Hundreds of people filled St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, this afternoon (Sunday November 9) for the annual National Service of Remembrance. The service was televised live on RTE for the first time and the President was represented by his Aide de Camp, Col Brendan McAndrew.

Also present was the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Christy Burke, the Tánaiste, Minister Joan Burton, members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the Defence Forces and many veterans and their families. The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson and Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Raymond Field were in attendance.

The congregation was welcomed by the Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Very Revd Victor Stacey and the service was introduced by the Dean’s Vicar, the Revd Charles Mullen. Lessons were read by Tom Burke, MBE, Chairman of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers’ Association and Peter Murtagh, journalist with the Irish Times.

Wreaths were laid at the Tree of Remembrance in the cathedral’s north transept by Col Brendan McAndrew, the Tánaiste and Geoffrey Medcalf, national Vice Chairman of the Royal British Legion.

The address was given by the Revd Peter Rutherford, Rector of Julianstown and South Drogheda, a former Assistant Chaplain General of HM Forces. He spoke of the people from every parish, county and city in Ireland of different social and political backgrounds who fought in the First World War in which 200,000 Irishmen served and at least 35,000 lost their lives.

This was war as never experienced before, he said, describing it as a “totally mechanised conflict that shattered the illusion and optimism of western civilisation”.

However, he continued: “Thankfully, 100 years on from the start of that conflict, it is now possible for people throughout our island, of whatever political or religious tradition, to acknowledge the courage, bravery and sacrifice that so many made as part of that terrible, and primarily European, conflict: not to glorify war, but to recognise its cost”.

[Mr Rutherford’s address will be available on this website in the coming days.]

The service is also available to view on the RTE Player at: http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10342738/

Photo caption: An Tánaiste, Minister Joan Burton, lays a wreath at the Tree of Remembrance in St Patrick’s Cathedral. (Photo: Patrick Hugh Lynch)

Dublin Council of Churches has announced the details of the 2014 Walk of Light. The ecumenical journey takes place on Sunday November 23 beginning at 4.00 pm at St Mary’s Church, Haddington Road. The route will also take in St Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road and Dublin Korean Church at Centenary Church, Leeson Park. 

This will be the 10th year of the annual Advent inter church journey and this year’s theme is ‘Isolated by Hurt, Joined in Hope – Emmanuel, God with Us’. The event sees people from all walks of life and representatives of the various churches in the area come together for this venture.

As the churches prepare for a “new year” with the coming of Advent, they see this journey together as a simple sign of their belonging together as Christians. “We set out together and declare publicly, as Christmas approaches, that Christ is the light that has come into the world. With the Walk of Light we set out on our journey through the time of Advent towards the celebration of the amazing reality of God coming onto the world as a vulnerable human being in difficult times. We pray that the Holy Spirit may touch our hearts as we join with each other along the road,” the organisers say.

Participants visit each of the three host churches where they explore the theme and take part in a short act of worship in the style of the congregation before walking to the next church.

The itinerary for November 23 is: 

4.00 pm: Welcome and Opening Prayer in St Mary’s Church, Haddington Road

4.30 pm: Walk to St. Bartholomew’s Church, Clyde Road (approx. arrival time: 5.00 pm)

5.30 pm: Walk to the Dublin Korean Church @ Centenary Church, Leeson Park (approx. arrival time: 6.00 pm)

Following the concluding prayer there will be light refreshments at 6.30pm.

All are invited to come and join either for the entire journey, or any part of the journey.

Christmas 1914 was the theme of Christ Church Bray’s Remembrance Flower Festival and Exhibition which ran over the weekend and drew to a close in the church this afternoon.

Parishioners and members of the wider community in Bray attended an Act of Remembrance this morning to mark Armistice Day. Brian O’Donnell led the Act of Remembrance with the Rector, the Revd Baden Stanley, in the porch of the church surrounded by a floral representation of ‘In Flanders Field’.

The flower festival and exhibition was the parish’s contribution to commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. Over the years, through artistic depictions in flowers and paintings and through storyboards and newspapers, they have sought to retell stories of ordinary individuals who did extraordinary things in times of war.

While not seeking to celebrate or triumphalise war, the exhibition sought to recognise the horror experienced in conflict. The 168 men and boys from Bray who died during World War One were remembered with each individual’s name displayed in the church along with some of their wills which were scribbled in the trenches.

Floral displays throughout the church focused on a number of themes including ‘Lest we Forget’ and ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’, to name just two. The centrepiece of this year’s exhibition was the ‘Christmas 1914’ display in the chancel. The piece depicted the Christmas Truce of 1914 and a game of football in no man’s land between the Allied and German soldiers.

Photo captions:

Top – The Revd Baden Stanley and Brian O’Donnell.

Bottom – ‘Christmas 1914’ display in the chancel of Christ Church Bray.

The annual Building Blocks Children’s Ministry Conference takes place in Dublin on Saturday November 22 and its focus this year is on Messy Church. The conference is preceded, on Friday November 21, by the annual Building Blocks clergy lunch. In both cases the keynote speaker is Lucy Moore, the founder of Messy Church.

