Celebrating St Patrick’s Radiant Faith

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Looking ahead to St Patrick’s Day, the Church of Ireland Council for Mission has produced an all-age family service resource – Celebrating St Patrick’s Radiant Faith – for use across the island of Ireland.  This resource includes prayers and actions that focus on how St Patrick’s ministry reflected the themes of the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission, and how Christians can follow his example and live out their faith in Jesus today.

The Five Marks of Mission are:

  1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom;
  2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers;
  3. To respond to human need by loving service;
  4. To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation; and
  5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

The resource relates each of these to St Patrick’s life i.e. in his return to Ireland to tell people about the love of God in Jesus Christ, his teaching on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, leaving his country to follow God’s call and serve the people of Ireland, and his experiences both as a slave and a shepherd.

The Revd Adam Pullen, Chairman of the Council for Mission, said: ‘The radiant faith of St Patrick, our patron saint, led to his proclamation and sharing of the good news of Jesus in faith, action and symbol.  I hope that all who use this imaginative and interactive resource, prepared by the Council of Mission, will find it to be an encouragement as we celebrate St Patrick.  May it help us as we radiate our faith in prayerful and practical ways across this island.’

The resource is available to download from the following link: http://bit.ly/2EerGLV

Children’s Ministry Newsletter for Lent & Easter

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The Children’s Ministry Newsletter for Lent and Easter is now out, including craft ideas for knitting, ‘Lent in a Bag’, ‘Holy Week in a Box’ and a Lego challenge for Holy Week and Easter.  Tom Tate, a part–time children’s and youth worker from Co. Dublin, also writes on the Church, children and mental health.

» Please click here to check it all out.

Launch of Daily Worship App at General Synod

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http://bit.ly/2KOaD5tThe Book of Common Prayer (BCP) was brought into the smartphone era with the launch of the Daily Worship app at this year’s General Synod. The app is an initiative from the Church’s Central Communications Board in close co-operation with the Church’s Liturgical Advisory Committee.  Daily Worship presents Bible readings, prayers, canticles and Services from the BCP in one place and in a simplified format.  These are available for each day of the year, covering five Services: Morning and Evening Daily Prayer, A Late Evening Office, Compline, and Holy Communion. This app aims to help us in our personal and communal prayer lives – bringing us closer together as a church family and to the God whom we worship.

You can download Daily Worship from App Store (https://apple.co/2rv5aYM) and Google Play (http://bit.ly/2KOaD5t) for use on Apple iOS and Android devices – it costs just €1.09/99p.

Church and Society Commission launches leaflet on spiritual care in dementia

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The Church of Ireland’s Church and Society Commission launched a leaflet on the spiritual care of people living with dementia at the Church of Ireland General Synod, in Limerick, on Thursday, 4th May.  The leaflet is also available online at https://www.ireland.anglican.org/resources/435/spiritual-care-in-dementia

Speaking of the launch, the Revd Adrian Dorrian said: “Dementia continues to be an issue that impacts our Churches at every level.  This leaflet provides some useful information for pastors, church visitors and family members.  It’s also a very real sign of the Covenant between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church.  We are very grateful for permission to reproduce this material.”

Discussion Paper – Rural Isolation

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The Church and Society Commission of the Church of Ireland has published discussion papers on organ donation and rural isolation to inform members of the Church as they consider both issues. The Commission commends the papers for study and discussion in parishes across the island.

The paper on organ donation summarises statements made by the Church and its central committees on donation and consent for donation (including presumed consent) in recent years.  This includes the General Synod’s endorsement for thefleshandblood campaign, which encourages organ donation as an act of Christian giving, and links to information on becoming an organ donor.

The rural isolation paper outlines some of the factors contributing to increasing levels of isolation in rural Ireland, which may be experienced by couples and families as well as individuals.  It also includes links to advice and resources on improving mental health and reducing financial stress.

Both discussion papers will form part of a series which will cover a number of important current policy issues from a Christian perspective.

Discussion Paper – Organ Donation and Consent

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The Church and Society Commission of the Church of Ireland has published discussion papers on organ donation and rural isolation to inform members of the Church as they consider both issues. The Commission commends the papers for study and discussion in parishes across the island.

The paper on organ donation summarises statements made by the Church and its central committees on donation and consent for donation (including presumed consent) in recent years.  This includes the General Synod’s endorsement for thefleshandblood campaign, which encourages organ donation as an act of Christian giving, and links to information on becoming an organ donor.

The rural isolation paper outlines some of the factors contributing to increasing levels of isolation in rural Ireland, which may be experienced by couples and families as well as individuals.  It also includes links to advice and resources on improving mental health and reducing financial stress.

Both discussion papers will form part of a series which will cover a number of important current policy issues from a Christian perspective.

Childrens Ministry Advent Newsletter 2015

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Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation. It is a time of hope even in the darkness. It is a time of knowing that Jesus the Light of the world has come and has brought light to all of us. At this time of the year we remember that we are called to be light and hope to others in dark times. When people are waiting in darkness – maybe they are waiting for test results from hospital or are worried because they have lost their job or are fleeing war or are lonely and are not excited about Christmas because they don’t have anyone to celebrate with – Jesus calls us. Just as He is the Light of the world, bringing hope and joy and welcome to the majestic magi and the lowly shepherds, we also bring that Light to others at this time. Here are some ideas for including children in this time of waiting, hope, welcome and light this season.

Click Here To View/Download The Full Newsletter >>