Send a slate to St Patrick for Christmas
The restoration of St Patrick’s Cathedral roof and related works continues apace. Scaffolding is now being erected over the Choir and East end ahead of the third and final phase of the works, while the removal of slates across the Transepts has begun.
Information on how to donate to this project may be found at the link below:
[ https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/support-us/ ]
Belfast Cathedral Advent Carol Service Update
Unfortunately in light of the new restrictions, our Advent Service which was due to take place this Sunday (29th Nov) at 6pm will now be changed to a live streamed service at 11am.
Unfortunately we will not be able to welcome members of the public to the Cathedral for this service however we encourage everyone to join us for the Facebook live stream at 11am.
All those who booked seats to the Advent Service will be contacted shortly.
MPs and retired bishops add their voices to church-opening plea
A Group of 70 cross-party MPs and peers, including the former Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Lord Chartres, have urged the Prime Minister to guarantee that churches will be open “as soon as possible”, or certainly by Christmas.
Archbishop of Canterbury to take three-month sabbatical in 2021
The Archbishop of Canterbury is to take a three-month sabbatical next year to conduct “further study on reconciliation” in Cambridge and the United States, Lambeth Palace has announced.
Charities and church leaders aghast at prospect of foreign aid cut
Almost 200 British humanitarian, development, and domestic charities have called on the Prime Minister not to cut the UK’s foreign aid budget. They were responding to strong hints that the next week spending review by the Chancellor of the Exchequer would do so.
Songs for Sunday
Songs for Sunday, is a new collaboration between Trinity Church, Glasgow, and Iain McCarty. It will suggest appropriate hymns and music for use in churches based on seasonal themes and each week’s Lectionary readings. See [ https://lifeandwork.org/news/news/post ]
Rector of St Nicholas’, Carrickfergus
The Rev Christopher St John has been appointed rector of St Nicholas’ Parish Church, Carrickfergus.
The Rev Christopher St John, curate at St Mark’s, Dundela, Diocese of Down and Dromore, has been appointed rector of St Nicholas’ Parish Church, Carrickfergus.
Born in Derry/Londonderry, Christopher, 54, moved at a young age to Newtownabbey where he was a member of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Mossley. He was confirmed at 13 and was involved in the emerging youth fellowship in the Church of the Holy Spirit. At 16, Christopher began attending a youth fellowship in St Bridgets’, Mallusk.
“The Gospel was presented in a way that connected with me and I became a committed Christian aged 17. I felt God calling me to the ministry,” he recalls.
Christopher, who has PhD in Adult Education, and a number of Masters’ degrees, worked for several years in adult education and child protection training, but seven years ago the call to ordained ministry that he first heard in his teens came back strongly.
After selection, and training at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, he served his deacon intern year in Holy Trinity, Woodburn, Connor Diocese, before ordination as curate assistant in St Mark’s, Dundela, in August 2017.
Christopher married Andrea when they were both aged 21, and they live in Holywood. They have three children, all in their 20s – Karl is a company secretary; Chloe is a radio journalist and Melissa is training to be a nurse.
The family attended St Philip and St James, Holywood Parish, where Christopher played guitar in the worship group.
In his free time, Christopher enjoys ‘grappling sports,’ and has black belts in eight different martial arts, including a 4th dan In Judo and a 6th dan in Jujitsu. He speaks Spanish and Italian, and has a passion for Italian language and culture.
Christopher said: “I am really looking forward to the opportunities that will present for advancing God’s Kingdom and to being part of what God in planning in Carrickfergus.”
There is no date yet for the Service of Institution.
Rev Canon John Mayes
The death has taken place of Rev Canon John Mayes, the hugely popular former Rector of All Saints Clooney and, previously, Rector of Kilrea and Aghadowey.
Canon Mayes, who was 76, died peacefully yesterday at his home in Londonderry’s Waterside. He is survived by his wife Alison and children Rory, Victoria and Aonghus.
He was appointed a Canon of Derry in 1992 and served for a time as Bishop’s Secretary for Inter Church Affairs and as Rural Dean of Derry,
Attendance at Canon Mayes’ funeral will be restricted because of COVID-19 regulations. There will be a private Service of Thanksgiving for his life at 12.00 noon on Thursday in St Columb’s Cathedral, with burial afterwards in Kilrea Parish Churchyard. The service will be broadcast live on St Columb’s Cathedral’s Facebook page for those who wish to give thanks for Canon Mayes’ life.
Family flowers only; donations in lieu, if desired, to St Columb’s Cathedral Restoration Fund, c/o Very Rev. Raymond Stewart, The Rectory, 30 Bishop’s Street, Londonderry, BT48 6PP or Foyle Hospice, c/o Mrs Ruth Hay, Funeral Director, 24a Church Road, Altnagelvin, Londonderry BT47 3QQ.
Farewell to Enniskillen-born WW2 RAF man
Black-masked mourners gathered at St Macartin’s Cathedral in Enniskillen yesterday for the funeral of RAF war hero Bill Eames, writes The Impartial Reporter
They heard Mr Eames, who died on Sunday aged 97, described as one of life’s characters.
Born in Enniskillen in 1923, Mr Eames joined the RAF in 1941 and was posted to the United States for secret training, as America had not yet entered the war. He became a pilot, and was involved in the securing of Pegasus Bridge on the eve of D-Day in 1944.
He received several medals of honour, as well as the British Empire Medal in 2019 for his community work in Co Fermanagh and services to the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), where he was president of the Co Fermanagh branch.
He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur, France’s highest honour, for his role in the liberation of France from the Nazis.
The service in the Co Fermanagh town was led by Very Rev Kenneth Hall, Dean of the Diocese of Clogher.
In his address, Dean Hall recalled how Mr Eames had played a huge part in the lives of many people over many years.
“What unites us all today, family and friends, is the fact that he touched our lives in some way, be it great or small, and many are the better for having known him,” he said.
“Bill was certainly one of life’s characters — we who knew him will never forget him.
“Right until the very end he maintained his interest in the RAF and flying. He was president of the Royal Air Forces Association, Fermanagh Branch and took part in the Wings Appeal collection every year.
“Bill was still involved with organisations such as the Air Crew Association, Ulster Aviation Society and Ulster Flying Club,
“Like so many, Bill quietly served his country, looked out for his comrades, and managed to survive the untold horrors of the war,” Dean Hall told mourners. We thank God for Bill’s life on earth — and may he rest in peace and rise in glory.”
Pointers for prayer
Creator God, thank you that we are all made in your image, and equally loved by you. Open our eyes to see your face in those of our sisters and brothers.
Pray for sustainable peace in South Sudan. Pray for the ongoing process of forming a Transitional National Unity Government. May this bring hope to the citizens who have suffered many years of intercommunity fighting and conflict.
Pray for Ethiopia’s Tigray region. International aid workers have described a chaotic situation with refugees on the move amid fighting between federal troops and the People’s Liberation Front.
God in creation
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