The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

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Festival of Preaching at Lisburn Cathedral is a great success

Friday March 8th 2013

On Saturday March 2 Lisburn Cathedral hosted its first ever Festival of Preaching.

The Dean and Chapter invited preachers from across the province to be inspired and equipped in their ministry.

More than 80 people gathered for registration and morning coffee in the Cathedral’s new coffee room, and there was a great buzz during morning praise led by the Cathedral’s worship team.

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy welcomed everyone, and led a liturgy which thanked God for His Word and prayed for a renewal of the Church.

Keynote speaker was the Rev Charlie Cleverly from St.Aldate’s Oxford, who gave a wonderful encouragement on the place of preaching, before dividing participants into various seminar streams.

There was a choice of four seminars in the morning, repeated after lunch which gave delegates the opportunity to enjoy two seminars in the course of the day.

Charlie Cleverly facilitated on the subject of ‘Preaching with Imagination;’ the Rev Vanessa Conant from St Paul’s and St George’s Church in Edinburgh spoke on the theme of ‘Teaching Christian Living in a Secular Age;’ the Rev Simon Genoe, curate of Lisburn Cathedral, shared on ‘Preaching and Teaching those in their 20s and 30s;’ and Bishop Elect Ferron Glenfield taught on the subject of ‘Unpacking the Preaching of the Word of God.’

The feedback forms confirmed that people found each of the seminars insightful, powerful and helpful, leaving delegates with much to process and consider, but also encouraging them to keep going with their preaching.

Lunch was served in the hall, where the conversations continued over sandwiches, coffee, and traybakes, after which the seminar speakers participated in a question and answer session.

Following a second seminar choice, the day concluded with worship lead by the Very Rev John Bond, Dean of Connor, and the service concluded with the hymn ‘There is a Redeemer.’

The rector of Lisburn Cathedral, Canon Sam Wright, thanked everyone who had contributed to this very successful festival, and promised similar events in the not too distant future!

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