The conference takes place in All Hallow’s College, Drumcondra, from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm on November 22. It aims to support those working with children in their local churches, communities or schools and to encourage others to be involved in this vital ministry. These conferences are organised by children’s ministry leaders from a broad spectrum of Christian Churches and organisations throughout Ireland.

The keynote address will be given in the morning and this will be followed by a number of sessions from which those participating can attend two. These include seminars on: teaching the Bible through crafts, creative prayer ideas, tackling the tough stuff: discipline, involving children in church, Messy Church, equipping new leaders, God, the Bible and the under 5s, engaging with special needs and storytelling and drama.

The conference cost €35 and includes tea/coffee on arrival, lunch and all conference materials. The conference brochure and booking form is available on the Building Blocks website http://buildingblocks.ie/

The annual clergy lunch is a free event for clergy and takes place in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Braemor Park, on Friday November 21 at 12.30 pm. At this Lucy Moore will address the subject: ‘Is Messy Church ‘Church’?

Talking about the missional and discipleship opportunities Messy Church can offer to the local church’. Those wishing to attend the lunch should contact Lydia Monds on 01–4125610 or dublin@buildingblocks.ie by November 17.

Lucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church and works for Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) as Messy Church team leader. She is responsible for developing the work of Messy Church nationally and internationally – writing, speaking, reflecting and developing Messy projects. She introduced it to her local church and was part of the Messy Church leadership team there for 10 years.

The 2nd years in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute are sporting facial hair for the month of November in aid of the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice in Leopardstown. The normally clean shaven bunch have eschewed their razors to take part in Movember, whereby men don’t shave to raise awareness of men’s health issues and funds for charity.

They would be happy to receive donations for their cause which can be sent care of Nigel Pierpoint to CITI, Breamor Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14. Some of the students taking part in the ‘no shave’ venture for Movember are pictured: Nigel Pierpoint (Dublin and Glendalough), Chris MacBruitin (Derry and Raphoe), Philip Bryson (Connor) and Scott McDonald (Connor).

The Church Mission Society Ireland (CMS Ireland) is a dynamic, forward–looking Mission organisation that works in partnership with the Church to share God’s transforming love throughout the world. The Society seeks to help the Church engage more actively in mission, by facilitating partnerships between parishes in Ireland and our Global Partners, with whom we have been working for many years.

CMS Ireland is seeking to appoint a Mission Director to lead the organisation in the next phase of its development. The successful applicant will assist in the ongoing development and implementation of CMS Ireland’s current Strategic Focus. 

Reporting directly to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Mission Director will lead an enthusiastic and talented team of people. This post will be based in Belfast.

The person appointed will have experience of Global Mission, be a highly effective leader and communicator, with a passion to see lives transformed by the love of God.

The post will require travel at home and overseas with an ability to speak and preach in a variety of diverse situations.

Interviews are expected to take place on 21st and 22nd January 2015.

Purpose of the job

To provide CMS Ireland with spiritual leadership and sound management as it seeks to encourage and facilitate the Church in Ireland to reach out in global mission.

To deliver the current CMS Ireland strategic focus as agreed by the Board of Trustees.

Main Responsibilities

·         To provide executive leadership for CMS Ireland.

·         To ensure that CMS Ireland is effective in encouraging and facilitating the Church in Ireland as it engages in world mission, mainly through Partnership Links.

·         To manage the staff team and ensure they are effective in their roles. To carry out regular appraisals. To ensure the provision of pastoral and emotional care for all staff, mission partners and volunteers.

·         To maintain and develop strong relationships with CMS Ireland’s Global Partners, link parishes and supporters and the wider Church in Ireland.

·         To liaise with the Board on issues of organisational governance and statutory bodies.

·         To ensure that CMS Ireland responds appropriately to the needs and requests of Global Partners.

·         To represent CMS Ireland locally and globally, communicating appropriately and effectively with church and civic leaders.

·         To speak and preach on behalf of CMS Ireland when and where required.

·         To ensure effective management of CMS Ireland’s financial resources.

·         To ensure that CMS Ireland communicates effectively with all of its stakeholders.

·         To work with the Board to identify and explore new areas of ministry.

·         To foster stronger relationships and opportunities for learning between our Global Partners.

·         To network with the CMS global family and other mission agencies.

·         To ensure that CMS Ireland engages effectively with the wider church in Ireland – including funding agencies.

For further information including an Application Pack please contact:

Mrs Gillian Maganda, Personnel Coordinator

Tel: 028 90775020 (048 from Republic of Ireland)

Email: personnel@cmsireland.org

Postal: CMS Ireland, 33 Dargan Road, Belfast, BT3 9JU (Marked Private & Confidential)

Closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 12 noon on Friday 19th December 2014

The appointment of a new Rector for Celbridge and Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons has been announced. Canon Stephen Neill is to be the new Incumbent and the institution will take place in the New Year.

