| Friday 9th May, 2008 You are here: Home - 9th May 2008 Index Page |
Front Page
Lambeth to be a ‘spiritual encounter’ - Archbishop Rowan Williams
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, has said that he sees this year’s Lambeth Conference as having a "very special focus" on enabling bishops "to pray together, to read the Bible together and quite simply to help one another to be bishops." He believes that "bishops learn how to be better bishops when they are learning from one another - from people working in very different contexts with very different ideas and challenges to deal with." Dr Williams sets out his hopes for this year’s Lambeth Conference in a video message addressed to bishops and dioceses across the worldwide Anglican Communion.
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Lambeth Conference Prayer
Pour down upon us, O God, the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that those who prepare for the Lambeth Conference may be filled with wisdom and understanding. May they know at work within them that creative energy and vision which belong to our humanity, made in your image and redeemed by your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Editorial
RELIGIOUS TOPICS - THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Every time the Lord’s Prayer is said, the kingdom of God is mentioned. What is meant by the ‘kingdom’ is best understood in the light of the petition which goes with it. The coming of the kingdom is equivalent to God’s will being done, the kingdom being God’s realm or his sphere of rule and authority. The petition for its coming is a prayer for his rule and authority to be made effective and manifest. Full Text
Home News
Belfast parish fundraises during Lent for Third World charity
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| Pictured at the presentation in St Columba’s are (from left) Caroline Auchmuty, Mary Cullen (Bóthar Development Manager), Patricia Darling, Bishop Edward Darling (a patron of Bóthar), the Revd John Auchmuty and Roy Cullen |
This year, rather than focusing on the traditional approach of giving something up for Lent, St Columba’s parish, Knock, in East Belfast, decided to organise various fundraising events for Bóthar, a Third World development agency which provides poverty-sticken families with the means to solve their problems by supplying farm animals and accompanying veterinary training and support. As a result of these events, £6,700 was raised for the work of Bóthar.
Renowned German Church leader to visit Ireland
The Chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Bishop Wolfgang Huber, will be visiting Ireland from 17th to 19th May at the invitation of the Lutheran Church in Ireland. Bishop Huber is the highest representative of the Protestant Churches in Germany with 25 million members and will be accompanied by an EKD delegation.
50th Anniversary
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Pictured cutting a cake to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Derriaghy Mothers’ Union branch, Diocese of Connor, are (left to right) Pat Allen, branch secretary; Margaret Crawford, All Ireland MU President; Trudy Hall, branch chair; and former branch chairs, Irene Graham, Florence Barr and Amy Boyd. (Photo: John Kelly)
Lecture
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Rosette Muzigo-Morrison, a United Nations lawyer (centre), is pictured following a lecture she gave recently in the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) on justice for victims of international crimes. Looking on are (from left) the Hon. Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness and the Revd Neal Phair, DIT Church of Ireland chaplain.
‘Devotion at heart of the GFS’- new chaplain tells members
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Archbishop John Neill (left) seen with (from left) Florence Higgins, Isla Poyntz and the Revd Janice Aiton following the GFS commissioning service. |
Speaking at her commissioning as the new All Ireland chaplain of the Girls’ Friendly Society (GFS), the Revd Janice Aiton said that "devotion lies at the heart of all great achievements and it stands at the heart of the GFS movement - devotion to God and devotion to one another."
Centenary celebrations in Connor diocese parish
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Bob and Cathie Common, who presented a memorial gift, seen here with Lord Eames and Bishop Alan Abernethy at the centenary service in St Colman’s, Dunmurry. (Photo: John Kelly) |
A weekend of special events to mark 100 years of worship in St Colman’s parish church, Dunmurry, Diocese of Connor, recently concluded with a centenary thanksgiving service. The church was consecrated on St Mark’s Day, 25th April 1908.
Presentation
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Canon Tom Keightley and his wife, Meta, are seen here following a recent service and reception to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Canon Keightley’s ministry in Belvoir parish, Diocese of Down. Both received gifts from the parish in recognition of their work and service.
World News
Fort Worth visit an ‘unwarranted invasion,’
Presiding Bishop tells Southern Cone Primate
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of The Episcopal Church of the USA has advised the Southern Cone Primate, Bishop Gregory J. Venables, in a letter dated 29th April, that his planned visit from 2nd- 4th May to address a special convocation of the Diocese of Fort Worth would amount to "meddling".
