Explorers

Let’s imagine … the guy who invented the clock, “there will be 12 numbers on it.”

Friend: so the day will be divided into 12 segments?

Inventor: no … 24.

Friend: so the day will start at 1.

Inventor: no, the day will start at 12, which is night.

Friend: huh?

Inventor: the 6 means 30 but also the 6 means 6. Then we’ll add a third hand which will be known as the second hand.

The young people who were unable to attend on the final day of Explorers will receive their gifts at a later stage. Well done to everyone for a busy year. Once a man was asked, “What did you gain by regularly praying to God?” the man slowly replied, “Nothing … but let me tell you what I lost: Anger, ego, greed, depression, insecurity, and fear of death.”

A lady came to the hospital to visit a friend. She had not been in a hospital for several years and felt uneasy, not knowing about all the new technology.

A technician followed her into the lift, wheeling a large, intimidating looking machine with tubes and wires and dials.

"Boy, would I hate to be hooked up to that thing," she said.

"Indeed, so would I," replied the technician. "It's a floor-cleaning machine."

Why was Cinderella dropped from the soccer team? She kept running away from the ball.

Ladies Bible Study

Another morning full of the Lord's blessing when we met on Tuesday 13th June for our Bible Study. However, it was a morning when the Group was just full of sharing with one another something of the Lord's leading and guiding in their lives. Such an encouragement!

Then it was on to a short study to finish our series of studies on 'Women who met Jesus'.

So come with us and meet Peter's mother-in-law. This little story is recorded in -

Matthew 8 v 14-16

Mark 1 v 29-34

Luke 4 v 38-40 health and make sure there was some extra food prepared.

It's the same story and the same message, it's just that Mark and Luke go into a little more detail.

After the Service, Peter and Andrew bring their friends James and John home. They also brought Jesus too.

Surely there's a lesson here for all of us - that we don't leave Jesus behind after the Church Service is over. Let us bring Jesus home with us and let him share our blessings and our burdens. He wants to come home with us but he will never force his way. He only comes when he is invited.

So back to our story - picture the scene - Peter and Andrew arriving home with James and John AND Jesus. The hostess has a fever, she is in bed and not a bite ready.

If that were us, we’d take a couple of paracetamol and hope for the best. In those days there was no such thing as paracetamol and what's more it was frowned upon if the hostess was in bed and hadn't the meal prepared for the guests. She couldn't say to them "you may help yourselves because I feel rotten".

Jesus had it all under control.

Matthew and Mark record that Jesus took her by the hand and she got up. Luke the Doctor says that he bent over her and rebuked the fever. The end result was that the fever left her, she was healed and she got up and resumed her household duties knowing everyone would be fed.

Rembrandt: The healing of the mother-in-law of Saint Peter 171 x 189 mm

Pen and brown ink, brown wash, in some places rubbed with a finger, heightened with white Institut Néerlandais, Frits Lugt Collection, Paris

There's no mention of Peter's wife, but it is obvious that he is married.

The mother-in-law would appear to be the head of the home … the main house keeper. Not unusual as that would have been the role of the eldest female.

Peter seems to get on well with his mother-in-law. His brother Andrew also lives there (Mark 1 v 29).

It seems the house is close to the Synagogue and probably Peter was in the habit of bringing friends home after the Service. She probably never knew who he was bringing or how many, so she must have been easy going. She certainly would have to be in her full

It seems a minor miracle but the results are major .... because at sundown when the sabbath was over many - Mark 1 v 33 says the whole town - gathered at the door so that the Lord might meet their needs. Blessing in the home ought to lead to blessing in the Community.

The change in this woman's health that day led to miracles in the lives of many people.

Let's think about the fever for a minute.

What about the fever that prevents us from serving the Lord - it could be the fever of:

 carelessness

 discouragement

 apathy

 feeling unworthy.

Maybe we once served the Lord and this fever has stopped us. Maybe this fever has stopped us from thinking about some kind of service.

Let us allow Jesus to take our hand. Let him minister to us. Allow him to rebuke whatever fever we are suffering from and then let us get up and continue where we left off or maybe start some kind of service.

There's plenty of work in the Lord's service -

There's a work for Jesus ready at your hand, ’tis a task the Master just for you has planned; haste to do his bidding, yield him service true, there's a work for Jesus only you can do.