Canon Neill (pictured) is 45 years of age, was born in Dublin and is married to Nicola who is in the restaurant business in the Midlands. They have one son, Aaron aged 17. 

He is currently rector of the Cloughjordan and Borrisokane Group of Parishes which covers parts of North Tipperary and Offaly and also Precentor of the joint chapter of St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick and St Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe. 

Previously he was Curate–Assistant in Monkstown, Dublin and Limerick City Parish respectively.

Canon Neill is a committed ecumenist and believes that the future of the Church is in closer bonds between Christians of all traditions and a greater openness to discovering where God is at work beyond the walls of our churches.

He is a very keen reader and also enjoys writing on a regular basis. He is a regular columnist with the Church of Ireland Gazette and additionally contributes occasional opinion pieces to local and national newspapers.

He loves travel and photography and rarely goes anywhere without the camera in the car.

A carved wooden Church of Ireland cross made by young people working in The Yard, a programme run by Solas Project, was dedicated in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, yesterday (Sunday November 16). The cross will serve to remind parishioners in St Ann’s of the links between their church and the Solas project which have been going from strength to strength. It now hangs in their parish hall.

Solas Project is one of the beneficiaries of the annual Black Santa Sit Out which takes place outside St Ann’s in the run up to Christmas. Parishioners also volunteer with the project, which is a non profit organisation based in South Inner City Dublin.

Solas Finance and Operations Manager, Clodagh O’Reilly, addressed the congregation on Sunday and spoke to them about the project. “Our vision is an Ireland where all children and young people truly know their self–worth and can take full advantage of their potential. Solas Project exists because of a fundamental belief that all people are created in the image of God. This leads us to treat every person with compassion, dignity and respect, to seek out the goodness in them and through that empower them to discover their own abilities and self worth. We hold ourselves accountable to four key values: Love, Justice, Hope and Joy,” she said.

She outlined the seven projects run for young people in Solas Project, among them the social enterprise, The Yard. There, young people come to learn valuable skills such as woodwork, bicycle maintenance and bicycle building. They also learn life skills and through one to one mentoring they learn to work as part of a team and what working in a business will be like. Clodagh stressed the importance of instilling career aspirations to combat latent apathy and instill hope for the future in an area where there is 80 percent unemployment.

The cross was made by the young people under the guidance of Youth Cultivator Andrew Doyle along with Kristin Limmer and Adrian Finlay. “This cross was a challenge for the group to make and I’m sure you’ll see a lot of hard work went into it,” Clodagh said. “To have had our young people working on carving out a cross in the heart of Dublin, means a great deal. The cross symbolises hope and victory and it is my firm belief that with your support Solas Project will succeed in creating a better future for many many young people. I think it makes a beautiful addition to St Ann’s.”

Clodagh paid tribute to St Ann’s parishioners who volunteer with Solas including Lucy Jones, Arthur Vincent and, in particular, Joan Wadsworth, who has been shortlisted in the Volunteer of the Year awards run by Volunteer Ireland.

St Ann’s donated €2,000 to Solas Project this year. The funding enabled them to expand their Step Up programme which provides one to one mentoring to second level students.

Photo captions:

Top – Clodagh O’Reilly and Kirstin Limmer of Solas Project with St Ann’s Vicar, Canon David Gillespie and parishioner, Joan Wadsworth with the cross carved by young people who attend The Yard social enterprise.

Bottom – Fred Deane and Jim Kieran putting the cross carved by young people involved with Solas Project up in St Ann’s parish hall.

The beautiful St Doulagh’s Church in Balgriffin was filled to capacity last night (Sunday November 16) for a Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication to mark the 150th anniversary of the rebuilding of the present nave. The preacher was the Revd Andrew Studdert Kennedy, the great grandson of the Revd William Studdert Kennedy who was perpetual curate of St Doulagh’s at the time of the rebuilding project. The church was rededicated by Archbishop Michael Jackson.

The congregation was welcomed by the Rector, the Revd Norman Gamble, who outlined a bit of the history of the church which is on a site which, records indicate, has been a place of Christian worship since the anchorite St Doulagh found his church in the sixth century.

The medieval church building dates from the 12th century with a later 15th century addition of a tower. In 1959, led by William Studdert Kennedy, a group of clergy met in the Royal Irish Academy to discuss the state of the ancient building with a view to preserving it for future generations. The existing 1781 Georgian aisle was replaced with a Victorian structure and the work was completed in 1864 when it was reconsecrated by Archbishop Trench.

In his sermon Mr Studdert Kennedy explored the relationship between the present and the past and between the people of today and their ancestors. Exploring his own connection to his great grandfather, he referred to his grandfather, Anglican priest and poet, Geoffrey Suddert Kennedy, who was nicknamed ‘Woodbine Willie’ during World War I. He suggested that William Studdert Kennedy had a great influence over his son who became a well known public figure.

One of those influences, he proposed, may have been the passion for being real and the importance of deeds rather than words. Being real and avoiding pretence must also have influenced St Doulagh as anchorites retreated from the world to encounter God, the preacher said.

