NEWS BRIEFS

Exploring God’s Call

The 2020 ‘Fit for the Purpose’ weekend took place at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute from February 21 to 23. The programme combines and introduction to the Foundation Course with exploration of God’s call – Photo above.

Canon Dr Christina Baxter led the weekend together with the Revd Canon Dr Maurice Elliott, director of CITI. There were 16 candidates. The facilitators were the Revd Dr Will Murphy and the Revd Ruth Jackson–Noble.

Also in attendance were the Revd Dr John Tomlinson and Ms Jacqui Brown from St John’s College, Nottingham.

ReLENTless Prayer 2020 begins on Ash Wednesday

During the season of Lent, numerous churches and Christian communities in north and west Belfast are working together again to encourage people to pray for their local community.

The ‘ReLENTless Prayer’ initiative is in its third year, and seeks to bring Church congregations and Christian communities together with a shared vision of encouraging people to pray and ask for God’s blessing and healing on the people and life of their community. Prayer spaces are open to everyone to drop in and spend time in quietness, to reflect and pray.

Central themes in prayer rooms include prayer for renewal and revival of faith in north and west Belfast, peace and harmony in communities, prayer for agencies that bring hope and help to the community, for doctors and hospitals, school teachers and a new enthusiasm for education amongst parents and children.

A service to launch ‘ReLENTless 2020’ took place on Sunday February 23 in Joanmount Methodist Church. The speaker was the Rev Alan Conly.

Prayer rooms open on Ash Wednesday, February 26, in Soulspace in The Duncairn Centre on Antrim Road, and dates and times for all venues can be downloaded on the Connor web site. [[] https://connor.anglican.org/2020/02/24/relentless-prayer-2020-begins-on-ash-wednesday/ ]

Stephen Whitten, from Connect Base, the Connor Centre of Mission in Shankill Road, said: “We would be delighted if colleagues and friends in Connor Diocese would join us in praying for the life and witness of churches and Christian communities in north and west Belfast and drop in to one of the prayer spaces.”

For more information, please contact Stephen on [stephen.whitten@churcharmy.org ]Heather Carson on [ coils.heather@gmail.com. ]

Ash Wednesday services

On Ash Wednesday, February 26, there will be the opportunity to receive the imposition of ashes at a number of services taking place in Belfast Cathedral throughout the day. These are:
8.30am – Holy Communion (Order 2 – Prayer 1) in the Chapel of Unity
1.00pm – Holy Communion (Order 2 – Prayer 3) in the Chapel of Unity
5.30pm – Choral Eucharist in the Cathedral

Clerical appointment

The Revd Elaine Dunne, currently priest in charge of the Omey Union of parishes in the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry has been nominated as rector of the Ballybay, Muckno and Clontibret. The Service of Institution will take place on Thursday 4th June 2020 at 7.30pm in St Colman’s, Clontibret.

God in creation