More than 220 attend Bishop’s first Lenten seminar

Thursday February 26th 2009

The Rev Alice Stewart and Margaret Jenkins from Cloughfern at the seminar on February 24. More than 220 people attended the first of the Bishop of Connor’s Lenten seminars in St Peter’s Church, Antrim Road, Belfast, on February 24.

The Bishop, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, is leading two seminars during Lent under the title ‘Equipping the Saints,’ which he is repeating at three venues across Connor Diocese over the next few weeks, concluding on April 1.

Seminar one addressed the subject of Worship, asking the following questions: What is worship? Why do we worship? What is Anglican worship? It will also look at different forms of worship.

The Bishop addresses the crowd at the Lenten seminar in St Peter's on February 24. Those who attended Seminar One at St Peter’s heard the bishop speak on the worship ‘war’ between the contemporary and traditional. He reminded everyone of contemporary culture, and the issues that face us today, before looking at worship itself in its many forms.

During a break in the seminar tea was served, and Bishop Alan urged everyone to enjoy this time of fellowship with friends old and new from other parishes within Connor Diocese.

In Seminar two the Bishop will deal with Suffering. Why we suffer is the question that haunts everyone. Bishop Alan says: “The great difficulty is that there appears to be no specific answer but there may be some signposts.”

Seminar one will be repeated on March 4 in Antrim Parish Hall, and on March 9 in the Dunluce Parish Centre, Bushmills.

Seminar two will be held on the following dates: March 18 – St Peter’s Parish Hall, Antrim Road, Belfast; March 24 – Antrim Parish Hall; April 1 – Dunluce Parish Centre, Bushmills.

A section of the large crowd in St Peter's to hear the Bishop of Connor on February 24. There is no charge for the seminars but there will be a retiring collection towards the Diocesan Building for Generations Fund.

Canon Edgar Turner, John Smiley, Maureen Thornton and Dick Thornton, from St John's, Malone, at the seminar in St Peter's. David and Elise White and Doris Wright from Lisburn. Ladies from Lambeg parish at the Lenten seminar in St Peter's on February 24. Bishop Alan addresses the crowd in St Peter's on February 24.