Canon John Crawford, MU on the box, Installation of Archdeacon, Lent 2012 Bible Study Resource, Welcome for new education body, Advent resource from CMS, Role of former bishop’s palace, KJV Party, Professor von Prondzynski
Canon John Crawford
The death has occured of Canon John Crawford, former Canon of St Patrick’s Cathedral and member of the clergy team there. Made deacon in 1976 to serve in the Parish of Dundela, he retired in 2009.
MU on the box
A documentary due to be broadcast on the BBC News Channel this weekend, includes a contribution from one of the Mothers’ Union parenting groups. The parents particularly discussed the issues of sexualisation of children, including making children safe online and on the street, and the general pressures on teenagers.
The subject of sexual grooming was also touched upon. The opinions given were of course those of the parents rather than those of Mothers’ Union, but we hope that the general public will receive an impression of the benefits of sharing in parenting groups such as Mothers’ Union facilitate. The programme is due for broadcast :- 19th November 02.30 and 20.30; 20th November 01.30, 14.30 and 23.30.
Installation of Archdeacon
The installation of the new Archdeacon of Dromore, The Ven Roderic West, in Dromore Cathedral. The service will take place on Friday 25th November 2011 at 8.00pm.
The preacher will be Canon Terence Cadden, Precentor of the Cathedral Chapter.
Lent 2012 Bible Study Resource
A Church of Ireland Lent 2012 Bible Study Resource has been planned in conjunction with Anglican Consultative Council’s Bible in the Life of the Church project which was launched in 2009. The theme will be Economic Justice, using Bible passages suggested by the Anglican Communion Office as illustrative of the Communion’s Fourth Mark of Mission – Transforming Unjust Structures.
Produced by The Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland (BACI), the series will be presented in five parts for the first five weeks of Lent, each containing an Old Testament and a New Testament passage with introduction, study notes and questions for reflection.
Five biblical specialists active in the Church of Ireland are currently drafting the respective sections: Katie Heffelfinger, Ron Elsdon, David Hutchinson Edgar, Jason Silverman and Helene Steed. The complete materials will be available to parishes and organisers early in the New Year.
The chosen texts and themes are:
• Week 1: Deut 15; James 2:1-17 – Social justice as faith in action.
• Week 2: Amos 6; Mark 10:17-34 – Can the rich be saved?
• Week 3: Psalm 73; Luke 1:39-58 – Exalting the humble and meek.
• Week 4: Ezek 27:1-36; Luke 6:17-38 – Woe to you who are rich.
• Week 5: Isa 58; 1 Cor 11:17-34 – Finding a Fast and a Feast that the Lord would choose
Additional recommended readings: Job 29-31; Deut 24:17-22; James 5:1-6; Mark 14; Rev 18.
Those using the Studies will be encouraged to send feed-back to Stephen Lyon, coordinator of the BiLC project, who is delighted that this Lent Course will offer insights from Irish Anglicans to the project.
The Bible Study Notes will be made available by BACI early in the New Year, both in booklet and pdf form, obtainable from the website www.bibliahibernica.wordpress.com.
Welcome for new education body
The following statement was issued on Wednesday:
The Transferor Representative Council (TRC), whose membership is made up from the Presbyterian, Methodist and Church of Ireland Boards of Education, welcome today’s announcement by the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the significant progress that has been made in arriving at an agreed and inclusive framework for the establishment of a single Education and Skills Authority for Northern Ireland.
In particular the Transferors welcome the fact that their existing legal rights have been both acknowledged and protected. This, alongside the establishment for the first time of a sectoral support body for controlled schools, to mirror a similar body for maintained schools, will provide a firm and equitable basis to move forward in dealing with so many of the educational challenges that lie ahead.
Advent resource from CMS
Share the Light’, is a new church resource from Church Mission Society for Advent, Christmas and beyond.
Share the Light is specifically designed for small group leaders and clergy.
Share the Light not only offers materials for small group studies during Advent, but also worship resources and mission ideas for candle-lit carol services and all age events. This year CMS has included suggestions to help churches connect with people in mission who are Sharing the Light of Jesus many miles away through organising a special Christmas party or event with a “mission twist”.
The resources are free and can be downloaded from the CMS website at www.cms-uk.org/resources
Email: michael.burke@CMS-UK.ORG
Role of former bishop’s palace
The Heritage Council will not be moved from Kilkenny city and will not be subsumed into any other government department. That’s the commitment given by Environment Minister Phil Hogan after clams in the media that the body was in danger of losing its autonomous position.
Its headquarters is the former Church of Ireland’s Bishop’s Palace in the centre of the city which has won a number of awards for the manner in which it was conserved during the refurbishment of the building.
The Heritage Council employs 15 people directly and is a tight knit organisation with its tentacles going deep into every county in Ireland through the local authority, heritage officers.
KJV Party
The Good Book Shop hosted a coffee morning in the foyer of Church House, Belfast, as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the King James Bible
Staff and visitors enjoyed tea, coffee, scones, traybakes and muffins with all proceeds going to the King James Bible Trust.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was unable to drop in because he was preaching at another anniversary event in Westminster Abbey.
The Good Book Shop has been marking the 400th year with the KJV@4:00 project. Nearly 200 people have taken part in the reading marathon coming from all over Ireland, England and America and from different denominations, faiths and beliefs. You can still pop in to the shop at 4.00pm every weekday afternoon to hear the passages for the day being read.
The event will finish on Friday 23rd December with the Archbishop of Dublin reading the final six chapters of Revelation.
Professor von Prondzynski in‘Questioning Faith’ series in TCD Chapel
Former Dublin City University President Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski will speak in TCD Chapel on 4 December as part the Chaplaincy’s ‘Questioning Faith’ series of Sunday morning addresses. Professor von Prondzynski’s address will be in the context of the Sunday morning Choral Eucharist at 10.45am. A former Fellow of TCD, he served as President of DCU from 2000 to 2010 and is now Principal and Vice–Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. All welcome.
Former Dublin City University President Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski will speak in TCD Chapel on 4 December as part the Chaplaincy’s ‘Questioning Faith’ series of Sunday morning addresses. Professor von Prondzynski’s address will be in the context of the Sunday morning Choral Eucharist at 10.45am. A former Fellow of TCD, he served as President of DCU from 2000 to 2010 and is now Principal and Vice–Chancellor of Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. All welcome.