IRISH NEWS BULLETIN

Service of Morning Prayer on RTÉ

On Sunday, 29th March, a Service of Morning Prayer will be broadcast on RTÉ1 television and RTÉ1 Radio 1 extra at 11am.
The service will be led by the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin. The reader will be Margaret Healion and the Revd Jack Kinkead will sing, accompanied by Klaas Jan de Vries.

Social media advice for clergy

The Reverend Kate Bottley tweeted the following advice to clergy using social media for worship.
Clergy!
1) Landscape not portrait
2) Shoot from slightly above
3) The screen is not the camera
4) Face the light
5) Check backgrounds, massive shelves of theological books and your knickers on the radiator may not be the background you want

Earth Hour 2020

This Saturday 28 March 2020 at 8.30pm is Earth Hour and, due to the exceptional circumstances we are in with the Coronavirus, the organisers are encouraging us to mark Earth Hour digitally this year. Please check out the following link for your information:
[ www.earthhour.org/take–part ]
Also – [[] www.ecocongregationireland.com ]

Limerick united in prayer

Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy

The Lord’s Prayer was invoked like never before in a single moment when people across the Diocese of Limerick yesterday joined as one with others across the world in a global Our Father on Wednesday at 11am.

Bishop Brendan Leahy and Church of Ireland Bishop of the Diocese of Limerick, Rt Rev Kenneth Kearon, met at the Redemptorist Church to recite the Lord’s Prayer in response to Pope Francis’ call.

Though Bishops Leahy and Kearon – who have asked that the latest Government notice on physical distancing is adhered to – were on their own in the Church, the moment of prayer was carried live on the Redemptorist Church webcam

Wave of Gratitude

A Dublin rector is aiming to spread a wave of gratitude throughout the country to recognise the work being done by healthcare staff and others to combat the coronavirus. The Revd Ása Bjork Ólafsdóttir, rector of Christ Church Dun Laoghaire, is encouraging people to come to their front doors at 7pm every evening (while observing strict social distancing) to applaud all who are working so hard to contain the virus. She is also asking church bellringers to ring church bells for a minute before 7pm if possible.

“This has been happening across Europe where people have been showing their appreciation for everyone in the frontline of the battle against the coronavirus. The people are not together but together we can show our appreciation with some simple steps. There is the bonus that people can interact with their neighbours in a safe way and make sure that everyone is ok,” Ása explained. “This evening, just before 7pm, I will ring the church bells for a few moments before going to the front to applaud.”

The idea has received support locally in Dun Laoghaire and now Ása is hoping that her fellow clergy will join in to spread the wave of gratitude throughout the country. She is appealing to them to ring their church bells and encourage parishioners to applaud the work of those in the front line.

Cork, Cloyne and Ross magazine suspended

The Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Magazine Committee has announced that publication of the magazine will be suspended for the time–being: As a result of the ongoing COVID–19 virus it has been decided by the committee that the April 2020 Magazine will not be issued until the current crisis is over.

The Committee commented, “We have discussed this at length and feel in–view of the current Government guidelines where premises are closed (including churches) and non–essential journeys are discouraged, our line of distribution is broken, and distributing the Magazine has become impossible.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and will issue the April Magazine as soon as we can in line with Government guidelines.”

Down & Dromore Diocesan events – postponements and cancellations

Diocesan Synod
Diocesan Synod which was scheduled for 25 June is postponed but a new date will be announced in due course. Parish General Vestry meetings will also not go ahead at the moment.

Installation of Archdeacon and Canons
The installation of the Revd Canon Ken Higgins as the Archdeacon of Down and the Revds Bill Press and Helene Steed as Chapter Canons of Down Cathedral is postponed until government guidelines allow for this to happen.

Saturday Night Live
April’s Saturday Night Live has been cancelled. Watch out for further news about the June event.

Children’s Praise Party
This was planned for May. For now it has been postponed with a possible new date in the autumn.

Kilbroney Adventure Camps and Bible Week
At the moment the intention is that our Kilbroney Camps will go ahead as planned. The same applies to Bible Week.

Summer Madness
This has been cancelled but the SM team is working on other ways of how to connect.

God in creation

A doctor has won the overall prize in the latest Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. Dr Kenny Muir took the top prize with a portfolio of images taken in Glen Affric in the Highlands and on the Isle of Harris (photo above).