Personal Columns

An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, seems embroiled in successive controversies. Allegations regarding the cancellation of penalty points have been followed by criticism of the casual accessing of confidential information. Whatever their faults, they seem benign in comparison with the policemen I encountered in childhood days.

I loved going out with my uncle as he did the farm rounds: checking livestock; drawing water from wells; moving electric fences; delivering bales of hay; tying gates firmly.

One summer’s evening, he had parked at the roadside and gone from the van …

Ireland

Conversation after church turned, as it has on most Sundays recently, to the desperate shortage of fodder for livestock, a situation now so extreme in some places that supplies are being imported from Northern France. Perhaps the time has come to think the unthinkable.

‘What if’, I asked, ‘what if this summer is as bad as last? What plans are being made?’

It seemed a thought that could not be contemplated. Unless there is a reasonable summer, then it will be the end for many farms, the debts are now …

Spirituality

Motorists passing down the main road may have wondered at the odd sight: a gathering of four or five dozen people of all ages standing in a circle in a field on a grey Sunday evening. Rogation Sunday had taken us out into the fields to ask a blessing upon the crops, to pray for kindly weather and a good harvest.

The preacher best able for such a situation could not attend, a family engagement demanding his presence. Taking the microphone, I attempted to shape thoughts fit for the moment; …

Ministry

Irene was a formidable lady. Her house was at the end of a long private lane, the dwelling house of a former farm the land of which had been absorbed into a larger neighbouring farm. Despite its sometimes lonely feel, it was home to Irene and was a warm and inviting place. There was always a fire in the hearth and always tea in a china cup with slabs of fruit cake. Her big black Labrador would greet visitors at the kitchen door and listen to conversation companionably, lying on …

Cross Channel

Sitting in a church beside the River Nore in a village where the soft landscape of Co Kilkenny merges into that of Co Wexford, a moment’s inattention meant catching sight of a shining brass plaque on the nave’s north wall. ‘Nancy, Wife of Frederick, 4th Baron Teignmouth’.

‘Teignmouth’ it seemed not to be a grand title, more the stuff of station announcements as we waited for the train to return to school, hearts heavy at the prospect of a new term. An express might reach its terminus, Plymouth or Penzance, …

International

The last time I met them, it meant ten hours driving – five hours there, and five hours back.

Leinster were drawn against ASM Clermont-Auvergne in a match to be played in Bordeaux. ‘Ah’, I thought, ‘I have an advantage; I’m already in France that weekend; albeit on the other coast. It would have seemed a simple matter to hop on a train and go to the match.

Have you ever tried to go across France by train? It’s not as though we are anywhere obscure; we are at Perpignan. It’s …

Church of Ireland Comment

Sitting waiting for the estate agent, the thought occurs as to whether Jesus intended that the Local Property Tax be a matter of concern for those who cared for his flock. Is there some obscure New Testament text, buried deep within the Gospels perhaps, where it says that it is essential to ministry that one live in a large detached house? I mean, is there any evidence that Saint Peter had four reception rooms or en suite facilities?

To suggest that rectories, parochial houses and manses might go the way …

Monologues etc

Twenty monologues on the life of Jesus.

The Shepherds

The Magi

Mary

Herod

Simeon

Anna

John the Baptist

Andrew

The Woman at the Well

Matthew

Martha

Lazarus

Judas

Pilate

Peter

Claudia Procula

The Centurion

Joseph of Arimathea

Mary Magdalene

John

The monologues were recorded by Commission Christian Radio and broadcast on Downtown Radio in Northern Ireland.

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Notice Board

Our 2013 summer series of Wednesday evening services at Borris-in-Ossory will be a church A-Z and begins on Wednesday, 1st May when we look at angels, then, on Wednesday 8th May, the subject will be baptism. On Wednesday, 15th May, there will be no service as the diocesan Mothers’ Union festival service takes place in Inistioge. We continue with charismatics on Wednesday, 22nd May and think about the devil on Wednesday, 29th May.

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Pop thinking

There are now so many radio stations in Dublin that it is easy to forget on which one a conversation was heard, maybe it was 98, it would be difficult to be certain. The presenters were discussing a publicity video for the USA versus Ireland rugby match on 8th June, in which an American rugby star is depicted in conversation with a leprechaun. One presenter said he thought it was a bad attempt at humour, the other objected that it was racial stereotyping, which, for him, amounted to racism.

Of …