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Subscribe to the weekly e-mail newsletter for a summary of news posts.THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-60834429933022752582010-12-14T01:13:00.000-08:002010-12-14T01:13:12.319-08:00Church was self-centred and arrogant, claims Archbishop Martin<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>ARCHBISHOP of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has denounced the Catholic Church for growing self-centred and arrogant before state-appointed commissions revealed the shocking scale of paedophile clergy. </b></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>- Report by John Cooney Religion Correspondent in “The Irish Idependent”, Monday December 13 2010. </b></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dr Martin made his remarks during Mass at the Church of the Assumption in Ballyfermot, the former parish of ex-priest Tony Walsh who was jailed last week for sexually abusing three boys.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the parish where he grew up, Dr Martin, who ranks in the Irish hierarchy as number two after Cardinal Sean Brady, described the cover-up of paedophile priests as a symptom of a deeper malaise in the church.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said he came to Ballyfermot yesterday to renew his apologies for the church's hushing up of Walsh's horrendous catalogue of abuse during the 1970s and 1980s.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I apologise unreservedly," he said. "As I look back, I see more clearly that the catastrophic manner in which the abuse was dealt with was a symptom of a deeper malaise within the Irish church.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The church had drifted into a position where its role in society had grown beyond what is legitimate", he said.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It acted as a world apart," he told Mass-goers.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It had often become self-centred and arrogant. It felt that it could be forgiving of abusers in a simplistic manner and rarely empathised with the hurt of children."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Martin said the church had to honestly acknowledge "with no buts and no conditionality" the gravity and the extent of what happened as it takes a first step on the road to renewal.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defrocked</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walsh (57), who was named in last year's Murphy Report on clerical child abuse in the Dublin diocese, was sentenced last Monday to 16 years in jail, with four suspended, for abusing three boys.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The now defrocked priest, known as Fr Filth and also as the Singing Priest for his Elvis impersonations at talent shows, was previously jailed for sexually abusing six other boys.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr Martin's comments came a day after the Wikileaks revelations about behind-the-scenes contacts between the Vatican and the Irish Government in the wake of the Murphy Report's publication last November.</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-32236413672834893482010-12-14T01:11:00.000-08:002010-12-14T01:11:02.770-08:00The Bethlehem Village Experience at Balmoral<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Walk the streets of Bethlehem village, meet the villagers for yourself, hear the sounds and savour the smells of those remarkable times at The Bethlehem Village Experience in the Livestock Hall at Balmoral Showgrounds on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th December.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The village of Bethlehem was a not a particularly pleasant place. Already under Roman occupation, the streets are thronged with more visitors than the small village can handle. The puppet ruler has flooded the streets with spies seeking out a threat to his authority. And in the midst of the chaos, rumour has it that a radical king has been born and is lying in an animal stable.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Dates & Times</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Friday 17th - 7-9pm</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>•<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Saturday 18th - 10am-9pm</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Further information: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">admin@christchurchbelfast.org</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Christ Church Belfast states it is non denominational.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>www.christchurchbelfast.org</b></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-74637223002973312832010-12-14T01:10:00.000-08:002010-12-14T01:10:31.308-08:00Archbishop’s view of Irish Church<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In an interview earlier this month with “The Irish Times”, Archbishop John Neill of Dublin said, “I think that institutional religion as a whole is going to take quite a knocking in Ireland.’ He said hefelt his generation “failed . . . in passing on love of the institution’’.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He did not, however, think they failed in passing on faith itself.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“There’s a lot there that is not expressed institutionally. I think a new form of church may easily emerge but I cannot discern what that will be. It is one of the reasons – not in a sense of despair – why I feel I should retire at this stage. Fresh leadership is needed in the Republic, to discern what is happening,” he said. His successor will be elected on February 2nd. The Church of Ireland has enjoyed sustained growth in recent years. This he attributes to the “very pro-active” approach of parishes. “The immigrant population has definitely made an impression,” he said. On top of which “a lot of people have been searching, a lot of people adrift, the Church of Ireland has become a home for many of them”. Quite a number were from a Catholic background.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There has also been strong growth in numbers training for ministry in Ireland with the church beginning to enter a period where “over-supply” of priests was becoming an issue. He felt the Church of Ireland had an advantage in that they allow women priests and clergy marry.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The clerical child sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church had injured the Church of Ireland too. But, he emphasised, “we have been very careful not to capitalise on this. It has happened to Anglican churches in other parts of the world where they had to take on the role of the state.”</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;">He agreed the scandals had “injured the brand” particularly where young clergy were concerned. They “feel very vulnerable. Many of them don’t wear clerical collars because of the abuse they have received on the streets”. Where State funding for Protestant schools in the Republic was concerned, he said relations with the Department of Education were now “much better” and that progress was being made.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;">On relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in Dublin he said “I don’t think they’ve ever been better”. His counterpart, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, was “a breath of fresh air to the scene. He came with a very strong ecumenical agenda [on becoming Archbishop in May 2004].</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;">“He brought the Catholic archdiocese straight into the Dublin Council of Churches, to which all other churches were already affiliated. At each level he has worked with us,” he said.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;">But, if ecumenical relations in Dublin are good, the same cannot be said of other levels. The announcement by the Vatican, that it was setting up a separate personal prelature for Anglican clergy, including bishops, who were unhappy over how their communion was dealing with the ordination of women and gay priests “was not expected”.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;">It was seen “in many Anglicans quarters as an unfriendly thing to do”. Similarly, the continuing reference by the Pope to Protestant churches as ecclesial communities has “hurt a lot”.</div><div><br />
