19.01.2016
Ireland’s Transformations Since 1916 Are Like Rockets of Hope – Inaugural Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service Hears
“As we commemorate the Easter Rising of April 1916, what lessons can we learn, what progress can we celebrate, and what vision do we need to embrace for the future?” This was the question asked by the Very Reverend Dr Kenneth Newell OBE, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Minister of the Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, Belfast, at the inaugural service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2016 in St Paul’s Church, Arran Quay, Dublin 7, last night (Monday January 18).
The service was organised by the Dublin Council of Churches and brought together the leaders of 14 different Christian traditions. It marked the beginning a week of special services and events which, as the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Diarmuid Martin put it, highlight the many things that unite us. This year’s theme is ‘Salt of the Earth’ and materials have been put together but the Christian Churches in Latvia.
As the centenary of the 1916 Rising approaches, Dr Newell asked what vision could be embraced that would shape an Ireland that could be confidently inclusive, peaceful, just, compassionate and prosperous. He suggested that the Easter Rising was a reminder of the danger of deafness – from the time of the Great Famine certain sections of the Irish population felt that their complaints and grievances were not listened to.
“Part of me wants to scribble across the pages of carnage within Ireland North and South over the last one hundred years two words – ‘Never Again’. But that is much too easy. The challenge is to listen carefully and respectfully to those sections of our community that today are in pain and groan for understanding, acceptance and hope. Our lives begin to disintegrate morally, spiritually, socially and politically when we become silent about the things that really matter to ordinary people. Pray for ears to pick up the cries of distress today within our country and together work to transform the lives of those who feel excluded and in pain. Revolution is much more than smashing something; it is bringing something beautiful to birth and watching it grow for the benefit of all, not just the few,” he said.
Dr Newell spoke about the huge changes that had happened since Ireland won the freedom to determine its own future. He referred to Vatican II in 1962, the IRA and Loyalist ceasefires in 1994, the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and all that followed from that, and the State visit of the Queen to Ireland in 2011.
“All of these luminous moments inspire us as Christians to reach out and work for an Ireland that is inclusive, compassionate, just, reconciled, peaceful and prosperous. They act like rockets of hope exploding in the night sky into shards of colourful light and dropping into a thousand lives. They are the glimpse that God gives us of a brighter future for all, and he always promises to guide us along the route to it; grace–nav is the Gospel’s equivalent to sat–nav,” he stated.
You can read Dr Newell’s sermon in full by clicking here.
You can check out other events happening during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by clicking here.
Photo captions:
Top – Clergy and representatives of 14 Christian Churches in St Paul’s Church, Arran Quay for the Inaugural Service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2016. In the centre are Archbishop Michael Jackson, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the Very Revd Dr Kenneth Newell (preacher).
Bottom – Candles being lit during the Inaugural Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.