Diocesan News27 Oct 15

Cork Jazz Festival – A Service with a Difference at St Anne’s, Shandon

The annual Jazz Festival in Cork draws thousands of visitors to the City, and creates an atmosphere of excitement and razamatazz. One of the city churches – Saint Anne’s Church, Shandon – has traditionally held its Harvest thanksgiving ‘with a jazz difference’ on the Sunday of what is known locally as ‘the Jazz Weekend’. The Service has become so popular over the years that tickets (free of charge) have to be allocated in advance.

Jazz Festival Service at St Anne’s, Shandon, Cork with the Priest–in–Charge, the Reverend Sarah Marry (right).

Parishioners, friends and hundreds of visitors joined in the Jazz Festival Service in St. Anne’s Church, Shandon, this year on Sunday 25th October. The special service of Harvest Thanksgiving including scripture, prayer, music and song in a church beautifully decorated with flowers, fruit and vegetables.

The New York Brass Band created a celebratory atmosphere and accompanied the St. John’s Gospel Choir. Between them they had the congregation on their feet. Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Mick Nugent, and Fiona Collins, from the Cork Guinness Jazz Festival Committee, read the lessons.

Jerry Buttimer T.D. gave an address, speaking of his own journey of faith and inviting everyone to work together to create the church and society of the future. In his reflections on the harvest theme he reminded those present of God’s call to us to be responsible stewards of God’s creation, and to love one another as God has loved us. A collection was taken for the mission and ministry of St. Anne’s as well as for the Cork Simon Community locally, and for the work of Christian Aid further afield.