Bishop’s Lenten course gets underway in Bushmills

Wednesday March 5th 2014

The rector of Bushmills, the Rev Canon George Graham, and Bishop Alan prepare for the first of this year's Lenten seminars, which took place in the Dunluce Parish Centre.

The Bishop of Connor’s first Lenten seminar on Discipleship and Ministry drew some 145 people to Dunluce Parish Centre, Bushmills, on March 4.

(For more pictures visit our Photo Album)

Bishop Alan told those who had travelled from parishes across the northern part of the diocese that this year’s Lent series was in keeping with the diocesan Vision Strategy strand of Empowering Ministry.

The Bishop was welcomed by the rector of Bushmills, the Rev Canon George Graham who opened the seminar with prayer.

Bishop Alan illustrates his talk at Bushmills with an apple! Bishop Alan spoke about how much energy in church is consumed with concerns about buildings, finance and structures, and said a division had been created between the secular and the sacred. At times, Sunday worship does not connect with everyday life, he added

During the course of the evening he looked at the definition of a disciple and examined core issues for disciples today.

There was a break for refreshments, including pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, provided by Bushmills parishioners, and this was a time for catching up with friends from other places and parishes, while Richard Ryan did a roaring trade on his stall, The Book Well. Richard will attend all Bishop Alan’s seminars.

Bishop Alan will deliver two seminars in Bushmills, Jordanstown Parish Centre, and Christ Church, Lisburn.

The dates and venues of future seminars are as follows:

A section of the crowd at Bishop Alan's first seminar in Bushmills. Discipleship
Monday 10th March Jordanstown Parish Centre
Tuesday 18th March Christ Church, Lisburn (church)