Memorial service for Limerick organist; Bishop Clarke’s last service as MU central chaplain; Media review – New bishop uses first address to warn banks; Protest at Papal Nunciature over treatment of Fr Tony Flannery; Lurgan Presbyterian congregation splits; The ‘principle of equal citizenship’ should include same-sex marriage – Shatter
Memorial service for Limerick organist
The late Stuart Edward Gray – Stuart died unexpectedly at his home in Yorkshire on Wednesday 5th December 2012. He was Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Mary’s Cathedral, Bridge Street, Limerick 1979 – 2004. As a tribute to Stuart a Memorial Service will be held in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick on Sunday 24th February 2013 at 3pm. Following the service light refreshments will be served in the Cathedral. All are very welcome to attend this special service.
Bishop Clarke’s last service as MU central chaplain
Bishop Ken Clarke presided at the Advent Service held in St.Matthew’s, Westminster to celebrate the Commissioning of Lynne Tembey as Worldwide President of the Mothers’ Union.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams commissioned the new Worldwide President and gave the address.
This service also marked the end of the Bishop’s three year appointment as Central Chaplain, the first chaplain from outside the Church of England. During his term of office Bishop Ken celebrated at Worldwide Council services, conferences and spoke at Mothers’ Union services in many dioceses throughout Britain and Ireland. The role also entitled him to attend Trustee meetings and the annual General Meetings as well as supporting and advising the Central Trustees and the Worldwide President. His period as Chaplain will be remembered for his wise contributions to discussions, his sense of humour, his ability to make everyone feel valued, his friendship but above all for his spirituality and relevant,memorable addresses.
During the last triennial the Central Board included four members from Ireland , another first! Patsy Devoy (Cork) served for six years as coordinator for Faith and Policy, Rosemary Macartney (Connor) for three years as a General Trustee, Ruth Mercer (Armagh) as All Ireland President for three years, Roberta McKelvey (Connor) for twelve years, formerly as a General Trustee and for the last six years as the Trustee who related to the Worldwide Provinces. All four have now completed their service and for the next three years there will be only one Irish Trustee, All Ireland President, Phyllis Grothier (Cashel and Ossory)
In his address the Archbishop related the Advent message to the challenges facing the Mothers’ Union.
‘To us, a child is born. To us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.’
“Familiar words, especially at this time of year, and as so often
happens, so familiar that we fail to be as surprised as we should be by them. To us, a child is born. A newborn child. Vulnerable and weak; dependent in all things on the care of those around Him, and the government will be on his shoulders. The newborn child, in weakness and need, is the one, quite simply, who is in charge.
“Luckily, the Mothers’ Union exists, in large part, to proclaim that the vulnerable are in charge. It is the needy who demand our obedience. That obedience, which is the deepest possible listening to people’s experience and requirements. That obedience, which calls us out of comfort and self-satisfaction into service. The needy are in charge. They set the agenda.
“The Mothers’ Union exists initially to serve the needs of families.
Families, considered as places where the needy are in charge, by which I don’t just mean that all parents know the tyranny of children from the first day of their existence. Quite simply that families are there so that vulnerable children may be protected and nourished, and that may be the priority of our lives; to pass on precious gifts of life, security, creativity and hope to another generation. That is what families are for. The wonderful expansion of the work of the Mothers’ Union over the many years in which it has existed has been, quite simply, to see the whole world in just that light: as a place where the values of the family as a nourishing, creative environment can be spread further and further, and integrated more and more deeply and fully into the life of society.
“Now, those of you – and there are many of you – who will have
travelled to see something of the work of the Mothers’ Union across the world, will know immediately what I’m talking about; will know what it means when the needy are in charge. They will have seen the work done by the Mothers’ Union, raising the level of healthcare among women in so many parts of the world. They will have seen the work of the Mothers’ Union dealing with the effects of war and trauma, especially for women and children. They will have seen that steady work of capacity-building which goes on across our Anglican family. They will know that all of this is testimony to the child who carries government on His shoulders; the needy who require our obedience.
“So that is what we’re asking you to do today. We’re asking you
to be obedient. Obedient to the needy; obedient to the needs for
nourishment, attention and reverence that are put before you and before all of us. Of course, we’re asking you also to enlighten us; to tell the rest of us that that’s what the world is like, and that’s what our priorities are.