“Centuries later , the same quest to be real led William Studdert Kennedy to serve in the poorest of places [in the slums of Leeds] and his son in the most hazardous of places in the trenches in World War I. That same quest to be real brings people to St Doulagh’s today,” Mr Studdert Kennedy said.

He added that in some senses the past is inaccessible but on another level we have the most direct connection with our forbearers in Jesus Christ who remained the same in the past, present and future.

He put forward three ways through which this connection with our forbearers was visible with Christ as our foundation: we are united by our desire to be real, as people of faith we have patience and trust and we all live with uncertainty and complexity.

Photo captions:

Top – Archbishop Michael Jackson, the Revd Norman Gamble and the Revd Andrew Studdert Kennedy at the plaque marking the building of the Victorian aisle of St Doulagh’s Church.

Bottom – Clergy who attended the Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication of St Doulagh’s with the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mags Murray.

The new Rector for Rathfarnham Parish has been announced. The Revd Adrienne Galligan has been appointed to the parish which has been vacant since the retirement of the Revd Ted Woods and the appointment of the Revd Anne Taylor to St Peter’s, Formby. 

The Revd Adrienne (pictured) has been Rector of St Mary’s Crumlin and St Laurence’s Chapelizod since September 2008 and prior to that she served in Seapatrick Parish, Banbridge as Curate Assistant for five years with the Ven John Scott. 

Previously she taught in East Glendalough School and another second level school in Dublin city while also serving in a voluntary capacity as a youth leader with CEF.

Speaking about her new appointment, the Revd Adrienne mentioned that she was very humbled by the trust being placed in her by the Lord and the nominators and that though, in her capacity as Rural Dean she had the opportunity to meet different groups of parishioners at Holy Communion services and through vestry meetings, she had not anticipated being selected for the incumbency and considered it a great honour.

She also acknowledged how incredibly blessed she was to have served in Crumlin and Chapelizod and she now greatly desired to see what the Lord had planned for this group of parishes. A time of new things for both Rathfarnham and Crumlin/Chapelizod – may all be according to God’s purposes and plans, she said.

Her institution will take place in Rathfarnham on January 16 2015.

The fourth title in the Braemor Studies Series was launched last night (Tuesday November 18) in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. Occupy Faith: The Movement of Movements and its Implications for Christian Practice by the Revd Rob Clements was launched by UK journalist and activist, Symon Hill.

The Braemor Studies Series features a selection of dissertations by Masters (MTh) students of CITI. The titles are published by Church of Ireland Publishing and edited by Church of Ireland Publications Officer, Susan Hood.

Occupy Faith: The Movement of Movements and its Implications for Christian Practice looks at the Occupy Movement which gained much attention as a result of its protest and subsequent eviction from its camp at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

Occupy became a broad social movement which was known as the ‘movement of movements’ and the relationship between social movements such as Occupy and the Church; and by extension the relationship between the Church and the ethical concerns raised was the subject of debate.

Using the tools of practical theology, Mr Clements explores both the movement’s critique of systems of domination and its methods of resistance, with specific relation to Christian practice. Theological and biblical resources are investigated in regard to just economic relations, direct action and performance, and participative democracy.

Launching the volume, Symon Hill, who is associate director of the Christian think tank, Ekklesia, spoke of his experiences in meeting and praying with Occupy protesters at St Paul’s. He said that the debate started by the movement triggered exploration of how the Gospel relates to activism. He noted the thesis’s suggestion that the social movement could learn a lot from the Church but that the movement also had implications for the Church in terms of how to live the Gospel.

Mr Clements said that matter of how faith engages with the world in which we live is a topic we do not talk about enough. He thanked all who contributed to the publication.

Dr Hood pointed out that this was the first of the Braemor Studies Series to deal with social justice and hoped that the Church would respond and that the work be read beyond the Church of Ireland.

The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, said the publication brought its readers into the dynamic area of social action and compassionate theology.

The Revd Rob Clements is currently a Curate in Enniskillen. He served his Intern year in the Parish of Rathfarnham in Dublin.

Copies of the Braemor Studies Series may be had from the Church of Ireland Theological
Institute (admin@theologicalinstitute.ie) or from the Church of Ireland Publications Officer (susan.hood@rcbdub.org).

Photo caption: The Very Revd Kenny Hall, Dean of Clogher; the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin; the Revd Rob Clements, author; Symon Hill, who launched the booklet; the Revd Paddy McGlinchey, Lecturer in Missiology at CITI, the Right Revd John McDowell, Bishop of Clogher; and Dr Susan Hood, Church of Ireland Publications Officer.

“Let’s prepare a place at our table this Christmas” – that’s the plea from the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough which is running an emergency appeal for Gaza this Advent. The appeal will be launched by the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, on Tuesday next, November 25, and the dioceses aims to raise €150,000 for the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.

The non–political appeal is being run as part of a longer term link which is being nurtured between Dublin and Glendalough and the Diocese of Jerusalem. The funds raised will be used for two specific projects in Al Ahli Hospital: to improve facilities for on–call staff and to install solar panels to ensure a more secure electricity supply for the hospital.

