Irish news digest

BBC Radio Ulster’s Morning Service on Sunday April 26, will be led by the Rev Canon Stephen Fielding (Photo above), rector of St John’s, Malone. The programme will be broadcast at 10.15am.

Bishops ask Executive to reconsider cemetery closures

Bishop Andrew Forster

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster, and the Bishop of Derry, the Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown, have urged the Northern Ireland Executive to reconsider the decision to close all cemeteries during the Covid–19 emergency.

Bishop Forster has pointed to what he called “the mixed signals” in the emergency legislation passed last month which allows public parks to remain open but forces cemeteries to close. “We’re literally ‘standing on holy ground’ when we’re talking about this issue,” Bishop Forster said, “because cemeteries are a place of memory, they’re a place of grief, they’re also a place of hope and resolution as well.”

Cemeteries were places where people tended to go in their ones and twos, the Bishop told BBC Radio Foyle this morning. “We’ve seen a lot of wisdom in how citizens have responded to the Covid–19 crisis and I’d love the Executive to look at it [the decision to close cemeteries] again.”

Bishop McKeown said cemeteries were still open in the Republic and in Britain, and he’s hoping for a change of heart by the Northern Ireland Executive. “I think it’s a very difficult area,” he said. “I appreciate the politicians are struggling to get things right here, but we really would like to get some sense of logic from them as to their motivation for having this particular legislation.”

Bishop McKeown said the governments had worked very hard to cover the whole area of the economy and health, but huge weight had also to be given to the emotional and spiritual needs of people, particularly at a time of bereavement, and especially in the current circumstances.

€2.6m church project gets green light from Kildare Co Council

Kildare Co Council has granted planning permission for a new church building worth €2.6m.

Permission was applied for last year for the construction of a new church building in Carton, Maynooth.

The application was made by Maynooth Community Church on behalf of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

The property will have a floor area of 2,065 m2 on a site spanning 1.43 hectares.

It’s believed to be one of the biggest religious projects in the county for several years.

Approval was also sought for a facility to accommodate a number of church / community uses.

An access road, footpaths and a new site entrance were included in the plans.

The architects are the award-winning Knox & Markwell Architects based in Co Down who have completed a number of church projects.

Kildare Co Council had sought and received new information on the proposals on up to four occasions since the original application was lodged in May last year.

Belvoir parish phone-in lockdown

As worship has gone online though computers, tablets and smartphones, Belvoir Parish has come up with a solution to reach those at home who have no access to technology.

“At the start of lockdown, the challenge to the Belvoir Staff team was that of Schindler’s List (or an even older story about a lost sheep) – let’s find a way to include every ‘ONE’” says the rector, the Revd Adrian McCartney.

“Like many others, we have been offering worship live on Sundays, nightly thoughts and readings, emergency phone numbers, zoom huddles and WhatsApp support groups.

“However, all of it needs internet connections and a certain amount of technical expertise so we began to think about those whose only connection is a landline phone.

“The result is a neat phone–in solution so that everyone can join in worship, prayer, and Bible teaching.”

How it works

“We have published a local landline number which, when dialled, takes you directly to a recording of our Sunday Service without any PINs or gadgets. You just call the number and listen. It all happens automatically. We pay a small charge per call made, but the listener pays through their phone bill (at normal rates).

“We see great potential for this beyond lockdown, but for now we’re glad that we can include everyONE in our worship.”

Call the number and see how it works…(028) 9124 7947

If you want to find out more about setting up a phone–in line please contact Jonny Mould through his website: [ jonnymould.com ]

Beware: Church envelope doorstep scam

Please be aware of a current scam that involves the fraudulent doorstep collection of Freewill Offering envelopes. If anyone calls to your house asking for weekly church envelopes, please do not give anything to them. Tell them you will check with your minister. Please also make sure to report anything suspicious to the police. Older, vulnerable people are particularly susceptible to scams as well as those who are very trusting and easily persuaded to take a risk. Please keep an eye on your elderly relatives and gently enquire about the phone calls they have been receiving and any strangers arriving at their door. What is a scam? Scams are when criminals use lies and deceit to fool you into parting with your cash. You usually get nothing in return and lose your money. As scams are getting more sophisticated and difficult to spot, it’s important to know what to look for. Please be aware and make others aware.

Prayer points

Let us keep praying for those who are bereaved, those who have been unable to say goodbye, and those who cannot attend funerals of loved ones. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5: 4)

Pray for care homes asking that God will keep them infection free, give staff energy and residents a sense of calm. Pray for reassurance for families of loved ones in this period when they cannot visit

Pray for Church Army Pioneer Evangelist Hannah Seal at Llandaff Centre of Mission and give thanks for her experience of God’s call in her life.

Pray for the diocese of Ibba in South Sudan and for the ongoing training of 25 candidates to be licensed as lay readers at Bishop Levi College in Ibba

God in creation