The Bible says

Psalm 100 v 2 Serve the Lord with gladness

1 Chron 28 v 9 And you my son Solomon acknowledge the God of your father and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and a willing mind

Romans 12 v 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour serving the Lord

There's a work for Jesus humble though it be ’tis the very service he would ask of thee. Go where fields are whitened and the labourers few, there's a work for Jesus only you can do. AMEN

We have had a wonderful year in our little Bible Study Group, when we looked at the lives of Women who met Jesus. God has been working in our lives and has given us a desire for more prayer. To that end we plan to continue to meet throughout the summer months for prayer and we are asking Vestry members and congregation to come along as we enter a new chapter in the life of our Parishes and ask the Lord to prepare our hearts for what he has planned.

Congratulations and God's Blessing to Ray & Cyril on their 70th Wedding Anniversary.

We pray God's Blessing on our Rector Darren, Karen and Liam, as they prepare to leave for the next stage in their ministry.

Karen, we will miss you at our Bible Study. Thank you for all your encouragement, friendship and love.

Prayer times: 10.45 am in Vestry Warrenpoint Church

Tuesday 11th July

Tuesday 8th August

Tuesday 12th September

God willing our Bible Study will resume on 10th October.

Thank you Ladies for your faithfulness each month. Without you there would be no Bible Study.

Love, God Bless and stay safe

Dorothy Xx

“The Praying Hands”

In 1508 Albrecht Dürer produced his own blue coloured paper in preparation for this drawing. He then applied the main detail in black ink before adding white heightening for the purpose of bringing out particular detail within his design. He used these lighter tones across the left side of the drawing in order to give the illusion of light being cast on that side of the artwork. It is 29.1 cms by 19.7 cms.

A young man was walking through a supermarket to pick up a few things when he noticed an old lady following him around. Thinking nothing of it, he ignored her and continued on. When he got to the checkout, she got in front of him. "Pardon me," she said, "I'm sorry if my staring at you has made you feel uncomfortable. It's just that you look just like my son, who I haven't seen in a long time." "That's a shame," replied the young man, "is there anything I can do for you?" "Yes," she said, "as I'm leaving, can you say 'Good bye, Mum!' It would make me feel so much better." "Sure, "answered the young man. As the old woman was leaving, he called out, "Good bye, Mum!" She smiled and waved. He felt good that such a little thing could make her so happy. As he stepped up to the checkout, he saw that his total was £127.50. "How can that be?" he asked, "I just bought a loaf of bread and some milk?" "Your mother said that you would pay for hers," said the cashier.

Across

1 Relating to the Jewish day of rest (10)

7 Point of view (Matthew 22:17) (7)

8 20th -century Brethren philanthropist whose construction company became one of the UK’s biggest, Sir John (5)

10 Girl’s name (4)

11 Peter was accused of being one in the courtyard of the high priest’s house (Luke 22:59) (8)

13 The fifth of the ‘seven churches’ (Revelation 3:1–6) (6)

15 ‘Now the famine was in Samaria’ (1 Kings 18:2) (6)

17 Banned by the seventh Commandment (Exodus 20:14) (8)

18 Insect closely associated with itching (1 Samuel 24:14) (4)

21 Bantu tribe which gives its name to tiny landlocked country in southern Africa (5)

22 Material that was used in an overhead projector (7)

23 Last book of the Bible (10)

Down

1 The young David’s favourite weapon (1 Samuel 17:40) (5)

2 ‘Your vats will over with new wine’ (Proverbs 3:10) (4)

3 Once yearly (Exodus 30:10) (6)

4 Milled it (anag.) (3-5)

5 Region north of Damascus of which Lysanias was tetrarch (Luke 3:1) (7)

6 Comes between Philippians and 1 Thessalonians (10)

9 Lake where the first disciples were called (Luke 5:1–11) (10)

12 Abusive outburst (8)

14 Are loud (anag.) (7)

16 Printing errors (6)

19 ‘Take my yoke upon you and - from me’ (Matthew 11:29)(5)

20 Jacob’s third son (Genesis 29:34) (4)

Solution on page 17

Sun cream isn’t only for cissies!

Sunshine, and particularly the UV radiation, can be dangerous and it is responsible for some of the most common skin cancers.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is caused by damage and subsequent DNA changes to the basal cells in the outermost layer of skin. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and indoor tanning is the major cause of BCCs and most skin cancers.

Understanding what causes BCC and the factors that increase your risk of getting it can help you prevent the disease or detect it in its earliest stages, when it’s easiest to treat.

These factors increase your BCC risk:

 UV exposure from the sun or indoor tanning.

 History of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or melanoma.

 Age over 50: Most BCCs appear in people over age 50.

 Fair skin: People with fair skin have an increased risk.

 Male gender: Men are more likely to develop BCC.

 Chronic infections and skin inflammation from burns, scars and other conditions.