Families throughout the dioceses are being urged to include an imaginary Gaza guest in their festive gatherings this year to help raise funds for the appeal. They can contribute by donating the cost of the meal for their Gaza guest and the price of a gift for a loved one.

Parishes, schools, hospitals, organisations and individuals throughout Dublin and Glendalough can also get involved in supporting the appeal by holding an Advent fundraising event for Gaza.

Commending the Advent Appeal, Archbishop Jackson said: “I am delighted that the Diocesan Council for Mission has taken this Appeal for Gaza forward in such an imaginative way. I should encourage everyone across the United Dioceses, in the Season of Advent and Christmas, to think of ways of reaching out across the world in the spirit of Christmas in response to this urgent need for financial support. Please lay a place at your table for someone, just like any of us, as a way of supporting friends abroad and contributing to the reconstruction of the Al Ahli Hospital which itself turns nobody away.”

Archbishop Suheil Dawani, the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem said: “Our medical services are given irrespective of race, religion or ability to pay. We see in each person seeking our services the image and likeness of Almighty God and we affirm through our support the dignity of each individual who comes to us.”

The appeal is being coordinated by the Dublin and Glendalough Council for Mission in partnership with Bishops’ Appeal, the United Society and Friends of Sabeel. The longer term link between the Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East aims to offer friendship and solidarity in a region where the number of Christians is dwindling.

Al Ahli Hospital was built in 1882 by CMS and is owned and controlled by the Diocese of Jerusalem. The hospital’s vision is: “To continue providing the finest medical care possible under the most adverse circumstances to the marginalised and vulnerable poor people whose livelihood are threatened by the effect of human–made disaster, with special attention to the refugee and the poorest of the poor. The hospital is committed to building people’s capacity and competence alongside the development and maintenance of an adequate standard of diagnostic and clinical services”.

Overwhelming need in the Diocese of Jerusalem:

• 1.8 million people affected in the Gaza Strip

• Over 2,000 fatalities, of which 1,312 are civilians and 513 of those were children

• Over 10,000 injured (2,877 children 3,061 women)

• 520,000 displaced people housed in UN/government schools or with host families

• 1.5 million people not in shelters with no or extremely restricted access to water

• 10,690 housing units destroyed or severely damaged

• 141 schools damaged

• 5 hospitals shut down

• 24 (at least) health facilities damaged

• 2–4 hours of electricity per day on average

Donations can be made to Bishops’ Appeal either by envelopes which are available in all parish churches or by electronic transfer to IBAN: IE BOFI 9000 1749 8394 99 BIC: BOFIIE2D (reference Gaza).

Photo caption: Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Suheil Dawani in Dublin earlier this year.

A stimulating open event on the theme of ‘The Ethics of War’ – organised by the Church of Ireland’s Historical Centenaries Working Group as a distinctive Church of Ireland contribution to the commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War – was held last night (19 November 2014) in the Music Room of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

A large audience gathered to hear Professor Nigel Biggar of the University of Oxford speak on the theme based on his recent book In Defence of War, to which Professor Keith Jeffery of Queen’s University, Belfast responded, referring to his historical research. The event was chaired by the historian Professor David Hayton who opened up lively debate and discussion to those attending.

A fuller report of the event will be published in next week’s edition of the Church of Ireland Gazette.

Pictured L–R: Prof Nigel Biggar, Prof Keith Jeffery, Bishop John McDowell, Prof David Hayton (Photo: Paul Harron/Church of Ireland Press Office).

Newstalk reporter, Naomi Linehan, visited Christ Church Dun Laoghaire’s Dining Room outreach programme, which aims to tackle homelessness, food poverty and loneliness. She interviewed the Revd Ása Bjork Ólafsdottir and volunteers and it was broadcast this morning on the Pat Kenny Show.

You can listen to the broadcast by clicking on the link: http://www.newstalk.ie/player/shows/The_Pat_Kenny_Show/69619/the_dining_halls_of_dun_laoghaire

Parish choirs from throughout Dublin and Glendalough turned out in force yesterday (Sunday November 23) to join Christ Church Cathedral Choir in singing Evensong in the cathedral.

The choirs, who raise the roof with their voices, were welcomed to the cathedral by Dean Dermot Dunne.

The event was part of the music department’s new training programme for parish church musicians which began last week with a conducting workshop. Participants in that session had the opportunity to conduct the cathedral choir in a coaching session led by Organist and Director of Music, Ian Keatley.

The festal Evensong also saw the presentation of Archbishop’s Certificate in Church Music awards. The certificates were presented by Archdeacon Ricky Rountree, Chairman of Church Music Dublin, which oversees the awards.

Among those being presented with certificates was Emma Galloway for the successful completion of 2nd year of the Archbishop of Dublin’s Certificate in Church Music. Stephanie Maxwell and Matthew Breen received certificates for successfully completing 3rd year of the Archbishop of Dublin’s Certificate in Church Music. A fourth student, Joseph Bradley, will be given his certificate for successfully completing 3rd year of the Archbishop of Dublin’s Certificate in Church Music.

