Baptism: On Sunday 27th September we welcomed Abigail Sarah Kenny,
daughter of Graham and Sandie and sister of Scott of Ballingarry into
the fellowship of the Church. We wish her every blessing in the
future.
Congratulations: to Rev’d Vicki Lynch on her Ordination to the
Diaconate in St. Columba’s Church, Ennis on Saturday 17th October. The
service was a very creative combination of old and new with
multimedia/live band music provided by ‘Theophany Cacophony’ a band
largely made up of Lynch family members. It was a particular pleasure
to see Rev’d Rachel Lewis (now in Wales) returning as preacher. A
great night and thanks are due to Canon Bob Hanna and his parishioners
for the warmth of hospitality extended to all of us who attended from
near and far.
Harvests: Thanks to all who worked so hard to beautify our churches,
provide refreshment at our various harvest services and took part in
the services this year. We entered the season almost in foreboding
following the dismal Summer but thankfully all was well in the end and
the sense of relief made for a very genuine sense of thanksgiving. So
often in life it is only when we nearly loose something that we
appreciate its value.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Celebrate Together 15th November
CELEBRATE TOGETHER (MISSION SUNDAY EVENT)
in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick & also the Gael Scoil & Limerick Civic Offices
A joint initiative of the MU & UDYC
10.30 - 4.30pm
Featuring: Worship, fun, fellowship, Creche, Workshops, Christmas Crafts, Diocesan Saints, Fundraising, National Schools programme, Teenage Programme, Face painting, Rodeo Bull, Gladiator, Bungee Run, Disco, Cafeteria etc etc.
Programme for Day:
10.30 Arrivals – Tea & Coffee in Cathedral
11.15 Morning Worship – Eucharist Part 1(up to Peace)
12.30 Lunch (City Hall)
1.15: Fun together (See above)
3.30 Final Worship (Eucharist Part 2)
MISSION SUNDAY COLLECTION from 1st November will be presented at the service
4.30 Tea/Coffee and Depart
Tasks
1 Collection on 1st November
2 We are asked to Create a Parish Collage representing the ‘Life of our parish’ on A2 sized card with
name of Group/Union to be presented during opening procession
3 Choose a Symbol to represent how our parish participates in Mission
4 Choose a parishioner to be interviewed live during service
(30 seconds talking about why parish chose the symbol)
5 Procession: One person from each church for procession & the Mission Symbol Carrer & Parish clergy
TO REMEMBER:
Bring a packed lunch – drinks will be available
Bring a voluntary Offering (any amount) to cover the costs of the day
Bring one item of non perishable food for distribution to those in need
Sign Sheet in church indicating transport preference (we may hire a bus if sufficient numbers)
in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick & also the Gael Scoil & Limerick Civic Offices
A joint initiative of the MU & UDYC
10.30 - 4.30pm
Featuring: Worship, fun, fellowship, Creche, Workshops, Christmas Crafts, Diocesan Saints, Fundraising, National Schools programme, Teenage Programme, Face painting, Rodeo Bull, Gladiator, Bungee Run, Disco, Cafeteria etc etc.
Programme for Day:
10.30 Arrivals – Tea & Coffee in Cathedral
11.15 Morning Worship – Eucharist Part 1(up to Peace)
12.30 Lunch (City Hall)
1.15: Fun together (See above)
3.30 Final Worship (Eucharist Part 2)
MISSION SUNDAY COLLECTION from 1st November will be presented at the service
4.30 Tea/Coffee and Depart
Tasks
1 Collection on 1st November
2 We are asked to Create a Parish Collage representing the ‘Life of our parish’ on A2 sized card with
name of Group/Union to be presented during opening procession
3 Choose a Symbol to represent how our parish participates in Mission
4 Choose a parishioner to be interviewed live during service
(30 seconds talking about why parish chose the symbol)
5 Procession: One person from each church for procession & the Mission Symbol Carrer & Parish clergy
TO REMEMBER:
Bring a packed lunch – drinks will be available
Bring a voluntary Offering (any amount) to cover the costs of the day
Bring one item of non perishable food for distribution to those in need
Sign Sheet in church indicating transport preference (we may hire a bus if sufficient numbers)
Sermon for All Saints 2009
Sermon for All Saints 2009
I want to start today with what may sound like an extraordinary statement:
I don’t like Saints!
Does that sound odd on this day of all days - All Saints Day? It may sound heretical to suggest that there is a problem with Saints, but I think Saints rather than inspiring us in our lives of faith can actually be a hindrance to our walk with God.