</div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-9174943702056500762010-12-14T01:09:00.001-08:002010-12-14T01:09:10.367-08:00Singing the Faith, telling the story<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A website is offering a new insight into the story behind the new Methodist hymn collection, Singing the Faith. </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyone can also now take advantage of the pre-publication discounts on Singing the Faith. These include a saving of £5 on the full music edition of the collection, £2.50 on the words edition and £5 on the electronic words edition. Discounts are available when people order Singing the Faith from Methodist Publishing – </span><a href="http://www.methodistpublishing.org.uk/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.methodistpublishing.org.uk</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 01733 235962. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Visitors to </span><a href="http://www.singingthefaith.org.uk/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.singingthefaith.org.uk</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, can read about the journey from the initial proposal for a new collection through to the work now being done to launch the final Singing the Faith collection in 2011. This section of the website will expand as the story continues to grow, and people will soon be able to read about the many talents that have gone into the making of this definitive collection. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Revd Barbara Bircumshaw, Chair of the Music Resources Group, said: “This whole process has been a real labour of love, involving many people who have given freely of their time and talents. It’s been a long road, but we’re really excited about Singing the Faith and are pleased to be able to share our story.” </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Visitors to </span><a href="http://www.singingthefaith.org.uk/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.singingthefaith.org.uk</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, can also take a peek inside the collection at the full list of hymns and songs, check out the online Users Guide and read John Wesley’s Rules for Singing. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">People can also pre-order the free Singing the Faith sampler, which will be published in January 2011.</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-72544682414067863042010-12-13T01:08:00.000-08:002010-12-13T01:08:17.417-08:00Revival 2011 renewal events<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Revival 2011 is an initiative to mobilise the church across denominations "for the single purpose of seeing God's revival and blessing come to this nation." </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The guest speaker at a series of events is RT Kendall with worship led by Robin Mark.On Friday 11th February an interdenominational Students' Conference will be held at Union Theological College when the speaker will again be RT Kendall. It is an opportunity for students currently training in ministry and mission for home and overseas service to attend an event focused on revival and God’s calling.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bookings will be organized through the different theological colleges</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Reverend Andrew Forster is a member of the clerical panel of reference for the events which are being organised by Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.revivalscoming.org/</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://loweonline.org/revival</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-27290696441503818392010-12-13T01:06:00.001-08:002010-12-13T01:06:52.753-08:00Reflect - Youth Leaders Weekend 2011<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reflect brings a great combination of a fun fuelled/faith driven weekend - for youth leaders, especially as they seek out means and ways of being support to young people, who have a desire to explore their faith, grow their faith and serve in faith.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Where:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Whitepark Youth Hostel on the North Coast<br />
</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Fri 7-9 January 2011<br />
</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What?</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> DISCIPLESHIP</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stephen Patterson (YFC NI) is the facillitator– for leaders to learn, discuss, reflect how they disciple young people.<br />
<br />
As a community of leaders there will be time to REFLECT on faith, and on the personal journey with Christ. </span> </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peter Huey & co will facilitate the corporate worship.<br />
<br />
For more info see </span> <a href="http://www.ciyd.org/"><span style="color: #322ce1; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.ciyd.org</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cost:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> £40 (per person – full board</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-56988629677655107832010-12-13T01:05:00.002-08:002010-12-13T01:05:38.804-08:00E3 Schools Worker for East Belfast<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The E3 project is looking for a person to serve the local schools by involvement in lessons, assemblies, SU groups; working alongside pupils and teachers and equipping local churches to engage more effectively in their schools.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Applicants should be in sympathy with the ethos of Scripture Union.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Contact Jonathan Parkes for the job description and application form.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Closing date for receipt of all applications is 6 January 2011 at 5.00 pm.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scripture Union, 157 Albertbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 4PS,<br />
Tel: 028 9045 4806<br />
Fax: 028 9073 9758</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Email: info@suni.co.uk</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The E3 Project</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.suni.co.uk/schools/e3.php</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-46096029037246778572010-12-13T01:05:00.000-08:002010-12-13T01:05:00.766-08:00Part-time Youth Worker Post - Belfast<div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The First Step Centre wishes to appoint a part time youth worker to join their youth team and lead the young women's group.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The successful candidate will have an exciting role running youth work programmes in the First Step Centre. Working directly with young people the post will be both challenging and rewarding. The post is for 10 hours per week and requires the applicant to work during evenings and weekends.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The </span><a href="http://www.firststepcentre.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First Step Centre</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has been open as a youth centre for 17 years<br />
working with young people from a range of backgrounds coming from one<br />
of the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland. The First Step Centre is located at 116 York Road, Belfast. BT15 3HF and is an project of </span><a href="http://www.jennymountmethodistchurch.co.uk/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jennymount Methodist Church</span></span></a></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Application packs are available via </span><a href="http://www.communityni/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.communityni</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (</span><a href="http://www.communityni.org/job/community-youth-worker-young-women-0"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.communityni.org/job/community-youth-worker-young-women-0</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">).</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Please </span><a href="mailto:jonny@firststepcentre.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e-mail</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Jonny Lamberton: jonny@firststepcentre.com or call 028 9074 4040 ext 3 if you have any questions.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Closing Date</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Wednesday 15th December at 12:00.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Interviews </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Friday17th December.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Post funded by the Methodist Church in Ireland.</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-24681648224902725892010-12-13T01:04:00.000-08:002010-12-13T01:04:08.813-08:00Mission team opportunities for young people<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Down and Dromore diocese is offering three short term mission opportunities for young people this summer 2011 in Albany, Argentina and Uganda.</span></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Albany Team with DDYC</span></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dates: Friday 8th - Tuesday 26th July 2011.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who for: Applicants aged 16-25 keen to gain experience in leadership with children and young people.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost: £750, which includes all travel, food, accommodation, insurance and 2 days sight-seeing in New York. </span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing: Working in a Children's camp with 8-13 year olds.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team: It is intended to take a team of around 10 people.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apply: Forms available from </span></span><a href="mailto:andrew@downanddromore.org"><span style="color: #322ce1; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">andrew@downanddromore.org</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> with a closing date of 28th Jan 2011.