Storytelling fun in the Good Book Shop; Connor Appointment; Ugandan opportunity for pre–school teacher; Dungarvan Flower Festival; NI International Development Awards 2013; NI ‘most difficult year’ in decade
Storytelling fun in the Good Book Shop
The Good Book Shop in Donegall Street, Belfast, hosted its first ever Children’s Storyteller Day on Easter Saturday.
Around 20 children took part in various fun–filled activities throughout the day.
Helping at the event were youth leaders from Derry and Raphoe Diocese who did face painting and read stories from a selection of children’s books. Others involved in the day included Julie Currie who is Down and Dromore Diocesan Children’s Officer, and the puppet ministry team from St Brigid’s Parish, Mallusk who put on a special show for the occasion.
The climax of the day came when the Rev Adrian McCartney (leader of Boring Wells, a Fresh Expression of Church) arrived with his dog Shep! Adrian, who has recently published a children’s book entitled ‘Sheppy: A stray dog finds a home,’ brought the star of the book into the shop to meet the children, and read a short extract.
The Children’s Storyteller Day was one of various events to take place in The Good Book Shop this year to mark its 10th Anniversary
Connor Appointment
The Rev Brian Lacey, Curate Assistant of the Parish of Ballymena and Ballyclug, has been appointed as Incumbent of the United Parish of Saint Peter and Saint James, Belfast.
The Institution has been arranged for June 17.
Brian lived in Dundonald and later Ballymena. In 1997 he went to Queen’s University, Belfast, to study Archaeology and during this time he felt God calling him towards Ordained Ministry.
Brian attended the Church of the Resurrection at Queen’s and later joined the congregation at St Thomas’s on the Lisburn Road, where he served for two years as People’s Church Warden.
He worked in a number of jobs, and was Sexton in St Anne’s Cathedral before training for Ordination at the Theological College in Dublin. During that time he served as Student Reader in St Thomas’s, as well as in placement parishes with varying styles of worship: Ballymacarett in East Belfast, the Student Chaplaincy at Queen’s, the grouped parishes of Finaghy and Upper Malone, and the Independent Evangelical Church in Gran Canaria.
In 2010 he was ordained as Curate Assistant in the parish of Kilconriola (Ballymena) and Ballyclug. There are three churches within the parish, and during the last year Brian has been the Curate–in–Charge of St Columba’s.
Brian said: “Ballymena is numerically quite a large parish, in both a rural and urban setting, with a commitment to meaningful Anglican worship, a focus on people of all ages and all walks of life, and an emphasis on pastoral care through visiting and teaching.
“As such it is an excellent preparatory parish for a future rector, and I will come to St Peter & St James having been effectively trained and mentored by the Rev Chancellor Stuart Lloyd.”
Brian said he is most interested in challenging people to understand, wrestle with, and deepen their Christian faith.
“I very much look forward to joining St Peter and St James, and getting to know all members of the congregation over a cup of tea in the comfort of their own homes,” Brian said.
Ugandan opportunity for pre–school teacher
CMS Ireland wishes to recruit a Pre–School Teacher who would be involved in home schooling Gideon Wilson (son of Dr Rory & Denise Wilson) for a 9 – 10 month period from this summer (2013) onwards.
This would be an ideal opportunity for a gap year student; newly trained teacher struggling to find employment, or a recently retired teacher, although the position is not limited to these types of individuals
Dungarvan Flower Festival
St Mary’s is holding Flower Festival to run in conjunction with the festival of food weekend 12th – 14th April.
The theme of the arrangements are food & drink. All are most welcome to this beautiful experience. All donations to GROW & the church repair fund.
NI International Development Awards 2013
Chair of the All-Party Group on International Development Conall McDevitt MLA and Vice-Chair, Jim Wells MLA have launched this year’s International Development Awards which will take place on 23 May at Parliament Buildings.
The awards, in their third year, were launched with the help of last years ‘Primary School Project’ winners; Holy Cross Girls’ School.
This year, the awards panel is inviting nominations from sectors covering nine categories, including; ‘Best NGO Campaign’ and ‘Lifetime achievement’ award.
The theme of this year’s awards is ‘volunteerism’ and urges the Northern Ireland population to stick their hands up, and get involved in projects that make a positive difference to those living overseas.
Held in association with the British Council and VSO, the awards seek to recognise and celebrate the different ways which people have contributed to international development across Northern Ireland and to acknowledge the efforts of those leading the way in the field here.
The Chair of the All Party Group on International Development, Conall McDevitt MLA believes the awards send a strong message to the Northern Ireland Executive.
“The awards not only highlight the contribution which so many people from Northern Ireland make to the developing world they also bring attention to the need for a strategy for international development to be implemented in Northern Ireland .”
The Vice-Chair of the All Party Group, Jim Wells MLA encouraged people to nominate an individual or a group who is making a positive difference to an overseas community.
“The All Party Group on International Development is searching for nominations for individuals or groups who have made a sustainable difference in their field. We will consider a wide variety of action, paid or voluntary. There are nine categories this year which will celebrate the achievement of great number of ambassadors for International Development in Northern Ireland.
Mrs McNally, Principal of Holy Cross Girls’ School who was amongst last year’s winners said:
“We were honoured to be chosen as winners of the ‘Best Primary School Project’ award last year, which recognised our positive contribution to promoting the value of knowledge exchange in improving the education system in Uganda.
All of our teachers who attended the event felt humbled to be surrounded by so many individuals who have made a positive contribution to international development in Northern Ireland.
We continue to link with St Theresa’s school in Uganda. Two of our teachers have just returned from a week’s teaching at St Theresa’s and we are looking forward to hosting two of their teachers at the end of May.”
The closing date for applications to the International Development Awards 2013 is 3 May. Apply online at www.apgidawards.com/application
There are nine categories this year:
Best Primary School Project
Best Secondary School Project
Outstanding Young Person
Outstanding Academic Study in Development
Best Community Initiative in Development
Best Voluntary Contribution/ Outstanding volunteer
Best NGO Campaign
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Project
Lifetime Achievement Award
* The All Party Group was established by Carmel Hanna in 2001, and was set-up as a forum for political representatives from all parties to discuss issues relating to International Development.
NI ‘most difficult year’ in decade
BBC – Northern Ireland “has had its most difficult year for a decade” a new report suggests.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22081606