360 Miscellany – News, views, resources, and online events

Cross walk to the top of Slieve Donard

The Rev Bill Boyce, Ernie Arthur and Peter Kirch, foreground, set out on their walk to the top of Slieve Donard.

A team of three from St Brigid’s Parish Church, Mallusk, carried a seven-foot cross to the top of Slieve Donard on November 10 to raise funds for Crown Jesus Ministries.

The Rev Bill Boyce, rector, was accompanied by parish reader Peter Kirch and Ernie Arthur, who plays drums in the church band.

Peter works for Crown Jesus Ministries, and had undertaken to organise the sponsored cross walk, as well as a Zoom quiz, to raise money during Crown Jesus Ministries’ mission week.

Ernie has previously taken part in cross walks, and was able to provide the cross.

The trio set out from the Slieve Donard car park in Newcastle at 9.30am and reached the top of Northern Ireland’s highest mountain two hours and 54 seconds later.

“We chatted to a few people who were out walking and wanted to know why we were carrying a cross,” said Bill. “When we stopped for prayers at the top two girls came around the corner, and it turns out Crown Jesus Ministries had worked in their church.”

Bill’s wife Eleanor had walked part of the way with the team, and took some photos of their progress.

The mountain cross walk and quiz raised £800 for Crown Jesus Ministries.

RTÉ Broadcast Service from Christ Church Bray

The Revd Baden Stanley will lead an Advent Reflection Service from Christ Church Bray to be broadcast on the RTÉ News Now channel on Sunday November 29 at 2.15pm. You can find RTÉ News Now on Saorview – channel 21, Virgin – channel 200, Sky – channel 578, Eir – channel 500 and on the RTÉ Player.

Considering Grace: Unpacking the Impact

Thursday 3 December , 2pm – 4pm. Online – Register

Launched in November 2019, Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles tells the stories of 120 Presbyterians and their experience of the conflict.

In this online conference, Canon David Porter, Chief of Staff to the Archbishop of Canterbury will unpack the impact of the book for wider society. David is formerly director of ECONI, which sought to equip Christians to address division and conflict and challenged churches to think biblically about peacebuilding.

Considering Grace also raises a number of challenges for ministry and witness in PCI itself, and Very Rev Dr Stafford Carson, Principal of Union Theological College will unpack the impact of the book in this context.

There will be opportunity to engage with the issues raised by David and Stafford during a panel conversation including both speakers along with Dr Nicola Brady (General Secretary, Irish Council of Churches) and co-authors Dr Gladys Ganiel and Dr Jamie Yohanis.

A resource to help congregations unpack the impact of Considering Grace in their local setting will also be launched during the event.

The event is free to attend but registration is essential to secure your place.
[ bit.ly/3lLYvEo ]

Gender-Based Violence is an injustice

Globally, one in three women have experienced physical or sexual abuse. The Mothers Union invite you to join them on December 5th for their online protest as they say No More 1 in 3. Here is a statement from the MU’s Worldwide Trustees: [ youtu.be/FV_5pE_Wp2Q ]

Mothers’ Union in Dublin & Glendalough will hold a Service of the Word for 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence on Sunday November 29 on YouTube.

The service will come from St Brigid’s Church of Ireland, Castleknock, Dublin 15, and will be available on the CMC Parish YouTube channel from 10am.

The speaker at the service will be Ms Ifrah Ahmed, who will talk about Female Genital Mutilation. Ifrah is an Irish citizen, and Gender Advisor to the Prime Minister of Somalia, and has set up the Ifrah Foundation whose aim is to eradicate FGM in Somalia and influence other governments in Africa to do the same. According to AkiDwa, there is estimated to be 5,790 cases of women who have had FGM living in Ireland.

10 million people visited C of E cathedrals in 2019

With 1.3 million attending cathedral services, midweek service attendance has grown by 35% in the past decade.

Southwark Cathedral online Christmas concert

“Join us for our annual Christmas concert on the 18 December. Traditional Christmas songs and carols will be performed by the Boys and Gentlemen of the Cathedral choir along with readings by actor Timothy West and Academy Award winner D Lance Black. “ Tkts 👇
[https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southwark-cathedral-choir-christmas-concert-tickets-129881337577]

Pointers to Prayer

Today we pray for those affected by Hurricane Iota. Tens of thousands have fled their homes in Nicaragua and surrounding countries, and at least 30 have lost their lives.

Creator God, thank you that we are all made in your image, and equally loved by you. Open our eyes to see your face in those of our sisters and brothers.

Pray for sustainable peace in South Sudan. Pray for the ongoing process of forming a Transitional National Unity Government. May this bring hope to the citizens who have suffered many years of intercommunity fighting and conflict.

Today we pray for Ethiopia’s Tigray region. International aid workers have described a chaotic situation with refugees on the move amid fighting between federal troops and the People’s Liberation Front.