103–mile fundraising walk; Moira forge Sudan partnership; College introduction; Spence family tragedy
103–mile fundraising walk
Four ambitious walkers from Willowfield Parish Church are setting out on a coast–to–coast trek across Ireland this week to raise funds for its hall refurbishment project.
Rector Canon David McClay, Church Army officer George Newell, children’s worker Susan McFarland and youth worker Stuart Douglas will ‘Walk for Willowfield’, 103 miles from Donegal town to Belfast between Monday, 17 September and Friday, 21 September.
David McClay is Donegal born and bred but has ministered in inner city East Belfast for the last 11 years.
Willowfield is well known as an active Church of Ireland congregation on the Woodstock Road with the motto ‘in the community, for the community, in the city, for the city’.
The hall was built in the 1950s but needs a major upgrade to provide modern, comfortable facilities for the youth, children’s and community work run by the church. Several hundred people are helped by its organisations and the practical support offered by members each week.
The project is expected to cost £1 million and will represent a major investment in the area’s future. All money raised from sponsors will go towards the refurbishment.
To make a donation or find out more, you can contact the church office on 028 9045 7654.
Moira forge Sudan partnership
A team from St John’s Parish in Moira recently returned safely from a two–week visit to their linked Diocese of Ibba in South Sudan.
Parish members Diane Graham, Billy Smyth, Simon Henry and Dennis Christie were joined by David Gough of CMS Ireland for the trip.
This area of South Sudan has seen a considerable amount of war over the past 20 years and is only now looking forward to rebuilding their community during a time of relative peace in the country.
After receiving a heart–warming welcome by Bishop Wilson Kamani and the people of Ibba on their arrival to the area, the team visited a number of Archdeaconry areas within the Diocese, meeting with the various ministry teams, Mothers Union groups and youth groups.
They faced a number of challenges during their visit, not least the level of need they witnessed on the ground, with many areas suffering from malnutrition, poor access to clean water and sanitation and inadequate hospital or health clinic facilities. Having just immerged from war, in this region, as with much of South Sudan, many have also lost out on receiving any formal educational training.
The team worked through their busy and varied programme including general health and hygiene training for mothers, teaching at the local development training centre and school, working with staff at the Ibba health clinic, installing electrical wiring and solar powered systems, liaising with local youth groups, and even carrying out some emergency mechanical work on the only jeep in the village. Working closely with the local people was a very rewarding and encouraging process, and it was the building of relationships through this programme that was the main goal of the trip.
The team felt truly blessed and protected throughout their visit, and felt very close to God both individually and as a group. The daily morning worship and evening devotions had a deep impact on the team and set an inspirational example of how we, in the developed country, need to lean more heavily on God and devote more heartfelt time to God as part of our daily rhythm.
St John’s Moira, who have been working hard raising funds for the trip over the past year, are now looking forward to implementing a joint strategy with the Ibba Diocese that will offer a lasting and sustainable support to this part of Africa.
College introduction
An introductory weekend in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute has been held for all incoming fulltime and continuing part time students. There will be eighteen new students and four NSM priests who are transferring to full time ministry. Part time students who will be beginning the MTh liturgy module visited Christ Church cathedral and CORE. Today the first residential week for intern deacons will begin.
Spence family tragedy
The Ven. Philip Patterson, Archdeacon of Down, Commissary for the Bishop of Down & Dromore extended sympathy:
‘The whole community has been stunned by the news of the tragedy that has fallen on the Spence family. All our hearts go out to them at this time, and I along with all our people am holding them in my prayers that God may give them comfort in their loss and grant His healing for Emma.’