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Ireland Says, "Thank You," to Team from Church of the Cross |
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The Very Rev. Chuck Owens, Rector of Church of the Cross, Bluffton, (along with a team from that parish) is spending time in the Diocese of Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh, Ireland, preaching and teaching. The Rt. Rev. Ken Clarke, Bishop of that Diocese, recently sent a thank you note to the Church of the Cross, describing the impact the team’s visit has made among the clergy and people.
The following is the text of the message from Bishop Ken Clarke:
Ireland Says Thank You!
" Apart from my conversion and my wedding day this has been the third most important time in my life"
"An inspiring time!"
"It has asked me questions that previously I had not thought about. It has given me hope that despite small numbers we can still be strong."
These are just a few of the many positive comments from people who attended the Strong Small Churches Conferences in the Slieve Russell Hotel in the Diocese of Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh. 100 people attended the first Conference and almost 60 the second. Fr. Chuck, Becky and the team from The Church of the Cross led us brilliantly and gave of themselves and their gifts. Team members shared faith stories which were both moving and inspiring. Fr. Chuck's teaching was probing, insightful, disturbing, real, life-related and grounded in hope.
Another delegate wrote to their Rector and said,
"The Strong Small Churches Conference has opened my eyes more and made me more aware of our situation and where we are presently. It has also given me more reason to be hopeful about what the future could possibly hold for us as we have the resources to be a strong small church with your leadership."
Prior to the Conferences, the Team from The Church of The Cross ministered in several parishes in our Diocese. They shared their faith, Chuck preached the Word and they met with a group of our Readers (similar to lay preachers). They listened. They chatted. They prayed. They asked good questions. They encouraged. They lived out a servant heart. They also enjoyed a few hours off when we visited Crom Castle to be welcomed personally by Lord Erne, who was a Page Boy at Queen Elizabeth's Coronation.
These are important days in the emergence of a new Ireland. I honestly believe there are fresh stirrings of the Holy Spirit in Ireland today. In all of my life I have never known such openness in Ireland. The bad news is that people are open to anything. The good news is that they are open to the Gospel. These are days of opportunity. The fields are ripe for harvest. I thank God for your partnership with us in equipping the Church to see the harvest and become reapers. Weeping may precede reaping as we get right with the Lord. Painful decisions will have to be made. Fr. Chuck has helped us see more clearly some of the issues we need to address, and something of God's exciting vision for His people. This Sunday, 16th September, he will preach at a very special Service when over 1000 people will gather from right across our Diocese of Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh.
As Bishop of the Diocese, and on behalf of the people of our Diocese, I want to say a very sincere thank you to the congregation of The Church of The Cross for releasing and sending this team. They have been the most enormous blessing and God has blessed us through them. Thank you for your prayers, partnership and generosity. We are praying for you and please pray for us.
Bishop Ken Clarke
Bishop of Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh
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