Bishop of Derry and Raphoe expresses sympathy to PSNI; Black Santa Funds Handed Out at St Ann’s; Downpatrick St Patrick’s Day Celebrations 2013; Children’s Storyteller Day at the Good Book Shop; Children’s Ministry Training; Media review – Some unionists do everything to put off Catholics – McClarty
Bishop of Derry and Raphoe expresses sympathy to PSNI
‘The whole community is shocked at the tragic death of PSNI Constable Philippa Reynolds, whose life was cut short in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“On behalf of the diocese, I want to express our heartfelt sympathy to Constable Reynold’s family and to her colleagues in the PSNI.
‘This tragic incident reminds us all of the courageous service which the PSNI performs for us. We are deeply grateful to them for all they do. We are greatly saddened that Constable Reynolds lost her life while serving the people of this city. We all join in upholding both the Reynolds family and Philppa’s colleagues in our prayers.’
Black Santa Funds Handed Out at St Ann’s
Representatives of 16 charities joined parishioners of St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, on Sunday February 10 when the funds raised during the 2012 Black Santa Sit Out were distributed. Over €30,000 was handed out to the charities – the largest number of organisations ever assisted by the Dublin appeal.
Also in the congregation was Cllr Ciaran Lynch representing the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Bishop Patrick Rooke. Children from the Kildare Place School read a lesson, The school, along with the Seafield Singers, was among many choirs who joined clergy outside the church in the nine days before Christmas.
The sermon was preached by the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, the Very Revd Victor Stacey, who drew inspiration from 2 Corinthians 9 which speaks of charity and generosity.
The Dean said that the Black Santa Appeal was wholly appropriate in many ways and added that to have collected €30,000 was a great achievement. To the parishioners he said: “You in St Ann’s have provided the opportunity to others to be generous. You have provided them with the opportunity to help so of those who really need help. You do not ask for recognition or thanks because you know you are only a channel for this giving to take place. And yet this morning we salute you and thank you for enabling this to be done for those in great need.”
The Vicar of St Ann’s, the Revd David Gillespie thanked everyone for coming to the service and welcomed in particular the charities supported by Black Santa. He thanked the Revd Martin O’Connor, curate at St Ann’s, and all who helped with collecting and counting money and in catering for those involved.
On behalf of the charities, Robin George of Protestant Aid, thanked the organisers of the sit out. “From those of us at the coalface, thank you so much. There is a lot of hard work that goes into generating €30,000 and that’s not easy to do these days but we appreciate it,” he said.
The charities who received funds were Bishops’ Appeal, Barnardos, Bridge Café Bray, Discovery, Laura Lynn Foundation, Merchants Quay Project, Pact, Protestant Aid, Salvation Army, Simon Community, Sharing Point, Samaritans, Trust, the Solas Project, Tirzah and St Vincent de Paul.
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations 2013
As St Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday, the Down & Dromore diocesan celebrations will be held on Monday 18 March 2013.
Bishop Harold Miller has invited parishioners to join him at Down Cathedral for the annual St Patrick’s Day Festival Service followed by lunch in the marquee in the Cathedral grounds.
You are also welcome to attend the Holy Communion Service at Saul and to join the pilgrimage from Saul to Down Cathedral.
• 9.15 am Holy Communion at Saul
• Preacher: Jasper Rutherford (Outreach and Development Officer Church Army/Summer Madness)
• 10.15 am Pilgrimage from Saul to Downpatrick
• 11.45 am Festival Service in Down Cathedral
• Preacher: Bishop Ken Clarke (Mission Director SAMS)
• Wreath laying ceremony at St Patrick’s Grave
• 1.00 pm Irish stew lunch in the marquee
Transport to Saul
Please park along the Mall leading to the Cathedral in Downpatrick and board one of the private buses.
Buses to the communion service depart between 8.30 and 9.00 am. The last bus for the 35 minute pilgrimage leaves at 10.00 am.
