Responsibility for the Environment and the Poor are Christian Imperatives – Dean; Day Of Prayer For Syria; Prayers for those with cancer; Scouts announce promise for atheists; Loyalist band numbers at new high
Responsibility for the Environment and the Poor are Christian Imperatives – Dean
St Brigid’s Church, Kilbride, (Bray) was a riot of colour for the Kilbride Harvest and Fruit and Flower Festival. Some of the best of what nature has to offer was on show in the church for the festival which marked the 20th anniversary of the construction of Kilbride’s parish room.ISC CISSP exam
The four–day festival culminated yesterday, Sunday October 6, with a special service of Choral Evensong sung by the choir of Christ Church Cathedral whose members performed as part of the cathedral’s new outreach programme. This was the first time the choir had sung outside the cathedral for many years and it is planned that the choir will visit other churches to help strengthen connections between the cathedral and parishes throughout Dublin and Glendalough.
Welcoming the congregation to the packed church, the Rector of Powerscourt with Kilbride, Archdeacon Ricky Rountree, paid tribute to all who had helped with the fantastic decoration of the church for the harvest and fruit and flower festival. Presentations were made to Maura Sheehan for organising the people who decorated the church and to Georgina and Anna Masterson.
The preacher at the service was the Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, the Very Revd Dermot Dunne who said care of the environment and responsibility for the poor were Christian imperatives. He said that this autumn the hedges were laden with wild berries and the orchards were full of apples and tillage farmers had had a bumper harvest.
The Dean recalled a time when there were less preservatives and people ate what fruit and vegetables were in season. He contrasted this with today when a stroll through any fruit and vegetable department of any supermarket revealed a feast of colours and textures of produce from around the world.
He said that while it was wonderful to be able to get such a variety of fruit and vegetables, there were environmental and ethical questions to be asked. He wondered how much the producer of blueberries which cost just €1.89 per punnet would get paid and what pressures were placed on the environment in transporting them to Ireland.
Dean Dunne also said it was our responsibility to ensure that people had enough food and to share food with those who were less well off. He added that we celebrated our Christianity by showing compassion for the less well off, campaigning for fair trade with food producers and sourcing products with a low carbon footprint.
“If we call ourselves Christians we are called to an authentic way of living… In all our experiences we need to evaluate everything against goodness,SY0-301 exam
truth and beauty. If there are people still homeless on the streets and we walk idly by we are failing in our duty to Christianity. It is our responsibility to share this earth and become co–creators with God,” he concluded.
Day Of Prayer For Syria
The recent global media attention relating to the conflict in Syria has brought the country and the ongoing humanitarian situation involving refugees having left in huge numbers for neighbouring countries into sharp focus. In response, a special Day of Prayer for Syria and its peoples is to take place in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast on Wednesday 23 October, from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
People from across Belfast and beyond who wish to take part are invited to come in to the cathedral at any time during the day for whatever period of time they wish to spend. Prayers and readings for Syria led by a number of invited speakers will take place on the hour throughout the day and at 1pm and, at the close of the day at 5.30pm, a Service of Reflection will take place with Psalms–based prayers for those affected by conflict and persecution.
The Revd Canon Denise Acheson of St Anne’s Cathedral who is helping to organize the Day of Prayer says, ‘Whether you can come for only 5 minutes or 50 minutes, please come to the cathedral and add your prayers before God for peace at this critical time.’
Prayers for those with cancer
Divine Healing Ministries are holding a service in Belfast Cathedral at 8.00 pm on Monday 21st October. Brother David of DHM says, “There probably is not a family in the land that has not been affected by this illness. A couple of years ago official statistics showed that 29% of people in Northern Ireland who die do so from cancer. The service on october 21 will introduce people to the spiritual dimension of healing.”
Scouts announce promise for atheists
The Scout Association in the UK announces an alternative version of their membership promise for young people who do not believe in God.CCIE 400-101
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-24434510
Loyalist band numbers at new high
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/loyalist-band-numbers-at-new-high-1-5560866