The Gospel According to Christy Moore; RE–NEW mission in Muckamore; Vacancy in the Parish of Taney; Protection of minority faith schools is vital; Spring Fashion Show; Appointment to USPG Board; Coverage at odds with an enlightening event; Cardinal urges prayer for healing and renewal in church; Foreign loans keep Irish branch of Scientology afloat
The Gospel According to Christy Moore
Slugger O’Toole – ‘I wish more people had been here to hear that.’ So whispered a parishioner from St Oliver’s Plunkett’s in Lenadoon, who was sitting behind me last night at Fitzroy Presbyterian’s performance of ‘The Gospel According to Christy Moore,’ in St Oliver’s Plunkett’s Church. Rev Steve Stockman of Fitzroy had just asked the Catholics in the audience for forgiveness, because of what he identified as his forebears’ oppression of their forebears. Indeed, over the course of the evening, Stockman explained that he saw the Fitzroy musicians’ performance of Christy Moore – in a Catholic Church – as a type of repentance and identification with the oppressed….On his blog, Stockman elaborates on the thinking behind the event, describing how what started out as a ‘gimmick’ to entice university students into church had become for him a much more spiritually engaging experience:
http://sluggerotoole.com/2012/03/16/the-gospel-according-to-christy-moore/
RE–NEW mission in Muckamore, Killead and Gartree
The parishes of Muckamore, Killead and Gartree (Connor diocese) will be sharing the gospel during a week of craic and fun as the launch their RE–NEW mission.
The Rev William Orr, the rector of the joint parishes, previews the events of this week of mission which runs from March 18–23.
“Is it possible to bring together two elements rarely spoken of in the same sentence: The Gospel & Good Norn Irish Craic?
“As the Rector of the joint parishes of Muckamore, Killead & Gartree, on the outskirts of Antrim I believe it is. Therefore, from Monday 18th – Sunday 25th March 2012, the parish is running a week of events called “RE–NEW”, which is designed to give an opportunity to share the Good News of the Christian Gospel, in a context where people will come along to have a good nights craic and fun, and in doing so have an opportunity to respond to the saving love of Jesus.
“For Example, on The Wednesday night in St John’s Hall in Crumlin, we are having a Square Dance: Thursday Evening a Couples’ Night in the Dunadry Hotel: On Friday evening ‘Flute Band Church’ which is a special concert headlined by Mourne Young Defenders Melody Flute Band from Kilkeel, with other local bands supporting them: and on the Saturday Evening what we are calling ‘Saturday Night Live’ with again more food, music and dancing. “On top of that, the week–long series of events also seeks to simply bless the community in which they are placed. For instance, in Ballycraigy School on the Monday morning all the ladies in the community are invited to stay in the school after they drop their kids off to be pampered with a free head massage or nail manicure, or simply to relax with a free cup of coffee. “On Tuesday morning come along to receive free advice from the local benefit agency volunteers who will be there to give advice on these issues. “At each event the Rev David McClay who is rector of Willowfield in Belfast and Adrian Plass, writer and author from England, will be our inspirational speakers. “David is also bringing a team of people with him to help do primary and secondary school assemblies, and a team of people who will be available at every event to pray for people for any physical, spiritual or emotional concerns or difficulties. “On top of all that there will be smaller gatherings in people’s homes for coffee and afternoon tea, where folk can have an opportunity to ask questions about the Christian faith in a more homely environment. “The whole event concludes with an all–age family celebration in Ballycraigy school on Sunday 25th March @ 11am. You can find out much more about the events in question by visiting our website: www.re-new-mkg.org.uk.”
Vacancy in the Parish of Taney
The suburban south Dublin parish of Taney is now vacant. Parish Website: www.taneyparish.ie . To apply for this position and obtain a Parish Profile, please write to: The Archbishop of Dublin’s Personal Assistant, The See House, 17 Temple Road, Milltown, Dublin 6. Email: archbishop@dublin.anglican.org enclosing an up to date CV. The Board of Nomination will not meet before 16th April 2012.
Protection of minority faith schools is vital
Irish Times – Funny, how we often think we Irish are exceptional. For example, recently there has been a concerted attempt to paint denominational education as some kind of embarrassing hangover which has no place in a modern democracy.