Children’s Storyteller Day at the Good Book Shop
On Saturday 30 March, the Good Book Shop will be buzzing with a Children’s Storyteller event. It’s a great opportunity for children to come and hear stories told in different styles from among the many books and resources they sell. The 2 hour event also includes face painting, a mini Easter–Egg hunt around the bookshelves, plus a very special guest! The event is open to children of all ages, and parents are invited to stay and join in too.
The Children’s Storyteller Day is part of a wide variety of events taking place this year to mark the 10th anniversary of trade as The Good Book Shop.
Children’s Ministry Training
After an overwhelmingly successful children’s training day, in Northern Ireland, in 2012; TnT Ministries are returning in March 2013 with another great training event! Northern Ireland’s 2nd 100% REAL Training Day will be on Saturday 9 March 2013. These training days have been hugely beneficial for those serious about teaching the Bible to children (aged 3–14), and have been a great success throughout the UK, South Africa and Singapore.
For the last 18 years Teaching & Training (TnT) Ministries has been resourcing and equipping people to teach the Bible to children more faithfully, more creatively and more effectively.
The event is ideal for a team of children’s leaders from your church to help equip them for the task of making the good news of Jesus known to children. For more information about TnT Ministries visit their website: www.tntministries.org.uk. To find out more or to book places at the training day click here.
100% REAL
Saturday 9 March 2013 (9.30am – 4.00pm)
St Elizabeth’s Church Halls, Church Green, Dundonald, Belfast.
Cost: £15 per person
If you have any questions please contact:
Johnny Beare
Youth Worker (St Elizabeth’s Church, Dundonald)
Tel: +44 (0)28 9048 0120
johnnybeare@gmail.com
www.bizzylizzy.org
MEDIA REVIEW
Some unionists do everything to put off Catholics – McClarty
News Letter – A UNIONIST MLA has said that some unionists “do everything in their power” to drive Roman Catholics away from supporting the Union.
Former UUP member David McClarty, now an independent MLA for East Londonderry, said that he was not at all surprised at the BBC Spotlight poll which found that a majority of Catholics support the Union.
But Mr McClarty told the News Letter: “There are unionists who do everything in their power – whether intentionally or not – to drive those individuals [Catholic unionists] away and not encourage them to support the Union.
“Unionism is not a religion; unionism is not about Protestants. Nationalism and republicanism is not about Catholics.
“The sooner we get our politics thinking along those lines – that unionism is a philosophy, that republicanism is a philosophy – then I think the sooner we normalise politics here.”
Mr McClarty said that although he is a member of the Unionist Forum, he shared UUP MLA John McCallister’s concerns about the body set up by Peter Robinson and Mike Nesbitt.
And he said that a month after the first forum meeting there was still no date for a second meeting.
He said: “I can’t see how it will really resolve any issues and I think the only way to resolve the issues is for a people’s forum – rather than a loyalist forum – where people get round a table and thrash out the issues that are affecting us presently.”
Mr McClarty said that he would give the forum a chance but added: “There will come a time when if things are not beginning to improve then I’m going to have to say: Look, this just isn’t working.”
Mr McClarty said that the BBC poll showed that “there is no threat to the Union” and added: “A certain political party are claiming that it is because of their policies that the Union is now stronger, which is nonsense, because they’re doing absolutely nothing to encourage and bring on board unionists with a small ‘u’, who would perhaps not normally have been regarded as unionists.
“There’s a huge swathe of unionism that is not being represented by the political parties there at the present time.”
UKIP MLA David McNarry, who is also a member of the Unionist Forum, said that he was relaxed about the absence of a date for its next meeting.
He said that sub-groups of the forum were putting together reports and added: “I’m quite comfortable – there is no disarray between the parties.”
Meanwhile, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson has told an Orange Order meeting in Omagh that unionism should unite.
“There is little point debating why past divisions have come about, but instead we should focus on the future and about what our vision for Northern Ireland is.”
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/some-unionists-do-everything-to-put-off-catholics-mcclarty-1-4773119