Good news stories from Belfast - Sunday night on the Nomadic; RTE Sunday Service 4 May features music from forthcoming C of I Hymnal Supplement; Craigyhill parishioners in the pink for Giro ‘Italia; C of I Clergy Golf Team Scoops "Principal"s Jug”; On Earth as it is in Heaven - Linen in the Bible exhibit; World Day of Prayer for Vocations (Good Shepherd Sunday); Day of Prayer For our Land; Faith Communities and Transitional Justice; Cathedral Garden Festival - Bringing the outside in; Derry Youth Pilgrimage to Lough Derg; Dublin And Glendalough Mothers’ Union Launch New Website; Traditional values are secret of our success, say Scouts as membership soars; WCC Ecumenical delegation visits South Sudan amidst conflict; Uganda: Construction of Martyrs shrine to begin
Death of former rector of Fethart-on-Sea; All mod cons: a rebuilt Maynooth organ passes its first test; Connor Pentecost series; Testimony to Methodist Church Home support programme; CofE’s top female cleric: I would have ‘no problem’ with blessings for gay marriages; Archbishop of Canterbury’s message to Christian Aid Week workers; Churches criticise UK government for failure to progress on disarmament; Catholic Church saddened by school stabbing; New Dean of King’s; Press briefs and links; Humour
Amnesty: Legal challenge now inevitable as Northern Ireland fails to legislate for equal marriage; Handel, Bach, Messiaen and Vierne focus to Armagh organ recital; CAP helping over 50 Coleraine families with debt; C of I Parish Treasurer sentenced; Cardinal Brady celebrates Mass of Thanksgiving in Rome for Irish pilgrims; Presbyterian missionary returns to Malawi; Vacancy, Programmes Manager, Kiwoko Hospital; Concern for incidents at historic Meath church building; Poppies planted this week in Churches and Church Schools for World War One; Homeless director says there are new cases of people sleeping rough in Dublin every night
Cathedral in full bloom for festival of flowers; Irish Methodist team for Haiti 2014/15; Remembering the past - Corrymeela; Parenting Well workshop; Growing New Christian Communities - At the Dock; Church Music Summer School 2014; Create a Culture of Discipleship Seminar; Loanends vintage event to aid Parkinson’s charity; From Hawaii to Enniskillen answering God’s call; Hunger a 'brutal reality' in UK, says children's charity
C of I differences on equal marriage motion at Stormont; Sexuality is focus of fringe synod event; RC Bishops’ open letter to Stormont MLAs on marriage equality; Maynooth Seminary Open day; Prayers for cancer sufferers; Yei Connor Partnership is Focus of CMSI South Sudan evening; Moravian Burial Ground Highlighted in New Publication; Youth emphasis at Derry canonisation mass; Parish farewell to Dutch intern; Church concerned at evidence of rising funeral costs; Charities refuse to host forced unpaid labour for unemployed; Rev, the brilliant TV comedy that undermines the church
Crowds of around a million gather in Rome to witness historic canonisation in St Peter's Square; Archbishop Martin praises role of new saints; Presbyterian Church Team of Twelve medics have arrived in Malawi; Much-missed C of I MLA was a Christian gentleman who had flair for acting; C of E split fear as African bishops speak out over clergy flouting a ban on same-sex weddings; Former Archbishop of Canterbury says Britain is no longer a nation of believers - Telegraph poll reveals Christians are reluctant to express their faith; Office 2013 プロダクトキー
UK's only deaf church to close
Thomas wants proof. And who can blame him. Things had been going so well.
Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise Centenary; Resources for A Season of Invitation; Services and events this week; £20 million for World War 1 repairs to English Cathedrals; Messy Church Fiesta in Cork; Archbishop Welby blogs: 'A Christian country?; Battle of Clontarf - address by Bishop Eamonn Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, at ecumenical service
The Gospel reading tomorrow is from St John and it is the story of 'Doubting Thomas'. Here is an extract from a homily by St Gregory the Great (540AD-604AD):
Irish President is latest to commend work of Enniskillen church leaders; Fraud squad has quizzed shamed judge on church property deal; New Diocesan Director of Ordinands Appointed; New Children’s Ministry Advisor Appointed; Dublin Garden Festival at Christ Church Cathedral; Open to All appeal - stories from the trenches; Vicar of Baghdad to receive William Wilberforce Award
Irish events and services
When I was growing up, Easter was about eggs and bunnies, candy and clothes. And church.
