Advent is a time of year in the church calendar when we look forward to Christ’s return.
Join Bishop Ferran as we look into the scriptures to celebrate the hope we have in our coming King.
The story of Christmas is about a supernatural intervention. The God who made and sustains the earth came in person as the baby of Bethlehem. What a story! The greatest ever told. In science fiction stories we are used to alien visitors coming to our world. They usually come as destructive invaders. But God comes not to destroy but to save. What do we need to be rescued from? It’s obvious, just look or listen to the news: addiction, anxiety, despair, poverty, violence, war. The list is endless.
We get frustrated by the harsh realities of life and God seems so absent. But at Christmas we are reminded of why God came in the first place. His name Jesus is a clue, it means Saviour. He still invites us to believe and to receive his saving power in our lives.
He knows no limits and nothing is impossible with God. And there are no limits to what He can do in our lives.
+ Ferran
Jesus said “the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:38)
It was a wonderful answer to prayer to have almost 30 people on a zoom call at the end of November. People who are either already parish readers and who would like further training, or others who are interested in becoming parish readers. It is an encouraging sign of life in our Diocese to see so many interested in serving the Lord in this way.
On Saturday 21st January from 10am-3pm we will be meeting at the Bush Hotel to launch the new training. We will be joined by Rev Dr Mark Earney, Head of Church History at Moore Theological College. It will be a great opportunity to hear from God’s Word, to receive the course book and to get to know each other a little better before we go online for our reader training course.
Tuesday 24th January at 8pm will see the start of “God’s Big Picture” on zoom. This is a 9 week course that gives an overview of the whole Bible. There will be a video to watch and an opportunity to discuss and ask any questions.
Our aim will then be to meet again in person before launching our second module “Overview of New Testament.” This will go into each book of the New Testament in a bit more detail, trying to give an overview of each individual book.
Then in September we will aim to meet in smaller local cluster groups to consider leading worship and giving reflections.
If you haven’t yet signed up, please do ask your rector to get in contact with Rev Nick.
There will not be a charge for the training, and if you can’t make a week you should be able to catch up on a recording of the zoom. Please do be praying that this course is a great help to our Diocese and to all who take part.
Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland, a leading insurer of heritage, education, and church properties, is encouraging customers to take precautions to help prevent potential damages to properties as we look ahead to severe weather this winter.
It comes as Met Eireann has informed the general public that temperatures are set to plunge this week and indicating that snow may fall on Thursday with temperatures dropping to below freezing.
The onset of cold weather means more problems for properties, especially heritage properties. Ecclesiastical Insurance, the specialist insurer, has shared practical advice for property owners to be aware of the most common issues that can arise.
Keep an eye on your pipes, gutters, gullies and your roof.
Paul Collins, Head of Risk Services at Ecclesiastical Insurance Ireland, said:
“We know the impact that extreme weather conditions can have on our customers, and this is a timely reminder for them to take steps to prepare for the winter. Every year we take calls from people who have suffered damage to their property as a result of
cold weather. The repairs can be costly and cause a huge amount of disruption. Some of the steps customers can take include carrying out simple visual checks of the property to identify issues such as overgrown vegetation, loose roof materials, damaged guttering, or blocked rainwater gullies and allow simple maintenance measures to be put in place.
Careful maintenance and risk management can help prevent property damage and/or injury during the winter months. Protect yourself and your property this season and reach out to an expert if you have any questions”.
Download the Advent & Christmas CFM Newsletter:
https://cfm.ireland.anglican.org/advent-christmas-newsletter-2022/
This exciting new role will work alongside the Lead Evangelist at Sligo Centre of Mission to help develop fresh expressions of Christian community. As a team, the Centre of Mission is looking to build on and pioneer new forms of community within the Sligo, North Leitrim and Bundoran, and beyond, as appropriate.
In this role, you will explore what communities are appropriate for young people and those in need, supporting the planning and facilitating of local services. This will enable more time for evangelism throughout the week. This role will specifically look to provide support in the digital aspects of the work, which have grown significantly over the recent period.
