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Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Christian Unity Resources

The Archbishop of Armagh and Chairman of the Church of Ireland’s Commission on Christian Unity and Dialogue, the Most Revd John McDowell, has endorsed and encouraged the use of resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which begins on Monday and continues until 25 January, which are available here on the World Council of Churches website.

He remarked: ‘There could hardly be more challenging circumstances in which to plan for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 18–25 January.  “Getting together” in local settings was in itself a witness to the underlying communion we share by virtue of our baptism and faith in the Crucified and Risen Lord. In large parts of the island of Ireland probably that will be impossible this year. In other parts, it will be very limited.

‘However, clergy and lay people have shown themselves to be imaginative in keeping the worshipping life of the Church alive in general and I trust that new ways will be developed to give some concrete expression to Our Lord’s desire that “…they may all be one”.

‘The resource material in this unusual year has been prepared by a very singular group, the Grandchamp Community based in the French speaking part of Switzerland. It is a monastic community of women, begun by members of the Reformed tradition, but now fully ecumenical, sitting outside the formal structures, of any tradition, but with strong links to the Taizé Community.

‘It began when a group of Reformed women rediscovered the practice of silence in gathering around the Word of God. The material they have produced centres on a well–known passage from St John’s Gospel, “Abide in me”.’

The Liturgical Advisory Committee has launched a newly constructed Service of the Word for use during the time of Coronavirus.  The liturgy, which is available on the Church of Ireland website, is intended to support clergy, readers and congregations as they seek to reflect the current global pandemic in their continuing worship.  The liturgy can act as a standalone service, or sections of it (including some additional prayers and resources appended to the material) can be used to supplement other acts of worship.

Speaking about the service, the LAC’s Vice–Chair, the Ven. Ricky Rountree, said: ‘Like all of us in the Church, the LAC had hoped that the initial response to the pandemic might be short lived.  However, it became apparent in the Autumn of 2020 that this would not be the case.  Indeed, at the time when this material will go live on the website, churches on every part of this island have reverted to online worship. Although the liturgy offered takes the form of a Service of the Word, it is easily adapted to Eucharistic situations – where it is safe to do so.  I am pleased to commend this new material to the Church, on behalf of the LAC.’

It is traditional to take down the Christmas decorations and lights on Twelfth Night, the Feast of the Epiphany but, in the liturgical calendar, the season of Christmas continues until Candlemas, The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, on 2 February. This year a number of parishes in the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross that have outdoor decorations on their church buildings for Christmas have taken the decision to keep the lights on until Candlemas. These include Carrigaline, Fanlobbus (Dunmanway), Monkstown and Templebreedy (Crosshaven) where, in these grim times, the lights will continue to shine.

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