Families Enjoy Connor MU Christingle Service; Moira’s ‘Kids Big Breakfast Bonanza’; Messy Church a success in Kilkeel; Items stolen from church; Workshop on Inter Faith Engagement; Carol Singing at the Mansion House; Caring dogs at Carol Service in Christ Church Cathedral; SPAR and VIVO promotion helps 37,000; Media review – Ireland’s seat on UNHRC an ‘honour’, President Higgins; Barnardos highlights problem of ‘loverboys’ in child prostitution; Bishops get 6 months to respond on patronage
Families Enjoy Connor MU Christingle Service
Connor Mothers’ Union held their annual Christingle service in St Patrick’s Parish Church, Ballymoney, on Sunday 2 December 2012.
The service was conducted by the rector of Ballymoney, the Rev Andrew Sweeney. Almost 100 people attended, mostly from North and Mid Connor, with a small number attending from North Belfast.
Everyone in the congregation received Christingle oranges which were lit while the hymn, ‘Shine, Jesus shine ‘ was sung. It was really magical!
Connor Diocesan President Moira Thom told the congregation about the MU Worldwide Fund and how numeracy and literacy skills are taught to men and women in Sudan and Burundi. Other MU members read the lessons and led the prayers.
The rector gathered the children at the front of the church and talked about Advent and the meaning of Christingle, and there was great interaction between Andrew and the youngsters.
On leaving the church, children’s ‘Goodie’ bags were handed out containing crayons, colouring in sheets about Christingle, a Christmas card, MU literature and some sweets.
Following the service mulled wine and shortbread for adults, ‘top hats’ and crispy buns for children were served in the church hall.
Christingle is one of the ways Connor MU aims to reach out to young families.
Moira’s ‘Kids Big Breakfast Bonanza’
St John’s Parish Moira hosted their first ever ‘Kids Big Breakfast Bonanza’ on Saturday 1st December. Lasting from 9.00 am till 12.30 pm. This fun–filled morning gave parents a little opportunity to get Christmas shopping done hassle free!
Over 70 children, all of whom were preregistered, were welcomed into the Parish Centre for a variety of activities – crafts, singing, dancing, games, and of course a huge breakfast!
This was a great opportunity to remind children that Christmas is about Christ (it’s called Christmas with a Capital C!) and about celebrating his birth.
Julie Currie, Children’s Officer, who was on hand to lead some of the craft activities.
Summing up the morning, Callum, age 10 said, “It was awesome!”
Messy Church a success in Kilkeel
The parish of Christ Church, Kilkeel, has crowned a year of Messy Church with its second Christmas themed event. Over 130 children and adults from all sectors of the community recently spent a crafty (and yes, messy) Saturday morning in the church halls before tucking into a soup and bread lunch.
“Messy Church gathers people with a faith or no faith who come with their families for a craft morning centred around a theme, “ explains the Family Outreach Worker, Lynda Quinn. “So far we have used Christmas, Easter and Harvest and the children have had great fun expressing themselves through all sorts of ideas and materials.”
Before lunch together there’s a short time of age–appropriate worship and a Christian thought for the day to take home. “Our prayer is that all who attend will encounter Jesus by the welcome and acceptance they receive, be fed spiritually and physically and go home with crafts which remind them of God’s provision and faithfulness,” says Lynda.
Messy Church involves a lot of work – devising crafts, gathering materials, setting up the hall, helping at each craft station, making and serving lunch and of course the massive tidy–up that must follow – and it couldn’t happen without a dedicated team .
But it’s worth the effort and is a natural follow–on for the parents that attend the parish Toddler Group, most of whom are not parishioners. Here are just a couple of the positive comments that have been made:
“It’s great that the activities are not age limited, I can bring my baby along and let her play with her siblings in a safe and controlled environment.”
“The lunch is great – and it’s great the way children of all communities are introduced to the church with the songs and crafts.”
Help to recover items stolen from church
Earlier this month, Willowfield Parish Church halls in East Belfast were broken into.
A number of items were taken including:
• Mac laptop,
• large screen TV,
• projector
• several other items as well as some cash
As the items taken were used for the young people from the community, Willowfield would like to appeal to anyone who has any information to contact the police on 0845 600 8000 or to return the items.
The return of the laptop would be particularly appreciated as it contained much work and information that cannot otherwise be recovered.
Workshop on Inter Faith Engagement to be held in Galway
The Church of Ireland’s Inter Faith Working Group will hold a Workshop on Inter Faith Engagement at NUI Galway on Saturday 2 March 2013.
The Workshop will be based around the Porvoo Communion’s study guide ‘Keys to Inter Faith Engagement’. The Porvoo Communion is a communion of 13 mainly northern European Anglican and Lutheran churches, including the Church of Ireland.
