On the threshold of a new millennium the task of the church in Ireland has been placed in context by a member of the home board.
"Ireland today," he opines, "is going through a period of transition and change. In the Republic traditional beliefs are giving way to what may be described as `a pick-and-mix pluralism', liberal hedonism (pleasure is the greatest good), and a new age spirituality. In the North, life is polarised and increasingly secular, with the political situation full of ultimatums, recriminations, punishment beatings and out-of-date rhetoric."
The home board is responding to these situations by supporting congregations in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Cork, and experimental ministries in Carlow and Clonmel in the South; and in the North, in Belfast an experimental ministry is carried on in the Golden Mile (Shaftesbury Square, Great Victoria Street), judged to be the epicentre of the city's night life.
As well, the board is supporting lady deaconesses, whose varied ministries are carried on in hospital chaplaincy work, community advice centres and as assistants in some of the larger congregations.
The origins of the Presbyterian Mutual Society Ltd are found in the farming and agricultural sector in the North. It is remarked that the society, conscious of its origins, is seeking today to meet the current crisis of many Northern farmers by greater flexibility on loan repayments.
In 1999 the directors of the society have been pleased to announce the largest ever inflow of new investments; this year it reached £2.6 million sterling, bringing total assets to over £8 million.
Moreover, despite a recent trend of falling interest rates, the directors were able to declare a dividend of 7 per cent on all shareholdings for the year ended March 1999. It has been possible to distribute approximately £480,000 to 1,800 shareholders.
Latterly, even greater emphasis is being laid on increasing the diversity of loans. Applications from business sectors other than agricultural are encouraged. Personal loans are offered for the purchase of cars, home improvements and loans are available for congregations embarking on various projects.
The overseas board of the church has thanked groups for the interest and generosity towards projects in Indonesia. Children and young people gave £86,000 to Project Sumba.
This will be used to provide much-needed education and training facilities for young people in the Christian Church in Sumba, Indonesia. Members of young women's groups gave £12,000 for courses at Lewa Training Centre run by the Christian Church in Sumba.
The Presbyterian Women's Association, as a Birthday Thank Offering, renovated an apartment in one of the church's residences for mission workers home on leave, and provided furnishings and equipment in two other apartments. The Junior Boys' Brigade gave £17,000 to equip a vocational training centre in the Diocese of Gujarat in India.
The ladies' guild in Howth and Malahide has organised a sale for today in the hall at Howth from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Stalls will include bric-a-bric, books, cakes. All are welcome. The proceeds are for Church Funds and the Simon Community.
The Simon Community was founded by Anton Wallich-Clifford in England in 1963. Clifford was a probation officer and much of his work was in connection with many charged at Bow Street, London. Concern for those who slept rough and often went hungry prompted nocturnal rounds with such food and aid as he could provide. The community grew with the support of volunteers.
Simon celebrated its 30th year in Ireland this year. For it was in 1969 that Wallich-Clifford launched the movement here. Since, night shelter has been offered to the homeless at Usher's Island, Dublin.
The community staffs a shop in 57 Camden Street and offers a work project. A soup run is made every night to the down and outs of Dublin.
The Royal British Legion's annual service of Remembrance and Reconciliation will be held in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, on November 14th at 3.15 p.m. The recently-appointed dean of the cathedral, the Rev Dr Robert McCarthy, will preach the sermon. Lessons will be read by the vice-president of the Irish Naval Association and Mr Ivor Roberts, the British ambassador. The President, Mrs McAleese, will attend.
Poppies (recalling the poppies of Flanders fields, a gruesome theatre of war in 1914-18) will be sold by the British Legion throughout the Republic these days.
This annual appeal amounted to £93,000 last year, an increase of 5 per cent. Nevertheless, this sum met only half the needs of the legion, which disburses grants to ex-service personnel and their dependants in the Republic. Even greater generosity will serve a worthy cause.