Irish news digest June 4

 Kilkeel foodbank a vital service to the vulnerable

Along with others across the country, the Cornerstone Foodbank based at Christ Church Kilkeel is offering a vital service to the vulnerable in the community.

Requests for help come from agencies within the community and health sectors and Cornerstone responds with a selection of non–perishable foods and toiletries plus baby products for those with young families.

Lynda Quinn, the parish Family Worker, says: “Along with each parcel the team includes a current ‘Word for Today’ together with other literature including a ‘Making the Most of Your Food Parcel’ recipe book provided by Health and Social Care.

“Since the beginning of April, with all the social distance safeguards in place, we have been able to provide close to 90 food parcels, but none of this would happen without the generosity and donations of friends in the local community.”

There are Cornerstone food donation trolleys in Asda and both Spar shops in Kilkeel, and the project also has the support of Mourne Young Farmers, Valley Rangers Football Club, Newry and Mourne Hygiene Bank, Newcastle Football League, and Newry, Mourne & Down Covid–19 Emergency Fund plus many private donations and those who volunteer and pray for the work and its witness.

Lynda continues: “We’re so grateful for a wonderful team of volunteers who have been consistent in their posts during these very different days. They have allowed those like my husband John and myself who must self–isolate, to do so in the knowledge that the foodbank doors are still open to all. Our Cornerstone phone line is held with us and it is a privilege to both listen and support those who call for assistance.”

Please continue to pray for all the Foodbank Teams in our communities and also that as we wait upon the Lord we will see many come to Jesus Christ.
[[] www.downanddromore.org ]

Zooming doves from Dublin parish

Members of the Kids’ Club at St Ann’s and St Stephen’s Churches made paper doves at their weekly Zoom for Christ Church Cathedral’s special project for St Columba’s Day.

From the Methodist Church President’s Desk

One of the risks you run when you live life in a clerical collar is that you are accosted from time to time by people who want to test your knowledge of theology. During one such encounter a man said to me ‘You’re a man of the cloth you should know this: What is the judgment of God on man?’ What answer would you give? I gave him the answer found in Romans 3.23 – ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’. I – and he – thought it a good answer because it’s a Biblical answer, it clearly speaks of sin as real and a very great problem (greater even than Covid-19), it plainly tells us that sin is universal in its influence, and it bluntly relates sin to God. Have you ever heard of the Seven Social Sins? They are Wealth without Work; Pleasure without Conscience; Knowledge without Character; Commerce without Morality; Science without Humanity; Worship without Sacrifice, and Politics without Principle. However you think of sin, it is how God thinks of it that counts.

There is a green hill far away
With-out a city wall
Where the dear Lord was crucified
Who died to save us all.

God is Our Adventure. Every blessing, Sam

Armagh appointment

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev’d John McDowell has appointed the Rev’d Amelia McWilliams as Non-Stipendiary Minister in charge of the Clogherny Group of Parishes with immediate effect. The Rev’d Amelia had been serving in the Ballygawley Group until recently.
Archbishop John said “I am delighted that the Rev’d Amelia has agreed to be deployed in this way in the Clogherny Group where she will provide continuity of ministry in the strange circumstances under which all parish ministry is currently being carried out.”

Minister’s run for hospice

Thank you to the Reverend Simon Hamilton, Armagh who raised an incredible £7190.00 for our Hospice by running a challenging and impressive 200km in 10 days! Thank you so much for thinking of us and for raising such a fantastic amount. Well done

On the web

Cabin Fever from Ripple Connor – coming this summer!
Ripple Connor will be hosting a five–day holiday bible club called ‘Cabin Fever’ this summer.

The online club will have a science theme led by ‘The Professors,’ and will link into the story of Noah, who must have suffered extreme cabin fever in that ark for a year!!

Jill Hamilton, Connor Children’s Project Development Officer, said: “If you have suffered a bit of cabin fever yourself over the last weeks, you will be able to identify with the theme!”

The material will be ready for early August and will be premiered on YouTube. Watch out for more details.
[[] www.connor.anglican.org ]

Food for thought

The Word of God is not a prop. It is meant to be lived and integrated into every aspect of human life – Archbishop Etienne

God in Creation