360 Miscellany – News and views Aug 8

Pentecostal Bishop to preach at C of I ordination

Down & Dromore diocese is looking forward to welcoming Bishop Mike Royal (photo above) as the preacher at the ordination of deacons (OLM) in early September.

Mike is the Co-Chief Executive of the Cinnamon Network and previously led the Cinnamon Network Church Engagement Team. He is the former National Director and pioneer of Transforming Lives for Good (TLG). Mike lives in Birmingham, where he supports churches in community engagement. He is a Pentecostal Bishop and has been in ordained ministry for over 25 years.

Please pray for the two deacons whom Bishop David McClay will ordain for local ministry:

James (Jim) Fleming for Killicomaine Community Church
Colin Birnie for St Clement’s, Templemore Avenue

The service will take place in Willowfield Church on Sunday 6 September at 7.00 pm.

Small churches thinking big!

Canon Rajkumar Sathyaraj has been Minister in Charge of Kilwarlin (Upper & Lower) for almost two years now. We hope you’re encouraged by this report of two small congregations who are thinking big. Part 1 was in yesterday’s 360 Miscellany

Part 2 St James’, Lower Kilwarlin

A very small congregation worship in St James’ Church, a beautiful little building in Lower Kilwarlin. However there has been some growth in the last two years. The Sunday school has restarted, and the monthly Family Service has become popular with a few younger families.

St James’ church has the advantage of having a hall, where we have run an Alpha course as well as cooking demonstrations, fund raising events for CMS and social events like BBQs.

As the potential for growth was limited a few members met and came up with a plan to refurbish the old hall and open it up as a community centre. Once the refurbishment is complete the hall will be available for charity events, birthday parties, fitness classes and so on.

It will also become a base for outreach and evangelism as we reach out in particular to the new development of 30 houses close to the church. Once they are occupied, we plan to visit the new residents with welcome packs including an invitation to church, a New Testament and Christian books for children.

As in so many other situations, the COVID pandemic has forced us to pause, however we will press ahead as soon as we can. We pray that in the days to come St James’ will be a lively, welcoming church with services and activities for all age groups.

Video: Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice

The Church of Ireland Theological Institute has produced a video highlighting its new Certificate in Christian Theology and Practice. For more information, including a brochure and application form, please click here.
[[] https://www.theologicalinstitute.ie/exploring-ministry/study/certificate-in-christian-theology-and-practice ]

To the ends of the earth online

The countdown is on to the 84th Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention which will take place online from August 21-30 with theme of ‘To the ends of the earth.’

Chairman Tom Clarke said: “Due to government restrictions for Covid-19, almost all of our events will be broadcast online this year. This format for 2020’s Convention is our most ambitious to date as we prepare to go virtual, but the same gospel objective remains.

“A range of international speakers will be recording talks, so we are not losing out on hearing what God is doing in other countries and continents. Special music items will be recorded and included in our broadcasts as well. We hope this new format will introduce new people to the Convention as they can watch from the comfort of their own sofa!”

Mr Clarke said Convention organisers were delighted that coronavirus restrictions have eased a little, allowing people to come together physically for prayer throughout the week.

There will be a prayer time on Friday August 21 at 7.30pm in Hamilton Road Presbyterian and every weekday morning at 10am. “Due to government restrictions we need to manage numbers so please contact us if you plan to attend any of our prayer times,” Mr Clarke said.

With the new format for 2020, Bangor Worldwide has organised four live Zoom meetings for young people to connect, hear from and pray for missionaries around the world, visiting a different global destination each time.

These will run on Friday 21st, Sunday 23rd, Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th, all at 9pm. For more information, or for the Zoom ID details, please contact jason@worldwidemission.org

For more information on all the events taking place during the convention, visit the website [ www.worldwide2020.org ] or follow on social media ( [ @BangorWorldwide ] on Twitter, Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention on Facebook).

Walkers from the Archdiocese of Armagh who are walking during these days to Knock to help support Mary’s Meals.

Takes the Castle will look a lot different this year

Connor Takes the Castle will look a lot different this year, and in this video Diocesan Youth Officer Christina Baillie explains why.

The weekend – which is normally a residential in Castlewellan on the first weekend in September – has moved forward to August 14-16 and will take place online only due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is no need for young people to sign up, and all activities and talks are completely free.

Simon Henry from the Church of Ireland Youth Department will be giving a talk on the person of Daniel each day at 2pm, so be sure and tune in for that.

Parish groups are being encouraged to enter the very popular Connor’s Got Talent competition, with a number of awards available for the best and most popular video entries.

Various activities based on the ‘normal’ Connor Takes the Castle activities – creative, sport and faith – will be uploaded on Friday for young people to take part in over the weekend.

Pointers to prayer

Today we pray for India. As the outbreak spreads, the country’s public hospitals are struggling to cope, leaving the poorest citizens at the most risk. We pray for an end to health inequalities and for your provision so more funding can be given to hospitals.

God in creation

Cows from Bushmills, County Antrim enjoying a rest after a hard day of grazing in the rain