Celebrating faith at ecumenical event

CELEBRATING Faith was the theme of an ecumenical event in Ennis Cathedral last Sunday night. The Methodist motto of Friends of all, enemies of none was the theme used and the service began by acknowledging the Irish heritage and common history of Christianity from ancient times to the present.
Hosted by the president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Ian Henderson from Donegal, it interpreted the less well-known history of the Methodist presence in County Clare from the arrival at Carrigaholt in 1738 of the storm-driven ship carrying the evangelist George Whitefield, through the visits of the founder of Methodism John Wesley and Irish-speaking fellow-preachers and the survival of small congregations until the arrival of people from Africa in recent years.
The event was organised by the Methodist Church’s pioneer ministry in Clare. According to Dr Rosemary Power of the Methodist Church in Clare, “This event served to unite isolated members and to recognise the traditions of serving the local community through social action. It also presented some of the growing inter-denominational work, including prayer walks along pilgrim routes, new services and talks on faith and spirituality open to people of all church backgrounds and none. The vigour that newly arrival people have given was demonstrated when the singing was led by the Methodist Zimbawean choir and the choir of Ennis Redeemed Christian Church of God.”
Pastors Olaniyi Ogundore from Ennis and Elisha Ogunsuyi were among the clergy present, while Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, Rt Rev Trevor Williams and Rev Vicki Lynch took part in the service, as did the Methodist Church in Ireland lay leader, Gillian Kingston. Fr Tom Hogan, cathedral administrator, and members of the congregation welcomed people. Apologies were given for Bishop Kieran O’Reilly, who is in South America.