Not listed in these risk factors is what caused my BCCmy own stupidity and failing to take my own frequently given advice about the dangers of overexposure to the sun.

I am a keen sailor and for many years have sailed for days, even weeks at a time, in spring, summer, autumn and winter. I never wore any skin block as I have the type of skin which usually tans and burns infrequently. As I am writing this article I cannot really believe how stupid and foolhardy I had been for all those years.

It was about 6 years ago, having returned from a sailing trip in glorious summer weather my wife Shelagh pointed out what she correctly thought was a lesion on my face that might be problematic. It was on the side of my face, so I had her take a photograph on my mobile. I realised at once it was a BCC and sought medical help immediately.

The appearance of BCC’s can be very variable:

This (left) was the start of it. And then this a little later.

When detected early most BCC’s can be cured, I was offered cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen) or laser treatment, as at my stage of the disease there was no indication for surgery or more invasive measures.

I chose the cryotherapy which was relatively painless and totally successful. I thank the Lord that I have had no recurrence, but I now wear a factor 50 skin block whenever I am in the open. Remember even a cloudy day can have potentially dangerous UV radiation!

I use Altruist suncream which was developed by a medical consultant manufactured and retailed at cost price - no profit. You can purchase it widely and either directly from the company or indeed through Amazon.

A salutary tale with a happy ending - no thanks to myself - but to an observant wife and access to medical care relatively quickly.

Dr Kennedy Roberts

I don't understand why people have to "get ready for bed." I'm always ready for bed.

Down and Dromore Diocesan Synod

Mission and evangelism, local and global, were core themes at the Down and Dromore Diocesan Synod in Dromore Cathedral on Thursday 15th June.

Synod met on this historic Christian site at the end of two weeks of diocese-wide mission in partnership with SOMA (Sharing of Ministries Abroad) and we were delighted to have some of the international team members with us for the day.

Synod also voted unanimously to recognise link partnerships with two new dioceses – the Diocese of Santiago, Chile and the Diocese of Multan, Pakistan generation of children and teenagers and young adults in a manner that leads to some of them presenting themselves for ordained ministry and other ministries.”

Bishop David’s Presidential Address was wide–ranging. He revisited the 10–year goals he has set for the diocese and began with a challenge to our churches not to become relics of a bygone era but to serve the purpose for which we were intended – making disciples.

Acknowledging the impact of the pandemic and an increasingly secular society, he said that as bishop he was, “constantly looking at how the diocese and the diocesan team can resource each local church to reach their fullest capacity, to reboot, re-energise, renew and re–commission its people.”

The bishop highlighted some of the many discipleship resources available to our parishes and church plants in the form of training, courses and literature. These discipleship tools include the Diocesan Bible Course, prayer ministry training, training for bible study group leaders, support with running Alpha Courses, the Generosity Initiative video course and a suite of publications outlining many ways to give to God’s work.

Addressing the priority of Leadership, Bishop David said that the Church “always needs more workers for the harvest field, and this is still true.” This challenge he said, “lands upon every parish, to disciple the next

This year four people from the diocese were selected for stipendiary ministry and at the end of the summer seven will be ordained for both parish and ordained local ministry.

Since our last Diocesan Synod, we have commissioned seven new diocesan lay readers bringing the total to over 60. The goal is to have a lay reader in every parish.

Fourteen diocesan evangelists are serving in the diocese and eight are in training.

Staying with the subject of evangelism, Bishop David thanked the 60 visitors from Anglican provinces overseas who have been serving in 30 of our parishes in the last two weeks.

“What an impact these SOMA teams have had across our diocese,” he said. “There are stories of people coming to faith, healings, the prayer lives of so many refreshed and renewed and churches experiencing a new freedom in and through Christ. We thank these men and women for coming to share in the work of mission.”

He continued: “Evangelism matters. Why? It’s how the church grows. That makes it important. But much more significantly, it’s what Jesus has commanded his church to do.” The bishop promised more evangelism initiatives, including the upcoming Bible Week and September outreach with evangelist and bible teacher, Greg Downes.

In the area of Youth and Children’s Ministry Bishop David said he was encouraged by those parishes who are employing youth and children’s workers, investing in training volunteers and setting up new Sunday schools and youth groups. He also highlighted the FORGE Ministry Apprenticeship Scheme for 18–25s and the recent appointment of Janine Armstrong as the FORGE Coordinator. The diocese is also in the process of appointing a part–time Safeguarding and Compliance Officer.

Another ten–year goal is to see 50 lay workers employed in parishes across the diocese in areas such as outreach and pastoral care. Bishop David encouraged churches to adopt a ‘can–do’ attitude and select vestries to seek out and release the resources needed for ministry.

