Martin Luther King’s son inspired by peace rally; Masons parade to Cathedral; Clogher MU services; Carrigaline Pentecost festival; Offenders ‘pay back for their crimes’ with church spruce up
Martin Luther King’s son inspired by peace rally
Belfast Telegraph – A son of the assassinated US civil rights leader Martin Luther King has witnessed Protestant and Catholic children light a peace flame and promise to build a better future together.
Martin Luther King III said he was honoured and privileged to have been invited to attend a series of peace events over the weekend in Derry.
He was invited to the city by Dr David Latimer, minister of the First Derry Presbyterian Church, situated beside the city’s historic walls overlooking the Bogside.
Mr King attended a ceremony yesterday at which a peace flame monument was unveiled close to the Guildhall Square — one of only 15 such flames across the globe. Children from both traditions lit the flame as a symbol of hope and presented their personal peace pledges which will be engraved into blocks to form a pathway to the monument.
“It is an honour and privilege to see these young people gathering together to pledge their commitment to peace and to use the process of peace to resolve present and future conflicts,” Mr King said.
Dr Latimer, who is chairman of the Bright Brand New Day peace building initiative, said children were the key to his project.
“Our children and young people, largely untainted by the Troubles, are well-placed to offer their words and wisdom as to how we should relate to each other and live better together.
“Words such as forgiveness, friendship, kindness, love, tolerance and respect feature in the peace pledges which these children have presented to Mr King,” he said.
Freemasons parade to cathedral
Belfast Telegraph – Freemasons have paraded in the centre of Londonderry for the first time in almost 20 years.
Despite a march of a matter of yards — from the Freemasons Hall in Bishop Street to St Columb’s Church of Ireland Cathedral — they had to apply to the Parades Commission.
A police helicopter hovered over the city centre as 400 Freemasons made the journey for a service to mark the UK City of Culture.
Freemasons from throughout Ireland took part in the procession and service.
Clogher MU Area Services
The three Area Services held this year in Drummully Parish , Cleenish Parish and Garvary Parish were well attended.
The Banners were, as usual, to the fore and carried proudly by Branch Members. The preachers who gave of their time and effort to come to the services were: Dean Kenneth Hall, Dean Raymond Ferguson and Dr Margaret Knox (Diocesan President). This was a “first” for Drummully Branch and it was a very successful and well planned service.
Flower Festival in Carrigaline Church
On Friday 17th May, the Minister for Agriculture, Marine and Food, Simon Coveney, T.D., opened the Pentecost Flower Festival at St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline.
The Festival – Fruits of the Spirit – marked Pentecost weekend and concluded with a special Service at which the preacher was the Right Reverend Michael Burrows, Bishop of Cashel and Ossory.
Offenders ‘pay back for their crimes’ with church spruce up
Carrickfergus Times – Offenders on community service have put decorating and gardening skills to good use on a Greenisland Church.
The Church of Ireland has thanked the workers, under the supervision of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland, for their endeavour which included restoration of floors recently completed and ground-keeping.
Reverend Paul Lyons, of the Church of the Holy Name, said: “The support of the PBNI Community Service team has made a positive difference to our church. I am very grateful for the assistance and that they will continue to help.”
Probation Board Community Service supervisor Steven Wray added: “Probation locally works in partnership with the community and voluntary sectors in Greenisland, Carrickfergus and Larne to provide placements for community service to enable offenders to pay back for the crimes they have committed.”
Examples of community service work across the province are environmental and conservation projects, painting and decorating, contributing to community clean-ups, working in animal shelters or assisting disabled people.
PBNI Area Manager, Joan Graham said: “Community Service is one of the most successful court sentences in terms of preventing re-offending. Three out of four people who complete community service do not re-offend in one year.”
SENSE residential home in Carrickfergus has also benefitted from a similar initiative.
If you know of a project Community Service could work on, visit the website www.pbni.org.uk and fill in the online nomination form or email communityservice@pbni.gsi.gov.uk or telephone (028) 9064 7156.