Childrens Ministry Newsletter and Training Updates

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It’s the start of a new school year, and for many parishes this signals the start of a new Sunday Club Programme. Here are some programmes & resources the Children’s Ministry Netowrk & Sunday School Society for Ireland recommend, alongside some Bible story telling ideas, a creative prayer idea and a craft…

Click here to Download the Full Harvest 2015 Newsletter

Don’t miss Lynn Storey and Lydia Monds lead a 3 hour workshop on Harvest & Advent ideas for Sunday Club Programmes, Bible story telling ideas, creative prayer ideas, crafts, songs, activities, memory verses & much more. There will be a focus on wide age ranges from tots to 6th class with lots of take home ideas.

All taking place on Saturday 5th September from 10am – 1pm in St Saviour’s Parish Hall, Coolgreaney Hall, Arklow, Co. Wicklow.

Contact Rev Nigel Sherwood to confirm your place: [email protected]

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn to create and deliver engaging and innovative assemblies. Facilitated by APCK and taking place on 24th September in Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Braemor Park, Rathgar, Dublin 14, from 10am – 3:30pm.

The training is free and lunch is included. Open to all clergy, Sunday Club leaders, teachers and school chaplains.

Contact Rev Niall Sloane to book your place:[email protected]

Click Here to Download the Training Brochure >>

 

Drumcliffe Group Appointment

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Rev. Capt. Isaac Hanna, Rector of Maghera & Killelagh Parishes, Derry Diocese, is to be the new Incumbent of the Grouped Parishes of Drumcliffe with Lissadell and Munninane Diocese of Elphin. His institution on Friday 28th August 2015 in Lissadell Parish Church.

Rev. Hanna is to be appointed to the Drumcliffe Group of Parishes in late August. Commissioned as a Church Army Officer in 2001, followed by Ordination in 2008. Isaac has served in the Church of England and latterly the Church of Ireland, in a variety of roles. Latterly, as the Rector of Maghera & Killelagh Parishes since 2010.

Isaac is married to Dianne (a trained counsellor) they have two children, Joshua aged 12 and Daniel 9. Isaac will take up his appointment in late August. Speaking about his appointment, Isaac is quoted as saying, “I am very much looking forward to moving to Sligo in the Summer. As a family we are excited about this new chapter God is opening in our lives.” Speaking of his hopes for the future Isaac says, “I pray that God will enable me to be led by Jesus, to lead like Jesus and to lead others to Jesus.”

Kilmore Central National School celebrates 40th Anniversary

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On Saturday 23rd May Kilmore Central National School, which opened in April 1975 celebrated its 40th Anniversary. A family funday / open day held at the school to mark occasion was attended by friends, teachers and pupils past and present.

 

Below: (Bishop, Canon, Teachers and members of the Board of Management)
Mrs. Jennifer Jones (Teacher), Canon Mark Lidwill, Bishop Ferran Glenfield, Dr. Derek Grant (Principal), Mr. William Foster, Mr. Trevor Cassidy, Mrs. Sandra Bennett
KilmoreNS 40th Anniversary1

Below: Mr. William Foster, long standing member of the Board of Management planting a tree on the school grounds to mark the occasion watched by students Keith Bennett (left) and James Lord (right)
KilmoreNS 40th Anniversary2

KilmoreNS 40th Anniversary3

Diocesan Pentecost Service – Vision 20:20 Launch

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The Slieve Russell Hotel was the venue for the diocese to be together in the one place to celebrate Pentecost. Hundreds came from every parish young and old to share in the day in worship and praise. The inspiring service was lead by clergy and lay ministers. Children and young people were included in inclusive worship.

Bishop Ferran spoke form Acts 2, Luke’s account of the Pentecostal experience of the early Church. An ouline of the bishop’s sermon is available on the website. The gathering heard of inspirational stories from parishes around the diocese as to some of the initiatives they were taking. We also heard live from one of these: the Manorhamilton Southern Gospel Choir, who were in fine voice.

