Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
New Issue of Search
Thoughts from different constituencies on the “reality check” on sexuality issues, urged for church leadership following the marriage referendum result in May, feature in the autumn issue of Search. The journal offers a compendium of short answers to the question – “What do you consider the most important items for the ‘reality check’ on sexuality issues?” – which features a variety of individuals from different spheres.
Among them are a psychologist, an ecumenical ethicist, a feminist theologian, a university chaplain, a TCD undergraduate, a cleric from the Porvoo Communion, and Bishop Kenneth Kearon, who was invited on account of his experience as Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. All are offered simply as food for thought.
This issue also contains reflections on the 50th anniversary of the Corrymeela Community by its leader, Pádraig Ó Tuama, on the migrant crisis by Archdeacon Gordon Linney, and on the centrality of the Bible by Prof Paul Ballard.
Full colour pictures accompany Gesa Thiessen’s thoughts on theology and the arts, and the edition continues with thoughts on the apocalyptic threat of climate change by Noel Coghlan, on 19th century plans for integrated primary schooling by Eoin de Bhaldraithe, and on Advent preaching from Luke by Janet Unsworth.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe will preach at the Harvest Thanksgiving in St Thomas’ church, Mount Merrion, while in Balgriffan Canon John McKegney will be the preacher at the Ecumenical Harvest Thanksgiving in the medieval setting of St Doulagh’s church on the Malahide Road. In Belfast there will be an Irish language Harvest Service in St George’s church where the preacher will be the Rector of Dunfanaghy, the Revd David McDonnell. The Bishop of Cork will be in St Mary’s Collegiate church, Youghal, for Choral Evensong and an Ecumenical Commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the visit of John Wesley to preach in the church.
On Tuesday the second in the series of lunchtime lectures in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, on ‘Magna Carta: Rights and Freedoms for Today’ will be given by Senator Ivana Bacik, Reid Professor of Criminal Law in TCD, who will speak on ‘Women’s Rights’. In the afternoon the Dublin & Glendalough Retired Clergy Fellowship will meet in Glenageary for a talk by the Revd Dr William Olhausen, Theological Advisor to the Archbishop of Dublin, on ‘Theology Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’ and, following a celebration of the Eucharist at 4pm, the Dublin & Glendalough Diocesan Synod will begin in Taney Parish Centre.
The annual Diocesan Service for Primary and Junior Schools will be held in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, on Thursday morning at 11am. The Archbishop of Dublin will preside and the preacher will be the Rector of Drumcondra, Canon Roy Byrne. In the Alexander Hotel at 8pm there will be a talk on ‘The Future of Denominational Education’ chaired by Dr Martin Mansergh. The speakers will be Professor Eamonn Conway from Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, and Dr Ken Fennelly, Secretary of the General Synod Board of Education.
In Willowfield parish church, Belfast, on Thursday evening at 7.30pm there will be a Decade of Centenaries event run jointly by the Church of Ireland Historical Centenaries Working Group and the Unionist Centenaries Committee. The speakers will be Dr Ian D’Alton and Philip McKinley who will seek to provide an insight into the lives of Southern Irish Protestants 100 years ago and today. The evening will include a specially commissioned piece of drama, based on the speakers’ thoughts, developed by Belfast based theatre company, Partisan Productions.
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’