Irish news digest June 9

Derry parish shares the love among NHS staff

An online concert hosted by the Parishes of Kilrea, Tamlaght O’Crilly Upper and Tamlaght O’Crilly Lower has raised £1,500 for the NHS.

The money was raised through donations for the online concert, follow-up DVD sales and a contribution from Group funds.

Leslie Finlay from Altnagelvin (left in photo) is pictured receiving a cheque from Mary Graham from the Parishes of Kilrea, Tamlaght O’Crilly Upper and Tamlaght O’Crilly Lower. It was the first of three cheques for £500 that’ll be handed over by the Group to NHS staff.

Down & Dromore Bible Week 2020

The annual Bible Week is four nights of excellent Bible teaching, worship and ministry. Bible Week 2020 will take place from 1–4 September in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast.

“The event is one of the highlights of the year as we gather to hear a specially invited Bible teacher expound scripture and enjoy worship and fellowship with others from around the diocese,” said a diocesan spokesperson.

Although Bible Week is organised by the Diocese of Down and Dromore, anyone is welcome to come along.

Pedalling rector on RTÉ1 news

A Church of Ireland rector featured on RTÉ1 news when he undertook a “pedal-powered pilgrimage”, as he called it, around Co. Donegal.

Archdeacon David Huss cycled all around the four parishes under his care, meeting parishioners in a socially-distanced way outside their homes and offering a blessing and chat or prayer.

He left a special card for a bride-to-be who had had to postpone her wedding. Rachel Wilson said that while she was not the only bride to have her special day postponed, Rev Huss was a source of support and it was great to see him on the day before her wedding was to be held.

The two-wheeled pilgrimage was the first occasion in months that Archdeacon Huss had met his parishioners face to face, which he felt was very different from the online services he had been holding.

He said he has had a great reaction from the locals in the parishes of Donegal, Killymard, Lough Eske and Laghey, and that many had come to understand that the church is not just a building, it is about connectivity and community. His visits on the bicycle were a way of keeping that going.

On line

## Six special guests in Lisburn

Christ Church Parish, Lisburn, has invited six special guests to share their thoughts on what God has been saying to them during this period.

Their thoughts, which will also encourage people in the parish and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic, will be shared online every day this week (from Monday June 8). They can be viewed on the parish YouTube.

The line-up is as follows:

Monday – the Rev Andrew Campbell, Broughshane;
Tuesday – Christina Baillie, Connor Diocesan Youth Officer;
Wednesday – the Rev James Boyd, Derryvolgie;
Thursday – the Rev Danielle McCullagh, Lisburn Cathedral;
Friday – the Rev Diane Matchett, Kildress;
Saturday – the Rev Emma Carson, Ballymena.

Their thoughts, which will also encourage people in the parish and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic, will be shared online every day this week (from Monday June 8). They can be viewed on the parish YouTube channel –
[[] https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChHCVDH8h6iHRf5A1j_h-Pg ]

## Midweek Service from Dromore Parish, Clogher

Live streaming of Midweek Service every Wednesday from Dromore Parish Church led by Revd Andrew Quill, beginning with a 10-minute countdown timer at 7.50pm for our Service starting at 8.00pm:
[ https://www.facebook.com/holytrinitydromore/live/. ]

Service will also be available on YouTube from Thursday
[ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwj585CXlqOq6W6h7_2AiYg/) ]

## Live streaming of Masses and Services

Live streaming from churches in Ireland and the UK can be found here:
[ http://churchservices.tv ]

Surprise visitor in Cork Youth Zoom meeting

Since the beginning of lock down the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Youth Officer, Hilda Connolly, has been keeping in touch with the youth of Cork, Cloyne and Ross through ZOOM.

Every Friday at 7.30pm, the “meet-up” takes place with an evening of games, chat and fun.

But a few weeks ago the meeting was structured a little differently and took into account that the majority of the group are particularly sporty and are missing their sport incredibly.

Unknown to the group, Hilda had invited the Cork Ladies GAA Football Goalkeeper, Martina O’Brien, to pop in to say hello. Martina has worn the red and white jersey for 8 years now and has been nominated on a few occasions for the All Star Awards.

## BBC Radio 4 – In Our Time, The Lindisfarne Gospels
[[] https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00548tq ]

Food for thought

The community of the Trinity is a call to build loving, welcoming, forgiving congregations where hearts can be touched by warm hearted believers – Bishop Donal McKeown

Points for Prayer

Pray for those who are preparing and delivering messages, prayers and other material for week by week digital ministry, asking that God would continue to give a word in season, clarity and creativity in communication and energy for the task of recording

Today we pray for those at risk of poverty. Rising unemployment is expected to push over 1 million more people in the UK into poverty by Christmas, including 200,000 children. We pray for God’s provision and for bold policy changes to prevent an increase in poverty.

God in Creation

Pan’s Rock, Fairhead and Galloway beyond from Ballycastle