At the end of the service each parish was presented with a banner depicting the 20/20 Vision what we are working together with God in the next 5 years. It was a memorable time of worship and fellowship.

Below are some photos from the day…

 

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Royal Visit to St Columba’s, Drumcliffe

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On Wednesday 20th May, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall attended an ecumenical service for peace and reconciliation at St Columba’s Church, Drumcliffe. The service was led by Dean Arfon Williams and local clergy from Sligo Churches Together – Revd Alan Mitchell, Canon Noel Regan, Fr Pat Lombard and Revd Stephen Taylor. Prayers were led by Revd Michael and Ann Wooderson; meditations were given by the Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, Ferran Glenfield and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran. A peace candle was lit by former Rector of Drumcliffe, Revd Ian Linton and Fr Christy McHugh, local Parish Priest.  Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese and the British Ambassador to Ireland, Dominick Chilcott read from Scripture; students from Sligo Grammar School, Ursuline College Sligo, Mercy College Sligo, Summerhill College Sligo, Grange, Co Sligo and Sligo VEC Schools sang ‘Look at the World’ and ‘You raise me up’ and also led the congregation in the hymns. The Musical Director was Alfred Potter, the Organist was Paul McDonagh-Forde and the Accompanists were Leonard Dorrian and Richard Mitchell. Mrs Eungoo Goh and Mable Chah sang solos and Ramune, a Russian harpist, played as the Royal couple entered and exited the Church.

The service took place shortly before Prince Charles and Camilla visited Mullaghmore in Co. Sligo – the place where Prince Charles’ great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, along with his grandson Nicholas Knatchbull, Lady Brabourne and local boy Paul Maxwell were killed in an IRA bomb attack. It was attended by around 200 people including family members of soldiers killed in IRA attacks at Warrenpoint as well as relatives of Bloody Sunday.

In his reflection Bishop Glenfield said that the history of Ireland and the UK had been marked by trauma and trouble but that, as Isaiah 32 shows, the spirit of God has the power to transform creation, the country, the community. God, the Spirit brings healing out of hurts, reconciliation out of wreckage and trust out of turmoil. He said that the service was an opportunity to remember and revisit the horror of the recent past, savour the comfort of the present and hope for a better future together as we wait upon the Lord.

After the service a peace tree was planted in the graveyard of St Columba’s church by Prince Charles assisted by the Head boy, Zac Irwin and Head girl Sara McGeough, from Sligo Grammar School. An original painting by celebrated local artist, and church member, Annie West was presented to the Royal couple by Jessica Barber and Kitty Bird.

Sligo Gospel Choir sang outside in the church grounds as the Prince and Duchess arrived and departed

Dean Williams said that their Royal Highnesses appreciated very much the warm welcome they received at Drumcliffe and the generosity of local people.

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Photos by Chris Bellew | Copyright Fennell Photography 2015.

Bishop’s Reflection – Service of Peace & Reconciliation

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REFLECTION GIVEN BY BISHOP FERRAN GLENFIELD AT THE SERVICE O PEACE AND RECONCILIATION AT ST. COLUMBA’S DRUMCLIFFE, MAY 20th 2015

Isaiah of Jerusalem,was God’s spokesman in the Royal Court, during the time of:
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah in the 8th Century BC.
His writing is profound and poetic. A single strand binds his book together:
The King who reigns in Zion. It is a complex theme,full of tensions. Sometimes the King is God himself. At times, he is the current King of the House of David.
Othertimes, he is the King who is yet to come.Nonetheless, the King reigns and rules in human history.For Isaiah, it is not the past but the future that dominates the present.

Isaiah spoke truth to power: to the temporal and spiritual rulers of Judah and to the regional powers of his day: Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. They all were accountable to God, as we are today.He knows the secrets of our hearts and we all will give account to him for our attitudes and actions, rulers and peoples alike
Isaiah’s message was unpalatable: Judah would be sent away in the judgement of God. They had failed to live out their vocation, their reason for being, to reflect and demonstrate the justice and righteousness of God in the world. So Isaiah predicted the trauma of exile, when everything would be lost.

