NETS work for the Derry and Raphoe 2012/13 Bishops Appeal 40th Anniversary; Just wars lecture; Student Readers Commissioned at CITI; St Ann’s Exhibition Launch; Gifts that heal lives; RSCM publishes new carols for Christmas; Media review
NETS work for the Derry and Raphoe 2012/13 – Bishops Appeal 40th Anniversary
Derry and Raphoe diocese is joining with Bishops’ Appeal to fight against malaria. Bishop Ken Good launched the Nets Work Appeal at the diocesan Synod on Wednesday 24th October, in Jacksons Hotel Ballybofey.
During this year-long initiative members of the diocese aim to buy 20,000 mosquito nets for Nigeria. This could save as many as 40,000 lives, as people are given this extra protection against Malaria.
The World Health Organisation estimates that there were 216 million cases of malaria in 2010 resulting in 655,000 deaths. This is equivalent to roughly 2000 deaths every day. Mosquito nets can help keep mosquitoes away from people and significantly reduce infection rates and transmission of malaria.
A net costs around £5 / €6 but for a family who spend more than 90% of their income on food this is an expense they cannot afford. Sadly, in many rural communities having a fever is just a way of life so this project also educates communities on how that fever is caused and how it can be prevented.
Nets Work will run throughout most of 2013. The diocesan is encouraging parishes, families, schools, businesses, clubs, organizations and individuals in Derry and Raphoe to be creative about finding ways of sending as many nets to Nigeria as possible. Bishop Ken Good said “ I am very excited that Derry and Raphoe has identified a life-saving project in Nigeria – providing thousands of mosquito nets for people who can’t afford them”.
See a bishop and two archdeacons consulting Facebook for Dummies… Martin Montgomery has posted an interesting promotional video featuring the Bishop, Louise Crawford, Diane Matchett, Earl Storey, Claire Henderson, Robert S Miller, Glenn McBride and Scott Harte.
Christian Aid’s partner (Anglican Diocesan Development Services will distribute the mosquito nets. It is hoped that by the end of their programme that Christian Aid’s partners will have distributed 250,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets in Nigeria over four years.
Bishops’ Appeal is a Church of Ireland body that channels funds through development agencies and partner churches who are already in place in areas of need. Nets Work is a way for the diocese to mark the 40th anniversary of Bishops’ Appeal.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152200124500057
Just wars lecture
‘‘Are our wars just?’ is the title of the next lunchtime lecture to be given at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Stranmillis Road, Belfast.
The lecture is given by Harry Bunting, formerly Lecturer and Course Director in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Ulster.
Subtitled ‘Human Conflict: the Augustinian perspective’, the lecture is set against the background of recent wars around the globe, some involving western powers and whose justification has been widely called into question.
Harry Bunting has published widely in the fields of ethics, political philosophy and philosophy of religion. Since 2007 he has been chairman of the Philosophy of Religion section of the Tyndale Fellowship. He is also a member of the Philosophy Committee of the Royal Irish Academy. Since his retirement in 2010 he has studied and lectured widely on aspects of the relationship between theism and morality.
Everyone is welcome at this lecture, which commences at 1.10pm on Tuesday November 13. It will include a time for questions. Light refreshments will also be available.
Student Readers Commissioned at CITI
A Service of Commissioning of Student Readers at the Church of Ireland Theological College on Wednesday October 24. The sermon was preached by Archbishop Michael Jackson on the text – St Mark 10.45: For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
The Archbishop said, “We really do need to remember that priesthood is not the preserve of the ordained. And we need to do so particularly at the heart of this Theological Institute. If you or I attends an Ordination of Priests it is very clear that the ordained priesthood serves the people’s priesthood. This argument presupposes the genuine existence of such a priesthood of the people, otherwise the ordained priesthood has no role. And so, as we explore this theme in the middle of tonight’s joyful commissioning of those who will be ministers of the love of God in ways new to them, it is always good to have an idea of what we are talking about when we use words like creation and covenant and why they matter. They matter here because the model of priesthood with which the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews is working is one which first and foremost defines the public activity of a people, a race, a nation. It is how it does its public work every bit as much as how it does its work in the sanctuary. Creation, therefore, has to do less with productivity or with novelty than with life itself – its nurture, its healing, its relationships, its energy and its fresh directions and, as much as anything, its hope. Covenant has to do with the way people are bound to one another and to God in this hope and also with the responsibilities which these relationships of creativity bring. And, in this way, creation and covenant are part of who God is making us become every day as we live lives of dedicated service in everyday ways.”
