New Ministry Hopes to Engage Young Adults in Conversations About Faith; Lilibulero – ‘The War of the Two Kings’; Rathlin welcomes visitors from St Columba’s Knock; Institution Of New Rector Of Garrison
New Ministry Hopes to Engage Young Adults in Conversations About Faith
A new ministry aimed at engaging the freshly–dubbed ‘new influencers’ gets underway in Dublin and Glendalough in September.
Headed up by former 3Rock Youth director, Greg Fromholz, the Diocesan Ministry to Young People is aimed at 18 to 35 year olds. These people may be university students, young professionals or unemployed. They are considered by some to be the generation that is the most spiritually vacant, the most self–centred and the most likely to emigrate. However, the age group also represents the most creative, energetic, giving and hopeful of those wishing to see a new Ireland, spiritually and culturally.
The new ministry aims to reintroduce the conversation between the Church and young people. “I believe the overwhelming majority of young adults are not apathetic about faith, they’re indifferent, they have a spirituality, but are unsure how the church plays a part in it,” Greg explains.
Greg hopes that, working alongside parishes, the ministry can go to where young adults gather and have conversations about faith. “From these conversations we’d like to walk alongside people and help develop their faith. Taking that hope found and reaching out to those around them.” he says.
One of the new ministry’s first ventures takes place at this year’s Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, County Laois (August 30 to September 1). Greg, Pamela Rooney of the Methodist Church and Scott Evans of Holy Trinity Rathmines, are creating a Sacred Space in the Body&Soul area of the festival. Body&Soul comprises a myriad of creative enterprises including tarot readers and shaman and they have been given a space for a tent. This is the first time there will be such a space on offer at Electric Picnic which is celebrating its 10th year of music, art, fine food and the unexpected.
Apart from tea and coffee and a place to sit, the Sacred Space tent will house a ‘Wall of Lament’ – a large board on which participants will be encouraged to write prayers, questions and doubts. The intention is to welcome honest doubt, struggles and questions about faith whether about the existence of God, the history of Christianity, Christians or Christendom, or the struggles that each of us wrestle with.
There will also be an ‘Altar to an Unknown God’ on which participants can leave items that represent things they came to the Picnic with but wish they could go home without. The aim of the alter is to give people the opportunity to reflect on where their lives are heading and what they want the future to hold for themselves. It will also provide an opportunity to ask for divine assistance in moving past whatever is holding them back.
Another aspect of the Sacred Space will be the Shiva Confessional which is a new take on the old idea of the confessional based more on the Jewish practice of sitting Shiva. There will be two private seats, one occupied by the festival goer, the other by a member of the team. The participant can then talk, sit, vent, pray, cry or whatever is most relevant knowing that there is someone in their presence silently loving them, praying for them and not judging them.
“This is all about encouraging conversation about faith, honest doubt and honest faith,” Greg explains. “This is a unique way for the ministry to start but we wanted to start the way we desire to go on to go on – by going to gatherings and having conversations about a hope found in faith,” he adds.
Lilibulero – ‘The War of the Two Kings’
The Journal of Music – A Musical Trip from the Battle of the Boyne to the Siege of Limerick
Join us for what promises to be a fascinating tour (through music) of one of Ireland’s most historical periods – The War of the Two Kings, or the Williamite War in Ireland. This concert will take the audience from the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 to the culmination of the war at the Siege of Limerick in 1691, taking in the many events that occurred between.
Featuring music relating to (and from) the time of the ‘War of the Two Kings’ this concert is presented by ‘Lilibulero’, an exciting new Irish music fusion duo from County Roscommon.
Lilibulero take their inspiration from the collections of ‘ancient’ Irish music and the background of classical music for which they were used, as well as from the mainstream Irish music tradition. The duo are Annie McNally (Fiddle) and Sean Hanily (Accordion and Keyboards), and it occasionally features guest musicians.
For more information visit http://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/Heritage-Week.aspx
– See more at: http://journalofmusic.com/listing/30-07-13/lilibulero-war-two-kings#sthash.ZqXLBHo3.dpuf
Rathlin welcomes visitors from St Columba’s Knock
Linda Wilson (Parishioner of St Columba’s Knock) – Sunday August 4 will be remembered as a day of great fellowship, food and fun for a group of parishioners from St Columba’s Knock, Diocese of Down and Dromore, who visited Rathlin Island to join in worship with the congregation of St Thomas’ Parish Church.