You might well ask what is the problem with the Saints – Surely people who led godly lives and did heroic deeds of self sacrifice for the sake of their faith should be celebrated and revered as the Church has traditionally done. What about St. Peter and St Paul, or more recent saints such as Mother Teresa or indeed our own St. Brigid or indeed St. Kieran who has a particular association with this group of parishes? Should they not be revered and celebrated. Actually No, I don’t think so or at least not in the way we tend to celebrate the Saints and have done through the ages. We have made of the Saints impossible role models who in the way their lives have been portrayed make us feel inadequate and guilty for our failings. We have attached to them a perfection that Christ himself never demanded of any of his followers. We have turned them from icons to idols always an easy line to cross and one which the Church has continually done through the ages.
There is an almost direct equivalent in today’s celebrity culture though at least in the celebrity culture we are aware of the warts as well as the achievements of our cultural idols. When it comes to Saints things are very different – they are painted in terms of their virtues with little or no account of their vices and yet like all human beings they had their vices….and were all the more human for them.
It is very hard for you and me, mere mortals, to identify with an image of almost sterile perfection.
It is neither realistic or attractive – It may fascinate us but we cannot ultimately relate to it. We really do the Saints a disservice when we portray them in this way. We actually devalue their witness because we dehumanise it and make it impossible for us to aspire to. I am named after St Stephen, traditionally the first Christian Martyr (I don’t aspire to that for one moment) I would love to think I had that courage but I doubt it - but I would love to know more about him – Apart from his Martrydom all that is concrete is that he was one of the first deacons of the Church – There was probably a lot more to St. Stephen, plenty of weaknesses and failings, plenty of idiosyncrasies, but all we tend to think of is a heroic martyrdom.
So one thing is clear, the lives of the Saints as presented and celebrated are heavily edited – all we get are the highlights and like watching the highlights of a great sporting occasion they are no substitute for the real thing. We miss those little seemingly insignificant moments which might actually have allowed us to identify with them.
The other problem with the Saints is that it is all about them! What do I mean by that? Well it is all about their achievements and their witness when it really should be about something or someone else entirely. The stories of the Saints are not about heroic human beings but rather about God’s extraordinary Grace working in them. It is not about them – It is about God! The Saints are not saintly because of any innate virtues but rather because they were open to God and so more perfectly fulfilled their God given potential, a potential in which we all share! How often are we told that we were created in the Divine image? What does that mean? It means surely that we ALL can be Saints of God and it certainly means that we are ALL called to be Saints of God. We all have the potential to mirror something of the Divine in our lives, not the totality but something and that is surely the most extraordinary privelage.
And sometimes it is in our imperfection that God is revealed. One of my favourite and I think most profound lyrics from contemporary music comes from Leonard Cohen and it is this – ‘There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in’.
The wonderful story of our faith is that we are acceptable with all our flaws and imperfections. By becoming incarnate god has sanctified the whole of Creation and revealed in Christ the incredible potential, not just of humanity but of the whole created order. It is not about the Saints but it is about God, a generous God who calls us all to participate in helping this beautiful world achieve its true potential to mirror the glory of God.
Amen.
I want to start today with what may sound like an extraordinary statement:
I don’t like Saints!
Does that sound odd on this day of all days - All Saints Day? It may sound heretical to suggest that there is a problem with Saints, but I think Saints rather than inspiring us in our lives of faith can actually be a hindrance to our walk with God.
You might well ask what is the problem with the Saints – Surely people who led godly lives and did heroic deeds of self sacrifice for the sake of their faith should be celebrated and revered as the Church has traditionally done. What about St. Peter and St Paul, or more recent saints such as Mother Teresa or indeed our own St. Brigid or indeed St. Kieran who has a particular association with this group of parishes? Should they not be revered and celebrated. Actually No, I don’t think so or at least not in the way we tend to celebrate the Saints and have done through the ages. We have made of the Saints impossible role models who in the way their lives have been portrayed make us feel inadequate and guilty for our failings. We have attached to them a perfection that Christ himself never demanded of any of his followers. We have turned them from icons to idols always an easy line to cross and one which the Church has continually done through the ages.
There is an almost direct equivalent in today’s celebrity culture though at least in the celebrity culture we are aware of the warts as well as the achievements of our cultural idols. When it comes to Saints things are very different – they are painted in terms of their virtues with little or no account of their vices and yet like all human beings they had their vices….and were all the more human for them.
It is very hard for you and me, mere mortals, to identify with an image of almost sterile perfection.
It is neither realistic or attractive – It may fascinate us but we cannot ultimately relate to it. We really do the Saints a disservice when we portray them in this way. We actually devalue their witness because we dehumanise it and make it impossible for us to aspire to. I am named after St Stephen, traditionally the first Christian Martyr (I don’t aspire to that for one moment) I would love to think I had that courage but I doubt it - but I would love to know more about him – Apart from his Martrydom all that is concrete is that he was one of the first deacons of the Church – There was probably a lot more to St. Stephen, plenty of weaknesses and failings, plenty of idiosyncrasies, but all we tend to think of is a heroic martyrdom.