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Northern Argentina Team with SAMS</span></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dates: Approximately 8th -21st August 2011. Dates will be confirmed in January.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who for: Over 18’s. Some knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost: £1650 which may be reduced depending on travel costs</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing: Visiting churches and indigenous communities, faith sharing, children’s work and some practical projects.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team: It is intended to take a team of around 8 people.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apply: Forms available from </span></span><a href="mailto:andrew@downanddromore.org"><span style="color: #322ce1; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">andrew@downanddromore.org</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> with a closing date of 28th Jan 2011.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uganda Team with Waakisa Ministries</span></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dates: Mid to late August 2011</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who for: Over 18’s willing to meet Ugandans, do some basic teaching (particularly to young people) and share their faith</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost: Approx. £1200</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing: Health Education - travelling to rural villages to resource and teach on threats faced through AIDS, malaria and so on. Sharing faith stories.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Team Size: Around 8 people</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apply: Forms available from Sharon Hamil </span></span><span style="color: #322ce1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="mailto:shababes@gmail.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">shababes@gmail.com</span></span></a></span></div><div><br />
</div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-69190339833655656182010-12-12T01:01:00.002-08:002010-12-12T05:46:42.034-08:00Anglican Communion news in brief<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">USA: Posting the President on peace</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dominica: Church concern for climate change</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Korea: Churches seek international support for peace initiatives</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scotland: Woman to be Director of Ordinands</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">England: “Lloyd's List” supports Mission to Seafarer</span>s</b></div></span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">USA: Posting the President on peace</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Churches for Middle East Peace is urging Christians throughout the United States to send Christmas cards to President Barack Obama to highlight their prayers for his efforts towards ending the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.The initiative launches a year-long national interfaith campaign, For the Peace of Jerusalem, to engage Christians nationwide in public advocacy for Israeli-Palestinian peace. It is organised by CMEP, a coalition of 24 national denominations and church organisations, including the Episcopal Church.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dominica: Church concern for climate change</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is estimated that by 2050, 80 percent of the rivers in the Dominican Republic will have dried up unless something is done to stop deforestation and develop a strategy to slow climate change, said Silvio Minier of Oxfam.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Minier, a former Jesuit priest who now works in advocacy and programs for Oxfam based in Santo Domingo, addressed the Episcopal Climate Justice Gathering Dec. 8, giving an overview of the local effects of climate change</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More than 30 people -- mostly Anglicans and Episcopalians and a few ecumenical seminarians -- from Cuba, the United States, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, Haiti, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic met Dec. 7-10 at the Bishop Kellogg Center to explore intersection between poverty and climate change, and perhaps frame the conversation in terms of "climate justice." The meeting was convened by Bishop Marc Andrus of the Episcopal Diocese of California, and Bishop Naudal Gomes, Diocese of Curitiba, Brazil.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span><br />
<i><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Korea: Churches seek international support for peace initiatives</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Archbishop of Korea has thanked USPG for galvanising international support and solidarity as military tensions rise in the Korean peninsula.His message was delivered following a month in which four died when North Korea shelled a South Korean island – with the USA now planning a military drill that North Korea says could provoke war.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Archbishop the Most Revd Paul Kim Geun-Sang’s wrote to USPG: ‘Thank you very much for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. It is really wonderful to know we have friends, good friends, abroad to keep us strong and faithful, especially at times like this.’</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">USPG Director the Revd Canon Edgar Ruddock said: ‘The Anglican Church in Korea can feel quite isolated so international support is particularly welcome.’ Canon Ruddock represented USPG in Seoul this month at a conference organised by the Anglican group Towards Peace in Korea (TOPIK).</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scotland: Woman to be Director of Ordinands</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church has appointed the Rev Canon Dr Alison Peden as the Provincial Director of Ordinands, taking over from the Very Rev Kevin Pearson who is now Bishop–elect of Argyll & The Isles. Dr Peden is Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Stirling and Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth and will take up the role of Provincial Director of Ordinands in January 2011.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In announcing the new appointment The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church said “I am delighted that Alison Peden has accepted the invitation of the College of Bishops to serve as the new Provincial Director of Ordinands in succession to Bishop-elect Kevin Pearson. The provincial and diocesan networks which Kevin has built up provide processes of vocational discernment which are both ordered and spiritually insightful. Alison brings to this role a passion for vocation and ministry. She has been involved in our processes of training for ministry at provincial and diocesan levels and has been developing programmes of Ministry and Education Development in the Diocese of St Andrews. Alison carries her great resources of scholarship and spirituality with grace and a lightness of touch. I believe that she will help us to foster the next generation of clergy who will provide leadership for our Church.”</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">England: “Lloyd's List” supports The Mission to Seafarers</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The newspaper, which is one of the world's oldest publications, has supported the Mission for many years and recognises the charity as "one of the industry's most important charities, and a vital support network for seafarers around the world."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deputy Editor Richard Meade and events manager Anke Muller presented the Revd Tom Heffer with a cheque for £5,763.80 following its recently Lloyd's List Global Awards Dinner at which the Mission was the chosen charity.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"I'm absolutely delighted to receive this cheque," said the Revd Tom Heffer. "We have had a long association with Lloyd's List over the year and this money will help us to continue providing services to seafarers in 230 ports around the world."</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b></b></div></i></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-13367400068745792802010-12-12T01:01:00.000-08:002010-12-12T01:01:02.773-08:00UK in-work child poverty highest on record<div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 14.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A new report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows the number of children living in poverty in working households in the UK has increased to 2.1 million – the highest on record.</span></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The thirteenth Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion report, written by a team from the New Policy Institute (NPI), is the first to be published under the new government. It looks at the long-term trends, as well as more recent changes from the recession, and highlights the challenges faced.