Top Canadian Choir Visits Ireland; Quinn challenges church over patronage of schools; Giro d'Italia: Armagh church services rearranged for race; Sunday at St Patrick’s streamed; C of I Council for Mission – Synod Breakfast; Our Christian beliefs are under attack from influential and militant atheists
No longer are animal sacrifices made. Can you imagine if they were? Perhaps we might get a greater understanding of the atonement if we could see and smell sacrifice happening. Archbishop Michael Ramsey (1904-1988) mentioned this briefly…
Worship the Lord with banjo and accordion - Northern Ireland gospel band takes No 1 on i-tunes chart; Hallelujah: singing priest in talks with record labels; Statement 'could stop march protest’; Queen’s Students Holy Week witness; Brass Band Concert will aid Africa project; Sandymount Organ restoration; Cardinal calls for 'respect' in immigration debate
Cathedral brings colour to city life; Dissident murder: Priest calls on community not to let fear after ‘public execution’ win; List of victims who died in Northern Ireland Troubles read out at service; Grand master faces expulsion after conviction for ban breach; Ballyholme Inter-Church prayer room shared for Holy Week; Bishop on BBC Sunday Show; ‘The Priests’ for Ballymena; Successor to Archbishop Brady would 'love to see visit by Pope’
To my mind, it is no accident or coincidence that it was at dawn on the first day of the week that the women made their way to the tomb of Jesus. Rev. Dr. Rob Craig, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, writes
Chrism Eucharist At Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin; Roads in Mayo get prayers and blessings in a bid to reduce road deaths; PCI Ignite Team of Healthcare Workers getting ready to Go!; President to Attend Battle of Clontarf Commemoration Service; Craigavon Area Hospital annual Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance; General Synod dates; Church member and Independent MLA David McClarty dies; I can’t just sit and watch the misery of divorce, says judge as he quits; How evangelical Christians are using social action to revivify church brand
Death. It is a long time since I have heard a sermon on death. And that is despite the fact that at most services in my church we profess our faith using the words of a creed - a statement of belief, writes Houston McKelvey.
The choir of Lichfield Cathedral.The descant by the choristers during the last verse is absolutely stunning. Words by Charles Wesley rewritten from the original text by John Cennick. Link here -
Good Relations Conference - Dealing with the Past, Shaping the Future; Presbyterians make early start to Easter day; Easter Message From The Archbishop Of Dublin; Methodist President's Easter Message; The Losers and the Winners - An Easter message from The Rt Revd Harold Miller; Bishop: Sick and elderly suffer in priest shortage; Lay voice more vital than ever to Church renewal says Bishop; Flying High with the Birds of Prey - Embracing Autism; App to Read and share classic Bible stories with your kids; Funds lost as wealthy churches quit in new gay protest; Cross And Tomb Recreated Outside Willowfield Church,Office Visio プロダクトキー
Belfast
As it does every spring, our scriptural journey towards Resurrection brings us first to the cross.
King's College Cambridge. Link here -
NI Secretary of State Outlines Priorities for Political Progress to Church Leaders; Crucifixion account in oldest gospel script on display in Dublin; Cork Chrism eucharist today; Church Of Ireland Rector Appointed As Deputy Lieutenant For County; Titanic disaster dead remembered; Replica of cross placed at Down cathedral; Craigavon Mayor’s top ten hymns; RTÉ broadcasts of the Good Friday and Holy Saturday services from Diocese of Limerick; Famine cross returns home after 30 years; Crucifix conflict splits Kerry county council; Evangelicals admit struggling to find time for daily Bible reading and prayer
Jesus is all man and all God. This week the human Jesus comes face to face with human mortality. In time it is a situation we will all face...hopefully at a very advanced age, surrounded by loved ones and eased into a gentle passage.
The Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal and
The Choir of Westminster Abbey sing this wonderful hymn by Charles Wesley and William Penfro Rowlands; arranged by James O'Donnell, The Organist and Master of Choristers. Link here -
Good Friday Ecumenical Walk of Witness to be Led by Archbishops of Dublin; Quiet Peacemakers Exhibition - Church of Good Shepherd, Monkstown; Derry Mass of Chrism; Dawn Masses for Easter Sunday; Art of the Troubles at the Ulster Museum; How a 'megaphone' Mass united Liverpool fans; 'They told me I was the guy who killed their son' - Grobbelaar; 47 cinemas in UK to screen John Paul II and John XXIII canonisations
Cadets of West Point. Accompanying the Cadets is the world's largest church organ exquisitely played by Craig Williams. Link here -
Jesus is all man and all God. This week the human Jesus comes face to face with human mortality. In time it is a situation we will all face...hopefully at a very advanced age, surrounded by loved ones and eased into a gentle passage.
Rugby star reluctant to discuss faith; 5,000 Lives take part in Passion For Life In Coleraine; Children killed in 1916 Rising remembered; Methodist ecumenical canon in Belfast; Hallelujah for singing priest as he takes new-found fame in his stride; 66 People Now Better Prepared to Go overseas; Children First Bill makes reporting of child abuse mandatory in Ireland