The bishop acknowledged that the most stretching of our priorities over the next ten years is that of Apostleship – new churches, new ministries, new initiatives and new life in those churches in, or emerging from, decline.

Encouragements include the Diocesan Rejuvenation Fund which has made its first three grants of £5,000 each to three churches; our nine church plants; the planned new outreach to asylum seekers (the Suitcase Project); and those churches who have chosen to support other parishes in the diocese that need people, time, gifts, and money to help them start their journey towards growth.

During his address the bishop also remarked upon the privilege of meeting some wonderful people from the worldwide church at both the Lambeth Conference of Bishops and the Global Anglican Future Conference in Kigali. He celebrated our link with the Diocese of Maridi in South Sudan and anticipated the blessing of new partnership links with the Diocese of Santiago, Chile, and the Diocese of Multan in Pakistan.

He said: “May all our life and witness as a diocese be such that we relate to and learn from others, especially the Anglican church in the Global South through our diocesan and parish links, and avail of their energy, passion, skill and empowering for mission and evangelism.”

In conclusion, there was much to celebrate but no room for complacency as Bishop David summed up our need as a diocese for yet more effective discipleship and evangelism, more Spirit–filled leaders and worship, structures that work in a post–modern world, love, unity and passionate obedience to God and his Word.

In his thanks to Synod, Bishop David made special mention of his retiring Archdeacons, Roderic West and Ken Higgins, and Dean Henry Hull who have served the diocese for 37, 30 and 22 years respectively.

Information from Down and Dromore website where the full address may be read, and other details from synod are available.

There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is "UP."

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?

We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers, and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some folk fix UP an old car.

At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, queue UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is clogged UP.

We open UP a shop in the morning, but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP!

To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost ¼ of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions.

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, the drains fill UP. When it doesn't rain for a while, things dry UP.

One could go on and on, but I'll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so ... time to shut UP!

Crossword Solution

ACROSS: 1, Sabbatical. 7, Opinion. 8, Laing. 10, Olga. 11, Galilean. 13, Sardis. 15, Severe. 17, Adultery. 18, Flea. 21, Swazi. 22, Acetate. 23, Revelation.

DOWN: 1, Sling. 2, Brim. 3, Annual. 4, Ill-timed. 5, Abilene. 6, Colossians. 9, Gennesaret. 12, Diatribe. 14, Roulade. 16, Errata. 19, Learn. 20, Levi.

This coffee tastes like mud!

Well, sir, it was ground this morning ... I tried to text “I’m a functional adult” but my phone changed it to “I’m a fictional adult” … is that more accurate?

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

During the Ladies Guild outing, at the end of the talk on Murlough House we spent a short time meditating on The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt (15th July 1606 – 4th October 1669) This was his only seascape painting and he completed it in1633. It was Rembrandt's earliest painting, finished when he was 29 years old, during the time that he had relocated from Amsterdam to Leidan.

The painting measures 62.99 inches x 50.39 inches or 160 centimetres x 128 centimetres.

Rembrandt’s point was to show us that a storm can be waiting at any moment. But more importantly, it shows us the proper response to the storm.

It’s interesting to note how many people are in the boat. Most people, who glance at the painting quickly, answer thirteen Jesus plus the Twelve Apostles.

However, if you count the figures carefully, there are fourteen. Rembrandt painted himself into the scene. This reflects the ancient exercise of lectio divina - the practice of putting ourselves in the biblical scene, asking:

What would it be like if I were there?

What would I be doing?

What would I see?

What would I hear?

How would I feel?

This practice of putting ourselves in the scene derives from Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the reflections in his Spiritual Exercises

In the painting, there are three groups of disciples.

In the back of the boat, there’s a small group who, during the storm, are gathered at Jesus’s feet and keep their eyes focused on him. There is a great calm surrounding this group. In fact, the painting shows a soft light coming from Christ, and those gathered around Christ reflect that light. The light of Christ shines amid the darkness, and the Apostles who keep their eyes on Christ share in his light and possess a sense of calm.

In great contrast to this light, there is darkness on the other end of the boat. Where this darkness reigns, a second group of disciples is hidden in the shadows. They are greatly disturbed by the wind and the waves and are possessed by the fear and darkness.

There is also a third group of disciples, probably seasoned fisherman, who are fighting the storm and desperately trying to keep the boat from being swamped. And in the middle of this group Peter is fighting the storm with everything he’s got. We often identify with Peter, trying to take control of our lives and all the problems that arise. We assume that if we just work harder, then we can make this or that happen.

