NEWS BRIEFS

Photo above – The rector of Larne Parish, Canon David Lockhart and his wife Beverley handle a visiting snake.

Snakes alive in Larne

There were some slippery characters spotted in the Inver Hall, Parish of Larne and Inver with Glynn and Raloo, during the half term break on Tuesday February 18!

The hall was filled with children and adults getting up close and personal with reptiles and other creatures brought along by Jurassic Ark Encounters NI.

The rector, the Rev David Lockhart, said: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and wonderful to see our new hall being enjoyed by all.”

Two cathedrals fundraising concert in Derry next month

A unique blend of music will fill the Derry air next month when two of Ireland’s most historic Church of Ireland cathedrals – St Columb’s in the city and St Eunan’s, Raphoe – join together for a Spring Gala Concert.

The concert, in aid of the Raphoe Cathedral Restoration Fund, will take place in St Columb’s Cathedral on Friday, March 13, at 7.30pm, with a programme that will combine the secular and the sacred.

Performers will include the Britannia Concert Band, St Columb’s Cathedral Choir and the Raphoe Ulster-Scots Pipe Band.

The concert is part of an ambitious campaign to raise €650,000 to pay for the restoration of Raphoe Cathedral.

Entry to the concert will be free but there will be a collection in aid of the restoration fund.

God’s Church for God’s World

As the Lambeth Conference in 2020 explores the theme of being ‘God’s Church for God’s World’, the Biblical focus for the event will be the book of 1 Peter.

In this film, The Archbishop of Canterbury shares his excitement for the book of 1 Peter and why it is so relevant to the life of the Anglican Communion.

If you want to tune in to the themes of 1 Peter – a new Bible Commentary on 1 Peter is now available. Published by SCM the commentary has been created through the work of the St Augustine Seminar – an international community of Bible scholars – convened by Professor Jenn Strawbridge.

Find out more about the Bible theme for the Lambeth Conference and how you can access 2 chapters of the commentary for free here:
[ www.lambethconference.org/biblical-focus ]

Dromore institution

Bishop David McClay of Down and Dromore has instituted Revd Ian Linton as rector of Rathfriland and Ballyward. The service took place on Wednesday last, 19 February, in Drumgooland Parish Church and the preacher was the Very Revd Geoff Wilson, Dean of Dromore. Geoff and Ian trained together at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin.

Ian is a native of Carrickfergus and has a degree in statistics from the University of Glasgow. On graduating, he took up a management training position with Bank of Scotland where he remained for three years before returning to Ireland and ordination training.

He says: “My sense that the Lord was leading me in this direction had been growing since first giving my ‘Yes’ to Christ in my mid–teens, and I am deeply thankful for those who nurtured my faith and helped me explore this vocation.”

Ian was ordained in 2004 for the Curacy of Enniskillen and it was there that he met Amanda, a parishioner of Enniskillen Cathedral. They married in 2007. Amanda is a qualified teacher, and currently works with the Education Authority as an Advisory Teacher for children with special educational needs. They have two children of primary school age.

Ian’s first incumbency was in the Drumcliffe Group of Parishes in County Sligo where he also served as Archdeacon of Elphin & Ardagh and as Chaplain to Sligo University Hospital. In 2015 the family moved to the Diocese of Derry where Ian became Rector of Drumragh (Omagh) with Mountfield.

He is a member of the Standing Committee and the Church of Ireland Marriage Council, and served for many years on the committee of the Church of Ireland Evangelical Fellowship.

Vile messages sent to Fr Ray Kelly

As everyone knows, Fr Ray Kelly has an incredible singing voice, quite frankly it’s at an international level – but this year he turned his hand (or his feet) to dancing with the stars on RTE.

Fr Ray hasn’t got the dancing skills to match his singing skills, but he does have this unique entertainment and likeability factor – something that almost everyone can agree on and has kept him dancing his way through the competition for weeks now.

Unfortunately however, there’s always a few faceless thugs who try and stop the fun for everyone else.

A concerned parishioner of Fr Ray from Oldcastle in Co. Meath contacted the media to say that the singing priest had received vile messages demanding he withdraw from the show.

It’s understood that his housekeeper has received numerous well wishes, cards and good luck calls, but disgracefully a few thugs tried to dishearten the well liked cleric.

The parishioner is quoted saying “He’s just Fr Ray to us, we love him regardless of his fame, but obviously some people don’t like the entertainment and enjoyment he gives to so many people around the country. We’ll do our best to support him all the way.”

God in creation