The Concert

I am so very happy to report that last night’s concert, in support of the Sudan Emergency Relief Appeal was a toe tapping success.  At the end of the night donations totalled £570 with some more promised.  The ‘prize’ for the farthest travelled for the concert was a lady from Dundalk, who had made a point of including the concert in her trip to Dromore. The adult performers will hopefully forgive specific mention here of the young performers in the programme.  The audience was suitably hushed for a young singer and our two young harpists (brother and sister, accompanied by mum and dad), all parishioners of Dromore Cathedral.  There was appreciative clapping and toe tapping for the Irish Dancers from St Colman’s whose colourful dress and cheerful smiles put ‘mine hostesses’ best suit and cheeriest demeanour to shame.

The evening was opened and closed by Dromore’s own Cow Pats who as ever gave crowd pleasing renditions of traditional favourites such as “Whiskey in the Jar”.  During a short interval the catering team managed to serve supper to over one hundred people and have it all cleared away before the first note was played in the second half of the evening.  The support team for the evening ensured a pleasant welcome at the door, help with finding a seat and then like magic cleared the seats away at the end of the evening. It was encouraging to see so many of the Cathedral’s younger members there as part of the support team and thankfully few had school the next morning.  Our sound team ensured that all the wonderful instruments were heard to their best advantage.  Harps, flutes, mandolin, banjo, piano, and accordion were all a wonderful mix of sound, enriched by the voice of someone who was singing in public for the first time.  The trouble with singing beautifully in public the first time is that it ensures that it will never be the last!

We had a solo male artist singing ‘Danny Boy’.  This can be a difficult piece but it was note perfect and sung with feeling last night.  Having accompanied the solo singer, the pianist himself played to the again hushed audience and a few “Isn’t that lovely?” comments were heard up at the front.  A lone piper played the evening out and ‘pipey’ was paid with the traditional ‘wee dram’.  ‘Pipey’ and he who paid the piper were brothers from Armagh and Ballymena respectively.  Earlier in the evening the brothers, hats adorned with shamrock, strayed from the traditional feel with an old Hank Williams number “”I Saw the Light”.  This has a ‘gospel’ feel to it  and is a particular favourite of mine.   The Cow Pats closing number was a departure from ‘traditional’ as well, however “Ghost Riders in the Sky” is ‘traditoinal’ for them!

On behalf of the Sudan Support Team I would like to thank all who gave freely of their time last night and extend those thanks to all who came along to the event.  This was the last event to raise funds for the Emergency Appeal as conditions in Sudan are calmer now, though still uncertain.  The rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army remain a threat so there is a need for our continued prayers and for our practical and financial support.

Celebration of Life of St Patrick

Throughout the evening, music and dance was interspersed with the readings from “St Patrick’s Confession” which is held to have been written towards the end of his life.  This seems to be one of the few reliable sources to which we can turn to discover what Patrick the man believed, what he taught and what he practised in his everyday life.  A self-confessed humble, unlearned man, one does wonder what he would have made of the event last night in celebration of his life.  It would probably be safe to say however that he would approve of an event which aimed to alleviate the suffering of his brothers and sisters in Christ in Sudan.  As they listened to the readings, it was hoped that the audience would keep Patrick in their minds eye.  Patrick, returning to Ireland in a little wooden boat over the rough Irish Sea, a slave no more.  Returning to those who had once held him captive.  Returning to the land of his slavery to spread the Gospel of Christ.

Dromore Cathedral’s Sudan Support Team is having a concert on St Patrick’s night 17th March to raise funds for the ongoing emergency relief in Sudan.  This is the 3rd such concert over recent years, so it’s almost an annual affair. The concert is in Cathedral Hall, Church Street, Dromore 7.45 for 8pm sharp with a suggested donation of £5 (to include light supper).  There are a couple of hours of a wonderful mix of all things traditional music wise assembled and there are dancers on their way as well.  Every entertainer is special, but it’s noteworthy that Dromore’s own Cow Pats are opening the show.

One of the team, who was reared on music writes today:

“Regarding St Patricks Night Concert.  Dromore Cathedral Hall.  7.45 for 8pm sharp!

The day planned for the delivery of invitations to all the places of worship in Dromore has arrived.  I woke at 6am.  No military campaign could match my mental planning so I hope it all pays off!

7am: Today would have been my beloved grandmother’s birthday and I am forgoing my usual ‘trip to the grave’ and lunch with my 2 remaining female relatives on Nanny’s side, to give out the invitations.  She wouldn’t mind I know and indeed would have delighted in my all my tales of how my life has been going recently.

