughtful engagement that ought to be characteristic of the church.”