The Pointer September 2021
Rector The Rt Rev Darren McCartney 028 4175 3497 suffragan1@gmail.com
The Magazine of the Church of Ireland Parishes of Clonallon & Warrenpoint with Kilbroney in the Diocese of Down and Dromore
A lesson from nature and from the mouths of children. The above phrase or thought has continued to be in my thinking these last few days. There is much that is happening in our world. The news is filled with much that would cause us to be anxious. There is much that seems to want to pressure us to be busy or to be in a rush. I have found myself looking at nature and what is happening around us.
The word autumnal was mentioned on the weather forecast two weeks back and then last week we have had what could be called beautiful summer days. Reflecting though on nature; I see nature slowly, ever so slowly, beginning a process of adjustment to the changes of weather and the coming season. Slowly, ever so slowly, preparation and change. Please don’t feel the pressure to spring back to the way you were before the Pandemic. Take the time to adjust and not rush, allow yourself the time needed to readjust and don’t feel pressured.
That’s a short reflection on nature and change but what about the second part of the phrase “From the mouths of children”, if you think this part of the
phrase sounds familiar it may be because you have heard it read from Holy Scripture, Jesus in fact quotes these words in Matthew 21:16. Last Sunday evening, Liam and I were travelling back from the direction of Leitrim carpark towards Rostrevor. As we were driving along, Liam points out the window towards the mountain, and exclaims “the church”. Liam was pointing up to a large cross on the side of a hill that we had climbed together a few months back. I smiled to myself and thought how wonderful, he is getting it. The significance of the cross and its relevance to church. Christ’s love for the world manifested in the Cross. What place does that kind of love have within the church today? Within our churches and the communities that we live in? “For thy Church for evermore lifting holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love” verse 5 of a hymn we sang at our Drive-In service in Warrenpoint. Perhaps you could also take a moment to reflect and then “reflect” in its truest sense. Blessings +Darren