Advent Prayer Path in Belfast, Clogher Advent service, Ordination 50th anniversary; Parish Tercentennary; Media review – Alcohol free Belfast centre for St Patrick’s Day; Reports on suicide, child birth and child abuse symptoms
Advent Prayer Path in Belfast
St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, is hosting an Advent Prayer Path for anyone wanting to take time out to pray and reflect as the busyness of Christmas approaches. The Prayer Path will be launched in the Cathedral at 8am on Saturday December 1 and will remain open until 4pm on Wednesday December 5. People are welcome to call in anytime during the Cathedral’s opening hours [8am – 4pm daily]. The Prayer Path will include 12 pause points and is optionally interactive. It ends at the Cathedral Labyrinth, a separate prayer path on the Cathedral floor for personal prayer. “Christmas is a busy season. With all the preparation and demand we can often lose sight of the hope that Jesus brought into this world,” said the Very Rev John Mann, Dean of Belfast. “You are invited to step aside from a frantic pace and take time to pause, be still and in quiet reflect on the hope, joy and peace Jesus brought when ‘He came and lived among us’. “The Advent Prayer Path allows you to focus your heart, mind and soul. In quiet prayer and reflection may God remind you of His greatness and hope for you and the world we live in.”
Annual Walk of Light
On Sunday the 8th annual ecumenical Walk of Light started out from Adelaide Road Presbyterian church, Dublin. After a welcome by the Presbyterian congregation and minister and a short act of worship, participants visited the Church of Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners, Rathmines, for a second short act of worship jointly prepared by the congregation there together with the Lutheran congregation in Adelaide Road. The final stop was the Church of Ireland Church of the Holy Trinity in Rathmines. The Walk of Light is jointly organised and supported by eight churches in the greater Leeson Street area, including the clergy and congregation of the Church of Ireland Churches of the Holy Trinity, St. Stephen’s and St. Ann’s, and St. Bartholomew’s, and is sponsored by the Dublin Council of Churches.
50th anniversary
The Revd Canon Peter Wilson celebrated 50 years in the Ordained Ministry on Sunday 28th October. He celebrated Holy Communion in Aghalurcher Parish Church, Colebrooke at the morning service with the Revd Betty Thompson. The Revd Canon Bobby Riddel was the preacher on account that he was present at Canon Wilson’s ordination in St. John’s Parish Church, Coleraine.
Clogher Advent service
A Diocesan Advent Carol Service will take place in Clogher Cathedral at 7.00pm on Sunday 2nd December. The service will include a number of Advent carols and readings, together with soloist Julia Frazer, a trio of Sophie Coalter, Lauren Millar and Emma Glass, accompanied by Jayne Hazlett, and a number of choir pieces. The service will be led by the Dean of Clogher, The Very Revd Kenneth Hall, together with the Rector and Precentor of Clogher, The Revd Precentor Noel Regan. Also taking part will be the Cathedral’s Diocesan Curate, The Revd Alistair Warke, and the Bishop of Clogher, The Rt Revd John McDowell. The organist will be Glenn Moore, and choirs from the Clogher Cathedral Group of Parishes and St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen will be taking part.
Parish tercentennial
As part of the church’s tercentennial celebration St John’s Parish Church Derrynoose is holding a special service of ‘Songs of Praise’ on Sunday, 9 December 2012 at 3.00 p.m. All are welcome.
Suicide prevention strategies for young needed – study
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/study-highlights-need-for-suicide-prevention-strategies-for-young-men-215162.html
Maternal deaths in Ireland four times higher than previously thought
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/maternal-deaths-up-to-four-times-higher-than-previously-believed-215312.html
NI Parents miss signs of child abuse – Barnardo’s study
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/parents-miss-abuse-warning-signs-16242939.html
Moves to make Belfast centre booze free for St Patrick’s Day
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/sobering-idea-plans-for-boozefree-st-patricks-day-16243185.html
Need to sort out 2013 parades issue
Nigel Dodds, DUP MP, says it is time to sort out the parades issue. His solution would appear to include the demise of the Parades Commission
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/parades-fiasco-must-be-avoided-in-2013-nigel-dodds-16242672.html