NEWS BRIEFS

Photo above – Concert in the Church of Saint Mary and All Saints, Glanmire, County Cork.

Cork Parish Hosts Concert in Aid of Cork Penny Dinners

Recently, the Church of St Mary and All Saints’, Glanmire, County Cork, hosted the second concert of its annual Winter Concert Series.

The concert was well attended and a retiring collection was taken in aid of of one of Cork’s oldest charities: Cork Penny Dinners. An AMAZING €1383.60 was raised

The audience were treated to a wealth of local talent, including the choir of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Riverstown, the Carrigtwohill Folk Choir, and students from the Cork ETB School of Music.

The Rector of Cobh & Glanmire Union of Parishes, The Revd Paul Arbuthnot, commented:

It was a delight to welcome the rich variety of local talent to St Mary & All Saints’, Glanmire. The Winter Concert Series raises much money for local charities, and we wished to help and affirm the wonderful work of Cork Penny Dinners. Their work is especially valuable as we are in the midst of a shameful housing and homelessness crisis in Cork at this time.

Archbishop’s last church leaders meeting

Saying a fond farewell to Archbishop Richard Clarke at his last Church leaders meeting. “We are going to miss his friendship and wisdom. Wishing him every blessing in retirement”, Tweeted Archbishop Eamon Martin.

New Diocesan Lay Readers for Derry and Raphoe

Two new Diocesan Lay Readers have been commissioned for the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe at a service in Christ Church, Limavady.

Eleanor Craig from the Parish of Aghadowey and Brian Robinson from the Grouped Parishes of Aghanloo, Balteagh, Carrick and Tamlaghtard were commissioned on Saturday evening in front of scores of relatives, friends and members of other parishes by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster,.

The service, which was led by the Diocese’s Warden of Readers, Rev Canon Derek Quinn, took place on the day the Church of Ireland celebrates the Conversion of St Paul.

In his sermon, Bishop Forster thanked Eleanor and Brian for “saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call and saying ‘Yes’ to the call of the Church”. He assured them that God would continue to richly use them and bless them and anoint them in what they sought to do in what lay ahead. He said the new diocesan readers had a heart for God’s word and a heart for sharing the truth of God’s word – and that was a wonderful calling.

“As the Bishop of the Diocese I say thank for you for saying ‘Yes’ to God’s call and the call of the Church,” Bishop Forster said. “And for each one of us, whatever our lives are, whatever our ministry is, it’s always about saying ‘Yes’ to the call of God and the call of his Church. And that ‘Yes’ doesn’t just happen once: again and again we need to say ‘Yes’ to God and ‘Yes’ to the call of his Church.”

Moderator’ tribute to former Deputy First Minister

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rt Rev Dr William Henry, has paid tribute to Seamus Mallon, Northern Ireland’s very first deputy First Minister, who died on Friday.

Dr Henry said, “As a child of the Troubles I will always be thankful for those, like Seamus Mallon, who went the extra mile in their commitment to peace and a brighter future for us all, especially during those enduring years of darkness.

“On behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, I extend our deepest sympathy to Mr Mallon’s family, his friends and colleagues, as they mourn and remember our very first, deputy First Minister, and a man whose passion for peace, went hand-in-hand with his commitment to public service.”

Remembering Heather Hewson

On Sunday next, 2 February, there will be a service of Sung Eucharist remembering the late Heather Hewson (died 1 February 1995). The service will be held in the College Chapel, Trinity College at 10.45. A short reflection will be given by Simon Trezise and refreshments will follow. All are welcome.

God in creation