Diocesan News23 Sep 09

Churches Witness at Ploughing Championships

‘Reaching Out Together’ at Athy

The National Ploughing Championships at Athy, Co. Wexford, opened yesterday, 22nd September and run to Thursday the 24th September 2009. The Church of Ireland Diocese of Dublin & Glendalough, the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin and the Irish Missionary Union, are jointly witnessing for the Christian faith under the banner of ‘Reaching Out Together’ with an interactive exhibition stand.

The stand offers a space for prayer and outreach. Whether for prayers of thanks, petition or reflection, the attractive and colourful tent – with focal flower and nature arrangements, eye-catching information boards, audio-visual components and a prayer message board – provides an inviting oasis in the middle of the biggest agricultural fair of its type in the country.

Archdeacon Rountree and the Revd Cliff Jeffers, Rector of Athy, both noted that from yesterday there has been a steady stream of people coming into the tent and using the prayer requests board, notably plenty of young people.

Visitors to the ecumenical stand receive a complimentary prayer card with extracts from St Luke’s Gospel, and prayer pointers, as well as a friendly welcome from one of a number of volunteers, lay and clerical.

ENDS