Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Summer Issue of Search
The summer issue of the Church of Ireland journal, Search, edited by Canon Ginnie Kennerley and Dr Bridget Nichols, will be available to contributors in early June.
Crises in various areas are addressed in this issue – the deepening shortfall of vocations to ministry in the Church; the anxiety about populism; the threat to responsible democracy in Europe; and current spiritual challenges to the church and individuals, in the face of falling church attendance and rising suicide rates.
The Very Revd Lynda Peilow, the Central Director of Ordinands, leads with an incisive survey of the ministerial needs in the Church of Ireland, followed by Canon Stephen Ferns with some helpful new ideas from the Church of England. The Very Revd Paul Draper and the Revd Timothy Kinahan contribute further thoughts from Ireland south and north.
The Revd Darren McCallig left the TCD chaplaincy for Denmark nine years ago, but now he writes from his parish just south of London with reflections on ministry away from home. ‘Thinking allowed’ remains his watchword, however varied his congregations and their context – and in Europe a context could mean hundreds of miles from one church to another of a Sunday.
Canon Jack McDonald, writing more generally of the Church in Europe facing this month’s elections, notes that Irish Anglicans have an increasing presence in Europe, as do those of African origin, while the Ven. Leslie Stevenson comments on the divergence between European and African views on scripture and how mutual listening is needed to avoid schism.
For more specifically spiritual challenges, Fr Jack Finnegan’s ‘Deliver us from Evil’ considers how best to help and heal individuals who have been so traumatised that they are led to damage other people and themselves, and increasingly to suicide. The hope for spiritual awakening, by comparison, remains realistic, even while congregations diminish, as post–pandemic research from the former Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Richard Clarke, demonstrates.
On Monday evening at 6pm there will be am organ recital in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, given by Joseph Beech from Durham cathedral.
On Thursday the Archbishop of Dublin will begin a visit to Portugal where he will attend the 100th Diocesan Synod of the Lusitanian Church at the invitation of Bishop José Jorge Tavares de Pina Cabral.
Summer Music at Sandford 2024 continues in Sandford parish chich, Ranelagh ,on Friday at 1.10 pm with an organ recital by David O’Shea.
In Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, the summer project for the Community Choras will be two pieces in the Cathedral’s end–of–term concert, Parry’s ‘Hear my words’, and Handel’s iconic ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus, both alongside Cathedral Choir. The concert date will be Friday 28 June. Rehearsals will begin on the Tuesday 28 May at 7.30pm, with the first rehearsal being an Open Rehearsal, where anyone can come along and try us out. No musical experience or audition is required, just willingness to learn a new skill.
The Church of Ireland Youth Department has announced the appointment of a new member of staff, Mr Luke Hawkins, who will serve as the CIYD Youth Ministry Development Officer (Southern Region). A former teacher, he has most recently been serving in Meath & Kildare Diocese as Diocesan Youth Officer and Chaplain at Wilson’s Hospital School, Mullingar. His role, amongst other things, is to support existing and new youth ministries in the Dioceses of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh; Meath & Kildare; Dublin & Glendalough; Cashel, Ferns & Ossory; Cork, Cloyne & Ross; and Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe.
Published in the Friday edition of The Irish Times