Bishop launches the ‘plant for Him’ appeal to raise 1£ million; Whitechurch Seminar to Commemorate the Lock Out; Interfaith Forum Highlights Need to Raise Awareness of Religious Diversity; Events
Bishop launches the ‘plant for Him’ appeal
Bishop Harold Miller of Down and Dromore has launched an important new church planting appeal at the first night of the Bishop’s Bible Week in Shankill Church Lurgan.
‘Plant forHim’ seeks to raise an immediate one hundred thousand pounds during the Bible Week and a total of one million pounds over the next few years.
This seed funding will be used to train church planters, diocesan evangelists and to enable new church plants to be set up in the areas that the diocese has already identified. There are immediate plans for The Braniel and Moneyreagh and other locations will unfold in the future.
Why now?
A statement from the diocese outlines the project “We realise that as a church we have lost touch with many working class areas and the problems they face. The tragic riots in our diocese at the turn of the year have been a powerful reminder of our calling in some of these areas, and our calling is to engage with and serve a new generation, not least of the people who used to own the title ‘Church of Ireland’.
“We are also aware of new housing springing up which has no Christian witness in its midst. Our response to the fledgling community in the Titanic Quarter is one example of what can be done with faith, imagination and determination.
“Our church planting must be intentional and long–term as we commit to the role of the church in the transformation of our society. We need your help.
Please give
“We are encouraged that the people and the training are coming into place but funds are urgently needed to get things moving. Please prayerfully consider what you will give and especially to giving regularly by standing order. If you have not been able to attend the Bishop’s Bible Week, we will be making appeal envelopes available in the parishes and at other diocesan events. Alternatively, please contact the office by emailing dco@down.anglican.org.
Whitechurch Seminar to Commemorate the Lock Out
A seminar to commemorate the 1913 Workers Lock Out takes place in Whitechurch Parish Old Schools in the grounds of the church on Thursday September 19 at 7.45 pm.
The seminar will focus on the Revd RM Gwynn SFTCD and his medical doctor wife, Eileen, who are buried in Whitechurch graveyard. RM Gwynn gave significant support to workers during the Lock Out.
The speakers will include Archbishop Michael Jackson who will address the subject of ‘Gwynn, the Educationalist’. Canon Patrick Comerford will talk about ‘Gwynn, the Priest’. Padraig Yeates will give a talk about ‘The Lock Out 1913’.
The seminar represents a local contribution to the centenary commemorations of the Lock Out which occur in the autumn. The Church of Ireland General Synod established a Commemorations Committee to mark the significant historic centenary dates on this island between 1912 and 1922. The evening will start with a short commemorative ceremony at the Gwynn grave in the church grounds. The seminar will commence at 8.00 pm.
Interfaith Forum Highlights Need to Raise Awareness of Religious Diversity
Dublin City Interfaith Forum (DCIF) has welcomed a statement from Dublin City Council confirming that people are allowed to engage in private prayer in a public park.
The statement followed media reports in which two Muslim women said they were confronted by a park worker in Dublin telling them that they needed a permit to pray there.
DCIF said the incident reflected the alarmingly low levels of awareness of other religions and cultures now present in our society and confirmed the need for more education and training in dealing with religious diversity.
“Dublin City is, for some time now, a place of diversity, a place where religions, cultures and people meet and interact. We pride ourselves in believing that we live in a truly pluralist society which accepts the reality of religious diversity, a society which acknowledges that a multitude of choices exist,” the DCIF statement reads.
“Pluralism involves learning about others’ faiths, actively reaching out to form relationships, accepting that differences in belief can coexist and committing to mutual respect and an ongoing dialog. Pluralism opens the door to real tolerance and a balanced view of contrasting, and sometimes conflicting, religions in a diverse culture, which helps to minimize or eliminate the negative consequences of fear, hostility, divisiveness and prejudice,” the organisation adds.
Chair of DCIF, Sinead Lynch, explains that the Forum works towards “educating and encouraging people of different faiths to dialogue and act together in challenging all forms of injustice and discrimination”. Echoing recent media comments from the Minister of Justice, Alan Shatter TD, Ms Lynch said that the Interfaith Forum is committed to work alongside other agencies towards ensuring that there is “no room for racism in Irish society”.
DCIF is a network of people from the different Faith Communities in the City of Dublin. It aims to create awareness and dialogue through building relationships that nurture harmony, and deepen understanding and respect.
The World Faiths currently present and active in Dublin City and represented on DCIF are: Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity (including the Church of Ireland), Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.
DCIF works with interested members of faith communities to deliver interfaith gatherings and activities in Dublin City. Recognising the diverse nature of the backgrounds of the residents of Dublin, DCIF seeks to provide the space and opportunity for Faith
Communities to build relationships with and between Dublin City communities, statutory and voluntary organisations and the residents of Dublin City.
Events
The final concert of the 2013 Music in Calary season will take place in Calary Church on Friday August 30 starting at 8.00 pm. The concert will be a recital by The Schumann String Quartet, which comprises Mia Cooper (violin), Anna Cashell (violin), Joachim Roewer (viola) and William Butt (cello). Their programme consists of Ravel: String quartet, Webern: Langsamer Satz and Beethoven: op. 59 no. 2 in E minor.
Further information and tickets for this concert, which are €15 (€10 concessions) can be obtained by emailing derekneilson@eircom.net. As the last two concerts in Calary have played to full houses, it is essential that you book tickets for this concert to ensure that you are not disappointed.
Lunchtime recitals continue at Sandford Parish Church on Fridays throughout August. Admission to these recitals is free but donations are welcome in aid of the organ fund.
Friday August 30 – David O’Shea (Organ). Music by Bach, Parry, Vierne and others.
Narraghmore and Timolin Parish Tennis Tea Party takes place on August 31 2013 in Athy Tennis Club . Join the fun and book a court time. Times are available from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm, 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm and 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm. To book contact Charles
Chambers 059–8624116, Leslie Hendy 087–2393143, Gladys Neill 086–1041657, Mary Ashmore 086–1692782. Admission is €7.50 for tennis and tea or €5.00 for tea only.