Connor Connections Autumn 2013 Bishop’S Message
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Church planting is nothing new! page 8 The magazine for the Diocese of Connor Autumn 2013 News World Police and Fire Games Memorial service A special Memorial Service was held at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Sunday August 4 as part of the World Police and Fire Games. The service remembered colleagues, friends and family who died while on duty in the fire, police and prison services in The Rev Roderick Smyth (front right), with Bishop Alan and clergy at the Service of Ordination in St Anne’s. Northern Ireland and beyond. People from all faiths attended the Reflecting on a year Christian service to acknowledge the commitment, sacrifice and risk to all who maintain safety and justice in the community. The Cathedral Girls’ Choir and as Deacon Intern the Belfast Community Gospel Choir sang. Roderick Smyth was ordained a Deacon Intern to serve in St John’s, Malone, Dale Ashford, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, at a service in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on September 15. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Roderick, from the Parish of St Gall, John Mann as ‘a tremendous learning said: “As we welcome thousands of fire, Carnalea, was a chorister in St Anne’s experience.’ police and prison officers from over 60 Cathedral and also a Bass Lay Clerk while countries to compete in the 2013 World studying Music at Queen’s University. He “It has allowed me to experience Police and Fire Games, it’s important was organist in St Gall’s for 20 years. preaching, reading services, and assisting that we take time to pause, reflect and at communion. It has allowed me to remember our colleagues, friends and For the past 33 years Roderick has worked visit parishioners, both at home and in family, locally, nationally and globally, who in education and was Head of Senior hospital, to lead confirmation classes have given the ultimate sacrifice and School at Bangor Academy and Sixth and to be involved with youth work. I lost their lives on duty protecting their Form College and an examiner with CCEA. have been privileged to share important communities.” events in people’s lives. It has been a great During his theological training Roderick introduction to ordained ministry, but with experienced parish ministry in different the safety net of an intern rector to guide contexts with placements in Knockagoney and instruct me,” Andrew said. and St George’s, both Belfast, and in St Mark’s, Dundela. “The nature of the internship allows ministry experience to be blended with academic As part of his studies during his Deacon study, and my internship has allowed me Intern year in Malone, Roderick will to continue to work on a doctoral thesis research a dissertation entitled ‘Help in the examining the doctrine of atonement and Land of Forgetfulness.’ This will look at the ethics.” church’s response to an ageing population The Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev John Mann (left) with and the provision of initial training for clergy Andrew said his experiences had been leaders from the local police, fire and prison services. and laity in the pastoral care of dementia different to others in his year as he had sufferers in the Diocese of Connor. been placed in a cathedral. “ I have been Meal for AA group involved in events that only a cathedral can Having served a year as Deacon Intern provide, for example the Ulster Covenant St Brigid’s, Mallusk, hosted an evening in St Anne’s Cathedral, the Rev Andrew Service, the Memorial Service at the World meal for members of the Glengormley Campbell, who has moved to Bangor Fire and Police Games and of course the Alcoholics Anonymous group on June 12. Abbey as Curate Assistant, described his Black Santa Sit Out,” he said. internship under the supervision of Dean Alcoholics Anonymous has been active in the Glengormley area for 30 years and has th held its meetings in St Brigid’s church halls 100 birthday twice weekly for the last four years. congratulations! The Rev Andrew Ker, curate, told the Congratulations to Miss Cecelia group: “We want you to know that we Gracey, a parishioner at St Mark’s, value and admire what you do, that we see Ballysillan, who has celebrated her you as more than tenants under our roof 100th birthday. Cecelia received warm and we want you to enjoy this evening as wishes from her fellow parishioners, an act of hospitality.” her rector the Rev Robin Moore and also enjoyed a special birthday visit After the meal, many of the group from the Bishop of Connor, the