“Rosemary,(Kempsell) you’ve done this wonderfully in the last few years; you’re handing on a very definitely lit torch, I think, today. Because the light that enlightens everyone, about which we heard in the gospel, is quite simply the light that shows us this upside-down world of the gospel, in which the needy and vulnerable are in charge, and where our obedience is owed not to the strongest, loudest, most bullying voice around, but owed to those who have least purchase; least influence and leverage in our world. The light shines so that we may see the upside-down world of the gospel, and learn to serve in accordance with that.
“He will be called Wonderful Counsellor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace. Because when we learn something about our obedience; the obedience we owe to the needy, then we receive that wisdom, and that power which is Christ’s. The wonderful counsel of Christ. Christ, the Prince of Peace, who brings to us harmony with our neighbours, and our universe, and our maker, and of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. If the world were able to obey this word; to treat the needy, the vulnerable, as their authority, then perhaps there would be peace, and perhaps we would be established and upheld in justice and righteousness.
“God promises through the word of the Prophet in that first reading (Isaiah 9 v 2-7) that that is what will happen. But, as with all the promises of God, we are summoned to be promise-makers and promise-keepers ourselves, along with that. Our promise is to bring this great future about. But for it to happen, we must promise our obedience and our service; promise our allegiance to the authority of the needy, and keep those promises.
“In a little while, Lynne, I’ll be asking you to make promises like that, and just as last Friday, I was asking a new bishop in Southwark Cathedral, very solemnly, would he keep his promises to do the things bishops do, and he said “Yes”, and I said to him afterwards, “Well, you know you can’t.” It’s one of those wonderful moments of the litany where somebody solemnly promises things that you then tell them it’s impossible. Pretty much the same for you today, Lynne. But you’re going to say “With the help of God, I will, and by putting my trust in Him, I will”, and that’s where we take not you, only, but God, at His word. God, who has entrusted you with His service. God, in whom you put your trust. God, to whom you promise your obedience in attending to the needy. God who promises those who tend to and serve the needy are those to whom the world will eventually listen. So may God grant you strength and obedience. The strength for attention; the strength for listening; the strength for goodness . The obedience you need to the voice of the needy. May God use you to shed light on a world where justice and uprightness are not in huge supply, and where we need to know how to turn the world upside-down in Christ’s name. Amen.” Report by Roberta McKelvey (Central Trustee Mothers’ Union 2001-2012)
Media review
New bishop uses first address to warn banks
Examiner – In his first address to his diocese, the new Bishop of Cloyne threw down the gauntlet to the banks, warning they need to “do more of the heavy lifting” as the financial crisis is crushing ordinary people.
Bishop William Crean, who was ordained bishop at a spectacular ceremony at Cobh Cathedral yesterday, said ordinary people had made huge sacrifices and “the discipline and demands of the ‘troika’ weigh heavily on us”.
“Jesus was critical of those who placed excessive burdens on people’s shoulders. Is it not time that major financial institutions do more of the heavy lifting? The people have done their share,” he said.
Speaking outside the church as parishioners swarmed around, eager to welcome him to Cork, the Kerry man said he was concerned that “there are children hungry coming to school in a way that wasn’t happening several years ago” and that “the institutions are partly responsible for the burden on people”. More at –
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/new-bishop-uses-first-address-to-warn-banks-220880.html
Protest at Papal Nunciature over treatment of Fr Tony Flannery
Journal – About 120 people have attended a demonstration calling for fair treatment for the Redemptorist priest.
http://www.thejournal.ie/protest-papal-nuncio-tony-flannery-771417-Jan2013/
Lurgan Presbyterian congregation splits
News Letter – A schism has developed at First Lurgan Presbyterian church with the congregation torn apart with a series of grievances between the minister, the clerk of session and church elders.
Former Presbyterian moderator, the Rev Dr John Finlay, has been called in to try and resolve the row which has resulted in the clerk of session, John Spence, being removed from office and criticisms made of the minister, the Rev David Henry, and some elders.
A church document was read to the congregation this month detailing a breakdown in relationships in the leadership and congregation.
The document was findings of the judicial committee of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, following a year-long attempt to resolve the disputes. More at –
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/community/churches/lurgan-presbyterian-congregation-splits-1-4725884
The ‘principle of equal citizenship’ should include same-sex marriage – Shatter
Journal – The Minister for Justice Justice Alan Shatter has said that he personally believes that Ireland should not continue to “prevent same-sex couples from entering into a legal partnership that is legally recognised and designated as being a marriage.”… The 13 and 14 of April have been chosen as the dates during which same-sex marriage will be discussed as part of the Constitutional Convention.
http://www.thejournal.ie/same-sex-marriage-equality-ireland-772726-Jan2013/