Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday25 November 2006
Books
Next week the two Dublin cathedrals will each host the launch of a new book with a Church of Ireland dimension, one about the future and one about the past.
On Monday evening in St Patrick?s Deanery, one of Ireland?s most distinguished moral theologians, the Revd Professor Enda McDonagh, will launch a new book by the Bishop of Meath & Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke. A Whisper of God. Essays on Post-Catholic Ireland and the Christian Future, has been described by its publisher, Columba Press, as a highly personal collection of essays in which the author asserts that the churches? days are numbered if they do not take action to respond to the tough questions which they face - issues such as the desertion of young people, the decline in vocations, the inability to engage sensitively with issues such as sexuality, and the tendency of the churches to see themselves as victims of the media. Dr Clarke urges the church to see itself as it is seen by those who are no longer part of it and apologises if his ?desire for the forceful may offend the reader?s desire for decorum?.
Less controversially, on Thursday evening in the crypt of Christ Church, Dr Sean Duffy, the TCD medievalist, will launch a book of essays on the medieval manuscripts of the cathedral. The volume is based on lectures and seminars associated with an exhibition of the cathedral manuscripts in 2004 and carries essays by Padraig O Riain (UCC) and Colm Lennon (Maynooth) on the Martyrology and the Book of Obits, Colman O Clabaigh (Glenstal Abbey) on the Liber Niger, Alan Fletcher (UCD) on the Liber Albus and the Psalter, and Raymond Gillespie (Maynooth) on the deeds. The Medieval manuscripts of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin is edited by Raymond Gillespie and Raymond Refaussé and has been published by Four Courts Press.
Today (Saturday) the lunchtime recital in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, will be given by Paul McGough (bass) and Vincent Lynch (piano) while tomorrow (Sunday) evening in Christ Church, Taney, the Gaudete Singers will give a concert of sacred music of the 16th and 20th centuries. In St Columba?s Cathedral, Derry, at 8pm there will be a recital by the distinguished organist David Briggs.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the broadcast television service on RTÉ will be the service of the word from the Church of Ireland Theological College, conducted by the college principal, the Revd Canon Dr Adrian Empey, at which the preacher is the Revd Patrick Comerford, Director of Spiritual Formation. The Archbishop of Armagh will preach at the CIMS Annual Service in St John?s Church, Malone, while in St Fin Barre?s Cathedral the Bishop of Cork will be the preacher at a service to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of Guide Dogs for the Blind. In St Patrick?s Cathedral, Dublin, at Evensong, there will be a commemoration of those who lost their lives on Irish ships, 1939-45. At 8pm in Kells parish church, the Very Revd Philip Knowles, Dean of Cashel, will give an organ recital with the Castlecomer Male Voice Choir
A Pre-Advent Walk of Light, sponsored by the Dublin Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Dublin Diocesan Committee on Ecumenism, will begin at 6 pm at St Ann?s Church, Dawson Street, and proceed via University Church to Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church with short acts of worship at each location - all are welcome.
The Revd Roy Lawrence, a Church of England priest with wide experience of the ministry of healing will visit Belfast next week. He will speak in St George?s Church at lunchtime on Monday and in the evening in St Anne?s cathedral, and on Tuesday evening he will be in St Finnian?s Church.
On Thursday evening the Bishop of Meath & Kildare will address a meeting of the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church of Ireland Theological College. On Friday evening in Whitechurch parish church, Rathfarnham, the Discovery Gospel Choir and the Dexter Family Ensemble will present a feast of seasonal music, while in St. Fintan's Church, Durrow, the Kilkenny College chamber choir and orchestra, directed by David Milne, will perform works for choir, orchestra and organ