NEWS

EXTRA MILE BUCKET PRESENTATION TO WOMEN’S AID

A few years ago, the Extra Mile Bucket was placed on the Churchwardens’ Table to collect parishioners’ loose change, and the monies raised have been used to fund a variety of projects including five extendable wheelchairs for Mozambique through the Girassol charity.  Our next project was to provide £30 water filters for Tanzania, and £2,100 was collected which enabled us to purchase 70 filters.

In February 2022, the focus for our next project was to provide fuel vouchers for families suffering hardship and fuel stress in our local community and this was done in conjunction with Women’s Aid.

As a result of the generosity of parishioners, the Extra Mile appeal has now raised £4,200 for fuel vouchers.  On Sunday 12 February Arlene Creighton, Communication and Engagement Manager Women’s Aid ABCLN attended All Saints to receive cheques for £4,200 and a donation of £500 from Antrim Rotary Club.

Over the next four weeks parishioners are being encouraged to donate to the Bishops’ Appeal in response to the earthquake in Syria and Turkey.  Following that, our next project will be to support the Shelter Box charity which supplies emergency accommodation and tools to areas hit by disaster.

VICAR APPOINTED AS MOTHERS’ UNION ALL IRELAND CHAPLAIN

The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell, has appointed the Archdeacon of Connor, the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, as the All Ireland Chaplain to the Mothers’ Union. Announcing the appointment, the Archbishop said:

“The Mothers’ Union has been at the heart of the worship and witness of the Church of Ireland for more than a century, and under the enthusiastic guidance of June Butler and the present leadership team continues to serve the Church with cheerfulness, modesty and devotion.

“I can think of no better person than Dr Stephen McBride to support and nurture this spirit of involvement and dedication (and fun) at the heart of the Church, so well supported by his wife Helen. I know too that their very much grown up children Rachael and Alex and their families will relish and support Stephen in his new role.

“Stephen was my training rector and, in those curacy years, impressed on me the importance of human relationships, especially the central relationship of marriage and family life, which are at the heart of our witness to the world.”

When he was approached by the Archbishop to take on the role of All Ireland Chaplain, Stephen said he was honoured to be considered as Canon Robert Deane’s successor and he looks forward to working alongside June Butler and the All Ireland Trustees and to meeting, worshipping with and supporting MU members across Ireland.