Bishops’ Appeal Allocations; General Synod 2013; Clogher MU Branch’s 50th; Clogher diocesan youth weekend
Bishops’ Appeal Allocations
In the first quarter of 2013 Bishops’ Appeal, which is the Church of Ireland’s principal vehicle for supporting the developing world, has allocated funding to a number of poverty alleviation projects in Asia and Africa.
£10,332 was allocated for a Feed the Mind’s literacy programme in Pakistan, £10,000 for Friend’s of Hope rural health projects in India, and €10,500 for Tearfund to assist wih anti–trafficking in India
In Africa, €7,500 was provided for schools gardens in Sierra Leone, £10,000 for a Habitat for Humanity water project in Ethiopia, €13,000 for a VSO HIV/AIDS project in Mozambique, €9,670 for Us (USPG) HIV/AIDS training in Swaziland, £20,000 for a CMSI water pump and training in Kenya, €10,500 for fruit production in Rwanda; €10,500 to fund Christian Aid self–help groups in Ethiopia, and €15,000 for a cerebral palsy project in Uganda run through Motivation.
Money continues to be donated for the Derry and Raphoe diocesan malaria nets appeal for Nigeria and the Tuam diocese’s Mabweni project for toilets and dormitories at a Masaai girl’s secondary school.
General Synod 2013
The General Synod of the Church of Ireland will take place from Thursday 9th May to Saturday 11th May at the Armagh City Hotel, Friary Road, Armagh. This will be the first General Synod presided over by The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh.
The Synod is scheduled to commence at 10.00am on Thursday 9th and to finish at 4.30pm on Saturday 11th. (Synod business is to begin at 10.00am on Friday and Saturday and to close at 6.30pm on Thursday and Friday.) The Synod Eucharist will be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Thursday 9th at 7.00pm – the preacher will be the Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry & Raphoe.
Church House states – Further details on the business of the General Synod will be made available closer to the time. The General Synod’s website will provide useful information and materials on a rolling basis: http://synod.ireland.anglican.org/2013
Garrison Group MU celebrate 50 years
Garrison, Slavin, Belleek and Kiltyclogher Mothers Union, Clogher Diocese, held their Closing Service and celebration of 50 years of the formation of the branch, on 17th April in Kiltyclogher Parish Church.
Mrs Elizabeth Ovens (Branch Leader) welcomed founder, past and present members to the service and extended a very warm welcome to the Diocesan President, Dr Margaret Knox. The service was led by Dr Knox who spoke on the theme for this year, ‘The Seeds we Sow’. Mrs Elizabeth Ovens led the prayers and Mrs Doreen Earls read the lesson. The organist was Mrs Joy Graham.
A delicious meal was provided and served by the ladies of the branch in Garrison Church Hall after the service. The Anniversary cake was made by Joy Graham. Certificates were presented by Dr Knox to those present members who have been in the branch for 25 years and longer; Mrs Lily Graham 45 years, Mrs Sally Carson 43 years, Mrs Sadie Acheson 37 years, Mrs Elizabeth Ovens 27 years and Mrs. Gladys Graham 43 years.
Dr Knox wished the branch many more years of success. A very enjoyable evening was had by all.
Clogher Annual Diocesan Youth Weekend
The Rev. Simon Genoe and his wife Zara were the guest speakers this year at Clogher Youth Council’s weekend.
The theme was “Taking off the Mask”. In a world where image is so often considered important; the labels we wear, the brands we use, the celebrities we follow and the number of friends we have on Facebook.
Simon and Zara encouraged the young people to drop the mask of expectation and take time just to be themselves. As Zara noted, she looked back on her school days and hardly recognised herself, such was her slavery to the expectations of others and pressures to act in a particular manner.
It was clear very early on in the weekend that there was a keen interest to engage with the theme and all got the chance for a boys/girls only time to speak freely about the pressures they feel to be what they are not by the world around them. This first session on the Friday evening set the tone to follow. Things culminated on the Sunday afternoon youth service with many visitors joining the young people in the Share Centre Arena.
Bishop John McDowell was present to encourage the young people followed by praise with the weekend band S.A.S., prayer and a challenge to go into the coming week and beyond committed to owning up to being followers of Jesus and not putting back on the mask of conformity and acceptance into the world.
This was the encouragement that leaders and young people took with them as they travelled back to their parishes. They also took with them memories of all the other activities that for yet another year proved very popular. Banana boating was again highly popular as was the climbing wall and swimming not to mention the combat zone, canoeing and sailing.
For yet another year the weekend brought a balance between fun and fellowship with a very relevant challenge for all 97 young people and their 27 leaders. Particularly encouraging was to see that half of those present came from the newly established Wells
Project youth ministries stretching from Monaghan to Dromore. With more new Wells being able to join the weekend next year it promises to be even bigger again.