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The report, published on 6 December 2010, shows that, despite the recession, overall the number of children living in poverty fell to 3.7 million, with the number in workless households falling to 1.6 million, the lowest since 1984. But those in working families rose slightly to 2.1 million, and they now account for 58 per cent of the total.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Co-author of the report, Tom MacInnes, said: "The fall in child poverty among those in out-of-work households came about despite an estimated rise of 60,000 in the number of children living in workless households over the year. So, we can almost certainly say that it is related to the rise in both Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit in 2008. Without the substantial increases in these benefits, the numbers of children in poverty would be around half a million higher."</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Times; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He added: "With more than half of all children in poverty belonging to working families, it is simply not possible to base anti-poverty policies on the idea that work alone is a route out of poverty. Child poverty in working households must be given the same focus as out-of-work poverty. Until this happens, debates about poverty will continue to be misleading".</span></span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-54155276006117395932010-12-11T08:52:00.001-08:002010-12-11T08:52:37.461-08:00Leaks: Ireland irked Vatican on sovereignty<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Newly released U.S. diplomatic cables indicate that the Vatican felt "offended" that Ireland failed to respect Holy See "sovereignty" by asking high-ranking churchmen to answer questions from an Irish government commission probing decades of sex abuse of minors by clergy.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That the Holy See used its diplomatic immunity status as a tiny-city state to try to thwart Ireland's government-led probe has long been known. But the WikiLeaks cables, published by Britain's The Guardian newspaper on Saturday, contain delicate, behind-the-scenes diplomatic assessments of the highly charged situation.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to the deputy to the Irish ambassador to the Holy See, the Irish government gave in to Vatican pressure and allowed the church officials to avoid answering questions from the inquiry panel, according to one of the cables from a U.S. diplomat.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ambassador Noel Fahey apparently told U.S. diplomat Julieta Valls Noyes that the sex abuse scandal was a tricky one to manage.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Irish government wanted to be seen as cooperating with the investigation because its own education department was implicated in decades of abuse, but politicians were reluctant to insist Vatican officials answer the investigators' questions, the cables indicate.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One cable discloses the behind-the-scenes diplomatic moves by which Irish politicians tried to persuade the Vatican to cooperate with the probe.</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See also - The Guardian</span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 8.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/233831</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-87864536257461975862010-12-11T00:49:00.000-08:002010-12-11T00:49:56.866-08:00The week ahead in the C of I - Dec 12 - 19<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sun12 </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">St Patrick's, Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The combined choirs of Saint Patrick’s & Christ Church cathedrals will sing evensong at St Patrick's cathedral at 3.15pm, where the anthem will be Handel, Messiah (part one) with orchestra.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.stpatrickscathedral.ie</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A special Taizé service will take place in the cathedral crypt and main nave at 5.00pm. Organised by the Diocesan Ministry of Healing and the Diocesan Lay Ministry. The beautiful chants of Taizé will accompany the liturgy which will be a Eucharist with the laying on of hands. </span><span style="color: #2242a8; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://cccdub.ie/index.php?/special-services/</span></span></div><div style="color: #2242a8; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Drumcondra Parish Church - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Concert - Christmas Carols by the Fingal Chamber Choir in aid of the Jack & Jill Foundation, 4pm</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">St Doulagh - Balgriffin</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Service of Carols by Candlelight, 4pm</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">St Patrick’s - Dalkey</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dexter Family Ensemble 7pm</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Enniscorthy - St Aidan’s</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Enniscorthy 1500 Christmas Ecumenical Songs of Praise. 7 p.m.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clogher Cathedral - Carol service</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Diocesan service of Nine Lessons and Carols. 7.30pm</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The service will be led by the Rt Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Bishop of Clogher, and the Very Revd Kenneth Hall, Dean of Clogher and Rector of Enniskillen. Taking part in the service will be a number of readers, choirs, soloists and instrumentalists from across the diocese. The organist will be Glenn Moore, and proceeds from the collection will go towards supporting the work of Kindfund and the Holy Land Medical Relief Fund.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 14.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 17.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mon 13 </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CMSI monthly prayer gathering - Belfast</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For the people and the work of CMS Ireland, their global partners and their regions. CMS Ireland Offices, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Belfast</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> at 7.30pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tues 14</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Charity Carol Service. In aid of Huntington’s disease.The Cathedral Girls’ Choir. 1.15pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Belfast Cathedral</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grosvenor Grammar School Carol Service,7.30 pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mindset - Dundonald</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mindset is for all involved in teaching the good news of the Gospel to young people, whether paid or volunteer, young or not so young, and is non-denominational. Speaker: Rev Richard McIlhatton (Christ Church Presbyterian) Monthly meetings are held in St Elizabeth's Church Halls (Church Green, Dundonald). 7.30 pm.</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Concert - New Dublin Voices 8.00 pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More information is available from </span><span style="color: #2242a8; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.newdublinvoices.com</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Wed 15</b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Belfast Cathedral</b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Carol Service</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,7.00 pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert, 8.00pm.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Join the choirs for Christ Church Cathedral for carols and festive fun.Tickets: €18 (full price); €14 (concessions) available from: </span><span style="color: #2242a8; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.tickets.ie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></div><div style="color: #2242a8; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.tickets.ie/Listing.aspx/Venue?id=277&ViewType=Info</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">and City Discs, Temple Bar Lane South, Dublin 2. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thurs 16</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sitouts for Charities - Belfast & Dublin </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Commence at Belfast Cathedral and St Ann’s Dublin</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Belfast Cathedral</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hazelwood Integrated Secondary and Primary Schools Carol Service</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Armagh </span></b></span>Community Carol Service</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Armagh City & District Council, Market Square. 