Irish news digest

Archbishop drops-in to Simon Community hostel in Armagh

It was humbling to visit Simon Armagh to offer our support and to speak and pray with the residents and staff, says Archbishop Martin.

Archbishop Eamon Martin called into the Simon Community hostel in Armagh last week to thank staff and volunteers for their work helping the homeless.

The Simon Community is Northern Ireland’s biggest homelessness charity, operating 30 different accommodation projects and providing 382 beds every night.

Frontline medical technician Kevin, is back at work thanks to help from the Simon Community.

Like other charities such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Crosscare and the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, the Simon Community reports increased levels of demand for its support services.

After visiting the Armagh hostel on Friday, the Archbishop thanked the organisation for all it is doing to reach out to the vulnerable at present. He said: “Humbling to visit Simon Armagh today to offer our support and to speak and pray with the residents and staff.”

The archbishop looked very relaxed when photographed chatting and joking with residents.

At present, the Simon Community is using one of its former residents as a focus for its current fundraising campaign. It features a photo of ‘Kevin’, someone who was homeless and a Simon Community client seven years ago, but who is now working as a medical technician, helping to save lives in the midst of the pandemic.

Calling on people to be generous, Kevin says: “Please donate what you can to help Simon continue supporting people. If I can turn my life around with a little support anyone can.”

Once-off, or recurring, donations to Simon Community Northern Ireland can be made here.

105th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide Marked at Christ Church Cathedral

Each year on April 24, Armenian people around the world gather to remember and honour the lives of the 1.5 million people who died the Armenian Genocide. They also celebrate the survival of those who went on to build anew and create afresh and to contribute to Armenia and their communities around the world. The genocide began in 1915.

In Dublin commemorations centre around the Armenian Khachkar Memorial in the grounds of Christ Church Cathedral.

This year, due to restrictions on gatherings as a result of Covid–19, the annual service could not take place. However, Archbishop Michael Jackson and Dean Dermot Dunne marked the day with an act of commemoration which included prayers and readings, some in Armenian, and songs. A short video of the commemoration is below.

Experiencing Little Easters

The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Sam McGuffin writes –

Are you experiencing any Little Easters? Little Easters are those little moments – when the risen Lord’s presence and blessing are intensely experienced and enjoyed; or when you know The Lord has used you to bring blessing where blessing is needed; or when something that has died in you is raised to life again, or when feelings of joy, surprise, amazement, hope; or newness break through clouds of doubt, discouragement, or despair; or when you read your Bible and its like it the message was just for you; or when you hear of how the Lord has blessed someone in a remarkable way and your heart warms; or when you sing a hymn and are moved by its message; or when your prayer is wonderfully answered in a way you didn’t expect; or when a magnificent sunset takes your breath away and lifts your soul to God; or when you feel vulnerable and God’s peace overwhelms you; or when you can’t make sense of what is happening in the world but are sure The Lord can; or when you’re frustrated with your lot and a fresh God-given sense of purpose floods your soul; or when….. Be safe. Be positive. Be prayerful. #GodisourAdventure. Every blessing.

The President’s Diary:

The President is observing the current advice to restrict movements to what is essential, but remains prayerfully at work in his study, attends meetings via Zoom etc, values your prayers, and is pursuing ways to contribute positively to the life of our church, one of which is sharing a Facebook post each week day.

Follow The President’s Facebook page at:
[ https://buff.ly/355YaF8 ]

Book Spot

Iona Dawn – Through Holy Week with the Iona Community, by Neil Paynter

The dramatic events of the days leading up to Easter Sunday are expressed through biblical readings and the reflections of several well-known Iona Community members:

Ruth Burgess – Jan Sutch Pickard – Tom Gordon – Brian Woodcock – Peter Millar – Kathy Galloway – Leith Fisher – Joy Mead – John Davies – Yvonne Morland

Connecting the denials, betrayals, suffering and eventual new dawn of this life-changing week with what is happening in our own world today, this book accompanies the reader as an insightful guide. To travel through Holy Week with awareness leads to a greater understanding of God and ourselves.

