12 reports
Canon arrested, but all in a good cause!
Revd Canon Cecil Wilson has been shopped by two Kilmore Parishioners, and found himself being ‘arrested’ in church on 15 February. He was cautioned by the PSNI, before being incarcerated in Kilmore Church Hall. Cecil was then quickly sentenced to the hard labour of raising the £300 ‘bail’ for his release.
He was detained on the charge of, “Being in charge of two canons without a firearms licence.” The canons in question are brothers Frank and John Bell, both previously rectors in the Diocese of Down and Dromore and now Kilmore parishioners.
“I was ‘shopped’ by Margaret White and Andrea Armstrong,” said a strangely jovial Cecil. “Margaret’s brother Robert, had a serious stroke at the age of 50 and was the first person in Northern Ireland to receive a revolutionary new immediate treatment.” Robert was there to witness the arrest and is something of a walking miracle, so successful was the thrombolytic treatment he received.
And therein lies the reason for Cecil’s brush with the law. Throughout 2012, the Stroke Association is the chosen charity of Police Forces around the UK and the ‘Jail and Bail’ fundraising event is happening nationwide.
As it transpired, Cecil was out in half an hour, having collected £600, double the required amount, through the generosity of the people of Kilmore.
He is none the worse for his ordeal and assures us he was well–treated before being released back into the community!
Annual Catherwood Lecture
This year’s Catherwood Lecture is by Rev Dr. Johnston McMaster and is entitled, ‘Signing Up to the Covenant: An Alternative Vision for the Future’ With the Centenary of the Ulster Covenant this year, this lecture will provide us with an opportunity to reflect on significant political and religious events which have affected our history and to consider an alternative vision for the Church in Ireland for 2012 and the years ahead. There will be a time for questions and discussion following the lecture. Johnston McMaster is a well–known local Methodist minister who is lecturer and co–ordinator of the Education for Reconciliation programme, Irish School of Ecumenics, Belfast. His doctorate research included history, theology and politics in an examination of the period from the first Home Rule Bill of 1886 to the Anglo–Irish Agreement of 1985. He has been involved as a consultant with statutory and voluntary sectors in Northern Ireland and chairs a number of initiatives as well as working collaboratively with community relations networks. Thursday 8 March at 8.00pm in Edgehill Theological College, 9 Lennoxvale, Belfast, BT9 5BY. This is an open event, so please also invite anyone who might be interested.
Appointment to St Mark’s Dundela
Revd Adrian Dorrian, currently rector of St Peter and St James in the Diocese of Connor, has been appointed incumbent of St Mark’s Dundela, in the Diocese of Down.
Adrian is no stranger to the diocese having served a three year curacy in St Mark’s, Newtownards and chaired the Down and Dromore Youth Council. Adrian also led a diocesan youth team to Beaver Cross Camp in our link diocese of Albany in 2009. He has been incumbent of St Peter’s for almost three years.
A date for the institution has yet to be announced.
Service for Forgiveness, St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, 5 March
A service on the theme of Forgiveness has been organised by Brother David Jardine of Interdenominational Divine Healing Ministries at St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast, Monday 5th March 2012, at 8pm.
Worship will be led by Paul and Beulah Shields of West Church Bangor. The special speaker will be David ‘Packie’ Hamilton, pastor of a large independent church in Manchester, author of the book ‘A Cause Worth Living For’, public speaker and a former Director of Teen Challenge Manchester. As a former long term paramilitary prisoner, whose life was transformed following a conversion experience in January 1980, he has many years of experience of hurt, pain and loss and has learnt how to give, ask and receive forgiveness. The Sunday Life reports him as saying ‘you can’t let your past hold you back’, (June 4th, 2006).
CMS Ireland Annual Project to be launched in Clogher Diocese
St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall, Enniskillen will play host to CMS Ireland’s 2012 Annual Project Presentation on Sunday 19th February at 3.30pm.
