Graham Norton appears on Bishop of Cork show; Care & Share Project – Fund to Assist Struggling Dublin Parishes; New Director of Music at Cork Cathedral; Open air service at Clonmacnoise; Quakers interfaith service commemorating bombing of Hiroshima; University honour for Archbishop; Riverbank where Jesus was baptised now UNESCO heritage site; Media digest
The Rt Rev Dr Bob Gillies, Scottish Episcopal Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney writes -
Northern Ireland's new churches: The impact of immigration on religious life; Trócaire focusses on Sustainable Development Goals; Trail dedicated to eccentric Anglican bishop; Archer’s star meets youth clients of Belfast Central Mission’s Ards homeless support project; Focus on Miler Magrath, the infamous first Protestant Bishop of Clogher; Cork youth weekend on Cape Clear; Secularists: Don’t prosecute NI preacher for Islam remarks; Churchgoers encouraged to contact MPs over assisted suicide Bill; Scots bishop - Shame of many in so rich a society are unable to feed themselves; Christian Aid welcome C of E policy on climate; Church’s £360,000 budget to talk about sex; Jesuit University backs theology chair after gay wedding; Media digest
Recently social media exploded in celebration of the US Supreme Court verdict making marriage legal for gay couples across the USA
Irish Embassy to the Vatican cost €32,000 to run in 2014; Derry clergy scale new heights for charity; Speakers for National Novena in Knock announced; Come&C Day to Shape a Year of Discipleship and Development in Dublin and Glendalough; Churches benefit in six-figure restoration plans for NI buildings; Mothers Union calls on C of E to help end commercialisation of childhood; Archbishop blesses 1,000 pupils in end-of-term service; Vatican welcomes Iran nuclear deal; Media digest
Irish eyes smiling at Llangollen Eisteddfod; Warm welcome during Lammas Fair; ‘The Catholic Church is leading the way in evangelisation' - Nicky Gumbel; Tax cuts will not deliver fairer Irish society; Priest held hostage in Belfast; Urgent action needed on climate change - C of E Synod; C of E Synod welcomes climate change policy of its investing bodies; C of E is 'borderline racist', bishop tells Synod; ‘Inspirational’ first English woman to become an Anglican priest dies aged 92; Media digest
Archbishop Justin Welby urges leaders gathering in Addis Adaba this week for the third annual UN conference on financing for development to reach an ambitious agreement that reflects Christ's good news for the poor.
Sea Sunday highlights work of Mission to Seafarers, Annual Croagh Patrick ‘Reek Sunday’ Pilgrimage, The Camino de Santiago is coming back to Dublin after almost 800 years, C of E synod approves safeguarding legislation, Pope Francis pledges he will focus more on the plight of the middle classes, Media digest
All faiths mark National commemoration of Irish service; Rugby World Cup church resources launched; Bishops’ Appeal Allocations; Diocese criticises political collections at church gates; Muslim who praised Islamic State is main witness against pastor James McConnell; Streetreach in north Belfast; Liberian churches honoured for their services during Ebola outbreak; Eight major religious groups in US prohibit same-sex marriage; Media digest
Major renovations planned for Glenstal Abbey’s church; Moving Hearts in Letterkenny; Church leaders tribute to catechism groups; Dublin Funds Begin to Benefit Gaza Hospital Projects; UK's first bishop for church plants; Don't Stop at the Lights - church greening guide updated; Scotland remembers Srebrenica in St Giles Cathedral service; Evangelical will be returning to The Simpsons; Media digest
Ministers are called, trained and equipped for ministry. That goes without saying, but though the calling might be there, the training and equipping sometimes fall short, writes Mark Woods
England cricket captain becomes supporter of former Belfast choir director; Hopes high for no return to violence on the Twelfth; Bishop questions arguments based on emotion; Trocaire commemorate child victims of Gaza conflict a year on; National Day of Commemoration; Methodist services of welcome and farewell in Portadown; C of I leadership development/intern programme; Workshop to Share Children’s Ministry Ideas; Almost 300 years of Irish parish records go online; Church groups rally to support Calais migrants; Archbishops of Armagh call for peaceful and respectful 12th July Celebrations; Media digest
The old Stormont may have had its faults. However there was one area in which it has not been given credit. It was remarkably free of any whiff or taint of corruption and the cronyism which seems almost inevitably to surround such activity - Houston McKelvey writes
Another new chapter in Titanic Quarter’s Dock Church; Outgoing Mothers' Union chief executive looks back on evolving ministry; Archdeacon of Cashel - a time of change; Tribute to Irish GFS leader; Bishops seek to turn 5,000 churches into ‘missionary parishes’; Queen Appoints Professor David Fergusson to Chapel Royal; Situation in Athens 'incredibly worrying' as Greek debt crisis continues; Pope Francis computer game released ahead of Paraguay visit; Media digest
Jimmy Carter, former President of USA, writes on his decision to leave the Southern Baptist Convention...
Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.
Highest papal honour for Irish St Vincent de Paul member; Dublin and Glendalough Kids Summer Camp success; C of I Commission welcomes Pope’s encyclical on environment; Church press officer appointed; Former Moderator honoured at Downing Street; Archbishop of Canterbury on 7/7 anniversary; Papal visit will have ‘profound and lasting impact’ on New Yorkers, says cardinal; Media digest
Jim Wyss of the Miami Herald filed this overview from Quito, Ecuador, prior to the Pope’s arrival in South America.
Belfast Cathedral’s School project featured in BBC’s Songs of Praise; Public overwhelmingly rejects Troubles amnesty - poll; Portstewart churches hold Community Audit; Smart Thinking at St Canice’s; USA Presbyterian minister transfers to Ireland; Pray for a miracle at October synod - Pope Francis; Media digest
Can the C of I learn from the Episcopal bishops model of Christian toleration and respect for differences? - Houston McKelvey writes.
Four Revs a Minute on Tour de Foyle; Church buoyed by 25,000 at pro-life rally; Row over cross in Limerick Council chamber; Summer edition of Dublin’s Church Review; Killarney Concerts; Pope comes 'home' to South America; Christians fleeing ISIS must get priority asylum in Europe - bishops; Anglican cathedral in Zanzibar to house anti-human trafficking centre; Media digest
Sandra Millar, head of projects and developments, Archbishops’ Council writes
Investiture of Archbishop Martin with pallium; Shine a Light Sleepout at Christ Church Cathedral; Islamic community represented at funerals of Irish victims of Tunisian terrorist; Summer worship and outreach in Seagoe: Arklow Maritime and Marine Heritage Walk; The Heart Ache and Heart Warming Story of Leah; United Society Golf Classic; Eglish parish recruits new full forward; Church of England leadership shake up continues: Evangelical given traditionally Anglo-Catholic post
Or at least he might, judging from this excerpt from Mere Christianity - writes Jonty Langley
CS Lewis: Narnia sculptures to be erected in Belfast; First ordination in 14 years for the Diocese of Ossory; Candles and prayer in St Anne’s for Tunisian victims; Carrick rector blogs from Arctic; Sr Stan named ‘Ireland’s National Treasure’; Service of Thanksgiving for referendum decision; Christ Church Kilkeel celebrates 200 years; Irish Churches Peace Project resources online; Green Flag for South Abbey National School, Youghal; Archbishops of Armagh joint visit to Rome; Former Tipperary hurler will be ordained to the priesthood; Church spokespersons condemn Orange Hall attack; Media digest
Peter Kurti questions ‘the fearful falling out of step’ morality of churches and fossil fuels
Irish leadership at Vatican conference on people and the planet; Same-sex marriage: Bishop raps Church of Ireland over referendum; SpIRE - new institute of spirituality announced; Bishop Chillingworth welcomes Episcopal Church’s new Presiding Bishop; Major scout award for Fermanagh leader; Diploma in Pastoral Theology at Drumalis; Secular pupils feel left out in Church’s schools; CPE graduates at Cork University Hospital; Milestones of Medieval Dublin; USA: Episcopal General Convention approves marriage equality; Media digest
“It’s pretty hot for camel hair right now”, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said at the opening Eucharist of the Episcopal Church General Convention in Salt Lake City last week.
Methodist church’s Kirk House Wins Gold; Belfast Cathedral to feature on Songs of Praise on Sunday; Church plaques reveal links to ‘the bravest man’ at Waterloo; Methodist Church to make significant changes to safeguarding policies; Archbishop of Canterbury response to US Episcopal Church Resolution on Marriage; C of E Church House urged to kick out arms dealers; Walsingham launches 10 million renovation and expansion appeal; Dennis the Menace and the punk rock Rector; Media digest
Silent churches whilst international and domestic crises abound - writes Houston McKelvey
Presbyterian church introduces Auxiliary Ministers; Pope Francis blesses palliums for new archbishops; Irish Bishops’ condolences to victims of Tunisia shooting; Christ Church lectures on ‘Women and the Church’; Magna Carta and the Making of a Metropolis; Crinken parish celebrates 175 years of worship; Bishop of Oxford role 'to stay unfilled until September 2016’; Media digest