NI Church home abuse inquiry to recommend compensation; PCI Conferences look at the 'Challenges facing the Church in the Middle East and at home’; Dundela Parish will play its part in the CS Lewis Festival; Ethical Fundraising and Funding Workshops; Lecture on Irish versions of the Bible; Brand new Your Church Wedding website launched; Anglican Consultative Council to meet in Lusaka, Zambia in 2016; Media digest
Church leaders present at Corrymeela’s 50th anniversary service; Daily love of spouses is foundation of holiness - Archbishop Martin; Cork’s visual memorial remembering 1914 - 18; Service marked bicentenary of birth of Irish mathematician genius; Refugee crisis and the environment central to Anglican and Orthodox church leaders’ meeting; Methodists help Leprosy Mission hospital in Nepal; Media digest
Same sex marriage motion passed in Northern Ireland for the first time; Moderator goes West; Kerygma Good News Choir in fine voice ahead of Saturday’s concert; Ein deutsches Requiem in Christ Church Cathedral; Dublin parish choral scholarship opportunities; Pope hopeful he will be able to visit Central African Republic despite security worries; Church marriages for same-sex couples imminent in Norway; Singing for Syrians; Media digest
Young parishioners send teddy bears to refugee children; Civil marriage - cease being dictated by fundamentalist beliefs Faith group tells NI politicians; ‘Time to work again for the common good’ - PCI on political talks; 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence - All-Ireland Prayer Vigil; MCI Develops Partnership with Upper Myanmar Methodist Church; Pope condemns priests and bishops who ‘defamed’ Oscar Romero; Media digest
C of I ‘will not dig itself into a hole’ as Ireland's same-sex marriage bill passes final hurdle; Methodist Church thanks Corrymeela on its 50th Anniversary; Rome Synod provides ‘manifesto’ for Irish Church renewal - Archbishop of Armagh; C of I’s New Student Readers Commissioned at Theological Institute; Methodist Mission’s green initiative visited by Mayor of Belfast; Historians trace grandson of Western Front letter writer; C of E says no problem with election of Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain to General Synod; Christian Aid funds to help victims of Afghanistan-Pakistan quake; Media digest
East Belfast Mission Partners Giving Tuesday; Derry youth conference: Think about the talents God has given you - Bishop McKeown; Saturday Night Live: Kingdom Culture; An Island Parish - Falklands; Obit - Rt Revd Peter Barrett; Archbishop Welby to host Ecumenical Patriarch in London next week; White Feather Diaries tell stories of Quakers in First World War
Wide range of themes at Dublin faith exploration; 150th anniversary of St Patrick’s Church, Parish of Bright; Bishop and Belfast Rabbi meet; Senior appointments at Christ Church, Dublin; Without the Pope’s leadership, the synod would have been ‘fractious’, says Cardinal Nichols; Research shows positive effect of CMS Pioneer Mission Leadership Training Course; Plight of refugees is examined in Lent study course from Us; Former Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook sentenced to seven years in drunk-driving death of cyclist; Media digest
Cork Jazz Festival - A Service with a Difference at St Anne’s, Shandon; Mental health training opportunities for local churches; RSCM Ireland on RTE television to celebrate St Cecilia’s Day; Presbyterian Herald: November issue out now; ”Deep pain" anticipated as Canada prepares to debate same sex marriage; Find an Evensong service near you: Cambridge chorister sets up Time Out-style Evensong guide; Media digest
