NEWS BRIEFS

Inishowen Gospel Choir to be joined by three of Ireland’s finest singers in Derry show

The Inishowen Gospel Choir will host three of the finest Irish soul, gospel, jazz and blues singers for an intimate evening at Derry’s The Playhouse next month.

Special guests Mirenda Rosenberg, Amanda St John and Jaime Nanci will join the bill for an evening of gospel, soul, harmony and high-energy performances at The Playhouse on Saturday, October 12.

Founded in 2005 by two friends who wanted to bring the sound and spirit of gospel music to their community, the Inishowen Gospel Choir has performed with some of the best-known names in the Irish music scene, including The Henry Girls, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Duke Special, Declan O’Rourke, Bronagh Gallager, Foy Vance, Cara Dillon and Moya Brennan.

For this special Derry concert, the group will be joined by Northern Ireland vocal powerhouse Amanda St John, US Irish-based singer Mirenda Rosenberg who has wowed sold-out audiences in Ireland, the US, and the UK, and Jaime Nanci, described by legendary Irish blues singer Mary Coughlan, as ‘the best Irish singer and songwriter of the last 30 years’.

“This Carndonagh-based collective’s massive range of gospel, folk, roots, rock and soul music never fails,” Max Beer, interim CEO at The Playhouse said.

“We’re so delighted to have the choir back for this very special evening, performing from an incredibly diverse range of styles, soul and harmony, all with a spirit and passion that keeps audiences coming back to them again and again over the years.”

An Evening with Inishowen Gospel Choir, with Special Guests Mirenda Rosenberg, Amanda St John and Jaime Nanci will come to The Playhouse on Saturday, October 12. Tickets are £12 and are available from The Playhouse Box Office on (028)71268027 or online at [ www.derryplayhouse.co.uk. ]

Rector of Derriaghy instituted

The Rev Aaron McAlister (right) was instituted rector of Derriaghy at a service in Christ Church Parish Church on Thursday September 26.

The former curate of Antrim Parish was instituted by the Bishop of Connor’s Commissary, Archdeacon George Davison. The preacher was the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, Archdeacon of Connor.

Aaron is married to Melanie and they have two children, Jacob and Ellie. He worked for 20 years in the DVA in Motor Taxation, and was commissioned as a Diocesan Lay Reader in December 2007.

He gained a professional certificate in ministry in 2012 from the University of Chester before completing two years of training at Theological College in Dublin. Aaron was ordained a deacon in 2015.

During training he did placements in Christ Church, Castlerock, and St Paul’s, Dunboe (Articlave); Desertoghill (Moyletragh) and St Paul’s, Garvagh (Errigal).

Aaron also did a one month placement with Bishop Justin Badi Arama, Diocese of Maridi, South Sudan. He worked for a year with the united parishes of Billy and Derrykeighan with the Rev John Anderson (incumbent) as a year out from Theological College.

His third year intern placement was as deacon at Holy Trinity, Portrush (Ballywillan).

The Mayor of Lisburn and Castlereagh, Councillor Alan Givan, and his wife Elizabeth attended the institution of the Rev Aaron McAllister in Derriaghy.
Following ordination, Aaron served as curate assistant in All Saints’ Parish Church, Antrim, with Archeadon McBride. “I’ve learned a great deal from Archdeacon McBride, and he has supported me in all my endeavours in my time in Antrim. I will miss working with him,” Aaron said.

He said he was looking forward ‘with excitement and anticipation’ to the next chapter as rector of Christ Church, Derriaghy, and St Andrew’s, Colin, and to discovering how he is to serve God and the parish.

The Rev Aaron McAlister was instituted as rector of Derriaghy on September 26. Pictured are, back from left: The Rev Canon William Taggart, Registrar; Archdeacon Stephen McBride, preacher; the Rev James Boyd, Rural Dean; Archdeacon Paul Dundas. Front, from left: Jim Armstrong and Edwin Beattie, churchwardens; Archdeacon George Davison, Bishop’s Commissary; the Rev Aaron McAlister; and Jim Braden and John McCullough, churchwardens

Belfast Cathedral is saddened to announce the passing of David Drinkell, a former Organist and Master of the Choristers here at St Anne’s Cathedral, making a wonderful contribution to the music and worship. Our thoughts and prayers are with Elspeth his wife at this very sad time.

Publication on Tom Barker, Missionary and former Moderator

The Presbyterian Historical Society’ has just published “The Very Rev Professor Dr. Thomas McCurdy Barker, Pastor, Professor and Prophet” by Salters Sterling

Tom Barker was a Derry man who lived a full life very far away from the Maiden City.

While studying at Magee Theological College he served as one of thirty student stewards at the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh.

The year 1913 was a very important one in his life as he was both ordained and married, and later sailed for China where he was to spend nearly forty years in missionary service.

His passion and expertise were in theological education and he served in a number of colleges during his time in China, as well as with the Student Christian Movement at home. He was never happier than in the company of students.

With a number of other missionaries he was a prisoner of the Japanese during the Second World War, and was in Nagasaki when the second Atom bomb was dropped.

Salters Sterling has written a very interesting and informative booklet about a distinguished Missionary and former Moderator of the General Assembly. Price 3.00 pounds. ISBN: 978-0-9931066-9-9 This publication can be ordered from PHSI online.
[[] http://www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com/publications/catalogue/thomas-mccurdy-barker/ ]

Mothers’ Union at Christian Resources Exhibition

Mothers’ Union are working in partnership with the Christian Resources Exhibition this year which takes place on the 15th – 17th October. On its final day Thursday 17th, the exhibition will be dedicating the day to issues faced by women in today’s world. There will be a panel discussion considering issues such as gender stereotyping, a performance of Chosen (the play about MU founder Mary Sumner) plus much more. MU will also be hosting a stand throughout the duration of the event – so make sure you come and visit them! SPECIAL OFFER – on the day admission to CRE costs £8.00 but all readers can get FREE admission by using the discount code “munion” following the link below :
https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=CREA9Visitor

Coffee concert in aid of St Nicholas’ Schola Cantorum

Saturday 5th October at 11am. St.Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway. Tickets: €10 on the door (for concert, coffee & fabulous baked goodies) in aid of St Nicholas’ Schola Cantorum

Archbishop calls on Irish Church to be more ‘forceful

Irishman and former Archbishop of Pretoria in South Africa William Slattery has said the Irish Church should be more “forceful, more self-confident” in spreading the Good News, as it’s shifted away from “being close to people”.

Returning home last month, Archbishop William (Liam) Slattery OFM said the Church is hugely important for community and has a lot to offer, but it can be a “battle” to get this message across, particularly in the Western world.

Archbishop Slattery’s resignation was accepted by Pope Francis in late April this year, the Franciscan missionary spent 49 years in South Africa working among the poor, through apartheid and severe political unrest. Dr Slattery was born in Portlaoise but grew up in Tipperary, he returned to Ireland last month.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic he said: “I think the Church in Ireland will have to be more forceful, more self-confident and also do what it does well, be close to the people, maybe over the last number of years it’s shifted a bit; not close enough to the people.”

He said that the Church is more limited, saying “in the past the Church did everything”.

The child abuse crisis, he says, is “absolutely devastating”, and hits at the very meaning of Christianity which is “care, blessing, hope, healing”.

“I think the Church has to do that, it has to be courageous and imaginative responding to people, helping people to heal, go out there and talk to people even though you will get criticism.

“The Church depends on community, when community gets weak, churches get weak because we grow strong not only through knowledge but you meet God through belonging. Where there is a strong sense of belonging God is not far away.”

Food for thought