NEWS BRIEFS

Photo above – The Archbishops of Canterbury and York with Primates from Scotland, Wales and Ireland at the resent Primates’ meeting.

First female rector excited to take up Westport position in April

The new Church of Ireland Rector of the Aughaval Group of Parishes in west Mayo says she is excited to be the first female to take up the position, the Mayo News reports.

Canon Jennifer McWhirter will take up her new position following a Service of Installation in the Holy Trinity Church in Westport on April 3. The 43-year-old native of Antrim is currently in charge of the Killala Group of Parishes in north Mayo and will succeed the Reverend Val Rogers, who retired last September.
The mother of two young children will be the first female rector of the Aughaval Group of Parishes which covers the Church of Ireland churches in Westport, Achill, Castlebar and Turlough and said she is excited by the challenge.

“It is exciting to be the first female rector but I was also the first female rector in Templepatrick and Donegore [parish in Co Antrim] and I never faced any problems. I was well received and I hope it will be the same again,” she told The Mayo News.

“I am looking forward to the challenge [of the new position]. It is a bigger parish than where I am at the moment which means more work but I am looking forward to settling in and getting to know the people.”

Canon McWhirter was ordained in 2004 and is married to Stephen, who is the Rector in charge of the Kilmore Union of Parishes in Ballina and also the Archdeacon of the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. They moved to Ballina five years ago but before moving she served as Rector of Templepatrick and Donegore parish. She was also the chaplain in Belfast City Hospital and also served in St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast and in St Nicholas Parish on the Lisburn Road in Belfast.

“We love it here in Mayo and settled in well into life in the west of Ireland. We love the pace of life and the people,” she explained.

Canon McWhirter said the family will move to Westport and her five year old daughter will start school in Holy Trinity School. The school is currently located across the road from the Holy Trinity Church in Westport but plans are in place to move to the former Scoil Phádraig building on Altamont Street.

The Mayo News has learned that officials from the Department of Education have been on site and they are disposed towards a new build rather than the refurbishment of the existing building.

Pais to Bring Discipleship Masterclass to Belfast

On Saturday 1st February, Pete Baker, the National Director of The Pais Movement in the UK will be leading a Discipleship Masterclass at Mount Merrion Parish Church. He will be presenting a revolutionary template and specific skills to empower his audience to disciple anyone in anything.

During this masterclass participants will gain the ability to reproduce in others the experiences and life skills they have acquired. Fresh insight is given as to how Jesus discipled others and how that method transfers, making it possible to mentor anyone in anything. From practical, hands-on activities to discussion of theoretical concepts, the distinctive benefits of this Biblical process is rediscovered in a modern day context.

Whether it’s in business, at church or even in families, discipleship is vital for training others and this masterclass is for everyone in a position of leadership, whatever their sphere of influence.

‘The idea that we have plenty of travel agents, and actually, we need tour guides was quite profound because we’re very good at telling people where they should go and recommending the direction of travel, but very few people are willing to journey with them’.
-Mike McGurk, Archdeacon of Liverpool

‘[This] thinking turns everything around and has given us the tools to return to that first question of what it means to make a disciple and what Jesus meant when He said that’.
– Will Gibbons, Transforming Wigan

This half-day event is free but please book in at masterclasssuite.com. In addition, delegates will receive the opportunity to purchase the book Talmidim: How to Disciple Anyone in Anything on the day.

The Pais Movement is a mission-led discipleship organisation recruiting passionate Christian young adults and training them in Evangelism, Discipleship and Bible Study, teaching them to effectively reach others to advance the Kingdom the way Jesus did. It began in 1992 in Manchester and has since spread to 14 countries on six continents.

Pais Northern Ireland – 07849 941374. 12-24 University Avenue. Belfast
[[] www.paismovement.com ]

Choral Evensong at Saint Bartholomew’s Dublin

Sunday 26th January 2020
6.00pm Choral Evensong sung by the Girls Choir and Choral Scholars
Responses. William Smith
Office Hymn NEH 54
Psalm 33 vv1-12 Plainsong
Service. Dyson in F
Motet. The Lamb. Tavener
Closing Hymn NEH 274
Organ. Prelude in F, Dyson
All welcome
Saint Bartholomew’s Church. Clyde Road, Dublin 4.

God in creation