Archbishop of Canterbury to celebrate with Corrymeela; Irish Presbyterian teachers in Pakistan tremor zone; Bishop to lead Remembrance day at “flag burning” churches; First Larne’s weekend of celebration; Prayer focus for Archbishop’s Autumn Roadshows; Gay Catholic group encouraged that synod will bring ‘new era of pastoral care’; The Vatican Synod on the Family is over and the conservatives have won - comment; Media digest
Presbyterians launch 2015 World Development Appeal: 'Forecast Hope!’; Walk alongside your people, Pope Francis tells bishops at synod's close; Irish Church must respond better to challenges of family life - Archbishop Martin on Vatican Radio; Pigs' heads with racist slogans found at church in west Belfast; Church of Ireland Ordination Newsletter online; Mothers’ Union takes part in Activism Against Gender Violence; Irish Methodist theologian ‘comes home’ to encourage recovery of nerve and Holy Spirit awareness; Methodist Central Hall Westminster turns blue to mark 70 years of UN; ‘God is not a he or a she’, says first female bishop to sit in House of Lords
This week no matter where they were around the world, the Royal Navy marked the anniversary of Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar - writes Houston McKelvey
Rector quits after removing Royal British Legion flags from churches; New look Angelus on RTE a step too far for Kerry TD; Belfast Choir to celebrate US city's kinship with Ireland; The Mountmellick Methodist Yarnbombers strike again; A place of shalom in north Belfast; Confidence, Courage, Creativity and Compassion necessary for christian witness - Archbishop Richard Clarke; C of I historical society’s autumn meeting; Lynda Bryans speaking in St Anne's Cathedral; C of I archbishops join in international call for prayers for political leaders under pressure on refugee crisis; Closing borders and cold weather compound refugees’ miseries - Christian Aid
PCI responds to Statement on Assessment on Paramilitary Groups; Trócaire received €29m in public donations last year; The Protestant experience of 1916; New Chair for Changing Attitude Ireland; Dublin diocesan Ministry of Healing service; Sudan mission team introduced at Lisburn Cathedral harvest; Macosquin Parishioners “Proactive, Energetic and Unstoppable” Says Bishop; Church of Scotland official heads government group to tackle food poverty; Broadcaster Adrian Chiles inspires at church media conference; Media digest
‘Our parishes can provide refuge’- Bishop of Derry and Raphoe; 25th anniversary of ordination of women in C of I marked by Dublin service; East Belfast Mission Gears Up for Christmas Hampers; Workshops in worship for Connor clergy; Diocesan curate licensed for Cork; Portora Royal School toasts Venerable John Sullivan; BBC Radio Ulster School Choir Of The Year set to return; Cameron rebukes C of E bishops over refugee letter; Media digest
Spirited rugby fans tell world that 'Ballymore needs a priest’; Father Ted creator Graham Linehan hits out at Irish abortion laws; Bishop urged to help mourners at Kerry funerals; Popular priest had housing estate named after him; Rome Synod observers call for empathy and support for struggling families; English bishops urge greater UK response to refugee crisis; Sudan and South Sudan ecumenical bodies hear of churches' role in regional peace; Media digest
Communication of Churches in response to world development; Churches should not rush to abandon their schools; Arklow Presbyterian Church celebrates centenary; Belfast book launch of 18th century sermons; Time capsule placed in new roof at Ahoghill church; Anglicans have reconciliation “in our DNA” says Archbishop Welby; Media digest
As someone from a Northern Protestant background happily resident in Dublin, I know there is little or no point in trying to persuade my co-religionists that they should agree to do away with the border and become part of my society - writes Andy Pollack.