Back to the campaign.  It stalled slightly due to the unearthly hour at which I arose.  I crept around downstairs, making sure not to wake the whole house.  Wouldn’t do to annoy the hubby.  He was to be my accomplice with engine running as I darted from church to church.  Do you know I feel like a child on Christmas morning.  Is it time yet? Is that Daddy’s foot on the floor, can I get up now?  This must be what our poor wee dog goes through every morning.  As soon as our foot touches the floor she’s up the stairs.  Used to go like a rocket she did, but now old age and exploding girth has meant it’s a plod up to see who made the noise and will they let her onto the bed or put her out.

9am:  And so here I sit and wait in ‘the downstairs room’.  As usual I’m surrounded by half a dozen books and here I regularly fall asleep surrounded by them and all the associated writing paraphernalia.  Some day I’m going to impale myself as I sleep on the many pointed pencils I keep.  I daren’t close my eyes today in case I miss a few hours daylight.

This morning in particular I give thanks for my grandmother’s Christian witness, a sure foundation for my own Christian life.  I give thanks for all the people involved in getting the planned concert organised.  I notice particularly that in the Cathedral’s Daily Prayer Guide, the Girl’s Brigade is specifically mentioned for prayer today.  I give thanks and pray for them.

10.40am:  And still no foot on the floor.  What am I to do, I can’t roam the streets in my dressing gown. I’ll give it ‘till 11am and then start making a few quiet noises, drop a pencil, send the dog upstairs to waken the sleeping master. “Go see Daddy” usually does it.  Meanwhile I do a bit of homework for my course, do a bit of my Lenten reading about Jesus, read Spurgeon.  Oh where is a ‘phone call or a knock on the door when I need one.  I hear the recycling lorry, the dogs barking!  That should do it.  Thankyou doggie.  Success!

10.46am: Phase 1 of the campaign swings into action.

3pm: Mission accomplished.  Well almost. I had a few old addresses, no post boxes, no numbers on doors, country roads that simply seemed to end and roadworks.  I did however knock on one door expecting a member of the cloth, only to be greeted by a work colleague.  Bit taken aback, case of a double life?   No, one of the old addresses I was talking about.  Still I had a nice chat and invited him to the concert.

Hope to see you there too! Lynn”

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

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The Albanian Blog SIX
The Flight is now under way and it is time for some personal reflections.
Worship this morning: We gathered in an L Shaped room, two blocks 30ft by 20 ft for a very simple act of worship.
Though billed for a ten o’clock start, the church was locked until 9.40 and the congregation was only finally all there when the first hour of the service was over. The ‘relaxed’ Albanian culture clearly affects church life in general, and it is a relaxed atmosphere that enriched our 100 minutes together. After various tuning and sound test exercises, the band of singing amplified guitarist and two miked singers sat down for Altin’s welcome. Altin is one of the two who pastor the little church, Zeph being the other. Zeph was preaching away today.
After the welcome we had a reading from the Bible, though I know not from where. We did have an interpreter but despite his good English he forgot himself frequently and in the holy atmosphere managed to go quiet more often than was strictly helpful! He was Eddie. A time of prayer followed with contributions from the floor of needs and prayers. The worship team took centre stage and led about five songs, two or three of which were similar tunes to English contemporary worship songs. One or two were catchy and very singable and we all joined in. A few were rather more complex and without a recurring chorus were a bit remote. Paul spoke of worshipping with the mind and worshipping without using the mind. This was the latter today.
The team were then introduced and gave our wee spiels. They applauded our comments and greetings.
We then sang a song, “Amazing Grace”, to loud approbation (they were glad we stopped singing). The kind guys allowed me to sing the first verse unhassled by their glorious harmonies, but the congregation didn’t seem to mind too much. This was followed by a fine sermon in two voices from Lindsay Allen with his Altin Hysi interpreter.
Psalm 1 seemed like an unpromising base for a sermon, and I was a bit mystified with the choice; ironic then that Lindsay’s theme was about choice and consequences.
He used 2 Cor 5.16, Psalm 119.11 and another passage to spread the message’s source. Many Christians choose to listen to ungodly advice, take ungodly viewpoints and settle for ungodly convictions until the point comes that they are no different from the world around them. The suggestion was that a distinctive choice early on would lead to a happy outcome.
He used an illustration of the aroma of the flowers in Armagh’s apple spring season being the cause of fruit in the autumn season: we need to be scented with God’s fragrance as a church if we are to be a church which brings forth fruit.
A further illustration which drew great hilarity from the congregation was about a married woman who recognised a growing affection for a fellow passenger on the train, and who asked her husband what she should do: take an earlier train. Don’t be afraid to get off that train. Obedience leads to godly fruit.
When Lindsay said Amen someone said That’s it. And off we went. Most strange ending to a service ever.