CMS Ireland’s Annual Project is a specially produced resource for Sunday Schools and youth groups. It is designed to help children and young people discover something about life, faith and mission in a different part of the world. Each year, the project highlights the story of one of CMS Ireland’s Global Partners and uses age–appropriate activities to share key biblical principles for mission.
Last year, 17 parishes from Clogher Diocese took part in the Annual Project, Living Stones: Building Church in Burundi, which has raised over £23,500 for church building and clergy training in Burundi.
This year’s project is called The Beautiful Gate and focuses on the worship and ministry of SD Church in Nepal, using the central themes of ‘Loving God’ and ‘Loving Others’. The resource pack includes a Leader’s Guide, a DVD, age–specific workbooks and stickers. Pencils and Nepali keyrings are also available to purchase.
Sunday’s launch in Enniskillen provides an opportunity for local parishes to get together and hear a little bit more about the project and how they can get involved. Ronnie Briggs, CMS Ireland Mission Director will host the event and present the project to those who attend.
For further information, please contact CMS Ireland’s Belfast office: 028 90775020
Reaching out together at Movilla Abbey
Movilla Abbey Church, (Down diocese) where a Church of Ireland and a Methodist congregation share a building and regular worship services, has begun a series of outreach events for the local community. Provided free of charge, the events all include entertainment, food and an opportunity for folks to make new friends. The initiative is supported by both the Church of Ireland Select Vestry and the Methodist Church Council as a living example of the covenant relationship between the two churches.
On Saturday 28 January they hosted a traditional Burns night. The Haggis was piped in, served with tatties and neaps, and toasted with a wee dram of Shloer! The toast was led by Lt Col Alex Montgomery. They had the Lambeg, the ‘Low Country Boys’, Scottish dancers and a reading of some Burns poetry by Jim Shannon MP, for Strangford. All in all it was a great night.
The next planned event is a ‘ceili agus craic’ on St Patrick’s night, 17 March, followed on the first weekend in June with a party to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
“We truly hope that as we celebrate these events together we will grow in the knowledge of those among whom God has placed us and be enabled to serve them more because of it,” said Movilla Abbey rector, Revd Kevin Graham.
New Rector to be instituted in Colaghty (Clogher)
The Revd Alan Irwin will be instituted as Rector of Lack Parish, Colaghty in the Diocese of Clogher by the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd John McDowell, at a service of institution on Friday 16th March 2012 at 7.30pm. The preacher at the service will be Revd Chancellor Stuart Lloyd, Rector of Ballymena.
Mr Irwin, a native of County Tyrone, is originally from Sixmilecross and currently serves as curate in the Grouped Parishes of Kilconriola and Ballyclug, Ballymena, in the Diocese of Connor, where he has spent almost three years. Prior to his curacy at Ballymena, he spent three years studying at the Church of Ireland Theological College, Dublin. He was ordained deacon in June 2009. His present position in Ballymena is his first curacy and he is now looking forward to coming to County Fermanagh to take up his first incumbency. He says “I am looking forward to sharing in the ministry with the parishioners of Colaghty as we begin to write a new chapter in the history of the parish.”
Dublin’s Black Santa Funds to be handed out
Eleven charities will receive a welcome windfall this Sunday, February 19, as the funds raised by last Christmas’s Black Santa Sit Out are handed out. Over €34,000 will be distributed to Bishops’ Appeal, Society of St Vincent de Paul, Protestant Aid, Salvation Army, Trust, LauraLynn Foundation, The Samaritans, the Church of Ireland Discovery Committee, PACT, Barnardos and the Dublin Simon Community at the Morning Service in St Ann’s Church on Dawson Street. The preacher at the service will be will be the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Right Revd Michael Burrows and the lessons will be read by Alice Leahy of Trust and Mr Robin George from Protestant Aid.
Diocesan Choral Evensong in the Cathedral Church of St Macartin, Enniskillen
A special diocesan service of Choral Evensong, with the musical setting of the Preces and Responses by Thomas Tallis, was held in the Cathedral Church of St Macartin, Enniskillen on the Second Sunday before Lent, Sunday 12th February 2012. Read more – see Music this site or – http://ireland.anglican.org/news/3952
Derriaghy parishioner celebrates his 100th birthday
Recently David Johnston, who still lives in his own home, was joined in the celebrations on January 18 by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and David’s rector, Canon John Budd.
