360 Miscellany

News and views

Photo above – HMS Enterprise holds a Church Service off the coast of Beirut after assisting in humanitarian aid.

The rescue ship SeaWatch4, purchased by a crowdfund led by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), is ready to start operating in the Mediterranean Sea to help migrants attempting to reach Europe from north Africa.

NI International Organ Competition

Full details of NIIOC 2020 prize recitals and monetary awards announced for St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October. Applications close Monday 28 September. References only required for shortlisting.
[ https://www.niioc.com/news/2020/8/11/niioc-2020-competition ]

What Is Bono’s Real Name?

Bono’s real name is Paul David Hewson. You may have noticed that Paul and David are both biblical names.

Both of his parents were religious, although they belonged to different denominations. His mother was a member of the Church of Ireland and thus part of the Anglican communion, while his father was Roman Catholic. Bono attended church with his mother and is still a practicing Christian today.

While Bono continues to use his stage name with U2, he hasn’t abandoned his real name. He’s been married to Alison Hewson since the 1980s, and their children take the name Hewson. One of Bono’s daughters, Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson, has even gone on to become famous herself as an actress.

Most fans probably knew that Bono wasn’t the U2 frontman’s real name. But there’s a story behind both Bono’s real name and his stage name. These stories are fun to learn about, and ultimately add a lot to what we know about the man, his art, and his work.

Well said

“The Church of Jesus Christ must be a Church where people are welcomed, respected & cherished – even in their difference. Racist intolerance is always dangerous language and is always a one-way street towards negativity & disrespect” – Archbishop Martin of Dublin.

Ordination postponed

The ordination to the priesthood, by the Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory, of the Revd Janet Finlay, which was to be held on Saturday, 22 August, in an outdoor service at the Rock of Dunamaise, Portlaoise, has been postponed due to the new Covid restrictions in Co. Laois. She will be the first trainee to be ordained priest as part of the Ordained Local Ministry (OLM) course which began in the Church of Ireland in 2018.

Minority points of view

Irish Times Letter August 14
Sir, – I refer to Breda O’Brien’s interesting opinion article of August 12th, “Catholic Church faces challenges as places of worship reopen”. It may interest The Irish Times to know that the Roman Catholic Church is not the only religious group facing challenges in reopening places of worship. Since March 12th, my local Church of Ireland parish has contended with getting services online at very short notice, followed by the challenges of getting our churches reopened in a safe manner. Like our Roman Catholic brethren, administering the Eucharist has proven to be very difficult if not impossible. As for non-Christian religions, the recent Eid al-Adha celebration in Croke Park shows exactly how much building capacity has been compromised.

Finally, if your columnist is wondering what being a religious minority in the Republic of Ireland leads to, she only has to ask someone who does not profess the Christian faith in the Roman tradition! – Yours, etc,

Dr Simon Woodworth, Ballywilliam, Belgooly, Co Cork.

Londonderry Revisited

‘A close examination of the situation in Londonderry…shows that Protestants weren’t being noticeably unfair to Catholics. Certainly they were not depriving Catholics of any British rights which they as Protestants enjoyed. Where people were worse off than on the Mainland – in terms of housing conditions for instance – both communities were affected. Protestants were being portrayed as guilty when they were not, and it was this fact, reinforced by a belief that Catholics must have known they were distorting the truth, that influenced the Protestant reaction to the “civil-rights” movement.’

Paul Kingsley, ‘Londonderry Revisited: A Loyalist Analysis of the Civil Rights Controversy’

John Hewitt 1950 – 2008

John Hewitt was known for his long association with the Arts and Lyric theatres in Belfast, and achieved popular acclaim for his television role as John Fletcher, playing alongside Kenneth Branagh in the BBC’s Play for Today series, the trilogy of ‘Billy Plays’ (1982-1984), set in Belfast.

He starred with Liam Neeson in Brian Friel’s Philadelphia Here I Come at the Lyric Theatre in the early 1980s, and appeared in stage plays by Northern Ireland’s leading playwrights, including Marie Jones (Eddie Bottom’s Dream, 1996), Robin Glendinning (Culture Vultures, 1988), Stewart Parker (Northern Star, 1984), Christina Reid (Tea in a China Cup, 1983) and John Boyd (Guests, 1974).

Pointers to prayer

Today we give thanks for students who have sprung into action on the frontline in NHS roles during the pandemic. Many have sacrificed time with family and their own safety. God, we thank you for their generosity and willingness to put others first.

As long as we continue living, we must continue praying’. (M. Henry). Pray for those in authority, making the biggest calls of their lives. Pray for the health & strength of our NHS workers. Pray for those who are sick. Our prayers are powerful so let’s commit to praying them

Today we give thanks that Polio vaccination programmes have resumed in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Programmes stopped during the pandemic, but now can resume to tackle a rise in cases. We pray that the vaccines will reach those in need & that polio will be eradicated.

Pray for the Retired Evangelists of the Church Army who are over 70 years old or in a vulnerability category; that God will keep them safe throughout the pandemic.

God in creation

Whiterocks sunset, Portrush