New Issue of Search; CMS Ireland Annual Project; Services on Mothering Sunday; Clogher Youth Council Annual Weekend; Lenten talks; Media review
New Issue of Search
The spring issue of the Church of Ireland journal, Search, has been published with a variety of topical matters under discussion and an interesting selection of books.
As the Church of Ireland still awaits the election of its first female bishop and the Church of England still wrestles with the issues of women bishops, an article by the former Archbishop of Dublin, Dr John Neill, on ‘Women and Leadership in the Church of Ireland’ is timely. The current preoccupation with human sexuality receives further attention, from the Dean of Limerick, the Very Revd Sandra Pragnell, while the Revd Jean Mayland, one of the first women priest in the Church of England, considers life after the Anglican Covenant, which has been another sources of much agonizing. These problems, and others, which confront the Anglican Communion, provide a context for the Revd Rob Clements, an intern deacon working in Rathfarnham, to reflect on the role of emotions.
Concern for the clergy is evident directly evident in two contributions. The Director of CITI, Dr Maurice Elliott, writes about ‘Self care for clergy; theology and practice’, while the Dean of Waterford, the Very Revd Maria Jannson reflects on a code of conduct for clergy.
The final article by the Dean of Derry, Dr William Morton, charts the development of the ministry St Columb’s cathedral – a particularly topical contribution as the cathedral is central to Derry’s role as UK City of Culture this year.
CMS Ireland Annual Project Pit-Stop
Clogher Diocese once again proved itself to be ‘top of the pile’ as CMS Ireland staff took to the road at the start of February on an ‘Annual Project Pit Stop’ tour.
The CMS Ireland Annual Project is a specially produced resource for Sunday Schools and youth groups. It provides original, creative material to help children and young people explore the biblical message of mission and discover something about life and faith in another part of the world.
This year’s project, ‘All Things New’ focuses on Education in South Sudan and includes activities relating to four stories in the life of King David. St Macartin’s in Enniskillen was one of eight venues for a series of Pit Stops throughout Ireland that offered a chance for people to drop-in, meet the Annual Project team, enjoy a cuppa and have a look at the new resource. During a busy 90 minutes, representatives from at least 12 Clogher parishes joined Rachel Brittain and Roger Cooke from CMS Ireland, collecting their Annual Project.
Services on Mothering Sunday
Yesterday morning RTE televised a Eucharist for Mothering Sunday with the people of the parish Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone. The rector Dr Peter Thompson was the celebrant and preacher.
In the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, Senator Ivana Bacik gave her personal perspective on Ireland’s social and economic crisis in the context of Choral Eucharist. In Derry the Honorable
The Irish Society marked its 400th anniversary with a Service of Thanksgiving in St Columb’s cathedral where the preacher was be the former Dean of Derry, the Very Revd Cecil Orr.
The Bishop of Cashel & Ossory was in the Isle of Man to preach in the Cathedral of St German, Peel, at the installation of canons.
‘Unmasked’ – Clogher Youth Council Annual Weekend
Rev Simon Mrs Zara Genoe from Lisburn Cathedral are the guest speakers at the annual youth weekend beginning at 6:30pm on Friday 12th until 4.00pm on Sunday 14th April 2013 at the Share Centre, Lisnaskea.
The weekend programme will be a lively mix of activities, talks, seminars, praise, prayer and worship. The centre offers a unique venue for this type of weekend, which allows for small parish group accommodation in chalets along with the main farmhouse dormitory block. Facilities on offer are the main arena where the keynote addresses will take place along with breakout areas, coffee lounges and seminar rooms where small group activities and meetings can be held. The outdoor activities will all be led by Share Centre instructors and will include the indoor climbing wall, combat lazer zone, banana boating, sailing and canoeing. The centres indoor swimming pool will also be available to relax in after a busy day spent being challenged and encouraged mentally.
Lenten talks
On Tuesday, tomorrow, evening in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, Viv Rowett, Secretary of the Society for Old Testament Studies will speak at the Lenten series on the psalms while on Wednesday the Rector of Howth, the Revd Kevin Brew, will be among the speakers at the ‘My Life, My Faith’ Lent meeting in St Anne’s church, Portmarnock. The ‘Meeting God in Books’ Lenten talk in Clones will be given by the Bishop of Clogher who will consider C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia.
MEDIA REVIEW
Poots publishes NI abortion advice
The health minister Edwin Poots has circulated a 30 page draft document to executive colleagues on long awaited abortion guidelines.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21712388
£14m benefits given to alcoholics every year
Thousands of people are drawing disability benefits across Northern Ireland every week because of their addiction to alcohol.
Around £265,000 is handed over every week to claimants whose main condition is classified as alcohol abuse.
That is the equivalent of £14m a year – funded by the public purse.
Under the current legislation, alcoholics can claim benefits even if they refuse treatment for their problem.
However, experts warn that providing benefits to addicts who don’t co-operate is a waste of money. More at –
25,000 tenants in rent arrears
The Housing Executive in Northern Ireland has revealed that almost a third of their tenants are currently in rent arrears.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21720378