Irish Times Notes28 Mar 09

Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'

New Book by Dean of Killaloe
A new book by the Dean of Killaloe, Dr Stephen White, entitled The Seekling Church. A Space for All, has been published by Columba Press.

This book seeks to re-define the nature of the church, modelling it on the risk-taking and loving nature of God rather than the hard and fast structure it currently holds. It is a work
of original theological thinking appealing to those who have a feeling of dissatisfaction with the church’s current model, and has practical and radical implications for the Church.

Currently, the church is in a precarious position, moving from the historically powerful position with a central role in society to one of a more peripheral nature. It is under the guise of this transition that Dr White suggests a “space for all.” He suggests that the marked decline in the followers of the church does not mean a decline in faith. Some Christians are displaying a general spirit of apathy towards the institutional church, whilst others are feeling hostile towards the traditional rules which ostracises groups such as single mothers, divorcees, homosexuals and prompts them to find inspiration in other places.

This is the third in a series of books by Dr White in which he explores a guide to shape our faith.

Another important publication will be launched next Wednesday. Pastoral Care in the Digital World. A Reflection for the Church of the Third Millennium comes from the Social Justice and Theology Group (Republic of Ireland) of the Church and Society Committee and has been written by the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the group, the Very Revd Gordon Wynne, Dean of Leighlin, and Lachlan Cameron, a retired educationalist. The booklet has been published by Church of Ireland Publishing and is available from the Resource Centre Bookshop in Rathmines and the Good Bookshop in Belfast at €6/£5.

Today (Saturday) the Archbishop of Dublin will attend the meeting of the Covenant Design Group which will meet in Cambridge until 4 April. In St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, the Organist, Peter Barley, will hold an open audition day for boys aged seven to nine, beginning at 10.30 am, while in the evening, at 8pm, in  Sandford parish church, there will be a harp and guitar recital by the Revd Anne-Marie O’Farrell, curate of Sandford and Milltown, and Pavlos Kanellakis.

Tomorrow (Sunday) the Bishop of Derry & Raphoe will preside at the Mothers’ Union Festival Service in St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry.

In St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, the Bishop of Cork will preside at Festival Evensong which will be a diocesan thanksgiving for the centenary of the introduction of the office of lay reader in the Church of Ireland. The office of reader is an ancient one which goes back to the early Church. Over the centuries it has been revived on an umber of occasions and in 1907 the General Synod requested the bishops to institute the office into the Church of Ireland – in 1909 this came into effect.

In the evening, at 8pm, the Gaudete Singers, directed by David Leigh, Assistant Organist in St Patrick’s, will give a recital of sixteenth century music by Taverner, Tallis and Byrd in Whitechurch parish church.

As part of a programme of events to highlight Dublin City Council’s ‘One City One Book’ choice of Dracula in April, the re-enactment of Bram Stoker’s wedding to Florence Balcome will take place in St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street on Thursday at 6pm.  The event will be repeated on Saturday 4 April at 2pm.