Photo captions: Above – Ian Keatley directs the cathedral and parish choirs.

Below – Archdeacon Ricky Rountree presents certificates to Emma Galloway and Stephanie Maxwell.

The 10th Dublin Council of Churches Walk of Light drew enormous support as participants made their way from church to church in the south of the city yesterday evening (Sunday November 24). About 200 people took part in the annual inter church journey which anticipates the coming of Advent. 

This year’s theme was ‘Isolated by Hurt – Joined in Hope’ and participants started in St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Haddington Road before proceeding, under Garda escort, to St Bartholomew’s Church of Ireland Church on Clyde Road and concluding at the Methodist Centenary Church at Leeson Park.

In St Mary’s, Haddington Road, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church took part in the service and a hymn was sung in Amharic. The service in at Wesley House in Leeson Park was led by the Dublin Korean Church and Elder Dr Kenneth Hun Mok gave an address. 

Alice Leahy, one of the founders of Trust Ireland, addressed participants in St Bartholomew’s Church. She spoke of the work Trust does with homeless people and said: “Those we work with are generally treated and seen as outsiders in our world. By implication, those who work with people who are outsiders can be made to feel outsiders themselves”.

She explained that Trust owns no property and spends no money on fundraising or PR and their running costs for last year were €265,000. They are not grant aided and their costs are met by voluntary donations. 

“We can all do something in our own small way to find unity in hope,” she said.

The Walk of Light is an ecumenical journey supported by the Dublin Council of Church which has taken place in the Greater Leeson Street Group of Parishes annually since 2005 on the Sunday before Advent.

Fourteen local congregations take part but people from all areas are welcome to join. As part of their 10th anniversary celebrations they organisers are offering practical support to other congregations and parishes who would be interested in starting a walk of light in their own areas. They point out that while their walk takes place in November, an ecumenical walk could be organised for any time of year. For information see www.dublincouncilchurches.ie.

The participating churches include: Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church, Dublin Korean Church, Methodist Centenary Church, Romanian Orthodox Church, St Ann, St Mark and St Stephen’s, St Bartholomew’s and Christ Church Leeson Park, St Catherine and St James with St Audoen, St Finian’s Lutheran Churches, Holy Trinity Rathmines, Church of Our Mary Immaculate, Refuge of Sinners, St Mary’s Haddington Road, St Gabriel’s Parish of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Newman University Church and St Teresa’s Carmelite Church.

Photo captions:

Top – The Revd Andrew McCroskery lighting a candle in St Bartholomew’s Church.

Middle – The Walk of Light setting out from St Mary’s Haddington Road.

Bottom – Dublin Korean Church in Wesley House, Leeson Park.

In the case of Lay members of Synod elected by parishes, the parish represented is shown for information, but in the case of Lay members elected by the Diocesan Councils, the area of residence is shown.

The names are listed in the order of the number of votes received. In the case of elections where there were no more people nominated than places to be filled, the names are listed in alphabetical order.

HONORARY SECRETARIES to the DIOCESAN SYNODS

                                        Clerical                                                          Lay

McENDOO, Rev. Chancellor Neil G.         PERRIN, D. Geoffrey (Rathmichael)

SHERWOOD, Rev. Nigel J. W.                  CONDELL, Ron (Athy Union)

Section A – ELECTIONS BY THE JOINT SYNODS

MEMBERS of the REPRESENTATIVE CHURCH BODY

Ven David A Pierpoint (Christ Church Cathedral Group) – elected in 2012 for three years

Robert S Neill (Powerscourt) – elected 2013 for three years

D Geoffrey Perrin (Rathmichael) – elected 2014 for three years.

EPISCOPAL ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Clerical                                                         Lay                        

APPELBE, Rev. Canon Fred C.                             MILNE, Dr. Kenneth (Christ Church Cathedral)

WHARTON, Rev. Gillian V.                                   McGUINNESS, Mrs. Justice Catherine (Blackrock)

GYLES, Rev. Sonia O                                          WEBB, Michael (Glenageary)

FARRELL Rev. Stephen A.                                   PERRIN, D. Geoffrey (Rathmichael)

ROUNTREE, Ven Ricky B.                                    HANDY, Miss Ruth (Greystones)

STACEY, Very Rev Victor G.                                 DUNGAN, Keith (Delgany)

GALLIGAN, Rev. Adrienne                                   CAIRD, David N. (Malahide)

McENDOO, Canon Neil                                        BOYLE, Mrs. Thea (Blessington)

PIERPOINT, Ven. David A                                   NEILL, Robert (Powerscourt)

COMERFORD, Rev. Canon Patrick                        McNEILE, Andrew (Rathmines)

DOWD, Rev. Garry                                              RICHARDS, Graham C. (Ballsbridge)

McKINLEY, Rev. Canon Horace                           VINCENT, Arthur C. (St. Ann’s)

