Down church plant has an encouraging start; Bishop of Derry Commends Positive Leadership in City; Diocesan Evangelists wanted; First Organ Recital on Restored St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Organ
Down church plant has an encouraging start
The first of Down and Dromore diocese’s new church plants met for worship in Moneyreagh on Sunday 20 October. In a very encouraging start, about 40 people came along to ‘Moneyreagh Community Church” which will meet each week at 11.00 am in the village’s Community Centre.
Revd Mervyn Jamison leads the church and was delighted with the first gathering: “I was really encouraged with the turnout on Sunday. Granted, about 10 of the 40 were well–wishers, however we had 5 people there who came because of the leaflet drop the previous week. The remainder were from the village and surrounding area who have heart for mission.”
The combination of good coffee, cupcakes and ‘church’ took place in an informal setting around tables and the service was a relaxed mix of singing, prayer, liturgy and preaching. Mervyn took Acts 2: 42–47, ‘The Fellowship of the Believers’, as his first text. He will be unpacking The Apostles Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer over the next four weeks and will also be exploring these during the mid–week gathering on Wednesdays 7.30–9.00 pm, beginning on 13 November.
The service finished at 11.45 am, however most people sat on, chatting at the tables enjoying fellowship and the children all headed to the wonderful play park.
The Sunday service is just one aspect of the life of the church whose aim is to become part of the fabric of the community. John Beattie, co–leader and a resident of Moneyreagh, is a member of the Community Association and in November the church hopes to be active in the local school, taking assemblies and RE classes. Mervyn and John have also attended the Community Prayer meeting, where they were warmly received and have also made contact with the local ministers.
Bishop of Derry Commends Positive Leadership in City
The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe has commended the team responsible for delivering a highly successful UK City of Culture programme in 2013. He made his comments during his Presidential Address at the Diocesan Synod in Clooney Hall in Londonderry on Wednesday 23 October.
He said, “A wide-ranging and imaginative selection of shows, performances, projects, conferences and other events, which the Culture Company has coordinated has brought about a further enhancement of the city’s image and profile”. He paid particular tribute to Ms Shona McCarthy saying “ … (she) and her team deserve much credit for drawing up such a successful programme.”
Speaking of the City of Culture Year Bishop Good noted how churches had played their part. This had included “the distribution of a copy of Luke’s Gospel to all 37,000 households in the city; the St Columba Heritage Trail; The Columba Canticles; the Big Weave project and the Bright Brand New Day event, to mention but some of the church initiatives”. To show that churches are committed to all ages in November 200 A-Level RE students from across the city will be taking part in an exploration of Faith and Culture, an event planned and delivered by the churches.
Bishop Good commended the contribution that the city of Londonderry has made to the wider good. He told Synod members how he had invited the House of Bishops here during the UK City of Culture year, for one of their residential conferences. At that event a few weeks ago he said “They were greatly impressed with how the city has given a lead in finding a way forward in contentious issues”.
The Bishop commended “those in leadership positions in the Loyal Orders, residents groups, the police, the business community, and the churches for the patient and careful way in which they have shown courage in finding a way forward in dealing with parades (and) … the approach adopted in this city might serve as an encouragement and an inspiration to other places”. He told members of the Synod how he had invited the House of Bishops here during the City of Culture year, for one of their residential conferences. They came a few weeks ago and were greatly impressed with what they saw and learnt here. One of the issues we focused on was how this city has given a lead in finding a way forward in contentious issues.”
Rev Pat Storey, Rector of St Augustine’s, will be consecrated as the first woman Bishop in the Church of Ireland on 30th November. In congratulating her Bishop Good took the opportunity to present her with her Episcopal Ring, as a gift from the diocese of Derry and Raphoe. He also paid warm tribute to her service in the diocese and in the city of Londonderry.
Diocesan Evangelists wanted
With a new closing date of 22 November, the Diocese of Down and Dromore is seeking to recruit people with a heart to reach the lost, a commitment to work hard and a willingness to learn how to witness more effectively.
A spoesperon said – We are looking for workers for a new harvest.
We are partnering with ‘Through Faith Missions’ to provide a high quality course in Evangelism. It is a distance learning, practical course taught by evangelists and focussing on equipping participants with skills in evangelism.
Who is it for? – The course is open to adults of any age within the diocese who have a heart for reaching others with the gospel but would best suit those who are currently involved as volunteers or workers in some form of outreach ministry.
What is required? – A commitment to study of approximately 8 hours per week as well as around 3 weekends per year. The duration of the course is normally 2 years but it can be extended over 3 years.
When does it start? – In January 2014 with closing dates for applications of Friday 22 November and interviews scheduled for Thursday, 28 November, 12 noon – 6.00 pm and Friday 29 November.
What is the content of the course? – The course has five theory modules of learning covering Old and New Testament, Ministry in the Local Church, Evangelism and a fifth module that will be arranged after participants are selected.
These modules will be assessed through assignments and participants will also be expected to undertake further reading as part of these modules.
The course also includes an exciting ‘Life of the Evangelist’ core unit, which is a skills based with 12 learning outcomes on practical ways in which faith can be shared with others. This unit will not only teach and encourage you in a variety of skills but also help you to discover those areas of evangelism in which you are most suited for your future ministry.
First Organ Recital on Restored St Fin Barre’s Cathedral Organ
On Wednesday past the Inaugural Recital in celebration of the restoration of the restored Cathedral Organ at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork took place.
The special guest organist was Colm Carey, Master of Music of the Chapels Royal, Tower of London, Belfast City Organist, co-founder and Artistic Director of the London Organ Summer Course and Professor of Organ at London’s Trinity College of Music.
Colm is son of the late Very Revd Maurice Carey, former Dean of Cork. His musical life began as a boy chorister in the Cathedral under former Cathedral organists Andrew Padmore and Colin Nicholls. He spent many happy hours playing the Cathedral organ and this inspired him to pursue serious study of the instrument at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève. Winning top performing awards with distinction at both institutions, his numerous appearances, both live and recorded, in the UK and Ireland formed strong foundations for his subsequent solo performances in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA.
Speaking before practicing in the Cathedral Colm said: “It is very exciting for me to be back in Cork, and to be able to spend time in the most beautiful cathedral in the country, playing what must surely be one of the best organs in the country, and I am very much looking forward to performing tonight in celebration of the restoration of this magnificent instrument. Trevor Crowe has done a fabulous job in restoring the organ in St Fin Barre’s, and it is an instrument that everyone throughout the city can be proud of, and one that will enhance and enrich the liturgy in the cathedral for many years to come.”