Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Spring Issue of Search
The Spring issue of the Church of Ireland journal, Search, edited by Canon Ginnie Kennerley, offers articles on the challenges of the times:
How best to work and pray for healing for the conflicted and competing nations of the world looks even harder this year than last – and praying for the churches and the life of faith is no easier. The two problems come together in the USA, where many now wonder whether the word “Christian” still means what it used to. Professor Randall Balmer, a TEC theologian who warmly supports Bishop Mariann Budde’s appeal to Trump for mercy on the disadvantaged people he has threatened, ponders the elements of racism, sexism and victimhood infecting the religious Right. Like Bishop Budde, he urges support for “the least of these”, whom Christ commands us to serve. In Ukraine, there is inter–church activity on “Pathways to Peace” described by Ihor Krasovskyi.
The Revd Maggi Dawn considers how best clergy can enable real prayer in their congregations, giving a sense of divine presence in the liturgy. Denise Stobart takes her reflection further by exploring the spiritual enlightenment offered by music in worship, and Margaret Daly– Denton follows up with an account of an inter–church event in Dublin at which former Archbishop Rowan Williams spoke on “A Noisy World in Need of Meditation and Service.”
Another area requiring deep prayer is the universal need for healing. Archdeacon Ross Styles shares his experience of bringing God’s love to people in need through the Church’s Ministry of Healing, inviting wider participation and offering training in this area. Finally, looking to the rising generation and how to make faith exciting and meaningful for them, with or without Sunday Schools, Rachael Murphy reflects on ways forward in this important area.
The Primate’s Reference Group on Ethnic Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Justice invites you to join a webinar discussion on using the Irish Council of Churches’ toolkit for anti–racist work in dioceses and parishes, on Monday at 7pm online –link to be provided upon registration. The “From Every Nation” handbook provides practical guidance for faith communities committed to racial justice, inclusion, and diversity. This session will explore how to use the toolkit to create welcoming, equitable, and actively anti–racist church spaces. It may be downloaded for free at https://www.irishchurches.org/cmsfiles/From-EverNation-.pdf Register now to secure a place at Eventbrite link#FromEveryNation #AntiRacism #ChurchInclusion #DiversityAndJustice
The series of lunchtime lectures, ‘No homes to go to: Dublin charities and homelessness, 1790–2025’, continue in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, on Tuesday at 1.10pm when there will be a talk on the work of Focus Ireland by its CEO, Pat Dennigan.
On Thursday at 1.10pm in Dublinia there will be the first of a short series of lunchtime lectures marking 150 years of the Synod Hall. Dr Stuart Kinsella will speak on ‘St. Michael in alto: A brief history of a forgotten Dublin Church’.