First anniversary for Christian community

The Christian Community based in Drewsborough, Tuamgraney, officially began regular services last Whitsun 2011 and now, as it marks its first anniversary, the church is delighted with the welcome it has received in East Clare.

Just recently the community church joined with the other local churches in Clare in planning and taking part in a Whitsun pilgrimage that went from St Caimin’s Church Mountshannon, via Holy Island to St Cronan’s Church in Tuamgraney.

In one year, the East Clare Christian Community has conducted baptisms, a wedding, remembrance gatherings for the dead, as well as celebrations of the Christian festivals along with cultural events of a literary and artistic nature. 

The community has branched out to art and it is currently staging an exhibition of work by Kilkenny artist Helen Comerford.

The Seven Planetary Spheres portrays the evolutionary stages of the earth, created using the ancient technique of encaustic painting that is done with bees wax and pigment.

The exhibition runs at The Christian Community house in Tuamgraney until Sunday, November 4.
The Christian Community celebrated Michaelmas on September 29 at a working farm which is still farmed using horses. There, a gathering sang and hosted a treasure hunt with a difference. The treasure hunt was used as a means to source the wings, scales, teeth and fire to make the dragon subdued by St Michael.

Next Wednesday, October 17, the Christian Community will hold an ecumenical event in East Clare where they will show the 2010 film Of Gods and Men at Scariff Community College from 7pm.

The evening has been organised by The Christian Community, The Catholic Church and The Church of Ireland and marks the second Churches Together event this year.

This recent, BAFTA nominated film, follows the soul-searching facing the group of Cistercian Monks in remote Northern Africa: Should they stay or leave as the danger increases from fundamentalist groups who would see them, and other foreigners, gone from their land.  Their lives are at stake, yet the local Islamic village community want them to stay. The outcome of this true story is secondary to the wrestling with one’s faith and one’s loyalities, with reason and common sense. 

The evening is open to all (NB certificate 15s), will include refreshments and the opportunity for discussion on the film’s content.

For more information on this event contact Fr Donagh O’Meara on 061 376766 or Malcolm Allsop on 061 640967.

“The Christian Community inevitably has it’s particular style of Christian exploration and worship, 90 years on from its’ inception, yet it strives to respect each person’s understanding and questions around the basic Christian tenets in a non-dogmatic way.

“People coming to The Christian Community for the first time will often comment on the quality/mood of reverence and sacredness of the services and how that supports them in their relationship to Christ and the spiritual world,” a spokesperson for the Christian Community said.