Press Releases18 Feb 04

Give YOUR head peace - Church launches 'open' invitation during Lent

CHURCH LAUNCHES ?OPEN? INVITATION DURING LENT

The Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt. Revd. Harold Miller today issued an ?open? invitation ? ?for all people to step out of the busyness and stress of life into a place of quiet ? a church building ? so that they might experience God?s peace?.

The Bishop?s invitation is part of a Diocesan initiative which uses the slogan ?Give YOUR head peace ? the door?s OPEN?. This initiative will run during Lent 2004, the 40-day period of spiritual preparation leading to Easter.

And at the launch today at St Donard?s Parish Church, Bloomfield Road, Belfast, Bishop Miller was joined by 'Dympna' from the BBC series ?Give my head peace?, who is a member of St Donard?s Parish. 'Dympna' is played by Alison Ford (known professionally as Alexandra Ford, a member of the 'Hole in the Wall Gang').

Bishop Miller said: ??Peace? is a word often on people?s lips in Northern Ireland, sometimes spoken in a wistful tone ? as if referring to a far off reality or the things of dreams. Peace, however, is at hand. It comes from living in the purpose of God?.

The 79 parishes in Down and Dromore Diocese have been asked to open their church doors for at least two hours each day between Monday and Saturday, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 25 and finishing Easter Saturday, April 10.

Banners and posters promoting this ?open? invitation will be displayed outside churches. Special prayer cards will also be available to help people get the most out of their time of quietness in the church.

For further information contact Rev Nigel Parker, Diocesan Outreach Officer, at tel: 028 90322268 or e-mail: Outreach Officer