Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Summer Issue of Search
The larger than usual summer issue of the Church of Ireland journal, Search, edited by Canon Ginnie Kennerley, is largely devoted to the proceedings of the Search Colloquium which was held last April.
Obliged by the pandemic to conduct this year’s Colloquium online, the organizers were able to draw in contributors from three continents to ponder how we can serve the world in interreligious solidarity, as per the World Council of Churches’ document of the same name. The Colloquium was titled, ‘Who is my Neighbour?’, the parable of the Good Samaritan being key to the WCC’s text.
A group of powerful and appropriate keynote speakers was assembled and introduced by the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell. The Revd Dr Peniel J R Rajkumar, the WCC’s Coordinator for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation, introduced the first session with a rundown on the thinking of his team, which included key personnel of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Dr David Ford, Cambridge’s Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus, led the ‘Wider Vision’ session, reflecting on the rise of Scriptural Reasoning and its contribution to mutual respect, understanding between members of world faiths. Brother Jean–Marie of the Taizé Community led the session ‘Response to the Challenge’, drawing from the experience of Taizé brothers working in deprived areas around the world.
These speakers were supported by contributors which included Professor Esther Mombo from Kenya, Canon Delene Mark from South Africa, and Brother John Martin from India, as well as Irish academics and members of world faiths and members of Irish missionary organisations.
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, led the final session, drawing together the thinking and challenges of the day.
The material has been arranged in four sections as delivered and discussed on the day, rather than as a series of academic papers, to give a flavour of the Colloquium.
The proceedings of the Colloquium are complemented by a ‘Liturgica’ contribution on the use of hymns by the Revd Dr Ian Mills, former Organist and Master of the Choristers in Derry cathedral and now a vicar in the Diocese of Bath & Wells, and by a short selection of book reviews by Professor Ann Loades, the Very Revd David Godfrey, the Revd Darren McCallig, Dr Raymond Refaussé, the Revd Chris West and George Woodman.
Subscription details at www.searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org
Tomorrow (Sunday) at 2.15pm the RTÉ News Channel will broadcast a Service of Holy Communion from St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick. The celebrant will be the Dean’s Vicar, the Revd Bernie Daly, and the preacher will be the Dean of Limerick, the Very Revd Niall Sloane.
The Conference of European Churches (CEC) together with the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) is inviting churches to commemorate the lives of thousands of migrants and refugees who have lost their lives in the Mediterranean, seeking safety on their way to Europe. CEC and CCME are encouraging churches to hold online commemoration services, prayers or vigils around World Refugee Day which is tomorrow (Sunday) in line with the Covid–19 measures. CCME has published resource materials on its website which can be used for worship or intercessions during a service.
A new series of ‘Summer Music at Sandford’ began on Friday, 4th June 2021, and recitals will be uploaded every second Friday to Music at Sandford and St Philip’s Youtube channel. The next recital will be on 2 July when Stan O’Beirne will play piano music by Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Szymanowsk.
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times