Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland notes from the Irish Times
Music for Advent
Next week, with the beginning of the season of Advent tomorrow (Sunday), there is a feast of music throughout the Church of Ireland.
This is forshadowed this evening (Saturday) at 8.00 pm in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, by the Paul Kermode Memorial Concert which commemorates a former member of the cathedral choir and well known singer and organist who died earlier this year. The Voces Amicabiles chamber choir, conducted by David Maxwell, will perform Faure's Requiem and Dvorak's Mass in D Major.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning RTE will bnroadcast a Sequence of Readings and Music for Advent conducted by the Revd Tom Gordon. In the evening there will be Advent Processions and Carol Services in both Dublin cathedrals and in St Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, where the service will include a performance by the cathedral choir of Bach's seasonal cantata Sleepers Wake. In Monkstown parish church, Dublin, at 8.00 pm, the Dun Laoghaire Choral Society will lead the ever-popular "Messiah For All". Described as the "Original and best sing-along Messiah", people are urged to bring scores and sing or just come along and listen.
On Tuesday in St Michan's Church, Dublin, the Garda Band will give a concert entitled "A Festival of Christmas". This has been arranged by Sergeant Tom O'Meara of the Bridewell Garda Station to raise funds for the church and the local community. Inspector Billy Byrne and the band will be joined by solists to provide a selection of Christnas music.
The Culwick Choral Society's will perform Messiah in St. Peter's Church, Drogheda this evening (Saturday), prior to their annual performance which will be held in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, on Wednesday and Thursday evening. The choir will be joined by guest solists and the Orchestra of St Cecelia and the proceeds will be donated to Special Olympics Ireland.
On Friday evening in St Fintan's Church, Durrow, Co. Laois, there will be a Musical Evening with the Dean of Cashel, Dr Philip Knowles, other organists and choirs, and with congregational singing. The proceeds will go towards the restoration of the church's organ which was made by Samuel Green for Trinity College, Dublin, in 1797. This instrument has been described as the most important historic church pipe organ in Ireland and its significance is attested by a grant from the Heritage Council to assist with its restoration.
Today (Saturday) Dr Nicola Gordon-Bowe from the National College of Art and Design will give the opening address at an exhibition of tapestries and cartoons in St Michael's Theatre, New Ross, in connection with the Ros Tapestry Project. In All Saints' Hall, Phibsborough, Dublin, there will be a Christmas Bazaar and Raffle in aid of the All Saints' Church Restoration Fund.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning the preacher at the Advent Sunday Eucharist in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will be the Revd Dr Alex Jensen, Lecturer in Divinity in the Church of Ireland Theological College. Dr Jensen, who is German by birth, was educated at the universities of Tubingen, Oxford and Durham, and was ordained in the Church of England in 1999. In the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, the preacher at the Sung Eucharist will be the Revd Professor John Baldovin SJ, the celebrated Jesuit liturgist from the United States. Christian Aid will mark World AIDS Day with a service in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, at 7.00 pm. Christian Aid partners from Kenya and Jamaica will address the congregation and all are welcome.
On Wednesday night in Trinity College, Dublin, Sister Hilary Musgrave, otherwise known as Bubbles the Clown, will clown the four traditional themes of Advent in the College Chapel beginning at 10.30 pm.