Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 29 August
Churches Asked to Observe a Time for Creation
Churches throughout Ireland have been invited to celebrate God’s creation, to pray for the healing of our wounded planet and to promote sustainable lifestyles in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen later this year.
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) has put together a programme of resources to help churches observe ‘A Time for Creation’, which begins next Tuesday and continues until 4 October. This year the theme is ‘Creation in Crisis – A Time For Prayer And Action’.
The resources, which are free to download at www.ctbi.org.uk/creationtime, include two sets of sermon notes, one based on the lectionary readings, the other linked more specifically to the creation theme. Also included are prayers, liturgical materials, discussion group ideas for young people, Bible-based group study notes for adults and action ideas for groups and individuals.
The materials were prepared by representatives of the four nations – Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, with Ireland being represented by a member of the Eco Congregation Ireland (ECI) committee. ECI is an inter-denominational project, involving the Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist churches as well as the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), that aims to encourage parishes and individuals to be more environmentally aware (www.ecocongregationireland.org).
The ‘Time for Creation’ resources are designed to enable churches, groups and individuals to focus on issues relating to the decisions that will be taken by world leaders at the UN summit in December. In the face of mounting evidence that we are heading for runaway climate change and massive losses in bio-diversity, there is the need for an international treaty that will bind governments to drastic and immediate cuts in carbon emissions. This will require courageous and far-sighted political leadership to transform our economy and many aspects of our culture.
More than ever, Christians are called to demonstrate their commitment to care for the environment, by living simply and sustainably themselves, and by pressing politicians to take the measures necessary at national and international level. This is underpinned by the hope shared by Christians, based ultimately in God's good plans for his creation, the cosmic scope of Christ's saving work, and the Spirit's renewing power at work within and through human beings.
The Trinity College Dublin Graduate Reunion Weekend will be held this weekend. As part of the weekend’s activities, an ecumenical service will be held in the College Chapel tomorrow (Sunday) morning at 10.45am. The service will be led by the Dean of Residence, the Revd Darren McCallig, and Roman Catholic Chaplain, Fr. Paddy Gleeson will preach.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the choir of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, directed by Malcolm Wisener, will sing the services in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. As part of Heritage Week there will be tours, with associated stories, of St Doulagh’s medieval church at Balgriffin, near Malahide, beginning at 2pm, while at Clonmacnoise, St Kieran’s Church will be open all day with an evening service at 4pm.
On Wednesday at 1.15pm in the Chapter House of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, there will be an interactive talk entitled ‘A Buddist-Christian Dialogue’. The talk will be hosted by Rob Nairn and admission is free. Further information may be had form Sarah at 01-6778099. In the evening, at 6pm, the Archbishop of Dublin will attend Evensong in Christ Church on the occasion of the visit of the Bishop of Bangor, the Rt Revd Andy John, and his clergy from north Wales.