Dromore Cathedral’s Clayton Memorial Hall was packed with Parishioners and supporters who came along to meet with the Rt Revd Justin Badi Arama, Bishop of Maridi Diocese in Southern Sudan and his wife, Mama Joyce. 

Bishop Justin was welcomed to Dromore by Canon Cecil Wilson who described him as a “remarkable young man” whose faith sustained him and his people through some very difficult times in his homeland. This is, he explained, a man who put his life on the line for the Gospel he firmly believes in and that the vibrancy of faith in Southern Sudan would put us to shame! 

Bishop Justin chose a reading from Psalm 8 for his theme – “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” David, he said, was a king – he was rich, prosperous and intelligent – there was no one like him. All he had humbled him and he exalted the Lord above all else. Bishop Justin then challenged us all – does our wealth humble us? Will we go to the ends of the earth? He joked that Mama Joyce and himself had come to the ends of the earth in Northern Ireland! 

He praised those who had reached out to his people and thanked them for all they have done. Particular mention was made of Jane Corbett and James Riddell from Dromore Cathedral who have already visited Maridi – “several people here have reached Maridi, shared in our life and seen how we live. On behalf of the people of Maridi, thank you”.  

Bishop Justin concluded by suggesting three ways in which people from Down and Dromore can help his people;

• Prayer
• Donations
• Take up the challenge laid down by Jesus to go to the ends of the earth and travel to Maridi to spend time with them in mission work, or as teachers.

a full report with photographs is available on the Down and Dromore Diocesan website - www.downanddromore.org

On his way home from the Lambeth Conference, Bishop Justin will pay a short visit to Ireland including a stop at Dromore Cathedral. Since he is only here for a few week days, his itinerary will include a week night visit to Dromore Cathedral’s Clayton Hall. It is on Tuesday 5th August at 8.00 pm.

Bishop Justin will be accompanied by his wife who is known as Mamma Joyce. This is Mamma Joyce’s first visit to Ireland and we look forward to welcoming her here. A particular invitation is extended to Mothers Union Members as MU is the social action arm and a key ministry partner in Maridi diocese.

Our get together will be quite informal with opportunities for Bishop Justin and his wife to speak to us about the Diocese of Maridi in Southern Sudan, and to give us a chance to ask questions. Since we are planning to send some people from the parish to Maridi in 2009, it would be great if as many as possible could come to this evening event and get a feel for what the trip might involve. Refreshments are being provided

This month’s Parish Post is online to help you, our friend on the web, see what is happening in Dromore this summer. Please drop in at worship if you can Parish Post Web Edition

This Sunday, 29th June, sees the annual trip by the 10.00 congregation to Balmoral for the Big Sunday Communion Service at Balmoral Showgrounds. Churchgoers are encouraged to come with their picnics, sun cream and umbrellas (better be ready for anything!) and meet at the Cathedral Hall Car Park at 9.45, or at the Down and Dromore Campsite, via the Harverton Park Entrance, at sometime around 10.30 ish.

Zach and SNYF will be waiting. Zach will be awake! There will be no-one at Ciao in church, since it isn;t happening this week. Every other week of the summer from 6 July Celebrate at Ten takes place…  at Ten!

The Art Exhibition at Dromore draws near: painting a picture of the event is coloured by excellent art and poor puns.

The Exhibits are open for viewing by the Artists on Thursday 19th June at 7.45 pm, and by the General Public from Friday 20th to Saturday 21st June. For further details contact the Parish Office

Dromore Cathedral is the venue for Down and Dromore’s Ordination of Deacons on 15th June 2008 at 6.30 pm.

Bishop Harold Miller will welcome Gary McMurray, whose home parish is Dromore Cathedral, and the parishioners of St Elizabeth Dundonald, where Gary will serve, to the service. Preacher will be the Rev Tim Anderson, rector of St Elizabeth’s. The Ordination Service, traditionally known as the Making of Deacons, is drawn from the Book of Common Prayer 2004. It culminates in a Communion Service. Everyone is welcome to a supper afterwards in the Cathedral Hall provided by the parishioners of Dromore Cathedral.

Dromore will shortly be dismantling its 1873 Organ to prepare for rebuilding the organ to be undertaken by Trevor Crowe. A month after Gary’s ordination the last major service using the current instrument will take place. The work should be completed about a year later. Gary has been a member of the choir since childhood and the choir are looking forward to assiting at the service with items by Elgar, Stanford and Darke. Cathedral Organist for the last four years, David Falconer, will lead the Choir.

You can read Gary’s blog at http://garymcmurray.blogspot.com/

NoticesHere is the News Sheet for Sunday 1st June - second Sunday after Trinity

Greetings! Details of our services and upcoming events are included on this news sheet: please download and read in PDF format using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click anywhere on the text News Sheet 25.5.8 

The current up to date Parish Post’s online edition is now published on our web server. To download the file, a pdf file of 1.5 MB, click on this text. Enjoy! Parish Post June 2008

David Millen is in charge of “EM: Church Development and Conferences” and is coming to Dromore on Sunday 25th May 2008. David will speak to both 10.00 and 11.30 congregations as we continue our launch of Clearing our Vision, a development programme for the parish. With insights from his experience of church planting and leading Evangelical Ministries, David has much to say to the parish. We encourage people to come to hear him. Link to www.emins.com for more information.