Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Saturday 20 December 2014
Lent Course Available
For those who are already planning for next year, ‘Same–Sex Issues and the Bible’ is the title of a five part series of Bible Studies for Lent 2015 put together by the Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland (BACI) with a view to bringing the Church’s discussion and discernment process on these issues to everyday Christians in the Church of Ireland.
The series has been carefully designed to take note of recent biblical thinking in this area and to offer both traditionalist and more modern ways of considering the key texts. It demands no theological expertise of participants, but does invite groups to ponder the theological, biblical and sociological questions in a non–academic fashion. It is hoped that it will enable participants to think over the issues prayerfully with respect both for the biblical texts, for one another and for those whose lives are affected by the debate.
The sessions will be on the teaching of Jesus – extracts from Matthew’s Gospel; the prohibitions of Leviticus; implications from the Creation Narratives; St Paul’s teaching on unnatural or depraved sexuality (Romans 1); and sin lists, condemnation, exemption and redemption. (other Pauline texts with Acts 10–11.)
The BACI team – on this occasion Canon Ginnie Kennerley, the Revd Dr William Olhausen and David Compton, who is a second year student in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute – hope that this opportunity for people of differing views to study Scripture and meditate together on the issues will assist in the ongoing discernment process in the Church of Ireland. The 36 page booklet can be down–loaded from www.bibliahibernica.wordpress.com and copies can also be purchased from The Bible Society.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning at the 11.15 Sung Eucharist the Archbishop of Dublin, in his capacity as Prebendary of Cualaun will preach in St Patrick’s cathedral. In the afternoon there will be services of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Fin Barre’s cathedral, Cork, and in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, while in Sandymount at 4pm St John’s church will be the venue for the Dublin 4 Community Carol Service at which there will be a collection for the Dublin Simon Community.
In St Saviour’s church, Dominick Street, Dublin, at 3pm tomorrow (Sunday) ‘Salva Regina in Words and Music’ will feature the singing of 15th century Salva Reginas by John Browne, Josquin de Prez and William Cornysh by the vocal ensemble, Peregryne, directed by Dr Stuart Kinsella, with readings and meditations by members of the Dominican Community.
On Monday evening at 8pm there will be a service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, while in Derry there will be an Ecumenical Carol Service at the Institute Football Ground. On Christmas Eve at 4pm there will be a Services of Nine Lessons and Carols in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, for which tickets are required.
Next Thursday is Christmas Day when the bishops, by tradition, preach in their diocesan cathedrals. In the National Cathedral of St Patrick, the preachment on Christmas Day is reserved to the Dean, the Very Revd Victor Stacey, while in St Anne’s cathedral, Belfast, the Christmas Day preacher will be the Dean of Belfast, the Very Revd John Mann.
For those in search of a last minute Christmas present Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (the Irish Guild of the Church) has produced a CD of hymns and carols in Irish – more information may be had from the Cumann’s Development Officer, Caroline Nolan ([email protected]).
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’