He and Jack Hassard, then a Derriaghy parishioner and now a Diocesan Lay reader, were churchwardens together at Christ Church, Derriaghy, in the 1950s, at the time that the daughter church of St Andrew’s, Colin, was opened.
In the past he was a keen cyclist and told the Bishop, a cyclist himself, all about pedalling to Dublin and back in one day.
David has three children, twin sons David Jnr and William and a daughter Vi. His late wife Gertrude was at one time Enrolling Member of the MU in the parish.
Revd Canon Maurice Armstrong to be installed Prebendary of Tullycorbet (Clogher)
The Revd Canon Maurice Armstrong, Rector of Tempo and Clabby, will be installed as Prebendary of Tullycorbet in the Cathedral Church of St Macartan, Clogher on Sunday 4th March 2012 at 4.00pm. The preacher at the service will be the Revd Canon Robert Riddel.
Canon Armstrong was brought up near Kesh, Co. Fermanagh. During his early life he was a parishioner of Drumkeeran Parish where he was involved in church activities including the local Boy’s Brigade Company. He attended Kesh Primary School, the Duke of Westminster High School and studied for his A–Levels at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen. He graduated from the University of Ulster Jordanstown in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, and then studied at the Church of Ireland Theological College from 1984 until his ordination in 1987.
Canon Armstrong served for a number of years in the diocese of Armagh. This included his curacy which he served in St Mark’s Parish, Portadown from 1987–1990, after which he was rector of Sixmilecross and Termonmaguirke from 1990–1995, and then rector of Richill from 1995–2001. He subsequently returned to his home diocese of Clogher and has been rector of Tempo and Clabby since 2001.
Since returning to Clogher Diocese, Canon Armstrong has been Executive Chairman of the Diocesan Ministry of Healing since 2002 and Rural Dean of Clogher since 2005. He is a member of the Church of Ireland General Synod and is a Clerical Honorary Secretary of Clogher Diocesan Synod and Diocesan Council. He is a Diocesan Nominator and a member of Clogher Diocesan Board of Education.
Canon Armstrong is married to Jean, and they have three children, Deborah who is studying Journalism with English at the University of Ulster, Coleraine; Sarah who is studying GCSE’s and James who is a year 10 pupil both at Lisnaskea High School.
Christ Church Lisburn hosts Flower Festival and Art Exhibition
Christ Church, Lisburn, is hosting a Flower Festival and Art Exhibition from May 31 until June 3. The is part of the parish’s celebrations of 100 years of the Mothers’ Union.
The festival opens with a special service at 7.30pm on Thursday May 31 when the guest will be Lady Christine Eames, wife of Lord Eames, former Archbishop of Armagh.
Visitors will be able to view the floral exhibits and artwork from 10am until 9pm on Friday June 1; from 10am until 8pm on Saturday June 2 and from 1pm to 6pm on Sunday June 3.
On the Sunday evening, beginning at 7pm, the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, will preach at a closing service.
The flower festival will be designed and co–ordinated by the Rev William McMillan MBE, international floral artist, along with members of Ballymacash Flower Club.
For more information visit www.christchurchlisburn.co.uk or contact Marie Anderson 02892 665636 or ivanj.anderson@yahoo.co.uk or Valerie Christy 02892 683590. A poster can be downloaded here.
A number of other Flower Festivals are taking place in the province during May. Click on the links to access details of a festival in St Mark’s, Armagh, from May 4–7 and Groomsport Presbyterian from May 18–20.
And Rossorry Parish Church, Enniskillen, is holding a flower festival on the theme ‘Saints and Scholars’ from May 4–7. For further information, please contact Rossorry Parish Office rossorryoffice@btinternet.com or Lorraine Simpson 02866329469, 07974929303 or lgsimpson52@gmail.com