Easter 2016 Vol.28 Issue 1 BISHOPS’ APPEAL Bishops’ Appeal is the Church of Ireland World Aid and Development Programme. Since January 2016 it has continued to respond to the needs of the world’s poorest people through the generous giving of the Church of Ireland. Bishops’ Appeal focuses on four main areas: disaster relief response, education, health and rural development. Here are some of the most recent programmes to have received funding from these categories: Disaster Relief Response: In January 2016 Health: In 2016, Bishops’ Appeal has already Bishops’ Appeal released further funds to support supported a rainwater harvesting programme for refugees caught up in the Syrian Crisis. Some funds a school and surrounding community in Uganda were a continuation of support for Christian Aid through Fields of Life; a HIV/AIDS education and Tearfund partners providing lifesaving aid to programme for a tribe in Zambia through Feed displaced peoples in Syria and to those living in the the Minds and fitted wheelchairs for children with dire conditions of refugee camps in neighbouring cerebral palsy in Uganda as well as education and countries such as Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. Funds support for their parents. are used for food, shelter, fuel, medical supplies, pop up schools and trauma counselling. Rural Development: Bishops’ Appeal has supported a shrimp farming project in El Salvador Further funding was allocated through the United which will enable extremely marginalised families Society to help the Diocese of Europe respond to earn a living and which also addresses serious to refugees arriving in Greece by providing food, issues the communities there face due to climate clothes and medical support. change. Education: Early 2016, Bishops’ Appeal released Your Support: Your support is vital in enabling funds for 3 classrooms to be built in South Sudan these vital, poverty alleviating programmes to be through CMS Ireland and for a borehole for water funded so that people can have life, not just to eke and a kitchen to be built at a remote Neighbourhood out an existence but to live to the full. When we Care Point in Swaziland, where children who cannot play our part, we allow others to play their part in afford primary school costs go to receive some basic their own lives and in the lives of their children. education and now, a stable meal. More information on Bishops’ Appeal and the projects we support can be found at www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org Thank you Letter from the rector Dear Parishioner The lengthening and brighter days of this time of year fill us with the joys of Spring, reinforced by new life in our gardens and the surrounding parks and countryside – all of which fills us with hope and expectation for the days of Summer which lie ahead. Simultaneously, the Gospel – ‘Good News’ – of Easter fills us with the hope and expectation we receive as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, at Easter time. The events of Holy Week are so well recorded in the Gospels that we can follow the footsteps taken by Jesus in each of the days leading up to and including his Resurrection on that first and Communications Committee, for preparing this Easter day. Once again this year we will celebrate survey. Holy Communion at 7.15am each morning in Holy Week, followed by a light breakfast; in the Looking forward, we are planning a number of evenings at 8pm we will hold a ‘Tenebrae’ Service special services and events. On Sunday, 17th April on Tuesday and a ‘Seder Meal’ on Wednesday. On at 7pm in Christ Church, there will be a ‘Songs Thursday we will celebrate the ‘Lord’s Supper’ as of Praise’ Service at which we will be joined by we commemorate the Last Supper and institution of choirs and congregation members from some of our the Holy Communion. On Good Friday, there will neighbouring parishes. Do make a special effort to be a Devotional Service based on ‘The Way of The join in! Refreshments will be served following the Cross’ with visual aids, Hymns and meditations. I Service. do hope that you will be able to travel with us as the pilgrimage of Holy Week unfolds, reaching its We are all aware that this year marks the centenary climax on Easter Day. of the Easter Rising. This centenary will be marked in Taney at Services on Sunday, 24th April at During Lent we make our annual collection for which the special preacher will be Canon Patrick the work of the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal Comerford, Professor of Anglicanism and Liturgy Fund. On the opposite page you will find details of at C.I.T.I. There is at least one grave in St. Nahi’s the wonderful work undertaken by Bishops’ Appeal graveyard belonging to a casualty of the Easter in the developing world. In particular this year the Rising. Fund has been providing much needed resources to provide food, shelter, medical supplies and clothing Then on Sunday, 8th May, we look forward to for the hundreds of thousands of refugees and welcoming Archbishop Jackson to Christ Church, migrants fleeing the horrendous civil war in Syria. Taney, for this year’s Confirmation Service. I would Many of you have asked how we might be able to ask you to keep the candidates in your prayers in help them. This is a practical way of support which the coming weeks. Their names are listed elsewhere will be channelled to those working in the Refugee in this issue. Our thanks go to Rev. Cathy, Rev. Camps through ‘Christian Aid’ and ‘Tearfund’. I Nigel and Ms. Tara O’Rourke who have been encourage you to respond as generously as possible preparing the candidates for this important step in using the special ‘Bishops’ Appeal Fund’ envelope their journey of faith. enclosed with this edition of Taney News. Vera joins me in wishing you and your families Also enclosed with this edition of Taney News’ every Blessing for a joyful and Happy Easter. is a survey form seeking the feedback from you, the parishioners, as to what you feel about some aspects of our parish life. In particular, we would like to hear from you about what new initiatives you would like to see provided by the Parish. I Rev’d Canon Robert Warren thank the members of our Fellowship, Community Rector Taney News Easter 2016 1 letter from cathy Some find the months that follow Christmas to be long of those younger generations, and dull and mildly depressing. Perhaps some of this is usually abroad, gathered around due to the energy that is expelled during Christmastime the communion rail. and in the lead up to it. There is certainly what is best described as a drop in energy in my own self these Now, among a host of other days but no noticeable drop in the workings of parish things, I have the privilege life. What remains constant in me is the increasing of walking a little bit of the sense of belonging to the parish and the enthusiasm way with a group of twenty- which is only to be expected in a new curate! Now three young people who have things are beginning to happen. The myriad of faces stepped forward to confirm their own vows to God that I felt I should know already are becoming more in this year’s Confirmation Class. I’m so very proud of defined as individuals who have welcomed me into them. They are bright and responsive and willing to parts of their lives and the workings of the parish participate in the classes and we are trying to cultivate which are now more familiar than before. healthy discussions on interesting themes surrounding Christmas was such a time of joy between a host God’s presence in the world today. of Carol Services and the various school and group activities celebrating the festive season. The Christmas As the darker days of Winter give way to brighter skies Bazaar was well supported, regardless of the weather’s and the hard ground yields to signs of the Spring, I give best efforts to hamper it and a wind so high and fierce thanks for the community of this parish, the groups that any aspirations to a live crib were blown in the and activities within its walls and the continued support direction of the neighbouring parishes in Wicklow! and growing friendships. May each of you know God’s Copperpot managed to dismantle any attempts at a constant presence in darker and brighter days and may sensible children’s nativity on Christmas Day, but it you have a happy, healthy and peaceful Easter- time. was wonderful to see the church so full and the faces letter from nigel pierpoint If I were to say tired, worn out, shattered and only Monday and Sunday, when five weeks remaining before the deadline for my God is allowed back into our dissertation, the pressure is on, of that, there is no thoughts for an hour. Taking doubt. Speaking of the dissertation, may I offer my time out takes practice and may sincere thanks to all who have contacted me over the not work on the first occasion, past number of weeks regarding my research. The but do not give up. There are response was staggering and I would like to offer my occasions when we take time thanks to those I spoke with for your openness and out to think of a past holiday or honesty. perhaps a loved one who is no longer present in our lives, we We live in a world of technology where we expect recall laughter, smiles and even instant answers to queries and instant replies to tears and it helps us to stay e-mails, however, if there should be a problem with connected with that person or place.