The rector of St Finnian’s, Canon Jono Pierce, reflects on the last year in the life of his Belfast parish. ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.’ This is the opening line of Charles Dickens’s famous novel, A Tale of Two Cities. It sums up, in many ways, how I look […]
The Diocese of Down and Dromore is committed to extending the effective witness of its parishes through projects to reach out to local communities and benefit those who may not have any church connection. This new post of Diocesan Fundraising Officer is designed to facilitate the work of parishes by encouraging them to maximise their […]
Learning to be comfortable in our own skin This blog comes with a slight spoiler alert in that, if you are a bit squeamish, it may not be for you. About 10 days before Christmas, I had just completed a workout, when I noticed a bit of skin hanging off my leg. I gently tugged […]
And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14 God is the only One, who has the power to turn trials into blessings. Don’t ever doubt that He is Able. Nothing is impossible with Him. He’s always at work even when we can’t see the whole […]
Dalej! A word for this season Back in the summer of 2016, a friend of mine invited me to speak at a conference he was organising for young people from all over Europe. It was held in Poland, a few hours away from the beautiful city of Krakow. My friend is a brother in an […]
Each year, Open Doors uses extensive research to list and analyse the countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution for following Jesus. The publication of the World Watch List offers a great opportunity to challenge those in power to act, and to pray for our persecuted family. As you read it, remember the great truth that God hears […]
Please note that the annual review of the Register of Vestry Members will be carried out at the meeting of the Select Vestry to be held on Tuesday 16 February 2021. Any person wishing to be registered as a resident or as an accustomed member must complete a Form of Declaration. Due to the Covid restrictions which will curtail Church worship until at least 6 February, the […]
With more evenings to spend at home during this second lockdown, why not take the opportunity to enrich your marriage with this short course written and presented by Revd Jim and Diane Cheshire. Let’s Talk About Marriage (found at this link) is a three–part video series that will help you invest in your marriage relationship together. Jim […]
Essential Journeys One of the questions the chief medical adviser asks us to consider in these challenging days is, if our journey is an essential one? Are we leaving the house for essential groceries, or medical appointments, or essential work? What can we do to minimise our contact with others outside our immediate household? I […]
The Liturgical Advisory Committee of the Church of Ireland has launched a newly constructed Service of the Word for use during the time of Coronavirus. The liturgy, which is available at this link on the Church of Ireland website, is intended to support clergy, readers and congregations as they seek to reflect the current global pandemic in […]