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January '98 around and about Dublin'sChrist Church Cathedral |
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The dean thanks all who have sent good wishes for a speedy recovery after his recent heart transplant operation.
The visit of President Mary McAleese with her husband and family, together with the memorable sermon of former Beirut hostage Terry Waite and the singing of the Warrington Male Voice Choir, on Sunday 7 December mark one of the most eventful weekends in the cathedral in recent times. The president was present by her own wish to worship with each of the major Christian traditions. The celebrant of the Eucharist was the archbishop. The service had been carefully ordered by Canon Bartlett and Archdeacon Snow who were assisted by Canons Harman (in residence), Baird, Armstrong and Whyte and by a student reader Daniel Nuzum. The same day she visited Christ Church the president also attended an evening service in Adelaide Road Donore Presbyterian Church.
She was particularly delighted to be present because Terry Waite, a Church of England lay reader, had been scheduled to preach in the cathedral as a part of his Dublin peace visit with the Warrington Choir, of which he is a patron. Terry in his sermon spoke of his experience as a hostage, most of it in solitary confinement, and how much it had taught him of the practice of the presence of God. He also spoke of how the building of bridges of understanding and friendship had developed after the Warrington bombings. People both there and in Dublin had come out on the streets to affirm that murder will never resolve conflict - in Ireland or elsewhere. After the service the president had coffee in the south transept and met many members of the congregation. On leaving the cathedral the dean presented her with a set of silver Dublin city millenium medallions to mark her first visit.
January is the month each year when cathedrals and parishes in the Church of Ireland update their registers of those who claim membership. To register for the first time individuals must indicate that they are members of the Church of Ireland and subscribing members of their congregation. Forms are available. For inclusion in the cathedral's 1998 register revision they must be lodged not later than noon on Thursday 16 January. A leaflet is also available which tells how those who are committed to the life and witness of the cathedral may contribute by freewill envelope or by bank standing order.
So many changes have taken place in the life of the cathedral in the past year that it may be worthwhile to tell new members how they too may come to serve that life and witness. In every third year - next 1999 - and Easter General Vestry is held to elect members of the cathedral board. That vestry meeting is attended by all the members of the cathedral chapter and by those whose names are recorded on the lay register. The canons elect five of their number to board membership. They join with the four ex-officio clerical members: dean, precentor, chancellor and treasurer. The lay members elect nine of their number who sit jointly with the clergy and, chaired by the dean, this board governs the business of the cathedral in all things save liturgy and worship. These last are reserved matters for the chapter.
Membership of the board is demanding in both time and commitment. The board makes all its decisions by corporate resolution at its meetings, usually held on the third Thursday of each month, or else at special meetings called in accordance with the cathedral constitution. Members of the board have onerous duties yet have no individual rights more than those of any other members of the cathedral congregation. Sub-committees of the board do outstanding work in digesting matters for presentation to the board but the stamp of the full board is necessary at all times.
Don't let all this put you off from offering yourself for the life and witness of the cathedral. We need your talents and some of you may indeed in future years help in the governance of this cathedral which in less than forty years will achieve its thousandth birthday. If you have not already done so, please post your general vestry form now.
We shall warmly welcome the members of the brigade and their officers to the cathedral for their annual service on Sunday afternoon 18th January..
The installation of the tenth, eleventh and twelfth canons - the Reverends Paul Colton, John Clarke and David Moynan will take place at 3.30 p.m. Evensong on 25 January 1997.
On "Little Christmas Day", 6 January, there will be two Eucharists: said at 12.45, and sung, by the Cathedral Girls' Choir, at 6 p.m..
At 8 p.m. on Sunday 2 February the cathedral choir will once again present another of its dramatic processions. All the choir's admirers will by now have had a chance to purchase the new Priory label CD with the music of Charles Villiers Stanford; also the marvellous value Esso CD of Christmas carols.
Material for February must arrive with the cathedral secretary by Monday 12 January.
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