Church leaders condemn murder of Prison Officer; Disability Awareness Sunday; Belfast Healing Service; Comber Youth Event; Preventing Self–harm training event; “Soul Sisters” series; Media Review
Church leaders condemn murder of Prison Officer
The leaders of the Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Church of Ireland and the Irish Council of Churches issued the following statement yesterday :
We are shocked, distressed and outraged by the ruthless murder of Prison Officer David Black which has met with total revulsion in all the communities we represent.
We offer to Mr Black’s family our deepest condolences and assure them, together with his colleagues and friends, of our prayers that God’s love will surround and support them through this awful and difficult time.
As Church leaders we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of men and women like Mr Black, his Prison Officer colleagues and all who serve the community in upholding our common good.
Every day such people put their lives on the line to play their part in moving our community forward, in the quest for a peaceful society where we can all live side by side in dignity, respecting one another and working together for a brighter and better future.
There can be no greater contrast than that between outstanding people like Mr Black and his colleagues who live their lives for the good and in the service of others, and those who murdered him, who only want to break down, destroy and bring sadness.
This evil murder is an attack on us all, so together we totally reject it and all that it represents. We recommit ourselves to continue working together for the good of everyone, in the name and through the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Rt Rev Dr Roy Patton – Presbyterian Moderator
Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh
Rev Ken Lindsay – Methodist President
Rt Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, on behalf of the Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop Designate of Armagh.
Rev Fr Godfrey O’Donnell – President of the Irish Council of Churches
Disability Awareness Sunday
The C of I Disability Working Group states: This has been a remarkable year in raising the profile and increasing public awareness of people with disabilities as sportsmen and women competed with total passion and commitment at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. There is, therefore, no better time than this to raise awareness at the local level of disability within the life of the Church: to celebrate participation and to encourage greater involvement of people with disabilities of every kind. The third Sunday in November has been designated as Disability Awareness Sunday – now an annual event in the Church of Ireland. This year it falls on Sunday 18 November and the Standing Committee’s Working Group on Disability is encouraging parishes to mark and participate in the day as creatively as possible.
The Revd Canon Dr Will Murphy, Chairman of the Working Group, says; ‘The purpose of Disability Awareness Sunday is to help churches focus on disability not just for one day but for that day to lead to ongoing inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the Church. The day will provide churches with an opportunity for people with disabilities to take part in the services and through this and other ways to raise the awareness of disability among the church community in general. There are various helpful resources for parishes to use such as those produced by ‘Through the Roof’, which is a brilliant organisation, offering advice and guidance through its website as well as its publications. Grove Booklets are also very helpful. Of these, Mark Bredin’s True Beauty: Finding Grace in Disabilities is excellent in explaining the importance of every church being inclusive in relation to people with many different disabilities. I trust everyone can get involved with enthusiasm in this initiative in 2012 and beyond.’
Resources for Disability Awareness are available on www.ireland.anglican.org/resources
Belfast Healing Service
Brother David Jardine, Director of Divine Healing Ministries, will be leading another special service on Monday 19 November 2012, at 8.00 p.m. in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. Well known writer and speaker Rev. Pat Collins, will be addressing the topic, ‘have you ever felt like giving up?’ Pat Collins is renowned worldwide for his work in renewal and reconciliation and healing. Worship will be led by Caz Hamilton from Lisburn Fellowship Church. There will be an opportunity to receive personal prayer and blessing with oil at this service.
Comber Youth Event with Jasper Rutherford
A special event for youth will be held at St Mary’s, Comber on 18 November at 7.00pm.
The speaker at ‘Stand, Arise, Awaken’ will be Jasper Rutherford and worship will be led by Derek Walker and band.
Preventing Self–harm training event
What do we do when a young person dealing with a difficult issue comes to our door? Opening Doors events from The Big House are designed to help Christians respond to the difficult issues we encounter in the lives of young people in our churches, youth groups and homes.
This free training for youth leaders combines practical Biblical theology with personal experience and professional advice.
Tues 13 November, Rumours Café, Belfast at 7.15pm
Tues 20 November, The Sandel Centre, Coleraine, at 7.15pm
How can you help if you discover a young person you know is harming themselves? Cathy Bell is the Co–ordinator of Schools Counselling in NI, she is also the Chair of the BACP (the largest body of counsellors in the UK). She will be helping us to understand why young people (even Christians) self–harm and giving practical advice for anyone who wants to join with Jesus in walking with and caring for them.
The Big House also offers a Christian counselling service, The Listening Space, which is available to young people between 12–18 years.
Contact – The Big House – 17 Holywood Road, Belfast, BT4 2DH Tel: 028 9067 1495 Email: info@thebighouse.org.uk Web: www.thebighouse.org bighouseireland.facebook.com
“Soul Sisters” series at TCD Chapel
The “Soul Sisters” series continues in Trinity College Chapel. The series aims to celebrate inspiring women and runs until early December in the context of Sunday morning Choral Eucharist at 10.45 am. All are welcome. Full details of the series and recordings of the addresses are available on the TCD Chaplaincy website: www.tcd.ie/chaplaincy.
The remaining speakers are as follows: The Revd Celia Grace Kenny, Church of Scotland Minister (4 November); Dr. Cathríona Russell, School of Religions and Theology, TCD (18 November) and Ms. Emily O’Reilly, Ombudsman and Information Commissioner (2 December). The TCD Dean of Residence, the Revd Darren McCallig, will preach on the other Sundays (30 September, 14 and 28 October, 11 and 25 November and 9 December).
MEDIA REVIEW
Gay rights issue hasn’t been solved in last 30 years
By Liam Clarke in Belfast Telegraph – It is hard to believe that, 30 years ago, homosexuality was illegal in Northern Ireland – the law never took lesbians under its notice – and every Northern Ireland MP voted against reforming the law. Jeff Dudgeon made this point when he addressed a service at St George’s Church of Ireland in Belfast’s High Street. It was held last Sunday to commemorate the successful European Court of Human Rights case Mr Dudgeon brought to change the law.
He identified three issues still to be resolved: adoption rights, blood donations and “most controversially, for churches, gay or equal marriage.”
The marriage issue is tied into adoption, because here in Northern Ireland, unmarried couples – gay or straight – cannot adopt children.
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/liam-clarke/gay-rights-issue-hasnt-been-solved-in-last-30-years-16232545.html#ixzz2B4CqgLuJ
Association of Catholic Priests saddened by bishops’ ‘snub’
BBC News – A group representing hundreds of Irish priests has said it is disappointed that the Irish Catholic Church’s Bishops Conference will not meet them. The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has claimed the conference refused to hold face-to-face talks …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20163342
Kilkenny set for €5.6m makeover in attempt to boost tourism
Irish Examiner – Plans include a new exhibition centre in St Mary’s Church, which will safeguard the future of the historic building, and a garden walk along the River Nore which will link Kilkenny Castle with the canal walk. The medieval city’s streets will also get …
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/kilkenny-set-for-56m-makeover-in-attempt-to-boost-tourism-572586.html