Irish news digest May 27

Photo above – Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Ascension Day

Taney Service honouring healthcare workers

Photo above – Elaine Wynne leading the final hymn with Canon Robert Warren and the Revd Nigel Pierpoint.

Last Sunday there was a service from Christ Church, Taney presented onlne honouring frontline healthcare workers. It featured a number of parishioners who work in healthcare: two nurses Kara Sheppard (who works in a nursing home) and Nimrah Dass (who works in the Mater Private), a physio Heather Corrigan (the Beacon) and the Church of Ireland hospital chaplaincy coordinator Hilda Plant (primarily based in St Vincent’s). The service was led by the Rector, Canon Robert Warren and the Curate, the Revd Nigel Pierpoint. It is available on Taney Parish YouTube.
[ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZxFNhStBL8_Sd8FaN88hVg ]
or on the parish Facebook page [] https://www.facebook.com/taneyparish

10 Days of Prayer in Down and Dromore

The Diocese of Down and Dromore is currently holding 10 Days of Prayer between Ascension (21 May) and Pentecost Sunday (31 May). Each of these themes have been covered in prayer so far and more can be found on each of the following days at [ www.downanddromore.org ]

Holy Trinity, Drumbo opens for private prayer

Holy Trinity Drumbo is one of the churches in Down and Dromore Diocese that has opened its doors for private prayer.The church has been open since lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland were eased last week

Archbishop Eamon Martin’s Pentecost video message to parishes

A video by Archbishop Eamon Martin outside St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, is the Primate’s message ahead of Pentecost Sunday to thank parishes for the sacrifices that they have been making to stay safe, pray safe and to protect life during COVID-19.

At national level he says bishops are working on best practice guidelines to help congregations when they return to worship and for the celebration of the sacraments in the context of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

Bishops will continue their ongoing engagements with Government and public health authorities North & South in making a case for an early resumption of the celebration of public Mass and the sacraments in a measured and safe way.

Watch the Pentecost Message at
[ youtu.be/zCmWAIa74Xs ]

President’s message on Aldersgate Sunday

“This is the day on which we Methodist’s celebrate John Wesley’s conversion at a meeting in Aldersgate Street, London on 24th May 1738. The world he knew, like ours, had its problems. It had social ills and issues: like slavery. It had political struggles: Jacobites were rebelling. The church was making no gospel and kingdom impact. And disease and death were rampant: smallpox killed tens of millions. John realised there are four things God wants everyone to know: [ https://buff.ly/2DIRZtk ]

1.You have a need – a need to address the fear of dying that’s inside you and inside us all.

2.You can’t sort it out on your own – ultimately no one can escape death so how can we hope to overcome our fear of death ourselves.

3.God knows your need – he has proved this by sending Jesus Christ into the world to die so that he could raise him from death and prove his power over it.

.4.God is willing to meet your need – the moment you entrust your whole life to him your relationship with The Lord God begins and he will accompany you through the reminder of your life in this world and then take you to be with him in his heavenly world. That can be anyone’s experience. Be safe. Be positive. Be prayerful. #GodisourAdventure. Every blessing. ” President of the Methodist Church in Ireland

Food for thought

Could we live and move and have our being in the universal Christ, participating in the insight and power of God incarnate in the world as we deal with . . . the basics of existence—space and energy—so we can live in radical interdependence with all other creatures? We are not alone as we face this challenge—the universal Christ is in, with, and for the world as we struggle to deal with climate change
Richard Rohr

Points for Prayer

Pray that as lockdown restrictions continue to curtail normal life, God would give patience and perseverance in family and church life, local communities and society at large.

Pray especially for those who live alone in lockdown experiencing long days with little opportunity for contact with others, asking God to help them grapple with changeable mood and maintain good mental health.

Offer prayers for all those working in the prison service.

For the staff who dedicate their careers to looking after our prisoners and serving our justice system we ask for Your blessing upon them. Give them the strength and courage they need in these difficult times. For those who cannot see them as they go to work each day providing a vital service, we ask that you provide comfort. We ask all these things in and through Your precious name. Amen.

God in Creation

Yesterday afternoon at Castlerock, Co.Londonderry. Photo courtesy  Aerial Visions