Irish nun in Sierra Leone brings joy to children affected by Ebola; Archbishops’ Christmas Day Message on RTE 1 TV; Christmas Message from Archbishop Michael Jackson; ‘We need a Church built for today’ – Bishop of Limerick; Clogher appointment for church educationalist; RTÉ Player shows High Hopes Choir final concert; George Square crash: churches’ reaction and prayers; Nativity scene and Christmas tree invite us to make room for God, says Pope; Media digest - CLICK ON HEADLINE FOR CONTENT
Haematology research funding to honour former Lisburn rector; New Carol premiered in Glencraig; Christmas broadcasts from Saint Mel’s Cathedral Longford reopened after major fire; Parish serves 800 Festive Fries raising 18K for African school project; Scriptures come to life for USA families through Irish Jesse Box initiative; Ballydehob kids are tops for Maths tasks in challenge; Appointment - interim C of I Chaplain to Trinity College, Dublin; Obituary - Life-saving Presbyterian Church missionary Margaret Young; Moderator’s sadness at George Square tragedy; Justin Welby 'trying to bridge gay marriage split'
From The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke - ‘It is good on the eve of Christmas to be able to express gratitude to the political leaders in Northern Ireland for the efforts they have made in achieving broad agreement on some of the key issues during the cross–party talks.
‘We wish them well and hope that their endeavours so far will meet with full success in coming days.’
A helping hand from Irish midwives at Christ's birthplace; God’s soldiers: The Salvation Army in Northern Ireland; Quaker DUP man backs Fry in gay rights row; Irish Girl Guides gives 600 techy Christmas gifts; Church of Ireland hit by theft spree; Church of Scotland launches New Gaelic hymn book on Skye; Episcopal clergy respond to Scots bishops guidance on marriage; Christmas celebrations canceled in Peshawar after school attack; Media Digest
Nuala O'Loan resigns over Northern abortion law move; 'Same–Sex Issues and the Bible’ Lent Course Available; Being Catholic and Gay in Ireland; Church of Scotland Statement on formation of gay ordination protest group; Country church building in Cushendun to become village hub; Pop-up Nativities, Stable Trails and Christingles in Wales; Church under Pope Francis is building bridges with women, says senior nun;
Media digest
Joint Christmas message from the Archbishops of Armagh highlights persecution; Choir gives passengers on Dublin-bound flight a Christmas surprise; Blue Christmas in Nenagh; Saintfield’s Grumpy Shepherds; Irish speaking school move ‘widely opposed’; Church of Scotland presbyteries vote to appoint gay ministers; Go-ahead for major GB church credit union; World churches' body welcomes Cuba-US relations progress; South Sudan, a year on: the need for prayer and solidarity continues
Thought-provoking drama at Connor youth Christmas Event; Dublin and Glendalough’s ‘Prepare a Place’ emergency Advent Appeal aims to raise €150,000 fro Gaza city hospital; Joint Christmas Message from the Bishops of Clogher; Archbishop of Canterbury visits Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone; Leaders failed to give the process a boost - Christian Aid’s response to Lima climate deal
York Minster to host historic consecration of England's first woman bishop; Cork Bishops Bless students’ crib at Start of Annual Collection; Belfast Christian Brothers' Grammar sticking to selection as it rejects merger; Christmas in full swing in Christchurch, Dublin; Guardian on Irish referendum on gay marriage in May; Faith schools in England top latest primary league tables; Catholic midwives lose abortion case; Canterbury course moves Anglican Communion from the head to the heart
Spectacular multi–sensory experience as St Anne’s Cathedral is transformed on New Year’s Eve; Long serving staff members honoured by Presbyterian Church Social Witness board; Book spot - Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War; Archbishop of Sydney: ‘Hell has touched us’; Pakistani Catholic leader decries ‘barbaric’ attack on school; Churches in Japan are witnesses of peace and justice - WCC leader
Bangor Abbey hosts Gary Lightbody charity concert; Silent Night 1914 to be remembered in Craigyhill, Larne; Belfast healing service for young people; Áras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says C of I Dean; Mum told me I was made in Ireland - Dermot -X Factor’s Plastic Paddy; Archbishop Welby invited to China; Vocations Champions get to work in Church of Scotland; Poll shock: Jesus Christ plays for Chelsea, according to one in five children; Iraq at Christmas - a report
