The Epworth Press has just published A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland, edited by Dr John A. Vickers. The first book of its kind, it contains brief articles on every significant person, event and institution in the history of Methodism in these islands. It costs £30.
The Rev Dr Herbert McGonagle of Manchester will be visiting Finaghy Methodist Church from May 19th to May 21st in a celebration associated with the annual commemoration of John Wesley's heart-warming experience at Aldersgate in 1738. He will lecture on the Friday and Saturday evenings under the heading "Wesley Speaks Today" and will preach at both services on Sunday.
The annual pilgrimage of the Wesley Historical Society will be held in the Finaghy circuit on the Saturday afternoon, gathering at Seymour Hill Methodist church at 2.15 p.m. It will visit places in the area closely associated with the founder of Methodism. Wesley was seriously ill in the area in 1775. In 1787, he intertwined two saplings at Lambeg, said to be in token of his hope that the work of the Methodists and the Church of Ireland would remain interlinked.
The Rev T. David Cooper, minister of Knock Methodist Church, Belfast, has been invited to lead the Bible studies at the United Methodist Northern European Central Conference this year. It will meet at Gothenburg, Sweden, from May 31st to June 3rd.
The Rev Dr Norman Taggart has announced the 19 members of the Irish Methodist team which he will lead to Sri Lanka in July. Among them there is one other minister, but the emphasis will be on the role of the laity in the church. Several have been chosen for their experience in youth and children's work.
While Dr Taggart and his group are in Sri Lanka, a group of teenagers and young adults will be visiting the US to lead a programme of worship celebrations, creative art and community service. The leader, Mr Ross Harte, would like to hear from any other young people who would wish to participate. He can be contacted at Belfast 9032 0078, or on the Internet, ross.harte@bigfoot.com
In the last week in July and the first three weeks in August, a team of young people from the Dun Laoghaire Methodist church will visit Kenya, where they will work with the Evelyn Memorial Education Services. This was established in Naivasha to help children who have been orphaned, or abandoned by their parents. The Dun Laoghaire team will help build classrooms for the school, which is managed by the EMES.
The president of the Methodist Church, the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, this evening joins in the celebration of 150 years of worship in the present church at Dungannon, Co Tyrone. Tomorrow morning at Whitehead, Co Antrim, he will preach at the centenary service of the church there. In the evening he will address the Carrickfergus Circuit Service.
During the coming week he will lead the team of Methodist observers at the meeting of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. On Thursday evening, May 18th, he will preach at the service which marks the end of the academic year at Edgehill College, Belfast. This service will be held in the Methodist Church, Lisburn Road.
On Saturday, May 20th, he will lay one of the foundation stones of the New Clooney Hall for the Londonderry City Mission. On the morning of Sunday, May 21st, he will preach in the Methodist church in Donaghadee, and that evening in Galway. On the following Monday, he will share in the "Year 2000" celebrations in Galway Cathedral.