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Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’

Apologetic for Mission

A serious conversation about mission is taking place at all levels of the Church of Ireland. To contribute to this conversation The Mission to End Leprosy (The Leprosy Mission Ireland) has commissioned and published a paper from the Revd Earl Storey entitled The Church of Ireland – Apologetic for Mission?

In his Presidential address to the 2016 General Synod the Archbishop of Armagh suggested that commemorating 150 years since Disestablishment was an opportunity to have “a comprehensive, objective and external review” of ourselves as a Church community. This is an invitation to “lovingly but also critically, to tell us where we as a Christian tradition on this island need to strike out in new directions, while also valuing what we have received though succeeding generations”. He continued, by suggesting that the “Church of Ireland must look beyond its own self–interest and its own survival … (to) look beyond the present into the future to which we believe God is calling us”.

This paper reflects on the Church of Ireland commitment to mission – to carry the message out beyond the confines of itself? It asks what the Church of Ireland believes about mission, what affects its ability to deliver on this and what changes might encourage its effectiveness?

Ken Gibson (CEO of The Mission to End Leprosy) said, “We are grateful for the commitment of generations within the Church of Ireland to the mission of Christ in our world. Our simple desire is for the wellbeing of the Church and to advance its mission. We offer this paper as a constructive contribution to the conversation now taking place”.
Copies can be freely downloaded at http://missionreport.leprosy.ie

Tomorrow (Sunday) clergy in every parish in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne & Ross will commission lay assistants at the Eucharist. In St George & St Thomas’ church, Cathal Brugha Street, at 11,15am the Archbishop of Dublin will officiate at the closing service. The church, which was built in 1931, replaced St Thomas’ church which was badly damaged in 1922.

A Service of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide will take place on Monday evening at 7.00 pm in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin. The service will be attended by members of the Armenian community in Ireland, who worship in Christ Church Taney, and their friends including Archbishop Michael Jackson, Dean Dermot Dunne, Prof Maria Bagramian (UCD), Sunniva McDonagh (Barrister) and Hayarpi Drmeyam (the Consul from the Armenian Embassy in London).

The Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland’s Spring Lecture 2017 will be given by Dr Margaret Daly–Denton in Rathfarnham Parish Centre, Dublin, on Thursday evening at 7.30pm. Under the title ‘Supposing Him to be the Gardener (Jn 20:15): Reading John’s Gospel from an Ecological Perspective’. The lecture will draw from her book ‘John – an Earth Bible Commentary’ to be published by Bloomsbury/T&T Clark in July 2017. Places are limited but can be secured through BACI treasurer, Barbara Bergin (email: berginba@gmail.com / tel. 01–288 8877). Free entry for members – or €5 cover charge).

On Friday evening at 7.30pm in St Fin Barre’s church, Carrickmacross, the Bishop of Clogher will institute the Revd Colin McConaghie to the incumbency of Carrickmacross & Magheracloone. Mr McConaghie was ordained in 2011 and has been curate in Dunboyne and Rathmolyon in the Diocese of Meath since 2014.

Handel’s Messiah will be performed by the Occasional Singers, conductor Robin Moore, with soloists, trumpet and organ, on Saturday 29th April at 7.30pm in St John the Evangelist Church, Park Avenue, Sandymount. Tickets €20 from www.eventbrite.ie and at door.

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