6.30pm </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fri 17</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Belfast Cathedral</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Prayers for RIR in Afghanistan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">,11.00 am</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Irish Baroque Orchestra Messiah 7.30pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Irish Baroque Orchestra welcomes special guests Resurgam chamber choir for a performance of one of the most popular choral works ever written, Handel’s Messiah. Tickets €35/€25 / €20 (concessions) available from: </span><span style="color: #2242a8; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.irishbaroqueorchestra.com/boxoffice/index.php?event_id=38</span></span></div><div style="color: #2242a8; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hillsborough Parish Church</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Priory Singers, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O Magnum Mysterium</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 8 pm.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Music by Lauridsen, Whitacre, Darke, Carter and Ledger.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Conducted by Robert Thompson. £10/£8</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mulled wine and mince pies. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.thepriorysingersbelfast.com</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sat 18 </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christmas Market - </span></span>Santa in the Crypt 10.00 a.m </span><span style="color: #2242a8; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.cccdub.ie</span></span></div><div style="color: #2242a8; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Comber Parish Church</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Priory Singers, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O Magnum Mysterium</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, 8 pm.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Music by Lauridsen, Whitacre, Darke, Carter and Ledger.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Conducted by Robert Thompson. £10/£8</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mulled wine and mince pies. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.thepriorysingersbelfast.com</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sun 19 </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Belfast Cathedral </span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Carols for the City</span></span>, 3.30 pm</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christ Church Cathedral - Dublin</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Service of Five Lesson and Carols, 3.30 pm</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-38993168488395262872010-12-11T00:37:00.000-08:002010-12-11T00:37:56.047-08:00C of I News briefs<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">RTE Broadcast</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">RTE Radio 1 will broadcast Morning Worship with USPG Ireland and the Choir of Wilson's Hospital School, Multyfarnham.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First female Choral Scholar at St Patrick’s</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Judith Lyons, a past pupil of the Cathedral Grammar school and founding member of the Girls Cathedral Choir has been appointed the first female Choral Scholar at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. This award is well deserved after many years of dedicated service. Along with the other members of the Girls Choir she will took part in a concert in TCD on 22nd and 23rd November with Dublin University Choral Society.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">St Patrick’s Organ scholar</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harry Meehan is a Form V student in St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School, Dublin, with a remarkable musical talent. He played the organ in the Cathedral at the school May Concert this year. Currently Harry is studying under Tristan Russcher to become an Associate of the Royal College of Organists. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In September 2010 he was appointed Organ Scholar in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. As part of his scholarship he assists both Stuart Nicholson and David Leigh when they are playing for services. He also plays for some services himself assisted by his brother Luke. Those present at the General Synod service this year heard Harry play an organ duet with David Leigh, assistant organist in the cathedral.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christmas Charity efforts</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On Wednesday Dec 15, the Bishops of Cork will join in an ecumenical blessing of the SHARE crib at Daunt Square and this will mark the start of the annual SHARE fast. At St Ann's church, Dawson Street, on Thursday afternoon, Dec 16 the Archbishop of Dublin will launch the ‘Black Santa' sit-out by the Revd David Gillespie and his colleagues.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">C of I archives feature</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The final programme in the TG4 series, Who Lived in my House? will feature Castle Ellen, an early nineteenth century house near Athenry, Co. Galway, which was built by the Lambert family. The programme, which will be broadcast on Thursday evening Dec 16 at 8pm, will include sequences involving Church of Ireland archives which was filmed in the Representative Church Body Library.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols,The Collegiate Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Youghal, County Cork</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 12.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols sung by the Clerks Choral, directed by Ian Sexton, will take place on </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Monday 20th December 2010 at 8pm</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.<br />
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The music will include: 'Once in Royal' - WARLOCK; Adam Lay yBounden; Good King Wenceslas - HEAD; The Road to Bethlehem; O Little Town - FLECHA; Riu Riu Chiu (XVC); While Shepherds Watched - WARLOCK; Bethlehem Down; God rest Ye' - DARKE; In the Bleak Midwinter; Hark the Herald; and O Come All Ye Faithful. MOZART, F Minor / Major</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For further information, visit: </span> <a href="javascript:void(0);"><span style="color: #204d86; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.youghal.cork.anglican.org</span></span></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i>See also C of I - The Week Ahead</i></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-15265803204287537022010-12-11T00:35:00.000-08:002010-12-11T00:35:40.165-08:00C of I Sudan concerns to be raised in European meeting<div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Fears for the future of Southern Sudan raised by representatives of the Church of Ireland at a meeting with Irish Government officials will be conveyed to the next meeting of EU Foreign Ministers. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>The Church of Ireland Sudan Partnership Group met with Kevin Dowling, Director of the Irish Government’s Africa Section on December 9, exactly a month to the day before a Referendum in Sudan gives the people the opportunity to vote to become the world’s newest state and acquire independence from the North. Also present at the meeting were Pat Bourne and Martin Gallagher of Irish Aid.</b></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During a lengthy meeting in Iveagh House, Dublin, members of the Sudan Partnership Group stressed their desire for a peaceful and fair referendum, with freedom for all to vote; the opportunity for Southerners living in the north to be given the opportunity to vote without retribution; and expressed concerns about a separate referendum in Abyei, an area they fear could be a potential catalyst for a return to war, especially in the border areas.<br />
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They also raised the issue of provision for Sudanese nationals living outside Southern Sudan to vote, learning that any Sudanese people living in Ireland would have to travel to London to register and to vote, and discussed possible outcomes both to the referendum and the ending of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which will run out on July 8 next year.<br />
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The Church delegation was assured that the Irish Government was very aware of the issues in Sudan in advance of the referendum, and that it would continue to be a focus of Foreign Affairs for some time.<br />
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All members of the Sudan Partnership Group have visited Sudan during the past year. The Rev Canon Cecil Wilson, former Director of Mission with CMSI, said after the meeting: “The warmth of the reception and the time they gave us and the willingness to remain in contact over this issue was extremely positive.”<br />
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David Gough of CMSI has been in Southern Sudan twice this year, returning home only two weeks before the meeting with the Irish officials. “The Irish Government has identified Abyei as their main concern which mirrors the concerns brought to us by Archbishop Deng and our global partners,” he said.<br />