Supplementalists

DIOCESAN COUNCIL FOR MISSION

Ex–Officio: The Archdeacon of Dublin, the Venerable David A Pierpoint

                 The Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Venerable Ricky B Rountree

Clerical                                  Lay

Section B – ELECTIONS by the DUBLIN SYNOD

GENERAL SYNOD REPRESENTATIVES

 Clerical                                                                           Lay

Supplementalists

DIOCESAN COUNCIL

Ex–Officio: The Archdeacon of Dublin, the Venerable David A. PIERPOINT

Clerical                                                       Lay

Supplementalists

COMMITTEE of PATRONAGE (Diocesan Nominators)

Clerical                                                        Lay

Supplementalists

DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION

Ex–Officio: The Archdeacon of Dublin, the Venerable David A. PIERPOINT

Clerical                                                           Lay                       

DIOCESAN COMMITTEE for SOCIAL ACTION

Clerical                                                                               Lay           

CROSSEY, Rev. Nigel                                BERESFORD, Mrs. Mildred (St. Bartholomew’s)

RUFLI, Rev Alan                                      McCLATCHIE, Mrs.Marjorie (Dalkey)

                                                             MORROW, Mrs. Ruby (St. Ann’s)

                                                             WHYTE, David H. (Rathfarnham)

DIOCESAN COURT

 Chancellor (appointed 1999) – The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness

Clerical                                  Lay

Section C –   ELECTIONS by the GLENDALOUGH SYNOD           

GENERAL SYNOD REPRESENTATIVES

Clerical                                                       Lay

Supplementalists

DIOCESAN COUNCIL

Ex–Officio: The Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Venerable Ricky B Rountree.

Clerical                                                      Lay

 Supplementalists

COMMITTEE of PATRONAGE (Diocesan Nominators)

Clerical                                                                                         Lay

Supplementalists 

DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION

Ex–Officio: The Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Venerable Ricky B Rountree

Clerical                                              Lay

DIOCESAN COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL ACTION

Clerical                                              Lay

DIOCESAN COURT

Chancellor (appointed 1999) – The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness

Eco–Congregation Ireland (ECI) has launched a new resource which it hopes will encourage Christians throughout Ireland to become more eco–aware and eco active at church and at home.

Climate Change – Can I Make a Difference?, which is free to download here from the ECI website, includes some of the latest data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 5th assessment report as well as a comprehensive theological response to climate change, prayers for the environment and advice on how to reduce one’s carbon footprint – as an individual and as a congregation.

Launching the resource at a climate justice event ECI co–hosted with Carrigaline Union earlier this month, Nobel Peace Prize–winner Emeritus Prof John Sweeney of NUI Maynooth said: “The resource provides a valuable perspective on the nature and impacts of climate change in an Irish context. On a practical level it highlights the connection between local action and global consequences. It also demonstrates that the problem of climate change can only be tackled if ethical principles are coupled with scientific knowledge to inform and motivate policy makers. The disconnect between the science and the politics of national interest have bedevilled attempts to tackle our greenhouse gas emissions and the authors of the report are to be congratulated on highlighting these vital linkages.”

The resource includes quotes from Mary Robinson as well as environmentalists Gavin Harte and Éanna Ní Lamhna, Anglican priest and BBC television presenter Rev Peter Owen–Jones, Alex Hill of the Met Office, Columban eco–theologian Fr Seán McDonagh, Monsignor Dermot Lane, President of the Mater Dei Institute, and Bishop David Atkinson, former Bishop of Thetford – all of whom have spoken at events ECI has organised in recent years. 

“We hope this resource will encourage Christians in Ireland to incorporate eco–friendly habits into their lives – as churches, communities and as individuals – as they come to terms with the reality of climate change and how our carbon–guzzling lifestyles are already impacting the lives of many people living in developing countries,” said ECI Chairperson, the Ven Andrew Orr.

ECI, a project of the Irish Inter–Church Meeting, encourages churches to adopt an eco–friendly approach to worship, lifestyle, property and finance management, youth and children’s work, community outreach and contact with the developing world. 

For further information see www.ecocongregationireland.com.

Photo caption: The Ven Andrew Orr, Chairperson of Eco–Congregation Ireland, pictured at the launch of Eco–Congregation Ireland’s new climate change resource with Emeritus Prof John Sweeney of NUI Maynooth

Dublin and Glendalough’s ‘Prepare a Place’ Advent Appeal for Gaza has been formally launched. The dioceses will focus on raising €150,000 for the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City throughout Advent. The funds will buy solar panels to ensure a constant electricity supply for the hospital and go towards improving on–call facilities for staff.

Dublin and Glendalough is inviting everyone, whether members of the dioceses or not, to ‘Prepare a Place’ at their Christmas table for a welcomed yet invisible guest. They can donate the cost of the meal and a gift for a loved one to the appeal. Parishes, schools, hospitals and organisations can get involved by holding an event or by donating the proceeds of their carol service collection to the appeal. All creative thinking will be appreciated.

Launching the appeal yesterday (November 25), Archbishop Michael Jackson said that ‘Prepare a Place’ was responding to a deep human need. He asked people, as they prepared ahead of Advent to put a particular focus on Al Ahli Hospital.