While the group of 40 parishioners gathered to await the ferry, the sun shone, the sea was calm and the signs were good for a pleasant boat ride to the island. As the ferry approached Rathlin the spectacular scenery of the island was clear for everyone to see.
As the church bell rang a much larger congregation than usual made its way into St Thomas’s.
There was a wonderful sense of fellowship and friendship as we worshipped together in the service of Holy Communion. The Celebrant and Preacher was the rector of St. Columba’s, Knock, the Rev John Auchmuty. During his sermon he reminded us that different congregations within the Church of Ireland have in common a faith which sustains them in everything they do and in coming together offer each other great support.
He said: “It was a great joy and delight to have been given the opportunity by both the priest–in–charge and the Bishop of Connor to conduct this Sunday morning service in St Thomas’s Church on the day of our Parish Outing to Rathlin Island. This beautifully restored church was clearly identifiably to us all from the ferry as we made our way over to the island from Ballycastle. I am most grateful to the churchwarden, Julie–Ann McMullan, for her very generous welcome and for all her assistance. It is a great privilege to begin our Parish Outing by sharing in this service with you before we explore the island after lunch.”
After the service, as the congregation mingled, there was the opportunity to learn more about the church and the island from the residents. Members of St Thomas’s were delighted to have a full church and expressed their great appreciation for our presence at the service.
In keeping with tradition, after church we headed off for Sunday lunch which was safely stored in well stocked picnic baskets! A very pleasant spot beside the beach was located for the group and the picnic benches were quickly taken. The next stage of our visit which was to enjoy each others’ company in the beauty and calm of this rugged Island was well underway.
All too quickly it was 5.30pm and time to board the ferry for Ballycastle. On the journey it was clear that the day had been a great success for all involved. As a group we had been able to develop friendships within our own parish whilst offering support to the islanders.
A joyful and successful day for all concerned.
The Rev Patrick Barton, priest–in–charge of St Thomas’s, Rathlin, said: “I am delighted that the Rector and people of St Columba’s Knock have come up with this innovative idea to come and share in worship with the parishioners of St Thomas, Rathlin Island.
“I believe our small congregation was encouraged by this gesture of solidarity and that both congregations will be enriched by the experience. May the people of St Columba’s be the first of many to come and experience this peaceful holy place.”
The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, said: “I am delighted to commend the rector and parishioners of St Columba’s Knock for this venture. It would be wonderful to see other parishes avail of this opportunity and it would be a great encouragement to the people of Rathlin.”
For more information on how you might join with the congregation in Rathlin for a service in St Thomas’s Church, please contact the Rev Patrick Barton Tel. 028 2076 8155 email patribart@aol.com.
Institution Of New Rector Of Garrison
A large congregation filled Belleek Parish Church in County Fermanagh on the evening of Friday 9 August 2013, to mark an important milestone in the life of the Garrison, Slavin, Belleek and Kiltyclogher group of parishes.
The group of parishes, which are the most westerly group in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Clogher, welcomed their new rector, the Revd Ngozi Njoku, who was instituted by the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd John McDowell.
Prior to taking up the position in the Garrison Group, Revd Ngozi Njoku served as curate for four years in Goldington Parish, Bedford, in the Diocese of St Alban’s. The preacher at the service of institution was the rector of Goldington, the Revd Richard Howlett.
Prior to her curacy at Goldington, Revd Ngozi spent three years studying at Trinity College Bristol. A native of Nigeria, Revd Ngozi has also lived in the Gambia, the Netherlands and Belgium. She was ordained deacon in 2009 and priest in 2010. Looking forward to settling into life in County Fermanagh as she takes up her first incumbency, she said “God has no grandchildren, but generations and I want to see the next generation in Garrison group of Parishes take the Gospel of Jesus to the next generation. I also want to support the work of the Mothers’ Union, the youth, families and the farmers.”
Assisting the bishop at the service were the Venerable Cecil Pringle, Archdeacon, and the Revd Canon Glenn West, Rural Dean of Kesh. The Bishop’s Chaplain was the Revd Sampson Ajuka. The Organist was Mrs Sadie Moore and the singing was led by combined choir from the group of parishes together with Ms Evelien Ebbers, flautist.