Northern Controlled Schools' Support Council still months away; 200 schools 'would be enough' to satisfy non-religious parents; Local bishops should not set policy on Communion for divorced/remarried Catholics - Archbishop of Armagh; Africa in Focus - theme of PCI missionary event in Belfast; Dublin and Glendalough schools service fills Christ Church Cathedral; Choral Evensong to celebrate Macosquin Parish church roof replacement; Music, story and mission at St Jude’s, Belfast; Media digest
New prayer labyrinth at Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork; Archbishop Eamon Martin’s message to family of murdered police officer; Funderland NI tracksuit snub ‘shows need to tackle sectarianism’ - PCI minister; Moneyreagh’s Big Birthday Weekend; Catholic divide deepens as traditionalists call for Synod walkout; Abortion law devolved to Scotland despite warnings; C of E warns against Sunday trading extension; Media digest - Ireland and GB
St Columb’s Londonderry twinned with London’s historic Guildhall Church; Charities respond to Irish budget - disappointment on homelessness; Duke sees cross-community work in Clogher churches; Church of Ireland minister offered to fight parishioner in dispute over rectory; Irish services continue at St George’s, Belfast; Dublin diocese must plan for changing situations; Openly gay clergy celebrate election victories to CofE General Synod; Media digest
Church leaders welcomes Loyalist initiative; Ireland is still marked by a very strong family culture - Archbishop Martin of Dublin to Rome synod; Concentrate on communication, community and communion, Archbishop Michael Jackson tells diocesan synod; Conference of European Churches appoint new General Secretary; Scrutinise Protestant mother and baby homes - C of I bishop; British church leaders give support to dairy farmers
Archbishops offer prayers for the victims of the Co Louth shootings; ’Same-sex marriage coming to Northern Ireland' says US lawmaker; Celebrity couple to be special guests of St Jude’s Ballynafeigh; Capella Caecilliana in concert in Downpatrick; Chaplaincy outreach team at Catholic chaplaincy at Queen’s commissioned; Practical proposals in Methodist President’s harvest sermon; Rector of Dundela’s appointment to Lecale Area Mission Partnership; Crisis for Pope Francis as top-level cardinals tell him: your synod could lead to the collapse of the church; Christian Aid joins calls for investigation into US airstrike on Afghan hospital; Media digest
PCI conference presents biblical roadmap for economic hope; Removal of Legion standards from Newry church was against ruling of Bishop; Archbishop responds to tragic South Dublin fire; Varied programme to open new organ recital series at Armagh; Belfast cathedral’s choristers take to the stage in ‘Turnadot’; C of I college members meet the Pope in Rome; Derry parish goes to sea for week of prayer; New prayer book app for Irish defence forces; Cardinal who supports LGBT radicals is moderator of English-speaking Synod group; Media digest
Death of World War 1 parishioner-soldier commemorated by Cork Parish; Parishioners’ hurt after the removal of a Royal British Legion flag by rector; 1872 Testimonial for C of I cleric from Kerry found in New Zealand; Magna Carta lunchtime lectures at Christ Church Cathedral; 95 year old Canon ready for the Euro 2016 finals in France; Documentary on Irish missionary’s work up for film award; Sligo Grammar School choir to lead RTE Sunday service; Media digest
By getting on that train a group of brave women made the Catholic Church and the Irish state look ridiculous - Arthur Riordan writes
Relationships, economics and creating a just society - PCI conference today; Leading discussion on Northern Ireland at the University of Wyoming; Youth Plucked Orchestra on Irish tour; HEA to investigate college chaplain appointments; Former terrorist, father of DUP’s newest MLA, serves as a steward at St Anne’s Cathedral; Church Scout hall where leader abused boys is demolished; Clergy hospital visits hampered by ‘red tape’; Café style church at Church on the Hill; Dublin Protestants: The Easter Rising and After; Media digest
New Scottish Episcopal Institute dedicated for ministry formation; Shrine to St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Crossgar Parish; Connor Kids Big Adventure days return; Book launch - Preaching in Belfast, 1747–54; Revd Adrienne Galligan Appointed Canon of Christ Church Cathedral; Catholic churches facing mass exodus as lack of priests and falling attendances threaten closures; Autumn Edition of Search: a Church of Ireland Journal; C of E statement on the sentencing of Peter Ball; Media digest
‘The Pale’ describes an area that is enclosed and safe. To go be 'beyond the pale' is to be outside the area accepted as 'home', a place of uncertainty and potential danger - Earl Storey writes
Equality in Northern Ireland education has not improved since 2007, report claims; Moderator starts his first Presbytery Tour; Climate Justice Lecture in Zion Parish Dublin; Engage Connor Youth launches new social media; Korean Anglicans celebrate 125 years of mission ministry; Synod will not result in ‘spectacular change’ in doctrine, says cardinal; Media digest
The hoped-for visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in 2018 is exactly that - hoped for, but by no means certain. What is certain is that Dublin will host the important World Meeting of Families in three years time. This event is usually attended by the Pontiff, which has given rise to the hope that Francis will come to Ireland - writes Alf McCreary