Aviation backdrop to Remembrance Service
This month of remembrance has been different this year, with services taking place with social distancing in place, and many Remembrance Sunday Services shared online.
The rector of St Paul’s, Lisburn, the Rev Arthur Young, headed to the Ulster Aviation Society Museum for the parish’s Remembrance Sunday Service.
He was joined in the hangar by other members of clergy for the special service, which can be watched on YouTube at –
[[] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVH-BYJhk4dIs7K8BPDddlN2u6VH8Cv-p ]
The Ulster Aviation Society, which is run by volunteers to celebrate the history of aviation in Northern Ireland, is located in two ex-World War Two hangars at Maze Long Kesh, not far from Lisburn.
2945 candles recall Covid-19 deaths on the island of Ireland
2945 candles were lit on the sanctuary in Knock Basilica as we remember all who have died due to Covid-19 on the island of Ireland.
IPB Pride of Place Award for St Patrick’s Cathedral
The team at St Patrick’s were delighted to be awarded the ‘Communities Wellbeing Initiative Award’ at the IPB Pride of Place Awards ceremony last night. This was awarded in recognition of the ongoing efforts in community outreach work undertaken alongside our community partners. It includes such projects as LoveD8, World Refugee Day Welcome Dinner, Community Clean-up Days, the Iveagh Trust Community Choir, the Cabbage Patch Interagency work, and many other initiatives and supports for the local community. Huge thanks to Kelley Bermingham who has worked so hard to achieve so much with our community partners including the Gardaí, the Scouts and the Iveagh Trust, and sincere thanks to Dublin City Council for the nomination and on-going support.
Online discussion with former President Mary McAleese
The Tablet is hosting the ground breaking two-term president of Ireland, Mary McAleese for an hour long discussion with the distinguished political commentator Edward Stourton.
Book your ticket: ow.ly/Esxf50CkWCL
Jim Wallis is leaving Sojourners
Jim Wallis is leaving Sojourners, the magazine and organisation he founded nearly half a century ago, to take up a full-time post at Georgetown University.
The progressive evangelical explained in an announcement that the move would give him more time to write and teach.
“This moment also offers me space to move on to a new perch, to do the things I most love and do best: write more books and regular columns, speak and preach, teach and mentor a new generation, convene faith and political leaders, advocate for justice-oriented public policy, and continue to offer my public voice on the intersection of faith and public life at a critical time,” Wallis said.
The 72-year-old added that he wanted Sojourners “to go on long beyond the founder.”
Wallis will leave Sojourners in June 2021 ahead of joining Georgetown to help spearhead a new centre dedicated to the “intersection of faith, public life, and the common good.”
New Rector of Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy with Calary
The Revd Ross and Fiona Styles and their children.
The Revd Ross Styles, Curate in the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes, Dublin, has been appointed Rector of the Parishes of Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy with Calary in the Diocese of Glendalough. The announcement was made in both parishes this morning (Sunday November 22). He succeeds the Revd William Bennett who retired earlier this year.
The Revd Styles grew up in in the parish of Ballynure, County Wicklow, part of the Baltinglass Group of Parishes. Following school in Kilkenny College he studied horticulture, which was the focus of his working life in various private and public sectors. As a mature student he graduated from UCD with a degree in history and economics. He is married to Fiona and they have two children, Ben (10) and Ava (8).
In 2010 he began the foundation course in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and in the following year he joined the part–time master’s in theology course. He was ordained deacon in 2015 and spent two years as a deacon intern with Canon David Mungavin in the parish of St Patrick’s, Greystones.
In 2017 he was ordained priest and has served as Curate in the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes for the last three years.
Commenting on his appointment, Ross says: “It is a great honour to have been appointed to the parishes of Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy with Calary and I am humbled by this faith in me. I have really enjoyed my time as curate in the Christ Church Cathedral Group of Parishes. I have learnt so much and I will always be truly grateful for the warmth and care that Archdeacon Pierpoint and all the parishioners have shown to Fiona, Ben, Ava and me. We will be sad to say farewell, but we are thoroughly looking forward to serving and getting to know the people of Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy and Calary and becoming part of their community of faith. Please keep them and us in your prayers.”
Pioneer Evangelist appointed to Newry Centre of Mission
Laurence Bellew is to be Pioneer Evangelist in the Newry Centre of Mission.
The Centre launched in August and is a partnership between the Diocese of Down and Dromore and Church Army. Laurence will be working alongside the Lead Evangelist and Rector of the Grouped Parishes of St Patrick and St Mary, Revd Capt Scott McDonald.
For the last 10 years Laurence has worked as Kids and Youth Coordinator for Willowfield Parish in East Belfast where he also served on the worship team.
He says: “I have really loved working with the kids, young people and families of the Willowfield community alongside an amazing group of staff and volunteers and while I’m sad to be leaving, I strongly believe God has called me to take up this new role in Newry. I’m excited to be moving down to the city to work alongside Scott and about the opportunities that await there.”
Laurence will be pioneering new work as part of his role, but one project he hopes to bring with him is the ‘Life Guards’ programme. This is a healthy heart programme which he created and launched in 2015.
“We have delivered the 6 to 8 week physical and mental health programme to over 6500 kids from 44 schools across the province, as well as over 1000 from other church and community groups,” says Laurence. “Locally we also set up a Kids Gym and Youth Gym which became very popular as well. I hope to be able to launch a Healthy Heart HUB in Newry as part of my work, because I am passionate about serving the physical and mental health of the community as well as the spiritual health.
“I can’t wait to meet and get to know the people of St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s and I trust that together we will see God do incredible things in the next season.”
Revd Scott McDonald says he is “thrilled” that Laurence will be joining the team in Newry.
“Over the last few years, I have observed first–hand how Laurence’s approach to living out his faith in Christ is dynamic, creative, passionate, and compelling. Through the admirable mixture of being genuinely personable and very professional, he has demonstrated the ability to build strong and durable relationships with schools, youth groups and other community organisations. As he heads to Newry, he will leave behind a proven track record of helping young families and young people discover the life changing message that the love of God for them is real, always available, and unconditional. Watch this space!”
Pointers to Prayer
Uganda: Madi West Nile Diocese – Following the lockdown of worship places, the diocese has been facing the challenge of how to cover the clergy welfare, which is usually financed by weekly offerings. Please pray for sustainable ways of providing for clergy and their families.
Today we pray for people relying on food banks. The Trussell Trust have recently vowed to reverse a trend where reliance on food banks is increasingly normalised as poverty becomes more widespread.
Today we give thanks for scientists working on vaccines around the world. A preliminary analysis shows the first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19.
Pray for the Church Army’s centres of mission which provide practical support to people in need of food or assistance.
God in creation
Crock-strand-2.jpg
LBellew.jpg
RossStyle.jpg
ArthurYoung.jpg