Dana and Live Issue in Concert at St Macartin’s Cathedral; Archbishop of Dublin on Mothering Sunday; Easter Dawn Communion in ‘God’s Acre’; And the chart–topping hymn is?; Media review
Dana and Live Issue in Concert at St Macartin’s Cathedral
‘Winner of Eurovision Song Contest’ DANA with LIVE ISSUE, Ireland’s top Country Gospel Band, are coming to St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen on Saturday 20th April 2013 at 7.00pm.
Dana shot to fame in 1970 with her Eurovision Song Contest winner, “All Kinds of Everything”. This song was Ireland’s first victory in the competition. In 2009 she became a judge on ‘The All Ireland Talent Show’ and in the summer of 2010 she participated in the ‘Best of British Variety’ tour. Towards the end of 2011 Dana ran for the office of Irish President for a second time. The reception she received wherever she travelled during her campaign served to reinforce how highly she is respected and loved throughout the whole island of Ireland and beyond.
Since Live Issue re-formed back in 2006, the band’s unique style of music and ministry has reached a whole new generation across Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The past few years have seen Live Issue release a new DVD entitled ‘Life and Music’, two very successful tours of the United States, including their debut appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and the opportunity to record with many of the top artists in Country and Gospel music. They literally made history in Nashville by becoming the first group from Ireland, and only the second group from the British Isles, to perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. To appear there would be ‘a dream come true’ for any artist in the Country music business, and yet this great honour has fallen to the members of an unassuming Country Gospel band based just outside Lurgan, Co. Armagh. Many people feel the members of Live Issue have become ambassadors, not only for Country Gospel Music, but also for their Christian faith and everything that is good about Northern Ireland.
Tickets are available from the Cathedral Office (open 9-12 noon) on 028 66 322917 or Ivan Kee on 07768000167. Donation: £12.50.
This event is organised by St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall Repair Fund Committee
Archbishop of Dublin on Mothering Sunday
Dr Michael Jackson commented, “Each year Mothering Sunday reminds us of the ways in which human and divine nurturing come together to equip the children of God to be active disciples of love and growth in the world around us.
“Mothering Sunday embraces everything from small children bringing tea and toast and other tokens of love to mothers, to the public reading in church of the scripture: ‘But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all’, (Galatians 4:26).
“While remembering all mothers in our thoughts and prayers on this Mothering Sunday, we think particularly of those women caught in situations of conflict and social upheaval. Let us pray for God’s blessing on them as they strive to nurture and protect their families and loved ones in difficult circumstances.
Easter Dawn Communion in ‘God’s Acre’
Each Easter morning parishioners of St. Finbarr’s, Clogher diocese, and friends gather before dawn to walk around their graveyard and then celebrate Holy Communion.
The graveyard was given to the parish in the late 1800’s by Canon Moffett, the then Rector, on the understanding that it would be called God’s Acre.
The poet Longfellow refers to this phrase as an ancient Saxon one:
‘I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls The burial-ground God’s-Acre! It is just;’
Jesus admonished the disciples for looking for the living Lord among the buried dead but the Moravian Church saw a value in following the steps of the women who came to dress the Lords tomb on the early morning and learned that he was truly risen. Using Form 2 Communion we adopt some aspects of their celebration to relive the excitement of their discovery.
The service beings on the 31st March this year at 6.30am under the trees in God’s Acre near the roundabout on the Dundalk Road.
And the chart–topping hymn is?
As the final notes sounded from the Dromore Cathedral clock tower at noon on Saturday February 23, the organist, Gordon Myers and the Choir launched into their hymn singing marathon to raise funds for the Partnership Project between the Cathedral and the Diocese of Maridi in Southern Sudan.
The congregation had been voting for their favourite hymns and worship songs by donating money (£1.00 = 1 vote) and the hymns and songs were then sung in reverse order.
Gordon had excellent support with organ playing duties from Ross Morrow, Carl McCambley, Gertie Jameson and Trevor Crowe, who was also responsible for the design and rebuild of the excellent Cathedral organ.
Gordon’s grandson George was also helping but, some of the buttons on the organ were just too tempting …
The Choir were supported by members of the congregation, former choir members and visitors from other choirs.
Information on the Partnership Project and the Diocese of Maridi was on display and excellent refreshments including (at Gordon’s request) Haribo sweets were provided by the Choir and their families.
At around 6.00 pm (and after 100 hymns and songs) the No.1 hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” was sung and, God was indeed faithful as the total amount raised was almost £2,400 – two and a half times the target which Gordon had set the Choir.
The Cathedral Project Group are now talking with their brothers and sisters in Maridi to see how best to use the money raised.
Gordon and the Cathedral Choir would like to thank all those who contributed to the event in any way. It was a great success.
MEDIA REVIEW
Filipino church buys well known Belfast church
A Christian Science Church building behind Queen’s University, Belfast has been sold to the worldwide Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) which has its headquarters in the Philippines.
Sharing their schedules with a saint
Saint Patrick’s Day has other historic nuances, happy and sad. Inniskilling Dragoon and ill-fated Antarctic Explorer Captain Lawrence Oates, mentioned on this page last week, was born on March 17, in 1880, and died, after uttering his final heroic words: ‘I am going outside and I may be some time’, on the eve of St Patrick’s Day in 1912.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sharing-their-schedules-with-a-saint-1-4870953
Legal protection for gay teachers
Gay or lesbian teachers in fear of losing their job because of their sexuality are to be protected under proposed new legislation.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/new-law-to-protect-gay-teachers-29116430.html
Should grants to fee paying schools be cut?
THE Teachers’ Union of Ireland welcomes the publication by the Department of Education and Skills of the long-awaited report analysing the fee income of fee paying second-level schools.http://www.irishexaminer.com/analysis/big-debate-should-grants-to-fee-paying-schools-be-cut-224813.html
Magdalenes respond to criticism
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2013/0308/1224330914510.html
Why the Irish church must learn from mistakes of Benedict’s …
Irish Independent – The second lesson from Ireland is communication. There are no rocks to hide under; the ‘filth’ in the church as the Pope described it, will seep out. Out it, name it and shame it. Be open, be transparent and be accountable
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/garry-osullivan-why-the-irish-church-must-learn-from-mistakes-of-benedicts-reign-29116949.html