Church of England publishes report on women in the episcopate
The Church of England House of Bishops is to discuss the report of the Legislative Drafting Group considering proposals to allow for women bishops at its next meeting in May. The report of the group, chaired by the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, has just been published and will be debated by General Synod in July (the report can be read in full at: www.cofe.anglican.org/info/papers/womenbishopsreport).
Brazilian bishops respond to latest Anglican Covenant draft
The Brazilian House of Bishops, following its recent meeting in Curitiba, generated an official response to the latest draft of the Anglican Covenant - the St Andrew’s Draft - which had been sent to all Anglican Communion provinces for review and comment ahead of this summer’s Lambeth Conference.
World free of AIDS by 2025
The Revd Gideon Byamugisha, a Ugandan Anglican priest who became the first known African cleric to declare publicly he was HIV-positive, says that his conviction has grown that the world can be free of AIDS by 2025 if obstacles such as inaction and denial are tackled.
Letters to the Editor
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Copes and mitres Full Text
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Christian Aid and HIV prevention Full Text
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Church must keep control of ministry training candidates Full Text
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Open expression of opinions Full Text
Focus on the Mothers’ Union
Irish Mothers’ Union members go down under
By Roberta McKelvey
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| Delegates from many worldwide branches |
Three members of the Mothers’ Union from Ireland give their impressions of the Special Worldwide Regional Meeting held in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, in March
UNITED BY MU MEMBERSHIP
Each Mothers’ Union member has a commitment to pray for each other daily at midday. Year in and year out, the ‘Wave of Prayer’ is the focus for prayer for members and programmes in dioceses around the world. The three Irish members who attended the first Special Regional Meeting at Toowoomba in South East Queensland, Australia, saw that ‘Wave of Prayer’ becoming alive as they gathered at the airport in Brisbane: a colourful group from seventeen provinces of the Anglican Communion.
Soap
Not only the diocese, but the whole Church was shocked at the sudden and tragic death of Bishop Arthur Evans and his wife, Marigold. Shocked and stunned. Another statistic in the alarming increase of road crash fatalities, underlining the danger of fatigue, as much as alcohol, as a major factor in road accidents. The Evans’ photograph was splashed over all the papers. The coverage included many tributes, all of which spoke of a promising episcopal ministry cut short in tragic circumstances.
By the Book
Keeping in step with the Spirit
When I got the news, at first I thought it was ironic. Then, as I thought about it, I decided it was just plain depressing. You see, today I had just sat down to write this next instalment on the book of Galatians. My plan was to focus on Paul’s words in 5: 25 - "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit". And then an email arrived in my in-box. It was entitled ‘Theologian quits Anglican Church’. And who was that theologian? None other than Jim Packer, the author of the classic text, Keep in Step with the Spirit. I found it depressing because it was another example of the cracking of the Anglican Communion.
Musings
The ‘Old Adam’
Why am I so surprised by nastiness in the Church? Why am I so amazed at how vindictive and destructive and cruel Christians can be in their behaviour to one another? Why do I expect more from a group of people who are, after all, as frail and flawed as any other? I don’t know; but again and again, I am shocked and saddened by the unpleasantness and hurt that are caused by many professing to be practising Christians. Sometimes, I despair.
News Extra
Eminent journalist addresses Men’s Society
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David McKittrick (2nd right) seen here with (from left) Dean Patrick Rooke, Bill Christie (past chairman of St Finnian’s CIMS branch who chaired the meeting) and Bishop Alan Abernethy at the CIMS meeting. |
David McKittrick, a well-known journalist, recently spoke to a meeting of the St Finnian’s, Cregagh, branch of the Church of Ireland Men’s Society (CIMS). On this occasion, the branch was joined by members of the CIMS from other parishes.
Bishop of New Hampshire denied permission to preach or preside in UK
Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire has been told by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, not to preach or preside at a Eucharist while he is in England, according to reports.
CMS Ireland ‘overwhelmed’ by new website response
The recently-launched Church Missionary Society Ireland (CMSI) website has proved to be an invaluable success, according to Rachel Brittain, CMSI’s communications co-ordinator.
Appointment