So one thing is clear, the lives of the Saints as presented and celebrated are heavily edited – all we get are the highlights and like watching the highlights of a great sporting occasion they are no substitute for the real thing. We miss those little seemingly insignificant moments which might actually have allowed us to identify with them.
The other problem with the Saints is that it is all about them! What do I mean by that? Well it is all about their achievements and their witness when it really should be about something or someone else entirely. The stories of the Saints are not about heroic human beings but rather about God’s extraordinary Grace working in them. It is not about them – It is about God! The Saints are not saintly because of any innate virtues but rather because they were open to God and so more perfectly fulfilled their God given potential, a potential in which we all share! How often are we told that we were created in the Divine image? What does that mean? It means surely that we ALL can be Saints of God and it certainly means that we are ALL called to be Saints of God. We all have the potential to mirror something of the Divine in our lives, not the totality but something and that is surely the most extraordinary privelage.
And sometimes it is in our imperfection that God is revealed. One of my favourite and I think most profound lyrics from contemporary music comes from Leonard Cohen and it is this – ‘There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in’.
The wonderful story of our faith is that we are acceptable with all our flaws and imperfections. By becoming incarnate god has sanctified the whole of Creation and revealed in Christ the incredible potential, not just of humanity but of the whole created order. It is not about the Saints but it is about God, a generous God who calls us all to participate in helping this beautiful world achieve its true potential to mirror the glory of God.
Amen.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sermon for Sunday 19th July 2009
Sermon for Sunday 19th July 2009
Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34,53-56
Sometimes there are events in life that bring home to us just what a small planet we live on. Last Wednesday night, I watched the Space Shuttle take off from
To me that is almost like getting an insight into how God sees us – we consider ourselves so different and distinct so isolated and in some cases so alone but God sees us all in one sweep of his vision – we are all part of the one picture, all part of the one story. For all our factions and divisions, all our wars and atrocities we are all simultaneously visible and simultaneously loved by God. That I believe is a truth that we cannot stress enough. It may be an obvious truth but we live in a world that displays very little recognition of that truth.
We live in a selfish world – a world where there is enough food and water for everyone and yet people still die of hunger and thirst! A world where there is enough shelter and housing for everyone but people still live in cardboard boxes and sewers. A world where there are enough resources for everyone but the greedy pile them up and store them away for their own security. We live in a world where religious faith of whatever type has lost its outward focus and become self-serving and destructive of others. And of course we live in a world where greed for money has plunged our economies into a state of catastrophe and heightened tensions and divisions in an already stressed society. We are, to borrow a phrase from today’s Gospel: “Like sheep without a shepherd” . We are scared and confused. People are loosing their jobs – there are already signs of antagonism and resentment towards foreign workers – industrial action is on the rise – economic partnership is falling apart and trust is in short supply. Everyone is looking out for themselves and very few people are able to see beyond the troubles that loom large in their own lives.
Simultaneous to all this has been the collapse of trust in Institutional Church, especially in this country in the light of recent scandals and most notably the Ryan report – That and the rise of militant secularism which seeks to purge God from the public sphere of life has left a lot of people without any point of reference in their lives. It is not so much that we live in an immoral society but increasingly an amoral society. We are like sheep without a shepherd.
And the Government response (and let us remember that the Government are not all that different from us – and we put them there), the response has been to commission a soulless report (An Bord Snip) which treats the most vulnerable people in our society as mere statistics and has only served to cause huge anxiety, not all of which may be warranted. Yes it is a financial report but our problems go far deeper than finance and demand a response that at least shows a hint of compassion. When Jesus saw the crowd in today’s Gospel, he must have felt besieged as does many a government minister today but did he give off – did he go and hide – No, we are told “he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” And not only did he feel compassion but he demonstrated it in his actions in healing the sick who came to him looking for help.
There is a huge contrast between that response and our own minister for health who cynically released the Leas Cross Nursing Home report (containing the most sickening revelations of elder abuse and neglect) on the same day as the An Bord Snip report, obviously hoping it would get buried along with the victims of that shameful chapter in the life of the HSE! That to me is a completely amoral act! It is incomprehensible that anyone could do such a thing and the Minister doesn’t even seem to get it – That is a sign of a very sick society! A society which has lost a point of reference – a society of sheep without a shepherd.
This is a situation that demands a response from people of faith – and we as Christians have a message and a model in the life of Jesus which can transform the helpless situation in which people find themselves. This is a huge responsibility and something which we are called to do if we are truly followers of Jesus and not simply passive members of the church. But to be the people that God calls us to be means preparing ourselves – and the Gospel is very explicit – “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile” Jesus tells the apostles. As the story relates that rest proves elusive but essential nonetheless. Jesus frequently retreats before a period of ministry – we need to do likewise, to be people who reflect as well as people who do. Otherwise our witness is ineffective and lacking in depth – We need to be able to give a good account of the faith that is in us and the God who we believe has created us and desires the best for us and who contrary to popular opinion is not an irrelevance!
