NEWS BRIEFS

Champions at All Saints’, Antrim

Champions was the theme of this year’s Holiday Bible Club in All Saints’, Antrim, and lots of sporting themes were included in the programme of activities. These were:mFinding your direction – Knowing your goal – Not being distracted – Determination – Finishing the race – Rewards. Upwards of 40 children enjoyed the activities each night. These included action songs, craft activities, games, snack time and some input from All Saints’ regular puppet friends. The week concluded with a family night on Friday with more food and fun.

Music matters

At 8pm on Thursday ‘Music in Calary’, in Calary parish church Co. Wicklow, will feature Mia Cooper (violin), Beth McNinch (viola) and Bill Butt (Cello) from Musici Ireland in a concert which will include Reger’s String Trio 77b and the Mozart String Trio KV563. Tickets, which are €18 and €15 for concessions, are available from John on (01) 281 8146 or by emailing [derekneilson@eircom.net]

Last Sunday in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, the Choir of Great St Mary’s church, Cambridge, sang at the morning Sung Eucharist and at Evensong. In Co. Cork, on Sunday last the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, presided and the Choir of St Fin Barre’s cathedral sang at a service to celebrate the bicentenary of St Senan’s church, Inniscarra.

Did you know that singing is good for your mental health? Phoenix Choir practice begins at 7.40pm on Tuesday, September 10 at the Shaftesbury Square Reformed Presbyterian Church, Belfast. All welcome and no audition necessary.

Rambling in Rathlin

A record number of 46 members of Mossley Parish Ramblers headed to Rathlin Island where they visited St Thomas’ Church. The club has been established for more than 30 years, and members have rambled in lots of different locations, including Scotland, the Lake District, and even the battlefields of northern France and Belgium.

Lunchtime lectures at Christ Church

On Friday a new series of lunchtime lectures, at 1.10pm, begins in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, which will highlight recent research on the cathedral in 21st century dictionaries and encyclopedias. The opening talk on Art and Architecture of Ireland will be given by the architectural historian, Professor Rachel Moss from Trinity College, Dublin. Subsequent speakers will be musicologist Kerry Houston (DIT), historian Terry Clavin (RIA) and digital scholar Rebecca O’Neill (Wikipedia).

Sunday School Society AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Sunday School Society of Ireland will be held on Monday 16 September at 12noon in Church of Ireland House, Rathmines, Dublin 6.

Gathering for prayer for the soul of the nation

Fergus McMorrow, Director of Divine Healing Ministries writes – Our first DHM service at St. Anne’s Cathedral after the summer break is a very significant service. We will be joining with hundreds of people on Monday 2nd September at 8pm in St. Anne’s Cathedral as we unite together in prayer in response to the recent decisions made in Parliament this summer which will affect Northern Ireland. This evening of prayer will be led by David Legge with a number of people helping us to focus on the key areas for prayer. This prayer gathering is endorsed by: CARE in Northern Ireland, Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), CVM Ireland, Interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries, Drop Inn Ministries, Ellel Ministries Ireland, Evangelical Alliance NI, Healing the Land, House of Prayer Ireland, Stauros, Transformations Ireland and 24-7 Prayer Ireland. These decisions made for us have the potential to affect Northern Ireland for generations to come! Let’s do all we can in this window of opportunity! We, the Church have a responsibility and are held accountable for our actions. Now is a vital time for us to stand together united in prayer. Join us tonight Monday 2nd September at 8pm in St. Anne’s Cathedral as we unite together in prayer. Due to the large numbers expected, I would recommend that you arrive as early as possible to get a seat.

CAP Sunday

CAP Sunday is on 13th October 2019. It is an opportunity to share the work of CAP with your church. CAP states it can supply videos, speakers, publicity materials, so it’s really simple to run and a great way to support the work the organisation is doing.

Gorey C of I school in free hot school meals initiative

From next month Gorey Central School will be one of 36 schools to take part in a pilot project which will see students enjoy hot meals during school time free of charge. Each primary school participating in the pilot project will provide a menu choice of at least two different meals per day, while is to include a vegetarian and vegan choice, with an option that caters for students’ own individual religious and cultural dietary requirements. The selection of schools was based on ensuring variety of sizes, urban and rural as well as DEIS and non-DEIS schools to ensure the best possible sample.

Gorey Central School is a co-educational school under Church of Ireland management and Canon Mark Hayden is the chairperson of the Board of Management. He said that as a parent, he understands the challenge parents face when it comes to providing lunches for school-going children. ‘We are to be chosen to be part of the test programme, it really was the luck of the draw. It’ll make a huge difference for parents, as one of the hardest things to do as a parent is provide variety in lunches throughout the year. They get so bored of sandwiches or wraps, but now students will have lots of nutritional variety,’ he said. ‘Please God it will be a positive experience for our 226 students and the system will be rolled out across Wexford.’

When the new school year starts on Thursday, August 29, families will not be asked for additional contributions towards these meals and Minister Michael D’Arcy has welcomed this. ‘It is great to see Gorey Central School involved in the pilot and I hope to see it rolled out nationally so that all school pupils will benefit,’ he said.

Food for thought

As disciples of Jesus, we are sent to where there is poverty, loneliness, suffering of any kind. We are given the courage to be with suffering people. We can trust by entering into places of pain, we will find the joy of Jesus. A new world grows out of compassion. – Henri Nouwen