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CMSI has offered to keep Irish Government officials advised of any developments on the ground brought to its attention by its partners in Sudan.<br />
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Archdeacon Stephen Forde, chair of the Diocese of Connor Council for Mission, travelled to Sudan in January and July this year. He said: “I was impressed that Mr Dowling and his team were very up to speed with the situation. Their understanding accorded with the views that had been expressed to us by those we have come to know in Sudan.”<br />
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Mr Dowling said his officials would brief Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin on the issues raised by the Sudan Partnership Group, and these would be on the agenda at the EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday December 13.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See earlier report - this site</span></i></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-73757363948647903102010-12-10T08:46:00.001-08:002010-12-10T08:46:49.878-08:00C of E may axe bishops to cut costs<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Guardian reports that the Church of England is considering "radical and realistic" recommendations to axe bishops and dioceses as a way of avoiding "wasteful duplication" and saving money.</span></b><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A 120-page report, published today by the Dioceses Commission, proposed that there should be just one diocese serving Anglicans in West and North Yorkshire, instead of the current three, and that lower-paid junior bishops should replace higher-paid senior ones. It also suggested the diocesan bishops of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds, and Wakefield be compensated "for loss of office".</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The report said the new "decentralised" diocese would be split into five areas, each with its own area bishop and council, to achieve a "strong element of devolution". It claimed that area bishops would be "closer in every sense to their clergy and people than it has been possible for the diocesan bishops to be".</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dr Priscilla Chadwick, who chaired the review, said the report was "mission-led and not finance-driven", though she said money would be saved through the cutbacks and mergers.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"We have asked which structures will best enable the Church of England to relate to the communities of Yorkshire, which will be most intelligible to non-churchgoers, which would eliminate wasteful duplication, and which are likely to prove resilient and sustainable into the medium term," she said.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The report identified several areas where spending would be reduced if the proposals were accepted: the number of senior bishops, and their associated housing, stipends, staff support and operating costs.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The commission spoke to about 250 people in Yorkshire, including clergy, laity and councillors, and is now open for consultation. The feedback will determine whether the commission prepares a "draft reorganisation scheme" in June.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The earliest any scheme would be considered by the Church of England's governing body would be 2013.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">See also:</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=105295</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8192654/</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The full report is available at www.diocom.org/Yorkshire.</span>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-70796557238981645342010-12-10T08:45:00.000-08:002010-12-10T08:45:46.628-08:00Wrong to ban RE infuence - report states<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A new report from the theology think tank Theos has criticised attempts to restrict the influence of religious beliefs on education.</span></b><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“Doing God in Education” is authored by Professor Trevor Cooling, director of the National Institute for Christian Education Research at Canterbury Christ Church University.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He says attempts to ban religious faith from shaping education as misguided and harmful.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In particular, he challenges the prevailing assumption that education should be based on human knowledge and rationality because they are objective and independent of the “clutter” of religious beliefs.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Professor Cooling warns that such a position only privileges secular worldviews and so-called “commonsense” values in the classroom.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“The problem with this position is its dependence on the particular humanist belief that religion is ‘clutter’ when it comes to knowledge. It is not therefore fair or inclusive to base public education on this approach because it unjustifiably privileges a secular view of knowledge,” he states.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instead, Professor Cooling argues that humanists and Christians need to recognise that each other’s beliefs are integral to the development of their own interpretations of issues such science and the family.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Professor Cooling said there was a need for atheists to change the way in which they regard their own beliefs and accept that religious beliefs are not simply “clutter”.</span><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He asserted that Christians were not looking for religious worldviews to trump non-religious worldviews, but rather that they be treated as “equal partners”.</span>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-4698571651788857612010-12-09T13:19:00.000-08:002010-12-09T13:19:04.914-08:00The political context of Christmas 2010<div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In these extracts from his Christmas message, Bishop Michael Burrows of Cashel and Ossary points to the context of Christmas 2010 in Ireland.</span></b></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Every time the story of Christmas is told and retold it happens in a specific political and historical context. It brings the hope of peace in times of war, a recall to deeper priorities in times of prosperity, a message of God’s empathy with the poor at times of shortage. And so it is that this year in Ireland we hear again the message of the angels and in heart and mind go to Bethlehem at a moment of economic meltdown and great political uncertainty. Just a few years ago we proclaimed the Christmas Gospel in a context of considerable wealth and affluence. And – rightly – we expect the story of this season to illuminate our situation in both contexts...”</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“There will be less money to spend this year and many reasons to be downcast. Yet, as well as its annual moment of genuine jollity in the depths of winter, Christmas brings hope because it makes those who think they control the world stand anew in the presence of values that will triumph and endure long after the politicians of a particular generation have been forgotten. At Christmas the political world, in respect for the baby of Bethlehem, holds a kind of annual truce from its normal squabbles and clashes, and lets the untarnished light of integrity and truth shine forth from the stable. Again for a day bruised humanity sees a vision of what it should be capable of becoming.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This message is not meant to be a cheap attack on politicians – far from it. More than most they deserve our prayers and I have always striven to take a high view of the political vocation. But just as the first Christmas shed its light in an unpromising political context, so too must this one. So, daring to paraphrase Scripture, I would want to assert – ‘In the year of grace 2010, when Mary McAleese was President of Ireland, Brian Cowan was Taoiseach and Mary Coughlan Tanaiste, the light of Christmas shone in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it’.”</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-59982688628599594942010-12-09T13:18:00.001-08:002010-12-09T13:18:16.589-08:00Jerusalem synod meets in Jordan<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This week Bishop John Bryson Chane of the Diocese of Washington, D.C., joined more than 100 members of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in Amman, Jordan, for the annual Majma (synod) to review and administer the work of the Jerusalem diocese which covers five countries.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chane, along with his wife Karen and other Episcopalians from the Washington diocese, joined Bishop Suheil Dawani, the clergy and leaders of the Jerusalem diocesan institutions at the meeting.