CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 3 October 1998
The Church and Europe
In recent years the Church of Ireland, like much of
Irish society, has begun to take more seriously its place in Europe
while the European churches in general have become more aware of their
potential as forces for good in an increasingly complex European
community.
M. Jacques Santer, president of the European
Commission, stressed the role that the churches can play in helping to
make the EU much more effectively a union of citizens when he addressed
the members of the European Ecumenical Commission for Church and Society
at their recent assembly near Brussels. He outlined the objectives of
his presidency which include major developments such as the final
accomplishment of monetary union. But he also emphasised that the EU has
to be seen as more than a free trade area, and the current process of
enlargement, which could eventually double the size of the community,
will require a sense of solidarity between those in western Europe and
the applicant states of central and eastern Europe.
Enlargement may call for some unwelcome changes, both
administrative and economic, which will be needed for the greater good
of the entire continent. In bringing public opiunion to a higher concept
of the purpose of the Union, the churches can be influential, while at
the same time seeking to protect the interests of their own vulnerable
members.
Dr Kenneth Milne of the European Working Group of the
Role of the Church Committee was one on the Irish representatives at the
EECCS General Assembly.
This evening (Saturday) in Christ Church Cathedral,
Dublin there will be a recital by Judy Tarling (violin) and Peter Holman
(continuo) which will be followed tomorrow (Sunday) by an all day
workshop on baroque performance technique, details of which may be had
from Elaenor Dawson on 01-2803870.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning the Dean of Christ Church,
the Very Revd John Paterson, will give an address in the Franciscan
Church on Merchants' Quay, popularly known as Adam Eve's, at a Special
Mass for the Feast of St Franci of Assisi when those who, have suffered
and died in "The Troubles" will be remembered. In St Anne's
Cathedral, Belfast the former Bishop of Connor, Dr Samuel Poyntz, will
preach at the harvest festival.
A new series of lunchtime lectures on the theme of
"The Vikings and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin" begins in
the Cathedral crypt on Tuesday at 1.10 pm. The opening lecture will be
given by Dr Marie-Therese Flanagan of the Queen's University, Belfast
who will speak on "From conversion to cathedral: the
christianization of the Vikings of Dublin".
On Wednesday the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt
Revd Harold Miller, will introduce the Revd Chris Carson as bishop's
curate of Kilmegan.
The Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, will host a
visit to Northern Ireland, beginning on Thursday, of the Anglican
Compass Rose Society which is a group of American Anglicans who support
the Anglican Communion's emergency and development funds. The visit will
include meetings with church, political and community leaders and will
conclude on Sunday 11 October with a celebration of the eucharist in St
Anne's Cathedral, Belfast where the Primate will preach.
On Thursday the Cork, Cloyne and Ross Diocesan Synod
will meet while in Dublin the speaker at the lunchtime talk in the
"I believe..." series in St Thomas' Church, Cathal Brugha
Street, will be the actor and director, Alan Stanford.
As part of the growing links between the dioceses of
Cork and Clogher the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Dr Michael Jackson,
will preach at the harvest festival in Ballybay, Co. Monaghan.
Church of Ireland Notes appear in the Irish
Times whose web site may be found at
http://www.ireland.com/ |
