The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

• News Archives
• April 2024
• March 2024
• February 2024
• January 2024
• December 2023
• November 2023
• October 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023

Bishop announces Pentecost Services as Lenten series ends

Tuesday April 8th 2014

A series of Lenten seminars by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, drew to a close on Monday April 7 at Christ Church Parish, Lisburn.

The series began in the Dunluce Parish Centre, Bushmills, on March 4, and since then Bishop Alan has revisited Bushmills and spoken twice in both St Patrick’s Parish Centre, Jordanstown, and in Christ Church, Lisburn.  Visit our Photo Album to see pictures taken at the different venues.

The theme of this year’s Lenten series was Discipleship and Ministry, and over the past six weeks several hundred people from parishes across Connor have attended the talks, which have become a constant in the Lent calendar of the diocese.

In the first seminar in each venue, Bishop Alan focused on Discipleship, and spoke about how much energy in church is consumed with concerns about buildings, finance and structures. He said a division had been created between the secular and the sacred, adding that at times, Sunday worship does not connect with everyday life.

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

In his second talk, the Bishop turned his attention to Ministry, outlining principles important in understanding ministry and talking about the example of ministry witnessed in Jesus.

The ministry of Jesus, he said, was a constant reflection of God’s love in human flesh. Bishop Alan also spoke about how we can offer our God given ministry for the good of others.

At each seminar there was a break for refreshments and fellowship and a chance to browse at The Book Well, and Bishop Alan also responded to questions from the floor

On his second visit to Christ Church Bishop Alan announced that three Pentecost Services would be held in the diocese. These, he said, were again aimed at bringing people together to share and worship.

There will be a Pentecost Service in each Archdeaconry as follows:

Wednesday May 14 – St Patrick’s Parish Church, Jordanstown (Archdeaconry of Belfast)

Tuesday May 20 – St Patrick’s Church, Ballymena (Archdeaconry of Dalriada)

Thursday May 22 – Lisburn Cathedral (Archdeaconry of Connor)

All services begin at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.

Back to latest news