But if that is to be the case Christianity needs better headlines than The Holy Stump in Rathkeale, the widely discredited Blasphemy legislation and the latest I heard this week where the newly formed ‘Atheist Ireland’ are calling people to read their Bibles so that they can then discredit and mock its contents.
There is another Story – It’s the Story as God sees it – It is One story and we are all a part of the story - the story of his people, created in Love – we may behave as sheep without a shepherd, we may think we are sheep without a shepherd but like the parable of the Lost Sheep the Shepherd wants only to find us and to bring us home. Just because we think we don’t need the shepherd, just because others tell us there is no shepherd doesn’t make him go away. He is far more more patient and far more forgiving than we can comprehend. It is in him that we find our place in that great story of Love and Forgiveness. It is in him that our lives find meaning and make sense. It is in him that we have Hope that will allow us to see beyond the length of our nose to our neighbour and recognise in that neighbour another creation of God made in God’s image and worthy of our Love and respect. When we can recognise that then we have recovered our true nature. We exist for God and for one another, not for ourselves.
Amen.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Notices 12th July 2009
Confirmation:
What a delight it was to welcome Bishop Trevor for our
Parish Confirmation Service in Borrisokane on Sunday 21st June. The
Sun shone and the church was packed to the rafters for this joyous
occasion. Those confirmed included: Amy Austin, Conor Austin, Emily
Austin, Mark Culbert, Adam Donaldson, Andrew Foulger, Niall Glynn,
Adrian Hayes, Dean Kelly, Katie Kennedy, Melissa Mooney & Jonathan
Powell. Aaron Neill was confirmed the previous day in a ceremony at
St. Kieran’s Church, Cloughjordan by kind permission of Bishop Trevor
who graciously allowed Aaron’s grandfather to officiate.
NUPTIALS
Congratulations to Sarah Harding & Jamie Donnelly who were married in
Borrisokane on 26th June. We wish them both every happiness in their marriage
Best wishes to George Hayes of Borrisokane & Amanda Love of Donegal
who by the time this newsletter appears will have been married in
Donegal on July 11th.May they be blessed in their married life together.
DEDICATION
Last Sunday (5th July) Keely Hope Tucker, youngest child of Shane &
Christy Tucker was presented before the congregation of St. Kieran’s
Church in Cloughjordan and dedicated to God. After the service the
whole church enjoyed a lovely feast of homemade banana bread and juice
courtesy of the Tucker family. We thank Shane and Christy for this
lovely gesture.
BEREAVEMENTS
Deepest sympathy to the family of the late Alfie Hayes of Ballinakill
who died on Sunday 14th June after a short illness. We think
especially of his wife Iris and their children, Belinda, Alison,
Wanda, Cheryl & Gary and all the wider family in their time of loss.
Alfie was buried in Templeharry Churchyard following funeral service
in Templeharry. A particularly poignant moment was reached when
his coffin passed through the door into the churchyard, a door Alfie
had himself made less than a year previously.
Barely 3 weeks after Alfie died, his brother George (Mossie) Hayes
also passed away and was buried following a funeral again in
Templeharry Church.
George’s popularity in Moneygall was evident in the large attendance
and the guard of honour which lined the whole length of the village.
Our sympathy is extended to George and Alfie’s siblings Benny, John
Percy and Vera and their families in their loss.
Cloughjordan / Ballingarry Family Fun Day
Another fantastically successful event which despite the weather
managed to attract a large crowd of young and old alike. There was as
promised something for all the family . At the time of writing the
total raised is well in excess of €5000 which in the current financial
climate is an excellent result. Heartfelt thanks to all who worked on
the stalls and various events and attractions. One person deserves
special mention and that is Margaret Mooney who chaired the Sale
Committee and kept everyone focused on the task. Every project needs a
leader and Margaret once again did a superb job.
Moneygall Sale:
Thursday 16th July 7pm in Moneygall Hall. Usual
Stalls, Cakes, jams, Books, Plants, Bric a Brac, games for the kids.
All Welcome!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Rector talks to Joe Duffy about Credit Crunch
Last week I had the pleasure of taking part in a RTE TV Panel discussion with Joe Duffy. The other panelists were Brenda Power and Fr Gerry O'Hanlon SJ. The issue which seems so marginal in the light of last weeks disclosures was whether a financial crisis was good for faith or vice versa. Click here and go to episode of 24th May.
