09.06.2014
Spirit of Friendship Flows at West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival
St Michael’s Church, Athy, was brimming with enthusiastic children on Friday June 6 for the West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival. The service was hosted by Athy Model School and the chosen theme was the ‘Spirit of Friendship’.
Children from Blessington No 1 School, Donoughmore National School, Timolin National School, Athy Model School and Jonathan Swift National School took part in the festival which began with a service and was followed by great excitement at the sports day at Athy Rugby Club.
In her sermon, the Revd Olive Donohoe, who had enlisted the help of the Revd Isaac Delamere, spoke about how friendship could help loosen the chains of poverty, hunger and lack of education that bind those in the developing world. She told her young congregation that Jesus’s friendship could help them be a friend to others and help those in developing countries. The collection was taken up for Christian Aid’s ‘Open Schools Worldwide Zimbabwe’ project.
Bringing the service to a close, Archbishop Michael Jackson thanked all who had contributed to the exciting and memorable service. He also paid tribute to all who helped make the local schools safe and happy places to be.
Photo caption: Pupils perform a friendship dance during the choral festival service.