A new resource has been published by Columba Press in preparation for the appearance later this year of the Book of Common Prayer 2004 which will become the official prayer book of the Church of Ireland on Sunday, June 6th.
Preparing for Marriage contains the text of the marriage service from BCP 2004 in both traditional and contemporary language, as well as a Service of Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage. The booklet also prints in full the recommended Bible passages. This new resource, which has been produced by the Central Liturgical Officer, Canon Ricky Rountree, is aimed at clergy and others who are working with couples preparing for marriage in the Church of Ireland. Preparing for Marriage costs €3.99/£2.99
Two other related resources have already been published by Columba Press. The Prayer Books of the Church of Ireland 1551-2004, edited by Canon Brian Mayne, is available at €3.99/£2.99, and As We Believe So We Pray. A Book of Daily Prayer by Brian Mayne is priced at €6.99/£4.99. All these resources ought to be available through bookshops or direct from Columba Press at sales@columba.ie
Today, Affirming Catholicism Ireland will host a Lenten Quiet Day to which all, are welcome, in St Andrew's Church, Malahide, Co Dublin. The day begins with coffee at 10.30 a.m. and the conductor is the Archdeacon of Durham, the Ven Stephen Conway. In the evening in St Werburgh's Church, Castle Street, Dublin, the Gaudete Singers, directed by David Leigh, assistant organist of St Patrick's Cathedral, will give a concert of 20th century music in the French tradition with works by Frank Martin, Francis Poulenc and Pierre Villette.
Tomorrow morning, the Archbishop of Dublin will preach at a Mothering Sunday service in St Andrew's Church, Malahide and bless and open the new parish centre which has been completed at a cost of €1.05 million, while in Christ Church Cathedral the Mothering Sunday preacher will be Canon Ginnie Kennerley. The Shoreline Community College Chamber Chorale from Seattle will sing at the Mothering Sunday service in St Nicholas' Collegiate Church, Galway, and on Tuesday and Thursday will give concerts in St MacIlrain's Church, Tallaght, and Bandon Grammar School respectively.
Tomorrow afternoon in Ballintoy parish church, there will be a service in Irish under the auspices of Eigse, a cultural gathering for the Glens of Antrim. The address will be given by the Chaplain of the Royal and Prior School, Raphoe, the Rev P. McBride and the Dean of Connor, the Very Rev John Bond, and the Archdeacon of Dalriada, the Ven John Paterson, will also take part.
At 7.00 p.m. in Christ Church, Taney, Dundrum, Dublin, the annual service for the Gift of Sport will be held. The address will be given by the Olympic silver medallist, John Treacy, and the collection will be given to AWARE, an organisation which helps defeat depression.
On Tuesday in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, the final lunchtime lecture in the current series on archbishops of Dublin will be given by Mrs Lesley Whiteside who will speak on George Otto Simms.
Among the Lenten addresses next week will be a reflection on the Church of Ireland by the Bishop of Connor in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, tomorrow at Evensong and a contribution to the debate on human sexuality by the Rev Ferran Glenfield in the Knox Hall, Monkstown, on Tuesday evening. In the lunchtime series in St Iberius' Church, Wexford, on Wednesday, psychotherapist Mrs Olivia Bartlett will speak on "The Healing of Memories".