e-mail warning - An Advent virus
MU Diocesan President is a ‘Woman of the Year’; Tribute to Clogher organist; Book launch; Media review - Majority of NI parents want school mergers - claim; Ireland gets worst ever global corruption ranking; Bishops say expert group ignores risks of legislating for limited abortion
Monsoon flood victims in Pakistan remain in critical need; New Anglican Communion man in Rome; USA - Liturgy for blessing of same sex couples begins use; Australia: Melbourne priest named Queensland’s first woman bishop; links to reports from Palestine, Sudan and Rome
Hope, justice and charity
Rededication of Cork hospital chapel; Derry ‘Lights Of Love’ Carol Service; New Diocesan President for Down and Dromore Mothers’ Union; Re–opening and Rededication of Lisburn Cathedral; MU Samaritan's Purse effort: Media review - Choir to sing in Rome for Pope; Concerns over reporting of abortion issue
Noting that Advent is a time of waiting for “the coming of the Prince of Peace, the one who will reign with justice over this world,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori focuses on two questions in her Advent 2012 message: “What is it that you are most waiting for?” and “How are you going to wait this year?” Video and text follow
Life is a constant Advent season
Bishops condemn Belfast City Hall violence; Mothers Union new World Wide President ; MU Irish President; Media review
Women bishops - House of Laity meeting called; Bristol vote of no confidence; Christian Aid - Tax dodging is a 'moral issue’; Young Methodists discuss sexuality and gender; Scottish carers delighted by support services victory; CARE slams tax burden on families; C of E school super-academy launch; Scouts consider oath for atheists
The Advent search for God
View a Christmas forest in a parish church; Summer Madness at Christmas; Concerts for a variety of charities; Music Director shaves for charity; Church Music video; Media Review - Catholic bishops on abortion, NI binge drinking measures
Has the Arab Spring been hijacked by a movement seeking an Islamicist supremacy? Is there a pattern similar to that in Iran when the ousted Shah was replaced not by moderates and democrats but by hardline clerics and their political fellow travelers? Links to reports and analysis and reaction from Egyptians Christians.
The Archbishop of York has launched an online advent calendar on his website. Dr John Sentamu will offer a different reflection each day in the run-up to Christmas.
Guard our hearts… and raise our heads this Advent
Re–opening and Rededication of Lisburn Cathedral; Bishop on the ball for Simon; Christmas appeal from the Hydebank Chaplains; Media review - education; abortion and youth mental health
Government agrees to payday-loan cap after Welby pressure; Comparing Justin and Rowan; G8 must tackle 'ridiculously unfair' global system; Young people encouraged to campaign for human rights
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent the following Advent letter to the Primates of the Anglican Communion and Moderators of the United Churches:
Pray for justice and peace
Weekly Advent broadcasts on RTE. Review of Advent services this week
Tomorrow - December 3 - a daily series of podcasts with music, readings and reflections for Advent presented by the Church of England will commence.
The collect for Advent and a thought for the start of the season
Church services and events; Media reports on social work in NI, the abortion debate,women bishops and relations between Catholic bishops and priests
Letters of thanks written by ten young men from St Mark’s parish Dundela in East Belfast, serving at the Western Front, in response to parcels sent out to them from their home parish at Christmas 1917 provide a poignant seasonal theme for the final Archive of the Month of the year, digitized at the RCB Library, Dublin.
The Standing Committee of the General Synod met on Tuesday 20 November 2012 in Church House, Dublin.
Leveson Report - Bishop of Norwich calls for an end to current self-regulation; Wales -Bishop calls for Community Response to Floods; Media review
The Archbishop of Canterbury has recorded a video message for World AIDS Day (Today - 1st December 2012) in which he highlights that ‘nearly 2 million women, every year, die as a result of this condition’, a fact which underlines that the ‘HIV/AIDS challenge is about women’s empowerment and women’s liberty.’
Christian Students seek to plant ‘seeds of liberation’; French forced evictions of Roma people condemned; Prisoners for Peace Day to remember war resisters around the world; Indian court sentences 12 for attacking Christians
A service for Advent recorded in the Chapel of St John's College, Cambridge, will be broadcast on BBC3 Radio tomorrow at 4.00 pm.
Order of service follows and link for recording.
For the current financial situation
CNI Comment – Flags, finance and faith