church review

CHURCH REVIEW
ISSN 0790-0384
Church Review is published monthly and
usually available by the first Sunday.
Please order your copy from your Parish
by annual sub scription. €40 for 2010 AD.
POSTAL SUBSCRIPTIONS/CIRCULATION
Copies by post are available from:
Charlotte O’Brien, ‘Mountview’,
The Paddock, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow.
E: charlotte@churchreview.ie
T: 086 026 5522.
The cost is the subscription and
appropriate postage.
COPY DEADLINE
All editorial material MUST be with the
Editor by 15th of the preceeding month,
no matter what day of the week. Material
should be sent by Email or Word
attachment.
VIEWS EXPRESSED
Views expressed in the Church Review are
those of the contributor and are not
necessarily those of the Editor or Church
Review Committee.
EDITOR
The Revd. Nigel Waugh,
The Rectory, Delgany,
Greystones, Co. Wicklow.
T: 01-287 4515.
T: 086 1028888.
E: editor@churchreview.ie
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Noeleen Hogan
ADVERTISING
Advertising details and prices are available
by emailing adverts@churchreview.ie or by
phoning Charlotte O’Brien on 086 026
5522. Copy should be sent to
adverts@churchreview.ie or by post to
Charlotte O’Brien, ‘Mountview’,
The Paddock, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow by
15th of the month.
CHIEF REPORTER
Orla Ryan. M: 087-2356472.
E: dco@dublin.anglican.org
ChurCh of Ireland unIted dIoCeses
of dublIn and GlendalouGh
The Most Reverend John R W Neill, M.A., L.L.D.
Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough,
Primate of Ireland and Metropolitan.
Archbishop’s Letter
DECEMBER 2010
CHRISTMAS can be and is for some people the most special time
of the whole year. The cynic might suggest that this is because they
have plenty of material things to enjoy. But in many cases this is
simply not the case. It is special for people because it is a time for
family, a time to show appreciation, and above all a time to rejoice in
God’s greatest gift to the world, God’s Son, Jesus.
But Christmas is tough for many too. It is crowded with memories of those
no longer with us around the family table, and perhaps there is no longer a
family table around which to gather. It is tough too for those who feel unable
to share in giving gifts because of unemployment or poverty. But none of this
makes Christmas irrelevant.
The Gospels of both Matthew and Luke portray real life in a vivid way as the
Christmas story unfolds. The crisis facing Joseph and Mary as they were planning to
marry, the political tensions, the overcrowding and then a slaughter of innocent
children – these are but some of the features of the opening of the Gospel accounts.
But alongside them is set the tidings to the shepherds, the wonder of the magi who
come to worship, and the joy of the young parents as the infant is born.
Christmas is special not because of extravagance, nor even because of the
worth of simplicity – it is special because it tells us of God who wants to be
right there for us in the most joyful and in the most painful situations – the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who reached out to us that first Christmas
and still reaches out in that same love and compassion.
I am writing this letter six weeks before Christmas – and I have noticed that for
the first time for many years there is less sign of an early Christmas season than
we have seen for many years. This is no bad thing, as these early beginnings to
Christmas obscure any sense of Advent and setting our whole celebration in the
context of the eternal. However I am certain that the real reason for the apparent
delay is that amidst economic gloom with that Budget just around the corner,
many people can hardly look forward to Christmas. This
need not be the whole story.
The Good News at the heart of Christmas is there
for us in time of prosperity and times of want but this
year we will have to look that bit more intently and
seriously, and indeed prayerfully, if we are going to
make Christmas special. My wife and I take this
opportunity of wishing you all a very special
Christmas – full of the Good News of God’s love.
Single copies are available from:
• The National Bible Society of Ireland,
Dawson Street.
• The Resource Centre, Holy Trinity
Church, Rathmines.
PRINTING
Church Review is Printed in Ireland by
DCG Publications Ireland
T: 048-90551811. F: 048-90551812.
E: admin@dcgpublications.com
† John Dublin & Glendalough:
COVER STORY:
Michael Murphy, author and broadcaster with
rte, pictured with avril Gillatt, area Vice
President, Mothers' union, at the Irish
Cancer society ecumenical service in Christ
Church Cathedral. Michael and avril both
grew up in Castlebar. avril also worked
with the Irish Cancer society for 25 years.
CHurCH rEviEw 3