PEACE and peacemaking organisations, in the North especially, are more and more finding that sports and their fixtures provide the occasion when sectarianism pales, and even feeble steps towards understanding and peacemaking are made.
So churches, as well as for other prime reasons, are supportive of sports and sports services.
Churches and congregations in the Dublin area are encouraged to support the Annual Thanksgiving Service for the Gift of Sports. By courtesy of the Dean and Chapter of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, the service will be held there on Sunday, March 21st, at 7.30 p.m.
An address will be given by Ms Ita Butler, an Irish International golfer, Curtis Cup Players, and captain. The praise will be led by the Dublin Welsh Choir and the Stedfast Band. An offering will be taken in aid of the Samaritans (Dublin Region).
This is the 50th anniversary of the service. It all began with the enthusiasm of a former Irish rugby international, Bob Graves, and that of members of the Association of Schools Unions.
The first service was held in St Peter's, Church of Ireland, in 1949, and successive services were held in the Abbey Presbyterian Church, Parnell Square and in Stephen's Green Methodist Church, and eventually in St Ann's, Dawson Street, which was the venue for a number of years before St Patrick's Cathedral became the traditional place of service.
The concept initially encouraged all sportspeople to attend and take part in various ways. An open standing invitation to all obtains to this day, and it is hoped there will be a very large attendance on March 21st.
Soon after the inauguration of the service, growing numbers of Roman Catholic sport enthusiasts began to attend and this encouraged the organisers to have services in St Andrew's in Westland Row.
In 1987, for the first time, a Dublin Jewish synagogue hosted the service and the distinguished preacher on that occasion was Judge Herbert Wine, who has been the Jewish representative at the service for many years.
Joint convenors of the committee for the thanksgiving service are Mr John Meldrum and Mr Paddy Rossi.
The victims of Northern violence and decommissioning headed the agenda on February 25th last for discussions between the Moderator, the Rt Rev Dr John Dixon, and members of the General Board, and representatives of Sinn Fein.
Victims and how they must not be forgotten in the midst of movement towards a political accommodation was discussed at length.
It was also insisted that decommissioning must be honoured as a moral issue and is a political necessity. It is totally and utterly immoral, it was insisted, to talk in terms of democracy on the one hand and terrorism and the threat of violence on the other.
Morning service will be transmitted by RTE tomorrow at 11.15 a.m. with a congregation of the Howth and Malahide Presbyterian Church. The Young Dublin Sinfonia Orchestra, under its conductor, Ms Dorothy Conaghan, will accompany the singing of the praise.
The Rev Dr William O'Neill will conduct the service and preach the sermon.