He told the student readers, “In many ways you may think that you are only at the beginning of your formal training. The time will pass very quickly because there are so many things you must do and there are deadlines which need to be met and the next deadline creeps us. Please never forget the combination of creation and service as God’s continuing gift to you and your continuing response to God. It is this on which our Commissioning this evening has its focus and from which it derives its strength and its joy.
“Hebrews 5.5: So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you; as he says also in another place, You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
St Ann’s Exhibition Launch
A new permanent exhibition entitled ‘St Ann’s – the church in the heart of the city’ will be launched tonight, Friday October 26 at 6.00 pm in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street.
Gifts that heal lives
Christian Aid Ireland invite you to take the hassle out of Christmas shopping. Your Present Aid gift will put a smile on a loved one’s face and also help heal lives in some of the world’s poorest communities.
http://www.presentaid.ie/?utm_source=Ireland&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews&utm_content=October12&approachCode=A015499
RSCM publishes new carols for Christmas
New Christmas works from two of the UK’s most popular church music composers, Malcolm Archer and Margaret Rizza, feature in the Royal School of Church Music’s (RSCM) 2012 line up of published carols, which are available as separate choral leaflets. Carols from other composers in this year’s Christmas catalogue include Peter Aston, Patrick Gowers, Thomas Hewitt Jones, Grayston Ives, Peter Nardone and Richard Shephard.
Malcolm Archer: The Stable Carol
Margaret Rizza: Sweet dreams form a shade
Peter Aston: O my dear heart
Patrick Gowers: Chester Lullaby
Thomas Hewitt Jones: The babe in glory crowned
Grayston Ives: O remember Adam’s fall
Peter Nardone: The Lord at first did Adam make
Richard Shephard: Advent Carol
Malcolm Archer has set his own words in The Stable Carol which is scored for four-part choir, (with simple soprano division) and organ and is reflective in mood. This is the latest work from Malcolm Archer to be published by the RSCM; amongst his other Christmas fare is his carol sequence Nowell! Nowell! for upper voices.
Margaret Rizza’s new carol is a setting of words by William Blake. Sweet dreams form a shade is a cradle song from Songs of Innocence and contains a simple melody written for upper voices culminating in simple division in the final verse. The RSCM has already published music by Margaret Rizza, including the Mass of Saint Benedict (available in a version setting the text of the new translation of the Roman Missal), and a series of communion anthems in a collection called Blessed Bread.
Other carols in the RSCM’s Christmas collection range from O my dear heart by Peter Aston (also available in a version for two-part upper voices in the RSCM’s Carols for Life) to Chester Lullaby which is scored for an unaccompanied eight-part choir. Thomas Hewitt Jones’ lively The Babe in glory crowned was an instant hit with many church choirs when it was released last year.
Tim Ruffer, the RSCM’s Head of Publishing, says there’s plenty of choice. “The most effective carols are those which are simple, and there’s plenty here for choirs of all kinds to consider. These will work well in any Christmas carol service or concert.”
All carols published by the RSCM are available from RSCM Music Direct and may be ordered by telephone, email or online. Prices are from £2.10, and RSCM affiliated churches and members are entitled to generous discounts.
RSCM Music Direct
Tel: +44 (0)845 021 7726
Email: musicdirect@rscm.com
Online: www.rscm.com/shop
MEDIA REVIEW
Ghostbusting Dublin archdeacon
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/property/2012/1025/1224325656678.html
Teachers react to heavy cuts target
http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/latest-news/teachers-on-alert-as-up-to-80-allowances-targeted-for-cuts-3271990.html
Survey of Irish school-goers
One in ten go without breakfast
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/10-of-students-go-to-school-unfed-211877.html