360 Miscellany

News and views

New High School for Crossmaglen

Photo above – Archbishop Martin with NI Minister for Education Peter Weir MLA cutting the first sod for a brand new Ardscoil Naomh Iosaif St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen. Congratulations and blessings to Mrs Millar and all concerned over many years in reaching this significant milestone.

Perspectives from the pandemic experience

PRISM – a new Bible study resource from PCI as church life restarts

Congregations are returning to church life in a variety of ways and at a different pace depending on their own particular circumstances.

Now we find ourselves returning to recommence everyday life and regular church life once again. What will that feel like? What will we see with fresh eyes? What will we have learned? What might we decide to do differently, do with greater vigour, or not do at all?

Prism offers the right name for this resource which is part biblical reflection, part framework for discussion, part practical response and part encouragement to take fresh faith in God. After beginning with a Bible passage, greater space is intentionally left for less structured discussion to see what emerges. In allowing this to happen users will gain wide perspective on what God is saying to his church and begin to discern his ways for the future.

The content is designed to be flexible and adaptable allowing congregations to use some or all of it in Bible study, midweek meeting or for more personal discipling.

Download Prism for free here – http://bit.ly/2Q9GGRt

Go on a Psalm Walk

You are invited to go on a Psalm Walk! Have you seen these resources from TatH? Read a Psalm and go for a walk. Jess gives some prompters and ideas of things to do, look out for and think about as you walk. There are two Psalm Packs covering 11 Psalms in total. See –
[ https://www.tath.co.uk/unpack-a-passage ]

Book Spot

Is it possible to develop such a thing as a biblical theology of mental health? How might we develop a helpful and pastoral use of scripture to explore questions of mental health within a Christian framework?

This timely and important book integrates the highest levels of biblical scholarship with theological and pastoral concerns to consider how we use scripture when dealing with mental health issues.

Chapters include: Paula Gooder on Healing and wholeness; Joanna Collicutt on the madness of Jesus; John Swinton on the Bible in pastoral care; Walter Brueggemann on Psalms and lament. With a foreword from Archbishop Justin Welby

The impact that John V. Taylor had on our contemporary understanding of mission is vast – his determination that mission should mean engagement across cultural boundaries has deep resonance today.

In Imagining Mission with John V. Taylor, leading missional thinkers Cathy Ross and Jonny Baker invite us into a vision of church, mission and society which takes John V. Taylor’s ideas seriously, seeking to imagine what Taylor’s insights might mean for these three areas in our contemporary context.

The result is a clarion call to the church to take bigger risks and dream bigger dreams.

You can order at –

[[] https://scmpress.hymnsam.co.uk/ ]

Tribute to Hon Desmond Guinness

The Irish Georgian Society paid tribute to the late Desmond Guiness – The Society “has learnt with great sadness that Hon Desmond Guinness has passed away. We are indebted to his legacy in founding the Irish Georgian Society in 1958, together with the late Mariga Guinness. He boldly championed the cause of Ireland’s architectural heritage at a time when it faced great challenges through neglect and the threat of demolition from new development. In spite of hostility in some quarters, through his ardent campaigning, educating and working to save numerous buildings we are surrounded by a rich legacy of historic buildings saved to be celebrated as an integral part of our culture and identity. He has inspired us all and, for the thousands of members and supporters of the Irish Georgian Society at home and abroad, Desmond has truly been a Conservation Hero”.
Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

St. Aengus Church, Burt, Co. Donegal – National Heritage Week 2020

This building has worked itself into Irish consciousness as a high point of twentieth century architectural achievement. Designed in 1965 by Liam McCormick, its circular form drawing inspiration from the nearby Grianan of Aileach, it achieves, in the words of Alistair Rowan, ‘an eclectic, romantic building…which must be judged on its own, and must be judged a success. Bringing together tradition and modernity, primitive forms and structural ingenuity, it offers a demonstration of how sensitivity to place, and regard for habit and convention can still inspire individualism and invention while enhancing local distinctiveness.’

Positioned on a spectacular site looking over Lough Swilly, the church consists of a curving copper sheet clad roof consisting of off-centre conical spire topped with cross finial over patent-glazed polygonal lantern, curving smooth rendered soffit to eaves and cast concrete gargoyles at lower level. Interior wise it is lit by clerestory stained glass windows and by light from spire over altar. This church provides a feast for the eyes.

Like many of McCormick’s churches, the design was a collaborative project including the work of artists Brendan Friel, Oisín Kelly, Patrick McElroy, Helen Moloney, Veronica Rowe and Imogen Stuart. It was the winner of the RIAI triennial Gold Medal award (1965-67), and was voted Building of the Century in a RIAI poll in 1999.

Well said

Pointers to prayer

Pray for those whose ministries and local church involvement has paused due to coronavirus; that God will give them a sense of fulfilment in service to the gospel.

Today we pray for those locked in poverty. The poorest families in our communities have been hit hardest by the effects of the pandemic, pushing them further into difficulty. God we pray for your provision and for compassionate and practical decision making which offers support.

We’re grateful that God promises to give us wisdom in any situation if we ask him. We pray today both for God’s wisdom in our own lives and also for those in positions of authority who are facing difficult decisions.

God in creation