NEWS BRIEFS

Photo above – Composers and musicians from around the world have created an orchestral theme inspired by the Climate Crisis. The 12-minute Song of the Prophets: A Requiem for the Climate, is being composed by Chineke4Change

Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book

Loving and cherishing this world should be in our practice too, not just in our understanding… “Saying Yes to Life”: The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2020

“Ruth Valerio’s book is perfect for individuals and groups to think, reflect, pray and be challenged together.” Justin Welby, from the Foreword

Saying Yes to Life lifts our focus from natural, everyday concerns to issues that are having an impact on millions of lives around the world. As people made in the image of God, we are entrusted to look after what he has created: to share in God’s joy and ingenuity in making a difference for good. Ruth Valerio imaginatively draws on the Days of Creation (Genesis 1) as she relates themes of light, water, land, the seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath rest and resurrection hope to matters of environmental, ethical and social concern.

Foundational to Saying Yes to Life is what it means to be human and, in particular, to be a follower of Jesus. Voices from around the world are heard throughout, and each chapter ends with discussion questions and a prayer to aid action and contemplation.

About the Author – Dr Ruth Valerio is Global Advocacy and Influencing Director at Tearfund. An environmentalist, theologian and social activist. Ruth holds a doctorate from Kings College London, and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Winchester and Chichester… 👉
[[] https://spckpublishing.co.uk/saying-yes-to-life ]

MU All Ireland President visits Clogher Diocese

The All Ireland President of the Mothers’ Union, Mrs June Butler, has addressed a service in St. Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen on Sunday, 9th February.

Her message was on ‘Building Hope and Confidence,’ the Mothers’ Union theme for the coming year.
New members were admitted and new officers were commissioned. This was followed by a Parish Lunch in the Cathedral Hall.

In the afternoon, June Butler attended the Commissioning Service for Clogher Diocesan Mothers’ Union Trustee Body in St. Ronan’s Church, Colebrooke.

On Saturday, 22nd February, June Butler will return to Clogher Diocese to attend the Diocesan Mothers’ Union Prayer Breakfast in St. John’s Parish Hall, Fivemiletown when she will be joined by Iris Suitor, speaking about their recent trip to Rwanda.

Love, loss and Lena

‘Life changed again in 1982. That’s when I became involved with Mothers’ Union.’

Mothers’ Union has members in 84 countries. This article tells the story of how Guyanese member Lena overcame challenges in her own life and became a regional parenting trainer.
[ https://www.mothersunion.org/news/love-loss-and-lena-story-how-empathy-strengthens-social-bonds ]

Beyond the food bank

There was a great turnout at St Patrick’s, Ballymacarrett from a range of churches in East Belfast exploring wider justice issues on the theme Beyond the foodbank. This was part of a series of seminars organised by EBCDA and Inner East Churches Network

Celebrating St. Fintan

Bishop Denis Nulty recently celebrated Mass to mark the conclusion of renovations to St. Fintan’s Church, Ballinabranna and bless the new piece of art by Ann Murphy celebrating St. Fintan on the eve of his Feast day.

God in creation