Bishop of Connor’s Lenten series 2013; Connor team prepares for visit to South Sudan; Clergy retirements; Parish vacancy; Church will not reject people, says Catholic bishop
Bishop of Connor’s Lenten series 2013
The Ministry of Healing will form the subject of the Bishop of Connor’s Lenten talks for 2013. The Rt Rev Alan Abernethy plans to deliver one evening seminar in each of Connor’s three archdeaconries and follow this up with a Service of Prayer for Healing with the laying–on of hands, also in each of the archdeaconries.
The proposed programme is:
Lenten talks • Tuesday February 12 in Bushmills Parish Centre. • Wednesday February 20 in Jordanstown Parish Centre. • Monday February 25 in Christ Church, Lisburn (Church).
Lenten services • Tuesday March 5 in St John the Baptist, Bushmills. • Monday March 11 in St Patrick, Jordanstown. • Tuesday March 19 in Christ Church, Lisburn.
Connor team prepares for visit to South Sudan
A team from Connor Diocese is making final preparations for a visit to Connor’s partner diocese of Yei in South Sudan. The team of eight will attend the Yei Diocesan Synod which takes place from January 17 until January 19. Team members will also be involved in Bible Teaching and a youth programme. The trip has been facilitated by Church Mission Society Ireland. The team will be led by David Gough of CMSI and members are the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, making his first trip to Yei; Archdeacon Stephen Forde, Chair of Connor Council for Mission; Frank Dobbs, a GP from Agherton; Judith Cairns, Love for Life at Lisburn Cathedral; Canon Sam Wright, Lisburn Cathedral; The Rev Andrew Sweeney, Ballymoney; and Diocesan Communications Officer Karen Bushby.
The team departs from Dublin to Entebbe in the early hours of Monday January 14, flying via Amsterdam. They arrive late on the Monday night, and have an early flight to Yei via local carrier Eagle Air on Tuesday morning. They will stay at the Yei Diocesan Guesthouse, and on the first day will visit some of the institutions run by the diocese which include the Martha Clinic with its designated children’s ward, and the Yei Vocational Training College. They will be welcomed by the Bishop of Yei, the Rt Rev Hilary Luate Adeba, who will be looking forward to renewing friendships formed both in Yei during previous Connor visits, and here in Connor where he and his wife Mama Joyce have been welcome guests on a number of occasions.
Clergy members of the team will lead Bible teaching throughout the three day Yei Diocesan Synod, and Judith Cairns will be delivering talks to youth leaders looking at issues common to young people wherever they live, including identity, building relationships and peer pressure. Frank Dobbs, who was in Yei in March 2012, visiting health centres and helping staff set up a continuing education scheme which would allow them to learn together without needing a lot of money or support from outside, will revisit this project.
On Sunday January 20, team members will preach at Yei Cathedral and three nearby parishes, and the following day the team will travel to Mongo village to visit the primary school, built in 2009/10 with donations from parishes and individuals across Connor Diocese.
The group returns to Entebbe on Tuesday January 22, where they spend a day before an overnight flight back to Dublin via Amsterdam.
Clergy retirements
Three clergy retirements from Connor :
The Rev Terence Kerr, rector of the grouped parishes of St Aidan and St Mary Magdalene, Belfast retired on December 31.
The Rev Frances Bach, rector of the grouped parishes of Armoy, Loughguile and Drumtullagh, also retired on December 31.
And the Rev Dr Ron Elsdon, rector of St Bartholomew’s, Stranmillis, Belfast will be retiring on January 31.
Vacancy for a rector, Parish of Knocknamuckley
The Parish of Knocknamuckley, situated between Portadown and Lurgan, seeks to appoint a rector. This vibrant church family requires an energetic leader who seeks to expound God’s word, to make Christ relevant to all age groups and who should:
•Preach and teach the Bible and live out its values •Encourage our congregation to become the people that God has called them to be
•Maintain and develop our missionary outreach at home and overseas
•Develop inspiring forms of worship both traditional and modern for all ages
•Support, encourage and develop our youth ministry
Replies by: Wednesday 23 January 2013
For more information please contact: Tracey Taggart Church of Ireland House 61–67 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2QH
Email: ttaggart@diocoff-belfast.org www.downanddromore.org
Church will not reject people, says bishop
Examiner – The Catholic Church will not reject people because they use contraception, don’t attend Mass every Sunday, have sex outside marriage or live lives that run counter to the ideals of the Church, according to the Bishop of Cork and Ross.
Bishop John Buckley has said the central tenets of Catholicism were not established as rules of memberships but as “ideals”.
“These are all ideals that we must try to live up to. If you do not meet all these ideals, it does not mean that you cannot take your place at the table the Lord has prepared for you. The Church is a refuge for the weak, not a home for the perfect.
“I welcome all to the Church and I would encourage everyone to welcome all. I will hear no condemnation or rejection of people. Jesus loves his people no less in their absence,” he said.
In an end-of-year interview, he said he welcomed with open arms those who only turn up to Mass once a year, namely Christmas Day.
“Irish people have a religious instinct. I believe that firmly. People retain that instinct even though they are not regular Massgoers. They may not attend regularly, but they still retain their affiliations. You will see them at funerals, at communions, even though they may have grown casual or careless,” he says.
Bishop Buckley said that people needed to realise, especially in a time of recession, that religion is about hope and strength and not about condemnation.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/church-will-not-reject-people-says-bishop-218553.html