The aim of the ’Keys’ document, and of this Workshop, is to enable people to consider the situation where they live with their neighbours from different faith communities, and to support and develop inter faith dialogue. In particular, a number of themes will be explored at the Galway event:
• Who we are in our communities; what are the local, national and international issues?
• How do changing patterns of living in Ireland impact on faiths?
• What is needed to build long term trust?
• How should we share our faith with a Hindu or Muslim?
• What are our theological foundations?
The Workshop will be led by the Revd Canon Andrew Wingate. Andrew was the founding Director of the Saint Philip’s Centre for Study and Engagement in Leicester, and is now a consultant/teacher in the area of inter faith relations, particularly within Scandinavia. He was a member of the group which prepared ‘Keys to Inter Faith Engagement.’
The attendance fee (including lunch and tea/coffee) is £20 or €25. Students may attend free of charge. The fee can be paid by cash or cheque on the day but those wishing to attend should register in advance with the Revd Darren McCallig by email mccalld@tcd.ie or by telephone 353(0)1 896 1402.
This event is being held in the Chapel of Saint Columbanus (by kind permission of the chaplains) on the campus of NUI Galway. It will begin at 11.00am and conclude at 4.30pm. Parking will be available on campus in the vicinity of the Chapel.
Carol Singing at the Mansion House
The Dublin & Glendalough Diocesan Council for Mission and the Archdiocese Office for Evangelisation & Ecumenism are once again presenting ecumenical carol singing on the steps of the Mansion House (Dublin), on Saturday December 15 at 2.30 pm by kind invitation of The Lord Mayor.
Singing will be led by St. Ultan’s National School (Cherry Orchard), Saint Ultan’s Orchestra and Cherry Orchard Community Singers.
Seasonal readings will be given by The Lord Mayor, Ronan Johnston (Spirit Radio) and Joy Gordon (Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union).
Popular traditional musician Paddy Moloney will also be performing.
Everybody is invited join in singing the old favourite traditional carols, alongside the live animal crib.
Peata Carol Service in Christ Church Cathedral
The annual Peata Carol Service took place in Christ Church Cathedral on Tuesday last. The animals took centre stage and the service was attended by dozens of dogs, many of whom were festively dressed, and their owners.
The service was also attended by carers and many people who avail of Peata’s services. Peata Therapy Dogs and their owners visit care units bringing the many therapeutic benefits of pets to residents and patients. Peata is a voluntary organisation and the service is one of its major fundraisers.
Dean Dermot Dunne presided over the service with one of the many highlights being the pet blessing. At the end of the service the Dean thanked everyone for coming and making the effort to get to the cathedral. He acknowledged the work that went into grooming the dogs and said it had not gone unnoticed. He thanked Lesley Rue for organising the service and the Girls’ Choir for singing at it. The service was followed by tea and mince pies which were enjoyed by all
SPAR and VIVO promotion helps 37,000
37,000 people living in poor communities will benefit from a SPAR and ViVO milk promotion which has raised £150,000 for Tearfund church partners around the world. “A big thanks to SPAR and VIVO for this outstanding initiative,” says Bishop Harold Miller, Vice President of Tearfund. “I have seen first hand how Tearfund’s support can transform the lives of people living in poor communities – I am delighted that so many more can be helped now.”
The money raised will be used to empower communities and support a wide range of activities such as income generation in Ethiopia, crime prevention in Columbia, refugee support in Egypt, girls’ education in Chad, HIV/AIDS prevention and care work in Nigeria.
“As we work through local churches, we are able to give people the opportunity to work their way out of poverty for as little as £4” says Tim Magowan, Northern Ireland Director,
“Thanks to everyone who bought a promotional carton – we look forward to seeing the long term changes it will bring”.
MEDIA REVIEW
Ireland’s seat on UNHRC an ‘honour’, Higgins
Thejournal.ie – The president said the decision to give Ireland a seat on the UN’s Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was a strong endorsement of Ireland’s international reputation.
http://www.thejournal.ie/irelands-seat-on-unhrc-an-honour-higgins-710471-Dec2012/
Barnardos highlights problem of ‘loverboys’ in child prostitution
Thejournal.ie – June Tinsely of Barnardos said young men who act as boyfriends to teenage girls coerce them into having sex with other men.
http://www.thejournal.ie/barnardos-prostitution-loverboys-712879-Dec2012/
Bishops get 6 months to respond on patronage
Examiner – Catholic bishops have been given six months to respond to the demand for alternative primary schools in five specific areas where the Department of Education conducted a survey among parents.
The deadline has been set by Ruairi Quinn, the education minister, after publishing a report on the five pilot surveys, while parents in a further 39 areas will be asked for their views on primary patronage.
The report contains the attitudes of parents of 2,544 primary pupils and 915 pre-school children, and recommends school buildings be freed up to allow an Educate Together school be set up in each of the five areas.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bishops-get-6-months-to-respond-on-patronage-216824.html