12.05.2014
Social Action Celebration Service Gives Snapshots of Hope for the City
An uplifting service celebrating social action took place in St Werburgh’s Church, Dubln, yesterday evening (Sunday May 11). ‘Worship for the City’ highlighted the wonderful work being undertaken by a number of social action projects but also prayed for the city and its people.
Organised by the Dublin and Glendalough Committee for Social Action, the service aimed to inspire others to get involved in social action by hearing the personal stories of the speakers. Contributions came from Brother Martin of the Capuchin Friary on Church Street, Dublin, Joe Donnelly from the Anchorage Project in Ringsend, Kelda Barnes from the Darndale Childcare Project, the Tiglin Women’s Group and the Solas Project. The new Tiglin Worship Group, who were giving just their second performance, also sang.
The service opened and closed with words from Archbishop Michael Jackson who referred to the reading for the day from the Gospel of John about the Good Shepherd which he said came to mind when hearing about those who worked and volunteered for the many projects that nurture, care for and protect people. Afterwards the Archbishop said the service had provided “snapshots of hope, visions of truth and pictures of reality”. “We have been taken and led gently by the hand to see that all of creation is to be found here in the city,” he said. He added that reality was sold to us as consumerism and a commodity but in fact reality was about relationships and the recognition that we are made in the image of God. In a time of austerity, sharing the love of God cost nothing, he said.
Brother Martin spoke about the life of St Francis and related that to the need to be an intentional disciple. “The world needs us to be good disciples before we can become anything else,” he stated. “Often fear holds us back from being full intentional disciples of Christ. But there are four words repeated in Scripture – ‘Do not be afraid’.” He told of the work of the Capuchin Day Centre which feeds 700 people six days a week and provides 1,600 food parcels each week. He said the centre offered a place of dignity, humanity and respect to people who were walked past every day on the street.
A video on the Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service highlighted the work done at the community childcare centre which caters for 267 children aged 0–12 years in disadvantaged communities. The Centre is designed to give the children every chance to get a good start in life through high quality, safe, affordable and inclusive childcare aimed at promoting the physical, emotional, social and educational wellbeing of all children. DBIC provides vulnerable children a place to learn and play in a safe environment where they eat healthy breakfasts and lunches, participate in a school readiness program and benefit from an active after–school group that promotes positive behaviour and play. Centre manager, Kelda Barnes, led prayers for all who supported it from knitting blankets for the toddlers to fundraising and volunteering their time.
The work of the Tiglin centre in Ashford was highlighted. The centre provides individuals with an effective and comprehensive solution to life–controlling addiction problems, including gambling, in order to become productive members of society. Tiglin, operating under a Christian ethos, endeavours to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive. Three women from the centre told their moving stories of overcoming addiction and they joined with some of the men to perform two songs. They also spoke of the Circle of Friends programme which supports the women through prayer. Aisling Hannon said the women were looking for churches to go back to once they graduated from the programme and for places where they could share their testimonies and get involved.
The Solas Project, based in Dublin 8, aims to see communities rejuvenated through education and sport and to build up young people to overcome all the limitations put on them by disadvantage so they can make good life choices knowing that their future is bright. Speaking at the service, Graham Jones told his story and said that God spoke to him in his life and led him to say “There must be more than this”. He added that everyone had a responsibility to show they cared. He explained that volunteers, by enabling people to have one–to–one time made that person feel worthwhile and to say to themselves “there must be more than this”.
The Anchorage Project in Ringsend was highlighted in a video and Joe Donnelly said that, in his youth, he used to vandalise the Mission Hall on York Road in which he has run the project since 1996. The project includes a community café, childcare projects and a garden centre and aims to serve the local community while also helping communities in the developing world. The proceeds from their various initiatives in Ringsend go to fund projects in the developing world. Joe led the Prayers of the Faithful.
Photo caption: Participants in the Worship for the City Service.