Notices 24th May 2009
Deepest Sympathy
We extend our condolences to Nicki Ng, Myles Podmore and Donald and Colin Swan on the recent death of Coral Podmore of Rathurles, Myles & Nicki’s mum and Donald’s and Colin’s sister. Coral had been ill since last December and her family had kept a constant vigil throughout. We assure them all of our prayerful support. After funeral in St. Kieran’s Coral’s remains were cremated in The Island Crematorium in Cork.
Congratulations: to Christian Parker & Kirsten Bayly who were married in Borrisnafarney Church on Saturday 23rd May, and also their daughter Zoe who was baptized at the ceremony.
Borrisnafarney Select Vestry: Thursday 28th May at 8.30pm
Womens Mini Marathon: 1st June – Sponsorship still welcomed by Rector, Principal and Parents of Cloughjordan No.1 N.S. Proceeeds to provision of Whiteboards for School.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Notices Easter 2 2009
Confirmation Candidates 2009
Please pray for the candidates currently preparing for Confirmation.
There are 12 in all.
Amy Austin, Conor Austin, Emily Austin, Mark Culbert, Adam Donaldson,
Andrew Foulger, Adrian Hayes, Dean Kelly, Katie Kennedy, Melissa
Mooney, Aaron Neill, & Jonathan Powell.
Easter Vestries – These had yet to take place at time of posting notes
– details next month
Cloughjordan Roof & Tower Appeal
It is good to report that the work is almost finished on St. Kieran’s
Church. Already it is looking so much better and we are very hopeful
that the ingenious solution to the problems of water ingress will be
successful. When it has completely dried we look forward to
redecorating this beautiful building. Fundraising is ongoing and we
are thankful to all who have contributed including the heritage
council. Special thanks are due to the Social Dancing committee, under
Pearl Whiteford who once again ran a successful fundraiser dance on
Easter Monday. It was a joy to see so many people come to support the
parish on this occasion.
New neighbour:
We are delighted that an appointment has been made to the Shinrone
Group of parishes and look forward to welcoming Michael Johnston,
currently Vicar in the Waterford Cathedral Group, and his family to
the area.
Rector & Principal ‘running’ in Womens in mini-marathon!
Paddy Anglican or perhaps I should say my alter ego Patricia Anglican
is running the Flora Womens Mini Marathon in Dublin on Bank Holiday
Monday 1st June 2009 alongside school principal Ivor (Ivana) Hayes. We
are not sure yet what we will be wearing but we are confident in the
parents association who will be dressing us and running alongside us!
We will be running in aid of the parish school - Cloughjordan No.1
N.S. Any funds raised (after pantyhose allowance) will be used towards
the purchase of Interactive White Boards for the school. In light of
the worsening economic situation there is little prospect of state
funding for the school ICT program in the next few years which will
put our young people at a huge disadvantage when and if things get
better in the world economy.
Donations/Sponsorship should be posted to:
The Chairperson & Principal,
Cloughjordan No. 1 National School,
Templemore Rd,
Cloughjordan,
Co. Tipperary,
Ireland.
Cheques/Money orders/Drafts should be addressed to Cloughjordan No.1
N.S. - Please write 'REF Womens Mini Marathon' on back of Cheque or
enclose cover note with this Ref.
Patricia's good friends the Corrigan Brothers are writing a little
ditty to encourage her as she goes into intensive training. The song
will be available for download on the parish website in the near
future. www.modreeny.com.
The Corrigan Brothers are also sponsoring a
prize - a signed copy of their new album: An Irishman invented Rock
and Roll.
The signed album will be awarded for the most original accessory sent
to Patricia to wear as she glides through Dublin's streets like a
gazelle. Post to address above.
If you are free on June 1st come along and give Patricia & Ivana your
support - They will be happy to pose with you for a photo on the day
and would welcome any tips from seasoned runners, such as how to keep
their tights up while stumbling at reckless speed on their stilettos!
Please pray for the candidates currently preparing for Confirmation.
There are 12 in all.
Amy Austin, Conor Austin, Emily Austin, Mark Culbert, Adam Donaldson,
Andrew Foulger, Adrian Hayes, Dean Kelly, Katie Kennedy, Melissa
Mooney, Aaron Neill, & Jonathan Powell.
Easter Vestries – These had yet to take place at time of posting notes
– details next month
Cloughjordan Roof & Tower Appeal
It is good to report that the work is almost finished on St. Kieran’s
Church. Already it is looking so much better and we are very hopeful
that the ingenious solution to the problems of water ingress will be
successful. When it has completely dried we look forward to
redecorating this beautiful building. Fundraising is ongoing and we
are thankful to all who have contributed including the heritage
council. Special thanks are due to the Social Dancing committee, under
Pearl Whiteford who once again ran a successful fundraiser dance on
Easter Monday. It was a joy to see so many people come to support the
parish on this occasion.