Community Carol Singing at the Mansion House, Dublin; Two New Shops - Restore and Recycle - open at Methodist East Belfast mission; A business school model proposed for training church leadership in C of E; The crisis that helped change Pope Francis; Canterbury Cathedral, BBC Two - a puff piece for the Church of England? Cavan Priest built churches, fellowship among Arizona's Irish community; Compulsory celibacy may have contributed to abuse - Catholic Church in Australia ; Christian Aid Backs MPs' Demand For New Global Goal On Climate Change
Lisburn volunteer with the African Children’s Choir in home parish visit; HIA Enquiry: Catholic Church admits 'catastrophically' failing child abuse victims; Plaque in honour of first Black Santa is unveiled; Winners of C of I World War 1 short story competition; Salve Regina – A Series of Advent–tide Services Sung by Peregryne; Clogher clerical appointments; Much has been achieved through Millennium Development Goals, Bishop of Sheffield tells House of Lords
Peata Carol Service Fills Christ Church Cathedral With Joyful Barks; Bangor parishioners sleeping on the streets so others don’t have to; Williams - We need to bridge gap between rights and religious freedom; Launch of Towards Peace Spiritual Support Service in the Diocese of Ferns; Dean scales new heights to promote Black Santa sit–out; Dublin Civic Carol Service at St Ann’s, Dawson Street; Ding dong merrily on high: the maths of Christ Church belfry; Media digest
First female bishop - and only five years old!; We choose to remember the explosion at the Droppin’ Well disco, Ballykelly, in 1982 - Bishop Donal McKeown at inter church service; C of I Cleric collared by cops for speeding told Gardai he didn’t give a f*** ; Pop–up movies at the Dock Cafe. Book soon!
Scottish Episcopal Church: Guidance on Marriage and Civil Partnership; Pope: No one questioned indissolubility of marriage at family synod; Production company seeks Ireland’s centenarians for new documentary; Former South Australian premier, Lynn Arnold ordained an Anglican priest; Media Digest
Portadown Inter Church Christingle Event ; 'Call His name Jesus' - A Fivemiletown Festival of Flowers and Music; Limerick bishop says church of the future must be inclusive; Prince Charles condemns Islamic State violence as "blasphemy"; Christian Aid is training hundreds of local volunteers to offer psychoscial care to Ebola hit communities
Presbyterians ‘Building Hope’ in Haiti and Myanmar/Burma; Prestigious award for Black Santa; Inter churches group review unity in Mission and Evangelism in a changing Irish landscape; Scout Troop Celebrations At St Bartholomew’s, Stranmillis; Cork Choral Evensong marks anniversary of a father of computer science; Churches are best social melting pots in modern Britain; Communion alone is ‘not the solution’ for divorced and re-married Catholics, says Pope Francis; Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori’s Christmas message 2014; Media digest
Catholic Church must be praised for swift response to homeless crisis after Jonathan Corrie's tragic death; Quality Of Teachers Biggest Influence On Pupils - C of I College graduates hear; NI corporation tax ‘could hit poorest countries’ - Christian Aid; Aspects of Celtic Spirituality - Cathedral Advent talk; Christian and LGBT groups criticise RC Bishops’ “Meaning of marriage” leaflet; The Church needs more female theologians, says Pope Francis; New posts advertised as RSCM expands support role for church music; Archbishop of Canterbury speaks out on reality of hunger in Britain
Statistics and Mission focus for special Down and Dromore Synod; Vatican finds hundreds of millions of euros 'tucked away': cardinal; DUP’s Givan expresses sympathy for Catholic bishops over adoption law; Minister Alan Kelly pledges beds for all Dublin homeless by Christmas; Dublin and Glendalough Mothers’ Union Autumn Council Meeting Highlights Members’ Work and Witness; Dangerous Women and Violent Confucians: - public lecture at Trinity Centre for Asian Studies; Church of England to appoint first 'headship' bishop; Anglican Communion’s Standing Committee reviews wide range of work and concerns
Northern Catholic bishops end church’s adoption service due to state policies contrary to church teaching; Irish Catholic church: Voting for same-sex marriage will undermine society; Dean of Derry appointed HM Deputy Lieutenant; C of I student ordinands commissioned as student readers
Presentations to former principal of Middleton College; "Ebola attacks what makes us human": Archbishop of Canterbury on the Ebola crisis; Service to Mark the 70th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz
Archbishop Martin says celibacy not Vatican dogma and could be changed; Taoiseach's drink in gay bar 'shows world has changed'; Franck, Rinck and Bach to feature in Armagh Organ recital; Carol services for LGBT community in Ireland; Schools mini-masterpieces in Exhibition of Art and Photography in Cork Parish; Dialogue is no substitute for doctrine - Anglican Gafcon leader attacks ‘bankruptcy of good disagreement’ strategy; New UK rules for extractive industries a welcome blow against corruption - Christian Aid; Has the church a Role In Decade Of Historic Commemorations? - New publication; Calling churches and communities to hold their Light for Lima vigil on Sunday 7th December
Irish archbishop offers beds for homeless after man dies in doorway; Somali al Shabaab gunmen kill 36 non-Muslims in Kenya quarry; Archbishop of Canterbury joins world faith leaders in pledge to end slavery; Irish cleric presents his last report to world Anglican body; Irish Catholic Church to put parish records online; Christmas: no room at the inn for baby Jesus in school nativities; Media digest
Down and Dromore women in South Sudan supporting young women’s project with Mothers’ Union; Irish speaking Church group’s concern at recent political comments ; Advent challenge on world development from Chair of Christan Aid - a former Archbishop of Canterbury; Cathedrals highlight Advent with candles and carols; Portstewart doctor’s third trip to support church in South Sudan; Film draws crowds to cemetery
Volunteers scale highest peak to reinstate cross of Carrauntoohil; Tribute to Jack Kyle’s Christian values by fellow Lion; School of Wilde and Beckett to be closed; Giving Tree Helps Local Children; African Childrens’ Choir concert in Belfast; Methodist Church Christmas Story Competition Results; C of I online Boer War and World War 1 images; Pope visits Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Turkey
Belfast College withdraws religious worksheet that 'almost branded all homosexuals as perverts'; Changing Attitude Ireland welcomes school’s apology; Number of emergency food parcels handed out to needy soars in NI; Ballymena church development will benefit disadvantaged and create 1,000 jobs; Blue Plaque to recall Dean Crooks - the first Black Santa; New Diocesan Youth Worker for Cork, Cloyne and Ross; New book reveals 'strong gay scene' in Irish Catholic church
Archbishop Williams to preach at Christian Aid ACET Advent Hope Service in St Patrick’s Cathedral; Ballymena church project would 'allow for new Wrightbus headquarters'; Children in Need Helps Methodist Belfast City Mission Parent Support Project; Adult conflict in schools focus of C of I Schools Management Agm; Irish Presbyterian missionary remembered in India; Ireland’s prisons are getting more chaplains; Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Organ Scholarship 2015/16; The Pope’s visit - Which way will Turkey turn?; Media Digest - quick links to the main news stories
Dublin and Glendalough Advent appeal for Gaza hospital; Archbishop Eamon Martin launches novel online Advent Calendar; Wife of Ulster vicar standing by her man despite his adulterous affair; Catholic management welcomes continuation of minor works grant for primary schools in Republic; Canon Andrew White ordered home with $57m bounty on his head; Archbishop Justin completes Anglican Communion tour with visit to Scotland; Methodist Church addresses mental health concerns among young people; Latest 'how to' book to help get churches noticed launched; Media Digest - quick links to the main news stories
C of I Bishop elect presented with Episcopal ring in Rome as a "symbol of deep Anglican, Roman Catholic relationship"; Dublin’s Trust dealt with homeless people of 15 nationalities in one week this month; Pope Francis on migration: 'We cannot allow the Mediterranean to become a cemetery'; Pope Francis on human rights; On the fifth anniversary of publication of Murphy report – Archbishop Diarmuid Martin reflects; Primus and Archbishop of Canterbury meet with First Minister of Scotland; ‘Some want to rob church of hope’: Archbishop Martin; Oxford diocese move could herald Church of England fossil fuel divestment; Media Digest
C of I cleric says testimonial ‘not a defence of’ paedophile; MPs help Seagoe church with memorial funding; Parish Concert raises £800 for Poppy Appeal; DUP to introduce bill to exempt religious people from equality laws; Archbishop of Canterbury visits new church initiatives in Scotland
Wales: Bishops make Fair Trade appeal; Media digest
Pope Francis appoints Bishop Kieran O’Reilly as Archbishop of Cashel & Emly; Bangor clergy visit Rome to mark start of St Columbanus anniversary year; Presbyterian congregation split over demotion of Girls' Brigade leaders; Sex texts cost married Irish vicar his C of E job and home; ‘Charting A Future with Confidence’ in Cork, Cloyne and Ross is launched by Archbishop; New resource encourages Christians to take action on climate change; Evangelism is central to being the people of God, says Archbishop Justin