Irish Minister for Tourism hopes Pope will visit Knock - Multi-faith service to launch Dublin C of I’s year of Come and C - Free concert to mark 350th Anniversary of Down parish church whose son discovered chocolate - Ahoghill parish Christmas Tree festival will aid hospice - West Glendalough Songs of Praise - Battle against cancer inspires Parish Reader’s book of poetry and prayer - Former Belfast Boys Model School pupils launch new bursary in memory of former headteacher - In Pope's meeting with Ukrainian president, peace takes centre stage - Media digest
Irish theologian criticizes US bishops for making Humanae Vitae into 'a fetish’; Gay priest considered suicide over agony of keeping sexuality secret; Advent Reflections series at CITI; Bishop of Cashel to speak at Saor agus Gaelach; Archbishop Martin hosts cross-border talks in Armagh on climate change; Crinken Community Festival to Tell Christmas Story; Italy deploys soldiers around Vatican and Rome after Paris attacks; Paris’ Episcopal cathedral hosts interfaith evening for peace and dialogue; Media digest
Mothers’ Union vigils against worldwide gender based violence; Church leaders welcome political accommodation and agreement; NGOs call for Stormont talks to be 'family-centred’; Retiring Dean will be C of I rep at C of E’s General Synod; Dáil hearing of Bill to provide legal security to LGBT employees; Belfast healing service for young people; Concert for Paris: St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin; Births within wedlock on course to become a minority in England and Wales; Media digest
Presidential support for Ecumenical Prayer Service and National Day of Prayer for Climate Justice; New Welcome Centre opens at Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor; Derry Bishops Sign Book of Condolence for Paris Victims; Military chaplaincy in the catholic Anglican tradition; ‘Messiah’ mission event at Down Cathedral; Pope visits Rome’s Jewish community; Installation of Canon at Belfast Cathedral; Media digest
Derry clergy change of plan following Paris attacks; New Parish Centre officially opened in East Belfast; Dublin Council of Churches Walk of Light 2015; Rector appointed hon chaplain to Lord Mayor of Belfast; Colourful Opening for New Outreach Centre in Glendermott; Pope Francis preaches on End Times and 'blasphemy' of Paris attacks; Conference of European Churches grieves loss of life in Paris, condemns attacks; Abuse survivors allocated $21 million in Milwaukee diocese bankruptcy plan; Media digest - links to 15 current issues
Prayers said worldwide after 129 dead in Paris attacks; Belfast Central Mission gears up for Christmas; Prayer urged during Prisons Week; C of I bishop addresses Clogher Catholic clergy; 20th anniversary of Christ Church Cathedral’s girls’ choir; Media digest
Prayers said worldwide after 129 dead in Paris attacks; Belfast Central Mission gears up for Christmas; Prayer urged during Prisons Week; C of I bishop addresses Clogher Catholic clergy; 20th anniversary of Christ Church Cathedral’s girls’ choir; Media digest
A Feakle traitor - The life and times of Jack Weir in focus; Laity are disciples, not ‘second-class members’ of Church, says Pope; Join in highlighting food poverty - an invite from East Belfast church; New president for Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union; Next stop COP21 for Pilgrimage2Paris; History made with first Anglican confirmation service in Moroccan capital; Media digest
Transgender Jesus on stage in Belfast play; Armagh Cathedrals Combine to Sponsor Lecture; Social media becoming ‘harsh and dehumanising’ for Catholics - warning; Institution of rector for Kinsale; Analysis: Divestment of Catholic schools remains insignificant; Tyrone Clergy in the Van of Refugee Relief Response; Scottish Anglican and Presbyterian Churches warn that UK Government welfare reform will increase poverty; Media digest
Closed Kildare church will take on new life as community facility; Columbanus 1400 Festival in Bangor churches is climax of year’s commemoration; NI marriage vote shows need for Church to ‘support Catholic politicians’; Bishop of Connor’s concern at Michelin plant closure; Events to Recognise Voluntary Carers in Derry and Raphoe; Death announced of South Africa's first woman priest; Media digest - summaries with links to 15 reports
Cork Remembers 1914 ~ 1918 display dedicated; Lynda Bryans to speak on My Path of Faith’; Director of Three Choirs’ Festivals to head RSCM’s choral education work; Rough sleeper burnt in fire lit at St Mary's church grotto in Belfast; ‘Vibrancy’ of NI Christianity lacking compared to Africa: Nigerian cleric; New BB company formed in St Patrick’s, Armoy; Installation of Dignitaries to the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral; Tribute to Mercy Sisters as they leave Ballyhaunis; Church of England steps up fight against human trafficking; Media digest
Relocated War Memorials Rededicated in two Dublin Churches; Church must 'free itself' from control of schools, Archbishop Martin of Dublin says; Anniversary of Irish army’s loss in the Congo recalled at Tuam Remembrance Service; Moderator concludes Omagh Tour with day of services; Irish bishops meet key European Commissioners in Brussels; Connor clergy to confer in Cavan; Franklin Graham celebrates 97th birthday of his dad, legendary evangelist Billy Graham
Joyful blend of performance and worship at Kerygma Choir concert; Ballymena Presbytery’s support for Michelin workers facing closure; Cabra church receives eco - award; Rich styles to be presented at Armagh’s November organ recital; Moderator meets police officers in Enniskillen; Media digest
Isle of Man Post Office marks BCP anniversary with gold stamps; Donegal Presbyterian Church to lead RTE Service of Remembrance; Moderator to attend Omagh’s Remembrance Day Service; C of I’s major Centenary event to focus on ordinary people in Dublin 1916; After 50 years RTE gives up on traditional Angelus; Exiles welcoming exiles - Belfast conversation; Singing clergy doubled at Belfast Cathedral; New Chaplain for Dublin City University; Bishop of Chester leads debate on impact of pornography on society; Media digest
The wee man on the Ballymena bike retires; Christians Against Poverty centre opens in Fermanagh; Cold Weather Initiative criticised by McVerry Trust; Tea up on Derry’s walls; Pluralist Ireland needs a new theory of pluralism - Archbishop Martin of Dublin; Dublin clerical appointment; Church of Scotland University principal appointed chaplain to the Queen
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