Readings are available for the principal and second services on Sunday, and for Holy Communion, Morning Prayer, and Evening Prayer for all weekdays until the eve of Advent next year (29th November 2025).

Sunday and Weekday Readings 2025 may be obtained from the Church of Ireland’s online bookstore (https://store.ireland.anglican.org) or from the Book Well, Belfast (email: info@thebookwell.co.uk; mobile: 07581 143 596). The price is £3.50/€4.00 per booklet.

Enquiries for the Press Office can be made through the contact details below or through the online contact form at the following link: www.churchofireland.org/contact

Church of Ireland Press Office

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Duty mobile: +353 87 9484412

A book with “potential for real and lasting change” in the Church of Ireland is how the fifteenth volume in the Braemor Series was described at its launch in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute last Monday evening (April 8).  The Revd Philip McKinley’s From George Berkeley, to George Floyd, to George Nkencho – The Church of Ireland and Black Theology suggests a need for a fresh paradigm to help the Church to fulfil its commitment to racial justice and seeks to explore the extent to which black theology can inform and assist in this.

The book was launched by the Revd Eileen Cremin, formerly Rector of Fermoy in the Diocese of Cloyne, who said that the book was not just an academic exercise but “an instrument for change”.  Ms Cremin observed that in the last 25 years, Ireland had witnessed the arrival of increasing numbers of people of colour from many countries and Irish people had had the opportunity to encounter these people first–hand.  She acknowledged the establishment of the Primate’s Ethnic Diversity Working Group, and also the Hard Gospel scoping study, produced in 2003, which “in my humble opinion … was an amazing piece of work and pretty ground–breaking for the Church of Ireland at the time.”

A lot of the focus since has been on the Hard Gospel project’s work on sectarianism but its remit was to focus on difference, and she suggested that the Church missed an opportunity to do further work on dealing with difference.  Encouraging people to read the book, she said it was challenging and moving and hoped that it can be a catalyst.  “It has certainly made me more curious,” she added, “and I hope and pray that Philip’s vision towards a black theology for Ireland can become a reality in helping the Church of Ireland to become a church where all are welcome, all can participate, and we can learn from our history.”

Referring to the Church of England’s report From Lament to Action, Mr McKinley said that an element of lament needed to take place. “We need to move from lament to action and from formation to reform and renewal. I hope this book may sow the seeds of action,” he remarked.  Mr McKinley is a curate in Dunboyne and Rathmoylon in the Diocese of Meath and curate in Kildare and Newbridge in the Diocese of Kildare; he grew up in Whitechurch parish in Dublin.

The book is available online from the Church of Ireland bookstore – https://store.ireland.anglican.org – and the Hard Gospel scoping study is available to download and read from the Church’s online document library: www.ireland.anglican.org/resources 

Enquiries for the Press Office can be made through the contact details below or through the online contact form at the following link: www.churchofireland.org/contact

Church of Ireland Press Office

Tel: (028/048) 9082 8880
Duty mobile: +353 87 9484412

The Season of Advent begins on Sunday, 3rd December, and so starts a new liturgical year and a fresh cycle of daily Scripture readings. Church of Ireland Publishing has announced that Sunday and Weekday Readings 2024 is now available.

This annual booklet is compiled by the Revd Ken Rue, who says: ‘Sunday and Weekday Readings is designed to help worship planners and lesson readers know the appointed readings for Sundays and weekdays. It is also beneficial for those who wish to follow a personal course of Scripture readings which is tied in with the Church calendar.’

It may be obtained from the Church of Ireland’s online bookstore (https://store.ireland.anglican.org) or from Richard Ryan at the Book Well, Belfast (email: info@thebookwell.co.uk; mobile: 07581 143 596). The price is £3.50/€4.00 per booklet.

Enquiries for the Press Office can be made through the contact details below or through the online contact form at the following link: www.churchofireland.org/contact

Church of Ireland Press Office

Tel: (028/048) 9082 8880
Duty mobile: +353 87 9484412

The study considers what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, by looking at the writings of Luke in the Gospel which carries his name, and the Acts of Apostles.  It begins with Jesus’ announcement of his work (Luke 4:16–17) – a “jubilee’ task” setting the context for the Saviour’s words and deeds and those of his first disciples – “freedom for the oppressed, good news for the prisoners, opening of sight for the blind.”  The idea of jubilee links back to principles of freedom and release set out in the law given to Israel in the Old Testament.

Through informal interviews with a range of local church leaders in Belfast, this dissertation seeks to understand how discipleship is understood today and to compare this with discipleship as it is set out in Luke and Acts.  Introducing the book, Mr Hay noted that salvation appears six times, and Saviour twice in Luke’s Gospel compared to once each in John’s Gospel and no references in the Gospels of Matthew or Mark.

“This led me to explore Luke’s idea of Jesus the Master as primarily Saviour.  Luke uses those words for a reason,” he remarked.  Jesus himself used the word salvation in Luke’s Gospel, in his encounter with Zacchaeus, whose “turnaround in repentance” decreased his status and wealth while that of the community around him “is now being lifted and there’s an equalling.”

Just before this happened, Jesus had asked a blind man calling out for mercy to come forward; the opening of his physical eyes led to praise for God by him and “in the crowds that until that moment had been shunning him.”  Salvation is ultimately seen in the Cross through which Jesus redeems the world.  In Acts, we see disciples “praying for and bringing healing to people … proclaiming the name of their Master … reordering society in a way that is much more fair.”  How discipleship is lived out will vary according to circumstances in each local context but “there will be people where we live who are downtrodden, who are oppressed, and with eyes on our Master we look to what they need.”

One of the most important themes taken up in the study is that discipleship involves suffering.  “This will cost,” he continued.  “It cost Zacchaeus, it cost Stephen, it cost Jesus, and it will cost us so that’s something we would look to take seriously as disciples as we understand Luke–Acts as best as we can and we primarily look to our Master.”

In his words of gratitude, Mr Hay thanked the Revd Dr Paddy McGlinchey, his dissertation supervisor, for his “incredibly diligent” guidance and the other lecturers at CITI, Dr Katie Heffelfinger, Dr Bridget Nichols and Canon Dr Maurice Elliott for informing the dissertation through their classes and conversations.  Mr Hay also acknowledged Church of Ireland Publishing and his rector, Canon Jonathan Pierce, for his kind words of introduction.

Discipling on Church Street is on sale for £5.00/€6.00 from the Church of Ireland’s online bookstore: https://store.ireland.anglican.org

Enquiries for the Press Office can be made through the contact details below or through the online contact form at the following link: www.churchofireland.org/contact

Church of Ireland Press Office

Tel: (028/048) 9082 8880
Duty mobile: +353 87 9484412