IRISH NEWS BULLETIN

Charles Wood Song Competition

It has been a brilliant weekend of music making. Competitors, accompanists RuthMcGinley and Gail Evans, and the panel Paul Farrington, Carolyn Dobbin and Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle. (Photo above).

(Photo above). The winner of the 2nd International Charles Wood Song Competition is BrianMcAlea. Second place and the Charles Wood Song Prize went to Billie Robson. A fabulous final.

C of I appointments to internal, Anglican and inter-church bodies

The Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland met in Dublin last week and made a number of appointments.

Standing Committee elected the Revd Matthew Hagan as a new clerical member for the Diocese of Armagh and Mrs Jan Peach as a new lay member for the Diocese of Down and Dromore. The following persons were nominated to continue as members of the Secondary Education Committee with re–nomination (if appropriate) to take place in March 2021: Mr Wilfred Baker; Ms Elizabeth Hassell; the Revd Robert Jones; Ms Kara Turner; Ms Hazel Corrigan; Mr Roy Crowe; the Revd Katharine Poulton; and Ms Joyce Ryder.

The Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory and the Revd Dr William Olhausen were appointed to attend the Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church in Great Britain and Ireland, from 9th–13th July 2020 in Swanwick, Derbyshire. The Revd Alison Calvin and Ms Rhonda Willoughby were appointed to attend the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, from 1st–5th June 2020, in Belfast. The Revd Katherine Poulton and Mr Ken Gibson were appointed to attend the Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland, from 10th–14th June 2020, in Lisburn.

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe was nominated as Vice–President of the Irish Council of Churches; the position rotates between member churches and a formal appointment will be made at its forthcoming Annual General Meeting. The following persons were appointed to networks within the Anglican Communion: the Revd Canon Andrew Orr (Environment); Dr David Hutchinson Edgar (Peace and Justice); Mrs June Butler (Family); Mrs Jacqueline Armstrong (Women); and Mr Robert Dunne (Safe Church).

Covid 19: Member of Whitehead church diagnosed with coronavirus

Whitehead Presbyterian Church has cancelled a number of events after a member of the congregation tested positive for the coronavirus.

A spokesperson for the church, based at Kings Road in the east Antrim coastal town, confirmed the individual had been diagnosed with the illness and the monthly meeting of ‘Dad Time’ had been cancelled.

In a post on the church’s Facebook page, the spokesperson said: “We have been advised today (Thursday) that a member of our church has been diagnosed with coronavirus and we have taken the decision to cancel Dad Time this Saturday morning, (March 14).

“Hopefully we will be back on full power for an Easter special in April.”

The President of the Methodist Church writes – St Patrick has been overshadowed by the Coronavirus. So public celebrations have been cancelled and we’ll have to settle for a quieter, more reflective day. I read recently that during the 18th century 60 million people died in Europe of Smallpox before a vaccine was developed. That puts Covid-19 into some kind of perspective. Nevertheless the present scale of international suffering is great and is set to be greater still. How do we respond Christianly? By being prayerfully supportive of those who are already suffering and of those working hard to alleviate that suffering: By being good law-abiding citizens: By being vigilant in order to protect others, especially the vulnerable in our communities, and in order to be helpful to them if and when the need arises: By being careful but unselfish in our concern for our own wellbeing: By trusting the Lord that whatever happens we are in his hands. As for Patrick, well, I like Patrick. If you peel away all the layers added to his legend over the centuries you get to a man of God. He’d have made a great Methodist.
#GodIsOurAdventure. Every blessing.

The President’s Diary:
Sunday 15th March – Day of Prayer for our Land: Athlone and Birr services, am. Radio Heartland Interview Recording. Tullamore service, pm.
Visit to the Southern District: the scheduled visit around six different cities/towns has been cancelled. Monday-Friday – To be confirmed; Saturday – Travel to Dublin. Sunday 22nd March – Dun Laoghaire am.

Free resource to help the isolated, anxious or lonely

Steve Chalke was on BBC at the weekend to explain why no one should be ‘home alone’ because of COVID-19. That’s why Oasis has published ‘Guidance for Finding Calm’ for local faith and community groups seeking to help those who are isolated, anxious or lonely. It’s a free resource. Find it on line at
[ www.oasisuk.org/coronavirus ] Or call the new Oasis ‘friendship line’ – a new national service offering a listening ear and company at the other end of a phone. Call us on 020 7921 4272 between 11am-3pm (Monday – Friday).

Favourite Hymns mark 200 years of worship

At the Service of Favourite Hymns in St Mark’s Church, Aghadrumsee recently which was part of the programme celebrating 200 years of worship there. The service was led by Captain David Hamilton with Dean Raymond Ferguson introducing the Hymns. The preacher was Mr Roy Crowe and organists were Mrs Hazel Doonan and Mrs Marina Elliott. Aghadrumsee choir also sang. Thanks to all who came and those who provided the tea afterwards.

Cancellations

Killaloe installation and welcome service
Following the Government announcement concerning indoor events of over 100 people, the service of Installation and Welcome of Revd Rod Smyth and Revd Paul Fitzpatrick at Killaloe Cathedral, was cancelled. The formalities concerning their appointments will be completed privately.

Postponement of Mothers’ Union Service
The Service of Celebration and Welcome for the Mothers’ Union Worldwide President, Sheran Harper, in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday, 29th March, at 3.15pm has been postponed until further notice.

Presbyterian Historical Society cancellation
PHSI Lecture & AGM Cancelled – 19 March 2020

God in creation

Corrymeela prayer for current virus pandemic

The following is a prayer for the journey through the Corona virus pandemic.
It is written by The Revd Alex Wimberly, the Leader of the Corrymeela Community.

God of the good news that spreads faster than fear,
God of the courage that comes from the heart:
Be with us as anxieties rise
and with us as uncertainty grows.
Be with us when children ask difficult questions,
## And with us when parents seem farther away.
Remind us that to be a community does not always mean
to be physically present beside those we know well.
It also can mean being spiritually present
with those who feel very alone;
and that you as our God, the God made flesh,
are also the God who calls us from the tumult
and tells us to be still
and to know
that you are God
with us.
Amen.