New neighbour:
We are delighted that an appointment has been made to the Shinrone
Group of parishes and look forward to welcoming Michael Johnston,
currently Vicar in the Waterford Cathedral Group, and his family to
the area.
Rector & Principal ‘running’ in Womens in mini-marathon!
Paddy Anglican or perhaps I should say my alter ego Patricia Anglican
is running the Flora Womens Mini Marathon in Dublin on Bank Holiday
Monday 1st June 2009 alongside school principal Ivor (Ivana) Hayes. We
are not sure yet what we will be wearing but we are confident in the
parents association who will be dressing us and running alongside us!
We will be running in aid of the parish school - Cloughjordan No.1
N.S. Any funds raised (after pantyhose allowance) will be used towards
the purchase of Interactive White Boards for the school. In light of
the worsening economic situation there is little prospect of state
funding for the school ICT program in the next few years which will
put our young people at a huge disadvantage when and if things get
better in the world economy.
Donations/Sponsorship should be posted to:
The Chairperson & Principal,
Cloughjordan No. 1 National School,
Templemore Rd,
Cloughjordan,
Co. Tipperary,
Ireland.
Cheques/Money orders/Drafts should be addressed to Cloughjordan No.1
N.S. - Please write 'REF Womens Mini Marathon' on back of Cheque or
enclose cover note with this Ref.
Patricia's good friends the Corrigan Brothers are writing a little
ditty to encourage her as she goes into intensive training. The song
will be available for download on the parish website in the near
future. www.modreeny.com.
The Corrigan Brothers are also sponsoring a
prize - a signed copy of their new album: An Irishman invented Rock
and Roll.
The signed album will be awarded for the most original accessory sent
to Patricia to wear as she glides through Dublin's streets like a
gazelle. Post to address above.
If you are free on June 1st come along and give Patricia & Ivana your
support - They will be happy to pose with you for a photo on the day
and would welcome any tips from seasoned runners, such as how to keep
their tights up while stumbling at reckless speed on their stilettos!
Seminar: The Importance of Community in Uncertain Times
A free public event will take place on the evening of Tuesday the 28th of April in St. Kieran’s Hall, Main Street, Cloughjordan.
This special ecumenical gathering will bring together different faith communities to explore why valuing community is so important in these challenging times. Short presentations will be given by each of the participants on the subject of community which will be followed by an open discussion.
The Importance of Community in Uncertain Times
Tuesday 28th April | 19.30 – 21.00 | St. Kieran’s Hall, Main Street, Cloughjordan
Featuring
Rev. Brian Griffin is the minister at the Methodist Church Cloughjordan.
Fr. Tom Hannon is a priest from the Roman Catholic Church in Cloughjordan.
Reverend Stephen Neill is the Canon at the Church of Ireland in Cloughjordan.
Gillian Kingston is a Methodist Local Preacher on the North Tipperary Circuit and is a part-time chaplain in UCD.
Rita and Mary Minehan are Brigidine Sisters native of the County with relations from Cloughjordan
Brother Liam Deasy is a Christian Brother at Brú na Cruinne the Spirituality and Cosmology Certre in Carraig -on -Suir
Gavin Harte is a Unitarian and on the Eco Congregation Committee at the Unitarian Church on Stephen’s Green, Dublin
This special ecumenical gathering will bring together different faith communities to explore why valuing community is so important in these challenging times. Short presentations will be given by each of the participants on the subject of community which will be followed by an open discussion.
The Importance of Community in Uncertain Times
Tuesday 28th April | 19.30 – 21.00 | St. Kieran’s Hall, Main Street, Cloughjordan
Featuring
Rev. Brian Griffin is the minister at the Methodist Church Cloughjordan.
Fr. Tom Hannon is a priest from the Roman Catholic Church in Cloughjordan.
Reverend Stephen Neill is the Canon at the Church of Ireland in Cloughjordan.
Gillian Kingston is a Methodist Local Preacher on the North Tipperary Circuit and is a part-time chaplain in UCD.
Rita and Mary Minehan are Brigidine Sisters native of the County with relations from Cloughjordan
Brother Liam Deasy is a Christian Brother at Brú na Cruinne the Spirituality and Cosmology Certre in Carraig -on -Suir
Gavin Harte is a Unitarian and on the Eco Congregation Committee at the Unitarian Church on Stephen’s Green, Dublin
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Easter Sermon 2009
Easter Sermon 2009
I don’t know about you but I am getting very weary of bad news, of the blame game, of prophesies and predictions of catastrophe. It doesn’t really matter whether they are true or not because the negative energy that has been generated has taken on a life of its own and is almost like a snowball rolling downhill growing larger and more threatening by the minute.