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"This valued partnership continues to grow in mutual support on issues benefitting both dioceses, respecting each other's differences," according to a press release from the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chane spoke of the energy of the Majma and the faithful witness to Christ. "It is not about the size of the diocese. It is about what it does and what it offers to the rest of the church worldwide," he said.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Majma began with an opening service held at St. Mary's, Irbid, a church that was consecrated in August. Discussions and business sessions continued for the following two days, interspersed with fellowship and devotions led by various members.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem includes 27 parishes and supports 33 institutions throughout Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The U.S. Episcopal Church continues to support the Jerusalem diocese through partnerships and companion diocese relationships. The Diocese of Washington entered into a three-year companion relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in January. The relationship will be in effect until January 2013, at which point both dioceses will evaluate whether or not to continue.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The institutions of the Jerusalem diocese include hospitals, clinics, kindergartens and schools, vocational training programs, as well as centers for the deaf, the disabled and the elderly.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Supporting the Christian presence through local congregations and reaching out to neighbors in great need are diocesan priorities which are faithfully followed in spite of the many challenges in this region," the press release said.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During the Majma, Dawani honoured the service of long-standing members of the diocese, including Suhaila Tarazi from the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and Farida Shatarh from the Home for the Elderly in Ashrafieh. Jamil Haddad also was honoured for his valued contribution to Irbid and the work there.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At the end of the Majma, Dawani "summed up by endorsing the spirit of unity he felt amongst the clergy despite working over the large area of five countries and often in difficult circumstances," the release said. "He encouraged all to be united as the Body of Christ as we seek to serve here in the Middle East."</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-37932468528232177572010-12-09T01:24:00.001-08:002010-12-09T01:24:44.748-08:00Micah Challenge - corruption key obstacle in fighting poverty<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A Micah Challenge report being released this week backs international advocacy efforts to tackle corruption as a key tool in eradicating poverty. The paper, launched on International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December 2010), refers to evidence of corruption impacting negatively on the poor in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and also in Europe.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Development campaigners have been arguing for some time that the practices of Western governments, businesses and agencies also need to come under scrutiny.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Open for Service: A Case for Good Governance urgently appeals for transparency in government, business and the global Christian Church.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It has been produced by Micah Challenge, a predominantly evangelical network seeking to mobilise Christian concern for anti-poverty action.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The document follows discussion between development practitioners, politicians, economists and academics reflecting the views of those living in extreme poverty and proposing solutions to corruption crimes, which could prevent Governments achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Joel Edwards, the international director of Micah Challenge, commented: “Corruption is a like a tower block on a runway. It accounts for over a trillion dollars going missing, and is a massive barricade to the well being of the poorest people in the world."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He added: "It’s difficult to define, complex in its treatment and entrenched in business and political systems. No wonder it has gone on underground for so long. Simply put, corruption kills people.”</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Rt Rev Dr Benjamin Kwashi, Archbishop of Jos in Central Nigeria, spoke on corruption as a global problem at Africa’s Transformation conference this year: “Compared to corruption in the West, Africa is an apprentice.”</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The launch of the paper follows Micah’s10.10.10 campaign during which 60 million Christians in over 70 nations prayed for an end to extreme poverty.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This global event formed part of a growing movement mobilising evangelical churches to play a greater part in alleviating poverty.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> http://www.micahchallenge.org/get-involved/good-governance</span></div><div><br />
</div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-46963915783052057572010-12-09T01:23:00.000-08:002010-12-09T01:23:12.179-08:00Governments must keep HIV fund commitment - C Aid<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The aftermath of World AIDS Day 2010 represents a critical milestone in international governments’ responses towards the on-going global HIV epidemic, says Christian Aid. Although December 2010 marks the G8 deadline set at the 2005 Millennium Summit to provide universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support for the 33.3 million people living with HIV worldwide, there are still approximately 10 million who desperately need immediate treatment but are unable to access it.</span></b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"In this financial climate, it is tempting for governments to reduce their spending on international development and focus their energies at home, so the UK government has been brave in maintaining its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent GNP on development," comments Nina O’Farrell, Christian Aid’s Head of HIV.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"However, despite significant progress in expanding access to HIV treatment – more than five million people in low- and middle-income countries now receive life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy compared to just 500,000 in 2003 – new infections continue to out-pace those receiving treatment by two to one worldwide," she says.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"This demonstrates that we cannot be complacent and must maintain a strong focus on HIV prevention, yet it is unclear how much money will now be channelled towards diseases of poverty such as HIV," O’Farrell continues.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The Department for International Development (DFID) in the UK is preparing a much needed malaria business plan, but where is its plan for HIV? Now is the time to beef up our response to HIV, not cut back. There is a very real danger that we could lose significant gains if funding for HIV is not maintained, or indeed scaled-up," declares the Christian Aid spokesperson.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The churches' development agency is maintaining its call on donor governments to keep their commitments to the fight against HIV.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Along with other British civil society organisations, it is asking for the UK to commit firmly its fair share of £840 million to Global Fund for 2011-13.</span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-1851453443964854212010-12-08T15:03:00.000-08:002010-12-08T15:03:17.618-08:002011 Michael Ramsey Prize shortlist<div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has announced the shortlist for the 2011 Michael Ramsey Prize (MRP). The prize will be awarded at Guardian Hay festival in May 2011.</span></b></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Archbishop commented "I am delighted with both the quality and strikingly diverse subject matter of this year's shortlist for the Michael Ramsey Prize. The extremely distinguished panel who will join me to judge and award the Prize at the Hay Festival next May have an exciting, but also a very challenging, job to do. What this shortlist shows is that the best of contemporary theological writing is shining a critical and creative light into some of the most challenging areas of our experience. This kind of theology is making a very strong claim to be included in the mainstream of critical thinking and reflection – exactly as Michael Ramsey would have wished."