Events

Maize‘n Grace

This coming June will see an event with particular appeal if you are from a rural community. Angus Buchan will speak at Maize n’ Grace. This is a special series of events in the Ecclesville Equestrian Centre, Fintona , Co Tyrone – which can hold 3000 people. The meetings, from 10^th to 12^th June, are open to everyone.

Angus Buchan is a farmer from South Africa. Anyone who has read his book, ‘Faith Like Potaoes’ will know he has had a life that has experienced highs and lows - including building a farm from very difficult beginnings in Zambia and South Africa.

The change in Angus came when he gave his life, his heart, his family and his farm to Jesus during a church service at the Greytown Methodist Church. He decided to take God at His Word and to trust Him in everything. Soon, with the same desire with which he farmed, Angus began to tell people just how God had changed his life. This new faith in Jesus did not make life any easier, but it did give him peace beyond understanding and it assisted him to make sense of life.

As well as being a farmer Angus Buchan now has an international ministry as a preacher. He and his wife also believe that their faith needs to have feet. When they discovered the needs in their community, they opened their farm to 24 Zulu children who had no parents or homes.

The event is being held in the Ecclesville Equestrian Centre from 10th to 12th June 2010. It will take place from 8pm every night. Admission is free and you are warmly invited.

To find out more about Angus Buchan and Maize n’ Grace visit www.maizengrace.com

Commissioning of Mothers' Union All Ireland President

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Alan Harper, will commission Mrs Ruth Mercer as All Ireland President of the Mothers’ Union at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on Sunday 7th March 2010 at 3.15pm. The this service.

The service will be led by Canon Terry Scott, the Mothers’ Union Chaplain in Armagh Diocese and the speaker will be the Rt Revd Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, recently appointed as the Central Chaplain of the Mothers’ Union Worldwide.

The lessons will be read by Ruth Mercer and Mrs Rosemary Kempsill (the Worldwide President of the Mothers’ Union). Prayers will be read by the Rt Revd Dr Richard Henderson, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry and All Ireland Chaplain of the Mothers’ Union; Mrs Florrie Revels (Armagh Diocesan President); and the Revd Kathy Trimby (All Ireland Faith and Social Policy).

Mothers’ Union members from all twelve dioceses in Ireland will attend this service.

Afternoon tea will be served by the Members of Armagh Diocesan Trustees in Church House. All Welcome.

There will be photo opportunities before and after the Service.

For further information, contact:
Iris Suitor, PRO Northern Diocese Mothers’ Union
T. 028 87727116

Friday Night Live Reflections 09

It was humbling and also encouraging to watch over 450 people arrive at the South American Mission Societies (SAMS) annual gathering in Craigavon Civic Centre, especially as the snow and freezing temperatures added complications to driving conditions. A special thank-you goes to the people of Derry & Raphoe who made the long journey.

The SAMS Ireland ‘Friday Night Live’ event aspires to inform, encourage and challenge individuals and churches regarding mission within an overseas context and also here at home. Bishop Ken Good welcomed everyone and from the outset created a prayerful attitude which remained a central theme.

Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.

Summer 2008 teams from Armagh, Down & Dromore, Connor and Clogher Dioceses updated people through interviews and multi-media presentations. Two girls from Barcelona sang and performed a traditional Catalonian dance. The Bishop elect of Paraguay and his wife were interviewed, sharing the opportunities, challenges and practical implications which they face as they take on their new roles in March 2009. The keynote speaker this year was Rev. Dr. Maurice Elliott, his stimulating address helped to put mission in the wider context of worship.

Various projects were highlighted during the evening and at one point the Red Box Project from Argentina was focussed upon. Images from a power point presentation fused as a pianist from Argentina played the haunting tune ‘Don’t Cry for me Argentina’. Everyone present had the opportunity to pray as three significant images appeared Naomi Francey (Down & Dromore), Megan Johnston (Connor) and Helen King (Down & Dromore) who are all on gap years with the Red Box Project. ‘Friday Night Live’ isn’t a performance; it’s an opportunity for people to meet together and wrestle with what God is doing and wants to do through an Anglican mission agency.

An update on the SAMS fusion programme was another significant part in the evening. The fusion initiative offers placements to people from overseas within a parish setting in Ireland. It also seeks to link local churches in Ireland with short, medium or long-term projects overseas. Participants from Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are presently working in Connor, Down & Dromore and Derry & Raphoe. It was encouraging listening to fusion volunteers share how they have benefited from their time here in Ireland and also it was uplifting to hear from local Rectors how they have benefited from having young men and women from South American working within their parishes.

The evening ended with a multi-media animation of a modern day parable, and as parables do, they leave you slightly uncomfortable and with something to apply! To all who attended and to all who pray for the work of SAMS we deeply appreciate and value your partnership.

EASTER CONCERTS 2009

3rd April at 7.30 p.m. in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh and 4th April at 7.30 p.m. in Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast

A performance of religious and secular works ancient and modern featuring special guest soloists:

William Dutton
Boy Soprano and Violin Soloist -BBC Young Chorister of the Year 2006

Adam Urosevic
Tenor -Music Scholar at Harrow School, Former Soprano Soloist of the Vienna Boys’ Choir

St.Patrick’s Grammar School Choir
Director:
Frances McCann

Concert Director:
Dr. Emma Gibbins
Director of Music at St. George’s Parish Church, Belfast

Additional accompanists:

Theodore Saunders
St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh

Douglas Tang
Music Scholar at Harrow School

Refreshments will be served after both performances
Admission by retiring donation

SAMS Ireland Friday Night Live

Hosted By: Bishop Ken Clarke

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Dr. Maurice Elliott

Special Guests
Cecilia Valdiviezo: Red Box Project
Esteban Alvarez: Chile
Samuel Lago: Chile
David Alanis: Argentina
Virginia Morales: Uruguay
Miriam Carmona: Spain
Rev. Peter Bartlett: Bishop Elect of Paraguay
Shankill Parish Music Group

Don’t miss this unique event in Craigavon Civic Centre, Friday 6th February 2009 @ 7.30pm.
For travel directions contact us at SAMS House, 1 Irwin Crescent, Lurgan, Craigavon, BT66 7EZ. or visit our website at www.samsireland.com

Hard Gospel Project – Beyond the Box Seminar

Beyond the Box seminars address the hard issues in today’s Northern Ireland – to encourage creative thinking that goes beyond the predictable

Peace Walls – A Permanent Feature?

For the past forty years peace walls have been erected in various parts of Northern Ireland as a response to inter-community violence. These walls have been sustained through the ceasefires, the ten years since the signing of the Agreement and the establishment of devolved government in 2007.

Guest Speaker Tony Macaulay will suggest a process that would create the conditions to make it safe for the walls to come down. He will also reflect on the contribution that the Church can make to this process.

Tony has worked with community development and reconciliation issues for the last twenty-five years. His presentation will be followed by an opportunity for discussion.

Venue: St Michael’s (Church of Ireland) Parish Hall, Craven Street (off the Shankill Road), Belfast.
Thursday 27th November 2008, 8pm

Everyone Welcome – Admission Free