Killiskey

Classes will begin on 12th January, in East Glendalough School. The Parenting Teens course will run concurrently, for parents of any confirmation candidates, though this is not limited to confirmation candidates’ families, should anyone else be interested.

The Bible is a big and complicated book to read and for many it can be difficult to know where to start. The Bible Society has produced a course for those who are familiar with the Bible or just starting out.

It helps you see how the books of the Bible are part of one big story. Using a unique storyline, it shows how key events, books and characters fit together. The video teaching, course guide and daily readings will help participants grow in confidence as they read the Bible for themselves.

Each weekly session includes a video, small group discussion, and refreshments. It will be supported by both Killiskey and Ashford parishes. The Bible Course is expected to run for eight weeks run on Tuesday evenings from 11th February to 31st March. Further details to follow. If you would like further information please contact either Bruce Alwood (087 2547538) or Rev Ken.

Lesley Rue organises the distribution of the Church Review. If you would like your name to be added to the list of recipients in 2020, please let her know. She is currently collecting the annual 2020 subscriptions of €40.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually between 18th January and 25th January. As Rev Ken co-chairs an initiative called Ecumenical Bible Week, he has been asked to lead the RTE broadcast service on 19th January. Others involved from various Christian traditions include Fr Kieran O’Mahony (Roman Catholic), Pastor Martin Sauter (Lutheran), Revd Jools Hamilton (Methodist) and Mr Paul Manook (Armenian Apostolic), all of whom have preached in Nun’s Cross Church.

 

It is anticipated that the annual clergy lunch will take place on Friday 24th January for those in the East Glendalough area. This brings together in fellowship ministers from the main Christian traditions.

Since September 2018, a new form of ministry has been established in the Church of Ireland called Ordained Local Ministry (OLM). Nine of the twelve C of I dioceses are now involved (Dublin & Glendalough is not one of these). The features of this ministry are:

• It is an ordained ministry – OLMs are deacons and priests in the fullest sense of the word.
• It is a local ministry – limited to the parish/group of parishes, rural deanery or archdeaconry.
• It is a self–supporting ministry – transfer to any form of stipendiary or what is known as non–stipendiary ministry is not possible without attending a Selection Conference and completion of full ministerial training.
• It is a supervised ministry – an OLM is always supervised by a stipendiary priest.
• It is a recognised ministry. It is recognised by the Church and for which training has been undertaken and ongoing support is required.
• It is a collaborative or team or companion ministry. An OLM is always part of a team of clergy and lay people.
• It is missional – not simply about filling gaps but intended to expand the missional outreach of the local Church community.

 

There are currently 74 candidates training for ordination, of whom 44 are training to be OLMs.

 

Rev Ken co-ordinates the OLM course and will be attending a weekend led by three Bishops from 10th to 12th January.

In recent months, a choir has been re-established. The hymns of each Sunday’s Principal Service will be practiced in the church from 10.30am. If you would like to join the choir, please let Tim Hicks know.