Wife of Presbyterian minister dies in road crash; Electoral College re-convenes; New weekly summer series in St Paul’s, Glenageary; New Chaplain for Ministry to Deaf People; Church group behind cycle aid; Gay marriage part of wider attack on society – Ian Paisley Jn.
Wife of Presbyterian minister dies in road crash
Mrs Margaret Gray the wife of Rev Dr Gordon Gray , the well known Presbyterian Ecumenist, died following a road accident yesterday.
The News Letter reports today – The Presbyterian moderator last night spoke of his sadness after the wife of a former minister was killed in a road crash in north Antrim.
Margaret Gray, 78, died following the accident which took place on the Moyarget Road at Mosside, just outside Ballymoney at around 2pm yesterday.
Two other people injured in the collision, which involved two cars, were taken to the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. Last night they were reported to have been in a stable condition
Mrs Gray was the wife of the Rev Dr Gordon Gray who had been the minister of First Lisburn Presbyterian Church for almost 30 years between 1973 and 2001.
The couple had retired to the north Antrim town of Ballycastle and had become involved in the local community where last night they were described as a popular and well liked couple.
Presbyterian moderator Dr Roy Patton described Mrs Gray’s death as “very sad”.
“Both personally and on behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, I would convey my sympathy to Dr Gray and his family at this very sad time,” he said.
North Antrim DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said the retired couple had become “an integral part of the local community in Ballycastle”, and that the area was yesterday shocked by Mrs Gray’s death.
“Yet another family has been plunged into grief. To the Rev Dr Gordon Gray I would extend my sincere sympathy on the tragic death of his much loved wife,” he said.
“Dr and Mrs Gray had retired to live in Ballycastle a number of years ago and had become an integral part of the local community.
“To Dr Gray and his family I would assure them of our thoughts and prayerful support at this time of great loss.
“May they be comforted as they have been a comfort to so many when others were facing times of great need and distress.”
Ballycastle Independent councillor Padraig McShane said he felt “truly saddened” by Mrs Gray’s death whom he knew.
“Mrs Gray, alongside her husband the Reverend Gordon Gray, played an integral part in community and church life in Ballycastle; she was an amazing person,” he said.
“She was always so kind and considerate and was a very popular figure in the town. I always welcomed seeing her and her greatest strength was her inability to find fault with anyone.
“To Gordon and Mrs Gray’s family and friends, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy”.
Mrs Gray is survived by her husband and grown up family.
Electoral College re-convenes
The Electoral College re-convenes today for the Diocese of Meth and Kildare.
Apparently it was determined that the situation required a re-convening, so only those who took part in the first meeting of the college which included supplementals, are eligible to attend today’s meeting. Consequently, the bishops presumably remain the same – Dublin, Cork and Connor.
The art of lunchtime
New weekly summer series in St Paul’s, Glenageary
The newly restored church will be the venue for a programme of live performance events every Thursday during June and July. They will run from 1.15-1.45 pm and tea/coffee will be available from 1 pm. Admission is free but there will be an opportunity to contribute to the work of the local St Vincent de Paul.
Enjoy a free lunchtime event in the newly restored church whilst helping the work of St Vincent de Paul
Here is the line-up:
June – 6 Glenageary Killiney National School Choir 13 Music Students from Rathdown School 20 Guitarists Ronan Guilfoyle and Tommy Halftery 27 Glasthule Opera with favourite arias. July 4 Goode School of Dance performs Sylvia 11 Reading by Katy Hayes (DLR writer in residence) 18 Talk by author and commentator Bruce Arnold 25 Surprise Finale with young local musicians!
Further information: Derek Verso 086 8564762 versod@indigo.ie
New Chaplain for Ministry to Deaf People
The Rev Jennifer McWhirter has been appointed Chaplain for the Church of Ireland Ministry to Deaf People. Jennifer is a former rector of Templepatrick and Donegore Parishes in Connor Diocese and is now Co–ordinator of Continuing Ministerial Education (CME) at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. She is also a former hospital chaplain.
She succeeds the Rev Canon Will Murphy as Chaplain for the Ministry to Deaf People. Will is retiring at the end of this month after more than 33 years in the role.
Looking forward to her new chaplaincy, Jennifer said: “I think I bring a strong pastoral background and love of people. Many of the people I will be visiting are elderly and I have much experience both from hospital and parish of ministry to the elderly and vulnerable.”
Jennifer has just completed an NVQ Level 3 in British Sign Language.
She added: “Through my completion of a certificate in deaf awareness a couple of years ago I have a knowledge of deaf culture and I have some very good friends who are deaf and will support me as I start this ministry.”
Church group behind cycle aid
Carrickfergus Times – St Nicholas Church of Ireland Church ‘Busy Bees’ Parents and Toddlers Group is raising money to purchase bicycles in Tabora.
Each bike will cost approximately £100 and they will be given to doctors, nurses, midwives and to poorer families living in village areas, where transport is scarce (read full story in this week’s carrick times).
Gay marriage part of wider attack on society – Ian Paisley Jn.
News Letter – Moves to legalise gay marriage are part of a wider “attack on society” with far-reaching consequences, a DUP MP has warned.
In a grim assessment of the state of UK society, Ian Paisley Jr said that same-sex marriage will likely lead to the age of consent being reduced and be followed by attempts to legalise euthanasia.
The North Antrim MP told a Christian TV channel that there were “challenges” for the “morality of the nation” and urged Christians to vote for candidates who support their beliefs.
Mr Paisley – whose comments about gay marriage on the BBC’s Question Time last week divided opinion – spoke out strongly about that issue but said that he believed other radical changes opposed by many Christians would arise.
In a deeply personal interview with Christian satellite channel Revelation TV, Mr Paisley also revealed that he has not been attending the church founded by his father since Dr Paisley’s retirement but now attends an Elim church with his wife.
During the interview, Mr Paisley was asked about the “challenges” which he sees facing the country.
He said: “First of all, I think there are challenges on the morality of the nation.
“I think the huge and significant change that the Government is pursuing with regards to marriage is significantly damaging and I think that is a challenge which goes right to the heart of society…I think that we’re going to see other challenges; I think we are going to see a very decisive attempt over the years ahead to reduce the age of consent for sexual relations – again, that’s an attack on society.
“I think that will flow from this change to the marriage law. I think there’s going to be another attempt to try and introduce euthanasia in the United Kingdom; another attack on society.
“You know, society isn’t God. God has his ways for people to live their life and if you stray outside those boundaries, ultimately you impact on how society is formed.
“I think that is a very, very significant challenge.”
More at:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/gay-marriage-part-of-wider-attack-on-society-ian-paisley-1-5134187
And
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/05/27/ian-paisley-jr-same-sex-marriage-is-a-significantly-damaging-change-to-society/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Pinknews+%28Pink+News%29
In a comment piece for PinkNews today, Gary Spedding reflects on homophobia in Northern Ireland, and the attitude of the Democratic Unionist Party towards gay rights.
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/05/27/comment-homophobia-in-the-democratic-unionist-party/