Yet the Netherlands, so often described as a role model to follow in other ways, enshrines “freedom of education” in its constitution. People have the right to found schools based on religious, ideological or educational beliefs. Two-thirds of Dutch primary school age children attend denominational schools, mostly Catholic and Protestant, though there are also Jewish, Islamic, Hindu and humanist schools. All these schools are funded by the state…
… Few would agree there are too many Protestant schools. Although the Church of Ireland is the second biggest patron body, it is tiny in comparison to the Roman Catholic Church. However, the Church of Ireland is being affected by several factors – not quite a perfect storm, but very worrying for the long-term viability of their schools…
… Being able to maintain a distinctive ethos is important for a minority community. The Church of Ireland is very proud of its broad-based Christian education, and like the majority of Roman Catholic schools, is welcoming and inclusive of children of other faith perspectives and none.
However, there is a danger that Church of Ireland schools will be seen as mere collateral damage in a battle to wrest control of schools from the Catholic Church. How ironic that would be – to destroy a minority church’s involvement in education in the name of increasing diversity.
But even more worrying is that Bishop Richard Clarke has recently asked whether an “intentional dismantling of denominational education for minorities by attrition and strangulation” was going on.
For example, Church of Ireland schools will be disproportionately affected by the push to “rationalise” the large numbers of small schools.
Some 65 per cent of the 174 Church of Ireland schools in the Republic will lose a mainstream class teacher due to recent cutbacks. Given that so many are already two-teacher schools, it means many parents will no longer see the schools as viable.
Amalgamation is not an option, because there won’t be another C of I school nearby.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0317/1224313474227.html
Clontibret Parish (Clogher) Spring Fashion Show
Clontribret Church of Ireland Parish in County Monaghan have recently upgraded the old school to a useful hall making it a valuable resource for the whole community. The parish are currently engaged in various fund–raising efforts to finance the work carried out on the hall. A Spring Fashion Show is planned for Thursday 29th March at 8.00pm in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan. Stores involved are “Wilson Bro’s, Menswear”, “Project W.”, “Impulse Ladies Wear” and “Monchichi Children’s Wear”. Admission is €10 and tickets are available from parishioners or at the door on the night.
Appointment to USPG Board
C of I Gazette – Revd Lynne Gibson, curate–assistant of St Mark’s Dundela in East Belfast, has recently been appointed to the boards of USPG Ireland and USPG Northern Ireland. Commenting on her appointment, Lynne said, “St Mark’s is a busy parish at the heart of the community, but mission – and our commission – takes us beyond parish boundaries to reach out to those in need across the world in the name of, and with the love of, Christ. I am delighted to be able to serve in this new role in the work of USPG.” She continued: “I have always been attracted to USPG’s uniquely Anglican ethos and identity and the practical way in which it engages with local communities through local Anglican churches throughout the world” . Linda Chambers, National Director of USPG in Ireland, welcomed Ms Gibson to the boards adding: “I look forward to working with Lynne as USPG continues to promote mission in the parishes of the Church of Ireland.”
Coverage at odds with an enlightening event
Belfast Telegraph – Letter to – You have recently given some highly critical coverage to the conference on human sexuality in the context of Christian belief organised by the bishops of the Church of Ireland for general synod members. As a synod member and a participant, …
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/coverage-at-odds-with-an-enlightening-event-16132906.html
Cardinal urges prayer for healing and renewal in church
Irish Times – Cardinal Seán Brady asked that people “pray for healing and for renewal in the church in Ireland” in the period between St Patrick’s Day and the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin next June. “We are asking all Catholics to use this opportunity to renew their faith in God’s mercy and love by going to Confession, especially during Holy Week,” he said. The cardinal was speaking at Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh on St Patrick’s Day, which he concelebrated with new papal nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Charles Brown
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0319/1224313528545.html
Foreign loans keep Irish branch of Scientology afloat
Irish Examiner – Revenues have continued to decline at the Irish branch of the Church of Scientology as it remains deep in the red, figures show. Membership of the worldwide church — established in 1954 — includes movie stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Interest-free loans from abroad are propping up the Irish branch, which is €686,723 in the red, according to its latest accounts.