The relentless media coverage of the Credit Crunch / Recession / Depression / Downturn – whatever you want to call it has become a self-fulfilling prophesy – everyone is talking about it – even clergy in pulpits at Easter! Church, the one place where you though you might escape the incessant drone of despair is not safe! Here too it is all pervasive. The fear that is bred by this talk is now added to by a budget that creates real hardship for a lot of people. This is something we cannot ignore. People are hurting and if we believe the prophets of doom people are going to hurt even more! I’m not suggesting for a moment that we don’t need to hear this bad news – we do need to know what is coming – it would be very easy to criticize the economic pundits who are the messengers – very tempting indeed to shoot the messengers!
So what should our response be?
They say that religion thrives best in times of war and suffering in general – Some say that is because people will resort to anything when they are desperate – they will cling to anything that offers hope, no matter how unrealistic. That may be so but I don’t think it’s the whole story. I think it is rather and more the case that when we are broken in spirit that we realise that we need something more – something that gives us the ability to see beyond the horizon.
But there is a danger that we get it wrong – that we misdirect people in these times of trial. It is tempting for people to withdraw into the interior life when external circumstances are too traumatic to face, to focus on another time when things will be better, to hide and take cover until the storm passes. This is very often reflected in the way we Christians talk about heaven – we look on it as the escape capsule, the evacuation route when things in life are finally too much for us to bear.
At Easter especially people tend to think about heaven because traditionally in the Church we have linked Resurrection with Heaven when in fact the biblical sources point much more towards Resurrection as part of God’s work in redeeming Creation, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. There is a growing realisation in contemporary theology that this emphasis on Heaven as an escape route has damaged Christianity’s ability to transform people and the whole of God’s Creation. It has led in fact to the neglect of Creation and meant that Christians were among the last group of people to acknowledge both the reality of Climate Change and the importance of it. This Earth matters – This is a creation of God’s Love for us – This earthly home is Holy ground and everything that lives and breathes on it and the rock and sea and soil that sustain our life are worthy of respect and reverence.
So we have a calling to respond to the suffering of God’s people – Easter is about Hope but that hope is not just something that happens – it is something that we play a part in making a reality. Hope is a verb and an active one. We are not to resign ourselves to a self-fulfilling prophesy of doom. Easier said than done – I was at a central church meeting in Dublin recently and we were discussing finance. All the talk in the room was about what we would have to cut, how we could survive, what we could no longer do! It was hugely depressing. Finally I could listen no more and got up and pointed out that we are supposed to be a community of Hope – every challenge is an opportunity and that if we as Church became a part of the cycle of doom and gloom then we would be feeding this self-fulfilling prophesy. I think some people thought I was being unrealistic but perhaps we are called to be unrealistic to see the possibility of another reality, to realise that that God’s wonderful Creation is pregnant with possibility.
A little illustration of this and this is not an argument against Climate Change. One of the main manifestations of Climate Change is the excess of CO2 gas – One of the ways CO2 is dealt with by nature is through absorbsion by plants and trees. On the basis of the rate of CO2 increase, the depletion of Trees and plants and other factors scientists can calculate the rate of progress of Global Warming. Just recently those calculations have been changed slightly when it was discovered that plants and trees had quite significantly increased their rate of CO2 absorbsion thus giving Creation quite literally more breathing space. It is not enough on its own but it puts it up to us to do our part, not to sit back and say how wonderful it is that we have a few more years before disaster strikes. This is an opportunity born of the unseen potential of God’s wonderful Creation to transform reality.
In the same way the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not simply a proof that the resurrection of the dead is a reality and that all will be well for us in eternity – the Resurrection is a call to action. Look at our Gospel reading: The two Marys have gone to the tomb to anoint Jesus body – they find the stone rolled away and man dressed in a white robe who tells them to tell the disciples that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee where they will see him…..the journey is not over – in a sense it has only just begun. They have work to do – The kingdom of God is at hand and peoples lives are about to be transformed by a new reality that is in their midst.
That is the message that we Christians are called to carry in the World today. It is a message that says we are not defined by our yesterdays or even our todays but rather by the possibilities that are all around us in this Holy Land. That’s what Resurrection is! Borrowing a phrase from a certain contemporary politician “We have to be the Hope that we believe in” – We can’t wait for it to happen – We are agents of change and transformation. That’s what being a follower of Jesus is! In response to hardship we are not called to lay blame or to wallow in self pity but rather to ask ourselves what would Jesus have us do? How can we give people hope in times of difficulty and how can we achieve the potential that God has created in us. If we embrace that message then it too can have a snowball effect and bring real and lasting transformation in peoples lives. What would Jesus have me do? What would Jesus have you do?
I don’t know about you but I am getting very weary of bad news, of the blame game, of prophesies and predictions of catastrophe. It doesn’t really matter whether they are true or not because the negative energy that has been generated has taken on a life of its own and is almost like a snowball rolling downhill growing larger and more threatening by the minute.
