Diocesan News
Knock Knock Week in Eglinton
‘Knock Knock!’
‘Who’s there?’
‘Abbott.’
‘Abbott who?’
‘Abbott time you opened this door.’
Most people can give a humorous response to the question, “Who’s there?” But the people of Eglinton should be particularly adept at replying now that their local Church of Ireland has delivered a booklet of ‘Knock Knock’ jokes to every home in the village.
People from St Canice’s Parish Church, right in the heart of Eglinton, have spent the past week knocking on every door in every street and offering a compendium of truly terrible ‘Knock Knock’ jokes. It is an unusual way of highlighting a week of special outreach activities, according to the Rector of Faughanvale, Rev. Paul Hoey.
“We are running a week of special events entitled ‘Knock Knock!’ for everyone in the community and we reckoned that this might be a way of drawing people’s attention to it,” the Rector explained. As well as the joke book, people have been offered an invitation to attend the events, which run from October 15–23. “Eglinton is a growing community,” Rev Hoey said, “with very good relationships between all the local churches; but the bigger the village gets, the harder it becomes to get to know our neighbours. This is one of the aims of this week – simply to bring people together for a bit of fellowship and a bit of fun.”
So, what sort of things will be happening during ‘Knock Knock!’ Week? “There’s something for everybody,” the Rector said. “A barn dance, a Ladies’ ‘Body and Soul Night’, a Dads ‘n Lads activity night (with target shooting and other fun activities), Fun Bowls, a Gospel and Country Concert, a Couples’ Meal, and much, much more. A full list of activities is available on the church website www.faughanvale.derry.anglican.org
”Among those who have been enlisted to help out with the week’s activities is Paul Woodman, a Christian escapologist and illusionist from Hampshire. Paul is the minister of a large and growing church in Southampton, and uses his tricks to help people who are puzzled by questions of faith. He’ll be visiting schools and community venues to perform everything from the classic ‘escaping from a chained up sack’ routine to the scary ‘teacher’s arm through the guillotine’ act. “It’s not magic,” Paul insists, “it’s just a trick.”
‘Knock Knock!’ Week is part of a series of activities taking place in parishes throughout the Church of Ireland Diocese of Derry and Raphoe as part of its ‘Year of Opportunity 2016’. “It’s been a lot of work getting ready for our week,” the Rev Hoey says, “but we’re looking forward to seeing what happens. Opportunities like this don’t come along very often. And we’re determined to seize this one with both hands.”
‘Knock Knock!’
‘Who’s there?’
‘Adare.’
‘Adare who?’
‘Adare YOU to come along.’
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Derry & Raphoe
Mr Paul McFadden
028 7126 2440
07525 826290
[email protected]