</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The shortlisted titles are:</span></b></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thomas E. Reynolds, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vulnerable Communion</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Brazos Press)</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Christopher Cocksworth, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Holding Together</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Canterbury)</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Richard Harries, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Re-enchantment of Morality</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (SPCK)</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Angel F. Montoya, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Theology of Food</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Wiley-Blackwell)</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Robert Hughes, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beloved Dust</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Continuum)</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">David Bentley Hart, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Atheist Delusions</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Yale University Press)</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The shortlisted books will now be read by the seven MRP judges who will come together in Hay-on-Wye on 26th May 2011 to choose the winning title.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The judges are:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Archbishop of Canterbury</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; his wife, theologian and teacher </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jane Williams</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, winner of the 2009 Michael Ramsey Prize, Professor </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Richard Bauckham</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; Bishop </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">John Inge</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Bishop of Worcester, the actor </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Simon Russell Beale</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">; </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Janet Soskice</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, Professor of Philosophical Theology at the University of Cambridge; and Revd </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lucy Winkett</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, writer, broadcaster and Rector of St James's Piccadilly.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The winner of the £10,000 prize will be announced at a Gala Prizegiving Lunch at the Guardian Hay Festival on 27th May 2011. The winning author will also receive a mosaic plaque hand made by ceramicist Dee Hardwicke. The other shortlisted authors will each receive £1,000 and a commemorative tile hand made by Dee Hardwicke.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As in 2005 (Tom Wright), 2007 (Timothy Radcliffe) and 2009 (Richard Bauckham) the Michael Ramsey Prize for 2011 will be awarded to the author of a theological work that is judged to contribute most towards advancing theology and making a lasting contribution to the faith and life of the Church.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 11.0px Verdana; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More information is available at </span></b><span style="color: #00407e;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.michaelramseyprize.org.uk</span></b></span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-28461077520064925562010-12-08T15:02:00.001-08:002010-12-08T15:02:14.664-08:00Biblical Association of the C of I to be formed<div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Church of Ireland, as an Anglican church, is committed to theological discourse using scripture, tradition, and reason. However, scripture offers special challenges for the modern context, and many of the current tensions within our Communion can be traced to differences over the interpretation and application of scripture. The current Anglican Consultative Council’s project 'The Bible in the Life of the Church' highlights the need for the Anglican churches to reflect seriously on the role which scripture plays in parish and theological life.</span></b></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Scriptural reading should be done both in reference to its original settings as well as the needs of believing communities. Reason insists we engage with the scientific and historical study of the Bible; tradition demands we do so as a faithful community. All too often such work is relegated merely to formal degree programmes, where it can fail to enrich parish worship and community. A forum which facilitates the feeding of continuing biblical education into the life of the church is therefore to be welcomed.<br />
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To these ends, suggestions are invited for and participation in the formation of a Biblical Association of the Church of Ireland. This organisation will welcome the active participation of both clergy and laity, including biblical scholars, Religious Education teachers, and other interested believers. The organisation would aim to enrich and deepen the use of the Bible in the Church of Ireland by encouraging rigorous and faith-based biblical study. Through the encouragement of diocesan biblical education, periodic events, study material suggestions, and church-wide study themes, the efforts of this group will facilitate the Church of Ireland’s development of a communal approach to scripture. To offer suggestions, get involved, or to join a mailing list, please contact </span> <a href="http://dublin.anglican.org/baci.anglican@gmail.com"><span style="color: #6a0b0a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">baci.anglican@gmail.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Expressions of interest for an interim committee are encouraged. The first AGM is planned for early in 2011.<br />
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Although focused on reading and studying the Bible as an Anglican community, it is recognised that we share the scriptures with other Christian traditions and with Jewish traditions. It is hoped that the work on collectively reading scripture in a rigorous and reflective way will open new avenues for ecumenical dialogue both within the Anglican Communion and with other communities.The inaugural effort is to encourage collective reflection on the theme of Creation during Lent 2011, in tandem with The Bible in the Life of the Church’s Task 1. Alternatively another focus could be the recently announced theme of Social Justice if material is available from the ACC in time. Suggested passages, questions, reflections, and methods of feedback will be provided for the use of parishes and diocese. The results of this work will then be presented to the General Synod in conjunction with a proposal for continuation. For more information on this initiative or to offer suggestions, please contact </span> <a href="http://dublin.anglican.org/baci.anglican@gmail.com"><span style="color: #6a0b0a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">baci.anglican@gmail.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, or visit the temporary website at </span><a href="http://bibliahibernica.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #6a0b0a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://bibliahibernica.wordpress.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. <br />
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It is hoped that this Biblical Association of the Church of Ireland will better encourage biblical scholars within Ireland to engage with their parishes’ needs and will help build the Church of Ireland as a biblically grounded community.</span> </div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4179698138530392745.post-19219011321677325792010-12-08T08:01:00.000-08:002010-12-08T08:01:02.318-08:00New Director of CMSI commissioned<div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CMS Ireland members and friends attended a Commissioning Service for new Director of Mission, Ronnie Briggs, at St Paul’s, Lisburn on Dec 7.</span></b></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Most Revd Alan Harper and the Rt Revd Jeremiah Taama, Bishop of Kajiado Diocese, Kenya, and the rector the Revd James Carson. conducted the service including an Act of Commissioning in which ‘partnership’ was a major theme .</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Archbishop Harper called Christians all over Ireland to work together in mission – he said, 'We’re in it together!' and commented that 'mission agencies were a vital part of the Church', acting as a reminder to be involved in mission, showing the best practice methods and offering support to mission efforts.</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bishop Taama challenged the congregation on their understanding of mission, saying, 'Sometimes our view is narrow. Mission is more than money, mission is more than the CMS Ireland offices, mission is more than Mission Partners – it is about sharing, coming together – in partnership.'</span></div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #2d2d2d; font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ronnie Briggs in an address urged the congregation to stand with the Society through this next chapter. He called them to ‘own’ the society and feel that they have a part to play in mission. </span></div>THE IRISH CHURCH REVUE AND CHURCH NEWS IRELANDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13171470081975617052noreply@blogger.com0