Rembrandt also depicts a light coming through the clouds, which indicates that the storm is about to break. The irony is that Peter has his back to this light. This often happens in the storms that arise in our lives. When we fight the storms on our own, we are oblivious to the light. We see only darkness. We don’t see the hope, only the despair. We’re not focused on the future, but only on the present problem. When we feel this way, I find that it’s good to dwell on the Apostle John. He’s there in the back with Jesus, looking to the light, and relying on Jesus to get the boat through the storm.

During this great storm, Christ again says to his

Apostles, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26).

And then, after he commanded the storm to subside and a great calm overtook the Sea of Galilee, “The men marvelled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” (Matthew 8:27). Something incredible had happened.

The mast of the ship points toward two corners of the painting. This serves to divide the painting into two triangles. In looking at his left triangle, Rembrandt invests in that space certain elements of the event about to occur - the crashing waves, the boat high in the air and several characters in various states of distress. However, he also places a dramatic yellow light that opens hopefully in the distance, drenching the edge of the clouds and the ships mainsail. The right side of the diagonal is darker and more obscured, yet to be bathed in the light.

The mast shown in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee appears in the form of a Cross, indicating that faith is still there for those who pray in times of storming human frailties – be it spiritual or physical.

In an allegorical sense, the work illustrates the power of nature and human helplessness in its force. Numbered among the twelve disciples were fisherman and sailors; however, in this scene they are powerless and exposed to elements. They can only hang on. One holds his hand over the side while others futilely attempt to steady the boat, the man on the left putting one hand to his hat and the other to the rigging is said to have the face of Rembrandt. It has been suggested that Rembrandt's point in this is to put himself in the event through his imagination to inspire faith.

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee was previously in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Early in the morning of 18th March 1990, two thieves disguised as police officers robbed the museum of thirteen works worth some $500 million - the greatest known property theft in history. Among the works stolen was this painting, Rembrandt's only known seascape. The museum still displays the painting’s empty frame in its original location. The heist remains unsolved.

Information compiled from various sources and inspired by Murlough House visit. Elizabeth Hanna

Visit a Church

If you're away somewhere and visit a church please take some photographs and find out what you can about it. We’d love to have a series of these in the next few Pointers.

Saint Mary's Collegiate Church, Youghal

This almost hidden gem was discovered after the Revs Mellissa and Elizabeth had coffee with Archdeacon Andrew Orr. He said, “you must visit Saint Mary’s while you’re here and then find the beach for Rock.”

So, after negotiating some narrow streets and one way systems, we came upon this magnificent church with centuries of history. If you’re ever in Youghal … do make sure that you go there where the staff are very welcoming and the history of the building is under a Warden served the church and surrounding area. From the churchyard you can see the former Warden’s House, which was in due course owned by Sir Walter Raleigh, who was Mayor of the town.

We didn t take that photograph … but it shows the location of the parish, sitting above the town. The church website says: The Collegiate Church of Saint Mary in Youghal can claim to be the oldest church in Ireland with continuous worship since the 13th century. The presence of a church on the site probably dates back far earlier, perhaps even to the time of Saint Declan who founded a monastery at nearby Ardmore in the 5th century. The trusses of the stunning nave roof have been carbon dated to the late 12th century.

Associated with the church were people like Sir Walter Raleigh whose house next door can be seen from the churchyard, and Oliver Cromwell who is said to have addressed his troops from the trunk in the sanctuary. In the 15th century it became a Collegiate Church with the foundation alongside it of “Our Lady’s College of Yoghill” where a college of clergy and singing clerks

The Boyle Chapel houses the monument to Richard Boyle, the 1st Earl of Cork, who died in Youghal in 1643.

There you can see Boyle, his first and second wives and his children – among them Robert Boyle, famous for “Boyle’s Law” that many a pupil had to learn at school. This magnificent monument cost him well over £1,000 – no small fortune at the time!

In the ancient stonework you can find medieval stonemasons’ marks which take us right back to the hands of the craftsmen who built the church. Their splendid carvings decorate doorways, windows and arches and their carved heads are a joy to search out.

Replica acoustic jars … during a 19th century period of restoration … earthenware jars were found high in the chancel walls, lying on their sides with the open end facing out. They were designed to improve the acoustics of the church by influencing the sound waves. The idea dates from the Greek and Roman theatres.

There is a 14th century font where baptisms still take place.

Do please let us see the churches that you visit. This glimpse of Saint Mary’s, Youghal, comes with thanks to their website and some photographs taken by the Revs Mellissa and Elizabeth.