This role will also help to develop the work of the COM by creatively and effectively sharing faith to those who come to holiday in Bundoran from around the world. The work will be heavily focused in the Bundoran during the summer period and more focused in Sligo and North Leitrim during the winter season. This enables networking and communication with existing ministries and the pioneering of new ones using the GRACEUP values of Church Army as a benchmark.
As this role will look to support and enable people’s faith journey, the successful candidate will be someone who prioritises their relationship with God and is comfortable with different styles of church. You will need to be an energetic and outgoing person, who is able to take the initiative and will be at ease in the local context.
Find out more at https://churcharmy.org/career/pioneer-evangelist-sligo/
When Trusting is Tough: honesty and hope from the Psalms
This years Cavan Christian Men’s Conference will take place on Saturday 12th Nov from 9:30am-1pm at the Cavan Crystal Hotel.
Book online at: www.tiny.one/ccmc22
Coming up on Sunday, 20th November
This year, the Church of Ireland’s Day of Prayer for Young People and Youth Ministry will be on Sunday 20th November 2022. The Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) is delighted to make available a new prayer journal to accompany the day. Produced in partnership with Missional Generation, the prayer journal is designed to help young people to pray and provide creative ways to listen to and respond to God. The prayer journals are available from Diocesan Youth Officers or youth ministry contacts.
In addition, the Exalt prayer app now has some new features. Since the launch of the app at the Summer Madness youth festival in June CIYD has seen over 250 young people downloading the app. Exalt is designed to help 11-18 year olds, their peers and their youth group leaders to explore a weekly devotion together; this is designed to help young people seeking a faith in Jesus as well as those who have an active rhythm of faith.
The aim of the app is to make a creative and interactive way to help young people to pray as they explore six rotating themes over a year. During the year, young people will listen to reflections on Freedom, Justice, Forgiveness, Giving, Rejoicing and Mission. The hope is that as a generation listens to people reflect on Scripture and hear honest and open testimony, we will see this generation growing in their knowledge and understanding of the Bible.
One of the new features allows users to share their experience of the Bible verse into their digital spaces, strengthening the young person’s confidence in sharing the Christian faith and Scripture amongst their digital platforms. Exalt is available from either the Apple Store or Google Play and to find out more, readers are welcome to check out its promotional video at https://vimeo.com/726774098
Bishop Ferran is calling for churches in the KEA Diocese to join churches around the world in a day of prayer on this Sunday 23rd October.
Churches across the globe, from Brazil to Japan, Mozambique to Australia, will be lifting Iran in prayer. We are so thankful for this encouragement to the Iranian Church.
Simple prayer resources are available at elam.com/dayofprayer to help your church get involved.
Speaking of the event, David Yeghnazar, Executive Director of Elam Ministries said ‘Over and over, we have seen that God uses prayer. I remember when our friend and colleague Farshid was imprisoned in Iran for his faith, he memorably wrote: ‘I sense the fragrance of your prayers as a cool breeze on my heart and it strengthens me from afar’. Prayer is powerful’.
We pray that as churches around the world unite in intercession this Sunday, the Iranian church will be encouraged and strengthened.
If you would like to encourage the Iranian church a 10-second video of your church praying for Iran – or a word or a verse of encouragement would be very gratefully received at [email protected].
The Annual Meeting of the Diocesan Synod of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh took place this Saturday 15th October in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. The day’s proceedings began with a celebration of Holy Communion in St George’s Church. In his sermon, based on Nehemiah 8 v 1-12, Bishop Ferran Glenfield said that after an absence of three years we were returning to Synod after our own mini exile. Covid-19 has affected every aspect of our lives and we have lots of work to do in terms of the rebuilding and restoration of our church. This passage reminds us that infrastructure matters – the buildings, ministry, policies and investments of our church need to function properly and accountably. However, rebuilding is means to an end – we must be rebuilding the community of God on the Word of God. Following the service, the Synod moved to the nearby Bush Hotel to continue with the day’s proceedings.