“All of us will be well aware of the events that unfolded in Gaza and the impact they have had on the people living there. We are asking everyone to focus on a simple image: the Christmas table. We all try to make Christmas special for those we love. We’re asking people to bear in mind someone from Gaza also. Our target is €150,000 which is not all that much when we consider the phenomenal outlay that occurs in the run up to Christmas,” the Archbishop stated.

The Revd Ken Rue, Chairman of the Dublin and Glendalough Council for Mission, said that ‘Prepare a Place’ was a non–political humanitarian appeal. It formed the first step in building a link with the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem which covers Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.

The appeal is being coordinated by the Council for Mission in partnership with the United Society, Bishops’ Appeal and the Friends of Sabeel. United Society’s Irish Director, Linda Chambers, visited Gaza and the Diocese of Jerusalem earlier this month.

She spoke of her visit to Al Ahli Hospital which provides services to the whole community. It is the only Christian hospital in Gaza and is owned and controlled by the Diocese of Jerusalem. Staff, both Christian and Muslim, work with great ease together. Linda told stories of the people she met in the hospital and described the services provided. The hospital aims to meet the needs of the community so psychosocial services are provided for children and the hospital has a mammography programme to help with the detection of breast cancer which is the single highest cause of death in Gaza. There is also a special burns unit.

Electricity restrictions in Gaza mean that the hospital has electric power for a maximum of 10 hours each day. In a video message, Al Ahli’s Director, Suheila Tarazi, said the hospital operates with power from generators the rest of the time but this is expensive with fuel costing $4 a litre. “The solar panel project will help immensely and save money on generator fuel,” she explained. During the 51 days of conflict, hospital staff lived in Al Ahli using staff facilities which have not been refurbished for 20 years. Suheila said that it was important to look after the wellbeing of staff also. “We thank the dioceses in Ireland. Through their partnership, Al Ahli Hospital will continue its mission of love, partnership and peace,” she said in her message.

Archbishop Jackson has written a prayer for the appeal which he hopes will be used throughout the dioceses. The prayer is available to download from the Resources section of the Dublin and Glenalough website at: http://dublin.anglican.org/resources/index.php.

To mark the launch, a cake, baked and decorated by St Bartholomew’s parishioner, Amos McGrath, was cut by Mr Maher Shuhaibar, who is a cousin of Suhaila Tarazi. Born in Gaza, he is a cardiothoracic surgeon in Dublin.

Donations for ‘Prepare A Place’ can be made via Bishops’ Appeal either by envelopes which are available in all parish churches or by electronic transfer to IBAN: IE BOFI 9000 1749 8394 99 BIC: BOFIIE2D (reference Gaza).

Keep up with developments during Advent and share ideas and plans on the appeal’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/prepareaplace.

Photo captions:

Linda Chambers, director of the United Society in Ireland; Archbishop Michael Jackson, Mr Maher Shuhaibar from Gaza; Alan Martin, Chair of Friends of Sabeel in Ireland; the Revd Ken Rue, chair of the Dublin and Glendalough Council for Mission; and Lydia Monds, education advisor with Bishops’ Appeal cut the cake to mark the launch of the ‘Prepare a Place’ Appeal.

Linda Chambers speaking at the launch.

Dean Dermot Dunne presented a copy of The Church of Ireland – An Illustrated History to Mr Maher Shuhaibar, who is a cousin of the director of Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, Ms Suhaila Tarazi.

The annual general meeting of the Church of Ireland Primary School Management Association (CIPSMA) took place yesterday, November 25, in the Church of Ireland College of Education. A large number of members from around Ireland gathered to hear the reports of the executive committee and a guest speaker addressed them on dealing with adult conflict in schools.

Delivering the secretary’s report, the Revd Norman Gamble, looked back on a successful CIPSMA conference in the King’s Hospital School in March and said that plans were already underway for next year’s event.

He said that the advent of a new Minister for Education may herald a more cooperative period for Church of Ireland schools. However, he said it would not mean more money and warned that schools could only do more with less money for a certain amount of time before the system died of starvation.

The organisation has proposed to contribute towards funding research being carried out by Dr Anne Lodge and Dr David Tuohy which seeks to further their work started with the ‘Our School Community’ survey which was published in 2012.

CIPSMA chairperson, the Revd Brian O’Rourke, said that the research to be carried out would be invaluable to CIPSMA and the General Synod Board of Education.

Treasurer, the Revd Adrienne Galligan, presented the financial report to the meeting.

Luke Monaghan of Cúram.ie addressed the meeting on the issue of managing adult conflict within schools. He suggested that schools were used to dealing with conflict among children but school boards of management needed to be equipped to deal with conflict between adults.

Photo caption: Canon John Clarke of CIPSMA, Scott Hayes of Ecclesiastical Insurance, the Revd Brian O’Rourke CIPSMA Chairman, Luke Monaghan of Cúram.ie and the Revd Norman Gamble CIPSMA Secretary.