The relentless media coverage of the Credit Crunch / Recession / Depression / Downturn – whatever you want to call it has become a self-fulfilling prophesy – everyone is talking about it – even clergy in pulpits at Easter! Church, the one place where you though you might escape the incessant drone of despair is not safe! Here too it is all pervasive. The fear that is bred by this talk is now added to by a budget that creates real hardship for a lot of people. This is something we cannot ignore. People are hurting and if we believe the prophets of doom people are going to hurt even more! I’m not suggesting for a moment that we don’t need to hear this bad news – we do need to know what is coming – it would be very easy to criticize the economic pundits who are the messengers – very tempting indeed to shoot the messengers!
So what should our response be?
They say that religion thrives best in times of war and suffering in general – Some say that is because people will resort to anything when they are desperate – they will cling to anything that offers hope, no matter how unrealistic. That may be so but I don’t think it’s the whole story. I think it is rather and more the case that when we are broken in spirit that we realise that we need something more – something that gives us the ability to see beyond the horizon.
But there is a danger that we get it wrong – that we misdirect people in these times of trial. It is tempting for people to withdraw into the interior life when external circumstances are too traumatic to face, to focus on another time when things will be better, to hide and take cover until the storm passes. This is very often reflected in the way we Christians talk about heaven – we look on it as the escape capsule, the evacuation route when things in life are finally too much for us to bear.
At Easter especially people tend to think about heaven because traditionally in the Church we have linked Resurrection with Heaven when in fact the biblical sources point much more towards Resurrection as part of God’s work in redeeming Creation, bringing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. There is a growing realisation in contemporary theology that this emphasis on Heaven as an escape route has damaged Christianity’s ability to transform people and the whole of God’s Creation. It has led in fact to the neglect of Creation and meant that Christians were among the last group of people to acknowledge both the reality of Climate Change and the importance of it. This Earth matters – This is a creation of God’s Love for us – This earthly home is Holy ground and everything that lives and breathes on it and the rock and sea and soil that sustain our life are worthy of respect and reverence.
So we have a calling to respond to the suffering of God’s people – Easter is about Hope but that hope is not just something that happens – it is something that we play a part in making a reality. Hope is a verb and an active one. We are not to resign ourselves to a self-fulfilling prophesy of doom. Easier said than done – I was at a central church meeting in Dublin recently and we were discussing finance. All the talk in the room was about what we would have to cut, how we could survive, what we could no longer do! It was hugely depressing. Finally I could listen no more and got up and pointed out that we are supposed to be a community of Hope – every challenge is an opportunity and that if we as Church became a part of the cycle of doom and gloom then we would be feeding this self-fulfilling prophesy. I think some people thought I was being unrealistic but perhaps we are called to be unrealistic to see the possibility of another reality, to realise that that God’s wonderful Creation is pregnant with possibility.
A little illustration of this and this is not an argument against Climate Change. One of the main manifestations of Climate Change is the excess of CO2 gas – One of the ways CO2 is dealt with by nature is through absorbsion by plants and trees. On the basis of the rate of CO2 increase, the depletion of Trees and plants and other factors scientists can calculate the rate of progress of Global Warming. Just recently those calculations have been changed slightly when it was discovered that plants and trees had quite significantly increased their rate of CO2 absorbsion thus giving Creation quite literally more breathing space. It is not enough on its own but it puts it up to us to do our part, not to sit back and say how wonderful it is that we have a few more years before disaster strikes. This is an opportunity born of the unseen potential of God’s wonderful Creation to transform reality.
In the same way the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is not simply a proof that the resurrection of the dead is a reality and that all will be well for us in eternity – the Resurrection is a call to action. Look at our Gospel reading: The two Marys have gone to the tomb to anoint Jesus body – they find the stone rolled away and man dressed in a white robe who tells them to tell the disciples that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee where they will see him…..the journey is not over – in a sense it has only just begun. They have work to do – The kingdom of God is at hand and peoples lives are about to be transformed by a new reality that is in their midst.
That is the message that we Christians are called to carry in the World today. It is a message that says we are not defined by our yesterdays or even our todays but rather by the possibilities that are all around us in this Holy Land. That’s what Resurrection is! Borrowing a phrase from a certain contemporary politician “We have to be the Hope that we believe in” – We can’t wait for it to happen – We are agents of change and transformation. That’s what being a follower of Jesus is! In response to hardship we are not called to lay blame or to wallow in self pity but rather to ask ourselves what would Jesus have us do? How can we give people hope in times of difficulty and how can we achieve the potential that God has created in us. If we embrace that message then it too can have a snowball effect and bring real and lasting transformation in peoples lives. What would Jesus have me do? What would Jesus have you do?
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