Rt accepted an invitation to join in the Late Rev Alan Abernethy. Evening Office with their hosts. Cecelia Gracey shares a story with Bishop Alan. 2 Connor Connections Autumn 2013 Bishop’s message Autumn 2013 Making a difference Contents wherever we are Connor Diocesan Synod 4-5 There are some images indelibly fixed in my mind. As a child I have such happy memories of fishing off the harbour in Portaferry after a cooked Lisburn Cathedral team 6 breakfast, my granny called it a ‘fry.’ serves in Romania I can remember the moment I first put on a in the mess of this world and point to New Connor MU President 7 dog collar and looked in the mirror, it was someone who walks with us in the joy and exciting and disturbing. There was the joy pain of being human. This is not about slick Sunflower moments! 9 and celebration of our wedding day which and trite answers but about being human appeared to go so quickly. The wonder and walking with the one who promises ‘to Street Pastors making a 10-11 at being at our children’s births, incredible be with us always.’ difference ‘wow’ moments that could not be put into words. A phone call that turned our lives My prayer for myself and indeed for all of A new lease of life for 13 upside down when I was informed that I us is that we will find ways of making a Duneane Church had been elected Bishop of Connor. difference wherever we are and discovering where we are that we can incarnate the IJM - Empowering the 14-15 There are other images of visiting my presence of Jesus as he lives in us and in grandfather in the City Hospital when he our communities. fight against slavery was dying and feeling helpless. Sitting The following is an extract form a prayer of A Gospel marathon 16 with my mum in the old RV when she was discovering that death was a friend. There St Francis that I find inspiring. From Nepal to Ballymena 18 have been so many awful moments in “May God bless you with discomfort at parish life when the phone call announced easy answers, half truths, and superficial Abbey visit for choir 19 some tragic news of a child’s death or a relationships, so that you may live deep sudden accident bringing about shock and within your heart. Cover photo: The grief. Rev Barry Dodds, “May God bless you with tears to shed for former Archdeacon of This ebb and flow is part of what we those who suffer pain, rejection, starvation Belfast and rector of have been given in being human. There and war, so that you may reach out your St Michael’s, Belfast, are some who seem to have more than hand to comfort them. abseils off the roof their fair share of suffering and there is no of Belfast’s Europa answer as to ‘why?’ “May God bless you with enough Hotel. He was raising funds for foolishness to believe that you can make a specialist treatment for parishioner The questions are met with silence difference in this world, so that you can do Leah Bachelor. Full story on page 17. because words only offend the pain. It is what others claim cannot be done.” in this real human context that we seek to declare the love of God made known Please contact us if you have in the ‘word made flesh.’ For each of us any editorial comments or would as disciples of Christ we are called to live like to contribute to the next issue of Connor Connections. Karen Bushby Connor Diocesan Communications Officer Church of Ireland House 61-67 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2QH Tel: 028 9082 8874 Mob: 0776610 3880 Email: [email protected] The Rev Kevin Graham (front left) is pictured following his institution as rector of St Bartholomew’s, Stranmillis, with Bishop Alan and back row from left: the Rev Louise Stewart, the Rev Clifford Skillen (bishop’s chaplain), Canon William Taggart (registrar) and Archdeacon George Davison. The service took place on September 26. (Photo: the Rev Colin White) COLOUR Connor Connections Autumn 2013 3 www.connor.anglican.org MONO REVERSE Connor Diocesan Synod The Rev Barry Forde chairs a session sharing good Umbrellas at the ready for Mavis Gibbons, Gina news stories featuring, from left: Dean John Mann, the Hibbert and other Synod members as they make their Rev John Rutter, the Rev Dr Bryan Follis, Ms Catherine way to the parish centre from St Patrick’s Church Simpson and the Rev Patrick Barton. following the Service of Holy Communion. Growing parishes Growth was the theme of the annual Connor Synod held in St Patrick’s Parish Centre, Ballymoney, on Thursday October 3. The business of synod followed a Service A structured parish and ministry The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, with Chancellor His Honour Judge Derek Rodgers.