At the beginning of his President’s Address to the Synod, Bishop Ferran welcomed Canon Andrew Ison and Mildred Gilmore, Wendy Lyons, Carl Kilroy and Marie Maxwell Davey from the Ballisodare Group of Parishes who were attending their first in-person Synod, since the group was transferred to KEA.
In his address, Bishop Ferran noted how much had been lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a church we lost momentum in realising our 20/20 vision which was launched in 2015. The aim of the 20/20 VISION was to work together to resource each local church to fulfil its role in the community. Because of Covid it has not been possible to celebrate this initiative in 2020 however there are number of significant examples of how the 20/20 VISION is working out on the ground:
In his address, Bishop Ferran paid tribute to all those who have worked so selflessly in two of the sectors most impacted by Covid; health and education. He noted that change is the order of the day in many of the schools under Church or Ireland patronage. New principals have been appointed in a number of National Schools in our Diocese as well as in The Royal School Cavan and Wilson’s Hospital School. He encouraged our prayers for them and their staff as they seek to deliver high quality education and uphold the Christian nature of these schools.
Bishop Ferran also spoke about the transition of the Royal School Cavan from a fee-paying school with borders to a non-fee paying day school. The aim of this move was to grow the school and to make it more sustainable for the future. In partnership with the Department of Education, a building programme has started to provide the school with modern accommodation and sports facilities. He encouraged families in Cavan to opt for the Royal School.
Ending his address, Bishop Ferran noted that since our last gathering in 2019 we have said farewell to a number of clergy including Revd. Ali Calvin, Rev Richard Beadle, Archdeacon Isaac Hanna, Revd. David Moses and Rev Malcom Young. He welcomed Revd. Mark Smith, Canon Andrew Ison and Dean Gerald Field who will be helping in the Roscommon Group. He thanked Damian Shorten who is stepping back from role as Diocesan Youth and Children’s Worker and wished him well as he prepares for ordained ministry. He also welcomed Warren and Annalyse Humphreys and Clare Russell who are taking up roles in ministry especially among children and young people. Bishop Ferran noted that this was the first in-person Synod since Maud Cunningham’s passing – a loss we all still feel.
As a final encouragement, Bishop Ferran noted that, while the tide for Christianity is going out in our part of the world, ‘out there on the horizon in the ocean of God’s love is a wave which will become the next incoming tide. God will see to it as he has done in the past. The tide will come back in again and we his people will rejoice’.
Following his address, Synod heard greetings from Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin who spoke of his Church’s own journey toward a synodal process. Martina Gilmartin, representing the Bishop of Kimore, Martin Hayes spoke passionately on the wonderful message the church has to offer the world. The Synod also heard a wonderful report on the work of the Mothers Union by newly elected Mothers’ Union President, Ann Howard. In his report on Youth and Children’s Ministry, Damian Shorten spoke of the challenges churches face in reconnecting with families. Reporting on the work of the Scribe, Revd. Patrick Bamber encouraged us to read about what is happening in other parish groups and think about the bigger story we are part a small part of. Geoff Scargill from Protestant Aid encouraged members of the Synod to help find the people who were afraid to ask for support. Lydia Monds spoke of the generosity that has enabled the work of the Bishop’s Appeal and Linda Abwa from CMSI spoke of the wonderful opportunities to link with churches around the world.
– The book of Diocesan Reports including a Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2021 is available HERE.
– Bishop Ferran Glenfield’s Presidential Address in available HERE.
Dr Nicholas Liscomb, Sarah Taylor, Rita Day, Tim Roulston, Bishop Ferran, Canon Ruth West, Archdeacon Hazel Hicks
Synod opening service
MU President Ann Howard with Bishop Ferran
Wendy Lyons Revd Canon Andrew Ison, Carl Kilroy, Mildred Gilmore, representing Ballisodare Group of Parishes attending an in-person Diocesan Synod for the first time.
Victor Scott, Linda Wedlock and Warren Humphreys who will be taking up a role especially in youth and children’s ministry in Kilmore.