Bishop David has launched a diocesan appeal for 100 bicycles for clergy in Maridi Diocese, South Sudan. The diocese has 92 priests and 5 deacons plus lay readers, evangelists and Mothers’ Union workers serving 75 parishes. These are scattered across a wide area, largely inaccessible by car, meaning that to reach their congregations clergy must […]
Losing Your Voice So, Easter Sunday came, the pinnacle of the preacher’s year. ‘Christ is Risen!’ declares the famous Easter greeting. ‘The Lord is risen, indeed! Alleluia!’ comes the congregational response and then those glorious Easter hymns ring out proclaiming hope, the new life that Christ brings, the transformation that is possible through his risen […]
Some Tools of the Trade I found myself in a conversation about tools recently at a church work party. The other people in the conversation were in a different league as they talked about power tools and drill bits and the best places to buy good tools. My tool kit is embarrassingly small, a few […]
Dear Friends, I wonder if you have ever waited anxiously for something to arrive. Maybe it’s a gift you have ordered for someone for a special occasion? Maybe it’s asignificant day in your calendar like a holiday or a birthday or a concert for which you have tickets? Maybe it’s a wedding or the birth […]
Partnership Some months ago, our church entered into a partnership with CMS Ireland, a mission agency to support a couple who are going to do important work in community building and trauma counselling in the diocese of Ibba, in South Sudan. The couple are called Andrew and Joanne Quill, and they recently did an interview […]
The Dioceses of Down & Dromore and Connor Organ Scholarship Scheme 2024 invites applications from candidates of all ages who are Grade 4 and above. Benefits of the Scheme Free fortnightly lessons for the three–year duration of the scheme. Development of practical skills including hymn playing, choral training and performance of organ repertoire. How to […]
Some Thoughts About St. Patrick Next Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, and I wonder what you associate with St. Patrick. For some it will be rugby and the Schools’ Cup final. For others, it will be about parades and partying. In certain parts of the world, it’s about green beer and shamrocks and leprechauns dancing […]
Showing and Sharing Vulnerability One of my favourite TV shows is on RTE television and it’s a show called, ‘Operation Transformation.’ It usually starts in January and finishes its 8 week run at the beginning of March. It documents the life of 5 leaders who apply to be on the show. They usually want to […]