Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 19 March 2011
Eco Award for Whitechurch Parish
Whitechurch, Co. Dublin, has joined St Molua’s, Belfast, as the only Church of Ireland parishes to receive an Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) award.
Since its enrolment on the ecumenical environmental programme in 2007, Whitechurch has undertaken many eco-friendly initiatives, including erecting a bat box and a bird feeder, introducing recycling and compost bins and creating a contemplation corner in the graveyard. The Sunday School children helped create a Lenten/Easter garden by planting crocuses and daffodils in the shape of a cross, and the church grounds are also home to a unique bird-bath - an old disused font, which was discovered in the shrubbery. The parish also drew up an environmental policy, added Christian environmental books to its lending library and set up an Eco-Congregation noticeboard (made from recycled corks) to promote environmental awareness. Much of the work has been carried out by parishioners Pamela Sheil and Reg Richards while the rector, Canon Horace McKinley, includes environmental awareness in the ecumenical Emmaus course he has been running for several years. The parish has sponsored a number of projects in developing countries, including the installation of a water scheme in Rwanda.
Any parish that has been working consistently on environmental issues for two years or more is encouraged to apply for an Eco-Congregation award. Assessments are carried out by two independent assessors. See www.ecocongregationireland.org for further details.
Eco-Congregation Ireland is an interdenominational project of the Church in Society Forum - a standing committee of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting, which encourages churches to adopt an eco approach to worship, lifestyle, community outreach and contact with the developing world. The Church of Ireland representative is the Revd Elaine Murray, Vicar of the Kilkenny Group.
This is a busy weekend in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute (CITI) when twenty-nine candidates will attend introductory sessions for the fourth cycle of the Foundation Course. Entitled ‘Fit for the Purpose’ the weekend will explore the theme of personal vocation and discernment. The Director of CITI, the Revd Dr Maurice Elliott, together with the Revd Dr Christine Baxter and the Revd Dr David Firth from St John’s College, Nottingham, will lead the weekend and they will be joined by the Revd Will Murphy, Revd Denise Acheson and Mr Andrew McNeile, who will act as facilitatiors.
The celebration of St Patrick’s Tide continues with a Festival Concert in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, this evening (Saturday). Tomorrow (Sunday) morning RTE Radio 1 will broadcast a service with the boy choristers of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, led by Canon Charles Mullen. In St George’s Church, Belfast, there will be a celebration of the Eucharist in Irish at which the celebrant and preacher will be the Archdeacon of Tuam, the Ven. Gary Hastings.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the Primate has asked for prayers to be offered for those affected by the recent earthquake and tsumani in Japan. In the North Cathedral the Bishop of Cork will take part in a commemoration of those who died in the recent air crash at Cork Airport, while in Dublin there will be memorial Evensong for the victims of the recent Christchurch earthquake, in Christ Church Cathedral where the address will be given by Dr Margaret Daly-Denton.
On Wednesday evening Canon Patrick Comerford, Director of Spiritual Formation in CITI, will be the speaker at the Holmpatrick Lenten discussion group on the topic ‘Who is Jesus?’ while on Thursday Rachel Ashton, Social Policy Officer of the Mothers’ Union, will speak on ‘Hope for the Next Generation’ at the Rathfarnham Ecumenical Lent series.