This item is available in three different formats including an e-book version For more information see here –
[[] https://www.ionabooks.com/iona-dawn-downloadable-book.html ]

Archbishop and breaking bread in Kilternan

Archbishop Michael Jackson joined the Revd Rob and Julie Clements and the parishioners of Kilternan Parish yesterday morning (Sunday April 26) for a service of Spiritual Communion.

During the service viewers were invited into Rob and Julie’s kitchen to make bread for Communion and to consider the similarities between making bread and prayer. There were also readings and prayers from parishioners.

In his sermon, the Archbishop observes that in yesterday’s reading [Luke 24: 13–35] we meet the Apostles on the road. “As we who are privileged to be able to walk every millimetre of the two kilometres radius allotted to us for our daily exercise might well be doing, they too are mulling things over,” he says. The stranger who joins their conversation sorts out their confusion. He also breaks bread with them. Then he leaves, the Archbishop says adding that the Apostles also leave and tell two things: what happened on the road and what happened in the breaking of the bread.

“Separated as we are from church and from one another by required isolation and social distancing, we nonetheless belong to a community of understanding and of recognition. We have the opportunity to take to heart through all the scriptures the presence of Jesus in ourselves. It is still our calling and our responsibility to share this with other people,” he says.

You can watch the service from Kilternan at –
[[] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpr8d1ZaOus ]

Remembering the Reverend William Matchett

Ten years has passed since the sudden death of the Reverend William Matchett. Jenny Monroe of the Ulster Star newspaper penned the following tribute –

A Lambeg clergyman has died suddenly just three days after his wedding.

The funeral of a Lisburn minister took place on Monday in the same church in Co Cavan where he was married less than a week earlier.

The Rev Alan William Matchett, 40, was married to Lisa Middleton last Tuesday. But on Friday he became ill with chest pains and passed away.

Hundreds of people packed the historic Knockbride Church near Bailieborough, Co Cavan, this week to pay their respects to the popular Lambeg man, who was well known in church circles locally where, prior to his ordination, he was a proficient church organist.

Rev Matchett was Rector of Adare Union of Parishes, in Limerick. He had met and fallen in love with Lisa when he was based in Co Cavan as the rector of Bailieborough.

Rev Matchett had returned in 2008 to the Limerick area where he had served a curacy in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, to be Rector of the Old Abbey Church of St Nicholas in Adare.

Canon Ken McReynolds, the rector of Lambeg Parish, paid tribute to the “very special son of the parish”.

“We were absolutely devastated by the news and our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Joan who is a much respected member of our church choir and other church groups – as well as Alan’s wife, Lisa, and brother Gary,” he said.

“Alan’s funeral service in Knockbride Church, which was attended by representatives from the Lambeg parish, was a wonderful tribute to a very special ‘son of the parish’.”

Mr Matchett was predeceased by his father, William.

The Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, Right Rev Trevor Williams also paid tribute to Rev Matchett.

“Alan’s calm, friendly manner, and his quick wit endeared him to all. His considerable musical talent, his sensitive leadership of the liturgy, and pastoral concern, enriched his ministry,” he said.

A man of great character and humour, Mr Matchett was warmly regarded by all who knew him.

Prayer points

Spend some time giving thanks for those who have responded to God’s call on their life to make evangelism their full time vocation.

Pray for healthcare chaplains working in support of medical staff, families and patients as they face unprecedented pressures, asking that God would use their ministry especially to staff under stress and among families facing bereavement.

Pray for those who are suffering the effects of the coronavirus whether self-isolating at home or patients in hospital, asking that God would bring a sense of his presence, healing and strength

Pray for families who have been bereaved in recent days, whether through coronavirus or in other circumstances, asking that God would bring comfort, strength and peace in these days when the normal rite of passage offered by funeral services has been interrupted by wider events.

God in creation