Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Autumn Issue of Search
The autumn issue of the Church of Ireland journal, Search, edited by Canon Ginnie Kennerley, is now available. New subscribers and those wo wish to order individual copies should contact Search‘s Honorary Treasurer, Michael Denton, at subscriptions@searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org
All previous issues are freely available at www.searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org
The challenges of the continuing pandemic dominate almost every article in this issue, from the Archbishop of Armagh’s call for repentance and a re–thinking of our vocation to Dr Christopher Shiell’s exposition of the lack of climate–friendly church heating and what is needed to achieve it.
Through every article, whether explicitly or implicitly, lies the question of how we think about God and God’s action in the world and in our lives. This is addressed directly and passionately by Dr Jerusha McCormack in “God and the Pandemic: Living the Question”, addressing the deep and painful questions that have afflicted us in relation to God down the millennia.
Eschatological issues, so dominant today, are further considered in two articles written by theologians in answer to the question “What do we mean when we say we believe in the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come?” Professor David Ford offers his reflections based on John’s Gospel, on which he has just completed his Theological Commentary, and the Revd Dr William Olhausen follows with his interpretation from a Pauline perspective.
QUB sociologist Dr Gladys Ganiel usefully outlines the results of her recent survey on “Faith Leaders’ response to the pandemic”, majoring on the responses about both faith and practice received from Church of Ireland clergy. There is much that is helpful here as we seek to discern the way forward both for worship, for outreach and for pastoral care.
Finally, Eileen Cremin reflects on her ministry as curate and rector in the diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross over the past twenty years. Being both Black and British when she arrived here after thirteen years of ordained ministry in the Church of England brought some difficulties she had not anticipated. There are lessons here for the Church’s welcome to incoming clergy of all backgrounds.
Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise will have a Eucharist, as Gaeilge, live–streamed from St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork, today (Saturday) at 12.00, with the Revd Tony Murphy and the Revd Hazel Minnion. The service will be available here.
Copies of the service sheet may be had at gaeleaglais@gmail.com
On Friday, the Archbishop of Dublin will present a paper, remotely, entitled ‘Anglican diversity: comprehensive or chaotic?’ at the Westminster Abbey Ecclesiology Seminar.
Tom Maxwell, organist at St Brigid’s church, Stillorgan is arranging a collaboration between the church choirs in the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough for the virtual recording of four congregational carols and one choral piece.
Since the lockdown in March, the choir of St Brigid’s, Stillorgan, has continued singing together as a virtual choir. Every week, the choir members record themselves on their phones singing a hymn using an organ accompaniment that Tom sends them. He then gathers the recordings and combines them so that they can be used in Sunday services. An anthem has also been tried, with impressive results.
Tom, with the assistance and support of the Revd Jack Kinkead, Chair of Church Music Dublin, invites members of church choirs to be part of this initiative. The plan is to commence with four congregational carols and one choir piece, with the option to do more if time allows. Please contact Tom at dgchristmascollaboration@gmail.com by Sunday 18 October.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times