03.10.2016
Service to Mark Beginning of New Law Term Takes Place in Dublin
The annual Michaelmas New Law Term Service took place in St Michan’s Church, Dublin, this morning (Monday 3 October). The service is held annually to mark the beginning of the new term but also to bless those who work in the legal profession and connected fields and those who come into contact with the justice system.
The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, officiated and with him were the Deans of St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral and the Archdeacon of Dublin. The choir of the King’s Hospital School led the singing.
The congregation included the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr and members of the Diplomatic Corps including the American Ambassador to Ireland. Visiting judges from the UK present included Lady Dorrian, the Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland; the Right Honorable Lord Justice and Lady Weatherup, Lord Justice of Appeal, from Northern Ireland; and Dame Sarah Jane Asplin, Justice of the High Court, from England and Wales.
Also in attendance were political leaders, members of the Irish judiciary, including the Chief Justice, the Hon Mrs Justice Susan Denham, representatives of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.
The address was given by the Revd Dr Donald Watts, Clerk of the General Assembly Emeritus of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Drawing on the readings [Micha 6: 1–8 and Matthew 5: 3–12 and 17–20] looked at the question of where true happiness lies.
“I suspect we all know that the society of which we are part, whether north or south of the border is not really at peace with itself. There are too many unanswered questions lurking, which cannot be ignored because they impinge on the present and no doubt may continue to dictate the future. No matter how many inquiries are held there always seems to be something else emerge to disturb us. We are living in troubled and troubling times. The certainties of the past have been challenged – sometimes rightly so – but how we struggle to replace them with anything that offers a lasting basis for life and contentment,” he said. He added that, according to Matthew’s Gospel, happiness was to do what God required.
Dr Watts suggested that a generation ago it did not seem that difficult to do what God required – society, on the surface at least, had adopted Christian values and individuals could simply follow the lead of society. Now, he said, people must be clear about what they believe and why.
“We must be ready in Paul’s words ‘to give a reason for the faith that is within us’. We need to stand firm on what we believe, recognising that the values of Christian faith have the potential to be opposed in society today – a society where too often self is at the centre and greed a powerful motivating force. As Christians we should not be looking for any privileged position, indeed we should shy away from it! Rather we should be out in the market–place of public opinion arguing strongly, but graciously, for Christian values and sense of selfworth. We should be setting an agenda, not simply reacting to one. At times that will mean facing opposition, though probably not the persecution of which Jesus spoke, at least not on these islands –not yet! We must, of course, constantly be mindful of people of faith in other parts of our world for whom persecution is a real and devastating reality. When Jesus teaches that our lives are blessed or happy when we do what the Lord requires, he also recognised that in the world there will be opposition and at times persecution,” he stated.
Photo captions:
Top – Archbishop Michael Jackson, the Revd Dr Donald Watts, Mrs Justice Susan Denham and Archdeacon David Pierpoint with the Choir of the King’s Hospital School following the annual New Law Term Service in St Michan’s Church.
Bottom – Mrs Justice Susan Denham, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Brendan Carr, Archbishop Michael Jackson, the Revd Dr Donald Watts and Archdeacon David Pierpoint following this morning’s New Law Term Service.