Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Bishops’ Appeal
When Bishops’ Appeal funded projects to increase food security and agricultural productivity, and to improve healthcare and access to water between September 2019 and March 2020, there was little sense that these programmes would soon be tested to the limits. These ‘tests’ came in the guise of severe drought, flash floods, and super-locusts and then, when communities were already vulnerable and with very few food and income reserves, they were forced into lockdown by Covid-19. Some projects have been put on hold and emergency responses put in place instead. Other projects have enabled communities to survive by providing life-saving supports during the pandemic.
Bishops’ Appeal is grateful for the part that the Church of Ireland plays in enabling communities to withstand crisis, and for the generosity of churches and individuals who donate to emergency relief responses. The provision of soap, hygiene kits, water stations and food packages are crucial at this time. Vital funds are being channelled to reach people with no access to money or markets and with limited or no access to healthcare. Being generous in tough times is hard, but it is important. Solidarity with the global church and the world’s poor is a pivotal part of our faith. Letting church communities across the world know we are praying for them and learning that they in turn are praying for us is humbling. Letting the most vulnerable such as refugees and day labourers and people in conflict zones know they are not forgotten in their suffering is a lifeline. And then trusting that God will take our generosity, the little we have - our donations, our time, our willingness and he will bless and multiply them.
The Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal (CIBA), which is chaired by the Bishop of Tuam, the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, is the Church’s World Aid and Development Programme. It does not engage directly in development work itself, but channels funds through development agencies and partner churches who are already in place in areas of need. The summer issue of the Bishops’ Appeal Newsletter details work which is being undertaken in Northern Argentina, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone, Zambia, South Sudan, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda in association with CMS Ireland, Christian Aid, Self Help Africa, SAMS, and Tearfund Ireland.
More information may be had at www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org and donations may be made online at https://store.ireland.anglican.org/donations/the-bishops-appeal
Another summer newsletter is that of Eco–Congregation Ireland which highlights examples of environmental projects undertaken by churches across the island of Ireland. This covers its new website and several Church of Ireland and inter–church initiatives, including practical actions to reduce Rathfarnham parish church’s environmental footprint, a town hall event in Westport (organised by the local Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes), and the Church’s stand at the recent National Ploughing Championships.
Eco–Congregation Ireland is an initiative of the Irish Inter Church Meeting, and includes members from the Roman Catholic Church, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church, Methodist Church and Religious Society of Friends. The Church of Ireland representative, who is also the current chairman, is the Revd Andrew Orr, Chaplain of Midleton College and Priest-in-Charge of Youghal. More information may be had at www.ecocongregationireland.com
‘Welcome Back – Life and Faith in Lockdown’, a new short film from Dublin & Glendalough, reflects on how members of the church communities lived through the pandemic. Some parishioners have shared their experiences, talking about what they've missed while they haven't been in church and what they're looking forward to as services resume. It may be accessed at www.dublin.anglican.org
Published in the Saturday edition of The Irish Times