But God’s justice gives way to mercy and trauma to transformation, in the poetic lines of Isaiah 32, which we have just heard read. The Spirit of God would transform:
The Creation; the desert becomes a fruitful field.
The Country: justice and righteousness would be earthed in the nation.
The Community; peace would emerge from the soil of life, people would live
in trust and security.

The history of Ireland and the UK in the past 100 years has been marked by trauma and trouble. Today we acknowledge the transformation in our relations. This transformation, I believe, is a work of God, the Spirit, who brings:
Healing out of hurts,
Reconcilation out of wreckage,
Trust out of turmoil.

This is a Milestone moment. When we remember and revisit the horror of the recent past. When we savour the comfort of the present. When we hope for a better future together, as we wait upon the Lord. They, Isaiah wrote, ‘ who wait for the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’. Amen

Easter Message from the Bishop

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Easter is about death and resurrection. All around us in Spring we can see these two principles in action. This is no casual accident, for God has put them there in creation for all to see. On reflecting on death, the poet W.B. Yeats wrote:

‘ Nor dread nor hope attend
A dying animal;
A man awaits his end
Dreading and hoping all.’

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all the difference to how we view death.
Jesus promised his followers that their destiny was linked to his own. His resurrection showed that what he had promised, he was able to perform.
That is the Christian confidence for the future, and for the present.
Because Jesus lives ,I can face today and tomorrow.

May I wish you a very blessed Easter,

+ Ferran

 

Queens Chaplaincy Internships 2015/16

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We are looking for two Hub Ministry Interns who will help deliver, develop, shape, and support every aspect of our worship, community and outreach. Is that you….?

Areas of Ministry include:

  • UP – Worship 101, Church of the Resurrection, Bible Study, Prayer Groups
  • IN – Living in community, Weekly Gathering, Residentials, Hospitality, Guys & Girls Ministry, Youth & Kids
  • OUT – Late Love & Street Pastors, Foodbank, North Belfast Messy Church, Queens Elms, Hub Café.

You can download more information by clicking on the links below:

To apply:

Queens Chaplaincy Open Day 2015

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Are you considering applying to live in the chaplaincy for the 2015/16 year? Have you already applied?

This year, we’ve decided to throw the doors of the Hub open on Saturday 18th April, from 12-3pm.

There will be a chance to see around the residential houses, have a cup of tea or coffee in the Hub Café, and get the answers to any questions you may have.

If you’re considering dropping by (even if you’re not 100% certain), please take a minute to fill out a quick form to help us plan for the day.

 

Click here to fill out the form!

New Dean of Kilmore, Revd Nigel Crossey

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Revd Nigel Crossey, Chaplain, St Columba’s College, to be Rector of Kilmore Group of Parishes and Dean of Kilmore, Diocese of Kilmore.

Revd Nigel Crossey, Chaplain to St Columba’s College in Dublin, has been appointed Rector of the Kilmore Group of parishes and Dean of Kilmore. A native of Belfast, Nigel read Classics at Christ’s College, Cambridge before studying for ordination at the Church of Ireland Theological College in Dublin. Nigel subsequently completed his Master of Theology degree in Cardiff University.
Nigel was ordained for Drumglass Parish, Dungannon, in 1984 before becoming Rector of Magheraculmoney Parish, Kesh, in Clogher Diocese. Since 1993, Nigel has served in chaplaincy roles in the UK and Europe, most recently as Chaplain to St Columba’s College since 2009.

Nigel is married to Yvonne (currently an Assistant Housemistress in the College) and they have four children in their twenties. Nigel will take up his appointment in September, after the end of the current academic year. Speaking of his appointment, Nigel said that he was delighted to be appointed to this new chapter in ministry and that he and his wife were looking forward to their move to Cavan: “My wife Yvonne and I both look back with great fondness to our time in rural ministry in Fermanagh. It is equally clear that there are many opportunities and possibilities to be explored with the people of Kilmore and Ballintemple, and in the wider Diocese. We look forward as Christ leads his people and us in faith together.”